Northeast Valley’s Housing Crisis

* While The Times fairly portrayed the North Valley Area Planning Commission’s actions in approving the Lakeview Manor affordable housing project, your report (“Residents Lose Appeal on Housing,” Nov. 17) did overlook significant facts:

* The Planning Commission had convened to hear an appeal to a previous approval of the project, which would provide 56 three- and four-bedroom affordable units. Your article gave no attention to the fact that there are almost no units of this size at an affordable rent available anywhere in the city, despite a tremendous need for them. Instead of focusing on the housing crisis in the northeast San Fernando Valley--so thoroughly documented in earlier Times stories--your article rehashed old news stories about personalities involved in the project and gave a lot of space to opponents concerned that the project would risk overburdening Lake View Terrace “with a high concentration of the city’s poor.” It is difficult to credit this argument, considering that the project will help only 56 families out of the tens of thousands that need this type of housing.

* The Times failed to give its readers any background on the meritorious work conducted by the nonprofit housing development corporation that is a partner in the project. NEED--Neighborhood Empowerment and Economic Development Inc.--is the largest nonprofit housing organization in the Valley, with eight buildings serving over 200 low-income families.

* The Times’ report ignored the many members of the immediate community who attended the hearing in support of Lakeview Manor, voicing concerns over the dire need for quality, affordable housing. They outnumbered opponents 2 to 1, a fact that went unreported.

Lakeview Manor’s merits lay in the relief it will bring to families caught in the city’s housing crisis. It is our hope that the citizens of Los Angeles will recognize the desperate need for this housing and demonstrate a bit of compassion for the city’s poor.

JAMES E. ACEVEDO

President,

NEED Board of Directors

North Hills