MAILBAG - March 1, 2008
Cheers for win-win situation at Hilton
As someone who has been involved for the past two years in the struggle of the workers at the Glendale Hilton for economic justice, I rejoice that their efforts have now met with success (“Hilton workers sign union deal,†Thursday).
Congratulations to everyone involved: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, the workers and, most especially, the new owners. Isn’t it amazing what can be done when people of good will work together? Everybody wins.
JOHN STEELE
Glendale
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Letter writer saw ballot issue as it is
“Undemocratic†and “racist†— two loaded terms, neither of which apply to the decision to approve the absentee ballot application ordinance or to the ordinance itself (“Application ordinance passes,†Feb 20).
Since when does providing a ready-made short list for the well-funded candidate to target voters in their homes when the ballots arrive in the mail support democratic principles?
Candidates win by a handful of votes in this city, and securing that short list may be the winning strategy.
The ordinance does not stop any group or candidate from getting out the vote or educating or assisting a voter — but it will help to put a stop to potential voters from being heavily lobbied or worse when the absentee ballot arrives in the mail.
It may also give pause to those who see no harm in forging the signature of a potential voter on an absentee ballot application and thus assure that the potential voter receives a mail-in ballot, who will now have to use the U.S. mail and face the consequences thereof.
I am a born-and-bred member of the Democratic Party who is appalled that leading members of the Democratic Party are so willing to tip their “win at all costs†hand. It is this “win at all costs†strategy that discourages citizens from wanting to participate in democracy. And that is “undemocratic.â€
Further, there is nothing undemocratic about leveling the playing field for all candidates, including the well-funded incumbent and the newcomer with the small bank account and the desire to serve.
For those of you who throw the “racist†term out so freely, you do so at the risk of diluting your message. Call “wolf†without cause too often and you may find yourselves friendless when the wolf is actually at your door.
Congratulations to Councilmen John Drayman, Frank Quintero and Dave Weaver for wading through the rhetoric and standing up for democracy.
And thank you to Al Hofmann, who said it like it is (“It is time to move on from ballot vote,†Mailbag, Wednesday).
LAURIE COLLINS
Glendale
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Votes on issue will have consequences
Herbert Molano, in his letter to the Glendale News-Press (“City Council could use an infusion of problem-solvers,†Community Commentary, Feb. 23), bemoans the fact that the absentee ballot application issue degenerated into name-calling, accusations and divisiveness. Somehow, he manages to blame our City Council majority for this ruckus, as they are evidently not “problem solvers.â€
Sounds to me like a case of blaming the victim instead of the bullies. Sad to say, there is no middle ground with the ethnic groups that are demanding special treatment.
At a very young age, I was taught that in any discussion, the loser is the participant who starts shouting, hurling accusations and making threats. In this case, there are threats of lawsuits and unwarranted accusations of racism.
There is even talk of the American Civil Liberties Union entering the fray. I commend the City Council for not giving in.
Glendale now will handle absentee ballots the same as the city of Los Angeles, and it appears that the threat of legal action is a lot of hot air.
Councilman John Drayman commented that the ordinance could change next year if the makeup of the City Council changes (to an Armenian majority). I highly doubt that will happen, as Councilman Bob Yousefian, one of the ordinance’s opponents, has managed to antagonize a sizable number of Glendale’s voters, and, in my opinion, will soon be joining Rafi Manoukian as an ex-councilman.
STEVE ASIMOW
Glendale