A candidate stops by

This afternoon we were visited by City Council candidate Emily Gabel-Luddy.

I hadn’t really decided who to vote for next month because both candidates offer positive ideas, but I was very impressed with Gabel-Luddy’s grasp of the budget problems facing our city, as well as her strong background in city planning.

Since planning is so critically important in the coming decade, I not only decided to vote for her, but I put out a lawn sign for the first time.

Esther Porter

Burbank

BTAC needs help

I am writing because I sincerely believe in the Burbank Temporary Aid Center, and as a volunteer and former executive director of the organization, I am more than aware of the vast and countless things BTAC does for our needy neighbors.

Right now, BTAC needs our help.

In the last three years, the organization’s client base has tripled. As a result, BTAC is incredibly busy struggling to keep food in its pantry. Therefore, any support the citizens of Burbank might be able to give would be very much appreciated by the poor and needy in our community.

I know that some people in Burbank cannot survive without the help of BTAC. So, please support BTAC, whether you can donate $5 or $5,000 or just a jar of peanut butter. You can also get a tax write-off for your donation. It really is true: Giving is better than receiving.

For more information, call BTAC at (818) 848-2822, or maybe send a check payable to Burbank Temporary Aid Center. Address 1304 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank CA 91501. [Update: The BTAC address was corrected.]

Only with caring people, like those running agencies such as BTAC, will we accomplish this important mission.

Kevin McKenna

Burbank

Editor’s note: McKenna is former executive director of BTAC.

Proposition 13 is fair

This letter is in response to Gerry Rankin’s Feb. 13 letter “Past Brown-era tax law is not sacrosanct.”

Do away with Proposition 13? Is he crazy?

To take away Proposition 13 would be like opening up the gold mine to those irresponsible leaders in Sacramento. If there was no Proposition 13, the politicians would raise property taxes at the drop of a hat. They show no fiscal responsibility whatsoever.

This was a godsend to those of us who are not rich like Rankin, and who are living on a fixed income. If he feels so sorry for those young families he mentioned, then let him pay their property taxes. There are guidelines in Proposition 13 for increases which are fair, depending on the value of your property.

I really can’t feel sorry for those young families he speaks about. I bet they drive the latest-model SUV, buy all the latest electronic toys that come on the market and live far beyond their income.

My husband and I worked hard, paid our house off, saved and planned for our retirement. Proposition 13 was a wonderful thing. My husband always remarked that Howard Jarvis should have a gold headstone for his brilliant plan of Proposition 13.

I went back through my property tax bills and in 2008 I paid $942.62, in 2009 I paid $962.18 and in 2010 I paid $978.73. It is a fair plan.

Susan Jones

Burbank

FOR THE RECORD: This version corrects the previous address listed for BTAC.