Leo McCarthy Hears Recital of Valley Concerns

Representatives of about a dozen San Fernando Valley and hillside homeowners associations Saturday voiced concerns over a variety of Valley issues--from billboards to Burbank Airport--to Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy at a meeting in Sherman Oaks.

“We want to tell you our concerns, ask your help,” Richard Close, president of Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., told McCarthy during the 45-minute meeting at Close’s house.

Tom Patterson, president of North Hollywood Homeowners Assn., told McCarthy the City of Los Angeles should join in operating Burbank Airport, which he called his group’s top concern because of noise, pollution and safety concerns. The airport is run by a joint Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena agency.

Several representatives spoke out against an oil pipeline, proposed by a consortium of petroleum companies, which would run from Santa Barbara to southern Los Angeles. Although the main proposed route is mostly east of the Valley--through Sylmar, Burbank, Glendale and the Los Feliz district--an alternate proposal would route the pipeline through the central Valley, mainly under Balboa and Sepulveda boulevards.

Critics said the pipeline would run through a highly populated area with many earthquake faults.

Jerry Silver, president of Homeowners of Encino, gave McCarthy a copy of a proposal that would levy tax surcharges on businesses in highly developed areas in an effort to discourage private investment in those areas.

“Our problem isn’t too little development but too much.” Silver told McCarthy. “It’s not good enough to simply stop development. We want the clock rolled back.”