NANCY BURNET KENT
Glendale
Paper has obligation to vet facts better
I was shocked to read in the Glendale News-Press a letter from Margaret Rice claiming that the new dollar coin is missing “In God We Trust” and calling for a boycott of the new coin. (“Take a stand for God on new dollar coin,” Mailbag, Nov. 26)
Rice is mistaken. The new series of presidential one-dollar coins still includes the phrase “In God We Trust”; that phrase has simply been relocated to the edge of the coin.
I realize that the News-Press is in many respects just a small-town newspaper, which is part of its charm. But if an editor had taken the time to just check the U.S. Mint’s website, he or she would have quickly discovered the truth about this topic. The News-Press is not exactly the New York Times, but it still has a responsibility not to participate in the spread of misinformation.
Equally troubling was the paper’s decision to run Rice’s letter under the heading, “Take a stand for God on new dollar coin.” I understand that the News-Press was simply summarizing Rice’s position, but it did so in a way that interpreted her call for a boycott as tantamount to standing up for God. As a Christian, I found this very offensive. Insisting that God’s name be used as a meaningless slogan on currency and elsewhere is not “taking a stand for God” — in fact, in my view it cheapens God’s name and comes perilously close to violating the proscription against taking His name in vain. Taking a stand for God means working for peace, justice, equality, mercy and compassion in the world — not spreading myths about what slogans appear on coins.
BRIAN K. BROOKEY
La Crescenta
City needs to wake up or it’ll lose shoppers
I just read the article regarding the Collards’ incredible fine of $347,600 for trimming trees (“Tree-trimming fine dropped,” Nov. 28) and I would highly recommend the city get a grip on common sense. Even though I read that the city has backed down on seeking litigation, the conclusion of the article implied that there might still be a “small” fine to the tune of $10,000.
Are you kidding me?! I live a couple of miles away in Silver Lake, and if you folks insist on this boneheaded course of action, I will need to reconsider visiting my favorite Glendale haunts like Porto’s Bakery or the Glendale Galleria. I mean I might accidentally nick a tree and be charged half a million dollars!
BEN LUC
Los Angeles
