Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank 

Judgment in the Burbank PD

For several days, I’ve been hearing about some ominous letters handed out to some members of the Burbank PD, the result of information gathered during those hush-hush investigations for alleged misconduct in the department. A source tells me that those who have received letters include Sergeant Chris Canales, Officer Nick Nichols, Detective Mike Reyes, Officer Elfuego Rodriguez, Lieutenant Omar Rodriguez, and Officer Tommy Perez.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters

Apparently these letters put the recipients on administrative leave. I’m told all of those listed above are in jeopardy of being fired. The word is Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse has issued a warning that more judgment letters are expected to go out to certain department personnel this week. I’ll have more on this later. Also, check out Jim Carlile’s post on his blog about the BPD letters.

UPDATE:  A response from the city posted on its website at 3:30 p.m. today.  Read it here.

City Statement on Burbank PD Independent Investigation Concluding
Burbank, Calif. (March 29, 2010) 

In April of 2009, the City retained retired police Chief Jim Gardiner to conduct an independent investigation into serious allegations that had been made against certain police officers in the Burbank Police Department.

The independent investigation the City requested is now coming to a close, and will be moving onto the required administrative process. Because of the strict personnel confidentiality requirements, the City is limited in the information it can legally provide to the public.

The City has taken every effort to make sure that the investigation and its results are objective and fair. During this entire process, the consistent direction from the City Council was always to “follow the trail wherever it leads.”

The results have been reviewed by private attorney Rich Kreisler, who has significant expertise in police investigations, multiple members of the City’s legal team, Interim Police Chief Scott LaChasse and his staff and two well-respected outside attorneys (Merrick Bobb who served with the Christopher Commission and former United States Attorney Debra Wong Yang).

Interim Chief LaChasse, a 32-year veteran of the LAPD, will be responsible for issuing any personnel actions.

We urge the public to be patient and allow the process to proceed to its legal completion. Our citizens can be assured that the vast majority of the officers in this department are dedicated public servants committed to the safety of Burbank and have served the community with integrity and courage.         

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Race for the vacant seat in the 43rd Assembly District

Over the weekend, I got more of those expensive looking campaign flyers in my snail mail box from the Mike Gatto and Nayiri Nahabedian camps and their supporters. Also, at least one candidate phone pitch from the Gatto folks.

 I’m not a fan of political phone calls, but I do read campaign literature. Again, most of what I got concerned the Democratic front runners, Gatto and Nahabedian. I have to mention, both candidates have been criticized for allegedly, ah, embellishing their credentials. This kind of criticism could end-up hurting both candidates.

Last Wednesday during the candidates’ forum for the 43rd Assembly District, sponsored by the Glendale/Burbank League of Women Voters, Gatto made a good showing and Nahabedian did well, too. The third Democratic candidate, Chahe Keuroghelian, was just okay. The fourth candidate, Republican Sunder Ramani, was smooth and articulate in answering questions. Republicans are a minority in this district, but Ramani is still a strong candidate.

I’ve received my sample ballot for the special primary election on Tuesday, April 13. Interestingly, the only candidate statement included is from Ramani who also appears in the top spot on the ballot. By the way, if you want to vote by mail you gotta get your application in by April 6. 

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove –Burbank City Hall

To gate or not to gate, that was the question

Meanwhile at last Tuesday’s city council meeting, Republican Assembly candidate Sunder Ramani wore his private consultant hat. Ramani led the charge to try to convince the city council to approve a gate to the entrance of the hillside housing tract, the Burbank Hills Community. They’ve got their own private roads and recreational facilities up there near Brace Park.

In the past, the city council has rejected the gate proposal, saying it would hamper access by emergency vehicles. This time around, the proposal contained new technology to address the old issue of emergency access along with a 24-hour guard. The council still turned thumbs down on the gate as unnecessary in a 4-to-1 vote.

Mayor Gary Bric was the only “yes” vote.  Apparently the other council members did not buy the complaints of crime, fast cars, and safety concerns by some residents/speakers, so they denied the gate request. Check out the discussion about the controversy and some, ah, side issues, over on Jim Carlile’s blog.

Burbank Bargains

I happened to drop by the McDonald’s at Reese Place and Olive Avenue last Friday night. A long line of vehicles stretched from the drive-thru window around the restaurant and nearly into the street. Found out many customers were taking advantage of the fillet-o-fish special. Usually $3.59 each, except on Friday when the price drops to a buck-twenty-nine. This is how the big chains stay in business and make profits during a down turn in the economy. They offer the kind of bargains that draw crowds.

Neighborhood markets

More grocery markets popping up in Media City and that’s a good thing. Magnolia Fresh Market, which is really at 418 Glenoaks Boulevard near Magnolia Boulevard, is opening soon, according to signs plastered on the storefront. 

 Also on Glenoaks, near Providencia Avenue, the old 20/20 Video store is being converted into the Glenoaks/Providencia Grocery Store. Then over in the Rancho area, the new Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market is getting read to open its doors on April 7th, at the location of that old CVS Pharmacy near Verdugo Avenue and Reese Place. This is a perfect place for a market. Plenty of store space and parking.

Hopefully these new markets will take some of the pressure off the Trader Joe’s on Alameda Avenue. It sure would be nice to be able to easily find a parking space and not be bumping carts with shoppers inside the almost always crowded grocery store.  

Photo: Pete Souza/White House — President Obama waves to U.S. troops during a stop at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan March 28, 2010

Photo: Pete Souza/White House — President Obama makes an extra effort to shake hands with some of our troops during his visit to Afghanistan March 28, 2010

Photo: Pete Souza/White House — President Obama shares a fist bump with a female soldier in a mess hall in Afghanistan March 28, 2010

 President Obama’s remarks to the troops:

The mission

“Our broad mission is clear:  We are going to disrupt and dismantle, defeat and destroy al Qaeda and its extremist allies.  That is our mission.  And to accomplish that goal, our objectives here in Afghanistan are also clear:  We’re going to deny al Qaeda safe haven.  We’re going to reverse the Taliban’s momentum.  We’re going to strengthen the capacity of Afghan security forces and the Afghan government so that they can begin taking responsibility and gain confidence of the Afghan people.”

Unwavering support from the American People

“And I know that sometimes when you’re watching TV, the politics back home may look a little messy, and people are yelling and hollering, and Democrats this and Republicans that.  I want you to understand this:  There’s no daylight when it comes to support of all of you.  There’s no daylight when it comes to supporting our troops.  That brings us together.  We are all incredibly proud.  We all honor what you do.  And all of you show all of America what’s possible when people come together, not based on color or creed, not based on faith or station, but based on a commitment to serve together, to bleed together and to succeed together as one people, as Americans.”

The full text of the president’s comments here  and more about his brief visit to Afghanistan on the White House blog.

Another 3D flick blows up at the domestic Box Office. Moviegoers are definitely loving their 3D. “How to Train Your Dragon” opened with an impressive debut of around $43.3 million, to become the number one movie in the country.

This DreamWorks animation is about a Viking teenager raised in a tribe that slays dragons, however, he ends up befriending a wounded dragon and that begins the adventure. The star voices in “How to Train Your Dragon” include America Ferrera, Gerard Butler, and Jay Baruchel. The movie is based on a 2003 children’s book of the same title by British author, Cressida Cowell.

In second place, the live action/animated mega-hit “Alice in Wonderland” with an estimated $17.3 million. After four weeks in release, three of those at number one, the domestic tally for this Tim Burton creation stands at around $293 million.

The new R-rated comedy “Hot Tub Time Machine” landed in third with about $13.7 million. The comedy  stars John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Clark Duke as a group of friends who find themselves transported back to 1986 after a wild night of drinking in a hot tub.  

The romantic comedy/action adventure “The Bounty Hunter” earned fourth with an estimated $12.4 million, bringing its two week domestic total to around $38.8 million. Rounding out the top five, the family film “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” with $10 million.

A hefty Mega Millions jackpot on the line today. The jackpot has rolled over a few times and now stands at $40 million. Players in 35 states are buying tickets for this major lottery. The chances of winning a prize in the Mega Millions game 1-in-40. The odds of hitting the jackpot 1 in 176 million. Those are tough odds, but have you tried to score a good paying job or a mortgage loan modification lately? If so, you know what it’s like trying to win when the odds are looong!  Yet, people do win. So go for it, if you feel lucky.

The big drawing is tonight at 8.p.m.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — David Starr Jordan Middle School in Burbank

The 33-year-old David Starr Jordan Middle School teacher who reportedly confessed to Burbank police that she had a seven-month long sexual affair with one of her 14-year-old male students last year, entered a plea in Burbank Superior Court today.

 Amy Beck pleaded “no contest” to two counts of having sexual contact with a minor. Originally Beck faced at least four charges, but she reportedly got a plea deal. That’s no surprise. Beck’s case has had some strange twists from the get-go, which have suggested some sort of deal was in the works. On March 8, Beck turned herself in to Burbank Police. Her attorney, Michael Williamson, says she did it because, “…she was filled with guilt.” Then the ex-English and social science teacher refused to post bail, opting to stay behind bars so she could reportedly help detectives with the investigation.

KNX-1070 newsradio reported today that Beck could have faced a sentence of up to 18 years behind bars. Under the plea deal, she could get two years in state prison. One thing the deal could not change, when Beck gets out of prison she’ll have to register as a sex offender. Beck is the mother of three children and is married to a Los Angeles Police Officer.

Beck is due to be sentenced on May 7.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House — President Barack Obama uses one of 22 pens to sign that huge health care reform bill into law on Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A lot of Americans are asking, what’s in that mega-overhaul of the health care system?  First, there are some provisions that kick in this year, others become effective later on. Details and links on the White House blog here.

Photo: Pete Souza/White House – President Obama and staff react to the victory vote in the House on health care reform

UPDATE: March 23, 2010 — President Barack Obama signed into law the landmark health care reform bill today. The president declared, “Today, I’m signing this reform bill into law on behalf of my mother, who argued with insurance companies even as she battled cancer in her final days.”

President Obama went on to say, ” … we have now just enshrined… the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care.” More of the president’s remarks on the White House blog here.

After a long bitter debate, behind the scenes dealmaking, and intense lobbying by President Barack Obama and his administration, a sweeping health care reform bill passed the House 219-212 tonight. All 178 Republicans in the House of Representatives voted against it, along with 34 Democrats.  Last December, the bill cleared the Senate. The next step is for President Obama to sign it into law.

This is the most sweeping change to the federal health care system in four decades. Tonight, President Obama spoke to the American people about what this change means.

President Obama

Good evening, everybody. Tonight, after nearly 100 years of talk and frustration, after decades of trying, and a year of sustained effort and debate, the United States Congress finally declared that America’s workers and America’s families and America’s small businesses deserve the security of knowing that here, in this country, neither illness nor accident should endanger the dreams they’ve worked a lifetime to achieve.

Tonight, at a time when the pundits said it was no longer possible, we rose above the weight of our politics. We pushed back on the undue influence of special interests. We didn’t give in to mistrust or to cynicism or to fear. Instead, we proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things and tackling our biggest challenges. We proved that this government — a government of the people and by the people — still works for the people.

I want to thank every member of Congress who stood up tonight with courage and conviction to make health care reform a reality. And I know this wasn’t an easy vote for a lot of people. But it was the right vote. I want to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her extraordinary leadership, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn for their commitment to getting the job done. I want to thank my outstanding Vice President, Joe Biden, and my wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, for their fantastic work on this issue. I want to thank the many staffers in Congress, and my own incredible staff in the White House, who have worked tirelessly over the past year with Americans of all walks of life to forge a reform package finally worthy of the people we were sent here to serve.

Today’s vote answers the dreams of so many who have fought for this reform. To every unsung American who took the time to sit down and write a letter or type out an e-mail hoping your voice would be heard — it has been heard tonight. To the untold numbers who knocked on doors and made phone calls, who organized and mobilized out of a firm conviction that change in this country comes not from the top down, but from the bottom up — let me reaffirm that conviction: This moment is possible because of you.

Most importantly, today’s vote answers the prayers of every American who has hoped deeply for something to be done about a health care system that works for insurance companies, but not for ordinary people. For most Americans, this debate has never been about abstractions, the fight between right and left, Republican and Democrat — it’s always been about something far more personal. It’s about every American who knows the shock of opening an envelope to see that their premiums just shot up again when times are already tough enough. It’s about every parent who knows the desperation of trying to cover a child with a chronic illness only to be told “no” again and again and again. It’s about every small business owner forced to choose between insuring employees and staying open for business. They are why we committed ourselves to this cause.

Tonight’s vote is not a victory for any one party — it’s a victory for them. It’s a victory for the American people. And it’s a victory for common sense.

Now, it probably goes without saying that tonight’s vote will give rise to a frenzy of instant analysis. There will be tallies of Washington winners and losers, predictions about what it means for Democrats and Republicans, for my poll numbers, for my administration. But long after the debate fades away and the prognostication fades away and the dust settles, what will remain standing is not the government-run system some feared, or the status quo that serves the interests of the insurance industry, but a health care system that incorporates ideas from both parties — a system that works better for the American people.

If you have health insurance, this reform just gave you more control by reining in the worst excesses and abuses of the insurance industry with some of the toughest consumer protections this country has ever known — so that you are actually getting what you pay for.

If you don’t have insurance, this reform gives you a chance to be a part of a big purchasing pool that will give you choice and competition and cheaper prices for insurance. And it includes the largest health care tax cut for working families and small businesses in history — so that if you lose your job and you change jobs, start that new business, you’ll finally be able to purchase quality, affordable care and the security and peace of mind that comes with it.

This reform is the right thing to do for our seniors. It makes Medicare stronger and more solvent, extending its life by almost a decade. And it’s the right thing to do for our future. It will reduce our deficit by more than $100 billion over the next decade, and more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.

So this isn’t radical reform. But it is major reform. This legislation will not fix everything that ails our health care system. But it moves us decisively in the right direction. This is what change looks like.

Now as momentous as this day is, it’s not the end of this journey. On Tuesday, the Senate will take up revisions to this legislation that the House has embraced, and these are revisions that have strengthened this law and removed provisions that had no place in it. Some have predicted another siege of parliamentary maneuvering in order to delay adoption of these improvements. I hope that’s not the case. It’s time to bring this debate to a close and begin the hard work of implementing this reform properly on behalf of the American people. This year, and in years to come, we have a solemn responsibility to do it right.

Nor does this day represent the end of the work that faces our country. The work of revitalizing our economy goes on. The work of promoting private sector job creation goes on. The work of putting American families’ dreams back within reach goes on. And we march on, with renewed confidence, energized by this victory on their behalf.

In the end, what this day represents is another stone firmly laid in the foundation of the American Dream. Tonight, we answered the call of history as so many generations of Americans have before us. When faced with crisis, we did not shrink from our challenge — we overcame it. We did not avoid our responsibility — we embraced it. We did not fear our future — we shaped it.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

 

 The text of President Obama’s message is from The White House Blog.