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Association backs new arts group
On Tuesday, the Alex Theatre’s Board of Directors will introduce its plan for a new arts organization to Glendale’s Redevelopment Agency.
Glendale Arts Alliance, as it’s being called, is the very thing this city needs. I’m happy to say that the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn. supports its development.
We know that theaters, galleries and arts events bring in customers. If you look at the crowds in our local restaurants or shops, it’s often because there’s a show at the Alex or the Glendale Centre Theatre.
Other communities understand this, too. Montrose has a popular Harvest Market festival that includes a variety of visual artists and their June Arts and Crafts Festival. It’s one of the largest, most popular events in the city. The arts help bring additional business to our doorstep.
A coordinating body will help facilitate partnerships between these local artists, arts organizations and businesses. Glendale Arts Alliance can and will do that. They will continue to manage the Alex Theatre too, something they have done with skill over the years. The merchants association loves the Alex.
It is the centerpiece of our business district, an emblem of our town’s past, and a historic home to our community’s most important events. The folks at the Alex know and understand this, and this will be reflected in the new Glendale Arts Alliance.
We merchants look forward to working with the Alex and Glendale Arts Alliance in the future, and enjoy the opportunities this new invigorated program will bring to all of us who live and work here.
HARRY HALL
Glendale
EDITOR’S NOTE: Hall is president of the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn.
Everybody needs piece of Americana
I moved to Glendale to be with my partner nearly five years ago. I had never lived, shopped or even dined in the city prior to meeting him.
Upon moving to the city, I was quickly made aware of all the controversy revolving around this proposed shopping center, the Americana at Brand. There were “Yes/No” signs all over town (people actually taking our sign, which was posted in our front yard, down) and City Council meetings until 2 a.m. to attend.
The whole town was in an uproar over this place.
That was the way the city was then. The year is now 2008, and we have our beautiful Americana open. It’s time to close that past chapter and open a new one. One where we all get along and enjoy what developer Rick Caruso has helped build in this great city.
I was there four times in three days (and yes I spent money there) this past weekend, and what a place — to dine, shop, stroll with my loved ones and people-watch. Everyone needs to experience the Americana and enjoy and feel good inside to be part of it as I do every time I go there.
I love the fact that I can drive down the street and be there and not have to drive over the hill to The Grove to have such an experience.
DANA J. DOYLE
Glendale
Commentary writer defeated his purpose
I’m writing to comment on Jesse L. Byers’ Friday Glendale News-Press Community Commentary; “Immigrants here illegally strain area’s resources.” The issue of illegal immigration is obviously a difficult and emotional one, with people of good conscience on both sides of the issue. This was pure name-calling and demonization.
“These criminals whine . . . .” “How dare these criminals. . . .,” he says in the commentary. The tone of the piece from beginning to end was simply offensive. Burbank and Glendale are multiracial, ethnically diverse cities. Calling people criminals just for being who they are only disturbs the harmony of our community.
Even worse is calling illegal immigrants “terrorists.”
Using such inflammatory language obscures the other points in the essay and turns away even those who might otherwise agree with the position. I do believe that the United States has the right to enforce its borders, but calling the people who cross the border terrorists implies malign intent to people who are just in search of a better life.
If we are to place blame, let’s look at the true source of the problem — the policies of the Mexican government and our own American government that turned a land rich in natural resources and bright, energetic hard-working people into a sinkhole of poverty. Our economy, including, I assume, Byers’ pocketbook, has certainly benefited from the efforts of those “criminals,” and I’m sure he wasn’t too put off when his meal at a local restaurant or a trip to the mall cost less because the local business was able to provide services at a lower cost because of the low wages paid to the “criminals” at those places.
In short, Byers’ commentary was not only offensive, but it also hurts his own side of the argument and actually pushes back the day when we eventually resolve this issue.
ELIZABETH RAUSCH
Glendale
Letter writer showed her own intolerance
Nancy Burnet Kent (“Ideas in letter are roots for intolerance,” Mailbag, Thursday) displays the same intolerance for Linda Sheffield (“‘Silence’ event promotes lifestyle,” Mailbag, Wednesday) that she claims to oppose.
Sheffield’s statement that homosexuality “repudiates the values of God, home and family” is a statement of belief, and a right to personal religious beliefs is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Labeling it as “extreme condemnation” that leads to acts of violence is an unfair, intolerant labeling of those who hold those beliefs.
And Earth to Becker Danson (“Being gay is not a news-flash situation,” Mailbag, Thursday), the fact that something has “always been and [maybe] always will be” doesn’t make it something to be embraced. Intolerance has always been and always will be. It goes both ways, doesn’t it?
KAY MEYER
Glendale
On Tuesday, the Alex Theatre’s Board of Directors will introduce its plan for a new arts organization to Glendale’s Redevelopment Agency.
Glendale Arts Alliance, as it’s being called, is the very thing this city needs. I’m happy to say that the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn. supports its development.
We know that theaters, galleries and arts events bring in customers. If you look at the crowds in our local restaurants or shops, it’s often because there’s a show at the Alex or the Glendale Centre Theatre.
Other communities understand this, too. Montrose has a popular Harvest Market festival that includes a variety of visual artists and their June Arts and Crafts Festival. It’s one of the largest, most popular events in the city. The arts help bring additional business to our doorstep.
A coordinating body will help facilitate partnerships between these local artists, arts organizations and businesses. Glendale Arts Alliance can and will do that. They will continue to manage the Alex Theatre too, something they have done with skill over the years. The merchants association loves the Alex.
It is the centerpiece of our business district, an emblem of our town’s past, and a historic home to our community’s most important events. The folks at the Alex know and understand this, and this will be reflected in the new Glendale Arts Alliance.
We merchants look forward to working with the Alex and Glendale Arts Alliance in the future, and enjoy the opportunities this new invigorated program will bring to all of us who live and work here.
HARRY HALL
Glendale
EDITOR’S NOTE: Hall is president of the Downtown Glendale Merchants Assn.
Everybody needs piece of Americana
I moved to Glendale to be with my partner nearly five years ago. I had never lived, shopped or even dined in the city prior to meeting him.
Upon moving to the city, I was quickly made aware of all the controversy revolving around this proposed shopping center, the Americana at Brand. There were “Yes/No” signs all over town (people actually taking our sign, which was posted in our front yard, down) and City Council meetings until 2 a.m. to attend.
The whole town was in an uproar over this place.
That was the way the city was then. The year is now 2008, and we have our beautiful Americana open. It’s time to close that past chapter and open a new one. One where we all get along and enjoy what developer Rick Caruso has helped build in this great city.
I was there four times in three days (and yes I spent money there) this past weekend, and what a place — to dine, shop, stroll with my loved ones and people-watch. Everyone needs to experience the Americana and enjoy and feel good inside to be part of it as I do every time I go there.
I love the fact that I can drive down the street and be there and not have to drive over the hill to The Grove to have such an experience.
DANA J. DOYLE
Glendale
Commentary writer defeated his purpose
I’m writing to comment on Jesse L. Byers’ Friday Glendale News-Press Community Commentary; “Immigrants here illegally strain area’s resources.” The issue of illegal immigration is obviously a difficult and emotional one, with people of good conscience on both sides of the issue. This was pure name-calling and demonization.
“These criminals whine . . . .” “How dare these criminals. . . .,” he says in the commentary. The tone of the piece from beginning to end was simply offensive. Burbank and Glendale are multiracial, ethnically diverse cities. Calling people criminals just for being who they are only disturbs the harmony of our community.
Even worse is calling illegal immigrants “terrorists.”
Using such inflammatory language obscures the other points in the essay and turns away even those who might otherwise agree with the position. I do believe that the United States has the right to enforce its borders, but calling the people who cross the border terrorists implies malign intent to people who are just in search of a better life.
If we are to place blame, let’s look at the true source of the problem — the policies of the Mexican government and our own American government that turned a land rich in natural resources and bright, energetic hard-working people into a sinkhole of poverty. Our economy, including, I assume, Byers’ pocketbook, has certainly benefited from the efforts of those “criminals,” and I’m sure he wasn’t too put off when his meal at a local restaurant or a trip to the mall cost less because the local business was able to provide services at a lower cost because of the low wages paid to the “criminals” at those places.
In short, Byers’ commentary was not only offensive, but it also hurts his own side of the argument and actually pushes back the day when we eventually resolve this issue.
ELIZABETH RAUSCH
Glendale
Letter writer showed her own intolerance
Nancy Burnet Kent (“Ideas in letter are roots for intolerance,” Mailbag, Thursday) displays the same intolerance for Linda Sheffield (“‘Silence’ event promotes lifestyle,” Mailbag, Wednesday) that she claims to oppose.
Sheffield’s statement that homosexuality “repudiates the values of God, home and family” is a statement of belief, and a right to personal religious beliefs is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Labeling it as “extreme condemnation” that leads to acts of violence is an unfair, intolerant labeling of those who hold those beliefs.
And Earth to Becker Danson (“Being gay is not a news-flash situation,” Mailbag, Thursday), the fact that something has “always been and [maybe] always will be” doesn’t make it something to be embraced. Intolerance has always been and always will be. It goes both ways, doesn’t it?
KAY MEYER
Glendale
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