"Sit up and Take Notice" and "Evicted by Greedy Landlords"

September 22, 2003

Dear Editor,

I just read the piece about the takeover of PNA. ("PNA Incumbents Ousted in Surprise Takeover," Sept.23)

Strangely enough, I happened to write a letter to another online paper last week saying something to the effect that if people didn't like the events going on in their neighborhood, then every resident should join PNA and begin to tackle
the complex neighborhood problems.

I don't take credit for what happened, but it sure made me sit up and take notice! For all the new PNA board members, congratulations and felicidades! and a caveat -- power = responsibility.

haRa beck
ocean park

Sept. 21, 2003

Dear Editor,

About a year and a half ago Jorge Casuso wrote an article about my eviction. ("Tenant Evicted to Make Way for Required On-site Manager," Jan. 31, 2002.)

In the article, Gordon P. Gitlen is quoted as saying there was no manager on-site when the building was purchased by 726 Idaho investor's Mike Seltzer and their parent company Xenon Investment corp., Rohit Mehta.

This statement is absolutely false. There was a manager on-site. Furthermore, after I vacated the apartment, no manager was ever put in my unit, in fact the former manager who Gitlen claimed wasn't there was offered his job back.

The complaint that was filed on Sept. 11, 2002 Downtown Los Angeles Superior Court (Case #BC281307) tells the truth and is buttressed by depos and witness statements.

I must say I'm rather perturbed that your organization didn't bother to check the facts and automatically assumed Gitlen was correct. I noticed Gitlen's law firm as well as the organization he's president of; Action Apartment Association advertise on your Web page. I hope this doesn't create some kind of bias in favor of landlords.

Sincerely,