Warner Ridge Bad for All

In many conversations with your reporters, I have emphasized that my opposition to the Warner Ridge development is based on one sound planning principle: Stable residential neighborhoods should be protected from the intrusion of massive commercial development. The Warner Ridge developers seek to violate this concept. Their plan to construct an intense high-rise office center east of De Soto Avenue is clearly incompatible with the adjacent community.

I imagine it is easier to attribute actions to political motivation than it is to provide readers with an understanding of complicated planning decisions. By characterizing the Warner Ridge controversy as pure politics, your writers have trivialized an issue which has significant consequences citywide.

The decisions made by a few judges ruling in favor of the Warner Ridge developers are bad for every community, from Chatsworth to San Pedro, now threatened with overbuilding. Your subscribers would have been better served by responsible reporting focusing on the issues rather than personalities.

Although disappointed by the court decisions that have favored the Warner Ridge developer over the community, I remain convinced that fighting to protect neighborhoods is a most worthy cause.

I chose public service as a career knowing full well that it would not always be easy and that I wouldn’t win all the battles. However, effective leaders must not shy away from taking on powerful interest groups. I will continue to fight for the people I represent.

JOY PICUS

Reseda

Picus represents the southwestern San Fernando Valley in the Los Angeles City Council.