Robbins Must Be Viewed With a More Critical Eye

* Why does a convicted criminal like Alan Robbins get such glorifying front-page coverage (“Optimistic Robbins Battles to Piece Together a Future,” March 23)? Why do you devote such valuable space to the story of--to quote your sources--a tattletale, an extortionist, a liar, etc., all rolled into one person?

Is this your way to present what should be the opposite of a role model? You must know that a lot of people may not see the sarcasm (it is sarcasm, isn’t it?) that permeates this article.

What happens to the less sophisticated reader who cannot decipher the many ironies, incongruities and oxymorons that abound in this piece? Here are just a few, to illustrate:

* He’s battling to piece together a future. (Why? I’m not sure he deserves one!)

* He’s “cash” poor. (He ought to be POOR, just plain POOR!)

* Serving 20 months out of a five-year sentence reduced to two is “punishment for his actions”? Who’s kidding whom? This was a reward for wearing a wire to help catch others of his kind.

* Why is he allowed to be vague about his net worth? Why is he allowed to appear penniless? So that he can generate enough compassion to get his real estate license back, so that he can become again, in some fraudulent fashion, a self-made millionaire? Is this a great country or what?

* He was “never one to let the opportunity for litigation pass by” is certainly one of the jewels in this article. It is unquestionably a very descriptive way to refer to such a shark (and I hope the sharks will forgive me).

* In one quoted statement he says, “To be honest. . . .” Say what?

A more critical view should have been presented. In other words, whether directly or by clear implication, somebody should say: Punish his actions! Feed him fish heads!

NELSON FAY

Encino