"Getting them to stand up in court is another matter."
Airport officials have been less confrontational when discussing the
initiative. Last week, airport executive director Dios Marrero said a
curfew would be a welcome noise measure to protect city residents. If the
signatures are validated, Marrero said the focus in the expansion debate
could shift from the framework deal to the petition.
"The ROAR initiative would become the main driver in the process,"
Marrero said.
McConkey said support for the initiative shows that city officials are
out of touch with residents.
"Bud Ovrom and the City Council don't talk to people," McConkey said.
"They talk among themselves. They're not out walking the streets. They're
out of touch with reality and with what the people of Burbank feel about
airport expansion."
The petition drive cost the group about $2,500, Rothenbach said. About
$900 must still be raised.
Rothenbach triumphantly displayed the first dollar raised by the group
at a press conference held in the City Hall lobby Tuesday afternoon. The
activist said there no longer should be doubts about whether the petition
has been embraced by residents.
"Overwhelmingly, they were thanking us that we were out there,"
Rothenbach said. "Everybody has always wanted a curfew and caps. When the
City Council abandoned that, that's when everybody just coalesced."
