Not just a land of transplants

In “You Are Here: Deal With It” [Dec. 14], we have yet another recent arrival bemoaning their homesickness.

Stacey Collins asserts that “much of the population is derived of individuals who came to L.A. for a specific purpose but still feel a strong connection to their home turf.”

This is a myth. According to 2005 census data, of the 2,226,100 U.S.-born people in Los Angeles, fully 1,573,284 were born in California (71%), whereas only 619,754 were born in a different state of the United States (28%).

Perhaps Collins runs in rarified social circles consisting mostly of transplanted poseurs and entertainment industry strivers -- the comment concerning a “mixer in Malibu” certainly gave that impression.

ROBERT HELFMAN

Los Angeles