Community Commentary:

I applaud the Adams Hill visionaries who opened up the former homeowners association to renters and business owners and formed a more inclusive neighborhood association [“Group widens reach,” Sept. 25]. I also share the Glendale News-Press editorial position [“Adams Hill association is ahead of the curve,” Sept. 26] that a group of all stakeholders is more effective politically than a mere homeowners group.

The Crescenta Valley Community Assn. was formed in mid-2007 as a cross-jurisdictional organization representing stakeholders in the Crescenta Valley, including portions of Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge and Los Angeles, as well as unincorporated La Crescenta-Montrose.

Residents, business owners, and property owners are represented, often by the leadership of other groups, such as homeowners associations and chambers of commerce. Glendale and La Cañada City Council members, and members of both the Crescenta Valley Town Council and the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council often attend our monthly meetings.

Several land use issues in the area have caused an upsurge in resident interest these past few years and we realized the part of Glendale north of Honolulu Avenue was not represented on the Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council.

Taking the organization at its name, in 2008 my husband and I formed a sub-group of Crescenta Valley Community Assn. for those homeowners living north of Honolulu Avenue between Lowell and Pennsylvania avenues, the “Glendale Annex.” We called it the Far North Glendale Homeowners and gained membership in the coordinating council.

Our group has always considered all stakeholders when evaluating issues and I hope the Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council welcomes the newly expanded Adams Hills group. If the coordinating council’s leadership wishes to restrict membership to homeowners, perhaps a separate sub-group of Adams Hill Neighborhood Assn. members who are Glendale homeowners is the solution.

When the issue came up during the Sept. 14 Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council meeting, I learned some groups already represented property owner groups rather than just owner-occupied homes. I fear absentee landlords might have different concerns than those of us who live in the neighborhoods.

Regardless of how the situation evolves, I think it’s excellent there’s enough interest in local issues to get more people out and active.

The next Crescenta Valley Community Assn. and Far North Glendale Homeowners meeting is at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Dunsmore Park Community Room, 4700 Dunsmore Ave.

 SHARON WEISMAN is a La Crescenta resident.