Renewal Squeezes Poor

I was disappointed after reading the profile on Sepulveda (Aug. 25). It confirmed my suspicions that the intention to revitalize Sepulveda will ultimately result in driving out the area’s poor. A classic case of gentrification, badly done.

A person in the article used the term “shoveling out” when referring to the criminal element. However, along with the criminals, builders will eventually drive out the decent poor folks in the area as well.

Councilman Joel Wach’s aide and others talked of affordable housing. But the housing is only affordable to upper-middle-class people. Prices of $237,000 to $287,000 are hardly affordable by most people’s standards.

Redevelopment is good, but not if it hurts those who most need help in the area. My suggestion is, in the future less expensive housing should be built--as much as $100,000 less for single family homes ($137,000-$187,000) and continued building of rental units.

Things in the bad neighborhoods have not gotten much better and the entire community should benefit when rebuilding occurs.

JOHN SULLIVAN, Woodland Hills