Mailbag

Quintero taking workers' side saddens

I read with dismay in your March 15 issue that our City Councilman Frank Quintero is ardently taking the side of the striking workers at the Hilton Glendale hotel ("Hilton workers air labor grievances"). It's always been my understanding that our elected officials were to represent all of our citizens equally. Apparently there is a personal benefit to Quintero that we are not aware of or he would not be outspoken in the favor of the strikers.

In a free society it's always been that if you don't like your job, that you quit and seek another one. To use force and violence to meet the pay scale that you presume you are worth is contrary to the American tradition. In a free market we are all paid what we are worth. And many of us are not happy with that reality. If you want higher pay prove your skills and your ability. And higher pay will seek you out.

BOB NEW

Glendale

Mixed-use project is way of future

The mixed use project, proposed by Dorn Platz developer on Brand Boulevard and California Avenue, is the best possible solution for the location ("Merchants cautious about college plan," March 30).

Dorn Platz complex, the closest to the ideal of underground parking, ground floor retail, mezzanine and upper floors living quarters, is the only viable future for American cities.

Isn't it a pleasure to park, live and work and shop all within a walking distance. This saves time, money, reduces pollution and stimulates exercise.

Cheap gasoline is history and our freeways are parking lots in slow motion. Complainers have to stop whining and adapt to the circumstances of the present.

YUL B. DRASKOVIC

Glendale

Letter writer misses major point

In response to Robert Morrison's letter in Thursday's Glendale News-Press ("Columnist has the right idea." Mailbag), there is one factor that Morrison doesn't seem to recognize. In any community where there is a large majority of one particular ethnic group, there is going to a proportionally large amount of crimes within that group.

As an example, let's say that a certain city has a 90% blond-haired, blue-eyed, fifth-generation Americans. Now let's say that blond-haired, blue-eyed fifth-generation Americans commit 90% of the crimes in that particular city. Does that mean there is a disproportional crime problem within the blond-haired, blue-eyed community? I would say not.