Dogs in Laurel Canyon Park

In Doug Smith’s story about Laurel Canyon Park (March 1) I am quoted as attributing the disappearance of the Mulholland Racers to the presence of dogs.

Not true. The Racers were a nighttime threat to the park. The gang activity I referred to was drug-related and certainly known to the police, who later were my source for the information about gangs and dogs. Whatever the reason the Racers finally left, the fact remains that we kept them out of the park for five months.

Renee Weitzer’s hope of compromise with ParkWatch must have died six months ago, since she was present in Councilman Joel Wachs’ office when the Fryman proposal was first made last September. Unfortunately, nobody bothered to let us know, since we have never received a response to this or any other suggestion, including the petitions of 1,165 people who requested no change in the park. Councilman Wachs also appears to have forgotten that day last May when he was asked about the possibility of an area in the park for dogs. His reply, clearly heard by several people, was that there was no possibility it would ever be in Laurel Canyon Park!

Meanwhile, we have had a taste of what political displeasure can do. The time of four animal regulation officers, and their supervisors, is now devoted to Laurel Canyon Park. If Councilman Wachs had been as vigilant in answering our pleas for help to stop the crime and vandalism in the same park in 1981, there would have been no need for a ParkWatch.

It is not a simple “kids versus dogs” issue. Children have been coming to the park ever since it was made safe for them. For nearly three years we were commended for our success in showing how a few people willing to dedicate their time and resources can transform a neighborhood disaster into a community asset at no cost to the city’s taxpayers. As long as we did the work and paid the security bills, nobody gave any sign of caring about the dogs--until Councilman Wachs decided to “improve” Laurel Canyon Park. The results are proving to be interesting to political watchers everywhere.

JANE PURSE

Hollywood

Purse is the founder of ParkWatch.

Your article “It’s a Dogfight” did not properly describe our park or the members of ParkWatch. I have never seen a dog fight at the park and would never bring my children (ages 8, 2 and infant) as well as two dogs to the park if it were dangerous or we were unwelcome.

The park is unique. People come to this particular park because of the ability to run their dogs and children together. I say, “Let it be!” The park serves more people the way it is now than it ever has in the past . . . or will in the future if Joel Wachs continues to harass the park users.

LAURIE HUTTON

Los Angeles