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MAILBAG - Feb. 11, 2008

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City should get to bottom of banner

After getting home on Tuesday night, we listened to the rest of the City Council meeting. We were shocked to hear Councilman Bob Yousefian state that “someone” in the city told him he could not donate to the Hometown Hero banners program.

Why in the world would Yousefian be the only person (that we know of) in this city not to be allowed to donate to this wonderful program?

It was so very generous of Yousefian to offer to pay for all of the banners for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in this war. We certainly hope City Manager Jim Starbird can get to the bottom of this so that Yousefian will be allowed to pay for those six banners.

LIN AND DICK SODERLUND

Glendale

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Incredulous over street name vote

Let me see if I got this straight: The City Council actually got involved in the street-naming process of a shopping mall and rejected one of the most common street names in America, “Excelsior,” because of its alleged irrelevance to the city of Glendale; then, after the guy who was basically given the property for nothing to reap a zillion dollars presents a slide show and plays Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” they decide to name the street after him (“Caruso gets his ‘Way,’” Thursday).

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: You can’t make this stuff up.

GARY DURRETT

Glendale

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Council was right to honor developer

Congratulations to our City Council on its wonderful gesture of naming a short street at the Americana at Brand location Caruso Way (“Caruso gets his ‘Way,’” Thursday).

Developer Rick Caruso’s comments about the name Excelsior standing for uplifting and against all odds is the appropriate name for a street located in the uplifting experience the Americana is going to be for all of Glendale. It is right on point.

However, the City Council’s sentiments and actions were more on point in regard to honoring the perseverance and tenacity of Caruso and his organization.

GERRI CRAGNOTTI

Glendale

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Kudos to council on naming street

Cheers to the City Council for its action in naming the street into the Americana at Brand after Rick Caruso (“Caruso gets his ‘Way,’” Thursday).

The legacy of naming streets after civic-minded developers who have kept Glendale moving forward is a long-standing one. Caruso has proven himself a visionary entrepreneur whose commitment to the future of Glendale is made tangible in the Americana at Brand.

JEFF KURTTI

Glendale

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Fence law came from a different era

The original no-fence law of the 1920s may have made sense then, to a quiet little community of local gentle folk (“Council is still on the fence,” Thursday).

If you drove an “automobile,” the choice was Henry Ford’s Model T, which frightened most horses. Trolleys, not buses, were the mode of most transportation. Ladies, when strolling down the street if accompanied by a gentleman, always walked closest to the building, never on the outside curb. Men tipped their hat to a woman, a gesture of respect.

Oh yes, a proper gentleman was never seen in public not wearing a hat, gloves, suit, pants always pressed and shoes shined. Let us also remember, ladies, that not long ago a law was ratified that allowed women the right to vote.

My, how the lovely city of Glendale has prospered since the 1920s — the same decade our founding fathers passed the no-fence law.

As a college-educated woman, I look upon the no-fence law as just another page of history. And perhaps it is now simply time to turn the page. With cellphones, laptops, iPods, long commutes, we live in a very different time.

With cars speeding down Cañada Boulevard at 60 mph, the idea of any fence seems like a great idea, if not to protect the children playing in their frontyard, perhaps just to simply protect the flowers planted so peacefully in front of your house.

Maybe that’s the answer. My grandmother used to tell me that her neighbors actually would lean over the fence and talk with one another.

Can you believe that? A fence could actually be a good thing.

KATHLEEN MCDONALD

Glendale

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Point was to keep Armenian votes out

The only truthful and telling part of the long diatribe in Marlene Walker’s Wednesday Community Commentary, “Groups feed off feelings of victimization,” is the following line: “I believe it is about the Armenian vote in Glendale — period.”

Well, yes, that is what many people have been saying for a long time. It is my opinion that the primary motive behind Councilman Frank Quintero’s proposed absentee ballot application ordinance is to make it harder for Armenian Americans and other new immigrants to vote. If that is the motivation, it is not good public policy, consistency or fair play.

The purpose is to punish Armenian voters, who are guilty of not voting for Quintero. Thank you very much for making the case for those of us who have been opposing this ordinance.

ANA ZAKARIAN

Glendale


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