Accountability called into question by BTAC project...

Accountability called into question by BTAC project

Where is the accountability for up to a million dollars to remodel

and expand the Burbank Temporary Aid Center facility? Who makes up

the difference in funds if the project goes seriously over budget,

leaving the facility incomplete or an eyesore?

BTAC board leadership was seriously questioned with the firing of

the former director, Pat Smola. Now with funds so tight in Burbank

and so many critical needs, we are expected to believe that the board

suddenly has developed exceptional project management skills that

will enable it to stay within budget and bring the remodeling project

in on time?

BTAC does fill the needs of the community, but so do the schools

and other critical components of the infrastructure in Burbank.

Burbank’s citizens deserve a mechanism in place to ensure

accountability for the funds, such as a quarterly report to the City

Council, and the council’s involvement in the decision-making and

funds disbursement processes.

Joanne Weckbacher

Burbank

What about the rights

of property owners?

Back in June, the Leader published an article regarding the

construction on residential property at 753 S. Mariposa St. in the

Burbank Rancho district. In the article, our neighbors were

protesting the potential licensing of a state care facility

purportedly intended to house abused children.

To the contrary, we’ve found out we have all been grossly

deceived, as the truth disclosed to us is that this facility is for

mentally disabled adults ages 20 to 50. Please note that all local

zoning for commercial use is on Riverside Drive only -- near this

corner -- and not on a residential street such as ours.

The real danger to pedestrians, horses and riders, not to mention

the potential increased car traffic and accidents on this street

(that leads to the riding trail), is inestimable. This property’s

parking lot opens into an alley with horse stalls that exit into the

alley. How could commercial deliveries to such a facility be safe

with horses and riders and traffic at this corner also competing with

commercial trucks and employee parking? The original Leader article

discussed this and compassion issues for a children’s care facility,

but this is not what’s being built here, and it is not what Burbank

allows for the state to license without the City Council or our mayor

having the real facts, doing a proper impact study or having any say

so in this matter.

This property, if licensed when completed, has extremely dangerous

potential impact to this corner and our neighborhood’s safety and it

is an abomination and violation of Burbank’s standing residential and

equine property zoning laws. Are you listening, Dario Frommer and

Jack Scott, or will you just let the state run rampant over this

historical equestrian neighborhood? Please join us and write your

senator -- Scott -- and protest to help us save the Rancho

Neighborhood from this travesty to our human and equine safety, and

our residential property zoning laws.

I didn’t work 28 hard years to be able to purchase a home here for

this special equestrian ambience, only to see this beautiful

historical neighborhood pillaged and desecrated with such a lack of

regard for our safety -- Burbank’s own history -- and our legal

property zoning laws, which were intended to protect us, the

homeowners.

Lynne Green-Melincoff

Burbank

Voters should recall Frommer’s flip-flop

Amid your recent coverage of Assemblyman Dario Frommer, don’t

forget that he voted for SB60, giving California driver’s licenses to

illegal aliens.

He then flip-flopped and voted to rescind that bill when faced

with the possibility it would go to a vote of the people, who

overwhelmingly oppose the idea.

He didn’t want legal, voting Californians to have a voice on the

issue. So, despite his talk of bipartisan cooperation, and others who

feel he is connected to the community, he is actually very partisan

and very disconnected from our California community. This ambitious

politician is pursuing his own special interests, which are not in

the best interest of our community, state or nation.

Please keep this in mind when you go to the polls in March.

TOM CELLI

Burbank