As I read of the intra-neighborhood squabble over proposed housing to be located at a closed auto parts store at 294 Hyde Park Avenue ( Neighborhood rivalry about 294 Hyde Park Ave housing, The Bulletin, December 11), I had to wonder why two groups of neighbors felt it necessary to oppose each other rather than working on solutions that would benefit both sides of this unnecessary battle of wits.

When the meeting's moderator declared that only members of his Forest Hills group had a right to speak and express their opinion of the housing planned at the meeting, and excluding voices he apparently deemed interlopers, it got to me.

Can I say something here, you know who's really happy about this situation? I'm thinking developers, am I right? Every neighborhood, especially neighborhoods inside, say, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale or Hyde Park, needs to be heard and recognized.

With developers across the city pushing their housing plans forward, it would behoove community leaders everywhere to see each other as allies and not antagonists. This Forest Hill vs. Woodbourne struggle won't help either group.

I reside in East Boston on the other side of our City of Boston and what is happening over here is also happening over where I am. In recent years, East Boston housing advocates and groups have been working much closer together when needed. The last thing a neighborhood needs is bickering between folks. It only seemingly helps developers, right? The old, “divide-and-conquer” strategy.

It is time for a "detente" between Forest Hills and Woodbourne neighbors. Otherwise, defeat can be snatched from victory as it too often does.

Sal Giarratani East Boston