Halloween is in the air. I’m seeing bats, vampires, ghouls, and other night creatures lurking around my Burbank neighborhood. Adults as well as kids are gearing up for the haunting night of October 31. While you’re preparing to get your “spook on” the Food and Drug Administration has a few guidelines to keep in mind.

Today the FDA released its “Lucky 13″ tips for a safe and fun Halloween. The agency warns the wrong choices could haunt you long after all that trick-or-treat candy has been eaten or given away. One of the big concerns is decorative contact lenses that give the wearer “cat like eyes” or make the eyes appear to glow in the dark, or change eye color.

“What troubles us is when they are bought and used without a valid prescription, without the involvement of a qualified eye care professional, or without appropriate follow-up care. This can lead to significant risks of eye injuries, including blindness,” according to FDA eye expert, Dr. Bernard Lepri.

Some of the other tips include, make sure costumes are fire-retardant, and it’s best to wear makeup and hats rather than mask, which can obscure your vision. For the full list of “Lucky 13″ safety tips go to the FDA website. Also, these guidelines have the approval of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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.

Official White House Photo/Chuck Kennedy — President Obama makes a point to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) during the Bipartisan Health Reform meeting at Blair House on Thursday, February 25, 2010.

First Ladies meet & chat

Official White House Photo/ Samantha Appleton — First Lady Michelle Obama chats with Mrs. Margarita Zavala de Calderon, the First Lady of Mexico, in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House on Thursday, February 25, 2010.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Banner on Burbank Boulevard in Burbank

The colorful street light banners in Burbank got slammed in yesterday’s Burbank Leader newspaper and on its website by columnist Richard Tafilaw who called them, “lame-o.”  I disagree big time for a few reasons. The banners are high above the street and not a real distraction for either motorists or pedestrians.

Photo: Banner on Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank

The banners contribute a nice festive touch to streets and boulevards.

Photo: Banners on Burbank Boulevard in Burbank

Some of the banners carry messages like “Better than ever” and ”Cooler than ever.” Sure it’s promotion, but it’s done simply and tastefully. These banners have received praise from some of the merchants who own businesses on the streets and boulevards where they’re installed.  

I have seen these banners in various sections of our Media City and find them to be a pleasant addition. So the banners get a thumbs-up from me. 

White House photo: Pete Souza — President Obama delivers the State of the Union Address 01/27/10

More jobs and pumping up the weak economy were major themes in President Obama’s first State of the Union speech delivered before a joint session of Congress last night. And that’s the way it should be. The country, and especially the backbone of the our society — middle class folks — are still struggling under the weight of this recession. “ For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough.  Some are frustrated; some are angry.  They don’t understand why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded, but hard work on Main Street isn’t; or why Washington has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems.  They’re tired of the partisanship and the shouting and the pettiness.  They know we can’t afford it.  Not now. ” President Obama said.

Interestingly a  New York Times’  piece today, points out that even when the president rightly boasted of tax cuts generated by his administration, Republicans in the audience, who almost always cheer anything or anyone that produces tax cuts, well, last night, they refused to applaud. This demonstrated to the country why gridlock in congress is hampering a national health plan and other legislation that would benefit average Americans. That kind of attitude and partisanship by Republicans are responsible for much of the mess our country is in now. I don’t vote along a party line. I vote issues and candidates and therefore, I find the partisanship battles extremely frustrating.

During eight years of a Republican President, you didn’t hear Republicans screaming loudly about the rapidly growing deficit, the ill-conceived and expensive war in Iraq, or even the major financial melt-down and the much hated Bush Adminstration plan to bailout the rich cats at the banks and on Wall Street. Republicians were in charge of Congress during those eight years and it’s ridiculous to expect a Democratic President to clean-up that mess in one year. Republicans and Democrats need to work together to get the country and the economy back on track.

I must say, I thought new Republican Governor Robert. F. McDonnell, who gave the rebuttal to the State of the Union, showed more class than many of his more senior Republican leaders. Virginia Governor McDonnell complimented the president on some points and criticized him on others. Overall, McDonnell faulted the federal government for “trying to do too much.”

I gotta point out, President Obama was left with a full plate of problems to deal with and many demand urgent attention. The President realizes this and made it clear in his speech he plans to push forward on a health care plan, a bipartisan commission to work on reducing the federal debt, a jobs creation bill, $30 billion of the repaid bailout money to go to small businesses and so on.

I agree with the president when he wrapped up the spirit and goals of his speech by saying, “… a new year has come.  A new decade stretches before us.  We don’t quit.  I don’t quit.   Let’s seize this moment — to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more. ”  

For the full text of President Obama’s State of the Union speech click here.

White House photo by Samantha Appleton 01/14/10: President Obama calling for new bank fees.

Some ”fat cats” on Wall Street got a rude whack upside the head from President Obama today. A tough talking Obama put the big banks on notice that he wants them to repay “every dime” of our money they got in that huge financial bailout. The president wants to slap the big banks with a fee designed to recoup perhaps as much as $117 billions over 12 years.  

“And my determination to achieve this goal is only heightened when I see reports of massive profits and obscene bonuses at some of the very firms who owe their continued existence to the American people — folks who have not been made whole, and who continue to face real hardship in this recession. 

We want our money back, and we’re going to get it.  And that’s why I’m proposing a Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee to be imposed on major financial firms until the American people are fully compensated for the extraordinary assistance they provided to Wall Street.  If these companies are in good enough shape to afford massive bonuses, they are surely in good enough shape to afford paying back every penny to taxpayers.”

The fee would only be levied against banks with more than $50 million in assets.  More on the President’s Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee for banks on The White House blog and Reuters.

Federal employees come up with thousands of ways to save money

It was a simple idea, but boy did it pay-off big time. At the end of September, President Obama’s SAVE Award contest was launched by the Office of Management and Budget. Federal workers were asked to come up with ways to save taxpayer money by making the government perform more effectively and efficiently.

In three weeks, they got 38,484 entries! Some of the plans were so good that the Obama administration is already working on putting them into practice.

The President’s SAVE Award will go to the best of the best. You can help pick the winner by casting your vote.  More details on The White House Blog.

Holiday shoppers waiting for last minute bargains

The uncertain job market has many shoppers spending less or holding out for those pre-Christmas deals this holiday season, that according to a new survey. This is bad news for retailers and the weak economy. The story is on the Reuters website.

Here we go again, another President Obama controversy.  This morning, the Norwegian Nobel Committee surprised many by announcing Obama had won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Obama has been in office less than a year and while dealing with huge domestic problems, he’s managed to confront some major global issues as well.  The Nobel Committee noted Obama’s international impact in its press release today.

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

The Norwegian Nobel Committeehas decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world’s population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world’s leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama’s appeal that “Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.”

Oslo, October 9, 2009

Obama critics quickly screamed unfair, they say the prize should have gone to someone else. Sure there are other dedicated individuals around the world who deserve to be honored for their achievements. This year’s nominees included more than 150 people and organizations. Nevertheless at this point in time, Obama was the right choice.  If you read the press release carefully, the Nobel Committee lays out its case, and a pretty good one I think, for selecting Obama.  Clearly, the changes in American foreign policy and world view from the past eight years of the George Bush administration are being recognized and appreciated.

This morning at the White House, the president reacted to the announcement  with mixed emotions:

 I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee.  Let me be clear:  I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations. To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize — men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build — a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents.  And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.  And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action — a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.
    
These challenges can’t be met by any one leader or any one nation.  And that’s why my administration has worked to establish a new era of engagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the world we seek.  We cannot tolerate a world in which nuclear weapons spread to more nations and in which the terror of a nuclear holocaust endangers more people.  And that’s why we’ve begun to take concrete steps to pursue a world without nuclear weapons, because all nations have the right to pursue peaceful nuclear power, but all nations have the responsibility to demonstrate their peaceful intentions.

We cannot accept the growing threat posed by climate change, which could forever damage the world that we pass on to our children — sowing conflict and famine; destroying coastlines and emptying cities.  And that’s why all nations must now accept their share of responsibility for transforming the way that we use energy.

We can’t allow the differences between peoples to define the way that we see one another, and that’s why we must pursue a new beginning among people of different faiths and races and religions; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect.

And we must all do our part to resolve those conflicts that have caused so much pain and hardship over so many years, and that effort must include an unwavering commitment that finally realizes that the rights of all Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security in nations of their own.

We can’t accept a world in which more people are denied opportunity and dignity that all people yearn for — the ability to get an education and make a decent living; the security that you won’t have to live in fear of disease or violence without hope for the future.

And even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolved peacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront the world as we know it today.  I am the Commander-in-Chief of a country that’s responsible for ending a war and working in another theater to confront a ruthless adversary that directly threatens the American people and our allies.  I’m also aware that we are dealing with the impact of a global economic crisis that has left millions of Americans looking for work.  These are concerns that I confront every day on behalf of the American people. 

Some of the work confronting us will not be completed during my presidency.  Some, like the elimination of nuclear weapons, may not be completed in my lifetime.  But I know these challenges can be met so long as it’s recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.  This award is not simply about the efforts of my administration — it’s about the courageous efforts of people around the world. 

And that’s why this award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity — for the young woman who marches silently in the streets on behalf of her right to be heard even in the face of beatings and bullets; for the leader imprisoned in her own home because she refuses to abandon her commitment to democracy; for the soldier who sacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half a world away; and for all those men and women across the world who sacrifice their safety and their freedom and sometime their lives for the cause of peace. 

That has always been the cause of America.  That’s why the world has always looked to America.  And that’s why I believe America will continue to lead.

 Obama’s full speech is on the White House Blog. The Nobel Prize includes a huge chunk of money, about $1.4 million, which the president reportedly will donate to charity. President Obama is only the fourth U.S. president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Mayor Gary Bric read a statement at last night’s council meeting.

Finally, after weeks and months of mostly silence or as some folks have described it stonewalling, the Burbank City Council spoke out last night about the controversial and very messy situation surrounding the police department. Back on May 13, I wrote a post about the alleged problems in the BPD and called on the city council to not… ” wait until it all explodes into a full blown controversy, but step forward now and explain the situation to residents.” Mayor Gary Bric and city council members Anja Reinke, David Gordon, Jess Talamantes, and Dave Golonski did not heed that advice from me and other citizens, but remained tight-lipped about the situation.

So after seven lawsuits have been filed by former or present members of the Burbank Police force, including a former Deputy Police Chief, and persistent rumors about investigations by outside agencies like the FBI, the city council is going public about the growing scandal.

At the beginning of Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Bric announced he would read something  ”very important” … ”a statement” he says the council members agreed to earlier in the evening, in closed session.  Here is the full text of that statement, which is now posted on the city Burbank website.

Statement from Mayor Gary Bric
Burbank City Council Meeting
September 29, 2009 

There has been a lot of press recently regarding issues at the Burbank Police Department and I’m sure the community is concerned and wants to make sure that these issues are being appropriately dealt with. There have been a number of lawsuits and claims filed that contain multiple allegations of improper conduct ranging from wrongful termination, discrimination and retaliation to abuse of force and various forms of covering up such activities. These are all very serious allegations and I think it is clear to everyone that the police department is facing some major challenges. All of these allegations have arisen from sources within the department or from former members of the department.

 As a result of allegations prior to these lawsuits, a number of investigations have been initiated both by the department and by outside entities at the invitation of and with the cooperation of the city. These investigations began long before the filing of the lawsuits and claims mentioned above. Chief Stehr requested the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department come in and perform an independent investigation. The city also began an independent investigation using an outside attorney and an outside investigator, both of whom report directly to the City Attorney and City Manager’s office. Your Burbank City Council has met with the outside attorney in order to confirm that there are no limitations on the scope of the investigation and to indicate that any signs of lack of cooperation by anyone within the city are to be brought to the Council’s attention. The Sheriff’s department requested that the city hold off commencing its investigation until the Sheriff’s investigation was completed. In addition to these investigations, the FBI has been conducting their own investigation into these matters and we are cooperating with their inquiries to the city. It is our understanding that when the Sheriff’s investigation is complete, it will be forwarded by the Sheriff’s department to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. The city’s investigation is now ongoing and includes all of the issues raised by the lawsuits and claims that have been filed and will also include any additional issues that may arise in the future.

While we cannot legally share the details of any of these investigations, we felt it was important to share with you that the issues in the Burbank Police Department are being taken very seriously and investigated by outside independent agencies. These investigations have been taking what seems like a very long time, but the investigators know the seriousness of the allegations and are making sure they do a complete and thorough job. We are frustrated that we cannot share more detailed information with you, but the integrity of the investigations and strict legal rules governing the privacy of police officers that may be under investigation prevent us from making any further comments.

While we know the entire community is disappointed to know that there are issues within the police department, please rest assured that the City Council is taking every step possible to make sure all of the issues are identified and that steps are taken to make sure that any problems that are identified are dealt with in a manner that insures they are never repeated. This may mean some severe consequences for any persons involved in misconduct, but we believe the integrity of our police department is extremely important to this community and is our paramount concern.

With our firm commitment to discover and correct any misdeeds within the police department, I can assure you the majority of the men and women in our police department are not involved in these issues and we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the excellent job they do protecting the safety of our community during these difficult times.

End of statement

In the past, city council members have reluctantly acknowledge some “lawsuits” and “investigations,” but in this statement for the first time, there is public disclosure of the involvement of the FBI. The investigations are said to be looking into conspiracy charges and a pattern of corruption as well.

Recently, the call for leadership and action from the mayor and city council has become loud and demanding from Burbank residents. Now that those city officials have taken action, will it ease public fears, anxiety, and bolster confidence in the city leaders’ abilities to handle the police scandal and all of its ramifications?  At this point, we will have to just take the mayor’s suggestion, from last night’s council meeting, to ”stay tuned” and see what happens.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank

Burbank officials have hammered residents with new water restrictions, penalties, and higher rates recently. We’re in a water crisis they insist. Well, you’d think if the shortage is as serious as they say, the first order of business would be to make the city as water efficient as possible. There are indications this has not been a high priority or the job was left incomplete.  Besides the repeated sprinkler problem/flooding at the Burbank jail mentioned in an earlier post on this blog, now the city has been caught on video wasting precious water in the downtown area.

The video was shot along a section of San Fernando Boulevard near Olive Avenue by concerned citizen Mike Nolan. The amateur video shows sprinklers drenching giant planters to the point that streams of water run down the sidewalk and into the street in the early morning hours. The same video was shown during the first public comment period at the Burbank City Council meeting, last Tuesday, September 8. Earlier that afternoon, the video was posted on Youtube and a link to it popped up in a comment section on this blog.

At times a certain council member has been arrogant, condescending, and down right rude when some citizens (including Burbank Police Commissioner James Etter at the September 1, 2009 council meeting)  have complained about the water restrictions or expressed doubts about a water shortage. There was none of that following the showing of the water wasting video, which was a relief. Council member Jess Talamantes thanked Nolan for the video saying it “…exposed a lot of waste….” Councilman Dave Golonski admitted it’s the city’s “…responsibility to conserve water…” and called for some kind of plan to be carried out to check the efficency of the public watering systems. Council member Anja Reinke suggested the city should be using drought-resistent plants.

No surprise, the city moved quickly to try to correct this public relations nightmare. Tuesday evening, Nolan says he took a stroll along San Fernando Boulevard and discovered the gushing sprinklers in those planters had been replaced with much smaller ones. Perhaps this will solve one public water wasting problem, but are there others around the city? On this controversial and sensitive issue, the city of Burbank should be out front leading the way on conservation and not be a water waster.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank 

We’re deep in the heat of a Southern California summer with temperatures  reaching over 100 degrees on many days. So what does the Burbank City Council do?  Last Tuesday, they voted to slap stiffer restrictions on water use. Hopefully, the council will reconsider this decision when the issue comes back for a final review. 

At this week’s city council meeting, Dr. David Gordon was the only council member to speak out strongly about the timing of the new restrictions and the impact on the public. Dr. Gordon voted “no.”  However, the rest of the city council, Mayor Gary Bric, Vice-Mayor Anja Reinke, and Council member Dave Golonski voted “yes.”  Councilman Jess Talamantes  was not present.

The  new restrictions would bump Burbank up to stage two of its Sustainable Water Use Ordinance. This would mean residents could turn on their yard sprinklers 15 minutes per station, only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. There is much debate about whether this is adequate to keep lawns green, trees and other vegetation thriving.  Earlier, when Burbank water rates were jacked up, some residents decided just to let their lawns go brown.

Burbank Water and Power has more on the new restrictions and the reported water supply crisis on its website.

You know, I think it’s clear to everyone that our yards need more water in the blustering heat of the summer than during the winter when the temperatures are much cooler and we get rain. So why don’t city officials and Burbank Water and Power experts cut residents some slack when they need the water the most —in the summer???

Also, I gotta wonder if the city is cutting back on watering public lawns and vegetation? You would think this would be the FIRST step in reducing the city’s water use. At city council meetings, some citizens have pointed out that certain city lawns have the appearance of being soaked with water despite the new restrictions.

In a related case, I’ve heard that a faulty sprinkler system flooded the Burbank city jail not once, but three times in the past month. Each time, 800 gallons or so of water was lost. Apparently the problem has been fixed, but geeh, it took a while. If the city is cracking down on residents to conserve water, the least it can do is lead by example in this matter. 

File Photo: April 2008  Adam Hunger/Reuters

One of the most powerful figures in American politics is being remembered today. U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy died last night at the family compound in Hannis Port, Massachusetts at the age of 77 after a valiant battle with brain cancer.

Since the assassination of his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy in the 1960s, the Massachusetts senator has been the leader of the most influential political family in the country. Ted Kennedy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near the graves of his two older brothers.

Kennedy’s endorsement is considered a major factor in candidate Barack Obama winning the Democratic nomination for president last year. Today, President Obama praised Senator Kennedy as one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy: “His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives — in seniors who know new dignity, in families that know new opportunity, in children who know education’s promise, and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just — including myself.” More of the president’s remarks about Kennedy on the White House blog.

File Photo: April 28, 2009  Pete Souza/White House  — President Obama and Senator Kennedy share a walk on the White House grounds.

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

Now that the Burbank City Council has filled the vacant seat on the police commission, hopefully, that body can move forward with a busy agenda. Last night, real estate consultant and long time Burbank business owner, Raymond Gerald Adams, was the top vote getter out of a field of six contenders. Adams received votes from council members David Gordon, Jess Talamantes, and Vice-Mayor Anja Reinke. Ironically, these are the exact same three votes that got Human Rights Activist John Brady appointed to the police commission last May.

As you might remember, Brady was later ousted by the Burbank City Council after a controversial disclosure that he was on probation for a DUI. During the application process to replace Brady, all police commission candidates had to agree to background checks.

Councilman Gordon says Adams won him over with his commitment to the community and ability to “…listen carefully” to the concerns of others. Adams joins Hagop Hergelian, Nathan W. Rubinfeld, Robert Frutos, Claudia Bonis, Elise Stearns-Niesen, and James Etter on the police commission.  

The next police commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2009. 

Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House

A special ceremony at the White House last night honored 16 super achievers with the nation’s highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom. In the photo above, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson congratulates fellow medal recipient, Actor Sidney Poitier. The other medal winners included Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Scientist Stephen Hawking, Tennis Star Billie Jean King, Entertainer Chita Rivera, and Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

In his remarks, President Obama praised the medal winners for their incredible achievements: “The recipients of the Medal of Freedom did not set out to win this or any other award. They did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches. Rather, they set out, guided by passion, committed to hard work, aided by persistence, often with few advantages but the gifts, grace, and good name God gave them.”

More of the president’s remarks and a full list of the 2009 Medal of Freedom award winners on the White House blog.

The debate over the pros and cons of health insurance reform is seriously heating up. In an effort to get its message out about what it considers the “stability and security” of health insurance reform, the White House launched a new online resource today WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck 

The Obama administration is encouraging the public to visit  ”Reality Check” to find out what is really in health insurance reform and what is not in there. Meanwhile, more town hall meetings on the controversial issue are set for tomorrow. President Obama will be center stage at one of those meetings in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Back here, local Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) is hosting another of those health insurance reform town halls at the Alhambra Civic Center Library, 101 South First Street in Alhambra. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11th.

Photo: Jim Young/Reuters

It’s official. Judge Sonia Sotomayor is now an associate justice of the 220-year-old U.S. Supreme Court. Sotomayor went through two swearing-in ceremonies this morning, one private and one public, at the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath.

After the public ceremony, Sotomayor is shown in the photo above being congratulated by Chief Justice Roberts while her mother, Celina, and brother, Juan Luis Sotomayor, look on.

On Thursday, Sotomayor, a federal appeals court judge, easily won confirmation from the U.S. Senate. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic and only the third female to become a justice on the nation’s highest court.

Photo: Jason Reed/Reuters

 Judgment Day turned into a shining moment for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Today Judge Sotomayor won confirmation from the U.S. Senate on a sweeping 68-31 vote. Nine Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the 55-year-old federal appeals court judge. Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic and only the third female to sit on the nation’s highest court.

Republican opponents insisted Sotomayor was too liberal. Supporters defended her as an impartial jurist who would be an asset to the U.S. Supreme Court. In his remarks after the confirmation, President Obama praised his nominee and the Senate’s decision: “And with this historic vote, the Senate has affirmed that Judge Sotomayor has the intellect, the temperament, the history, the integrity and the independence of mind to ably serve on our nation’s highest court.”

“These core American ideals — justice, equality, and opportunity — are the very ideals that have made Judge Sotomayor’s own uniquely American journey possible.  They’re ideals she’s fought for throughout her career, and the ideals the Senate has upheld today in breaking yet another barrier and moving us yet another step closer to a more perfect union.”

 Sotomayor will be sworn in as the 111th U.S. Supreme Court justice by Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday.

Photo: Irfan Khan/ Los Angeles Times 

Two California journalists, newly freed from North Korea, shared an emotional reunion with family and friends at  the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank this morning. After months of negotiations, Former President Bill Clinton was able to fly to North Korea yesterday and secure the release of 36-year-old Euna Lee and 32-year-old Laura Ling. In the photo above, Lee hugs husband Michael Saldate and daughter Hana and Ling greets her husband Iain Clayton.

On March 17, Lee and Ling were arrested near the North Korea-China border. In June, they were found guilty of crimes against North Korea and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. Both are reporters for Current TV, a San Francisco based operation, co-founded by Former Vice-President Al Gore. The Ex-V.P. was among those in Burbank who welcomed the two journalists back home.

In her tearful remarks, Ling thanked everyone who helped arrange their release: “We could feel your love all the way in North Korea.” Also, President Obama says his administration is “extraordinarily relieved” that the two reporters are free.

More great photos of the homecoming on the Los Angeles Times website.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove

The Burbank Police Commission’s July meeting yesterday at the Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters was very difference from the previous month. In June, the commission voted to adjourn before conducting any real business because of a cloud of uncertainty hanging over newly appointed commissioner, John Brady.

In a controversial move, the Burbank City Council voted to remove Brady from the police commission citing his probation for  a DUI as the reason. Nevertheless, the human rights activist showed up at yesterday’s commission meeting and sat with a small group of local citizens.

This time around, a written agenda was handed out to the public and those wanting to speak to the commission were given the chance during oral communications. Oddly, the June commission meeting did not have oral communications, even though the printed copies of the minutes of that meeting stated otherwise. Burbank resident David Piroli pointed this out to the commission, which acknowledged the error and said it would be corrected. The written minutes are the only official records of the police commission meetings.

The commissioners may have been a bit apprehensive when Brady stepped up to speak for five minutes. Brady soon put them at ease. There was no rancor or anger from him. Brady spoke politely about the importance of the commissioners handling their duties responsibly, “…power should not be taken lightly  …” and then, wished the commission well. Burbank resident Ester Espinoza used her five minutes before the commission to lay out some of the long running complaints she has about what she believes is  mistreatment of her family by the Burbank police.

The most hard hitting speaker was long time resident Mike Nolan who began by admitting, “I’m really pissed off.” Nolan proceeded to explain he has been asking a series of questions at Burbank City Council meetings for weeks and so far has not received any answers. Nolan’s questions pertain to the alleged lawsuits and investigations swirling around the city. For the commission, Nolan laid out the questions again, which included: “How many lawyers have been hired” to deal with the investigations? “How many law firms?” “When did you hear about the cowboys or cowgirls?”

Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr responded by saying, “…not to my knowledge —not to my staff knowledge…” to Nolan’s question about a subversive group in his department. Both Chief Stehr and Burbank City Attorney’s Juli Scott attempted to assure Nolan that the information he requested was being gathered. Attorney Scott told Nolan he would probably get the information “… before next Tuesday’s” meeting of the city council.

Next, the commission elected new officers. Only five of seven commissioners were present: Robert Frutos, Hagop Hergelian, Claudia Bonis, Elise Stearns-Niesen, and James Etter. The Burbank City council has not appointed a replacement for Brady. Nathan Rubinfeld was absent, however, that did not stop his fellow commissioners from electing him vice-chairman. An odd decision, since Rubinfeld was not there to either accept nor reject the nomination for office. Also, Stearns-Niesen was elected secretary and Frutos chairman.

It appears the police commission and the police department have heard public concerns about the effectiveness of this board. There was quite a bit of discussion about the duties of the commission and how to stay connected with Burbank residents. Attorney Scott handed out memos on meeting procedures and an overview of the California Brown Act, which requires local government bodies, boards, and commissions to hold open public meetings. Also, Stearns-Niesen introduced a motion to request the city council to change the commission’s quarterly meetings to monthly. That motion passed four-to-one with only Bonis voting against it.

Also, Chief Stehr and members of his staff gave reports on crime statistics, budget, and recent activities in the police department. The most disheartening was an update on the Kitty Pants caper. Stehr reported that the latest efforts to get the adoptive family to give Kitty Pants back to its original owners, Amy and Jim Roach, have failed. So it looks like Kitty Pants will not be coming home any time soon.

Photo: Jason Reed/Reuters

More hard hitting questions today for U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. The Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings for the New York federal appeals judge kicked off yesterday.  At the hearing, senators have called upon Sotomayor to express her views on a number of controversial issues, including abortion, gun rights, and race.

Today, Sotomayor was quizzed on a statement made in a 2001 speech, in which she said “a wise Latina” might make a better legal decision than a white male. Sotomayor explained she was trying to be encouraging to Hispanics and women when she made that remark. Some Republicans have leaped on the comment as racist. “I do not believe that any ethnic, racial or gender group has an advantage in sound judgment,” Sotomayor explained.

This morning, President Obama sent out a glowing e-mail about Sotomayor and her appearance before the senate committee: “In Judge Sotomayor, our nation will have a Justice who will never forget her humble beginnings, will always apply the rule of law, and will be a protector of the Constitution that made her American dream and the dreams of millions of others possible. As she said so clearly yesterday, Judge Sotomayor’s decisions on the bench ‘have been made not to serve the interests of any one litigant, but always to serve the larger interest of impartial justice.’ ”

If confirmed, Sotomayor would become the U.S. Supreme Court’s first Hispanic and only its third female justice.