Dislikes Change in The Times

* The new Valley section of the Los Angeles Times saddens me. Its small-town flavor belies the cosmopolitan nature of the city we’re all a part of.

As a 17-year white resident of Pacoima, I feel embarrassed to think my neighbors are being insulted by the racist, xenophobic tone of columns that portray Panorama City as a dangerous ghetto (how would Scott Harris describe Pacoima?), letters to the editor condemning street vendors selling corn (would greasy fast food or drugs be preferable?), and news stories (such as opposition to Sikh and Muslim congregations) that cater to the anti-immigrant, Valley separatist attitude.

To be fair, there is coverage of the entire Valley in all areas, and the Voices and Nuestro Tiempo sections are great, but the replacement of the Metro/Valley with the Valley section panders to the restrictive covenant mentality that would like to roll up the streets of the few remaining “good” (read “upper class, white”) neighborhoods and transport them back to the ‘50s.

NORA CUNNINGHAM

Pacoima