New Housing Units Coming In?

Los Angeles County and the City of Glendale are currently working on their housing element update, which must be done every eight years. The state decides how many housing units for each of the various income levels must be added to an area and it’s up to the city, or for unincorporated La Crescenta LA County decides, to plan where the new housing units will be located.

Los Angeles County has chosen 33 parcels in Montrose to modify the zoning to allow for much greater density than the current zoning would allow.

Glendale’s plan is not available to the public yet, but they are mandated to find parcels to allow over 13,000 additional units citywide to be built in the next eight years.

The Crescenta Valley Community Assoc. has discussed the issue at its recent meeting and will probably do so again at its monthly Zoom meeting. The next is planned for April 22. Please email crescentavalleycommunityassn@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/393102097420539 for more information.

Sharon Raghavachary
Steering Committee Member
Crescenta Valley Community Association

Stadium Not a Welcome Addition to the Neighborhood

In their determination to proceed with the proposed 3,400-seat field stadium at CVHS, despite angry objections of the surrounding residents, the GUSD has now taken on the role of neighborhood bully. With no provisions for parking other than the surrounding residential streets (and the attendant traffic), the installation of 100-foot tall light standards, a snack bar, and at least six days per week usage, this project will impose a massively negative impact on our quality of life, and a precipitous decline in property values. The GUSD has chosen to ignore its own Draft Environmental Impact Report, which clearly acknowledges that there will be no significant way to mitigate any of these problems.

In response to those of us who have raised these issues with the officials at GUSD, we are told that they want to be “respectful” of our concerns but that this is good for the community, so we must just accept that fact and get over it. Well, they do not live here, so it is very easy to impose their wishes on someone else, without having to pay any consequences.

Robert Skinnell
La Crescenta 

Cheers to Susan Bolan

There’s always a good reason that I make the trek from Pasadena to La Cañada each Thursday to pick up the CV Weekly. This week it was Susan Bolan’s Views from the Valley piece (April 1), which focused on Tom Gilfoy and his book “Growing up in Sunland and Other Short Stories.” I was treated to excerpts from that book in 2020 when several of his stories were reprinted in The Mountain Messenger. 

The Messenger (aka The Mess) is known as “California’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” and is published in Downieville, a small town in Sierra County. 

Mr. Gilfoy’s storytelling is highly engaging and is a good blend of humor with a warm look at a simpler time as he and others from the Sunland area spent the summer working in the logging industry in the Sierra County region. I was pleased to find that the book is still available through the CV Historical Society; I just ordered it.

Phil Mann
Pasadena

It’s time for Dodger Baseball

The 2021 baseball season is here and the Dodgers will be the defending 2020 World Series Champions. The letter “B” is important to the Boys in Blue; after all they relocated from Brooklyn in 1958. They will rely on a core group of players called “The Killer Bees” this year. Yes, Barnes, Buehler, Bauer, Bellinger, Betts and Beaty will lead the way to “back-to-back” World Series victories.

Austin Barnes had a breakout season last year and an even better World Series. He will catch 50 to 60 games, pinch hit, play late inning defense and backup Will Smith. He is Clayton Kershaw’s personal catcher.

Walker Buehler has developed into the ace of the staff in three years. He’s had an amazing post-season record. He is primed for a Cy Young season.

Trevor Bauer was the most important free agent signing during the off season. When he signed with the Dodgers, they added last year’s Cy Young Award winner to the best pitching staff in baseball.

Cody Bellinger was the National League MVP in 2019. He bounced back from an off-season last year and had several key hits in the post season. Keep an eye on Belli this year.

Mookie Betts came from Boston in a trade before the 2019 season and then signed a 12-year contract worth $365 million. He had a great season last year and has another MVP in his sights.

Matt Beaty, a talented utility player, has been up and down with the Dodgers for two years. With Kike Hernandez and Joc Pederson leaving in free agency, Beaty has an opportunity to establish himself as a go-to-utility player and pinch hitter.

The Dodgers open in Colorado, play Oakland and return April 9 for the home opener. It promises to be an exciting and entertaining year. Join me in following the Boys in Blue’s excellent adventure.

Lynn McGinnis
Glendale