Top candidates sidestepped airport issue The two...
Top candidates sidestepped airport issue
The two candidates who finished first and second in the primary
race for the Burbank City Council, Jef Vander Borght and Gary Bric,
mentioned during their campaigns that traffic was one of the major
concerns for Burbank residents. Neither of them, however, had much to
say about the possibility of expansion to the airport.
How increased traffic and airport expansion fail to tie together
is beyond me. It must be the fuzzy math. Depending on the size of the
new terminal, we could easily see a doubling or tripling of the
airport’s volume. That, of course, would mean increased traffic.
If the airport did double its volume of passengers and flights,
the math is pretty simple: 13,000 additional people per day would be
going to and coming from the airport.
You might say to yourself that Hollywood Way cannot accommodate an
additional 13,000 people. That would be a correct assumption. The
most likely scenario is that we would see some of the other streets
forced to accommodate the increased traffic, specifically Pass Avenue
and Buena Vista Street. There would also be additional traffic on
residential streets as people going to and from the airport will
attempt to find shortcuts to the clogged main thoroughfares.
In addition to campaign comments, which failed to address airport
expansion, Vander Borght already has a proven record in favor of
airport expansion. Several months ago, the Transportation Security
Administrator asked for somewhere between 700 to 20,000 square feet
for additional “security measures.” He voted to add roughly 40,000
square feet to the terminal -- more than double what the TSA had
requested. This additional square footage is to include increased
passenger holding areas, as well as widened hallways and more retail
space, none of which have anything to do with national security.
Vander Borght and Bric will talk of “protecting neighborhoods,”
but ask them what they will do to limit airport growth and you won’t
get a straight answer. There is an alternative to these two
candidates: Todd Campbell. Campbell is an official with the Clean Air
Coalition and understands the negative impacts of excessive traffic
and air pollution.
Given his background, he is the better choice for Burbank City
Council.
BILL ORR
Burbank
Vander Borght, Bric have given much to the city
I was very happy to find out that Gary Bric and Jef Vander Borght
are the two top runoff candidates for the two open Burbank City
Council seats.
Seeing their performance and dedication in the past, I know they
will both do a wonderful job as council members. I have found these
men to be instrumental in getting things done as well as
inspirational in their dedication to serve Burbank. I have always
known them to be very professional while working on projects. In
addition, both men have been very active in several other worthwhile
community projects. These two men are take-charge people who can also
listen to advisors and to the public they are serving.
It renews my faith to see such important and successful
businessmen as Bric and Vander Borght giving their time to serve
their community and neighbors. They must be commended for spending
their valuable time running for the council and trying very hard to
make Burbank a better place for us to live.
I would like to thank these men for their unselfish commitment to
our community and offer my total support during their campaigns.
Hopefully, other Burbank voters will do the same.
Voting is important, so please get out and vote on April 8.
KEVIN McKENNA
Burbank