EDITORIAL\Carwash a victim, too.

IN the eyes of its neighbors, the Bubble Bath Car Wash in Lake View Terrace is a crime problem. It has become a hangout for gang members and drug dealers. They want to shut it down.

Winston Dunlap, the owner of the small (2,800 square feet) self-service carwash, not surprisingly sees things differently. He looks upon himself as a crime victim. So do police.

"We've never blamed the owner of the carwash, but for whatever reason, the carwash has been targeted by dealers," said Carlos Solano of the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill Division. "We've tried to work together to better things in that area, but unfortunately they haven't gotten better."

So, district Councilman Richard Alarcon plans to ask zoning officials to close the business by revoking its conditional use permit.

Alarcon said that he regrets taking the action. "The owner has his heart into it but he hasn't been able to improve it. I believe an unstaffed carwash cannot operate. There's no one on site."

We aren't questioning Alarcon's motivation. Something has to be done and closing the business is the most expedient move.

What's more, Alarcon went the extra mile by forming a citizen's committee to attempt to find a solution before seeking to revoke the zoning permit.

Just the same, closing the carwash isn't likely to do much to improve a neighborhood that needs more viable businesses.

On the contrary, city officials might only strengthen the impression that the neighborhood is unsafe for business if they take the easy way out by simply revoking the permit.

The enemy in this instance is crime. The carwash is invaded territory. The neighborhood would be better served if city officials, in connection with the revocation process, could come up with a plan to throw the invaders out, rather than hand them a victory by closing a lawful business.