Mailbag: Shield taxpayers from vandals’ dirty work

I agree absolutely with the letters stating that the vandals should pay for the destroyed playground equipment at Glorietta Park (“City shouldn’t have to pay for playground,” Sept. 1).

Taxpayers should not be responsible for the acts of spoiled kids. Most people have homeowners insurance, and even if they don’t, they should pay for the acts of their children.

Jane Leggett

Glendale

Thankful that district, teachers reached deal

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, our children are back in school.

On Monday, students flooded back into our Glendale schools for a new year full of high expectations.

However, these can also be anxious times for parents and children — new schools, new teachers, new experiences, new challenges. Fortunately, one item we parents won’t need to worry about is the status of our children’s teachers (“Teachers union approves contract,” Sept. 10).

Glendale Unified Supt. Dick Sheehan and his team and teachers union President Tami Carlson and her team should be commended for working through the complicated financial issues and reaching a tentative agreement.

Although most likely not perfect, it seems the agreement saves the school district some money, brings back laid-off teachers, and keeps kindergarten through third-grade class sizes relatively low — all good things.

Our children, their teachers and administrators can now focus on the reading, writing and arithmetic that leads to academic achievement.

As a parent, I want to thank all parties for working through their differences to make this happen.

Todd Hunt

Glendale

Letter on ‘the South’ hit the mark

I had a good laugh while having breakfast reading Carol Weling’s letter (“Too much whine comes from the South,” Sept. 10) in response to Michael Teahan’s column about the lack of political representation in south Glendale (“Tropico Perspective: South Glendale losing its political voice,” Sept. 8).

She, with her bow and arrow, really hit the mark. The best part is how she guides the quivers with her sense of humor and expertise.

Many years ago we had a series of City Council members who saw the rundown condition of south Glendale and did something about it. The city pumped millions into new streets, sidewalks, curbs, driveways, lights, landscaping and parks. This is not cosmetics, but permanent reconstructions and will last for many years to come. The new owners are benefitting from this and should just say “thank you.”

John Cianfrini

Glendale

Editor’s note: Cianfrini is president of the Adams Square Merchants Assn.

Glendale lucky to have its city manager

With all the news about budgets and leaders getting paid more than they’re worth, also about people in charge of cities and not caring about them or their futures, let’s look at Glendale’s city manager, Jim Starbird.

I see him so often in the city, at restaurants, malls and city events. He works for the city and the people. He lives in the city of Glendale and spends his time and money in Glendale. He cares and manages the city in a good way.

Compare other cities and their conditions and you will be proud to live in Glendale.

Jim Canfield

Glendale

Tale of a teacher who got testy

I was a teacher in an outlying school district (not Glendale) for many years. On testing days, the pupils marked their test answers on bubble cards.

The teacher in the room next to me (now deceased) would fill in a few bubbles for each pupil to make her seem more successful and as if the pupils learned more from her methods.

Guess what? She was named teacher of the year in that district!

Francis Adams

Glendale