Mailbag: A message of thanks

To the wonderful young women who helped me after I fell in the Brand Library parking lot on Friday, July 8 at approximately 9:15 a.m.: two of you picked up my paint cart quickly and put everything back in while the others were helping me get to my feet. None of you hesitated to help and I’m so grateful.

I think I said thank you but here I want to say again, THANK YOU. I did get my car home and then was taken to emergency by a friend where they told me I had a broken kneecap and a broken thumb. I don’t even know your names, so please contact me, jchris8018@yahoo.com.

Jean Christian
Glendale

Are dogs now allowed in Galleria?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love dogs, all kinds of dogs. Little and large ones, scary and cute dogs, but, last Sunday evening I was walking in the Glendale Galleria with my family when all of a sudden my worst nightmare was staring right at me. I had to immediately jump out of the way to avoid stepping right into a big pile of dog poop. What is going on here? I actually felt sorry for the poor individual whom earlier had stepped into it first, for he/she had smeared it on the beautiful white tile floor.

It was disgusting, pathetic and shameful. I summoned a Galleria staff assistant and I asked since when had the management policy changed to permit dogs on the premises? He immediately apologized and said they have to put up with this every day of the week. He went on to say that dogs are now permitted in the mall.

My brother-in-law, who had been directing pedestrian traffic away from the big mess, marched with me directly to the Galleria management office and lodged a complaint.

We believe this is a health and safety issue and the subject should be looked into legally. I do recall in the past that dogs were not permitted in the Galleria. What has changed? Is there a new ordinance?

Mike Gomez
Glendale

Thoughts on Sonora and Fifth project

I have been following the senior affordable housing project at Sonora and Fifth for over a year. I was present at the July 19 and July 26 hearings and watched the Aug. 2 meeting online. I stand with Mayor Paula Devine, City Manager Scott Ochoa and city staff in saying that it is time to make a decision.

On July 19 Laura Friedman recused herself from the discussion, as she had received a donation from one of the developers. Ara Najarian said he had also received a donation from one of the developers, but it was for his run for the L.A. County Supervisor so he didn’t need to recuse himself.

Najarian returned July 26 and recused himself because of the donation after an examination of applicable state laws and codes by the city attorney. That being the case, Najarian should not have taken part in the July 19 discussions. Now, his donor developer has been eliminated and he steps back into the discussion. He missed his opportunity to ask questions on the developer’s track record on receiving tax credits, which are available online and were included in the proposals.

So, on Aug. 9, the Housing Authority will again meet and discuss all five developer’s track records in receiving tax credits. Since all the developers are being considered, Najarian, recused, will have to listen to the discussion from outside the room and not take part. What is the point?

The city staff has handled the entire process appropriately. The developers presented their design plans and their previous history on other projects. Is Najarian saying that he is smarter than city of Glendale staff with graduate degrees in public administration and years of experience?

It appears to me that Najarian has an alternate agenda which he isn’t currently sharing with us.

Pam Ellis
Glendale

Reasons he’s a Republican

Friends, family, colleagues, classmates and professors ask me why I am a Republican. To them the current representations of Republicans seem out of sync with my convictions, but to me there is a very simple answer. The Republican Party was created as the anti-slavery party. Pennsylvania Rep. Thaddeus Stevens was considered a Radical Republican — a Republican who supported the abolition of slavery and African American’s rights to vote and own property. Today, many Republican Party leaders have been subverted from this egalitarian mission to one that supports racism, harbors hatred toward gays, hatred toward women — pretty much hatred against anyone who is not a white Anglo Christian.

Would anyone consider Los Angeles County Supervisor and California state Senate candidate Michael D. Antonovich a radical right-wing racist? With the amount of time, commitment, sacrifice and dedication he has selflessly put toward all the different ethnic communities in the entire county, he should be considered nothing less than a saint.

I urge my fellow Americans to look past the divisive rhetoric and remember the original tenets of the Republican Party. Look at the Republican candidates who are running for office, their histories, their records and their goals. Let’s remember we are all Americans and that we all want what is best for this country.

Disclaimer: I currently am an aide to Supervisor Antonovich. I am also a member of the Platform Committee of the California Republican Party and the Central Committee for the Los Angeles County Republican Party. This letter reflects my thoughts as an individual and neither in my capacity with the supervisor nor in my capacity as a Republican Party official.

Alexander Keledjian
Glendale