City should ban alcohol as well

I find it rather hypocritical that the city is considering banning the Glendale Gun Show and at the same time expanding the use of alcohol on public property (“Councilman aiming for ban of city's gun show,” Dec. 20).

Education system needs new priority

Re: “Program offered for English learners” (Mailbag, Jan. 5): According to two Harvard University Reports, the conclusions of which I found in a Verdugo Labor Market...

School intersection is a nightmare

The intersection of Duran Street and Columbus Avenue is a disaster waiting to happen: There are six stop signs and five marked crosswalks with curb bump-outs installed there earlier this year. I've never seen such an installation before.

Parking meters should be fixed

Re: “Bill targets broken meters,” Jan. 9: Good for Mike Gatto and his legislation to bar cities from ticketing cars at broken...

Rose float appeared to be unfinished

The 2013 Glendale Tournament of Roses float was beautiful, and we can all feel terrific that it justifiably won a trophy for its design. But along with the pride I felt watching it glide along the parade route, I also had a nagging curiosity seeing two unadorned cylinders at the rear of the float....

Union should work with district

As we get ready to review those candidates that have tossed their hats into the ring for board member seats at Glendale Unified, this subscriber has a perplex problem in analyzing the Glendale Teachers Assn. and their contributions in the education environment. First it was with Measure S in 2011 in...

Thanks for help with school evacuation

On behalf of the Glendale Unified School District and the Board of Education, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the R.D. White staff, and to the Glendale Police and Fire departments, Whole Foods Market, and the YWCA for assisting us in the evacuation of our students at R.D. White...

Shooting coverage had the wrong angle

I believe the headlines and articles referring to the “love triangle” shooting in Glendale (“Man is shot four times,” Jan. 9) should be changed to “domestic violence.” Assaulting or killing the new partner of your ex-wife is a form of domestic violence. Calling it...

Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero op-ed: Good stories were plentiful in 2012

While reading the Glendale News-Press article, “A year of highlights and low points,” I couldn't help but reflect on 2012. Although last year was difficult for the global economy, we would be remiss not to remind ourselves of the great accomplishments we achieved at home.

Glendale float was wonderful

Thank you, city of Glendale. We had a beautiful and wonderful float. It was back on Jan. 31, 2012, I wrote in regarding Brittany Levine's Jan. 24, 2012, article on how Glendale politicians couldn't stop fighting about the float and it was going to be discontinued because no one could agree on...

Support Montrose's local merchants

In spite of its so-called Mayberry charm, Montrose has undergone lots of change in its first 100 years. From its dirt-road, one-store, seven-year “birth” to its blossoming in the roaring '20s, to its near-death experience in the 1960s, followed by its park-like makeover in 1967, Montrose...

Firefighters couldn't have been better

We would like to thank all the Glendale and county firefighters that responded to our house fire on Dec. 17. We had a chimney fire that went into the attic, and we had no idea it was happening. There was no smell of smoke or smoke alarms that went off. An unknown, good neighbor seeing flames from...

Analyzing reasons for the road diet

The community interaction over the so-called road diet has been enlightening and speaks directly to one of our founding principles. The freedom to speak and to exchange ideas is fundamental to this democratic republic, and in so many ways, it is a principle that is becoming marginalized.

NRA missed its target on gun ideas

I'm really disappointed with the National Rifle Assn. After the Newtown massacre its spokesperson really came up short. He did not make it clear that multiple armed guards would be needed in almost every school, especially at larger schools, in order to minimize response times to incursions. It's...

By means of an introduction

For numerous moments in 2012, I thought that I would be like Moses, denied entry into the Promised Land, aka Glendale. My wife and I lived between Colorado and California, and our wish was to permanently settle in Glendale, except that every time we bid on a property, we were outbid by other buyers,...

Lost wallet made for a lousy Christmas

To whoever found my small, black wallet in the parking lot or in the Taylor Steakhouse in La Cañada, let me say that you could have saved my Christmas by making an effort of finding the wallet's owner.

Program offered for English learners

I was delighted to read Liana Aghajanian's recent article informing your readers of the English-as-a-second language class offered through Glendale Community College's non-credit Continuing Education division (“It's never too late to tackle English,” Dec. 13). After all, a common...

Off-duty police would promote safe schools

Using banks, airports and courthouses as examples of the use of armed guards does not fit into a school atmosphere. I have observed most schools are fenced, having a main entrance.

A tip of the glass to Rocky Cola Café

Re: “It's the last straw at Rocky Cola,” Dec. 28. What a shame to lose this fine establishment. I have been going there since it first opened. In those days the local (Foothills...

A shot at Griem's 'In Theory' response

The subject of last weekend's "In Theory" section was very interesting, addressing what can be done to slow down the gun violence in our society. From the 10 responding people, clergy and...

In defense of the Glendale Gun Show

Several people have argued recently to put an end to the Glendale Gun Show because of the relative ease of purchasing firearms there. However, I contend that this argument is simply not true.

No need for the Sears bashing

When our old microwave expired recently, the Glendale Sears provided the opposite of “retail irrelevance,” as Nat B. Read claims it to be in his letter to the editor (“Sears store is an outdated model,” Mailbag, Dec. 29). We found just what we wanted in one local stop, at a...

More concern for the News-Press

Like letter-writers Chris Davis and Robert Morrison, we want to express our dismay at the recent developments regarding the Glendale News-Press. Relocation of the newspaper facilities, as well as the reduction of daily print editions, does not bode well for the newspaper or our community.

The martial art of subduing special interests

Passing a major reform in Sacramento has the same odds as a novice knocking out the champ at a martial-arts competition. This is particularly true when it comes to reforming ballot-box budgeting. I’ve introduced eight measures on this topic over the past 2 1/2 years, and people often ask me...

More is necessary to prevent gun violence

America has had enough of the carnage at our schools by the sick and evil members of the public that are able to buy assault rifles and murder our children in cold blood. It is time for every superintendent of schools and every director of education of each state to rise up and demand that there...

Limit transfers from GWP to General Fund

The City Council will be asking for citizens to vote and approve changes in the ordinance to justify the transfers of up to 25% of revenue from the gross revenues of Glendale Water & Power. I worked for GWP for 20 years, under the management of five different GWP managers who all have said...

End the gun shows in Glendale

I have the deepest sorrow for the loss of 20 children and six adults who were gunned down Friday in Newtown, Conn.

Take a stand against gun violence

Some weeks ago, following the shooting in Colorado, I wrote to the Glendale News-Press regarding the gun shows at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. At that time, I suggested that our city take a stand against gun violence and ban these “shows.”

Process for cell tower opposition is faulty

I’d like to see in the near term a review of the current policy the city has for community notification in R-1 zones where major improvements are planned using the city's easement rights for erecting/construction of wireless transmission facilities. The current process is deeply flawed and...

Bloated pensions dragging us down

Many safety personnel have salaries of more than $100,000 and $200,000 plus as their final pay at retirement. Union contracts in the cities of Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena allow public safety to retire after 30 years at age 50 or 55 with 90% of their last year of income.

Print edition serves an important role

Chris Davis wrote an eloquent letter, “City needs a printed News-Press,” Mailbag, Dec.12, in which he voices his despair over the ongoing News-Press changes....

Door opens to a holiday surprise

In the midst of Sunday night football, our doorbell rang and I cautioned my wife to open only the small window in the door to see who it was. To my surprise, she opened the door and what a delight. On our porch was our neighbor, who I had only met once, his wife and their new baby and several...

Bear frequents Chevy Chase Estates

I feel concern should be directed toward a free-roaming bear in the area of Chevy Chase Estates. This bear has been seen recently raiding garbage cans on the street, on Sheridan Road.

City needs a printed News-Press

I'm sure longtime readers of the Glendale News-Press have noticed the continual shrinking of this physical newspaper as well as the shrinkage in the amount of coverage of our community inside its pages. The physical offices of the News-Press in Glendale have been vacated and the editorial staff...

Colony's production is worth checking out

This letter is to praise Burbank’s Colony Theatre production of “The Morini Strad.” Willy Holtzman’s play about Erica Morini, a Viennese violin diva who made her debut at the age of 12, focuses on Morini’s final days as she painfully deals with the disposition of her...

Keep the circus out of Glendale

I am writing in response to the recent letter from Nancy Klein concerning the cruel treatment of animals by the Ramos Circus.

Najarian should pursue a different career

Mr. Najarian, please explain to me and the citizens of Glendale the benefit of having Kim Kardashian ride Glendale’s Rose Parade float.

Glad the Kardashian idea went away

I am very pleased that our councilman came to his senses and withdrew the suggestion to put Kim Kardashian on the city’s float.

Lawns are one culprit in water pollution

The U.S. Supreme Court this week heard arguments regarding whether the Los Angeles County Flood Control District bears responsibility for addressing pollutants found in the county’s storm water, even when the source of the pollutants has not been identified. On a related issue, many GNP...

Thankful for the work of campus police

A student in my English 101 class at Glendale Community College had a sudden-onset medical event. A Health Office nurse and a campus police officer and cadet immediately responded to my request for assistance. Once Officer Neil Carthew and Cadet Nick Allen came on the scene, they calmly directed...

Najarian is good with a punchline

In reference to the article on Nov. 29, “Najarian floats ride for Kardashian”: Do I need new reading glasses? Did Ara Najarian really suggest that Kim Kardashian ride on Glendale’s float in the Rose Parade?

There's more news than Kim Kardashian

It is a sorry state of affairs when you have nothing better to run on front page but another clipping for Kim Kardashian to add to her scrapbook.

Circuses should not use animals

I am writing to alert the Glendale community about the cruel treatment of animals by the Ramos Circus. The animals are confined to very small enclosures where they must stand or sit tied all day and night.

GCC needs its own police on campus

As a Glendale Community College student, I think GCC should have its own have police force for several reasons. The first reason is the high number of students. The majority consists of 18- to 20-year-old youths who may fight or have drug issues. The campus police can control and prevent such...

A state Assembly suggestion box

I try to seek bill ideas from regular Californians. I have gotten some great ideas from sources as varied as local cops, utility ratepayers, and even my father. For example, my friends in the Glendale Police Department came to me a couple years ago, and asked me to change an unsafe state...

Montrose comes through again

The good weather made the Montrose Christmas Tree Lighting Festival a great success. A snow-making machine helped make Honolulu Avenue feel like a winter wonderland. I saw little kids and bigger kids with gray hair throwing snowballs. One even hit one of the carolers, right in the middle of one of...

Up-and-down answer from Griem

It's almost a first — I actually agree with a comment by the Rev. Bryan Griem responding to the “Looking forward?” topic in the In Theory section, Nov. 18. He says, “Obama's our president, and as such we should afford him the respectability of the office and commit to praying...

GWP shouldn't be city's cash cow

What should the public expect, when council members have received thousands of dollars in campaign monies from our city unions? These public servants have to find money, somehow and somewhere, to pay back the unions for their past generous campaign contributions..”

Interpretation of charter was way off

The antics by the city attorney, Michael Garcia, Councilman Ara Najarian and others last Tuesday while discussing the discovery of documents allowing them to interpret the intent of the 1941 city charter changes was near slapstick comedy.

Connecting to the Wellness Works site

I just read Katherine Yamada’s article in the News-Press about the house where Wellness Works is located and about my wife, Nancy Rez (“The story of a much-...