AYSO restrictions

Dear Editor:I would like to set the record straight. In your Oct. 21 edition, there was an article saying that the neighbors of Griffiths Middle School want AYSO out of here. ("Residents Want AYSO Out of Griffiths") Well, that is incorrect. At the Oct. 19 board of education meeting, we presented a petition with about 100 signatures from the affected neighbors. In this petition we're asking for the following four restrictions: •Having the games strictly on Saturdays only; •Putting time restrictions on games (no games earlier than 9 a.m. and no later than 3 p.m.); •Restricting the number of teams according to the parking space available in the schools; •Transferring the practice to some other facility (Furman Park, Apollo Park, Discovery Sports Complex) We believe that it is not only important but crucial for the children to have a place to play but we also believe that these games have to be done with responsibility, with accountability and with regard to the neighbors and the neighborhoods, and so far, we have seen very little of that. Our neighbors are dealing with high levels of frustration; I lost count of the number of confrontations between neighbors and the people coming to soccer games who block their driveways, trash their yard, break their sprinklers, etc. The latest incident took place on Lubec Street three weeks ago. Our neighbor's driveway was blocked and the person refused to move his vehicle. An exchange of words followed; children and the neighbors across the street witnessed the entire incident, which almost escalated to the point of a physical confrontation. I'm afraid it's a matter of time before somebody gets hurt as a result of these confrontations. The concern is real…do we have to wait until that happens? I hope not. -- Victor M. Malagon, Downey

********** Published: October 28, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 28