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Councilman should stick to his vote

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The residents of the 1800 and 1900 blocks of Screenland Drive are very thankful to the three of our council members who supported us in our desire to not have sidewalks installed on our block (“Grant steps on sidewalk future,” Dec. 29). In this day and age, it is not often that elected officials listen to their constituents, and vote in their favor.

However, we unfortunately have learned that we may be betrayed by Councilman Gary Bric, who has announced the week after voting against the sidewalk installation that his conscience was bothering him in that he may have not made the right vote, and was thinking of bringing the matter back to council in January.

How much pressure did you receive from those who are adamant to have the sidewalks and not lose the monies of the sidewalk portion of the grant, Mr. Bric?

You took a stand and you cast a vote in favor of your constituents. Where is your honor and your integrity? I, for one, have little respect for flip-floppers.

To borrow a phrase, man up, Mr. Bric, man up.

Susan Stodghill

Burbank

Clarification of pedestrian rights

Moving from 11 from the bottom of 56 to 31 from the bottom in pedestrian safety is not something Burbank should be particularly proud of (“Report: Traffic safety improving,” Jan. 12).

I imagine that much of the reason pedestrian safety improved from 2008 to 2009 is due to pedestrians in Burbank giving up their right of way. Staying alive in Burbank, if you want to cross a street, frequently means waiting until there is absolutely no vehicle traffic in sight in either direction.

I know that many will read that last sentence and think “duh!” I also think that many of the duh-ers have no idea that pedestrians have the right of way in California. Yes, folks, that’s correct — the right of way belongs to pedestrians. Not only in marked crosswalks, but crossing everywhere except freeways and divided highways — check it out!

(Yes, jaywalking is against the law, but that does not take away the pedestrian’s right of way: Duh! Two wrongs don’t make a right!)

Pedestrians at any intersection should be able to step from the curb when there is no traffic within a reasonable stopping distance in the first lane of the street they are crossing, and they should have confidence that their right to cross will be respected by traffic in all lanes slowing down. That’s right — traffic in all lanes needs to stop and let the pedestrian cross the street.

Driving is a privilege. Walking is a right.

Karen Robinson-Stark

Burbank

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