Airport Compromise

* In a recent editorial, The Times took the city of Burbank to task for failing to reach a compromise with the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority over the development of a new terminal (“Stalling Leaves Few Choices,” Jan 21). In The Times’ telling of events, it is solely Burbank’s fault that compromise has not been reached.

Not so fast. While I and many of the people with whom I have worked on this issue have recognized and complained of Burbank’s shortcomings in recent activities related to the terminal development, The Times’ criticism is unfairly one-sided.

The Authority and The Times must recognize that the people of Burbank have spoken on this issue and it would be tantamount to malfeasance for Burbank city officials to ignore that collective voice. No one understands the safety issues better than Burbank, whose citizens are most at risk. Thus, there is no need for The Times to engage in more knuckle rapping on this point. Instead, how about a Times editorial commenting on the Authority’s position on a mandatory curfew? The head of the Authority has verbally committed to such an action but we’ve seen nothing in writing [from the Authority]. Perhaps The Times should examine that part of the equation, rather than just bashing Burbank.

CHRISTOPHER BARNES

Airport Committee Co-Chair,

Studio City Residents Assn.