Houston on Illegal Aliens

Two Opinion columns failed miserably in presenting my position concerning illegal immigration. Neither Xandra Kayden, who wrote “Why Overcoming Los Angeles’ Ethnic Barricades Will Be So Difficult” (Nov. 8), nor Rodolfo Acuna, who wrote “Where Are All the Liberals When the City Really Needs Them?” (Dec. 27), ever spoke to me about my opinions, and my views differ greatly from those attributed to me in their articles.

I have repeatedly stated that I favor legal immigration, including the amnesty of 1988. My concern is with the skyrocketing costs to local government of providing educational, medical and other services to illegal aliens. Our schools, medical facilities and welfare offices are clearly overburdened. While wealthy Los Angeles residents might not be touched by this problem, poor and middle-class Latino, African- and Asian-Americans bear the brunt of it.

Unfortunately, the taxes paid by illegals go almost exclusively to the federal government. Local taxing agencies receive very little. The federal government should give Los Angeles at least $350 million a year to help pay for the services we provide to illegals. We could use this money to hire more police and cut down on classroom size. If federal help is not forthcoming, we will have to consider ways to stop the flow of illegals into our city or to limit the benefits now provided.

Candidates for mayor must debate, and debate openly, all critical issues facing Los Angeles. No issue, including the impact of illegal aliens, should be swept under the rug. TOM K. HOUSTON

Los Angeles