Welcome a new guest blogger.  Emilio “Elmo” Telles, the Garden Guru.  He has a vast knowledge of gardening and a passion for growing things like plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs. Elmo works at the Armstrong Garden Center in Glendale, where he frequently teaches free classes.  I’ve covered some of Elmo’s great gardening classes on this blog.

Last Saturday, July 9, Elmo conducted a class on “Citrus and Tropical Fruits.”  In his first guest post, Elmo  shares some of the advice he gives about caring for citrus trees.

Photo: FLLewis/ Media City G -- Garden Guru Emilio "Elmo" Telles gave some pointers on how to select the right product for the best results in a class on "Citrus and Tropical Fruits" at the Armstrong Garden Center in Glendale July 9, 2011

Summer citrus care and maintenance

I’ve been in the garden retail business for over 20 years. I take my Golden Retriever out for a walk everyday and get questions asked by my neighbors about gardening. Lately, I’ve been quizzed about why their citrus trees are having certain problems. I’m a nice guy and willing to answer questions while my doggy (Danica) waits patiently.

The #1 problem

Lawn sprinkler watering — which doesn’t get water down to established tree roots. When you have established (older) citrus in lawns that get everyday watering — that really does nothing for the roots of an older tree.

The #2 problem

Is over watering, especially with citrus in pots. If the top of the soil is moist then you know you are watering deep enough– so don’t increase the watering.

Deep and infrequent watering is the key to solving both problems. I once had to tell my wife, Yvonne, to not water the Meyer lemon in a big pot like she does the regular bedding plants (petunias, pansies, impatiens etc.) that we have in containers.

Feeding your citrus trees

Fertilizing citrus is something for you to decide. For instance, organic type of fertilizers are great to use about every six weeks. Organics take a while to break down and get to the root of the problem (no pun intended!).

Chemical type of fertilizers (Miracle Gro and other granular citrus foods) act faster and can be applied once a month because they get “leached” down to the soil more readily.

By the way, all citrus needs at least five hours of sun a day to be the most productive. Feel free to post any specific gardening questions for me here at Media City Groove.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Emilio "Elmo" Telles, Garden Guru at Media City Groove

Also, Emilio “Elmo” Telles is a garden expert at  Armstrong Garden Center  5816 San Fernando Road, Glendale  91202.

“Jackass” star killed in car accident

"Jackass 3D" movie poster

 Actor Ryan Dunn was reportedly killed in a horrible car accident early this morning. The 34-year-old star of the  R-rated “Jackass”  movie comedy series apparently died when his Porsche crashed and exploded into flames in Pennsylvania. The Wrap has more on the  tragedy.

“Dilbert” creator in hot water over blog post

The  Internet is buzzing over the recent blunder by Scott Adams, the creator of the “Dilbert” comic strip.  In an attempt to explain the rash of  sex scandals by some prominent men, Adams recently published a  post on his Dilbert website  called, “Society Has Evolved To Keep Males in a State of continuous Unfulfilled Urgers.” 

Galleycat reports the post has generated hundreds of negative comments. Also,  a thousand readers have signed an online petition calling for Adams to apologize for the controversial post.  More here

“Green Lantern” shines bright at the box office

The actual box office numbers are out today and  “Green Lantern”  is in the number one spot.  “Green Lantern” beat the competition with a $53 million debut over the weekend.  There  are complaints the picture should have made millions more . Maybe so, but you gotta take into account that the “Green Lantern” isn’t the best known superhero and that could be a factor in its modest opening.  More on Box Office Mojo about the “Green Lantern” numbers and the other top movies.

Another spec script sale to report, the 34th this year, according to Scott Myers over on the Go Into The Story blog. Twentieth Century Fox picked up, “From Mia With Love,” a comedy about three dudes who are eager to part with their virginity. So they send-off for a Russian mail order bride, but as you can probably imagine, things do not work out the way the guys plan.

The screenwriters are Seth Grahame-Smith, Bryan Shukoff, Kevin Chesley, and David Katzenberg who will direct. Katzenberg’s father is DreamWorks big shot, Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Myers is tracking the script sales over on his screenwriting site. He says the spec script market is doing a whole lot better than in 2010. It wasn’t until August 17 that the 34th spec script sold last year. More on this script sale here.

 Tom Hanks takes on real-life hero role

 The high-seas drama of cargo ship Captain Richard Phillips and the Somali pirates is headed to the big screen. Actor Tom Hanks is reportedly on board to play Phillips, according to deadline.com

Back in April of 2009, Captain Phillips traded himself as a hostage to the pirates to save his crew. Phillips was later freed in a daring rescue by U.S. Navy Seals. More on Hanks and this project on Deadline.

John Wayne photo book coming soon

The family of the late actor John Wayne has decided to share some rare photos with the world. A soon to be published John Wayne photo book will include, pictures from the family archives as well as snapshots from some of the 175 films Wayne appeared in, according to the publishing site, Galleycat.

Along with the photos, the book will include comments from relatives, friends and co-stars. It will be published by powerHouse books sometime this fall.

More spec screenplay sales

Screenwriter Scott Myers is tracking the spec screenplay sales. Myers says the spec, “The Last Drop” by Brandon and Phillip Murphy, is the 17th to get bought this year. The eight spec to get snatched up this month. Myers has more on the sale of “The Last Drop” and the spec script market over on his Go Into The Story blog.

Photo:FLLewis/Media City G --Campaign sign for Burbank City Councilman Gary Bric

Photo:FLLewis/Media City G -- Campaign sign for Burbank City Council Candidate Jackie Waltman

The Burbank Primary Nominating Election is coming up fast. Only two weeks to that February 22 election and there’s a lot at stake for the city and its residents. Most of the attention is focused on the two seats available on the city council and the four candidates campaigning hard for them. 

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Campaign sign for Burbank City Council Candidate Emily Gabel-Luddy

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Campaign sign for Burbank City Council Candidate Bob Frutos

On the ballot, City Councilman Gary Bric and three challengers: Emily Gabel-Luddy, Bob Frutos, and Jackie Waltman. Over on the popular Semichorus blog there’s been a lively discussion of the candidates, their qualifications, and who will bring real change to the city. 

Gabel-Luddy’s endorsements and record on city planning have been debated along with Bric’s term on the council. Candidates Frutos and Waltman’s views have been evaluated by commenters, too.  It is well worth the time to check out some of these posts and the comments, especially the post  titled, “Bric, or Waltman?”  It had nearly 50 comments when I checked last night. 

Sidewalk controversy returns to City Council

City Councilman Bric will be on the hot seat tomorrow, when the council reconsiders the highly charged issue of sidewalks for the  a block of North Screenland Drive. At the December 7, 2010 meeting, Bric joined Councilmen Jess Talamantes and David Gordon in voting to remove this street from a sidewalk project, at the request of more than 30 residents who live on North Screenland Drive. 

However, after that meeting, Bric had second thoughts. Last month, he asked to have the issue brought back for reconsideration and that is set to take place Tuesday, February 8.  Many of the North Screenland residents who oppose sidewalks on their street are livid.

One of the homeowners on that street, Janet Strong, phoned me last week to express her outrage at what some see as a “flip-flop” by Bric. Strong was one of the North Screenland residents who collected 36 signatures from folks who live on the street and are against the sidewalks. There are reportedly around 40 homeowners on that stretch of North Screenland Drive. 

I walked that section of North Screenland Drive on Saturday afternoon, February 5. Wilbur Centeno stopped washing one of his vehicles to talk to me about the sidewalk controversy. Centeno is just as upset as Strong about Bric reviving the issue. He believes the claim of it being a safety issue for children is a “…bunch of baloney.” Centeno suggests: “It’s really about money.” 

For more on how many residents on North Screenland Drive feel about the sidewalk controversy — here’s a letter Janet Strong has sent out to some in the media: 

THE CITY OF BURBANK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.  WE HAVE A GREAT POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.  WE MAINTAIN A WELL-KEPT AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD,  EVEN WITHOUT SIDEWALKS.  WE HAVE HAD  NO REASON TO BE OVERLY CONCERNED FOR THE RARE PEDESTRIAN THAT WALKS ON OUR STREET. 

I HAVE LIVED IN BURBANK ALL MY LIFE IN THIS CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY.   MY PARENTS BOUGHT THE FIRST HOUSE ON  THE  1800-1900  BLOCK OR NORTH SCREENLAND DRIVE.  THE  RESIDENTS LIVING HERE TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR PROPERTIES.  WE HAVE NEVER ASKED THE CITY FOR ASSISTANCE OR CAUSED THEM ANY EXPENSE. 

IN MAY OF 2010, TO OUR SURPRISE, WE FOUND A BURBANK CITY EMPLOYEE MEASURING OUR DRIVEWAYS IN PREPARATION  FOR SIDEWALKS. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED IN WRITING PRIOR TO THAT DAY.  INSTALLING SIDEWALKS ON A STREET THAT HAS VERY LITTLE FOOT TRAFFIC, SEEMS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY. 

IF THERE IS MONEY ALLOTED FOR SIDEWALKS IN BURBANK,  THEN,  THEY SHOULD BE  INSTALLED  ON A DESERVING STREET WITH VERIFIABLE  SAFETY ISSUES.   BY PROPER POLLING AND NOTIFICATION.

THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE, ON DECEMBR 07,2010, WITH A 3-2 VOTE AGAINST THE INSTALLATION OF SIDEWALKS .  THE SCREENLAND NEIGHBORS FILLED THE CHAMBERS.  WE LEFT FEELING RELIEVED AND JUSTIFIED WITH OUR VOTE.

YET, WITHIN A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS, CITY COUNCILMAN GARY BRIC DECIDED “HE MADE A MISTAKE”  IN VOTING “NO  SIDEWALKS” AND FOR THE WILL OF THE 90% MAJORITY.  WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH YOU, GOING BACK ON YOUR WORD.  YOUR DECISION TO IMPACT OUR STREET (WHERE YOU DO NOT LIVE), TO FORCE SIDEWALKS IS NOT ABOUT SAFETY INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS.

MR. BRIC IS RUNNING FOR THE COUNCIL SEAT AGAIN.  SINCE HIS CHANGE OF MIND REGARDING HIS “NO SIDEWALKS” VOTE. MR. BRIC HAS FREQUENTED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THIS CURRENT COUNCIL RACE.  WE QUESTION HIS MOTIVES, AS TO WHY?  HE WANTS TO GO AGAINST  THE NEIGHBORS AND BRING IT BACK?

IS THIS A POLITICAL MOVE ON MR. BRIC’S PART, NOT TO BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE?

PERHAPS, IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL, WITH: “STAFF” AND THE SAME FEW,  CALLING THE SHOTS.  NO ONE MENTIONS THE MANY LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY SIDEWALKS OR DRIVE-WAY APRONS LEFT UNREPAIRED.

THE DESIRE FOR GRANT MONEY, FOR PROPOSED SIDEWALKS, ($125,000.00) IS CREATING A POLITICAL WAR.  RETURN THE MONEY!  AND LEAVE US ALONE.

YOUR CAMPAIGN STATES: “YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO THE RESIDENTS AND VOTERS OF BURBANK ASKING OUR SUPPORT, FOR YOUR VOICE ON COUNCIL.

WE ASK THAT YOU RE-CONSIDER YOUR VOTE:  “NO SIDEWALKS” ON OUR STREET.  AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLES WISHES.  SHOW YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN THE MANY, INSTEAD OF THE FEW.  RESTORE OUR NEIGHBORS EMPOWERMENT.

WE THANK DR. DAVID GORDON,  AND VICE-MAYOR JESS TALAMANTES FOR THE STRENGTH OF THEIR VOTES ON OUR BEHALF.  THE BALL IS IN MR. BRIC’S COURT.

MAYBE, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE THE NEXT TARGET.

FROM: SCREENLAND DRIVE NEIGHBORS

###

 Burbank’s merit pay for city employees controversy

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank City Hall 275 East Olive Avenue

 Some new developments in the growing controversy about merit pay for Burbank city employees — who gets them — how much per individual — what is the real criteria for who pockets those extra bucks — are the main questions yet to be answered fully by city officials.

Late last Friday, city officials made an effort at damage control over the merit pay issue by sending an extensive e-mail to all employees on the issue. These officials are trying to put out a fire lit by the city of Glendale’s recent detailed posting of employee compensation on its website and demands that Burbank do the same, by the Los Angeles Times/Burbank Leader, other media (including Media City Groove), as well as a number of Burbank residents.

Apparently, City Hall higher-ups have been hard at work lately crafting a response to the surge of interest in Burbank’s secretive merit pay structure. Here are some details on what was e-mailed to city employees by Burbank City Manager, Mike Flad, on Friday.

From: E-Mail Administrator
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 4:05 PM
To: All City of Burbank
Subject: Public Records Request for Merit Pay Information

 City Employees:

 Attached is information regarding the City’s response to a request for records from the Burbank Leader.  We wanted to let employees know that information already posted on the State Controller’s Office website regarding gross salary of employees by title will be added to our website and will list employees by name.  The City is attempting to protect the privacy of employees while providing as much information as possible to the public.  Attached are more details on why this information is being provided as well as our response to the Leader on what information will not be provided.  If you have any questions, please contact Juli Scott in the City Attorney’s Office.

Mike Flad

City Manager

##################################

The attached information included a copy of a letter to Burbank Leader editor, Dan Evans, dated January 7, 2011 from Chief Assistant City Attorney, Juli Scott, and a memorandum on the Leader’s public records request from the Office of the City Manager – also dated January 7, 2011.

The memorandum states:

We will be providing the Leader with the gross compensation amounts earned by all full time City employees for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, and the aggregate amounts of merit pay awarded for the corresponding fiscal years; however, we have objected to providing the individual merit pay amounts. They have threatened litigation and the City Council will, as provided by the City Charter, direct how that litigation is to be handled, if it is filed. We will keep you update should additional substantial information be released.

In the Dan Evans letter, attorney Juli Scott indicates the Leader will be charged for some of the data.  Hmm. I received a letter from Scott, dated December 30, 2010, and in it she says I will be charged for the same information the Leader is told it will have to pay for. That doesn’t sound right to me so I sent a response to Scott yesterday. That letter is posted below.

January 9, 2011
Juli C. Scott
Chief Assistant City Attorney
City of Burbank
275 East Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA 91510

Re: Records request under the California Public Records Act

Dear Juli Scott:

I’m responding to your letter dated December 30, 2010. In that letter you said “… we are more than happy to provide you with what has been provided to the Burbank Leader…” in regards to the salaries, names, and merit pay for Burbank city employees. I accept that offer, however, there is a catch. You stated I had to contact your office to get “…the cost of providing those items…” Why is the city charging for information that the Leader is apparently paying the city to collect and distribute?

In your letter to Burbank Leader editor, Dan Evans, dated January 7, 2011, you detailed the information that was being made available to the newspaper. You stated some of the data requested would be posted on the city website. Other items would be made available and Evans would be provided with “…the estimated cost of extracting this electronically stored data ….” 

The Leader is being charged to assemble this additional data, therefore, it seems like “double billing” to charge other media and citizens of Burbank for the exact same data. As a member of the media and a Burbank resident, I request that the data collected for the Leader be provided to other media and anyone in the public who is interested free of charge. Feel free to e-mail me that additional information. Or you can simply post all of the Leader requested information on the city website for everyone to see — in a true demonstration of transparency.

Sincerely,
Fronnie Lewis
Editor
Media City Groove
P.O. Box 206
Burbank, CA 91503
FLLLewis@msn.com
www.mediacitygroove.com

Burbank celebrates its centennial

Photo: www.burbankusa.com/centennial

B-town kicked off its centennial celebration this month. Burbank will commemorate its 100th anniversary on July 8, 2011.  A lot of events are planned. Check out the new Burbank centennial website for events and more information on the year-long celebration.

One of the freebies: a gorgeous centennial calendar loaded with photos, events, a directory of important phone numbers, quick references for boards, commissions, committees, departments, agencies, some significant places, and top officials. Calendars are available at city hall, libraries, and various other sites throughout the city.

“Rain rain go away”

When will it stop? Soon is what the weather watchers are saying about this deluge. Like most of  the Southland, Burbank is soggy from several days of heavy rain.

The worst of the storms is rolling across Los Angeles County now through mid-afternoon. I was out driving in the Media City shortly before 9 a.m. this morning . The rain was moderate, but the forecast is for heavy periods of rain, scattered thunderstorms, strong winds, and even some hail before the day ends.  The high will reach only the mid-50s in Burbank today.

Over the past few days, I’ve seen Burbank city crews out checking for damaged trees, flooded streets, and those inevitable and most annoying potholes. Our situation is minor compared to places like Laguna Beach where they’re dealing with serious flooding and mud problems.

Meanwhile, back here in the nearby Station burn areas officials are keeping a close eye on the saturated hillsides. Evacuation orders were issued for more than 200 homes in La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta. However, some of those homeowners decided to stay and ride it out. So far, no major problems there and La Cañada Flintridge Mayor, Donald Voss, told KNX 1070 newsradio this morning, “…the debris basin performed very well.” 

The good news, the weather forecasters are saying the rain will move out by tomorrow and give us some time to dry out under sunny skies.  

The Burbank city employees bonuses controversy

Yes, another controversy in Burbank. This time the issue is bonuses/merit pay for some city employees and the release of that information to the media and the public. Earlier this month, the city of Glendale posted that data about its employees on its website.

During these tough economic times, when Burbank city officials are jacking up fees for utilities and other services, certain employees got around $1 million in bonuses for the fiscal year 2009-2010. The city of Burbank has declined to provide details on bonuses/merit pay, citing employee privacy rights.

I’m not buying that, nor is the Burbank Leader and the Semichorus blogger. The Burbank Leader has sent not one, but two record requests for this information to the city. Recently, Semichorus joined the Leader in requesting this information from the Burbank City Attorney’s Office. I have taken up this fight as well.

Below is the letter I dropped off at the Burbank City Attorney’s office on Monday, requesting the details on the bonuses and other compensation paid to city employees over the past few years.

December 20, 2010

Re: Records request under the California Public Records Act

Dear Dennis Barlow:

I must join with the Burbank Leader and the Semichorus blogger in requesting information on city employee salaries and bonuses — this includes names, titles, amounts of all payments and years received from 1999-2010. In the wake of the Bell revelations and controversy, Burbank officials need to do more than talk about transparency or duck and dodge their responsibility to be upfront with the citizens of this city.

I respectfully ask that you direct your staff to fully cooperate with these requests and not spark another legal case. The list of existing or potential litigation cases that appears on the Burbank City Council agenda, week after week, is far too long; and taxpayer dollars spent on these cases is already way too much.

Sincerely,

Blogger/tweeter gets TV project gig

Blogger/tweeter and mother of three, Kelly Oxford, has been writing for years — but now it’s really paying off for her. Oxford’s witty tweets and interesting blog posts, got her a deal to write a sitcom series pilot called, “Mother of All Something.”

Now CBS has picked up the project for development with actress Jessica Alba and Jhoni Marchinko, a former-writer for the TV series, “Will & Grace” attached. The CBS comedy, “$#*! My Dad Says,” is based on a Twitter feed. The Network reportedly has several other Internet-based projects in the works.  More about Oxford and this deal here.

2010 Golden Globe nominations

The Hollywood awards season is in full swing. Yesterday, the period film, “The King’s Speech,” received seven Golden Globe nominations, the most of any motion picture. It’s about Briain’s King George VI  and his struggle to overcome a stuttering problem.

Two other movie dramas, “The Fighter,” and “The Social Network,” got six nominations. The sci-fi actioner, “Inception,” the psychological thriller, ” Black Swan,” and the comedy, “The Kids are All Right,” each were handed four nominations by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Even though the Golden Globes get a lot of flak for being more about the glitter than real talent — it frequently selects Academy Awards contenders and sometimes even picks Oscar winners.

The 68th Annual Golden Globes Awards ceremony is set for January 16, 2011 on NBC. 

The entire list, including TV nominees, on the HFPA website. 

 “The Chronicles of Narnia” rules the Box Office

The third installment of  “The Chronicles of Narnia” is still king at the domestic Box Office, after earning the crown over the weekend with a haul of $24 million. “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” rolled right over another newbie, “The Tourist.”

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” is based on the third book in the classic children’s book series by C.S. Lewis. In this version, the King of Narnia and his brave team must rescue seven lords in order to save his country from an evil mist. The 3D flick earned $1.6 million on Monday and $1.7 million on Tuesday to remain the number one film in the country.

Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp are in second place. Over the weekend their romantic/thriller, “The Tourist,” managed only $16.4 million.  On Monday, it made $1.3 million and did a little better on Tuesday, $1.6 million.  In “The Tourist” Depp plays an American visiting Italy who meets a mysterious woman, Jolie.  “The Tourist” is a remake of the French action/thriller “Anthony Zimmer” (2005).

The animated movie, “Tangled,” landed in third with $14.3 million, followed by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1″ in fourth  with $8.4 million and rounding out the top five, “Unstoppable” with $3.7 million.

The Black List: Hot unproduced scripts of 2010 

The Black List is one of the most eagerly awaited screenplay collections in Hollywood. Since 2004, film executive, Franklin Leonard, has been compiling this list of the favorite unproduced screenplays of the year.  Diablo Cody’s “Juno” is one of the scripts that was discovered on this list and got produced!

This time around 290 film executives cast ballots for the screenplays they enjoyed reading the most. Nikki Finke has the complete list, the agencies and managers who rep the scripts and the screenwriters, as well as over 100 comments about it on deadline.com

A chance to make a change in Burbank

Burbank city officials are out to appease voters now that the Primary Nomination Election is coming up soon.  Last week, the Burbank City Council gave final approval to that election set for February 22, 2011 and the General Muncipal Election on April 12, 2011. There is a countdown running on this blog, in the far right column, that gives the exact number of  days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the Burbank Primary Nomination Election. Yes, I think it’s that important.

Burbank city insiders see the 2011 elections as significant as well, and with good reason. Some of those crooks, flakes, and opportunists in Bell would have gotten the boot long ago, if residents had voted them out of office. There is power in the vote. That’s why City Hall officials are taking steps to schmooze the voters, to lull them into thinking things aren’t so bad in Burbank and that they have a real voice in city government.

 Did you get your copy of the new city hall publication, “Burbank USA?”  In his welcome message on the front of the newsletter, Burbank City Manager, Mike Flad, stated: “We strive to be open, accessible and transparent in all aspects of City government and look forward to sharing valuable information through this newsletter.”  Hmm, all of a sudden city officials want to share and be transparent.

I suggest you take a close look at the newsletter, which Flad says will be sent out monthly along with our utility bills. All of it’s fluff: items like free green home house call, city approves regional transit center at the Bob Hope Airport, and the upcoming  “Holiday in the Park.”  Nothing in the newsletter  about the Burbank Police Department scandal/investigation/lawsuits and the millions of dollars being spent for lawyers that city officials are refusing to give the public details on.

There’s a community calendar, but no mention of the November filing date  and deadline for candidates interested in running in the city’s February primary. Three seats on the Burbank Unified School District Board of Education and two on the Burbank City Council will be on the ballot. A major note, up for re-election, Mayor/Council member Anja Reinke and Former Mayor/Council member Gary Bric.

The bottom line, changing the make-up of the city council, would be a giant step toward changing what’s wrong in Burbank. Mayor Reinke and Councilman Bric rubber stamped the recent hike in utility fees for residents and then voted hefty raises for the Burbank Water and Power executives. Despite their claims of being fiscally responsible, Reinke and Bric repeatedly voted outrageous raises for selected Burbank staff in recent weeks. It’s time for a change.

The Burbank City Council needs TWO new members who will actively put the interests of residents first.  It’s up to the voters. If the same decision makers remain on the city council, there is little doubt, the city will continue its bumpy  journey on a path very similar to the one taken by the city of Bell under the guidance of those self-serving officials.

The Leader’s “cozy” and questionable relationship with the BPD

For a long time, The Burbank Leader has been criticized, no slammed, for allegedly being what many consider a cheerleader or mouthpiece  for city government. So you’d think the Leader staff would make an extra effort to deflect this criticism and try to build a reputation of journalistic integrity. Well, maybe not.

Over the weekend in the newspaper and on its website, Editor Dan Evans boasted of a new arrangement with the Burbank Police. Apparently the BPD is going to be feeding certain stories to the Leader. Here’s the link to Evan’s comments (in the middle section of his ”Start the Presses” column). 

The Leader deal got plenty of negative reaction from some Burbank news sites, including this stinging response from BurbankNBeyond Editor, Craig Sherwood, in an opinion piece called, “Outsourcing Burbank Journalism.”

I think this kind of arrangement with one newspaper sends a bad message to ALL media. I guess you can’t fault the Leader editor for asking for special privileges, but Police Chief Scott LaChasse  should have had the smarts to say “no.’

Bees buzzing the flowers in October

During the warm three-day Columbus Day weekend, I noticed quite a few bees fluttering from flower to flower in my Burbank garden.  The bees paid special attention to the colorful geraniums.  Another nice reminder of how lovely fall can be in SoCal.

The new school year is only about a week old , but it already has been an ordeal for some Burbank middle school students and their parents. As I first reported on this blog about a week ago, A Burbank city funded, long-running,  and very successful after school program was axed at David Starr Jordan Middle School, leaving some parents scrambling to find a safe alternative for their children.

One parent, I’m keeping her name confidential,  alerted me to the situation in an e-mail and has continued to give me her impressions of what the public is being told vs the reality of what’s going on. 

Last Tuesday, August 17, a Boys & Girls Club official told  me a new after school program sponsored by the club was available at Jordan Middle School. Yesterday, I found the club’s after school program listed on the Burbank Unified School District website.

However, the transition, from the old after school program to the new one, has been very bumpy, according to this parent who sent me an e-mail this evening:

“We signed up for Boys and Girls club today and happily paid our $75. No flyer was given to the children. The only way we would have known of it was through your blog.

I called B&G club about the privileges and the two people I spoke with didn’t know what I was talking about, neither did the person at Jordan so not sure what is involved.

At this stage, just glad I don’t have to worry about my child walking home (a kid was knocked down last week near the school) and am glad to be in a position to pay the $75 (cheaper than a speeding ticket).

So thanks Fronnie as you were hugely instrumental in getting this going. I am sick of paying and paying and getting shafted time and time again. No 13% pay raise for us.”

It’s a real bummer that these parents have been jerked around like this. These Burbank taxpaying citizens and their children deserve better from their city.

A full house at the public forum

Photo: FLLewis/ Media City G -- A big turnout for the Burbank Police Commission's first public forum on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in the Community Services Building

After all the hoopla, debates, agenda re-writes, and months of delays, the first public forum held by the Burbank Police Commission in recent memory went off with only a few minor glitches.

 First, additional chairs had to be brought out to accommodate the crowd that showed up last Wednesday night, August 18, in the Community Room of the Community Services Building on Third Street, across from the Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Resident speaks out at Burbank Police Commission public forum on Wednesday, August 18, 2010

More than 100 people were packed into the Community Room. A large number of personnel from the BPD filled the seats around the perimeter or stood along the wall.  That I’m told, along with the location of the forum, created an air of intimidation and tension for many in the audience. All of the Burbank City Council members were there and so were a number of other city officials and staff.

Most of the 13 speakers who stepped to the mike spoke about personal situations, some involved allegations of harassment by BPD or hassles with neighbors. The 800 pound gorilla in the room, aka the police mess, was touched on briefly or alluded to by only a few speakers. Interesting, considering the chatter on the blogs and around the town for the past weeks and months has been about the police corruption, scandal, firings, lawsuits …etc and the need for some direct answers from Interim Police Chief, Scott LaChasse, about what is REALLY going on in the BPD.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse provided some lengthy statements about various projects in the BPD at the public forum, August 18, 2010

If Burbankers came to the public forum to hear about identity theft, crime mapping, and prison reform, well they got an earful from Police Chief LaChasse. As has become his habit, LaChasse danced around, but did not answer, any question related to the police mess.  More and more it seems, the BPD is being run like a secret police in a foreign country where only a privileged few get to know what’s going on — and that does not include the public who’s paying the bills for its operation and its mistakes.  

Word is the Interim Police Chief is lobbying hard for the job permanently. Clearly, LaChasse is not seeking the approval of the public, but of the city government establishment — some of the same officials who may have had a hand in allowing the police mess to get to the point that it’s costing us millions and millions of dollars. Since the forum, I’ve heard more people say “we’re going to have to rely on the Feds” to do the clean-up of the BPD. They just might be right on that.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G- Police Commission Chair Robert Frutos delivers opening remarks and introduces his fellow commissioners at the public forum, August 18, 2010

As for the Burbank Police Commission, it received positive and encouraging comments from many speakers. Chair Robert Frutos introduced his fellow commissioners: James Etter, Hagop Hergelian, Elise Stearns-Niesen, new member Robert Cohen, Vice-Chair Nathan Rubinfeld, and Secretary Ray Adams.

The commissioners appear to have a strong commitment to the community and a new take charge attitude as demonstrated by Commissioner Adams. When he was alerted by a resident that the forum was not following the printed agenda, Adams quickly took action and  got it back on track. Hopefully, the forum is the first step to a stronger relationship between the Burbank Police Commission and the community.

Update on axed after school program   

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G-- David Starr Jordan Middle School, 420 South Mariposa Street in Burbank

Last Tuesday, I spoke with Julio Herrera of the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley, and he assured me that his organization was starting a new after school program at David Starr Jordan Middle School. However, this new program, unlike the previous one, would require a $75 a year membership in the Boys & Girls Club.

Last Sunday, I blogged about the highly-regarded long-standing free, city funded, after school program at Jordan Middle School getting terminated by the city budget cutting axe. Today, I clicked over to the Burbank Unified School District website and checked under after school programs for Jordan Middle School – and yes, there are now details about the Boys & Girls Club program and study hall in the library option as well.  Also, information on how students can ride the “Got Wheels bus” — something the parent who contacted me was reluctant to allow her child to do because of city officials’ refusal to answer pertinent questions about that supicious city bus accident back in January, involving some students from Jordan and Emerson Elementary.  

I still think the city should pick-up the cost of the Boys & Girls Club program for parents. The cancellation of the previous program has caused problems for parents who found out about it just before the new school year began last Monday. If the city officials can find money in the budget to pay for raises to certain “select” employees, they should be able to find a few dollars to help out some parents and their children.

Gripes & Complaints

Did you hear the heartbreaking story that a homeless woman and her daughter told during public comments at last Tuesday’s city council meeting? The woman complained she could not get help for herself and two children. Yeah, the story was convoluted and difficult to follow, but it was pretty evident the  family is in need of assistance.

Steve Ferguson updated the story on his blog, “Politically Speaking” the next day, when he discovered the family still living in a park. The mother had been injured — but still had enough concern to ask Ferguson’s friend to buy something for her son to eat.

Later at the public forum, I asked Burbank City Manager, Mike Flad,  about the woman’s situation. Flad insisted the woman had been given a voucher for a two day stay in a hotel. That’s it? That family needs at least a two-month or even a six-month place to stay in order to get their lives together. And why are they hungry? Could not one of the charitable organizations that get funds from the city find food for this family? This is a shame. City officials need to do something to help this woman who once owned a home in Burbank. She should be able to benefit from some of the tax dollars she has paid to the city over the years.

Jamie Foxx’s new production deal

Actor Jamie Foxx has hooked-up a new production deal with Writer/Producer/Director, Deon Taylor. No Brainer Films reportedly will be scouting for films and TV projects under $10 million. Details over on Deadline.com

Lady Gaga & her fans invade Staples Center

Photo:Kirk McKay/Los Angeles Times -- Two of the many fans who dressed in Lady Gaga-style for the singer's concert at Staples Center in L.A., August 11, 2010

Pop sensation, Lady Gaga, wraps up a two-concert gig at Staples Center tonight. Some of the fans at last night’s concert showed up in Gaga-inspired outfits. More photos and a review of Gaga’s Monster Ball show on the Los Angeles Times website.

Billy Idol still rocking

A flash from the past, 80s Rocker Billy Idol, can still put on quite a performance. Last night Idol took to the stage for two shows at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. Inland SoCal Music Blogger, Vanessa Franko, was there and posted a review on her AudioFile blog today. Franko’s got Idol concert photos, too. Also, Idol is set to rock that same venue again at a sold-out concert tomorrow.

Burbank & the Bell salary flap

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank City Council members (left-right) Jess Talamantes, David Gordon, Gary Bric, Dave Golanski, and Mayor Anja Reinke. Council members posed for pictures after voting in Reinke as mayor on May 3, 2010

Here ‘s a sad, but true tale of two Southland cities where the pay of  selected officials/employees has been jacked up to ridiculous levels.  The Los Angeles Times outed the  small community of Bell recently for paying exorbitant salaries to a handful of its city officials. Nearly $800,000 to the Bell City Manager, $457,000 to the Police Chief, and $376, 288 to the Assistant City Manager. Oh, and most of the Bell City Council members were banking a $100,000 a year.

 The Times’ investigation produced a series of stories and columns, sparking outrage among Bell citizens.  That outrage prompted  the city manager, assistant city manager, and police chief to resign. And grudgingly, the Bell City Council members gave-up their six-figure salaries.

The Bell flap has focused national attention on the problems created by city officials who shell-out hefty salaries and raises to some ”allegedly-more-valuable- than -the-rest” employees to the detriment of the communities they’re supposed to serve.

Here in Media City, many residents are ticked off at the Burbank City Council for recently voting to hike the salaries of the senior executives at the Burbank Water And Power an estimated 7-to-11 percent. Thanks to the generosity of the city council, Burbank Water And Power General Manager Ron Davis’ salary reportedly will take a huge leap from around $218,000 a year, to somewhere between $233-and-$270-thousand per year. Nice gift. I blogged about it in a City Buzz column back on July 7.

 It happened days after the city council approved a budget with fee increases that included a 13 .5% hike in water rates and 2.9% for electrical. Apparently, the four city council members, Jess Talamantes, Dave Golonski, Gary Bric, and Mayor Anja Reinke, who voted for the raises, came down with Bell fever. Council member David Gordon, who did not show signs of the political ailment, voted against the  BWP pay hikes and those proposed by staff at last Tuesday’s city council meeting as well.

On July 27, city staff presented new requests to the city council for some job re-classifications and pay hikes in the Park, Recreation, and Community Services Department as well as a 19 and ½ percent raise and new title for a graphic illustrator in the Community Development Department.

This time around, Councilman Golanski refused to support that 19 and ½ percent raise, but three other council members voted for that salary increase and the others as well. So all of those salary hikes passed. Dr. Gordon voted “no” on all the raises. Reinke, Talamantes, and Bric voted “yes” on all of the raises.

I find it distrubing that the city council is handing out fat raises to some city employees — while members of the Burbank PD work without a contract. The BPD has been hit hard by scandal, corruption, and mismanagement. Still, Burbank cops are out there on the streets putting their lives on the line to protect the city and its citizens. You’d think the city council members and top staff would be scrambling to get raises and a contract for Burbank cops. Now, that would benefit the entire community — not just line the pockets of a few select employees with more taxpayer dollars

Bell fever. I wonder how long certain Burbank City Council members will be afflicted with the malady. Somebody needs to find a cure fast!

Politically Speaking

Photo by Milton Alvarez-Ramos -- Steve Ferguson, Chair of the Park, Recreation, and Community Services Board in Burbank

 Steve Ferguson, Chair of the Park, Recreation and Community Services Board in Burbank, has a new blog, Politically Speaking. Ferguson has posted a thought-provoking piece called, “The Unspoken Conflict.”

Ferguson writes: “Police lawsuits, cut-throat political tactics and gossip have created an environment of fear, paranoia, and desperation. It’s not okay to disagree, to want to know more, or even to read a blog or two in our City. As a result, the dominant culture of our community divides those who are involved, based on their current views of City policies, into three groups: those who are right, those who are wrong and those who are not involved or don’t have a clue. There is no longer any appreciation for a difference of opinion. The division is everywhere. When two individuals from different groups interact it is mostly unspoken and sometimes even eerily cordial.” Read the entire post here.

Update on San Fernando Boulevard Fire 

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Smoke billows from a huge commercial building fire on San Fernando Boulevard near downtown in Burbank on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Fire officials are still investigating that major fire at a commercial building in the 500 block of  San Fernando Boulevard near downtown in Burbank, last Tuesday, July 27.  The fire broke out shortly before 7 p.m. and burned hot and fast. Smoke from the blaze billowed out into the neighborhood and could be seen for miles.

There were no injuries, but on Friday,  Burbank Fire Spokesman, Captain Ron Bell,  put the damage estimate to the gutted building at $1 and ½ million and damage to the contents at around $250,000.

Captain Bell says they don’t know yet exactly what caused the fire and it is still “… under investigation and will be so for some time.”

Gripes & Complaints

Some sharp criticism of the Burbank Adult School over on the Semichorus blog. The educational facility is accused of charging for some courses that reportedly should be free to students.  Details here.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Landmark Warner Bros. tower in Burbank

Yes, things are changing here. Media City Groove is the new name. Many of the elements of A Writer’s Groove will remain, while new ones are going to be added. Stay tuned. 

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- A happy shopper bags some bargains at the popular Burbank Farmers' Market held on Saturday mornings in the city hall parking lot at Third Street and Orange Grove Avenue.

Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House  — Hundreds of chefs from around the country gathered on the south lawn of the White House for a “Let’s Move” event on June 4, 2010

 First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” program has expanded to include hundreds of chefs from communities all across the nation. Chefs from 37 states assembled at the White House on Friday, June 4, 2010 to support “Chefs Move to Schools” phase of the first lady’s program.

“Let’s Move” is aimed at fighting childhood obesity. The chefs will be paired with schools in their local communities to work with students, parents, school nutritionists and administrators. Mrs. Obama explained it this way: “And together, you’ll be helping students learn where food comes from, and develop healthy habits. You’ll be elevating the role of food in our schools, and working to create healthy meals on a budget…You can make a salad bar fun — now, that’s something — and delicious. You can teach kids to cook something that tastes good and is good for them; and share your passion for food in a way that’s truly contagious.”

Food Diva/Author/Cookware Designer/TV Chef, Rachael Ray, posted a story on the White House Blog today about the program and her own experience called “Cooking as a Way of Life.” Ray says: “Understanding what good nutrition means and the basics of cooking are some of the most important tools kids need for the rest of their lives. Knowing how to put together a good, nutritious meal really improves the quality of one’s life.” More of Ray’s post here, which includes a video clip, too.

Burbank City Councilman David Gordon responds to his critics

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — At the November 3, 2009 city council meeting, Councilman David Gordon called for a major step in dealing with the growing Burbank police scandal

Burbank is still buzzing about the snub of two-term Councilman David Gordon by his colleagues on the council. On Monday, Dr. Gordon was passed over again for mayor and vice-mayor. The positions are rotated every year among the council members, but apparently a decision has been made to leave one member out of that selection process.

This time around, Anja Reinke was elected as the new mayor of Burbank and councilman Jess Talamantes, who’s only been on the council a year, vice-mayor.

The Burbank Leader has “revised” its report about the selection of Reinke and Talamantes at the reorganization meeting of the city council. When it was first posted on the Leader website Monday, the article carried a subhead or deck that said “David Gordon again passed over for vice-mayor.” 

On Tuesday evening, the Leader backed away from that strong stand and changed the second title to “Former vice-mayor commits term to safe, clean streets, sustainability.” The new article still includes this revealing paragraph: “Gordon, who has twice been elected and is the council’s second-longest-serving member, had expressed interest in the vice-mayorship, but some of his colleagues said privately that they wouldn’t support him based on his never voting to approve a budget and his earlier call for then-Chief Tim Stehr to step down.”

What is Gordon’s reaction to these complaints from his fellow council members? I e-mailed the councilman and asked — here are his responses.

 1. Burbank city budget

 Yes, it is true.  I never voted to support a City budget since taking office.
 
With respect to my voting record, I have voted against the budget each year primarily due to the overly broad and rather excessive utility bill increases that seem to be a part of each and every budget. In my first year in office, the Council was told the cost of energy was going up and would “never” go down.  Well, it went down, but no roll back of utility rate hikes ever occurred or was ever considered.  We have many seniors, who are on fixed incomes. These seniors are in a struggle just to keep their home and survive. They are not getting increases in income.  Some have had their meager income and benefits cut back.  Some are forced to ration or skip meals or needed medication just to get by. The people, especially our seniors, have been struggling mightily to make ends meet.  Meanwhile, there has been no discussion whatsoever in stemming the ever escalating costs of the essentials, water and electricity.
 
It should be noted that I have also consistently called for more accountability, transparency, and spending taxpayer dollars more responsibly.  I have voted against raising top management salaries.  I questioned city employees staying at the Mirage and Bellagio hotels while on City business trips to Las Vegas. I have voted against huge cash giveaways in questionable Redevelopment deals.  Meanwhile, I have not been able to get Council support to have the Redevelopment Agency repay the City’s general fund which could help stabilize utility rates.  Whats more, I question the wisdom of having paid Wildan Group, Inc. thousands of dollars for an Excessive Use of Force Audit in 2008 to be told there were no serious problems in Burbank’s Police Department while the City is now incurring millions of dollars in attorney fees to address the serious problems within our Police Department.
 
The City needs to be more prudent in its spending.  We need to find ways to deliver services cheaper and better ways to finance them rather than balancing the budget on the backs of the ratepayers with rate hikes.  My intent in voting against budgets is my way of letting everyone know that more oversight is needed in spending hard-earned taxpayer money.

2. Tim Stehr controversy

I have known former Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr for several years.  I have had the opportunity to interact with, and get to know, him in my capacity as a member of Burbank’s City Council.  My relationship with him has always been mutually cordial, respectful, and professional.  My knowledge of his background and performance within the Burbank Police Department has been that he put in more than three decades of professional service to the Department coming up through the ranks from recruit all the way to chief…truly a noteworthy career. 

However, beginning with serious allegations first brought to my attention with a series of anonymous letters arriving in mid-2008, followed by numerous allegations and lawsuits involving police improprieties or misconduct, escalating tensions within the department pitting officers against each other seemingly about to reach a flashpoint, and culminating with the tragic and untimely death of Burbank Police Sergeant Neil Gunn, Sr., in October, 2009, all occurring on Chief Stehr’s watch, it became apparent to me that something had to be done by someone to break this cycle. 

On November 3, 2009, I requested that the Council place an emergency item on its agenda for consideration to direct the City Manager to place Chief Tim Stehr on indefinite administrative leave pending resolution of the various ongoing police investigations.  I felt then, and I still feel, that this was the only action I could take as an individual Council member to immediately address what I viewed as a real and immediate potential threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the public and our police department personnel.  The other Council members opted not to support my motion at that meeting.  However, within days, Council member Dave Golonski referring to Chief Stehr’s decision to retire as he appeared on ABC TV news made the following statement,

“He really needed to make way for new leadership in that department.  The problems are pretty severe there and there is a tremendous amount of discord.  And it’s very difficult for someone who is a sitting chief to fix those problems.  And I think he recognized that.”

The agenda debate

More fallout from Monday’s city council meeting and election of Anja Reinke as mayor and Jess Talamantes as vice-mayor. On the Burbank city website, there’s a confusing notation on the agenda for Monday’s reorganization meeting. 

Click on the city website tab Meetings & Agendas, scroll down to  Archived Meetings, click on city council, and go to the agenda for Monday, May 3, 2010. Scroll down to item E and under recommendation you will see: “Select Mayor and Vice Mayor for coming year. Mrs. Reinke was selected as the Mayor and Mr. Talamantes was selected as Vice-Mayor.”

I first read about this on Jim Carlile’s blog. So what does it mean? Was the fix in before the meeting or did someone just add the names of Reinke and Talamantes after the election to the agenda? Hard to tell at this point, but it is very strange.

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

A death in the Burbank city jail

More strange events in Burbank. First, over the weekend, an inmate reportedly was found hanging in his jail cell. It was reported on Jim Carlile’s blog and then on The Burbank Leader website that 60-year-old John Alfred Flores’ body was discovered on Easter.

Flores, a domestic violence suspect, was jailed after an incident Sunday morning. Early reports are calling it a suicide. The Los Angeles Coroner will release the official cause of death after its investigation.

I went looking for a press release about the inmate death on the Burbank city website, but couldn’t find one as of Tuesday morning.  Gee, what’s with that?  It’s not like a death in a Burbank jail cell is routine or business as usual.

Suspicious bus accident prompts investigation by city officials

Add another probe to the list of investigations going on in Burbank. Last month on March 20, it was first reported here about talk around town, particularly among city employees, about a strange bus accident in Burbank involving a city bus and a bunch of school children.

The accident happened back on January 15, 2010 at Olive Avenue and Orchard Drive. It was a minor collision between a bus and another vehicle. No injuries. The thing that sparked the talk is that the bus was apparently a regular city bus, not one designated to carry school children. From what I heard, the California Highway Patrol, which handles all school bus accidents, refused to touch this one because of the type of bus involved. So is this some kind of cost cutting measure by the city that’s putting children’s lives at risk? 

I asked the City Manager Mike Flad about this accident and he told me to contact Interim Community Development Director, Greg Herrmann. This is where it really gets interesting. I sent Herrmann an e-mail on March 30, 2010, asking about the bus accident.

My e-mail:

Dear Greg Herrmann,

I have some questions about a traffic accident involving a Burbank city bus. City Manager Mike Flad recommended I contact you. The accident occurred on January 15, 2010 at Olive Avenue and Orchard Drive. There were 21 school children on that bus who were picked up earlier at Emerson Elementary and Jordan Middle School. I am told this was not proper school bus, not a “Got Wheels” bus, not a youth bus, and not a pupil activity bus. That is the reason the California Highway Patrol, called to the scene, refused to write-up the collision. I understand all accidents involving school buses are handled by the CHP. 
 
The driver, Duane Beekman, was not licensed to drive a school bus. First, why was a regular Burbank transit bus being used to carry school children? How often is this happening in the city of Burbank? Are parents aware that their children are riding on a bus that does not qualify as a school bus?
 
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Fronnie Lewis
 
writer/blogger
http://mediacitygroove.com/awritersgroove/
 
Greg Herrmann’s e-mail response on March 31, 2010: 

Ms. Lewis,

 My information on this incident is that it was a Got Wheels! bus operating on its normal fixed route, which circles through the city stopping at fixed stops like libraries, parks and recreation facilities and other after-school and weekend destinations.  While it may in fact have picked up a number of kids at the fixed stops near Emerson and Jordon, it was not a “school bus” in the sense that it collected the riders at the schools and delivered them at their residence.  The Got Wheels! system operates the same as any other public transit bus, except that it is only available to youth whose parents have pre-registered for the service.   

You ask below why a regular Burbank transit bus is being used to carry schoolchildren?   Again, my understanding is that it was a Got Wheels! bus that was being used, which is our normal operating vehicle for this youth-dedicated route.  The Got Wheels! buses are the same basic vehicle that is used for the Senior & Disabled service, except that they have the Got Wheels! insignia in addition to the BurbankBus designation that all City transit vehicles display.   

I hope that this information adequately responds to your questions.  Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions. 

Greg Herrmann

Community Development Department

City of Burbank

Since Herrmann’s information contradicted what I had heard, I sent a second e-mail on March 31, 2010: 

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

Herrmann’s second response is one we’ve seen all too much of lately by Burbank city officials. It’s the “circle the wagons and go on the attack” reaction, rather than dealing with a problem or situation.  Where is the concern for the community, specifically the children?  I haven’t seen the police report on the accident, but it must really contain some damaging details to prompt the city officials to try to track down and “punish” those who were concerned enough to talk about it.

By the way, according to what I’ve heard, the Burbank City Attorney’s Office has been aware of this accident for some time.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Police patrol car

A new controversy is causing more debate and concerns about the Burbank Police Department. This time, the questions are being asked about the actions of Burbank police officers involved in that dramatic pursuit/suspect shooting last Monday, March 29, that ended near Universal City.

Television news video of that incident has focused nationwide attention and more scrutiny on the troubled BPD already reeling from lawsuits and investigations brought on by charges of discrimination, civil rights violations, and excessive-force allegations. Also, the department is struggling to recover from the suicide of Burbank Sergeant Neil Gunn Sr. last fall, which has been linked to the turmoil in the department.

The suspect, 30-year-old Steve Satterly, was on the run in a stolen SUV Monday afternoon. Police say Satterly was wanted in Indiana on suspicion of attacking his pregnant ex-girlfriend. The CHP was in hot pursuit of Satterly on the freeways, but Burbank police took over the chase once the suspect hit city streets.

On Barham Boulevard near Buddy Holly Drive, the suspect reportedly tried to maneuver around traffic and a Burbank police officer fired at the driver’s side window. There’s a lot debate about whether this shooting tactic was necessary and whether it put the lives of nearby motorists and officers at risk.

A short time later, Satterly abandoned the stolen vehicle and tried to make a getaway on foot not far from the entrance to Universal Studios. Several shots were fired at the fleeing suspect by two Burbank police officers. Satterly was wounded, arrested, and taken off to a local hospital where he has been listed as being in stable condition.

In describing the incident before the Burbank City Council on Tuesday night, Police Chief Scott LaChasse says the suspect  was “…hit in the side.” LaChasse declared there would be a lengthy department review of the tactics and the use of force in this incident. Also, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office is investigating the tactics used by the police officers as well.

Burbank Police Spokesman Sergeant Robert Quesada told me the officers involved in that controversial shooting have been “…temporarily re-assigned to desk duty pending a preliminary investigation.” Sergeant Quesada did not identify the officers, but another source did provide me with the names. On this blog, I have mentioned the names of officers connected to the Burbank police scandal or “mess” as it’s become known. So I’m going to use the names of the Burbank police officers involved in this controversial chase/shooting. They are Larry Hill and Kitty McDonald. Their names have appeared on Jim Carlile’s blog, which has some interesting posts and lively debate about the incident.

 The Los Angeles Times has a good write-up about the incident, the investigations, and what some crime experts think about the tactics used by those Burbank police officers.

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.         

###

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: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank

Controversial court ruling involving one of the lawsuits swirling around the Burbank PD

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge dismissed Burbank Police Officer Jamal Childs as a plaintiff from that explosive discrimination lawsuit filed against the Burbank PD last May by five of its minority officers. On Thursday, March 18, Judge Joanne O’Donnell ruled the statute of limitations had expired on Childs’ claim. Hmm, Childs has been a Burbank Police officer for five years. It’s not like his complaints date back 20 years or so.

Well no surprise the attorney for the officers, Solomon Gresen, plans to appeal. Here’s the Leader story about it. Also, plenty of chatter and information about the ruling, Judge O’Donnell, what constitutes a hostile workplace, and similar discrimination cases over on Jim Carlile’s blog.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse

LaChasse’s plan of action

While the city attorneys are busy fighting the allegations of misconduct and civil rights violations in the police department, the new Burbank Police Chief, Scott LaChasse, is making changes. On the job since January, LaChasse is wasting no time in shaking up the department.

At last Wednesday’s Burbank Police Commission meeting, LaChasse introduced two new key members of his team, cop psychologist Dr. Larry Blum and Deputy Police Chief Tom Angel, who comes with 30 years of experience at the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

LaChasse mentioned improvements were being made in the BPD with the “Department of Justice” in mind. Gee, it sure sounds like LaChasse has discovered there is merit to some of those allegations and complaints against the Burbank Police. I doubt the chief would be trying to fix what wasn’t broken.

What about those town hall meetings?

Vice-Mayor Anja Reinke is a lousy tap dancer from what I can tell. At Wednesday’s meeting, Police Commissioner Jim Etter asked Reinke about the timetable for setting up town hall meetings with the public. Reinke babbled on and on about the problems arranging the meetings and how city officials wanted to have their excuses, ah, responses worked out first, before taking public questions about the police mess. 

Perhaps it was more of a bad case of moonwalking by Reinke. Nevertheless, Etter, the main advocate of the town hall meetings on the commission, listened to her explanation patiently this time. It will be interesting to see if Reinke has the nerve to try to pull the same stunt at next month’s police commission meeting.

State Assembly candidates forum at Burbank City Hall next Wednesday

A televised forum for candidates vying for that vacant seat in the 43rd State Assembly District is set to get underway at the Burbank City Council Chambers next Wednesday, March 24, starting at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend. The League of Women Voters Glendale/Burbank is sponsoring the event. (Maybe the Vice-Mayor should get some pointers from them on how to put together such an event)

By the way, the League is asking the public to submit questions for the candidates via e-mail or by phone. Details here. The primary special election is April 13, 2010.

Ex-Mayor Marsha Ramos still on the hot seat  

More grief for Former Burbank Mayor/Council Member Marsha Ramos. At that most informative Burbank Police Commission meeting, during oral communications, Activist Mike Nolan indicated Ramos’ deposition about the police mess had prompted threats to subpoena her phone records. According to Nolan, Ramos has hired a lawyer to protect her rights.

A strange accident involving a Burbank city bus filled with school kids

A lot of talk and concern in B-City about a traffic accident involving a school bus — that really wasn’t a school bus. Confused?  Well, wait it gets more complicated and weird.

Sources tell me a Burbank City blue bus, with 21 kids on board (ages 11-14), got into a traffic mishap with another vehicle at Olive Avenue and Orchard Drive around 3:20 p.m. on Friday, January 15, 2010. The accident was minor — no injuries, but it raises a number of questions about why the city blue bus was being used as a school bus.

The California Highway Patrol handles all school bus accidents, but the agency refused to deal with this accident because the bus was not a state certified school bus. Even the bus driver was not certified to drive a school bus.

What’s going on here?  Is the city trying to save a few bucks by using regular city transit buses as school buses, violating state mandates and putting children’s lives at risk? How many of these not-really school buses are transporting children around town? Do parents know about the situation?  More on this later.

Parking violations at the Downtown Burbank post office

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Downtown Burbank post office

So what’s up with all the folks boldly parking illegally at the Olive Avenue post office after hours? There are only eight spaces, two are for handicapped drivers, on the side of the building. Rarely can you pull into one of those spaces after dark, because they’re filled with the vehicles of people working nearby or shopping or dining or catching a flick at the AMC or whatever.

There are signs posted that clearly state the parking is only for those doing business in the post office. Burbank traffic cops need to crack down on these violators who force others to double park or do some other kind of inventive parking, just to run in to the post office to buy stamps, mail a letter or package, pick up mail from a P.O. Box …etc.