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.
They voted alright, and here is the clip of the vote, take a look at Councilman Golonski and that lone vote he casts. He sure likes to be the lone vote against the majority these days and makes a poop face when he is out there being his lil devisive self.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrzt5Z9dQ7U&feature=channel_page
It will be fun to watch just how Golonski tries to make the guys life so miserable he has to go since that’s what he does when he doesn’t get his way.
This commissioner has his work cut out for him. It will be entertaining to see if the police commission does anything about all the corruption and nepotism…doubt it.
The thing that is really entertaining is watching these council members go on and on as if nothing is wrong in Burbank, now that’s amusing for sure.
Either this mayor is oblivious to reality or he is so dumb he can’t see the empie crumble right infront of his eyes, but whatever the case is I have heard so much about these council members from people I started watching the meetings on line and I will admit it they are like a comedy show.
My personal faves are all the high priced experts that never know anything no matter what is asked or who asks it and most of the group of so called leaders all nod and say thank you for that excellent report.
If you have not been watching it goes something like this.
Mayor : If I see where you are coming from you want us to hand you 40 million dollar to plant flowers and what kind of flowers are you planting.
Staff: Hello Mr Mayor I am Tom Jones professional and certifed plant specialist with the City of Burbank Plant department. We don’t know what flowers we will plant.
Mayor: Do we know how long it will take to plant the flowers and when they will bloom.
Staff: No Mr Mayor we have no idea how to even plant the flowers or when they will bloom.
Mayor: Thank you Mr Jones for your excellent report and I am sure the citizens will be very happy with these flowers now that you explained it all to us.
It’s a commedy show and nothing more.
It really is this bad, the names here have been changed to protect the innocent as they like to say, but the truth is the the truth and we have a lot of staff that knows nothing about anything.
This has got to be one of the best articles every written on Councilman Dave Golonski ever, if only the Burbank Leader would write the truth about this guy someday. Here it is make sure to read it
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/dave-golonski-asshole/
The reason these legal problems will cost the city so much is the circus that we call city government. It starts with a corrupt city attorney, then an inept city manager, and then out of touch council members, led by an admitted drunk.
Does anybody think a police commssion that has never done anything is going to fix the problems.
If you read the meeting minutes there are more pending lawsuits! It is never going to stop until we are all bankrupt!!!
No the police commission won’t do anything to correct any problems, and the reason why is that they have no power to do anything at all.
For a Police Commission that no one even knew existed to suddenly start doing something is wishing for a miracle.
There is that saying, if you’re not part of the solution your part of the problem. This commission, this city attorney and this council has more than proven that they are part of the problem.
From this past weeks meeting of the Burbank City Council, absolute proof they have to much money to spend and how they waste most of it! Here are your tax dollars in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElmUpGO4N-o
Oh Yea they waste tons of money on just plain ignorant stuff 4 sure.
Have you driven down Glenoaks lately ? They are ripping out the handicap ramps at every corner. Never mind those are so new they even look new and make the sidewalks look pathetic because the sidewalks are ancient and older than most Burbank residents – we are ripping them out and sending tons of good concrete off to recycle.
Why you ask ?
A friend told me she asked why and was told when they spent millions putting in the ones that are there – they did it wrong. So now the taxpayers spend millions by the time it’s riped out, hauled off for recycle, and new concrete is hauled in to replace it.
Think about all the polution created by their mistake. These are the same people that call everything sustainable but they forget everything they do just makes more polution. What do you want to bet the good concrete is hauled away in diesel burning trucks and then recycled with machinery that creates even more polution ? Don’t forget the traffic jam this has created and the fuel burning away while it takes you 20 minutes to get through just one block.
They do create lots of jobs with all their mistakes but they create lots of polution as well that’s for sure.
Everyone,
I’m willing to give the Burbank Police Commission a chance to step up. Recently, I’ve heard some of the commissioners express interest in hearing concerns from the community.
Also, I get the impression some of the members want the commission to be more active than it has been in the past. I think that is a good idea. Still, we’ll just have to wait and see if this is more than just talk.
Pissed Off,
Humm, that’s really interesting about the city replacing the handicap ramps on Glenoaks Boulevard. Ya gotta wonder how much that project is costing.
Fronnie –
Both agree and disagree with that assesment.
Here are the facts. Outside investigations of Burbank and many, many lawsuits and the talk all over town is that there are many, many more lawsuits on the way.
Given the current circumstances the police commission and commissioners must be ready to hit the ground running. The time to play let’s think about it is over and now is the time to act.
Personally I believe we give them enough chance to make it to their first meeting with a full body of commissioners in September and if they do nothing they should be publicly embarassed and disolved as a body.
I believe this because as I said the time to play wait and see is long gone and anyone who fails to understand that is actually counter productive in correcting the problems. It now up to the commission to show us they understand and are ready to act it is not up to us to give them a year or even three months to think about it, the costs for that are just to high now.
I say wait and see util September, they act or fail to act at that meeting and if they fail they must be disolved and done away with. They are now in a high stakes game and we simply can’t afford to pamper them any longer period.
Lifer,
I concur. Talk is easy and cheap, blah blah some commissioners have talked about or thought about is not good enough any more we need ro see talk turn to action and we need to see it fast.
While they talk things continue and the costs to that rise no way do we owe some patient understanding to their feelings and end up paying millions for their inaction.
Burbank Lifer,
I hear what you’re saying. The situation with all the lawsuits and problems swirling around the Burbank Police Department really put the heat on the police commission. Hopefully, the commissioners realize they need to get a move on if they want to have some impact.
Fronnie I would not say hoepfully, I would say they do or they are out of a job. We don’t need one more group inflated with their self importance sitting thinking they look pretty we need action.
I share that view about the police commissioners.
They don’t serve us they are there to feel important for themselves. This they proved to me already so it’s all on them to prove they have become something else. If they prove it I might consider them significant but right now I chose to ignore them as the worthless lot they haven proven themselves to be.
Tim R,
Indeed, we need to see some action!
Without saying the asked to meet more often recently can anyone cite even one significant contribution the police commissioners made to the city in the last year ?
Since I didn’t know there was a police commission there is no way they ever did anything because if they had people would have known they exist. They did nothing in the last 10 years probably.
This is just disgusting and those people should get fired
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElmUpGO4N-o
Do you want to know why the police commission won’t do anything? I will tell you.
The new commissioner Ray Ray Adams is on a realestate board with Cusamano. The Cusamanos regularly have Chief Tim Stehr over for supper. In fact, the chief’s son used to work for Cusamano.
The Chief is in charge of the police commission. It is the same old nepotism at work. Nothing will happen folks…wake up cause the fix is in!
Oh and I almost forgot. Juli Scott, Burbank’s chief legal council to Tim Stehr, her husband Mr. Scott is a city attorney for Glendale. Makes for interesting dinner conversation.
Anyway, Mr. Scott likes to get paid off duty to speak at training seminars organized by Burbank PD’s own Lt Eric Rosoff, whose wife is assistant to Juli Scott. Im confused! The bad part is…Lt Rosoff and Mr Scott use city of Burbank facilities to hold these functions! The tax payers don’t see a dime of the thousands of dollars raked in on these training seminars. Say it ain’t so!!!
Oh yeah…and coincidentally, if you look at the legal billing that was given to Mike Nolan at the council meeting. Thousands of dollars have been paid to an attorney named Kristen Peltier. Oddly enough, she also is paid to speak at these training functions. On top of that, she is the lead attorney now representing the city in the police scandal defense involving none other than Lt Rosoff.
Where in the hell did we get these people?!!!
Pissed Off,
I got an explanation on the handicap ramp issue from Councilman Dave Golonski last night. Yes, he visits this blog. Other city council members and city officials checked out this blog as well — especially the comments.
Anyway, Golonski provided me with information that indicates the ramps on Glenoaks are being replaced or modified, not because of a mistake by the city, but to comply with new federal standards.
Everyone,
By the way, if you have questions about a city project or anything about Burbank, you can e-mail city council members directly or Bob Kramer the Community Assistance Coordinator. Their e-mail links are on this page of the Burbank website http://www.ci.burbank.ca.us/council/index.htm
Hey Fronnie,
Nice try from Councilman Dave Golonski. What I said was my friend told me that when they put it in they did it wrong (not to mention someone in the city gave him that answer) which is why we are now creating tons of waste (and pollution) to rip out what is in perfect condition.
Replaced or modified ? Ripping something out and hauling it away is a modification ? It sure looks to me like complete destruction.
New Federal Standards, how new are the standards ? What year were they put in place and what year did we pay for the new handicap ramps that are there now ?
If you take a walk and look what you will see is what I see – brand new concrete being riped out while old broken up curb and sidewalk sits there untouched. That is the same thing they did a few years back when they put in those new ramps that don’t meet the new standards today.
Either we built them to the standards a few years back or we did not. If we did those standards were a federal mistake if they changed them so soon. If we didn’t it was a city mistake for not meeting the standards, but either way it is one costly and poluting mistake.
You don’t help the environment by tearing out new things that still have a life to them, it’s wastefull and all the polution created by riping it out and making it new is obscene. I think Councilman Golonski needs to think about the environment and not all his excuses because there is no excuse for riping out perfectly good concrete just for the sake of doing it.
Hi
This is really funny because I did look at the contact page when it was Vice Mayor Golonski and Mayor Ramos. I sent them both an email and while I received an answer back from Mayor Ramos, Vice Mayor Golonski never replied to my email at all. Mayor Ramos replied by sending my email to someone else who never got back to me at all so I just took care of the issue myself. They are not really very helpfull at all in my experience.
I have a comment on the construction they are doing on Glenoaks Blvd.
Its shocking to see that they are tearing out the ramps there when so many streets in Burbank have never even had any ramps yet. Does this mean that all the ramps that were put everywhere were done wrong and now all have to be replaced ? If it does that will mean never in our lifetime will we ever see these ramps at every corner in town.
Its not shocking to me to see waste on Glenoaks Blvd, there is waste all over the city and that’s why the economic outlook for all of us is beyond bleak. Face it they waste and we pay for it.
Golonski and his buddies need to stop the spending like the rest of us have had to do and face the reality we can’y afford their wastefullness any more.
I figured they had to tear out the corners to replace them with plastic like they did the grass at the high school.
Pissed off & Elm,
The city of Burbank is getting federal funds for the street improvement project on Glenoaks. A condition for getting the federal dollars, the city must meet all “current” standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Public Works Director Bonnie Teaford has been answering questions from citizens about the project on Glenoaks. Why don’t you contact her for answers to your questions? Teaford’s contact info is on this page of the Burbank website http://www.ci.burbank.ca.us/officials/index.htm
Federal standards change. The facts are the facts.
“Federal Standards change, The facts are the facts.”
While this may be true to some extent it fails to answer the question.
When did they change ?
Did this cememt work meet the standards when it was put in or did it not ?
Here is one answer that came right from city hall as an answer to these questions via email:
“The perfectly good ramps that are not very old may have a slight lip or some other feature that is no longer allowed and the grant provisions require that they be reworked”
What is up with the ‘lip’, was that an error or was a ‘lip’ required when they were put in. One neighbor told me this is actually the third time now for this concrete to get corrected.
Whether some standard changed or didn’t change the fact remains, perfectly good concrete torn out and we are paying for it.
Looking at that Police Headquarters simply don’t accept the simple answer ‘oh federal requirements require it’, that answer doesn’t tell us why, and people are asking why and all getting different answers. Try asking people on the crew, they told me the things were done wrong and are a hazard because of some elevation thing that causes people to fall.
Sometimes officials don’t really give us the true facts and I am very suspicious on this one.
I am going to go look at any of those things that are still there to see if I can find a lip on them or something. Good idea I will ask members of the crew what is wrong with those things, they do the work and probably know more than office staff does about it.
The grant money for the project …. hmmm please, please, don’t tell me that stimulus money is being well spent by wasting good concrete when other things are in real need of replacement.
Johnny,
I really don’t know what a “lip” is? Why not ask for an explanation from Bonnie Teaford? You can gather facts and opinions from a number of sources, from the working crew to neighbors and city officials. Then make up your own mind.
My understanding is that no matter how the ramps were constructed in the past, in order for the city to get more than a million bucks in federal funds, those ramps have to meet “current” federal standards.
and from a news article ;;;;;
The economic plan will inject a sudden boost of cash into transportation, education, energy and health care. Beyond new spending, it aims to aid people through a package of tax cuts, extended unemployment benefits and short-term health insurance help. The cost will be added to a growing budget deficit.
Obama said government leaders have asked for the “unprecedented trust of the American people.”
“With that comes unprecedented obligations to spend that money wisely, free from politics and free from personal agendas,” he said.
The president did not specify how, exactly, he would call out one of his own agencies or a local government about wasteful projects.
Oh my gosh !
If I have this correct we remove the ramps and we get one million dollars what a deal!
It more than likely will cost more than a million dollars to remove them, they have been working on it already 5 days a week for a month and they are not even finished with it yet.
I fear this is stimulus money, what a waste.
Honestly people I don’t need to ask any questions of anybody, I walk the street every evening for my exercise and I know waste when I see it. I also know who is paying for it. ME!
Stretch
The training seminars you talked about, who goes to those and who pays for going ? Do you mean the city pays for employees to go and that’s why they get to use city buildings for free ?
Danny,
I wish it were at least a little legit. I found this stuff on the internet and did some checking. The training seminars are private legal consulting for outside Fire Chiefs…not even police stuff. NOT SUPPOSED TO USE CITY FACILITIES! Can you use city facilities for your off duty business?
Another scam on the taxpayers and a major conflict of interest. Its an example of how these people all pat each other on the back with cash in hand.
Stretch,
There is advertising on the internet for seminars that take place in our city buildings ? Please share the link for this. I would like to see what this is all about because I never heard anything about this before and it’s not that I don’t believe you if there is information I would really like to see it.
Thanks for bringing this up. I mean that sincerely.
Here it is…I found it when I started digging into some of the nepotistic associations with the city officials. Especially, the city attorney’s office, who seems to be running this city.
http://www.careersurvivalgroup.com/aboutus.asp
The attorney Kristin Pelletier is one of the high priced attorneys handling the police scandal right now. Scott Howard is obviously Juli Scott’s husband and Glendale city attorney. He must have received compensation from speaking at this event held in a Burbank facility.
And of course Eric Rosoff, long time Burbank boy with a questionable past. Some people knew him back in the day when he wasn’t on the side of the law. Aparently, he is one of the owners of this training company. His wife is Juli Scott’s assistant and has been seen at some of the legal proceedings. Juli is her daughter’s godmother!
I remembered one of the Daily News blogs about the lawsuits had a girl came forward and said she was beaten by a officer named Pat Lynch. She also said the chief covered it up. The HOUSE where the beating occurred was rented by Eric Rosoff.
These are the people running this city…they are all in it together. If the city council is not invloved or knows about this stuff…why are they allowing the same people to handle taxpayer funded defenses for these guys.
Looking at that link and the client list and who works together how are these attorneys able to have business connections to the city and to the individuals who they have as clients ? Isn’t that a real conflict of interest that’s not allowed ? I thought attorneys couldn’t work on something if they have other interests with the same people. Am I wrong or is that true ?
Jay,
There is so much evidence of conflict that I have found. Everybody has a relationship to some degree. This is an incestral problem in our city government and the reason why we are going to pay out millions of dollars when the real scandalous stuff gets out.
The chief of police, who is the subject of all the lawsuits, (3 more pending), uses Juli Scott’s Mammoth condo for vacation. You think she is going to let him go to jail?
Stretch,
Good work. You’ve been digging and your research has paid off. You’ve found some very disturbing activities in Burbank and some curious connections among some of its major players.
Just this week we were all reminded to keep things quite and make silent contact with any questions or problems during the city council broadcast. Here it is for everyone who missed it or forgot about it. It’s the party line, keep the questions and problems SECRET.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcYKi_p-buI&feature=channel
BF
Watching that he looks like he is desperately trying to discourage the public from bringing things directly to the council members.
Why does he say things are not policy issues anyway, everything the City does is due to some policy isn’t it ?
BF, nice video. I think I will call Bob Kramer and tell him the lights are on at the city council meetings, but nobody is home.
I love it…don’t bother us in public because we can’t answer any questions that might be embarrassing.
Hey Fronnie, the next time you talk to Golonski can you tell him my head is about to explode!!!!
You want to know how bad things are…check out the BPD website. The picture of the two officers next to the mission statement section…they both have lawsuits!
http://www.ci.burbank.ca.us/police/
I am not kidding!
Gave the link to the Burbank Police Department web site a check out and where is the information about the Police Commission on that site or does the Police Commission have its own site ?
That’s sad they have officers who are gone and suing the city pictured there but maybe there isn’t anybody left to get a picture of to update it or something ?
BF
That video pretty much says it all, if they could pass a law to keep people from talking to each other I really believe they would. Who is that guy talking in the video anyway ?
Stretch,
Councilman Golonski is probably reading your comments today — so I don’t think I have to tell him how you feel.
By the way, do you know which Burbank city facilities were used for those training seminars by that Career Survival Group?
My question is if the people at the career survival group work for Burbank and Glendale why does anyone need to pay them for some seminar to find out what they know when they already work for us anyway ? It says the Burbank Fired Department is a customer but they work for the city why would the Fire Department have to pay to find out what they know ? I don’t get it.
Hey
I love the video BF it shows just how they hide the problems and the waste. Sorry but ripping out good concerete is a waste no matter who made the mistake and if it was not a mistake then the mistake is ripping it out for whatever the reason is. I should write a report about what a waste it is ripping out good concrete.
These people want to make it illegal to use a plastic bag yet they create tons of pollution to tear our perfectly good concrete ? Oh I forgot they get a million if they do it. Maybe if we all pitched in and got a million together we could get them to do a few things for the citizens of Burbank ?
The more I find out what is happening in Burbank the more I think these councilmembers really don’t know very much about anything.
It’s hard for me to just believe they are all total crooks so I lean toward believeing that they are just so dumb they don’t understand things at all.
In this economy they should have one theme and it’s don’t waste money. Reading about the cement work on Glenoaks its a clear waste of money and showing off a report that says you win one million if you do it is just pathetic.
You know there were reports about how strong Enron was right up to the day it collapsed, so much for reports.
Honestly I don’t know much about what this cement work is on Glenoaks but I did get a chuckle that the city wrote a report assuring everyone it’s on the up and up.
Come on now, just because the city writes a report does not mean what they write is even true.
Don’t forget that just before the lawsuits started they had a report that suposedly investigated and found everything to be perfect in our Police Department.
Here’s a suggestion for the day.
Call Chief Stehr and ask if everything is operating well at the department.
What do you want to be he will say everything is perfect ?
Here’s a link to a city report from a few years back, it talks about the Police Department and the Police Commission. It concludes by telling us there are no problems, maybe they should rethink this report given recent events ?
ci.burbank.ca.us/CharterReview/PoliceOversightMemoFromChiefHoefel.pdf
http://www.ci.burbank.ca.us/CharterReview/PoliceOversightMemoFromChiefHoefel.pdf
Ryna very interesting document. What really hits me is the police chief says that the commission has ‘some failry broad powers’ yet we keep hearing this excuse they have no powers. So which is it ?
Also I didn’t know we have a commission because of past corruption in the city. That’s reason right there for the commission to be taking action
Fronnie,
I just verified that some of the seminars for the CSG were at the Burbank Fire Training center. It appears that Mr. Rosoff and his helpers (other officers)used Burbank City “intellectual property” and tweeked it into a money maker. As it turns out his wife Linda, takes the money at the events, and none other than Tim Stehr gives opening statements. The kicker is Rosoff did this probably on taxpayer time.
I am checking for more but really is something going to be done about it? The police are crying corruption and nobody is listening, so who is going to care about another incident of misconduct.
I mean think about it. I remember another blogger or yours reported that Reinke’s daughter was appointed by Mike Flad (Management Services Position) A position Reinke herself voted to create. I wish I could create jobs for my kids…especailly on the taxpayers dime. Was anything done about that clear conflict of interest?
Stretch
I can’t speak for anyone else but I am just learning about all of this and I really am shocked.
I kind of liked Reinke but if that is true I can learn to dislike her very quickly. Are you saying she hired her daughter ? What does her daughter do working for Burbank ? This stuff is all increadable.
You also said Golonski reads your blog…well Mr councilman…
Dear Goloski and others, In the past I have not been too involved in local politics, but now that every dollar counts, I worry about what is going on down there at city hall. If you continue to sit idle, while employees of the city lie, particpate in misconduct, use facilities, create nepotistic jobs, commit crime, call people racist names then YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!!!
You won’t be able to blame Stehr, Barlow or anybody but yourself. We are all watching…
Jake F,
Her daughter was appointed to a Management Services Position…just contact this department and ask them. Then review the council meeting when Mom voted for the creation of the position.
Ryan, nice link. I like this part of the report.
“There is no public outcry. Almost without exception, civilian oversight of citizen complaints in other cities has been instituted because of integrity problems within a police department. In the case of the
Burbank Police Department, there is no public outcry regarding police practices, and there has not been an incident to question the integrity of the Department or its review of complaints. Employees are held accountable for their actions, and appropriate action
is swiftly taken when conduct does not meet expectations.”
What the HE double hockey sticks!
Does anyone have a link to the council meeting where Reinke allegedly voted to create a position that her daughter was hired into, or the date? I can’t find it- nor the official minutes.
How much time elapsed between the job creation and the hiring?– there could be a common law conflict of interest here, depending. It’s not necessarily automatic.
BTW, I get a big kick at the idea that Rosoff has a company called ‘Career Survival” anything. He better assign himself some extra credit.
As to a conflict there, these seminars bring in outside people. I think the only legal problem they might have is through the use of facilities or if the city is paying THEM for the seminars, in lieu of other resources. I can’t believe they would be that stupid to do so, though. But then, the idea of someone collecting money at the door is tacky enough, so who knows?
About the Glenoaks ramps– the city didn’t spend much money to put the old ones in– they contracted out the deal en-masse to a guy who had a few employees– they did it cheap.
It was all pretty amateur time, though, because in my neighborhood they kept coming back and re-changing the sizes before they started. So it’s not surprising the standards could be a little off– they went around and worked from chalked outlines done by guestimation a few weeks before, really mickey-mouse.
I’m working on a piece about Rosoff and his early history in the BPD, by the way…
Stretch,
The Burbank Fire Training Center is what I suspected. Thanks for the info. Oh, I have not blogged about Council member Reinke’s daughter getting a city job, but I have heard about it. Not a wise move from what can tell.
Jim Carlile,
From what you just said about the chalk lines and guestimating how to build those ramps it sounds like what they did was hire someone not due to qualifications but because they were friends or relatives. Doing something on teh cheap when you look at how much the city pays for everything they do really doesn’t wash because nothing they do is ever cheap in price but so often cheap in quality control.
Not sure about conflicts at all from that survival business venture and here is why.
If they work together, and bill cities for their seminars together and then the city hires one of them to defend the other ones that sounds a lot like there could be more than a few conflicts of interest.
So here is the question I think. Were the council members told that there was this business relationship between the attorney they hired and the people they hired the attorney to represent ?
Wouldn’t you guess that if they were not told that there is some fraud involved ?
Stretch
Glad you liked the link. I found it and got a lot of laughs reading it. I actually read it a while back but what with talk here that a certain city official thinks we should all read and trust these reports as accurate and beyond reproach on the cement issue I felt it was time to let everyone see this one. Kinda of amasing how pages and pages can be generated to assure us there are no problems when nothing seems to be running properly at all. That report reminds me of the crooked mechanic that tells you no problem with the work he just did and then your car blows up on the freeway.
Dear Goloski and others, In the past I have not been too involved in local politics, but now that every dollar counts, I worry about what is going on down there at city hall. If you continue to sit idle, while employees of the city lie, particpate in misconduct, use facilities, create nepotistic jobs, commit crime, call people racist names then YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!!!
I AGREE, I AGREE, I AGREE!
Did everyone read this in today’s Burbank Leader ?
“Councilman Dave Golonski said despite the city’s best efforts, the reality is that the federal stimulus program, with all of its intricacies, could be described as dozens of small programs.
“I think that recognizing the economic times we’re in now, that this is a smart investment,” Golonski said. “It may or may not pay out for us, but I think we lessen the likelihood that we miss out on a funding opportunity that otherwise we may have been able to take advantage of.”
More Bull from the guy who rips out perfectly good concrete just to get his hands on some cash ? Don’t forget Mr Councilman we are borrowing this money you are ready to waste and will be strapped paying it back long after you are gone. Keep looking for ways to waste the money and dirive us deeper in debt and think about how happy your kids will be paying it all back with interest.
Reading the Burbank Leader is a lot like taking a trip into wonderland. The editorials make my blood pressure rise and the comments of our council make me see red.
Why do we need a new library in the first place ? Is it just to move ahead with plans from years gone by to complete some downtown plan ?
Beautification of Olive Ave, now there is one on the top of the charts during bad economic times. At least when all the buildings are vacant it will be beautiful.
Jess Talamantes tells us we have to spend money to make money — ok how about spending money wisely and not just spending it like a young thing that married an old man with money ?
Then there is water. Sorry Burbank Leader but before I take your editorials seriously I expect to read you demanding a halt to all new construction and a law eliminating outdoor landscaping all together. If there is a real serious shortage of water the first thing you do is stop additional demand and cut out the plants. If you are unwilling to do that give me a break you are not telling us the truth.
I used to shop at the Empire Plaza, but now traffic is impossible because they are building this enormous thing at the corner of Buena Vista and Empire. You sure don’t read the Burbank Leader’s outrage at all that additional water use, but hey I gave up on that traffic jam and shop outside of Burbank. Amazing I can even find parking when I leave here so what’s wrong with this picture.
I don’t read the Leader. They don’t report anything that isn’t spun into “everything is great” in Burbank.
For instance, it’s amazing what I have found out since I have been checkin into this Erica Reinke nepotism job. I talked to a employee that gave me some interesting info about Erica Reinke’s boss, Judi Wilkie.
I was told that when Judi Wilkie was Judi Sarquez, Mike Flad (assistant city manger at the time) was having an affair with her. Apparently, everyone knew about it. It got so bad that Mary Alvert (city manager) told them to stop it.
Normally, I don’t care about people’s sex life. But recently the Govener of South Carolina was persecuted in the media for his “poor judgment and character” for his affair. Does this poor judgment apply here?
I then remember reading in an old Blog entry about Mike Flad having an affair with one of the clerks in the city council meetings! This source verified it and says everyone knows about this one too.
What the heck is going on down there. Mike Flad makes over $18,000 a month (according to council minutes) of tax payer money. It makes sense he is the one telling people in the last meeting to keep questions quiet and call Bob’s hotline.
Oh, speakiing of BOB KRAMER ex mayor. First of all I like Bob, he is a nice guy. But I found out he created the 70,000 a year job that he now holds. Weird hugh?
IS THIS NOT AGAIN MORE CONFLICT OF INTEREST??!!
and to Stretch, Why am I not surprised ?
Keep sharing what you discover about our leaders, after all we all know they are about more than beautification of this or that, it’s rather obvious.
The city manager is paid 18,000.00 a month ? How can Burbank even afford that salary ? We really pay these people way too much money, how many average Burbank Residents make that much in a month ?
The newpaper should publish how much all the city workers get paid, everyone struggles to survive and they make a fortune ? No wonder they keep raising all the taxes in Burbank!
Even is he is good 18,000 a month is too much money.
The city of Burbank needs oversight. Right now they oversee themselves and this is why all the questionable deals get made. If no one oversees them they are able to do just about anything they want, no questions asked.
Burbank needs a complete over haul and power needs to be returned to the citizens here.
If its true that Councilwoman Reinke voted for a job that she then got for her daughter she should be forced to resign from the council period.
Resident
I stopped shopping in Burbank a few months back. So join the growing crowd.
Talking about shopping I thought I would share with everybody that a great place for veggies with lots of selection and good prices is Sunland Produce.
It’s just out of Burbank at Glenoaks and Sunland, it beats the selection and prices found anyplace in Burbank.
Thought I would share.
The way I see it, every town has problems. Nobody’s perfect. But the real issue is the members of the city council. They are the representatives of the people, elected by the people, for the people.
Why are they not being more adversarial, like Dr. Gordon, who is written off as a “complainer”? The old saying rings true “The fish stink from the head.”
Come voting time, everyone needs to remember who stepped up and who stepped in it.
There needs to be a complete investigation of everyone who works for this city. After that investigation if we don’t have laws about relatives and friends working for each other we need laws that prevent all of this from going on.
Bottom line we are paying for way too much corruption and the secrecy about all of it has got to end.
Thios city attorney is a master of secrecy from what I can see and he needs to go.
Why is it we don’t elect the city attorney like they do in Los Angeles. I think we should elect the city attorney so he knows who he works for.
Tony B-cuz if we elected the city attorney the one we have right now would be flat out of a job and on unemployment. I bet that guy will retire with tons of our money in some sweet heart deal. Hows that for adding insult to injury ?
Thanks to everyone for information, suggestions and comments here. This blog is great because I find out things I never dreamed were happening here.
After subscribing to the local paper for years, I had no idea of any of these problems. Something is very wrong with that and since many things are apparent like the lawsuits that are now against the city everything else is very plasuable and believeable.
For things to become this far out of control I think we have serious problems with our elected officials. Either they are powerless or part of all these problems but whichever it is, it is unacceptable as all of this is destroying the reputation of our city.
Councilman Golonski appears to be one of the problems. Councilman Talamantes and Councilwoman Reinke appear to not want to know anything and Mayor Bric appears not to understand anything. This leaves Councilman Gordon as the only one who even asks any questions about anything. This is a very serious problem and I am not sure what we need to do to correct it all but I do know most of our council can not be trusted to even tell us the truth about things.
Donna,
I agree. We’re getting a lot of important information, suggestions, and comments right here. Thanks for the blog praise.
Actually they convinced me because they really don’t care about anything except cashing their checks, getting their perks and going home. We have been stupid enuf to let them get away with it too.
Indeed Donna I have learned from this blog and some questions I have had actually have been directly answered without even asking them. I had many questions about the work on Glenoaks, I am disgusted by it now.
Kudos to the blog operator/s/ 🙂
I wonder if there is a way to make an emergency vote of “No confidence in the city council”?
I just looked at the Burbank Police Department web site and found this so here is the link. I believe the history of ‘Captain’ Taylow is less than accurate as he was promoted to deputy chief was he not ? So where is that fact in the bio ?
http://www.ci.burbank.ca.us/police/taylor.html
DAVE GOLONSKI
“My number one priority is to put the community back in the drivers seat [in local government].
I am committed to working with all segments of the community to develop a program that will bring about economic growth, while preserving the neighborhood character that makes Burbank a great place to live and raise children.
Our focus must also be on the most important asset we have…our children”
http://www.reelectdavegolonski.com
Put the community back in the drivers seat ?
Well that sure sounds like Councilman Golonski is a failure if that was his goal. It’s really clear he put himself in the drivers seat because he believes he knows what’s best for each one of us.
The people want answers..Golonski is supposed to ask the questions. If he doesn’t he needs to be held accountable like Reinke and Talamantes.
TIM, haven’t you heard, Deputy Chief Bill Taylor (now captain) supposedly is one of the pending lawsuits. Something about a conspiracy involving, of course, the chief. He was trying to fight corruption!
This is what happens in Burbank when you fight the establishment. Remember, Brady, Kitty Pants, Coach Sandoval, all the police officers, etc…
I will say I know Ericka Reinke personally she is extremely qualified for the position and went through plenty of vetting to earn the position she used to hold. Over time her work has gotten her a promotion. She has worked hard for it and deserves the position she holds in the City.
However, when it comes to Mike Flad I think enough is enough. His affairs are widely known about and rumors about HOW good/bad he is in the sack are everywhere being discussed around the water cooler. This makes at least FIVE employees Mike has slept with during his time with the City. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! It’s time for Mike Flad to resign immediately maybe that’s the reason his divorce is moving along so hastily.
I also have to say how lack-luster many of our Execs. are. There are a few I can respect Bonnie T., Sharon Cohen, Donna Anderson, Margarita Campos but the two execs. I can barely stand, as a city staffer, is Tim Stehr and Chris Daste.
Stehr just gives off the corrupt Chief vibe and I hate saying it but I have heard first-hand that the rumors in the lawsuit are true.
Chris Distaste is a tool. He gets into work late. Barely goes to park events. I saw him a handful of times up at the bowl this summer and never did he stay for the entire thing. He made sure to find Jess Talamantes and any other Council member in the crowd and then he was out of there. Did anyone watch the Parks and Rec. presentation on the work program to the Council. He made sure to bring all of his deputies there because at the end of the day he could not answer nearly all of the council’s questions…someone is just gathering a paycheck….and to think this guy doesn’t even have his MASTERS yet but he’s managing a city department with a budget of over 17 million bucks… SHEESH!
Also the whole Pansini thing is going to blow wide open soon. The poor guy is the last in the long line of victims of Lew Stone.The current interim Chief has been seen coordinating his promotion with the union for the past few weeks.
I hate saying it. Burbank is rotting from the inside…and I am working for it…trust me I am trying to get out of here as soon as possible!
This is out of control!
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/
This is what we get from Mike Flad for 18,100 dollars a month? Burbank taxpayers pay Fladdy, Stehr, and Barlow almost 1/2 million dollars a year in salaries and this is what we get?
Cover-ups and lies! Bric is in on the cover-up because he made a comment to the leader about Panasini.
Burbank Insider,
Finally someone to come forward with first hand info. Please tell Erica Reinke for us to tell her mom to Councilwoman Reinke to start standing up for the people!
We will support her if she does, but if she continues to bury her head…its her fault as well.
Thanks for your “inside comments”
Everyone,
Great discussion.
Burbank Insider,
Thanks for your comments. I especially appreciate your remarks about Ericka Reinke and her qualifications.
Burbankinsider many count the days to retirement as you know, the working conditions here are unbearable and that is the kind and compassionate way to say it.
Things cost what they do as those in management positions create barriers to doing a good job for those who actually do the work.
I love reading what good ol’ Stretch has to say. He makes some decent points but a GREAT majority of his spew is complete BS! You get the Burbank Bloggers all riled up. You really should get the real info before coming to this blog to spew your BS. I am laughing at all your miscues. There are many. Unfortunately, time will show you have no credibility. The funny thing is we agree on some things about the police department and city council. Again, please don’t distort the truths. I have no confidence in a majority of the city leadership positions (council, police, city manager, etc.) but I know the great majority of the police department are good, honest, hardworking officers.
Well Manny you forget one very important problem. I am sure we have some good employees and yes even some good cops but how do any of us know which ones are good and which ones can’t be trusted ?
From things I have heard I don’t want to get close enough to any of them to find out.
Did everyone hear that Social Security will be decreasing in payments to recepients soon ? While Burbank raises the rates on water, electric and trash along with everything else those on fixed incomes are about to receive less money. Welcome to America people.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090823/ap_on_go_ot/us_social_security_smaller_checks
Edward I fully agree with you I look at every Burbank Patrol Car now and wonder if whoever is in it is a good guy or a bad guy.
Manny,
What ever you are smoking it must be good. Prove one thing I have said is wrong. I have held back some of the nastier stuff I have heard until I had more than one source verify it.
I only knew about two affairs that Flad had. But the insider says he has been getting busy like a screen door in a hurricane.
The more you and the two other negative people come on here and just say “BS” without making any points proves you work for the crooks in charge.
Oh, and there are a lot of good cops…the majority. So far it seems a few of them are suing!
Stretch and Manny,
One of the things that I am catching on to is just how hard this city works to hide the truth. There probably is no one else that comes close to these people when it comes to speaking out of both sides of their mouths.
The place reaks with secrets and secret deals. It’s like a bad wind blowing across a waste dump on a hot day.
They think no one notices the things they do but people are talking about it now everyplace you go, in and outside of Burbank. Bad news for some people because people have had enough and everything is starting to come out now.
Just a thought here –
Everywhere I look and everywhere I go I read and I hear stories about the events and the occurances in and around city government.
It is said the truth is normally what seems strangert than fiction. It does seem stranger than fiction that we could hire and promote relatives and sex partners, yet as the saying goes the truth is stranger than fiction and I suspect most of the comments are sadly true.
These comments also explain how things have changed so much in Burbank over recent years. Once we were a city that was proud of our streets, sidewalks, parks and police and fire yet now we have become a city where things are clearly in decay.
I have not been running these aspects of the city, yet someone has and obviously they have been running them poorly. It is time for change.
Burbank Insider wrote, “Also the whole Pansini thing is going to blow wide open soon. The poor guy is the last in the long line of victims of Lew Stone.The current interim Chief has been seen coordinating his promotion with the union for the past few weeks.”
I know government unions are very strong and protective but if Tracy is the last in the long line of victims of Lew Stone and he’s done this to others, why is the City afraid of Lew and what does he have on City Hall that makes them afraid of him?
In case anyone’s interested, this kind of ridiculous, bad faith behavior goes on in our schools, too.
The little guys get the shaft, the big guys apparently have the time to cook up these stunts:
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/
Coming soon is a piece on the head janitor guy who sexually harassed one of his BUSD secretaries. The last we heard, he’s still there.
Burbank is just one big scam. I am so angry about this water issue I could spit at city hall.
Lawns are dead all over the place and those idiots at city hall are telling us how there is a shortage of water yea right some shortage when they keep building more and more apartments everyplace.
How about those apartments and the traffic mess they create. I suppose they won’t use water ?
These idiots in city hall must really think we are all stupid and blind. They raise the prices and then threaten us with fines if we use water ? They must not think we see all the butt ugly apartments being built when we are stuck in traffic.
I am angry at these people because they seem to think they can control us with laws and fines what do they think this is the old Soviet Union ?
Jim,
Off course they tried to discipline the sexual harrassment victim. That is how the city attorneys attack everyone who fights the system.
Someone reports misconduct, they get investigated and fired in order to dicredit them in the future when they make a claim. Its old school, but effective.
Problem is… now they are going to have to fire a lot of people to keep them quiet.
Jim
I’m glad the BUSD secretary in this sexual harassment case finally won a court victory and settlement from the district. Also, I would really like to see companies and management stand-up for the victims in these cases. You rarely ever hear of that happening.
In the case of Burbank they seem to never step up to the plate and take care of business. It seems they always protect the offender and stand by the offenses continue to happen. Have you ever even heard a word out of the school board or city council condemning sexual harrasment or for that matter racism ? All I ever see them do is issue platitudes and awards while they enable the behavior to continue you really have to wonder about what their core beliefs are.
Stretch
On the firing lots of people to cover up what’s been doing down, they have it made there due to the econmy and shortfalls in the budget, watch who they eliminate because they say they are short of money while they spend millions protecting their racist policies.
Stretch, in one of your earlier post (#46) you mention from the Burbank PD website that the female officer has filed a lawsuit with the city. Do you care to elaborate or show the proof that you have? I have not seen or read any lawsuit. Or is it another one of your misguided perceptions?
Check out this story. It’s pretty interesting.
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/45639