Building-Limits Initiative

The article (Editorial Pages, April 13) by William L. Robertson, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, regarding the proposed city initiative on development, is a masterpiece of political obfuscation. His main premise seems to be that the passage of such an initiative would upset both the democratic process and the finely turned political balance this process has created. My opinion is that Robertson is wrong.

First, the initiative sponsored by Councilmen Marvin Braude and Zev Yaroslavsky is not a subversion of the political process, but merely another example of how our democratic process works.

Secondly, and even more important, the initiative is being proposed precisely because the finely tuned political process (about which Robertson is so concerned) has resulted in such chaos in Los Angeles.

As a native Angeleno, I have seen traffic and parking become more and more dense and difficult. The freeways often end up looking like giant parking lots; and quiet residential areas have become little more than off-street parking areas for adjacent commercial buildings.

This is the problem that the initiative addresses, and it is the one that Robertson should address as well. The fundamental issues of growth, jobs and limits to growth are in critical need of debate.

Robertson’s excellent reputation as a labor leader and concern for his union members is a legitimate area of discussion. However, his attempt to divert the issue into a discussion of “political process” is both misleading and unworthy of a person in his position.

NICHOLAS R. RAY

Encino