Pollution

Darleene Barrientos After spending some time studying the air quality around Horace Mann Elementary School in Glendale, Jerome Rizalado, 10, hopes that the adults around him will develop the same convictions he has about pollution. After learning about deforestation and the shrinking of animal habitats, Jerome has adopted a new philosophy. "Now I pick up trash. Before, when I was in a hurry, I sometimes threw it on the floor, but now I pick it up," Jerome declared Thursday.

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- With the help of Burbank Water and Power General Manager Ron Davis, Gov. Gray Davis signed an executive order Monday allowing natural gas-fired power plants to begin operating at maximum levels this summer. Utilities had been prohibited from running their natural gas-fired power plants at full capacity because of stringent pollution emission limitations. "In order to avoid blackouts and minimize the operation of diesel-fired generators used during blackouts, which produce 10 times the amount of pollution of gas-fired generators, the governor has enacted this order," said Byron Tucker, press deputy for the governor.

We’ve all heard the warnings: Global warming is a catastrophic threat to our environment, our health and our economy. But far fewer people want to believe that it will impact their own lives, including our fellow California residents. And some are actively seeking to repeal California’s landmark climate change bill. Don’t listen to the spin about loss of jobs. Climate change legislation will reinvigorate our economy, create jobs and reduce climate change-causing pollution.

On Nov. 13, the L.A. Times pub- lished an article regarding the debris/ pollution increase in the Southland coastal regions resulting from the rainfall of the previous weeks, and mentioned that "Everything that goes into the streets is going to end up in the ocean eventually." The 1700 block of North Brighton Street has a grand curbside total of 22 trees that are dropping copious amounts of leaves. It does not have signs posted for designated street sweeping days or times.

Burbank Airport officials voiced grave concern for the safety of the terminal after the crash of the Southwest 737. Predictably, they said nothing about the near disaster if the jet had crashed into the gas station or nearby schools or residences. Before there is any further discussion on a new terminal, let Burbank residents vote on whether they want an airport or not. It will surely be too late for such a vote after a new terminal is built. PAUL H. WANGSNESS Burbank What is this group in Montrose that James Rogan hired to run his congressional reelection campaign?

In response to the Jan. 12 letter from Mel Wolf, I am delighted that Mel and I are in agreement that City Council members Dave Golonski, David Laurell, and Marsha Ramos failed to show leadership in regard to Measure A and Southwest Airlines' application to increase their space to comply with recently enacted security requirements. Unfortunately, this seems to be the only aspect of Measure A, and airport issues in general, on which Mel and I agree. In a condescending tone, Mel insinuates that the "average" voter did not have a grasp of the issues of Measure A and of Councilman Golonski's foibles with the Framework for Settlement.

It has become overwhelmingly apparent that the City Council majority -- Dave Golonski, David Laurell and Marsha Ramos -- have no intention of ever allowing Measure A to be implemented. Despite their mealy-mouthed presentations that they simply want clarification of the measure's provisions, their actions say otherwise. When they voted to seek a declaratory judgment before the ballots were even counted, the subsequent lawsuit asked that o7 allf7 provisions of the measure be declared invalid and unenforceable.

It amazes me when I hear a few residents of Burbank whine about how they do not want to adopt change in their city ("Remove bike lanes from busy streets," June 12) because they don't want to be like other cities and like things the way they are. Things are not great the way they are, though, and other cities and towns have shown how adopting a few well-thought changes can increase quality of life, while keeping things as they are can hurt us — socially, financially and environmentally.

We’ve all heard the warnings: Global warming is a catastrophic threat to our environment, our health and our economy. But far fewer people want to believe that it will impact their own lives, including our fellow California residents. And some are actively seeking to repeal California’s landmark climate change bill. Don’t listen to the spin about loss of jobs. Climate change legislation will reinvigorate our economy, create jobs and reduce climate change-causing pollution.

Los Angeles is a place known for its celebrity-driven star-power but not known for the star-power that forms beautiful constellations in the night sky. Due to the pollution produced by the daily grind of urban living, the L.A. sky is not one that is conducive to viewing the splendor of the Milky Way. But for those of us out there who crave a little astronomical entertainment, Glendale offers an awe-inspiring alternative. Along the 1500 block of Verdugo sits Glendale Community College.

Representative?s attitude is outrageous The reaction and comments of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California representative Glenn Brown during a recent City Council meeting were jaw-dropping (?Water official rips Gordon,? May 10). How dare he suggest to Councilman David Gordon, or any other council member, that he?s just really much too busy to respond to questions or concerns? Busy with what? After all, this guy is just a minor-league council appointee with some ideas about his own importance.

BURBANK — For the sixth consecutive year, the South Coast Air Quality Management District is offering residents the opportunity to cut down on pollution while they cut their grass. The annual “Mow Down Air Pollution” program allows residents the chance to trade in their gasoline-powered lawn mower for a new cordless electric mower for $100. “It’s a way for consumers to help fight the war on smog,” spokesman Sam Atwood said. “It reduces upwards of 20 tons of smog-forming pollutants each year.

CITY HALL — South Coast Air Quality Management District representatives unveiled a string of recommendations Tuesday for regulating pollution sources in Southern California at a workshop in Burbank City Council chambers. The recommendations are set forth in a draft Air Quality Management Plan, slated for a final approval in January 2007, which aims to drastically reduce emissions of harmful gases in order to comply with tightening federal guidelines. In an Environmental Protection Agency study released in March, Burbank ranked sixth on a list of top-10 most polluted cities, all of which were located in Southern California.

BURBANK ? An effort among nonprofit organizations, the city and numerous Burbank companies has lessened traffic on city streets and improved air quality, officials said. The Transportation Management Organization, comprised of Burbank companies in the Media District and downtown with 25 employees or more, set a mandate for these companies to reduce by 38% the number of vehicle trips their employees take during daily commutes to and from work. Members of the organization ? including the Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros.

Although Jesse Byers and others refuted Alfred Aboulsaad's ("Dislike of council nothing more than petty whining," Sept. 11 Leader) comments quite nicely, I had to throw my two cents into the mix. Why? Because I become really angry when people make assumptions not based on facts. Mr. Aboulsaad states he wants an expanded airport because he doesn't live near it. When I first came to California, I didn't live near the airport. I lived in North Hollywood at Albers and Laurel Canyon.