818 Area Code Boundaries

Moving the proposed boundary of the 818/626 area-code split was appropriate (“Cities Win Fight for 818 Code,” Nov. 27), but shows how shortsighted the commission is. Since 818 will have to be split again, and sooner than planned, why not do it now?

I think the overlay plan would be a big mistake, because when you are calling someone in another area code, you picture where they are to help remember which area code they’re in. With an overlay, how would you be sure unless you dialed and maybe got a wrong number? If we have to use the overlay system, why not restrict it to new pagers and cell phones, and require exisiting ones to switch over?

For the future I suggest, though I acknowledge it is a technically a difficult process, that we do what many other countries have been doing and simply add one more digit to our phone system. If everyone had to add one, it would be fair and we could keep our present area codes.

ANDY PEARLMAN

Marina del Rey

* I went to a public meeting at the Monterey Park City Hall that Pacific Bell gave to elicit input from our community regarding the proposed area-code split. What I came away with was that Pacific Bell really didn’t have any clear-cut criteria to rationally decide which valley would end up with the new area code.

I don’t have a problem with an arbritary decision. Neither valley can come out and legitimately say that their residents and businesses are going to be hit harder by the change. But since this was going to be a “flip of the coin” why didn’t Pac Bell just admit it? Then at least, those of us over here in the San Gabriel Valley would have felt like we had a 50-50 chance of keeping our numbers.

RANDY ISHINO

Monterey Park