Population and Housing

* Side by side on the July 23 Valley Perspective page appear two pieces illustrating a serious problem not mentioned in either. In one, Sheila James Kuehl anticipates 6 million more people in this region over the next 20 years and appeals for regional transportation coherence (“Regional Plan With Multiple Options Makes Sense”). In the other, Shirley Svorny urges easier treatment of developers, who will then replenish our housing stock with high-density development “built to the corners of their lots,” presumably to shoehorn in those 6 million people (“Beyond Chase Knolls, a Larger Issue”).

The declining quality of life here is traceable to crowding. There is not one long-term resident who is saying, “Gosh, life is so much better in Southern California since 1970.” Instead, we have congestion, inconvenience, road rage and long commutes.

It is time to take personal responsibility by inaugurating a small-family policy such as that in China. It need not be absolute or draconian but would take the form of a tax break for families with zero, one or two children. It would show that the present generation cares for the quality of life of those who will live here in the future.

HERBERT G. ROSENBLOOM

North Hills

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I read Svorny’s “Second Opinion” with a sense of total disbelief. Svorny seems to be saying that the quality of life in the Valley will deteriorate if we don’t stand by and let developers destroy our historic buildings and neighborhoods and turn the entire Valley into a single, gigantic “luxury” condo complex. She states that only developers “willing to be vilified by tenants and neighbors, willing to deal with extortionist demands made by residents through the political system, will consider Valley projects.” Having our historic buildings and existing neighborhoods destroyed by greedy developers that don’t give a damn about the quality of life of the people that already live here (often for several decades) is definitely not my idea of progress, and trying to prevent this from happening is not extortion. I really do not care if more units are created than destroyed by bulldozing Chase Knolls. In fact, I hope I live to see the day that large housing complexes are torn down to make room for more buildings with lots of open space, like we see at Chase Knolls today.

There is an old saying that war is too important to be left to the generals. Let me update that a little. Development and quality of life are definitely too important to be left to economists.

ALBERT KNIGHT

San Fernando Valley

Historical Society