Crowding Is Unhealthy

I am responding to your article on problems at Las Casitas condominiums in Thousand Oaks (“Close Quarters Magnify Crime, Nuisances,” Feb. 18). Only when the press identified the unhealthy and dangerous living conditions in the area did city officials start working with the concerned residents.

One of the persons interviewed was Tina Rasnow of Channel Counties Legal Services that “represents the poor.” We think that Tina would be well-advised to spend a few nights at Las Casitas.

She would find boom boxes going most of the night, along with drunks outside her bedroom bellowing to the music and later vomiting all over the lawn. Poor people do not necessarily forget their neighbors in our society, so we feel that this is not the real problem.

Residents have counted as many as 25 persons living in a two-bedroom unit with one bath to serve all. Just how healthy is this for them and the people living nearby? Only the wallets of landlords are fat and healthy, at a great cost to the rest of the community.

All that Las Casitas residents are asking for is a safe and healthy environment in which to live and raise their families. Whether we rent or own, that is the standard we all seek. With the help of local law enforcement and city officials, we shall attain this standard.

EDITH JOHNES

Thousand Oaks