Alarcon-Katz Campaign for State Senate

The San Fernando Valley Mexican American Political Assn. would like to go on record and publicly condemn all actions and omissions by individuals and organizations that have contributed to the recent 20th Senatorial District election controversy. We perceive their potential for creating or exacerbating racial tensions and divisions, this among groups that have every reason to coalesce. At this point, we must also state for the record that our perception of the responsible parties is quite different from the one-sided perception that, to date, has been the overwhelming focus of the media.

It is our perception that Richard Katz was part and parcel to the unethical practice of race-baiting against Latinos with his mailer that spoke of crooked politicians and equated Councilman Richard Alarcon with Councilman Richard Alatorre, the implication that all Latino politicians are crooks being all too obvious. The same mailer had a picture of muddy hands. Many Latinos perceived the visual message as implying that all Latinos are dirty, this inference not limited to Latino politicians alone.

Additionally, we believe Katz had every intention of asking for an investigation of the Latino vote just several days after the initial results were announced. Katz was swayed to forgo this blatant racial attack when advocate groups such as the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project and the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund showed up at the voter registrar’s office to denounce his actions. Interestingly, only the Spanish print media (La Opinion) felt this issue important enough to cover.

Then we have organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, who seemingly took the moral high ground by condemning the actions of Alarcon but not the identical actions of Katz. The omission leaves them suspect in regard to their motives.

If we are to move forward, all responsible parties must take corrective action. We need to understand that perceptions, whether real or imagined, differ among the varied groups involved in this controversy. We must respect each other’s differing opinions and begin to take steps to heal the rifts created by our actions.

Alarcon stepped forward and formally apologized to Katz, thus moving this matter in the right direction. Now Katz needs to accept the apology and offer one of his own. Alarcon would probably be happy solely with Katz’s acceptance, but we wonder if the Latino community would be as forgiving. Katz insulted the Latino community with his mailer and needs to apologize, whether he intended the mailer to be racially offensive or not. He also needs to apologize for this thwarted attempt to investigate the Latino vote.

The San Fernando Valley Mexican American Political Assn. extends its hand and stands ready to work with leaders and members of other organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, in order to bring remedy to the present problem we face and avoid similar problems in the future.

XAVIER FLORES, President, Mexican American Political Assn., San Fernando Valley Chapter

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As a lifelong Democrat, I will not, in good conscience, be able to cast my vote for Alarcon in the upcoming election. Whom, then, should I vote for? I have never voted for a Republican, nor will I vote for one now. But neither I nor my friends will vote for a man who accused Katz of participating in the 1988 hiring of guards to frighten immigrants away from voting sites. State Sen. Richard Polanco’s use of these tactics in support of Alarcon is reprehensible, so my vote will be for “none of the above.”

SOL KARNOVITZ, Valley Glen

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Regarding Alarcon’s “Flyer-Gate”: There is only one logical conclusion: Republican Ollie McCaulley for state Senate in the 20th District. Kudos to Ollie for running not as an African American but simply as an American, which we all are, one nation indivisible.

SCOTT JONES, North Hollywood

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Were Alarcon sincerely sorry about his election tactics, he would give up his nomination . . . and go back to his good work on the City Council. I say this as someone who actually voted for him.

CHARLES. J. THOMAS, North Hollywood