Letters : Homes in Lake View Terrace

Before writing the article “Homes Selling in Run-Down Areas” (Dec 9.) staff writer Stephanie Chavez interviewed me by telephone for approximately 45 minutes regarding my company’s investment in the area. Specifically, we discussed our 242-unit detached home development at the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Foothill Boulevard.

During the interview, I not only outlined my enthusiasm for Pacoima but told of my substantial financial commitment to this area as illustrated by the additional three projects, which will be starting early next year.

Upon reading this article, I was more than disturbed by Ms. Chavez’s inference that I was trying to align myself with Lake View Terrace rather than Pacoima.

I believe the individuals of both Lake View Terrace and Pacoima (civic, business, and political) all see the wonderful potential of this general area and are doing a great service to the City of Los Angeles by their efforts to bring about the continued success of this emerging community within our city.

DENNIS DEVINE Sherman Oaks Devine is president of the Devine Corp. Al Martinez Columns Columnist Al Martinez’s caricature of a dispute in the city of San Fernando regarding the licensing of a pool hall near a mental health clinic (Dec. 17) was offensive. His attempt to poke fun at mental health workers and their clients and to portray this dispute in terms of some sort of religious crusade does not do justice to the issues involved.

My objections and those of others are not against pool or those who play it. They relate to the experience of having another pool hall located in the immediate vicinity of our residences and work. Isn’t it a little naive on Mr. Martinez’s part to be oblivious to the likelihood of the same undesirable clientele’s moving the few blocks to the proposed new site? His contention that the proposed pool hall would offer wholesome entertainment does not stand up in the light of these local realities.

I also take objection to Mr. Martinez’s demeaning references to clients of the mental health clinic. I hope a more compassionate attitude will prevail among local residents and they will give priority to making mental health services really available and accessible to people in need in our community.

THE REV. THOMAS H. RUSH San Fernando Al Martinez has made outrageous and degrading remarks about women. I am not a radical but, believe me, he made me mad. Perhaps that was his intention. I might remind you that half of this here world is feminine. That means half of your subscribers, half of the customers that read your ads, half of the voters and half of the taxpayers who if I recollect are not burning their bras but working very hard to contribute.

Mr. Martinez may not respect women, but I think the L.A. Times should. Where did you get him anyway?

DIANA MOSER Sherman Oaks It really makes my blood boil when I read some of the anti-women sentiments voiced by your “macho-man,” Al Martinez.

He has referred to women as “a little erratic sometimes, but then, like crab grass among wildflowers, they are an essential part of nature.” He also wrote, “If the women’s movement hadn’t became popular, half the feminists in the Valley would be licking stamps for the John Birch Society. . . “ (Dec. 13)

I’m shocked, and frankly I think your paper is disgraced.

I am a 53-year-old woman, mother of seven children, grandmother of five and a loving wife to my husband. I am a feminist also, and resent what Al Martinez has to say about women.

THELMA CHURCH Canoga Park