Privately Buzzing, Publicly Mum on Alatorre

City Council President John Ferraro best summed up what probably was going through the minds of his colleagues Friday: “Richard Alatorre does things his way, and you’ll have to ask him.”

That was the most telling public statement made in the council chambers Friday after Times articles this week raised new allegations about the councilman’s financial dealings and his possible use of cocaine.

Council members mostly kept their thoughts about the powerful Eastside lawmaker’s new troubles private--partly out of fear of Alatorre, partly out of fear of what the truth may be. What they did not do was rally to his defense.

What kind of message, many were asking privately, does it send if it is true that there are serious legal and ethical violations occurring at City Hall--yet again?

“This just casts a huge negative light on the city,” said one council member, who--like most--spoke on condition of anonymity. “Are our own staff members going around asking whether we are crooks?”

Alatorre, who has been home recuperating from surgery to repair a torn diaphragm, gave television interviews but refused to be interviewed by The Times. Meanwhile, his staff members sought to discredit some of the allegations, working the chamber, huddling with other council members in their boss’ absence.

The latest accusations surfaced in Alatorre’s bitter custody dispute over his wife’s 9-year-old niece, whom the Alatorres are seeking to adopt. The child’s father--with whom she has never lived and who never married her mother--also is seeking custody.

Privately, council members mused on how custody battles are notorious for bringing out the worst allegations against people, and on their first-hand witnessing of the emotion with which Alatorre speaks of the girl. He has pictures of her on his desk, and he has been known to talk about her with obviously paternal affection.

But things being what they are at City Hall, much of the talk was about the “politics” of this custody fight.

To understand the battle’s place in the drama of Eastside politics, you have to imagine what might have occurred if Romeo and Juliet had left a daughter for the Montagues and Capulets to quarrel over.

The girl’s father, Henry Lozano, has for years skillfully run campaigns for county Supervisor Gloria Molina, an Alatorre antagonist in the political blood feud that has long riven Latino Los Angeles; Molina and Lozano are no longer closely linked. Still, Lozano has long supported candidates opposed by Alatorre and, even now, he appears to be lining up possible rivals for the councilman’s 1999 reelection bid.

Is this case, observers were asking Friday, being played out at the expense of the 9-year-old girl?

“The saddest part of this whole thing is that there is a little girl at the center of it,” one council member said. “If [Alatorre is] guilty on this other stuff, fine. But that little girl shouldn’t be used.”

But even Alatorre, who has tried to maintain some semblance of privacy for the girl, could be seen on the television news with her. He conducted interviews with reporters at his home, and the girl could be seen on some broadcasts playing with a doll and walking with Alatorre and his wife, Angie.

Some council members bristled at the custody allegations, saying the dispute should be worked out in front of a family law judge obliged to keep the child’s best interests first and foremost.

“Look at O.J.,” said one council member. “Look at who the judge granted custody of those two children to. The father. O.J. Simpson. They take things into consideration that other courts don’t.”

Child custody specialists say these types of disputes always victimize children, particularly when parents use their offspring to further their own self-interest.

“When custody conflicts are fueled by the egos of the dueling parents, anything goes,” said family lawyer Valerie H. Colb, who is considered a preeminent child custody specialist. “When the ingredient of politics is added to that flammable situation, ignition is instantaneous. Children receive first-degree burns.

“When the child’s best interest is secondary to other priorities, serious allegations are frequently made with impunity,” she said. “Some of the allegations are true, but many are exaggerations, mischaracterizations or complete fabrications. The tactics do not always backfire, and therefore parties perceive an advantage from smearing the other side, hoping that some question mark will linger.”

Aside from the custody issues, it’s the other serious financial questions surrounding Alatorre that are troubling some at City Hall.

Did he receive a new $12,000 tile roof for his Eagle Rock home from a firm with substantial government business and a questionable history? When strapped for money, did Alatorre meet with three associates and return with cash for a secretary to deposit in his account?

Did at least one of these associates help Alatorre buy his home by fabricating financial documents aimed at increasing the councilman’s chances of obtaining a mortgage? Some of those allegations were made in court documents, others in interviews and in other records. The FBI is investigating them.

“He may be guilty as hell,” said one council member. “We don’t know, but let those other agencies handle it. We just don’t know what’s true and what’s not.”

The only mention of Alatorre during Friday’s council session came from defender-until-the-end Nate Holden, who referred to his colleague when the council was adjourning in memory of deceased constituents and others who recently died.

Holden said the council should take time to remember Alatorre, home recovering from surgery and expected back in a couple weeks.

“I for one am very proud of him and wish him well,” Holden said.

The allegations of drug use were made in court documents by Alatorre’s former executive secretary, Linda M. Ward. Alatorre aides dismiss Ward’s comments as those of a jilted ex-girlfriend who will go to great lengths to discredit the councilman.

“Do you know Linda Ward?” one aide asked another in the hallway behind the council chamber. “I do.”

Still other council observers couldn’t help but link the latest drug allegations to the recent scandal involving Councilman Mike Hernandez, who last fall admitted drug and alcohol abuse after he was arrested on a felony cocaine possession charge. Hernandez, who was placed in a court-ordered drug diversion program, attends regular recovery meetings.

But even those who discussed Hernandez’s drug use said the Alatorre case is different.

“We don’t know what will happen here,” said one. “There are so many charges and so much going on. This is a mess.”