Question: What direction is Altadena headed?...

Question: What direction is Altadena headed? What will it be like in five years, the year 2000?

PERCY BROWN

High school senior, volunteer at Loma Alta Park in Altadena

We’re in a crisis. My worry is the community’s recreation will be closed by the county. A lot of teen-agers, so-called gang members, are volunteering at these parks. But they’re at the point where they want to give up. As a 17-year-old African American, I could be out partying. Instead I’m coming to the park to volunteer. It’s been life-saving.

In five years, it will all be different if the county closes the parks. I see more violence, more kids hanging out in the street, more writing on the walls. You take away recreation, you turn your children into the enemy.

These county recreation people are here to tell children about their dreams. They taught me about my dreams. My worry is those people won’t be here because of the plan to shut down recreation, shut down libraries.

MIKE MANNING

Newly elected Town Council member and computer graphics company owner

This fellow in our VFW post, one of our original members, said the West Altadena neighborhood where he lived was terrible. People were knocking on his door at midnight looking for money. So he moved to Monrovia. He still comes to VFW. Is it significant that he moved? It’s atypical of Altadena as I know it.

I remain an optimist after living here for 50 years. Most people here figure out another way to deal with problems. And you know why? Altadena is a great place to live. You don’t have to run away to Idaho, Utah, Big Bear.

We’re creating an environment that’s not conducive to gangs. Even if it’s only 10% to 20% of the community who will fight problems, they will do that for the rest of the community and succeed.

I don’t see things deteriorating in five years, barring an unforeseen emergency like the sheriff’s station being closed because of county cuts.

ADOLFO MIRALLES

24-year resident, architect, chairman of Friends of La Vina, which opposes the housing development approved for the foothills

Altadena is the best-kept secret in Los Angeles. Our way of life is kind of rural. Our diversity may top them all. We have [everyone from] Nobel Prize winners to manual laborers. Altadena is going through a stage of frustration. We have been discovered by developers who are starting to change the community’s character. Our foothills of the Angeles National Forest are a great asset. We want to protect them. The openness, being next to the forest--if we lose that, we lose what we cherish most.

REV. YVONNE WILLIAMS BOYD

Pastor, Altadena United Methodist Church

I’ve only been in Altadena for five years. My husband’s a physician. We are looking to reside here a long time.

A kid in the seventh grade came to visit me after the Los Angeles rebellion. He lived in a nice neighborhood in Baldwin Hills. He said he felt like he was in the country. He appreciated not having to hear helicopters flying over the house.

What’s attractive is the way people of various backgrounds, cultures, racial and economic groups coexist. But sometimes I wonder if it’s a facade.

I see us being affected by teen-age crime. I don’t want to use the word gangs. I’ve heard there are gangs here, but they’re not as visible as in other communities.

It’s not that I see Altadena becoming utopia, but I do see us maintaining a sense of peacefulness.

--Interviews by Berkley Hudson .