Neighborhood Noise Conflicts

Virtually unceasing noise suffered by an inner-city neighborhood caused by an adjacent religious school is characterized (July 22) as “a problem to do with the arcana of city zoning regulations.”

Those of us who live in inner-city neighborhoods would call it one of the many ways outsiders fail to show consideration for those who live in the neighborhood.

There is so much disrespect for inner-city neighborhoods by those who do not live in them that the words of the attorney for the Cheder of Los Angeles, while disheartening, are not surprising. He accuses those who oppose the constant noise of being “mean-spirited” and “anti-children.”

Because we have a similar situation in our neighborhood (except the noise is from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day), I know that part of the frustration is because so much of the noise is unnecessary and could be mitigated with no distraction from the business at hand. For example:

No honking except for an imminent danger (that excludes kids honking for entertainment or fathers honking for moms too slow) and keeping kids inside while adults are in class.

In our neighborhood, we have fashioned a test for people who belittle neighbors’ desires for a better quality of life. That test is: If you do not want it next to your home, do not have it next to ours.

When people realize that inner-city neighborhoods, though not wealthy in appearance, deserve as much respect as the most affluent area in the city, Los Angeles will become more livable for everyone.

PATSY CARTER

Chairwoman, The 23rd St. Neighbors

Los Angeles

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The article highlighted the bizarre attitudes toward city life that living in Los Angeles can foster.

In most societies the voices of children playing nearby are considered a gift, a literal reminder of our connectedness to people beyond our homes and families. Municipal policy is largely focused on making urban space usable by communities, pedestrians and businesses, not automobiles.

In L.A., though, a day’s isolation from children typical of most workplaces and hours spent driving on the freeway brings out wholly other expectations. Some Angelenos feel more at home among a parking lot filled with empty automobiles than among children frolicking in a playground.

This loss of a sense of being part of a larger community deeply ails our city. With attitudes like this, is it any wonder that barely a finger is lifted to bring jobs to South-Central, expand the MTA public bus system, support affirmative action or welcome poor immigrants from Mexico?

HANY KHALIL

Los Angeles