A ‘Topsy Turvy’ World

Like “Alice in Wonderland,” I fell down a rabbit hole into a topsy-turvy world ruled by the White Queen – Gavin Newsom.

“The rule is protesters tomorrow and prisoners yesterday,” proclaimed the Queen. “But never shop keepers and school children today.”

“Your Majesty,” I objected. “It must come sometimes to shop keepers and school children today.”

“No, it can’t,” said the Queen. “It’s protesters and prisoners every other day. Today isn’t any other day, you know.”

(Apologies to Lewis Carroll.)

Les Hammer

Pasadena

Edison Tree Whackers

On July 26
we received an Edison Notice of Vegetation Activities. There is a power pole in front of our house.
This is the third recent time our pine tree has been targeted by Edison. After the first crew trimmed the tree this year a second crew came here about a month later. I told them to leave the property saying the work has already been done. They had invaded our property with ropes and spiked boots without asking.

Did the first crew not properly record their work? Did the first crew do inadequate work? Did the second crew not inspect the work done given that I told the second crew to get off the property?

Last winter we spent $3,400 having our trees pruned, including this pine. We take good care insisting on Class 1 manicure pruning in the winter when tree growth is at its slowest. Edison crews don’t perform at this level. Our trees are worth $100K-plus in landscaping value

Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill. Since 1977 we have been involved in this lovely tree community. We have solar electricity. Edison, put your power lines underground or at least better manage the tree whacker subcontractors.

Ted Baumgart

La Crescenta

Why is Glendale Still Considering Allowing Use of Roundup?

In May 2017 the Glendale Unified School District banned the use of (herbicide) Roundup.

Plaudits to Glendale City Councilmember Dan Brotman for removing a proposed contract for weed control services from the Council’s consent agenda because the proposed contractor would not agree to forego the use of Roundup. The Public Works director’s assertion that the contractor would be discouraged from using Roundup is irresponsible. On June 24, the New York Times reported that Bayer, the parent company of Roundup’s manufacturer Monsanto, agreed to pay $10 billion to settle more than 95,000 claims that glyphosate, the chemical in Roundup, causes cancer. More than 30,000 claims are not covered by the settlement.

Public Works is concerned about the additional cost of prohibiting glyphosate’s use but apparently is content to live with the increased cancer risk to Glendale residents and workers. This cavalier attitude would be a grave concern at any time, but it is especially cruel now when the City Council should be able to focus on protecting Glendale residents’ health and financial security during the COVID-19 pandemic rather than needing to divert time and attention to deal with an issue that should never have come before it.

Mary-Lynne Fisher

La Crescenta

Things We’d Like To See

– An impromptu drive-in theater for La Crescenta in the little-used parking lot behind Office Depot using that building’s massive, white-painted rear wall as a movie screen. Perfect for summer and fall evenings.

– British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (channeling Margaret Thatcher) sends the English Fleet to Hong Kong with a message to the Chinese communist regime: Since you have abrogated the 1997 treaty by your new tyrannical laws and actions, destroying the liberties and freedoms long enjoyed by city citizens under the United Kingdom, we are taking back Hong Kong. You have 24 hours to get out of town!

– Resist the madness of the mob! There is an eerie resemblance to the French Revolution in these days of protest across the country. Despite the validity of many, protests have veered off into the nonsense of politically correct thinking and identity politics that divides, deceives, misinforms, creates intolerance and attempts to push logical, calm debate into a straight-jacket of agenda-driven ignorance. And it has all been accompanied by violent, destructive anarchy. I half expect a resurrected Madame Defarge pointing her knitting needles at new victims for the metaphorical guillotine.

– Let the people decide the fate of objectionable statues; establish a vote instead of mob-action or government -sanctioned destruction of historical figures that still have something to say about our history. Mob action and governmental removal under cover of darkness only serve to show the remarkable appeasement of the deconstructivist, neo-Marxist, identity politics in the driver’s seat today seeking, in essence, a “historical cleansing” of our history. A black historian living a block from the avenue of Confederate statues in Richmond, Virginia, asked why not keep them and add all new plaques and verbiage to tell the whole story? It’s a perfect teaching moment to keep our history alive in space and time (paraphrased). Yes, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were slave owners, but without them and their compatriots we would not be here today nor would we be imbued with any of their guiding philosophies or be speaking the language we do.

– Guiding philosophies: *Old Indian proverb: There are many trails in the forest that all lead to the same clearing.

A young black woman protester was quoted on the news: “We are all brothers and sisters under the skin because we all bleed the same color.”

Stuart Byles

La Crescenta

Re: The November Election

Here’s an idea: Let’s research all those we will be considering for office in November and not just vote the incumbents. It is certainly easier to vote for who we know, but by not researching those who are running, might we be losing out on an unknown gem?

Term limits; there is an idea that I hear more and more people pondering. I’m all for term limits as I believe there is always room for new ideas and change. If there were term limits, some people might be encouraged to volunteer their knowledge and their willingness to serve after leaving office, but perhaps in a different capacity. That might prove exciting for them and for all of us too.

I’m looking forward to the coming November election. I will vote and I hope that you will, too.

Tracy Collins

La Crescenta

News vs. Propaganda

What is the difference between news and propaganda? Today it is more challenging than ever! News should be accurate and factual as it happened.  Propaganda is usually partial information for a purpose. 

Why are there two versions of the same published textbooks for education taught in government schools? There are the so-called California and Texas versions. The version used in each state is determined by the leadership of each state. 

Why is there such division now in our country that is a demonstration of love or hate? We are all children of God and citizens of the United States. Are we not proud of our Constitution and the freedoms it has given us? Why is America’s history being torn apart and downgraded? Why are all our freedoms in jeopardy?

Why are demonstrations that destroy federal or public property and innocent people’s businesses considered peaceful demonstrations? Why are all police dealings being described as brutality? If we were doing their jobs would we have more insight?

Why are our churches being hampered to preach the word of God?  Religion is the backbone of our civilization for good over evil. Power over others has become the future focus it appears. Some people believe that we have lost the ability to determine right or wrong. Wrong has no boundaries and is often cleverly disguised.

All these factors are involved in the future direction of our country.

Kenneth J. Micheli

Arcadia

Apologies Go Both Ways

I am writing in response to the article in the Aug. 6 edition of CV Weekly by [Julie] Butcher, “Panel on Racism Launches Series.” In the article one of the panelists talked about “acknowledgement, apology and atonement” for Glendale’s past history on racism and suggested that “Hopefully Council will soon pass a resolution to give that acknowledgment greater voice and will add an official apology.”

My feeling is that apologies go both ways.

In 1960, when I was 16 and living in Glendale, a friend and I went to a Dodgers game at the Los Angeles Coliseum. We parked a few blocks from the Coliseum and walked through Exposition Park. We were confronted by a group of African American youths who were about our age. They demanded we give them our money. When we refused they attacked us. My friend, who was a year older and much larger, took on two of the attackers. I was struck from behind and realized my only option was to run. Thirty minutes later my friend and I met up at the ticket booth, purchased tickets and saw the game.

My point is that we never asked for or received an apology from the African American community. In fact, to my knowledge, no leader from that community has ever offered an apology for the multitude of crimes that have committed against white people over the past 60 years. If my community is to apologize for past sins then leaders of the African American community should acknowledge and apologize for their past sins.

David North

Glendale

Public Voices Needed for Rockhaven

Glendale City Council will conference with seven developers on Tuesday, Aug. 18 concerning the price for sale or lease of Rockhaven Historical District. Glendale purchased the property in 2008 with the intention of preserving the site and opening it as a community park.

We at Friends of Rockhaven urge local citizens to speak up and demand that preservation of, and public access to, the site’s buildings and grounds be prioritized. Rockhaven is a place of significance in terms of both women’s history and the history of mental health during the early 20th century. It is listed on the California Register of Historical Resources and the National Register of Historic Places. Rockhaven was one of the first private sanitariums in the U.S. created and owned by a woman in order to serve women. For more information, please visit https://www.friendsofrockhaven.org.

Please contact City Council representatives today and urge them to stay true to their original intent to preserve Rockhaven and allow public access to this important historical site.

Laurie McFarlane
Friends of Rockhaven

La Cañada