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Fronnie Lewis - Editor

Archive | Politics and Issues

Several local candidates already campaigning for election in 2024

By on Tuesday, February 28, 2023

2023 is only a few weeks old, but several local candidates are out of the gate and campaigning for election in 2024. One of the most watched races locally, statewide, and nationally is the replacement for retiring California Senator, Dianne Feinstein. The 89-year old political pioneer made the long-anticipated announcement that she would not run for re-election earlier this month. Feinstein, first elected in 1992, is the longest serving female U.S. senator in history. She is now the oldest sitting U.S. senator and for years pushed back on pressure... Read More →

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Burbank City Council bids farewell to members Springer and Frutos

By on Friday, January 6, 2023

The Burbank City Council’s send off for Council Members Sharon Springer and Bob Frutos was not typical. Usually, outgoing members say their goodbyes during the council reorganization meeting. Surprisingly, both Springer and Frutos declared they had prior commitments and would be skipping the December 19 reorganization meeting. So the December 13 council meeting became the last for both Springer and Frutos. It is worth a look back at some of the events of that meeting. During the first public comment section, State Senator Anthony Portantino praised Springer and Frutos for... Read More →

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Changing of the Guard at Burbank City Hall

By on Saturday, December 17, 2022

Burbank is preparing for the changing of the guard in leadership at City Hall. Five newly elected officials will be sworn in Monday, December 19 and all but one will be serving a first term.   The Burbank City Council voted unanimously to accept the final results of the November 8 General Municipal Election at its meeting last Tuesday. Those election results were certified by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan on Friday, December 5. There are 69,775 registered Burbank voters, according to the Los Angeles... Read More →

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Outgoing Burbank City Councilmember Bob Frutos gives thanks

By on Sunday, November 20, 2022

A Heartfelt Thank you. Thanksgiving is around the corner and I hope this year you can all enjoy safe and happy holidays together with family and friends. I would like to thank all of you as this will be my last year serving on the Burbank City Council. I am grateful for all of you who have supported me with your vote. It has been an incredible honor to have served two terms as Mayor in this city I have called home for over 30 years. One of the best things... Read More →

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Historic Burbank City Council race is down to the wire

By on Sunday, November 6, 2022

The race is in the home stretch for three seats on the Burbank City Council. The five candidates on the November 8 ballot are all women for the first time. Historic for the Media City. The development stirs excitement among some and a bit of anxiety for others over what a female majority on the city council will mean. Since there is no precedent… we will just have to wait and see what happens. Incumbent, Sharon Springer, is the only candidate with council experience. Springer is campaigning for a second... Read More →

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Three candidates vying for Burbank City Clerk in November 8 Election 2022

By on Thursday, November 3, 2022

For the first time in a decade, Burbank is getting a new City Clerk. Voters will decide who that will be in the upcoming November 8 election. The position opened up when City Clerk, Zizette Mullins, decided not to run for re-election but for a seat on the city council instead. The City Clerk is a vital position at Burbank City Hall. Above all, the City Clerk’s Office is responsible for informing the public about official actions in city government.  The City Clerk’s Office handles many other duties including voter outreach,... Read More →

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City of Burbank announces interim police chief

By on Tuesday, June 8, 2021

City of Burbank announces new interim police chief. City Manager, Justin Hess, selected Deputy Police Chief, Michael Albanese , for the job, according to a new release put out last Friday, June 4. The move follows the decision by Police Chief, Scott LaChasse, to retire next month. Albanese joined the department in 2010 as patrol captain. In 2015, he moved up to deputy chief. Albanese has more than 40 years in law enforcement and is eager to take on more responsibilities. “I am very proud of the... Read More →

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Police Chief Scott LaChasse photo courtesy City of Burbank

Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse stepping down

By on Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Burbank Police Chief, Scott LaChasse, stepping down after 11 1/2 years on the job. LaChasse is retiring next month. The announcement appeared in a news release from the City of Burbank put out on Thursday, May 27. The police chief’s departure has been floating around in the rumor mill for some time, but now it’s official. Law Enforcement and Security Career LaChasse began his career in law enforcement at the LAPD in March of 1970. He retired as Deputy Chief after 32 years. LaChasse worked in private sector security... Read More →

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A special new year message from Burbank Council member Nick Schultz

By on Saturday, January 2, 2021

Letter to the Editor: Happy New Year Burbank!  I know it goes without saying, but 2020 was a very difficult year for our community.  However, today we have awoken to a bright new day.  A new year brings with it a fresh start and new opportunities.  While we will continue to face many of the same challenges that were before our community last year, I believe that a new year requires new priorities from our local government to address these issues.  Moreover, I am optimistic that 2021 will be a... Read More →

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Final results for Burbank Gen Municipal Election 2020

By on Saturday, December 12, 2020

The final results for the Burbank General Municipal Election 2020 are in. The County of Los Angeles certified the election on November 30. Meanwhile, the City of Burbank did so last Tuesday, November 8. The winners did not change since the release of the early tallies shortly after the election. However, the number of Burbank ballots rose to an incredible 59,034. That amounts to 80 percent of the registered voters. 73, 0444 in the Media City. Pretty impressive. Voter registration and election participation are at the highest point ever. “I... Read More →

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Big turnout nets surprises in Burbank Gen. Election 2020

By on Friday, November 13, 2020

Burbank voters cast their ballots for local candidates and Measure RC in big numbers in the General Municipal Election on November 3. As of October 19, 2020, 73, 044 Burbank residents were registered to vote. So far, around 58,000 Burbank ballots have been processed. However, The ballots are still being counted by The Los Angeles County Registrar/County Clerk, but the numbers are already showing some surprises. Voters opt for change in city council race In the city council race, voters overwhelmingly picked change. Konstantine Anthony and Nick Schultz... Read More →

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Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win the White House race

By on Monday, November 9, 2020

President-Elect, Joe Biden, and Vice President-Elect, Kamala Harris, are moving ahead with the transition, after winning a hard- fought battle for the White House. Last Saturday, the Associate Press was the first to call the race for Biden and Harris. Other media outlets quickly followed. The Associate Press reported Biden secured the 20 electoral votes of his home state of Pennsylvania, which put him over the 270 threshold needed to win the presidency. Biden will now become the 46th President of the United States. While Kamala Harris will... Read More →

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Three seats for the Burbank school board on the ballot

By on Monday, October 26, 2020

Three incumbents on the Burbank Board of Education are facing a tough challenger in the November General Election. There are three school board seats up for election on the Burbank ballot. Running for re-election are Dr. Armond Aghakhanian, Steve Ferguson, and Roberta Reynolds. The challenger is an experienced middle school teacher with a doctorate in education, Emily Weisberg. In a recent candidates forum, Weisberg held her own against the incumbents. During the forum, the candidates were quizzed on a variety of subjects. Among the topics funding,... Read More →

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Three contenders vying for Burbank Treasurer

By on Monday, October 26, 2020

Current Burbank City Treasurer, Krystle Palmer, is facing two challengers in the November General Municipal Election. The Burbank City Council appointed Palmer as treasurer back in August 2019. Palmer took over for Debbie Kukta who left to become the assistant superintendent of administrative services for the Burbank Unified School District. The candidates are competing to see who will finish out the two years remaining on Kukta’s term. Palmer’s challengers are Darin Shea, local businessman and investor, and Lindsey Francois, product development engineer. All three candidates have statements in the official... Read More →

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Intense battle for two seats on Burbank City Council

By on Monday, October 26, 2020

Eight candidates are battling it out for two seats on the Burbank City Council. In the final days of the 2020 campaign, the candidates are utilizing a variety of strategies to win support from the voters. Who are the 8 city council candidates? A good launching point to check out the council candidates is the Burbank City website. Under the departments’ drop down go to City Clerk’s Office. Then onto the Elections Page and the 2020 Candidate Information tab. The candidates are listed here in ballot order.... Read More →

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Rent control to be on the November ballot in Burbank

By on Monday, August 10, 2020

A controversial rent control ordinance is headed for the November 3 General Election ballot in Burbank. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the Burbank City Council last Friday, August 7, voted unanimously to let the voters decide the future of rent control. The council members took this action grudgingly, while complaining of dire consequences if the measure passes. City officials and the city council members have actively opposed rent control and plotted to try to stamp it out. They mounted two legal actions to try to keep the... Read More →

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Burbank city council race 2020 off to a fast start

By on Friday, August 7, 2020

Some candidates for the Burbank City Council are off to a fast start. Yard signs are popping up. And fundraising is in full swing. Officially the race for two seats on the council began on May 3, 2020, when potential candidates were allowed to begin fundraising. Next, the nomination period opened on July 13, 2020 and is scheduled to close today, August 7. However, candidates wanting to submit nomination papers for the city council race will have an extra few days. That is because incumbent City Council Member, Emily Gabel-Luddy,... Read More →

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Police Chief Scott LaChasse photo courtesy City of Burbank

A call for Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse to resign

By on Wednesday, September 19, 2018

A call for Burbank Police Chief, Scott LaChasse, to resign. It comes from Burbank Police Commissioner and Attorney, David Diamond. I have met with Diamond after receiving emails from him about his decision.  Diamond is adamant that the Chief should step down for a number reasons. Diamond is serving his first term on the Burbank Police Commission. He was appointed to the commission by the city council in 2015. Diamond was selected as chair twice by his fellow commissioners and now holds the position of vice-chair. On the personal... Read More →

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