Elevated Rail Foes Courageous

There has been much criticism of elected officials lately, accusing them of succumbing to a vocal minority of NIMBYs.

Specifically, criticism has been aimed at Assemblymen Richard Katz and Terry Friedman and Los Angeles City Council members Nate Holden and Joy Picus because they support rapid transit on the Burbank-Chandler line and oppose a monorail on the Ventura Freeway.

Let’s set the record straight. These officials are to be commended for taking a courageous position on a very controversial topic.

They studied the issues carefully, heard all points of view and have reached the conclusion that a monorail is impractical on the Ventura Freeway, and Burbank-Chandler is the preferred alternative.

Their views were swayed by logic, common sense and cost-benefit analysis.

They did not cave in to pressure from the Valleywide Transportation Council, homeowner groups or NIMBYs.

Consider this: If these elected officials were merely fishing for votes, then they would have aligned with the popular but uninformed view that supports a monorail.

Instead, they embraced the more practical and less environmentally damaging Burbank-Chandler route.

The public should appreciate officials who take stands that may be unpopular but are in the best long-range interests of the entire community.

GERALD A. SILVER

Encino