Apartment House Collapse in Echo Park

* Re “Struggling to Pick Up the Pieces,” Dec. 26: Here we see a “family” that openly admits to having illegally entered our country in the last 18 months. The mother returned to Mexico a few months ago to bring her three children back so they could get an education. This education, courtesy of the taxpayers, represents an expense of approximately $21,000 per year.

The building where they were staying collapses, so they receive another $5,000 from the taxpayers for relocation. In the meantime, their contribution to society is close to nothing, without documents, with one working as a street vendor. Plans are probably underway to bring in another child to get a free education.

This situation is not only a drain on taxpayers but also a large contributor to the disarray of the L.A. public school system. These students require special programs and represent a large percentage of the student body. I think your article should have described the struggle of the taxpayers having to support this condition.

ALBERT MERCADO

Los Angeles

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After 75 years of termites, dry rot, earthquakes, substandard concrete and no seismic design, no one should expect a 1924 wood-frame and stucco, two-story (or more) apartment house not to fall down.

I would not allow any of my family or friends to live in such a structure. At the minimum, there should be posted at the entrance a bold warning sign--multilingual--to warn all who enter of the risk of collapse.

It is probably impossible or impractical to bring these old buildings up to code, but they could be made much safer by at least installing solid sheeting (5/8-inch plywood) to function as shear-support walls on the perimeter and other main walls.

WARREN P. GRUNDFOR

Huntington Beach