Building Latino Leadership in L.A.

* To say that the Cuban influx has invigorated Miami is to argue that Al Capone’s entrepreneurship improved Chicago. If Los Angeles were to emulate Miami, as recommended in “A Choice of Two Destinies” (Opinion, March 11), the result would be bookends of corruption for America.

Cuban-run Miami is famous for its unethical government, brought under national press scrutiny by the Elian Gonzalez affair. City officials proclaimed at that time that American law did not apply to them. The city has been turned into a separatist Cuban preserve, with streets renamed after Hispanic figures. Inclusion of blacks has been nonexistent. During the Elian dust-up, the non-Cuban community rose up to express years of anger by dumping loads of bananas at city hall.

Los Angeles Hispanics should instead assimilate to the best of American civic life--community values, honest government and public service.

DANA GARCIA

Berkeley

*

Many Latino immigrants in Los Angeles come from impoverished states in Mexico and Latin America. Many more come with very little education. Add the words “no documentation” and you have the answer to the question, “Will it be Miami or San Antonio?” In addition, many Latinos in Los Angeles continue to monetarily support family back in the homeland. They are not necessarily investing their hard-earned money in the local community. How, therefore, can these people become “movers and shakers”? In a couple of generations we may see some changes. Maybe.

PAUL GONZALEZ

West Hollywood

*

While “Immigrant Tally Doubles in Census” (March 10) is correct in pointing out that illegal immigration has exploded across the U.S. and California in particular, the article is incorrect to imply that unskilled illegal labor fueled the economic boom of the ‘90s. For the record, high tech was responsible for that accomplishment.

It’s a shame that The Times is again attempting to put a positive spin on illegal immigration, whose main cheerleaders are the businesses that use cheap, exploitable labor and the ethnic politicians and community leaders whose livelihoods and future political power depend on growing numbers. Illegal immigration has been a boon to some businesses, a burden to the average taxpayer and a bad break for the struggling, unskilled workers of this country.

MARK A. MENDLOVITZ

Los Angeles