Which Hat Was Zine Wearing in Club Visit?

Re “Zine Targets Strip Club for Cleanup,” Dec. 25: While it may have been legally sanctioned, as he claims, L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine’s alleged personal raid against a Tarzana strip club while wearing his police reserve uniform creates at least the appearance of a conflict of interest. Was he acting as a City Council representative or a police officer? This country has always tried to maintain a strict separation of legislators -- those who make the laws -- and the law enforcers. Wisely, in my opinion.

If the allegations regarding the Frisky Kitty warranted investigation, Zine should have requested that the appropriate city department conduct it. His “routine bar check” makes it appear that he’s straddling a line that shouldn’t be straddled. He needs to decide which branch of the city government he’s working for -- and suspend the other. He can’t do both jobs effectively at once, and his “Carrie Nation with a badge” routine is not only frightening but actually lends legitimacy to the club owner’s lawsuit claiming harassment.

Keleigh Hardie

Tarzana