Neighbors Look to a Name and Find Pride

To the cynic, a community name change is exclusivity driven by greed. To its residents, a community name change is hope driven by empowerment.

When I moved my family to the area now known as West Toluca Lake, dreams of a quiet, safe environment proved elusive. But flight was not an option, so I decided to try to change things.

I talked with neighbors, attended Neighborhood Watch meetings and tried to identify problems: graffiti, traffic, crime, noise and parking were the most common complaints. But there was something else. We as a community felt powerless. We had a different Zip Code from North Hollywood, a different councilman and different geographical boundaries. We were not included in the tens of millions of dollars spent on “NoHo.” We were adrift in North Hollywood.

So we began a two-year quest for identity--and secession.

Countless neighborhood meetings, a steering committee, the drafting of bylaws for a residents association and dealing with government bureaucracies filled our agenda. And with each step something marvelous happened. People became excited about our neighborhood. Pride developed as we chose a community name. Neighborhood Watch participation swelled as almost half of the 200-plus eligible households joined the residents association. Our summer block party drew larger crowds. And finally, on Aug. 5, our new community signs were posted. West Toluca Lake was official.

Our strategy was simple: We got to know one another and began to care. A sense of community responsibility began to take hold. Through the West Toluca Lake Residents Assn. we found a voice and are tackling problems with the force of community. Parking problems are gone, abandoned cars are removed and a graffiti committee wipes out tags as soon as they appear. Small victories, but victories nonetheless.

The problems facing West Toluca Lake are the ones facing Los Angeles. They are immense and daunting, but we have found that individuals can make a difference by working together, step by step, neighborhood by neighborhood.

In an Oct. 6 editorial, The Times said the founding of West Toluca Lake was motivated by greed (higher property values) and that it contributes to a loss of wider community. West Toluca Lake residents abhor this cynical response to a genuine grass-roots movement. But we agree with The Times on this point: “Names don’t make--or change--communities. People do.” And if it takes a thousand West Toluca Lakes to make Los Angeles a city where we can all live in safety, raise our children and pursue our individual dreams of the future, then so be it.