Proposal for Topanga Golf Course

It is inconceivable to me that The Times would publish an article containing statements that slander an entire community such as the one written by Bob Pool (Dec. 5).

How dare Ray Miller of the Top-O-Topanga trailer park be allowed to call the 7,500 residents of this community “hippies left over from the ‘60s. They’re always finding dead bodies down there.” That’s certainly news to the Sheriff’s Department! As a matter of fact, Topanga has one of the very lowest crime rates in the L.A. area. The last homicide occurred in November, 1983. (Perhaps Mr. Miller is confused by the fact that, in February of 1983, the body of a man killed in Venice was dumped about 100 feet from the entrance of Mr. Miller’s trailer park.)

The legitimate worries of Topanga residents about increases in traffic, flooding and landslides, the chopping down of 263 oak trees, blocked access to the Backbone Trail (yours to use free of charge--unlike the guard-gated country club golf courses proposed by the developer) and the many other concerns were never touched upon by your reporter.

Mr. Pool would be well-advised to do his homework more carefully and stop trying to sensationalize an issue of such great importance to this community.

Yours for more responsible journalism.

JAN MOORE

Topanga