Mailbag

Now about the Whole Foods deal: If people don't want business in our town, let them move. Streets were made for traffic, not horses. I thought the purpose of business was to generate taxes for our city.

Who pays for the poop patrol that cleans up after the horses on the streets?

Please, please, let this market move in. It's a wonderful business, and I'm tired of having to go Glendale to shop. The markets in this town are awful.

SHARON SHOEMAKER

Burbank

Quality of life at stake in coming election

In the upcoming election, I'm voting for Philip and Carolyn Berlin for City Council. I'm voting for both of these candidates because I believe they'll listen to the community's concerns and will work on our behalf. They have a long history of community service and state that they will act independently of one another. Carolyn has worked on the Burbank Planning Board and Phil has worked on the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. Both have excellent experience and understand the unique character of Burbank.

A few active citizens have acted as watchdogs in monitoring and questioning Burbank city government. They've been vocal for years and I applaud them. But we clearly need representation working within city government. City Manager Mary Alvord states on the city of Burbank website: "Over the last several years, the city has experienced a significant amount of business growth. Amidst all of this growth, Burbank maintains its small-town atmosphere while consistently providing a high level of public services to its residents and businesses."

Burbank is at a crossroads where growth will soon become the No. 1 goal and the idea of maintaining a small-town atmosphere will become antiquated and seen as holding up progress. Councilman David Gordon and Philip and Carolyn Berlin speak for me and countless others who want to retain the desirable quality of life we currently have. I didn't grow up in a small town, but I've been to enough cities in Los Angeles to appreciate that Burbank is still special. Big developers and other special interests would like to change all that soon.

FRANCES MCPHERSON

Burbank

Berlins are individuals who think for selves

Recently, I thought I had stepped back in time. Then I checked the calendar, and yes, it is 2007.

It is the age of DINK (Dual Income, No Kids), Yuppies and 100 other acronyms. The days of most women staying home, raising children, white picket fences, Donna Reed, Jane Wyatt and Robert Young are gone.