Letters: Baldwin Hills’ deadly past

Re “Recalling a deadly cascade,” Dec. 15

I witnessed the break in the Baldwin Hills Reservoir dam 50 years ago from my parents’ home on Cloverdale Avenue. The KTLA news van parked in the empty lot next door and reported on the massive flood as it was happening.

I was 16 years old and had returned home with my best friend after having lunch and shopping. The image of that day and the events that followed have never left us.

In 1966, the neighborhood was threatened again when a landfill was proposed for the empty reservoir site. My father helped to organize the neighbors by passing out printed notices and hiring buses to take residents downtown to protest.

I’m proud that Baldwin Hills now has an amazing recreation center instead of a landfill.

Laurie Kelson

Encino

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