Mailbag: Traffic signs, lights safer than stings

The city of Glendale created a new strategy to establish a secured environment for both drivers and pedestrians (“Stings go on, sans bunny,” April 2).

According to the article, “Glendale Police Officer Tom Broadway dressed in a pair of shorts and T-shirt, a far cry from the furry Easter costume that he sported a day earlier. On Thursday, he walked back and forth at two crosswalks, one lighted and marked, the other not.”

The city’s police chose two intersections in which the number of accidents is high. It is amazing that, even though the officer dressed as a giant rabbit, he was nearly hit by drivers several times. During this time, officers issued 64 citations for drivers failing to yield. However, the numbers of citations were less than the day before with the officer in rabbit attire.

I strongly do not agree with this strategy that endangers a person’s life to make people aware of the law.

The city’s new strategy to make a safer public is not logical. It is not a good idea to put someone at risk of injury, or even murder, to catch careless drivers. Instead of putting someone at a risk by having them walk back and forth at two dangerous crosswalks, the Police Department can use traffic signs and lights. The city should spend more resources on pushing drivers and pedestrians to notice and observe the traffic signs.

Moreover, those who are inattentive to the signs, especially the pedestrian, should be punished.

VANA VARTOOMIAN

Glendale

Drug dangers must be taught to kids

A teenage boy was a victim of panic in Pasadena because his friends didn’t know what is going to happened if they call 911 about their drunk friend. He is not the first person, and he is not going to be the last one.

Aydin Salek is the victim of legislation’s fog about this kind of crime (“Bill urges kids to call 911,” April 8). If his friends were informed, they would call 911 in order to get help.

We all know that sometimes teenagers do something illegally, such as drinking or smoking weed. There should be programs in schools to inform students about these dangers and how to address them when confronted with these choices.

ARBI ZAGHIAN MASIHI

Glendale

Holding Gatto to his own standard