Dmv

Josh Kleinbaum It's a driver's worst nightmare: a meter maid with the power to ruin your credit rating. The City Council voted 3-0 Wednesday to hire Enforcement Technology Inc., a collection agency, to collect delinquent parking tickets, a move that could net the city as much as $1.8 million. "I think that the number of unpaid parking tickets is unacceptable," Director of Public Works Steve Zurn said. "I decided we needed to take further action to collect."

Woman arrested in fraud investigation A 22-year-old Glendale woman was one of four people arrested last week as part of an investigation into what authorities said was a major identity fraud and counterfeit operation. Heather Dixon was arrested at her Glendale home as part of a three-day sting that started June 9 and ended Thursday. Three other people, all in their mid-20s and residents in surrounding communities, were also arrested as authorities with the Department of Motor Vehicles searched their homes for evidence that they had been involved in one of the largest counterfeit ID operations in the state in recent years.

Karen S. Kim GLENDALE -- The following offices will be closed Tuesday for New Year's Day. The offices of the Glendale News-Press, Foothill Leader and Burbank Leader. All post offices, except Express Mail Services. City offices, including City Hall and libraries, but excluding police and fire departments, which will remain open. All national and state government agencies, including Social Security and the DMV. Most bank offices.

With regard to Theodore Polychronis' letter ("Questions about Caruso and the City Council," Dec.15) about Rick Caruso's plans to take over two properties in order to expand the Americana at Brand, I can only say: Bravo. It's about time someone questioned the power Caruso wields in this city. Ever since Caruso forced a second Environmental Impact Report about the historic fire station in the way of his development, which conveniently concluded that it was not worth preserving, I have made a point to put my money where my mouth is, namely anywhere but in the shops and restaurants of the Americana.

In response to Nareh Bodaghian's sincere letter, "Too many bad drivers have licenses," on July 12, the problem with Glendale drivers occurs before the DMV test. Applicants must take driving classes. After completing these classes they receive certificates, which are required by the DMV to take the test. When I was a driving instructor, my students told me that their friends purchased "black market" driving certificates to skip this instruction. The problem is that students are not made aware of the dangers of driving recklessly without respect for the law. Young people without experience may not realize that the two minutes they save by speeding and disregarding laws set them up for accidents that often have terrible consequences.

Gretchen Hoffman GLENDALE -- A drug bust resulted in eight arrests and netted a crop of "chronic" marijuana plants with a street value of more than $4 million, Glendale Police said. Investigators serving a search warrant on Tuesday night found a sophisticated hydroponic growing setup, the likes of which are rarely seen in Glendale, police said. Police found about 300 marijuana plants in a home in the 1800 block of Sunshine Court and served two more search warrants on two homes in Silver Lake, Investigator Luis Pasache said.

JACK SCOTT It was Friday evening, Sept. 19. My 16-year-old granddaughter, three other teenagers, and a father of one of the youths were on their way to a church retreat for young people. Suddenly, a speeding car smashed into their vehicle. My granddaughter escaped with severe bruises and scrapes, but the girl sitting next to her was killed. One other teenager had to have his right foot amputated and his pelvis was crushed. The driver of the other car was drunk.

Youth Speak! By Leticia Cheng, Valley Sun intern Dear Daddy, It's Father's Day this Sunday. Since I'm going off to college now and we're all in that sentimental mood, you tell me repeatedly that you're going to miss me so much when I'm gone next year, that you can't believe I'm all grown up, etc., that before I left the house, I thought I'd let you know I really appreciate everything you've done (and will do) for me. Thanks for? ? Spending all those hours teaching me math.

Kitty Galt When I was growing up, the Salvation Army did it all. They fed people, clothed people, housed people; their band played music on Saturday mornings on Main Street. And best of all, they found people. If you had lost touch with a relative or needed to find someone anywhere in the world, you called the Salvation Army. The "Sally" was all about people. I still get e-mail occasionally, asking me if I would keep an eye out for a particular person -- usually homeless.

I'd like to thank the people of Glendale for not caring at all. And for not protesting a bit. And for not threatening to burn so much as one copy of the Koran. We managed to peacefully allow members of the Islamic Center of Glendale to publicly celebrate their new religious center. And we did it without any of our citizens claiming they got a personal message from God asking them to promote hate. Look at us! Proving to the rest of the country that people with different belief systems can get along peacefully.