Setting the Record Straight

* This letter serves to set the record straight regarding my father, Jose Casas. His picture accompanied the May 3 article in the Valley section titled “Sidewalk Economics,” and he was described as the “Karaoke Mariachi” one-man band.

The article concerns mostly Mexican illegal sidewalk vendors who sell in the streets of Pacoima because, in the words of one vendor, “it’s better than begging or robbing.”

Please be informed that my father has permission from the owner of the El Tigre market to be on the store property. He also has no economic necessity to entertain the public. He worked for over 35 years at the General Motors plant in Van Nuys and lives on a comfortable pension. He is also a naturalized citizen who votes.

My father sings for the sheer pleasure of bringing music to the public. The day GM was closed, my father’s one-man band was out entertaining the workers. He has also volunteered his time at Vaughn Elementary School, for which he received a community service award. His purpose was to help children become familiar with Hispanic music and appreciate its beauty.

It is irresponsible of the Los Angeles Times to place my father in a false light when he is legally entertaining the public for the purpose of bringing pleasure to himself and the public.

Having said the above, let me add that the men and women who are vendors on the street are hard-working, entrepreneurial, productive members of society. I hope that a place can be designated as a “ mercado free zone,” at least on the weekends, to allow the vendors to carry on their trades legally so that free enterprise can flourish. After all, the Marriotts started out with a hot-dog stand in Washington.

LAURA CASAS FRIER

Granada Hills