Mailbag: Councilman Najarian’s philosophy on development questioned
Thanks for the bicycle fixes
Once again, a big “Thank You” to volunteer bicycle mechanics Patrick and Craig and all the friendly staff of Burbank Walk and Ride for fixing up our bikes at the Burbank Farmers Market on a recent Saturday. You guys rock!
David Lee Williams
Glendale
Najarian is big on development
At last we now know for sure. Ara Najarian is a big development politician.
When the Los Angeles Times endorsed Najarian for Los Angeles County supervisor they stated “In Glendale, he helped put the brakes on rampant overdevelopment while installing a new environmentally oriented ethic.”
Ara Najarian’s true big development colors are now on full display.
Given a chance to move his foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal by siding with Paula Devine to join in a discussion to limit the height of the proposed 82-foot-tall hotel at the corner of Brand Boulevard and Dryden Street, Najarian stated he would entertain talking about it when an honest discussion about zoning is sought.
That honest discussion apparently needs to wait at least two years to take place because the Planning Department is working on a more important plan for South Glendale. And most hopefully Najarian will be gone when the discussion takes place.
As Paula Devine so correctly put it, “The longer we wait, there will be opportunities for increased development, and it will be unabated I’m sure.”
I understand you can’t change zoning just because you don’t like the project proposed for a parcel of land. If a parcel I own is zoned for an 82-foot-tall building then I should be able to build an 82-foot-tall building as long as I follow the building code. Let’s not talk variances.
The next time Ara Najarian runs for public office please remember that he is in favor of high-density, architecturally ugly big-box projects regardless of what he might say in his campaign literature or speeches and regardless of what his constituents want.
I am sure he will take his unabashed fascination for big development to the Board of Supervisors.
He should be ashamed.
Jim Kussman
Glendale
Negative effects of Measure N
Starting in 2008, Glendale eliminated more than 400 full and part-time city employee positions based on the revenue stream that was projected. The City Council had to strictly prioritize the city’s workload, cutting back on city services, while becoming more efficient on the utilization of the employees still remaining.
You should know that Glendale has one of the lowest total tax rates in all of Southern California. Our best course has been to be conservative and continue to provide the services that you have always received.
A few individuals got Measure N on the ballot by talking about pensions and salaries. What a joke! Reality is that the average retirement pension is about $30,000, and Glendale pays only the average in terms of salary.
Due to the recession, the council had many discussions over the impacts of cutting millions from the General Fund budget. But we balanced our budget and lived within our means. I think we all want our libraries and parks open, our trash picked up weekly, potholes fixed and sidewalks, streets and utilities operating efficiently, and fire and police responses to be quick.
Please, please, vote no on N. Spread the word. Talk to your neighbors and make sure they understand the negative impacts of passing this ballot measure. Read information that you are receiving in the mail, online and in the press.
Let’s save our city that we have grown to love for us and our children’s future. Thank you for reading.
Dave Weaver
Glendale
The writer is a former member of the Glendale City Council who served three terms as mayor.
A reader shakes his head
In general I enjoyed Ray Richmond’s column about Barbara Eden. One thing: describing how her character Jeannie did magic, Ray said she “crossed her arms and jerked her head.” While it’s probably an accurate description, possibly we need a more genteel expression in place of “jerked,” perhaps “swiftly nodded.”
We readers are a delicate lot.
Greg Dahlen
Glendale
Measure won’t reduce salaries
At the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Assn. Forum on May 17, I had the privilege of sorting the questions from the audience and presenting them to the speakers. While I learned a lot from the answers given, I unexpectedly learned far more from the questions themselves.
The audience in general seemed to feel that salaries and benefits for public sector employees are out of sync with the private sector. It used to be that individuals working for government traded a lower wage for great benefits, reduced risk of layoffs and early retirement. Today however, government workers get both higher wages and better benefits than the private sector, and we as the taxpayers are on the hook for the bill.
There were more comments from the audience on those inflated salaries than on Measure N itself. It is like that famous line from the film “Network,” “I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!”
I am mad as heck too, but passing Measure N is not the right approach. Passing it will not address the number of six-figure salaries among city of Glendale employees that continue to grow. I urge voters to vote no on “N”, but continue to press our City Council and city manager to address taxpayer concerns on this imbalance.
Pam Ellis
Glendale
Campaign is appalling
I am appalled and disgusted by the campaign for the 43rd District Assembly seat. In the decades that I have lived in this city I have never encountered such dirty campaigning.
On a daily basis I am inundated with numerous mudslinging campaign mailings (as well as some telephone calls, and have seen some television ads), replete with innuendo and lies, mostly directed against and demonizing one candidate, Ardy Kassakhian — to my knowledge a decent and capable man.
We then learn (from the Los Angeles Times and the Glendale News Press) that the negative campaign and mudslinging activities are funded by more than $1 million dollars contributed by mysterious outside donors.
All I can say is enough is enough! The people of the 43rd District must think good and hard before they cast their votes. Mudslinging and negative campaigning and their donors do not belong in our city and the 43rd Assembly District.
As to the candidates themselves, is it not time that they presented to us their proposals on programs they will bring before the Legislature after they are elected?
Theodore Polychronis
Glendale