More ‘Noise About Noise’ at the Airport

I was angered by the statement in Charles Carter’s article (May 28) that polls indicate it is the desire of the people that there be a bigger airport.

I do not desire the expansion. As a matter of fact, let’s encourage a reduction. The planes make too much noise now. That’s right, this is another letter making “noise about noise.”

Three years ago, the airport made less noise than it does today without a new terminal. A new 19-gate terminal would make adding more flights even easier. I can’t imagine the Airport Authority not utilizing its new terminal to the fullest and noisiest.

I live in North Hollywood. Thank God for the voters in Burbank, who have sense enough to stop the escalating assault of exhaust pollution and noise pollution directed not only at them but also at the neighbors to the west.

LORI STREET-TUBERT

North Hollywood

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Charles Carter seems unable to accept the fact that the Burbank citizens don’t desire a larger terminal. Is it that difficult to realize that perhaps the citizens have had enough noise and pollution from the airport at its present size?

Burbank citizens never believed in the airport-sponsored survey. When I recently ran for office, I spent weeks knocking on thousands of doors, discussing issues with the Burbank citizens. I can recall fewer than a dozen people telling me they desired an expanded airport.

The airport’s public relations firm, Cerrell and Associates, has reported that it was creating a new “grass-roots” organization called “Citizens for a Better Airport.” The so-called grass-roots organization included only 30 members from Burbank, with many who were employed by airport-related businesses. Hardly an indication of a strong will of the people.

While the PR firm may have succeeded in getting a favorable editorial in The Times, its efforts to convince the citizens of Burbank that a terminal three times the size of our present one has been a total failure.

The cities of Glendale and Pasadena as well as The Times’ editorial board should realize that the citizens are happy with the size of our present terminal as well as the number of gates and flights.

My job as a council member will be to protect those citizens and the interests of our city. I’m sure our residents suffering from airplane noise won’t need to hire a PR firm to organize their support. They don’t need a survey paid for by the airport to express their true feelings.

BOB KRAMER

Burbank

Kramer is a newly elected member of the Burbank City Council.