Op-Ed Article on West Hills

Mr. Zycher is an able practitioner of sophistry. Disinformation was rampant throughout the overabundant verbiage.

The West Hills Property Owners Assn. did not present any petitions to Joy Picus. The association did not form until May 18, 1987, four months after West Hills became a community. The petitions were from 78% of the people of the area.

The statement that property values in Canoga Park have been decreased because of West Hills is without foundation and an absurd argument. They will appreciate as they always have. In fact, as development in Woodland Hills increases, they will become even more desirable. Canoga Park itself has received a new infusion of pride, led by the North Canoga Park Homeowners Assn. and its beautification program. These efforts should be applauded rather than ignored.

Now we come to the statement of “a special-interest group attempting to use the political process for appropriating the wealth of others.” Gee-whiz, folks, I wish I’d known about that. I’ve been involved in West Hills since the beginning and given an incredible amount of hours to its development. With the kids having grown two sizes over the summer and the outlay for clothes that I’ll have for school, I’d like to know where this appropriated wealth is. I think the other residents of West Hills would like that information as well.

Then we have the obvious statement that if we didn’t want to live in Canoga Park, we shouldn’t have purchased property there. I’m sure King George III said that when the 13 colonies petitioned to become a “designated country.” It may be recalled that the request was made because a group of “dissatisfied constituents” wanted to control their own destiny, because they found the representation of their interest lacking.

Perhaps it is no longer vogue to believe in “power to the people,” but West Hills isn’t based on being trendy or on property values. It simply wants to be a small community that encourages its residents to be involved and care about their “hometown.”

It isn’t wealth, property values or elitism. It is not wanting a distant, large city, which is overburdened with its own problems, to decide every aspect of your life. It is about working long hours to buy your piece of the American Dream and wanting to keep hold of it.

RITA SEASHORE

West Hills