According to your July 11 editorial, "ROAR measure generates heat, not
much light," all sides in the debate over the ROAR initiative should
declare a moratorium on rhetoric and get down to the facts and the real
issues in the airport expansion controversy.
We agree.
Here's a challenge of our own.
Is the Leader ready to play a responsible role in helping sort out the
wheat from the chaff and ensure that voters are exposed to this
information so they can make informed judgments before casting their
mail-in ballots?
The Leader can start the ball rolling by sponsoring a series of
debates on the ROAR initiative. The only preconditions should be that the
debates are cablecast, the moderator is absolutely impartial and that
every aspect of the issue be pursued.
Most would agree that Burbank residents have the right (and the
responsibility) to examine, in detail, arguments put forth by proponents
and opponents of ROAR before they vote, not just sound bites on short
ballot statements.
Further, voters have the right to closely question proponents and
opponents of the initiative on the history of the current stalemate. They
have the right to demand answers and to reject platitudes and cliches.
They have the right to demand proof when either side makes unsupported
claims.
ROAR supporters believe Burbank residents have been ignored. Some have
seen the City Council go into secret executive session to discuss airport
matters that should be discussed publicly. As a result, instead of
crucial public discussion, we are left in the dark as to the resolution
of the airport mess.
Contrast this with airport expansion proposals at LAX or with the
proposed new airport at El Toro in Orange County. Every detail of those
plans and environmental impact reports are the subject of great scrutiny
by the public. Here, even though all the litigation has long since
concluded, we see the council go into secret session every week to decide
the airport's future.
Most Burbank residents haven't a clue what the council has in store
for us. And, despite the promises of many, many public hearings and
public meetings after they signed the failed Framework Agreement, we've
had exactly one hearing. Is it any wonder residents are fed up and signed
the ROAR petition in record numbers?
At the July 12 three-cities summit, public speakers were given one
minute and seven seconds each to give their opinions. And, although most
public speakers supported ROAR, not one official from Burbank, Glendale
