Renaming of a Community

* In “A Neighborhood by Any Other Name . . . “ on Feb. 24, the writer characterizes our community effort to rename our area in Van Nuys (bounded by Woodman Avenue on the west, Victory Boulevard on the north, Tujunga Wash on the east and Burbank Boulevard on the south) as nothing more than a greedy attempt to improve property values. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We are trying to create a safe, clean neighborhood with its own identity and a sense of pride. And we’ve come a long way. We have an extensive Neighborhood Watch organization with a captain on almost every block, as well as our own graffiti and neighborhood clean-up patrols. We originated the safe-house program, which has been adopted citywide, and have formed a neighborhood association.

Renaming our area is an integral part of what we are trying to do because it will help solidify our identity. We already have temporary signs up as “College / Walnut Park,” but we have not decided on the final name.

Whatever the name, and despite cynicism and opposition, we will achieve our goals--and that will benefit everyone.

EDWARD PLACIDI

Van Nuys

* “A Neighborhood by Any Other Name” fell disappointingly short in covering both our neighborhood association’s purpose and the attitude of its members. Over the years this neighborhood has worked vigorously to improve the area in many ways.

In fact, Gov. Wilson recently lauded the safe-house program as a model of innovative community response to the problem of child safety, a model that he wants to implement on a statewide basis.

Patricia Ward Biederman’s article ignores this lengthy history of a responsible community’s commitment to neighborhood quality-of-life issues to glibly sneer, “Call it what you will, it is still rat.” Would the article have been so condescending if our neighborhood were a part of Malibu or Santa Monica engaged in a similar effort? Or is it something about an area of middle-class householders in less than “glamorous” Van Nuys that brings out the sarcasm?

This is exactly the attitude that has given impetus to the Valley secession movement. We are working to improve our neighborhood and deserve to be taken seriously.

MARC and

LAUREL THURSTON

Van Nuys