Article Unfair to Senior Housing Plan

The Times’ article on June 13 regarding the proposed senior citizen housing project over a city-owned parking lot in Sherman Oaks was unfair and misleading.

As a former chief deputy to Zev Yaroslavsky, and a City Council candidate last April, I believe his proposal is creative in scope and helps to provide much-needed housing for senior and low-income families in the upscale Sherman Oaks community.

Howard Katz should be commended for coming up with this proposal to utilize a very valuable parcel of real estate for senior housing and increased off-street parking for the merchants of Ventura Boulevard. If this proposal is approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, seniors will be able to live in apartments priced at $200-$300 per month instead of the present $1,000 charged in the Sherman Oaks area.

Instead of pointing out the very positive aspects of this proposal, The Times insinuates Katz had an unethical involvement in the project because his wife serves on Yaroslavsky’s staff. Should the city prohibit Howard Katz from offering innovative proposals because his wife is employed by the city of Los Angeles? I hope not!

JACK McGRATH

North Hollywood