Interests

Now that the midterm elections are behind us, I want to thank my constituents for the continued opportunity to serve. I first ran for office because I wanted to ensure that the country we pass on to our children is even better and stronger than the one we inherited. As the father of two young children, it is still what motivates me. But that intergenerational compact is at risk. I understand how deeply people are hurting in this poor economy, as well as how many others are worried about our country's future.

Regarding all the news about the campaign for the United States to recognize the 89-year-old Armenian Genocide, it isn't going to happen. The realistic fact is that Turkey is a most important and valuable ally of the U.S. in the troubled Middle East since the formation of NATO, and furnishes us with vital military assistance in that part of the world. The U.S. maintains a major air base in Turkey, a factor in the 1990s war in former Yugoslavia, as well as in our military action in Afghanistan and Iraq.

GLENDALE — Burbank Unified School District Board member Paul Krekorian won termed-out Majority Leader Dario Frommer's 43rd State Assembly District seat Tuesday night, with 62.9% of the vote. At his victory party at the Minx restaurant in Glendale Tuesday night, Krekorian expressed his objective of representing the interests of all facets of the district. "This is a district with great diversity in every respect — ethnically, in terms of income, geographically and so on — but I think that the people of this district have common interests," he said.

If it wasn't so laughably absurd, one might actually wheeze up a chuckle at the Greggs' protestations that they really care for the environment and the best interests of the citizenry. Unfortunately, their definition of environmental preservation most likely features a 12-point buck deer head mounted over their fireplace, and our best interests a funnel into their already bulging bank accounts. The Gregg Company is merely a microcosm of Enron. A powerful manipulator of public policy that dwells on short-term greed at the expense of a responsible vision toward the future, regardless of the human and environmental toll.

City should support Alex upgrade Absolutely the city should allocate the funds for improving the sound system at the Alex Theatre. In the Alex, we have a treasure that other cities would give their eye teeth to have. Let's invest what is necessary to keep it an attractive and competitive venue in our city. HERBERT R MILLER Glendale Letter in defense of Starr misses point In his March 16 letter ("Starr vote was in best interests of event," mailbag), Gary Cornell misses the point.

Degnan Inducted to Phi Beta Kappa The University of California at Santa Barbara has inducted La Crescenta resident Natalie Susan Degnan as one of 135 seniors to the California Lambda Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest honorary society in the country. Its purpose is to honor high achievement in the liberal arts and sciences and to recognize and encourage scholarship, friendship and cultural interests. Pascual Receives MBA in Wisconsin Emmanuel Hernandez Pascual, a Glendale resident, received his master's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on May 13.  

I am not sure how the News-Press identifies who or what may be the 103 most significant people/events for Glendale. However, having read the article, it became apparent that little if any research was done. The top 103 included people who have little if any impact on Glendale, or who have not been around or done anything significant for months, e.g., the staff of Joel Wachs, La Canada City Council, fences, etc. You completely ignored many significant people such as Michael Antonovich, the Mayor of Los Angeles County (Board of Supervisors)

June W. Dougherty, long time La Cañada Flintridge resident died Thursday, January 6 of natural causes.  She was 90.  Born August 5, 1920 in Los Angeles, June’s family moved to Arcadia in 1932 where she attended Monrovia Arcadia Duarte High School.  In 1942 she received a BA in Home Economics from UCLA and in that same year married James Dougherty.  Together they raised three children.  In 1956 the family moved to La Cañada Flintridge.  June had many interests including politics, art, weaving and history and was active in Pasadena’s League of Women Voters, Descanso Gardens and the Lanterman House.

Why does Adam Schiff refuse to talk about issues important to people, like affordable health care? Does he have nothing to say? Maybe he is too nervous about people realizing that his campaign is in the pocket of special interest lawyers. It seems obvious from what I have seen so far that Schiff would rather litigate not medicate. Doesn't Schiff get it? It takes more to have a position on health care than showing up and kissing babies, he actually has to answer questions on this important issue.

When it is so very often that the political process or public service is held up to derision hyper scrutiny and/or hysterical debate, it was so reaffirmed by the local version, the Glendale City Council meetings televised Tuesdays. The 14 Quintero months will be an insightful learning experience. Don't miss it. Tim Jagoe La Crescenta

Over the last decade Burbank has seen the music chains Virgin Megastore, Sam Goody and FYE disappear as consumers shifted from buying CDs to downloading their music online. However, two independent record stores started in the '90s have managed to thrive in the city as a new generation of music fans discovers vinyl records while faithful repeat customers keep coming back. Atomic Records on West Magnolia Boulevard has found success by sticking to its original game plan of specializing in used vinyl records.

Please forgive me for not making my point clear (“ No need for Glendale school board changes ,” Mailbag, March 9). I am concerned that Jennifer Freemon would be ineffective on the school board because ethically, she would have to recuse herself from most of the issues that the board handles due to a material conflict of interest. Certainly, contract negotiations with the teachers union involve salary, work schedule, benefits and retirement funds. The school board will also be faced with many other issues that affect the work load of teachers, e.g. class size, teacher training and funding student elective programs.

Halfway into the fiscal year and things look grim for gains in Glendale's investment portfolio. “Where I thought that the bottom was last year, let's just say that these certainly are challenging times,” said City Treasurer Ron Borucki during a City Council meeting Tuesday. Historically low interest rates - which determine the city's returns on investments - are far from bottoming out, causing Borucki to second-guess his original projection of a $4-million gain by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. By the end of last fiscal year, the city made $4.3 million from its investments.

Passing a major reform in Sacramento has the same odds as a novice knocking out the champ at a martial-arts competition. This is particularly true when it comes to reforming ballot-box budgeting. I've introduced eight measures on this topic over the past 2 1/2 years, and people often ask me why I bother. Changes to the status quo are long shots that require heavy lifting. Complex constitutional amendments are not easily explained in sound bites. And many of these bills don't exactly ingratiate a legislator with special interests.

Glendale's investment portfolio ended the fiscal year in June at $393 million, down $16 million from the same period last year, according to a city report released this week. The city's investment returns have been stifled by low interest rates and a still struggling economy. “We haven't lost $16 million, we have spent $16 million, but that hasn't been replaced,” said City Treasurer Ron Borucki. “More dollars flow out of the portfolio than are coming in.” The city's interest earnings for the year finished at $4.3 million, down from $5.8 million in the previous year.

When Glendale and Pasadena began lending ebooks in 2005, demand was low. But an increasing number of patrons are embracing the technology, contributing to what could end up being a sea change in how publishers and libraries interact with readers. In the first study examining ebook consumption, released in April, the Pew Research Center found that at least 21% of Americans had read an ebook. Eleven percent of people who owned a reading device looked for ebooks at their public library.

It appears that the early retirement plan offered up by city officials as a way to cut down on the number of potential lay-offs at City Hall is getting strong interest from employees. A recent survey, unveiled at the City Council meeting thsi week, indicates that nearly half the number of employees that officials said would be needed to take part in the early retirement program to avoid significant lay-offs plan to do so. The city needs about 150 employees to retire early in order to impact a $15.4-million deficit.

Burbank police say they have identified a person of interest in their invesitgation into who threw a brick through the window of Councilman David Gordon's optometry business. Police officials are working with the city attorney's office to determine a possible misdemeanor charge of vandalism for the person who allegedly threw the brick on March 16 in the 800 block of Hollywood Way, Sgt. Darin Ryburn said today. Police would not release any details about the identity of the person, citing the ongoing investigation.