THANK YOU!!!!! This is wonderul!!! A regular newsletter about our community will be a step toward cohesiveness and promote caring about affordable housing and other critical issues involving quality of life.

LISA EDMONDSON
Sept. 30, 2006

1. Variance requests for 3706 S. Overland [at Regent].  First, no variances should be approved that in any way change the ambiance in the neighborhood created by the restrictions that were imposed on the present adjacent buildings.  Landscaping and walkways benefit the look of the neighborhood and preserve right of ways should lanes for parking or street widening become necessary at a later date.  Setbacks are very important and should not be changed.
 
2. A poll of the residences on the west side of the Blockbuster property [blue bldgs. in the center] and the Woodcliff apartments on Overland just south of the property indicate a very strong desire for a coffee house, local snack shop, NOT restaurant, that would service the hundreds of walk-in residents in the area.

Support by the east side of Overland [black arrow] and the Palms area would help to encourage the real estate representative to entice a usable, resident friendly business to the neighborhood.

A copy of the poll is attached and may be presented or forwarded to members of the Palms area for their input. 

CAROLINE ALLEY
Sept. 21, 2006

[Editor's note: This letter was sent to the Palms Neighborhood Council. The aerial from Google.com shows Overland on the right, with National Place (left) running into National Blvd. across Overland. For a copy of the Blockbuster poll, click here.]

If anything came of the soundwall issue, please let me know. At least I got it on people's radar.
 
The new soundwall [on the north side of the I-10 Rosa Parks Freeway] is already covered with graffiti, as those wonderful murals have been for a long time. There is a train tunnel for the exposition line under the 405 nearby which few people know about. The taggers all over the city know about the tunnel, and they go there to tag because they are not interrupted. Then they come tag the walls.
 
I fail to see why the cops don't do more to get taggers when they know a certain section of highway gets tagged so frequently. 

STEVEN D. KLEIN
Sept. 10, 2006

[Editor's note: This letter was sent to the Palms Neighborhood Council. For a philosophic look at the fate of the L.A. Marathon mural by the artist who painted it, go to our Features Page.]

I noted in your newsletter another apt bldg being built in Palms. For what its worth, most of the residential streets in Palms were not built for the increased population of changing single family dwellings to apartments or condos. Increased traffic and not enough parking.

At a minimum anyone building apts or condos in Palms should have to build two and one half parking spaces for every bedroom. It won't help the conjestion but perhaps the parking.

Also every apt, condo, duplex and home should be required to have a large tree in front of it on the sidewalk. Otherwise the neighborhood looks like a ghetto instead. We also need the trees for air quality and pollution.

Look at beverly hills, brentwood, pacific palisades. They have trees!!! Trees and green increase home values.

Asphalt and pavement decrease values.

PAMELA IRWIN
Sept. 12, 2006

[Editor's note: The writer sent a similar message, below, to the Palms Neighborhood Council. The photo above is of a tree on Bentley Åve. which is threatened by construction of a condominium building.]

It was with great sadness that I read about the untimely retirement of Crenshaw High School principal Charles Didinger [Ex-Palms Principal Calls It Quits at Crenshaw High School].

As a homeowner and neighbor of Palms Middle School I, along with my neighbors, had the privilege of working with Mr. Didinger to solve many community problems created by our proximity to the school.  Mr. Didinger not only took an active role in solving many of our problems but he fostered and encouraged the high academic standards at Palms Middle School.

Yes, Palms Middle School is one of the highest-achieving middle schools in the city, but to say it "runs itself" is a stupid and irresponsible statement.  It runs well because the administrative staff, teachers and parents work hard to create an environment where learning is paramount.

Mr. Didinger was an outstanding administrator and his early departure is a tremendous loss to the Los Angeles Unified School District and the children that it serves.

MIRJA BISHOP
August 31, 2006

I have an issue that I wanted to discuss with someone — the graffiti in the area along the 10 Freeway has become unbearable. The sound barrier that has been erected [on the north side] is nothing more than a blank canvas for the hooligans that have no respect for our beautiful area. I drive that freeway every day to and from work and am horrified by the hideous markings on the new walls.

Surely there is an organization that can repaint, and perhaps we can have better surveillance from the CHP to catch the culprits in the process. Any information you have as to how this problem can be dealt with is greatly appreciated.

NAME WITHHELD
August 25, 2006

[Editor's note: The writer sent this message to the Palms Neighborhood Council.]

I thought you might be interested in posting some info about the new Farmer's Market at Grand View and Venice.  It's held every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and it's currently about a block long.  We went for the first time this past Sunday and enjoyed the fresh fruit and vegetables and a nice feeling of building something new on the Westside.  If I had some talent as a photographer I'd provide some pictures.
  By the way, I used to go to the Palms theater and the picture you have posted brought back lots of good memories. 

ROBERTA SCHILLER
August 21, 2006

[Editor's note: The writer is a Westside Village homeowner who is on the Board of the Mar Vista Community Council. We congratulate the folks in Mar Vista who have labored so long to establish this new farmers market, which apparently is doing quite well. Palms has had a farmers market for many years, although we've had to share it with Culver City. It's in business each Tuesday on Bagley Ave. just south of Venice Blvd. Photos here.]

[Editor's note: The writer is a member of the boards of the Westside Village homeowners assn. and the Mar Vista Community Council. He addressed the following to Sharon Commins, head of a Mar Vista subcommittee that will examine changes the the official city plan for Palms-Mar Vista-Del Rey, with copies to various community leaders. This letter and the one below have been edited.]

Todd Robinson, Palms NC [Neighborhood Council] board vice-president and urban planning chair, included on the Palms NC Board agenda an invitation of Palms to join Del Rey and Mar Vista to expand the Concept Plan idea to the entire Palms-Mar Vista-Del Rey Community Plan.

The board had just discussed a new mixed-use development at Palms/Motor that generated a lot of discussion on mixed-used development and housing, parking and traffic, and at times there was some acrimony between those favoring and opposing the project.
 
Of course, this is similar