This letter ran this weekend in the paper:

BP goes overboard

Baldwin Park is a city comprised of middle- to lower-income residents. Seventy-eight percent of the population is made up of Hispanics or Latinos. The City Council is proposing a plan to create a Westwood shopping atmosphere. The problem isn't the fact that they want to revitalize and improve the city. I agree that the city needs and can use some more tax revenue. The problem is that the City Council is proposing a plan to take away 200 or more homes from residents by eminent domain to build this shopping center.
There are a few problems with this proposal. First, there are at least two shopping centers within a five mile radius that are empty, vacant lots. Instead of displacing many of the city's first legal homeowners, why not work with what is already there and improve the conditions.

Second, people from the surrounding cities are not going to come to Baldwin Park to shop. If given the option, they will head toward Arcadia, West Covina or Montclair. The City Council should concentrate its efforts on working on the city's image before trying to attract customers.

Baldwin Park does not need a Nordstrom. Our Nordstrom is the Wal-Mart Super Center.

I have two uncles who will be displaced should this proposal go through. Both have lived in the city for over 60 years. In fact, the Metro Station in Baldwin Park was named after their father, who was one of the city's pioneer founding residents.

Although, this proposal will not affect my current living situation, it does affect many. It affects many of those who have bought and paid for their homes and are now retired, living on limited income. What can $330,000 buy?

Diana Dzib
Baldwin Park