Councilmen’s actions are questionable As the saying...
Councilmen’s actions are questionable
As the saying goes, “politics makes strange bedfellows.” This old
adage has been proven accurate once again in Burbank. Prior to the
primary race for City Council, Mayor David Laurell and Councilman
Dave Golonski endorsed Brian Malone along with the barely incumbent
Jef Vander Borght.
After Malone finished fourth in the primary election, Laurell and
Golonski dumped him. Laurell came up with goofy reasons for doing so
and the always-inscrutable Golonski remained silent.
What was the real reason that Malone was dumped? There is no way
of knowing for sure, but it was probably because Todd Campbell
finished in third place and ahead of Malone. But did Golonski and
Laurell have the fortitude to just come out and say that they
switched their support to Campbell? No. If he is elected, Campbell
will owe his allegiance to the existing council members.
In his letter on March 22, David Gordon clearly described how Jef
Vander Borght has been at the forefront of expanding the airport
terminal for many years. Vander Borght led the way on the ongoing
terminal expansion project. Vander Borght and the other council
members blew smoke that this expansion was for “security” purposes.
The vast majority of this addition is simply to move more people in
and out of the airport.
The duplicity involved in the terminal project is the norm for the
council in regard to the airport. Even the now-departed Leader
columnist Will Rogers took some parting shots at the council for its
backroom dealing on airport issues.
How does the council get away with backroom dealing on the
airport, and with backroom sweetheart developers? Simple -- too few
people vote. Even as the front-runner on the primary election, Vander
Borght received a little more than 4,000 votes. If Burbank residents
really want protection against airport expansion and to end backroom
giveaways to developers, they will have to send a message by taking
the time to get out and vote on Tuesday for candidates other than
Vander Borght and Campbell.
RON VANDERFORD
Burbank
Vander Borght will work for city, residents
Criticism of Jef Vander Borght is so misplaced. You should direct
your criticism to David W. Gordon as he alone took the low road.
Maybe it’s because he was not reappointed to the Planning Board, or
maybe it’s just sour grapes on his part.
I have known Jef in several capacities for many years and feel he
would bring valuable talents and interests to the City Council. He
does his homework. As a member of the Planning Board, he was
instrumental in having a skate park built in Burbank. He also worked
long and hard on the Buena Vista Library and for senior housing. He
worked tirelessly on a curfew at the airport and is a proponent of
preserving open spaces in the local mountains.
Without Jef’s dedication to the citizens of Burbank, these things
might never have materialized. His expertise will be invaluable as
the city deals with challenges in the future.
The council would be well-served with his attributes, as would our
city. Please join me in supporting Jef Vander Borght for Burbank City
Council.
LEE PAYSINGER
Burbank