In reply to Steve Ochs and Randy Campbell's recent letters in the Acorn, what they want is a community with strictly enforced CC&Rs.

As Mr. Ochs drives around, he has seen that the majority of Simi Valley residents disagree with his point of view, expressed in how they live.

Think of a residential movie set after the maintenance crew has completed their work. Everything is perfect. But then the prop man comes in and adds trash cans, bicycles and basketball hoops. How terrible—he makes it look like people actually live there.

Both men have repeated the myth about property values being affected by the condition of the house next door or trash cans left out. This could be true in a very extreme case, but doubtful.

I have searched the Internet looking for studies that support these myths and found none. Property values are set by the selling price of similar-sized homes in the area, some blocks away. If someone doesn't take care of their home, it will sell for less than market.

Trash cans are neither beautiful nor ugly, they are utilitarian. Placed in a side yard that is less than 60 inches wide and behind a gate, they become a health and safety issue.

If a tragedy of some kind has happened in your backyard, would you want paramedics, fire or police personnel to have to move trash cans before they can address the situation? It happens all the time. Should esthetics trump health and safety? There are compromises.

Cities that are controlling of their citizens' lives are even more controlling of business. Some businesses have already left Simi; others swear they will not build here again; some cannot get started, and these are businesses that citizens want and need.

Thirty-plus years ago Simi looked like a great place to live, and 17 years ago, when I moved my family here, it was a great place to live. Today it is less so because of the overzealousness of a few and the city's adoption of complaintdriven policies.

Good neighborhoods are where neighbors get along. Remember, extra enforcement increases everyone's taxes, and prices for goods and services go up.

Thank you to the 37,630 Simi voters and especially to the 5,043 who voted for me, we will not give up the fight. Daniel R Jenkins Simi Valley Jenkins was a candidate for Simi Valley City Council.