Proposition U: Growth Limits

The Times (Oct. 29) urges a no vote on City Proposition U because the threat of “another initiative” should keep the Los Angeles City Council from falling back to “its old bad habits” of pandering to developers.

Fat chance. Such is not the character of our council. Witness the decimation of Councilman Howard Finn’s district, just after his death, during the reapportionment theatrics. Despite pleas from the district’s citizens, the council members showed no shame as they carved it up.

More recently the council and the Planning Commission tried to undermine Proposition U by ram- rodding a massive rezoning package, without due process. Only when the city attorney pointed out that this was illegal did the council and commission give up.

For years now, the expressed concerns of neighborhood groups have fallen on deaf ears. Ill-placed and rampant commercial growth have ruined the tranquility of many residential areas. Expedient action is needed to halt further deterioration.

Getting the Coast Initiative and Proposition 13 on the ballot meant nothing. Voter approval is the key. The only hope for reasonable growth in Los Angeles is passage of Proposition U.

THOMAS JEFFERSON COLE

Los Angeles