Letters to the editor: Sisters deserve criticism; stop building apartments

‘Rancor’ over closing justified

In Ms. Petzi’s letter she opines over the negative reaction the Sisters of Notre Dame have received in their decision to close La Reina High School. She urges us to “let the rancor go,” emphasizing the school’s positive impact on thousands of students.

Nobody is disputing the value of a La Reina education. In fact, it is that very education we are fighting to preserve. I am an alumna of the school (1990) as are both my daughters (’18 and ’22). I have also been the school’s photographer for more than 12 years. My roots run deep here. I have been beyond grateful to the SND for the education we received. But if La Reina has taught me anything it is these words from our alma mater — “defend all that’s good, esteem the right and fair.”

Accepting donations and application fees while knowing about the impending closure is unethical at the very least. They have caused a great deal of harm with this decision, leaving beloved teachers unemployed and providing no support or guidance to the current families. And, contrary to Ms. Petzi’s claim about private schools closing due to COVID, many, including one I work for, experienced increased enrollment, navigating the pandemic differently from public schools. But this isn’t about enrollment.

The bottom line is that if the Sisters wanted to keep this school open, they could. The community is telling them very clearly that they will support its continuance with fundraising. They could pivot and make the school co-institutional and bring in double the enrollment. They could sell part of their land to another entity. The list goes on. The SND are either just done with their mission of education or choosing a payout instead. And for that reason, I won’t “let the rancor go.”

Lisa Sutton Pollon, Westlake Village

Tired of the nonstop construction

Can we please stop building apartments. There has been nonstop construction for at least five years probably more.

The traffic is so bad it takes 15 minutes on Cochran to go from Sycamore to Sequoia. I don’t know who makes these decisions, but they must really hate Simi Valley. I feel sick every time I drive by Alamo and Tapo St. and see that big ugly eyesore. It looks like a hospital. I know people fought hard to stop it; nobody listens or cares. They are turning all the malls into apartments. Is that what their planning for Mountain Gate Plaza? And now the Town Center.

What happens when we run out of mini malls? Are they going to stat ripping up the parks? Then what, the cemeteries? It’s horrible and disgusting and they need to listen to the people. Enough is enough.

Victoria Garfinkel, Simi Valley