Council Members’ Views on Hernandez

* Re “Ridley-Thomas Urges Calm Over Hernandez Issue,” Oct. 30:

I am a native Angelena, an Anglo woman who has been married into the Latino culture for 50 years. I have two grown children and four grandchildren. I also had two beautiful nieces and one nephew who died of drug overdoses, leaving between them five children without a parent. My husband and I were part of the Chicano Moratorium. I have been to Sacramento as part of a task force to help change racist textbooks.

I want to say only this. Moderation on the part of the L.A. City Council members, to me, would be putting aside their differences and, for the good of the community, speak in a united voice, requesting Mike Hernandez to step aside and do the right thing. Nobody who has these addictive habits and continues to speak so abusively to his fellow members is qualified to hold down such a responsible position.

To Councilman Hernandez--overcoming your double addiction of cocaine and alcohol is a full-time job. Being a councilman is full-time also. The district does need a Latino voice. I am sure there are others without major problems who can be elected and give strong leadership to the community.

NORA ORTIZ

Rowland Heights

* Enough of this political posturing of the City Council before the craned necks of the paparazzi. Let the voters who voted Hernandez in vote him out if they wish. Hats off to Bill Boyarsky (Oct. 30) for telling it like it should be. If the council persists, then let the drug testing and breath analyzing begin. Let him/her who is without drugs or alcohol cast the first stone.

JOSE LOPEZ

Monterey Park

* I am amused to hear members of the Los Angeles city government call for the resignation of Hernandez.

Apparently no one noticed anything unusual enough to mention when Hernandez was living out of his car, using alcohol and cocaine regularly and going to council meetings hung over and high on cocaine. It seems odd to me that it is only after he is trying to live drug-free and sober that these officials are lining up to condemn his behavior.

DAVID SHEALOR

Long Beach

* The despicable conduct of Hernandez and the deplorable rhetoric of Jackie Goldberg and Nate Holden have convinced me to support secession from the city. The bad news is that I live in the mid-Wilshire district.

LEE M. JOCKERS

Los Angeles