Mailbag: On Measure N, Sagebrush and street signs
Support for John and Jane
I read with interest of state Assemblyman Matthew Harper’s (R - Huntington Beach) defeated proposal for a “John Wayne Day.” Fellow state Assemblyman Donald Wagner (R - Irvine) said Wayne’s documented racist remarks should be overlooked because “everyone of us is imperfect.” True. And surely the assemblymen will also gladly support a “Jane Fonda Day” to recognize her philanthropy with numerous charities and foundations — including the Alzheimer’s Assn., Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Heifer International, Oceana, and Peace Over Violence.
Mark Rozett
La Crescenta
Sagebrush report is incomplete
Thank you for your coverage of the recently released report from Capitol Advisors Group on the proposed transfer of students living in the western portion of La Cañada out of Glendale Unified and into La Cañada Unified.
The citizens committee UniteLCF! began working with both districts three years ago to seek a territory transfer. After months of negotiations, the two school districts jointly issued a proposal that recommended a student transfer phase-in and approximately $6.5 million to GUSD over a number of years. Several months later, that proposal was unilaterally discarded by GUSD, which upped its claims to an estimated $23 million. That proposal was quickly characterized by LCUSD as “untenable” and financially ruinous.
This goes to the heart of our objection to the Capitol Advisors report. How could a negotiated framework for a transfer presented to the public in March 2014 suddenly more than triple the claimed monetary impacts to GUSD? I fully expected Capitol Advisors to evaluate GUSD’s monetary claims for reasonableness. Without opining on the legitimacy of GUSD’s financial claims, I find the Capitol Advisors report to be incomplete and flawed. It does little to advance the process.
Tom Smith
Chair, UniteLCF! – One City – One School District
La Cañada Flintridge
Stressing music’s importance
I am always inspired by reading Joylene Wagner’s insights and wisdom in “Learning Matters,” but as a music teacher, I was especially grateful to her last week for expressing the importance of providing musical experience for elementary students.
A number of years ago when my son was in elementary school, I was concerned that music instruction was only available to students starting in fourth grade. Since music is like learning a language, it is most easily absorbed and internalized when children are young. So, I offered to provide music instruction in kindergarten and primary grades at my son’s school. Over the years, through the generosity of PTAs, school foundations, and arts grants, I have helped provide music instruction during the school day for primary grades in several Glendale elementary schools.
As Joylene points out, music encompasses so many skills. Through movement to music, rhythm activities and singing, children learn patterns, math, focus, memory and listening skills, coordination, sensitivity and best of all, joy. Music is natural for young children and, for the most part, provides a level playing field. Even non-English speakers can clap and play music notation. Children with learning disabilities or behavioral challenges can participate in musical activities — indeed music therapy is widely used in helping these children.
I strongly encourage all of our Glendale schools to find ways to expose our youngest students to the joy and skills that music exposure can provide for a lifetime.
Ann Kleinsasser
Glendale
Argument for N is misleading
In his letter in the April 30 issue of the News-Press, Mike Mohill perpetuates the myth that the passage of Measure N will result in reduced salaries, pension benefits and overtime of Glendale city workers. It won’t.
Mr. Mohill must know that employee benefits are governed under collective bargaining contracts that cannot be simply erased. If Measure N passes, the city will immediately lose its third largest source of revenue, $17.5 million, requiring drastic cuts in services. Libraries and fire stations will be shuttered and layoffs will result in increased response times for police, fire and paramedics.
His suggestion that employees should be placed on Social Security and 401k benefits is not realistic and would result in a further loss of additional staff and create monumental problems in attracting quality employees to our city. Glendale has first-class police and fire departments and contracting with L.A. County for police and fire would result in a degradation of service with little, if any, savings.
Don’t be fooled by the supporters of Measure N who make false predictions of the outcome. If it is to pass, the quality of life in Glendale and property values would go down, insurance rates would increase, and in return, residents would save $7 per month per capita.
Vote no on Measure N to maintain the services we already have.
Dan Watson
Glendale
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N will have consequences
“Free college for all.” “ Mexico will pay for the wall.” “I am Wall Street’s worst nightmare.” And my new favorite “Make the city stop wasting money.”
That is what the yard signs for “Yes on N” say.
When I go to the “Yes on N” website it appears the Glendale Coalition for Better Government feels the biggest “waste of money” is salaries and benefits. When you look at the numbers it certainly appears there are some very well compensated employees working for Glendale.
But wait a minute. Does anyone really think that just by eliminating the Utility User Tax those salaries and benefits will automatically get reduced? That is just a fantasy and wishful thinking.
Reduce the Glendale General Budget by $17.5 million and something has to give and it won’t be an instantaneous reduction in salaries and benefits for existing employees.
The Coalition also makes the point that the city ought to be more proactive in competitive bidding for services. Our own fire department or county fire? Our own police department or the sheriff’s department? Our own waste management or a private, for-profit company? Our own library or what?
I personally like our “own” stuff.
A knee-jerk reaction to the siren song of reducing taxes is hard to resist. I believe we need to think long and hard about the potential consequences of our vote. Be careful what we wish for.
Jim Kussman
Glendale
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Hoping to earn voter support
We give our elected officials the power to be our voices for policy changes and laws that help create opportunities for middle-class families. Unfortunately, some candidates for the Legislature are merely career politicians propped up by big-named endorsements and special-interest money. They end up being more loyal to establishment politics than moving the ball forward for our communities.
Voters, however, are looking more often for a leader who has done real work in our communities and has a record of accomplishments rather than a political resume.
When I graduated the police academy more than 30 years ago, I had only one goal: to protect our neighborhoods and put the criminals behind bars. I took the toughest assignments and broke through barriers to become the first African-American female lieutenant in the Pasadena Police Department.
My work as a public-safety leader shined a light on many other components that make our communities safer and stronger. I began mentoring at-risk youth, helping homeless people find shelter and support services, and volunteering with community organizations to empower our neighborhoods.
I’m no career politician looking for a social promotion. I have more than three decades of experience working for our communities. As your state senator, I’ll work to strengthen our local schools and early education programs, create opportunities for good-paying careers, and fight for a more fair economy for our middle class.
I’d be honored to earn your vote to be our next state senator.
Phlunte’ Riddle
Pasadena
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City street signs are fading
With all of the ongoing construction, upscaling, upgrading and every other kind of face-lift the city of Glendale is undergoing, could someone please take a look at the aging, fading street signs — specifically on Central Avenue — which is now the “Fifth Avenue” of Glendale? Half of these signs have been here as long as I have (30-plus years at least) and show the effects of age, making them barely visible. Take a look — if you can read them that is — you’ll see what I mean!
Patricia Tyson
Glendale