Elitism in a Name Change

As a resident of North Hollywood since 1978, I am appalled by the attitude and misinformation projected in Sam Enriquez’s article of June 14.

Comments quoted by North Hollywood Residents Assn. President Susan Levy and Valley Village secession leader Tom Paterson only serve to demonstrate that they are clearly out of touch with the demographics of this area.

It is true that North Hollywood housing prices range dramatically. However, the same disparity can be seen in Sherman Oaks, Encino and Woodland Hills. It is an uneducated generalization to imply that lower-priced homes are unkempt and located in crime-infested neighborhoods. Pride of ownership prevails throughout all price ranges.

It would be interesting to know how the Valley Village boundary was established. My home is just three blocks north of the Burbank Boulevard division between “North Hollywood” and the newly created Valley Village. My husband has been a real estate broker in this area for more than 12 years, and housing prices in our immediate area carry the same range as that cited by Valley Village representatives.

Changing the name of a community is simply an elitist attempt at segregation, and it is surprising that a wall topped with razor wire has not been included along with the new name.

MINDY TENNEN, North Hollywood