Changing Life Styles in the Canyon

Thank you for publishing Amy Pyle’s story on Kagel Canyon (Oct. 3). It clearly illustrates what has happened to the San Fernando Valley and adjacent areas in the past 25 years.

There was a time in the not so distant past when the Valley was spacious enough to accommodate free spirits such as Robert Winemiller. Before too long, however, developers lusting for more property transformed these “old-timers,” some native to the Valley, into nothing more than obstacles to be removed in order to make a larger profit.

Why do these types of people have to “urbanize,” in the words of Supt. Dan Wolfe of the County Public Works Department, simply because people like Russell Cataldo do not find their life style appealing? Did Cataldo not notice Winemiller’s property when he bought his own in 1983, or was he simply content in knowing he could use the system to get rid of Winemiller?

Perhaps Cataldo should have built his house with mirrors instead of windows so that he would not have to see any life style other than his own. Ah, but then he would lose the view of the Valley which Cataldo must think he purchased exclusive rights to when he bought his land. What to do? What to do?

Well, with County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, the patron saint of developers, on his side, I’m sure Cataldo will win this struggle and Winemiller will end up living the rest of his years in some cheap motel on Sepulveda Boulevard, yet another victim of those with the power to make the rest of us conform to their standards.

GARY E. MURPHY

Panorama City