Homeowner comments lead to controversy

I believe appalling is a fair description for the disdain Mr. Lahana and the Morrison Ranch HOA's Board express for lower income people. But I am not surprised. Some years ago, the City Council of Westlake Village, except for Betty DeSantis, also chose to do all they could to avoid the state's mandate that a fair share of affordable housing be included in every city's general plan. Betty may have been the only person on that council who worked with moderate income people during her professional career.

As an attorney, Mr. Lahana must be aware of state law on general plans and mandated use of redevelopment agency funds which the city of Agoura Hills seeks to honor. Thousand Oaks has done an outstanding job in providing affordable housing, including for our seniors, and even housing for the homeless in that community. I wonder how many even know where those projects are.

I have a son and a daughter who chose to teach, and another who loves cooking and chooses to be a chef in upscale Italian restaurants. I guess I should be happy he did not choose to be with the criminals Mr. Lahana finds in the fast food industry.

Two of these children would be moderate income; one would be low income in the wage earner spectrums Agoura Hills seeks to accommodate. None can afford to live in our area. One lives in Ontario, Calif., another in Central Coast, and my low-income teacher daughter in rural Virginia. In her wealthy county, Albermarle, there are many programs to attract teachers, police, firefighters and even restaurant workers to that county. She even took advantage of one of them, a no-interest loan to fix up her home. Shame on her for raising her two sons in a wealthy area.

So where does the Morrison HOA draw the line? A plumber I know returning from Iraq? How about a recent honors grad from college likely to start out in the low income category under $56,000 per annum? I remember when some North Ranch homeowners were concerned that much lower priced housing was going in at Morrison Ranch. Oh, how the world turns. Joseph M. Bowman Westlake Village