Asian Influx in Suburbia

Your article (April 5), “Monterey Park: Nation’s First Suburban Chinatown,” is not a fair appraisal of the quality of life in that community. If “Anglos” and “Latinos” are hassled as described like being run over by shopping carts manned by Asians, etc., why do they continue to live here? They make up 60% of the population.

In 1985 Monterey Park was selected as an All-American city largely for its sensitivity in dealing with Asians. The Anglo-dominated Chamber of Commerce has a large Chinese-American committee, which works effectively on multiethnic projects.

There are no Chinese ghettos in Monterey Park. Asians live side by side with Latinos and Anglos. They work together at Neighborhood Watch meetings; their kids play together on Little League teams, are members of the same scouting groups.

Of course there are problems when large numbers settle in an area that had been somebody else’s turf. These problems are surmountable. The city and its people have been working them out.

In the past 40 years, Monterey Park has grown from 10,000 to 65,000: from a white, Anglo-Saxon community to becoming a prestige address for Latinos and Asians. It is and will continue to be a good place to live, work and raise a family.

Most Latinos and Anglos living here, and they make up 60% of the community, will continue to reside in Monterey Park. Many will work with Asians to solve problems that divide us.

ELI ISENBERG

Monterey Park

Isenberg is a former publisher and editor of the Monterey Park Progress.