About the editor: Disbarred LA City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas has been a successful and effective political leader in various elected positions for decades. I understand why columnist Erika D. Smith laments his recent conviction, which will likely end his long career as an elected official.

Of course, he still has friends and supporters. But the long investigation into his behavior as LA County

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superiors and his conviction for a series of serious crimes make it clear that power has gone to his head and that he is guilty of corruption.

Smith asks, “Why do we care about corruption?” Ridley-Thomas betrayed our trust by using his power for personal gain. He is now a corrupt former politician. The fact that he is black should not be a factor in judging or holding him accountable.

Steve Freedman, Venice

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About the publisher: The conviction of Ridley-Thomas for corruption is a tragedy in the Shakespearean sense, a good man brought down by his own mistakes.

Rather than explaining the uneasiness and dismay of some in the black community at Ridley-Thomas’ post-trial conviction, Smith might have been better off educating readers that past good deeds do not translate into unethical or corrupt behavior today. to justify. .

Ridley-Thomas’ past record of community activism and positive law may be a mitigating factor in his conviction, but should not be used to shield him from the consequences of his corrupt actions.

Demetrius Pohl, Los Angeles.

About the editor: Perhaps justice will come when Ridley-Thomas is sentenced to prison. His conviction stems from working to get his adult son a job and a scholarship to USC.

My kids, like thousands of others, have never been offered a free ride at USC, but then again, I never got anything in return. The LA Politburo is full of backdoor deals.

Remember that signs count, or it always has.

Glenn Zweifel, Los Angeles..

About the editor: Smith explains that permanently sidelining such an effective leader actually feels like opening the door to more injustice.

Of course, with Ridley-Thomas, the jury made the right decision. If Trump is not above the law, and he shouldn’t be, then it’s clear that no one should be above the law, no matter how much good they’ve done.

So if part of the population suffers from it, there is only one person to blame: Mark Ridley-Thomas. As the saying goes, “Justice be done even when the sky falls.”

Joseph Lombardo, Highland