Occupancy Limits Editorial Criticized

Clearly, Santa Ana’s attempt to limit occupancy cannot stand. As The Times editorial (“How Many Is Too Much,” June 1) correctly pointed out, Santa Ana and other California cities are “reeling from population increases caused by immigration.”

This does not free city government from the responsibility of providing each and every resident with clean, safe, sanitary housing. Oh, I know, there isn’t enough money to keep the street paved or pick up the trash. But, by golly, we can’t expect residents to be responsible for their own housing.

Since the editorial writer didn’t see fit to describe just how the cities are to provide all this housing, I have a suggestion: Each city should simply require all homeowners to open their residences as free rooming houses. A typical four-bedroom house could easily accommodate 40 people in compliance with the state standard. Note that this approach doesn’t require raising any taxes and that, in the long run, we would all become much closer friends.

DOUGLAS S. McDONALD, Yorba Linda