One way to scare them off could be to play a recording of a mountain lion scream. Perhaps the city could set up some loudspeakers and blast the frightening sounds of a mountain lion.
CHRISTOPHER GLASS
Glendale
There are many benefits to plant life
Besides adding beauty and serenity to front yards, plant life also creates oxygen, improves air quality and helps to hold moisture in the soil.
These are benefits that carpeting will not provide (“Turf obtains council’s OK,” July 23).
Alone, one front yard may not make much difference in the city as a whole.
But there is no question that it is much more pleasant to walk down a tree-shaded street surrounded by living plants than to walk down a street surrounded by hardscape, dust and sweltering heat.
According to the March/April newsletter from Glendale Water & Power, it has joined with the Glendale Parks Department to create a California Friendly demonstration garden adjacent to Glorietta Park.
The park is said to be low-water use, is drought tolerant and has California-native trees and plants.
It is meant to be an example of the beauty that low-water-use plants can provide in a landscape.
People are used to watering lawns and need help in finding replacement plants that take less water but provide the practical benefits and pleasure that they are used to getting from their lawns.
Instead of advocating artificial turf, the City Council would serve Glendale better by helping homeowners find the best low-water-use plants to replace lawns.
The city could offer rebates for homeowners who replace lawns with low-water-use plantings.
Or the city may sponsor a contest to encourage homeowners to dig up their grass and get creative with low-water-use alternatives.
CATHY HRENDA AND STEPHEN MEEK
Glendale
