Businesses and Prop. 209

* Re “Why Business Can’t Support 209,” Commentary, Oct. 4: Ralph C. Carmona should not confuse market-driven necessities with government mandates. If market forces determine that a company employ a more culturally diverse work force to better compete in an increasingly diverse market, that is one thing. For the government to dictate what sort of cultural make-up a company should have is entirely different.

Carmona answers his own question when he wonders what will become of economic development in the state if Prop. 209 passes. According to Carmona, the companies that will survive in today’s business climate will be the ones best able to serve California’s diverse population. There is no need for government intervention in this scenario.

Finally, Carmona gives the example of Bank of America’s reluctance to add bilingual features to its ATMs. Was reluctance finally overcome by any government mandate, or was it the obvious realization that the bank would attract more potential customers?

DEAN R. RIEHM

San Diego

* I would like to share an experience with those who believe that we no longer need affirmative action. Recently, my husband, who is black, went to get his car’s oil changed at a service station in Manhattan Beach. He dropped the car off and returned 45 minutes later to find that nothing had been done, because the manager thought my husband didn’t have the money. He admitted that the store’s normal policy is to change the oil first, and charge the customer when the car is ready. When I later asked the manager to explain his action, in view of this policy, he was silent.

My husband is a deputy sheriff for Los Angeles County. He is clean-cut and was dressed in jeans and a collared shirt. He was obviously a victim of racism. These people are everywhere, from the person who changes your oil to the person in charge of hiring and firing people at a big firm. When I can be sure that something like this will never again happen to my husband, then you can convince me that we don’t need affirmative action.

AMY SHIELDS BAKER

El Segundo

* To read Bill Boyarsky’s “A Profile in Courage: Mahoney on Prop. 209” (Oct. 6) is really refreshing.

Many proponents of Prop. 209 start their campaign with the hackneyed opening line, “As a child growing up in the ‘60s, I admired the civil rights advocates. They were my heroes, but now. . . .” This rhetoric comes from the age-old tradition of, “But, Brutus is an honorable man.”

Take a look at the private sector and tell me how many minorities you see holding high positions. You will find that from income levels to getting loans from banks to getting private sector jobs, minorities fall far behind the majority whites.

Why are some whites then so headstrong about taking away the only true friend the minorities in this country have: federal and state governments.

INDRAJITH WEERARATNE

Los Angeles