MAILBAG

Rights come from knowledge of dangers

Dale Girard of Las Vegas contemptuously opines (“Just walk around the offensive people,” Mailbag, Wednesday) in response to the prior excellent Community Commentary (“Public must be protected from smoke,” July 14), “Since when do you (and others like you), have the right to tell anyone what to do with their equal space and time on this planet?”

I’ll tell you, Girard, since second-hand smoke has conclusively been proven to be a harmful substance that is dangerous to our health.

Girard wants other citizens to steer clear of smokers so as not to trample their rights. Really? Well, should we also give a wide berth to a hypothetical individual who was sprinkling asbestos dust or wielding an ax, to ensure that they have “equal space and time”?

Think about that the next time you (and others like you) so inconsiderately light up in a public place.

STEVE CAREY

Burbank

Courtesy makes for better neighbors

I have neighbors who, in the past couple of years, chose to purchase the home next door.

They have three kids. We were delighted and looking forward to a great relationship. Things were fine for awhile, but then I began to get visits from the city for suspected code violations, one of which is a vehicle in restoration, behind my gate, enclosed in my own yard.

Our neighbor denied making the reports, which I have found otherwise. I know I must live with my neighbors and, if approached about my old car, would have come to a reasonable resolve. It’s the right thing to do.

On Thursday, this neighbor washed his vehicle in his driveway and with his usual “don’t give a darn about you” attitude, squirted residual soap and water all over my vehicle, which was parked in my adjoining driveway. My wife approached him and said he might let us know so we could move our vehicles and spare another detail job, or please don’t water down our vehicles as it has already damaged the paint on our bright red truck with over spray of soap and water in the hot sun.

It’s not just washing his cars, but mud splattered on the new paint of my restored Camaro or anything within shot, including the side of my house when he decides to wash down his property.

He responded that he didn’t care and was not going to adjust his lifestyle around my vehicles in my driveway. I finally called the police to find that there is really no ordnance that will prohibit your neighbor from squirting water and soap onto your property or damaging anything in its way.

He has even squirted my new Tahoe when the window was down. A courtesy call (of which he has never done) to inform me that he was washing cars in his driveway may help.

It is unbelievable that there is no ordnance against this personal violation and disregard for others and their property.

A vehicle is a major investment, and it’s not as if I’m standing on ceremony with a line in the sand. I just do not wish to have continued aggressions played out and not have the ability to legally come to grips with a reasonable request.

I will be approaching the City Council in the hopes that an ordinance can be written. Neither of us intend to move soon, and I will not lower my standards toward others and reciprocate his deeds. It would make me just as disrespectful as he is. I personally do not wish to stoop to this level.

JAMES ETTER

Burbank