First published in the Feb. 11 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
In response to the “Portantino Puts in Bid for Congressional Seat” story that was published in the Feb. 4 issue of the Glendale News-Press, I have one simple question: What happened to Park 134?
Park 134 is the proposed green space development that would have created a 24-acre park atop the 134 freeway in Glendale.
The project garnered more than 70% approval by Glendale survey respondents, in an area that is near the most dense housing in all of our city, on real estate that requires no demolishing and would have almost certainly increased property values not to mention provided a means of creating a shared community.
What a gem this would have been in times like a COVID shutdown, or as a means of preventing unneeded deaths and injuries like our community suffered with a jogger getting plowed down in Griffith Park recently.
In fairness, this is a failure that he shares along with Congressman Adam Schiff, Assemblywoman Laura Friedman and the entire Glendale City Council, and one for which I hope they are all held to account.
On one point in this puff piece, however, I do agree. This is not the time for “ineffective leadership.” This community deserves better.
I would welcome additional stories on the challenges that prevented this much needed green space development, or any kind of explanation from these elected officials about why they couldn’t get the job done. Personally, I take issue with elevating any of these officials to higher office with such blemishes on their records.
Anthony Rito Moriel
Glendale
