Adams Square station beloved outside of the...

Adams Square station beloved outside of the city

I live just outside Glendale, in Silver Lake, and I think that

tiny art deco gas station is incredible. What an asset to that

charming 1930s downtown Adams Square area.

I can’t wait to see what clever solution the architects come up

with for it. It always pays to think outside of the box. You’ll have

something unique, historic and attractive in the community.

Here’s hoping for the best.

CHRIS NICHOLS

Los Angeles

Gas station would benefit from desert plants

How about transforming that beautiful antique gas station with a

collection of unusual cacti?

We have all kinds in our garden that we would be happy to donate.

It would help make it a lovely centerpiece for the planned Adams

Square mini park.

DOROTHY AND NORMAN WEISS

Glendale

Mall owner’s ‘silencing’ claim ridiculous

Personally, I’m pleased with the decision of the Second Appellate

District Court of Appeal, regarding Caruso Affiliated Holdings’

antitrust suit (“Judge dismisses General Growth appeal,” Friday).

The specifics of Caruso Affiliated’s antitrust case against

General Growth will be litigated; however, it is ridiculous for

General Growth to assert that the Caruso case is primarily an attempt

to “silence” them with regard to their opposition to the Town Center

project. General Growth has been anything but reticent in expressing

their opinion of the project.

Through their spokesperson(s) and legal counsel, General Growth

has participated in public forums and in other public venues in their

ongoing campaign to delay, maim and/or kill the Americana! They were

the instigators behind the efforts that resulted in the city

conducting a costly special election regarding the Town Center last

fall. General Growth shows no signs of being either silenced or in

any way intimidated in pursuing their agenda.

GENE DUDLEY

Glendale

General Growth’s aggression about to strike out

Taking a line from “Casey at the Bat,” there is no joy in Chicago,

because mighty Chicago-based General Growth now has two strikes

against them. One more -- and it’s coming -- they will have struck

out!

The fact that the Glendale Galleria generates one of the highest

revenues as a mall development in Southern California, which in turn

provides the city of Glendale with some pretty hefty bucks, we must

never forget nor forgive General Growth Properties for their blatant

attempt to block the free, competitive system upon which our country

was founded and has thrived.

Why the second-largest U.S.-based mall real estate investment

trust would ever imagine that it could come into Glendale wielding

their big bats, and engage the services of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher to

strike out Americana developer Rick Caruso has to be the joke of the

century. This issue has nothing to do with Caruso’s wealth or his

connections, as some of his ardent opponents have suggested. This

issue is based solely on Caruso’s track record of developing highly

successful outdoor communities with the highest degree of

architectural appeal. In furtherance, General Growth forced a special

election, which was not only very expensive and unnecessary due to

the City Council’s unanimous vote of approval, but suspect of some

pretty dirty tactics displayed by many of their petition signature

collectors.

Notwithstanding the voice of the people in favor of the Town

Center, they have continued to thwart the progress of the development

with their ludicrous injunction, claiming that the old fire station

is historical, and should be preserved as a monument to mankind.

I would bet anything that once this case is heard on its merit,

the State Court of Appeal will uphold the lower court’s decision.

General Growth, you are preparing to open the gazillion-dollar

mall in San Antonio in September. You will continue to flourish

throughout this millennium, but it is my personal belief that you

will not be completely satisfied until you overtake Westfield

Shoppingtown. That’s cool, if you eventually succeed, but in the

meantime, lift your injunction and leave Glendale to the voice of its

populace, for if you don’t, you will continue to see a downturn in

your tenants’ business, which will ultimately hurt your bottom line.

Is all this turmoil worth it?

ARNIE LEIB

Glendale

Arnold was elected for a reason, remember

I take exception to the June 29 letter from Molly Bosted in

attacking Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (“Poor ratings show how people

really feel about Arnold”).

Doesn’t she know that Schwarzenegger was elected by California

voters to replace Gov. Gray Davis, because they wanted him to take

action in reforming the state’s pitiful financial condition (which is

near bankruptcy or it may be there already). This is exactly what he

is trying to do, yet the same people who placed him in office are now

attacking him for what they wanted him to do. Does this make sense?

Bosted goes on to write that the new governor “should spend his

energy honestly seeking consensus with the legislature ....” The

reason Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is now asking for a special

election later this year is because the Democratic-controlled state

Senate and Assembly refuse to budge on their old and irresponsible

habits of spend, spend and spend some more, even if they don’t have

the money. That’s why California is in the financial mess it finds

itself in, because of the disgraceful, long-standing fiscal attitude

of the Democrats.

By calling this special election, the governor will bring his case

to the electorate after the Democratic legislature fought him all the

way on his proposals. Some of those proposals, which are long in

coming, are to put a cap on state spending and extend a teacher’s

tenure from two to five years, the latter bitterly opposed by the

teachers’ union.

Let’s face it, Schwarzenegger’s reform plan goes against the old

policies of the powerful unions in the state, and the unions don’t

like it. To heck with California and its residents; keep those very

beneficial policies in place, no matter what.

And on a final point, I am dismayed over the rhetoric being used

by the California Teachers’ Assn. and its supporting parental groups

about how Schwarzenegger has not repaid the funding he took from the

last year’s budget.

To set the record straight, one and all: It is stated by H.D.

Palmer, who is deputy director of the State Department of Finance,

that education always receives more budget money than any other

department. Also, the governor’s 2005-06 budget includes a $3-billion

increase over the previous year. Does that sound like a governor who

is anti-education?

DONALD MAZEN

Glendale