MAILBAG: Virgil’s staff smart, goods overpriced

Kudos to Paul Chamberlin for his letter about Virgil’s exorbitant pricing (“Virgil’s has history of overcharging,” July 14). When I bought my home in Glendale in 1979, I asked the seller where the closest hardware store was, as I had plenty of work ahead of me. He said there’s Eagle Rock Lumber and Jesse James Hardware.

“Jesse James?” I asked. He said the sign on the front says Virgil’s, but every time you go in there you get robbed!

While they do have knowledgeable people and a good selection, they really gouge you. When I discovered that sandpaper at Virgil’s cost 9 cents more per sheet than Eagle Rock Lumber, I, like Chamberlin, made it the store of last resort.

ALLAN HERBERT

Glendale

Glendale teachers should be grateful

To quote the new Glendale Teachers Assn. president regarding contract negotiations, Tami Carslon said the district should “spend down their reserves and eliminate unnecessary programs” (“Teachers’ contract negotiations stall,” June 30).

Perhaps then, the union would be more amenable to the Glendale Unified School District in contract negotiations? No wonder the teachers union spent tens of thousands of union dollars to attempt to oust the three Glendale Unified board incumbents — Chuck Sambar, Greg Krikorian and Joylene Wagner.

I look forward to the final financial reporting from the union. Our teachers should be grateful they work in Glendale and thankful that previous union president Allen Freemon failed in getting a 15% raise.

Just look over your shoulder at Los Angeles Unified School District.

ARAM SAHAKYAN

Glendale

Lawmaker looking out for No. 1 now

My assemblyman, Paul Krekorian, has done an incredibly bad job for the last five years of representing the working families of Glendale, Burbank and surrounding communities. His tax and spend record is almost second to none. He should get a medal for leading California down the debt path.

And now, only seven months after he swore to represent us in this district, he decides the grass is greener as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. How can he believe that winning “higher” office in Los Angeles is going to actually help families in Glendale and Burbank?

I dare say that Paul is only looking after Paul — higher salary, less commute, bigger office, and the ability to walk away from our state of chaos he helped create.