Let Owners Rebuild Just What Was Damaged

Gary Squier (Letters, Dec. 11) attempts to defend his department by accusing me of misrepresenting the city’s Earthquake Emergency Loan Program in my Valley Commentary article of Nov. 27.

Because of his position as general manager of the L.A. Housing Department, I would urge Mr. Squier to become more familiar with his own Earthquake Emergency Program. Under the guise of “affordable housing,” this city department has been promoting a densification that will destroy the infrastructure of Los Angeles.

The basic idea behind the program is to assist owners of earthquake-damaged properties, as well as property owners who failed to receive help from the federal government. Unfortunately, the city’s plan will only result in an increase of low-income housing because it offers owners of earthquake-damaged apartments a zero interest-rate loan, but only if 40% of the units rebuilt will fall within the “low-income” category. What apartment owner would refuse this type of program? This will do nothing more than create a vehicle for the crowding of low-income housing into areas where none existed before. I fully agree with the statement made by Councilman Hal Bernson--and that is, “The purpose of this money was to help rebuild buildings--it was not intended for social engineering.”

If the city truly wanted to assist those who couldn’t qualify for federal assistance, a legitimate program would be one that allows those property owners to rebuild and replace only what was damaged by the earthquake, without any strings attached.

DON SCHULTZ

Van Nuys

Schultz is president of the Van Nuys Homeowners Assn.