Mailbag

A bright sign during some dismal days

My husband called out to me early Saturday morning to see the incredible rainbow that arced across the Crescenta Valley. We both agreed it was the largest and most vividly colored rainbow we had ever seen. Off to the side of this spectacular rainbow was a secondary, fainter pastel rainbow. Many of our neighbors were outside looking and photographing it. In these turbulent times, it was lovely to share this moment of nature’s beauty and hope that at the end of this rainbow is a promise of better times for our country.

SUSAN JAMES CARR

Glendale

This Bruce is cut out to be the boss

I have read several items written by Bruce Philpott. I agree with his latest, regarding the new Brand Boulevard parking meters (“New parking meters are for city’s gain,” Mailbag, Thursday). The new system is definitely more complicated than the old, but it produces income, which is obviously the main objective.

Philpott always focuses on governmental efficiency, living within our means and spending carefully. How refreshing. Perhaps others focus on the same things, but I am unaware of them.

In these times of foolish governmental spending, huge deficits and the never-ending quest by our “representatives” to raise taxes, it’s good to read the point of view of spending carefully and getting off the backs of the citizens. Philpott is an ex-police chief, so he is certainly more aware than most of what goes on in government and how much money is wasted. I appreciate his efforts. I hope he makes it to the Glendale City Council, because this is the type of person we need — someone looking out for all of us without shooting off an ego. Returning to spending within limits and living with a balanced city budget is the way to go. Thank you, Philpott.

MONTY COCHRAN

Glendale

Police cuts will entice criminals

I read in the Glendale News-Press that property crimes are up 12% in Glendale (“Burglary, theft increase in city,” Wednesday). Burglaries alone jumped 16%, and auto burglaries (thefts from cars) are up 9%. The rise in property crimes is a reflection of the severe recession, according to the Glendale Police Department. I understand that seven police officers have already been cut and that we no longer have officers in our middle schools. (And we’ve seen what the result was — one child dead, another injured.)