Richard Alatorre (A Los Angeles City Councilman)

* Re "Alatorre to Pay Fines for Ethics Violations," Sept. 16:

Hot on the heels of L.A. City Councilman Mike Hernandez's runin with the
law comes Councilman Richard Alatorre, pursued for creatively (and
illegally) promoting his wife's business to the tune of some $225,000, plus
some fancy footwork in financial disclosure. Hernandez is faced with
criminal charges and demands for his removal from the City Council.
Alatorre is slapped on the wrist with an $8,000 fine and given a bully
pulpit for the preservation of baldfaced political prevarication. Little
money compared to what his wife apparently reaped, and no cries for his
seat. What's going on?

Alatorre stayed ahead of the wolves by sticking to criminal behavior that
is almost invariably forgiven or at least cursorily punished. The
electorate finds in his behavior little that is not routinely acceptable
(for politicians).

Hernandez erred in his choice of crime. Alatorre wisely limited himself to
the socially acceptable, white-collar variety of crime.

ALLAN RABINOWITZ
Los Angeles