Community Commentary:

The time has come for us to make a stand for cleaning up dirty politics!

Enough is enough! I have had enough of Councilman Ara Najarian’s antics and his continual outbursts at City Council meetings (“Weaver elected to authority,” May 6).

Weaver has been consistent throughout his term, and I’m curious as to why Rafi Manoukian was reappointed to the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. He lost two elections in a row in 2007 and 2009, and Najarian, who appointed him once again to the authority, then rewards him. Compensation is about $10,000 a year. Who is fooling whom here!

I can’t believe our present City Council wouldn’t be above-board and open this commission seat to other candidates from our community.

Even better, why wouldn’t it invite former elected representatives with proven experience, honesty, integrity and character? For example: Eileen Givens, Rick Reyes, Carl Raggio or even an elected official, such as City Treasurer Ron Borucki (that is, if the airport needed a financial expert with integrity).

But, no, they choose a two-time elected-office loser who has only divided our community. Why would Najarian support Manoukian, when voters turned him down twice — once when he ran for City Council, and most recently in his lost bid for treasurer?

Was this a payback for the Armenian National Committee, which supported Manoukian? Why wasn’t this position publicly posted for members of the community who are interested in running for the airport authority post? Why the big secret?

It seems after seeing the council meeting and the discussion that the direction was to have only City Council members on the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Authority. If so, why Manoukian again? Can this be recalled, or do we have to wait four more years?

The Armenian National Committee Glendale Chapter has damaged our community enough already, and it’s time we take a stand! Let’s review its track record. We have Rafi Manoukian, former chairman of the organization, and Ardy Kassakhian, former executive director of the Western Region offices.

We all have to take a stand for Glendale and say we have had enough of cronyism, of Manoukian and the Armenian National Committee. We should demand that our City Council revote and reopen the seat for educated, hard-working people who care about the well being of our city — not those devoted to enriching themselves at the public trough! It can be done.

It seemed that the only one who got it right was newly elected Councilwoman Laura Friedman. Please go away, Manoukian.

 JOSEPH SHANNON is a Glendale resident.

A community commentary May 11 titled, “Cronyism on airport board is obvious,” incorrectly stated that City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian was executive director of the Armenian National Committee Glendale Chapter. He held the title for the organization’s Western Region offices. In addition, he has not managed a campaign for Rafi Manoukain.