In favor of city voting districts

It was recently reported that Councilman Ara Najarian moved from his tree-lined street in the beautiful Montecito Park area to South Glendale (“Officials balk at voting districts,” Feb. 17).

Since moving south of the Ventura (134) Freeway, but north of Colorado Boulevard, he said the following: “I see the parking issue first-hand. I see the noise issue first-hand. I see the large-item pick-up issue first hand. I’ve heard about these before, but until you’re actually living there, you don’t feel the pain that the others have.”

I wonder what other issues Najarian has not seen before? Perhaps the need for more parkland and open space? Perhaps the need for more tree-lined streets? Perhaps the need for developers to provide more parking? Perhaps the need for better quality-of-life improvements?

If Najarian represented a South Glendale district, would he have voted to approve millions of dollars in redevelopment funds for the Museum of Neon Art?

Would he have disapproved, or reduced, all the new multi-family housing for South Glendale, knowing many areas will have insufficient parking and more traffic? Would he have pushed to reduce the density of population? Would he have taken a greater interest in the undersized garage issues in the Adams Hill area?

Glendale is no longer a homogeneous town. But the residents, by in large, are mostly ill informed and vote along establishment lines, unfortunately.

Having seven small council districts with a strong mayor chosen at-large by all the voters would be better than the present system. The new mayor would represent all the citizens of Glendale.

District voting forces candidates to be better at representing a given area.

Mike Mohill
Glendale