Starbucks problem is the tradeoff for...

Starbucks problem is the tradeoff for its advantages

I do not live near the Starbucks on Burchett Street. I do live

near the new In-N-Out on Harvey Drive, so I have some sense of what

residents there are talking about when they say they’re unhappy with

the increase in trash and traffic. It’s unfortunate, it needs

improvement, but it certainly has not diminished my quality of life.

You can look at the coffee cup as half full or half empty. Jack

King seems to be a half-empty kind of guy. His neighbor, Marty

Graves, pointed out to the Board of Zoning Administration at its

Wednesday hearing that “prior establishments did not create this type

of problem.” No, but I’ll bet they wish they had. Acapulco and Marie

Callenders can’t fill their parking lots even with giant colorful ads

for $6 pies and two-for-one entrees. Starbucks, on the other hand,

was an instant hit with those who drive by the intersection, and

therefore must live somewhere within the region.

Look, it’s a delicious product served in a delightful atmosphere,

and provides good jobs to young people, as does In-N-Out. They are

both a plus for the community at large. The board’s solution of fewer

tables and scaled-back hours is a good compromise.

Let’s give it a chance, and please, Jack, give the rest of us a

break from reading about your gripes in the newspaper every other

week.

KRISTEN KIDD

Glendale

High-traffic business in that spot is a nuisance

I’m certain that Starbucks is not a nuisance to any of the board

members, but to Starbucks neighbors? ANY high-traffic business in

that location would be a nuisance, but especially one that draws

heavy early morning traffic.

The City Council really needs to look at this closely. I think

that the Starbucks site-location people were very mistaken in taking

that location in the first place. It has very limited parking and is

too far from the central business district to draw office foot

traffic. Yet precisely because of the remote location, vehicle

traffic problems are compounded.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why Starbucks didn’t plant

itself in one of the vacant storefronts on central Brand. They would

be a good fit there. Do you suppose they can’t afford the rent?

BOB WINNERS

Glendale

Tujunga has a lot to offer, doesn’t deserve criticism

In response to Nancy Hass’s letter:

Nancy, shame on you, for lashing Tujunga. Your comment was a bit

too inapt.

OK, granted, there are rentals for $700 or $800, but here are also

rentals for $1,750 or $2,500, with backyards -- in Tujunga. My

goodness, have you been taking polls on how many people have moved

from Glendale and purchased property in Tujunga? Whatever the reason,

it was their choice.

Did you know some of Glendale’s finest professional people live in

Tujunga? And did you know some of the day workers in Tujunga ride the

bus and/or drive in daily from “adjacent” to Tujunga? I could have

been more specific on locales, but I didn’t, and for a purpose.

Perhaps my interpretations of your comment reverts back to what

you wrote: “I have made statements that were taken wrong because I

believed so strongly.” With that thought in mind, perhaps Tujunga

will forgive you.

By the way, my shop is in Tujunga, and my home is in La Crescenta.

You must have had a bad experience here to pass comments like that.

Undesirable situations can occur in even the most elite places (if

you follow the news). The scale is different, granted, but things

happen.

CAROLE KERKOVE

Tujunga

Let’s hope councilman’s fingers don’t get stuck

After reading the article (July 21-22) concerning Councilman Frank

Quintero’s company receiving $224,000 from the city of Glendale, I am

amazed how anyone, including our attorney general, would consider

that not a conflict of interest.

As someone who voted for Mr. Quintero in the last city elections,

I am sad to see how little time it took for our newest councilman to

be caught with his hands in the city cookie jar.

MARK MEEGAN

Glendale

Quintero should give up contract or quit council

Let’s get this straight. Councilman Frank Quintero’s firm receives

a contract worth more than $200,000 from a public entity that is

funded by the city of Glendale.

If that is not a conflict of interest, then I don’t know what is.

If Mr. Quintero has any sense of public values or ethics, he

should either give up his contract or resign from his position on the

Glendale City Council.

JERRY GROGAN

Montrose

Councilman’s contract a bad example for youth

As a supporter of Frank Quintero’s campaign during last April’s

elections, I was quite disappointed to read (News-Press, July 20-21)

about his $220,000 contract from the city of Glendale.

As a civics and history teacher in a middle school, who tries to

encourage young people to get involved in our political process, it

is very difficult to tell young people that public service is noble

profession when our elected officials like Mr. Quintero use public

office for personal enrichment.

I think we deserve better than that.

HAMLET ASLANIAN

Glendale