Caught in a Cul-De-Sac

In recent weeks, The Times has given significant attention to the proposed Beverly Hills annexation of several properties located in Los Angeles. The properties involved are situated within the Los Angeles cul-de-sac portion of a street that otherwise is in Beverly Hills. This means that all Los Angeles emergency service vehicles must enter through Beverly Hills to reach the Los Angeles residences in question.

We have at least six documented instances in the past three years when reluctance or confusion on the part of dispatchers resulted in the critical loss of potential life-saving measures. In one case, over 35 minutes passed before emergency assistance was forthcoming. Four of the six calls were to summon paramedics to assist critically ill residents of this area, two of whom later died. During this same period, no like incident befell our Beverly Hills neighbors living just yards away from us.

For even the most cynical, it should be apparent that fears and concerns for our safety demand urgent action, not just another appeal to Los Angeles authorities to provide better compasses and street guides for their emergency vehicles personnel. As concerned homeowners, we met frequently to address this problem and concluded that annexation to Beverly Hills, with attendant access to their emergency services, offered us the best hope for preserving life and limb--not our property values, as some have charged.

We unreservedly selected our neighbor Abe Knobel to coordinate this undertaking, based on his proven skills in civic matters, his integrity and even his courage. We cite this last attribute because we all recognized that cynics and skeptics were bound to ridicule or condemn our motives.

Regardless of the outcome of the annexation petition, let there be no doubt about the sincerity and propriety of our motives nor of the appreciation we extend to Mr. Knobel.

KATHY and BASIL CLYMAN

Los Angeles