Propositions B, C

I am writing to express our concern about “The Trap Los Angeles County Voters Keep Setting for Themselves” (by Xandra Kayden, Opinion, Nov. 8). The article misstates the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s (MALDEF) position on Los Angeles County ballot Props. B and C--the proposals to create a county executive and expand the Board of Supervisors to nine.

The article states that MALDEF “feared a larger board would dilute the power of Gloria Molina.” MALDEF has avidly supported expansion of the board. We actively participated in the process to expand the board by reviewing proposed expansion plans and testifying to their legality. After review of the nine-district plan, which became Prop. C, we supported it because it complied with the law.

MALDEF opposed Prop. B, the county executive measure, because it disenfranchises the minority population. The accusation in the article that MALDEF opposed the creation of the county executive position because only a Latino can represent our interests is simply wrong. The issue is not whether a minority is elected, but that someone is elected who will be responsive to the needs of all of the various communities in Los Angeles County. In addition, we opposed this measure because it was not subject to the same thorough public analysis as was expansion. From October, 1991, to January, 1992, the Los Angeles County Boundary Review Committee held public hearings to consider expansion proposals. Throughout the hearings the issue of the county executive was never introduced. It was not until after the close of the hearings that the county executive proposal was introduced by the supervisors.

The county executive proposal must be viewed in the context of present political realities, which include the great resistance of the Anglo Board of Supervisors to afford any relief for minority voters in their quest for representation both before the Garza vs. County of Los Angeles litigation and after the trial and several appeals. We are suspicious of such an all-powerful executive position that would have limited supervisorial influence at a time when an African-American was about to be elected to represent District 2. Just as minorities in this county were finally sitting at the table the proposal would have diluted the authority of the supervisors.

NANCY RAMIREZ

MALDEF, Los Angeles