Mailbag: Residents have a right to peaceful evenings

Regarding John F. Cabrera’s Nov. 13 letter, “Don’t like noise? Then move,” moving legislation to impose a curfew on night time flights should be of the utmost importance.

My pursuit of happiness is a guarantee of my constitutional rights. They are being hijacked. The airport started off small, and should remain small. Originally, United Airport opened Memorial Day weekend 1930.

In 1940, Lockheed purchased the airport as it built war planes that rolled off the assembly lines. After the war, all major carriers moved to Los Angeles International Airport. In the late 1960s, to our dismay, jetliners were capable of using short runways. In 1978, Lockheed, faced with lawsuits and a dying airplane industry, sold it to the airport authority consisting of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena.

Why is it that the Federal Aviation Administration finds that the loss of profits are more important than clean air and offensive noise throughout the day and night? Are we supposed to stay indoors as if we are criminals in a jail protected by soundproofing?! Give me a break!

After living in Burbank for more than 30 years, Cabrera says, “move.” Will he be providing the funds?

ED STRESINO

Burbank

Health bill would help older Americans

I want to thank Rep. Adam Schiff for voting for the health-care reform bill, which will mean better medical care for every Californian if passed by Congress.

The House plan will help millions of older Americans in Medicare like me who struggle with the high cost of prescription drugs by closing the gap in existing Medicare drug coverage, known as the “doughnut hole.” This will give us a full prescription drug benefit for the first time if included in the final bill.

According to AARP, nearly 20% of people in Medicare delay or choose not to fill their prescriptions because of cost, so I am sure my letter speaks for many others.

I am grateful that the House health-care bill passed, but I know the fight is not over. I am proud to be one of many AARP members who will continue to work with Schiff and other Congress members to make sure any final health-care bill means people like me, who have worked hard their whole lives, will no longer have to choose between paying for medications or paying for heat, food or housing.

MICHAEL SCHUTZ