Anger Over Above-Ground Light Rail

Iam writing this (my first) letter to the editor fueled by a sense of anger, sadness, fear and intense frustration. I attended the March 8 Los Angeles County Transportation Commission hearing on light rail and came away angry and puzzled by what I saw and by the final outcome.

I do not understand the vendetta the business community and the LACTC have against San Fernando Valley homeowners. Homeowners are not for gridlock. They do not oppose rapid transit, and they are not unwilling to compromise. But they are for saving their neighborhoods and homes by fighting for rail transit in subway configuration in residential areas.

And yet thousands of Valley homeowners were cavalierly told by the LACTC to put their lives on hold for yet another year while an environmental impact report is completed which includes aerial or ground-level light rail through residential neighborhoods. This action was taken even after four hours of testimony in which homeowners asked only that fairness prevail and neighborhoods not be destroyed by above-ground rail lines.

I cannot understand how rail proponents can expect affected homeowners to ignore trolleys on metal tracks running continuously by their homes. Why do they expect these homeowners to sacrifice and give up any semblance of peace in their homes for the “common good” of commuters living in outlying communities? Why did the Warner Center business community find it necessary to charter busloads of “office workers” to the hearing to speak for light rail at any cost, human or otherwise? Who gave business owners and Chamber of Commerce leaders the power to ruin homeowners’ lives and neighborhoods?

Most of these homeowners do not live in expensive neighborhoods. They are modest, middle-class homes, many occupied by middle-class wage earners who cannot afford to move to flee this threat. Those who try to sell are forced to disclose the light-rail situation, which seriously deters buyers. These homeowners are already affected by light rail even before the EIR is completed.

There is only one solution to this problem, and it is called compromise. Homeowners realize that this transportation system will eventually traverse their neighborhoods, but they ask that it be underground to allow them protection from the noise, vibration and pollution. The business interests must be fair and agree to this also.

MIKIE MALONEY

Sherman Oaks