The Los Angeles Times is rapidly becoming better known for its mistakes than for its good works, perhaps because there have been so many mistakes, and they have been so dumb.

Its latest and one of its most dazzling missteps is its abrupt and rude dismissal of longtime columnist Al Martinez.

Unlike many of the LAT honchos,Martinez knows the territory and understands it, and that knowledge and insight are implicit in everything he writes. As important, he has a unique perspective that made his columns “must” reading for countless Times readers.

And so the Times has just become a little thinner and less interesting. Again.

Martinez will survive, but, given its rapidly accumulating missteps, we’re not sure the Times will.