By Barbara Bennett Mid-City
My husband and I have lived in Mid-City since 1981, so I enjoyed a rueful chuckle at (Michael Tittinger’s) column (“Cartographers shrugged: Mid-City full of maybes,” Oct. 17).
Sometimes, however, I seriously wish we had a neighborhood association. We have been experiencing a dramatic increase in siren noise since Santa Monica/UCLA hospital’s new emergency room opened. The paramedics and ambulances appear to be using residential streets more and the sirens are louder. My husband has been in communication with both the hospital and the fire department on behalf of our homeowners’ association, but I fear we don’t get any respect as a real “’hood.” In fact, it is becoming one. There have been big changes in the demographics. I see large numbers of friendly young people walking their dogs and baby strollers these days, as well as an increase in the numbers of people using the bike path on Arizona Avenue. At the same time, the traffic has increased dramatically.
We, too, are sad to see the demise of the NuWilshire, but also didn’t get there very often.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 20, 2007. Read the original PDF.