Why do developers get good treatment?
I have to side with columnist Dan Kimber and his article in the Glendale News-Press (“Hope springs for good ’08,” Education Matters, Friday).
I too am wondering why homeowners who trim protected oak trees are punished with a fine when developers are rewarded for destroying hundreds of oaks in one fell swoop.
We need open space. We need to save the Verdugo Golf Course.
I quoted John Sawhill, past president of the Nature Conservancy, at the time of Oakmont V and he bears quoting again.
“In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy.”
CATHY SELLITTO
Glendale
Officials seem to be listening on course
Does the community want to see 229 condos built on the beautiful, open green space of Verdugo Hills Golf Course? (“Support is mounting to preserve golf course,” Dec. 27)
Teams of neighborhood volunteers visiting door-to-door in the Crystal View and LaShell tracts of Tujunga have been met with a resounding cry from residents to save the golf course.
The community is signing petitions, writing postcards and letters, and, on recent short notice to comply with a Dec. 28 deadline, began sending the city of Los Angeles their comments regarding important environmental impacts of the proposed housing development.
Our officials are listening.
We appreciate Los Angeles City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel for arranging an extension for public comments with a new due date of Jan. 31.
She also helped leverage a public scoping meeting “open house” to which interested residents are invited at her north valley office from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 17.
Hats off to Greuel for important action during a busy holiday season.
KARAN NEAL CLARKE
Tujunga
EDITOR’S NOTE: Clarke is a member of the local group Neighbors of the Golf Course.
Kudos to officials for ‘LEED’-ing the way
On Dec. 11, the Glendale City Council gave a thoughtful gift to taxpayers with their unanimous “yes” vote for the Glendale Water & Power training and storage buildings that are designed for sustainability. They’re to be built at the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver level.
Glendale News-Press reporter Jason Wells did a good job of explaining the Energy and Environmental Design rating system, and some of the specific choices from the menu of building features that will qualify them for LEED Silver (“Utilities gear up for greener standards,” Thursday).
Although attaining the certification will add to the front-end building cost, the long-term operational savings are expected to cover this extra cost in less than eight years.
It’s my understanding that the Glendale Community College Trustees plan to have the new buildings at the Garfield Campus designed for Silver certification.
Thank you to our local elected officials for working to help the environment and reduce the operational costs of these public buildings.
NANCY BURNET KENT
Glendale
Not much ‘peace’ in parade decision
It is ironic that during Christmastime, which celebrates “Peace on earth, good will towards men,” that the Montrose Peace Vigil was not allowed to participate in the Montrose Christmas Parade.
JOSEFINA GOMEZ
Glendale
