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.
Why do all these official City Committes work like they are completely disfunctional ?
Thanks for the story, without it I would have no idea that we are in such competent hands with our lovely police commissioners.
Electing people wo are not there to accept now that makes lots of sense. Kitty Pants doesn’t get to go home. They sound like they should have patted each other on the back and oozed with affection for each other for all they had accomplished.
This group needs counseling or something!
You write very good stories. I watch council meetings and am starting to think they should have these police meetings on channel 6 as well.
I don’t blame Mr Nolan for getting mad, come on how many times can he ask the same questions and not get answers. Personally I am feeling no confidence in our mayor and our police because they never appear to be able to answer anything and are too eager to hide everything.
“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.”
WHAT? You mean the vice mayor and councilman Golonski failed in their powers of persuasion and mind control?
Get a grip people the city blew it again and did they tell you what great efforts they made ? Probably not. Did the police commissioners demand to know what great effort was made ? Probably not.
Business as usual for Burbank.
You said that there was discussion about how to stay connected to Burbank Residents. Did they give any ways to do that or did they just talk and come up with nothing ?
I guess they have been around like forever so do you know anything they have ever done ? It just seems like this is some front group or something that is suppose to make it look like they do something when they really don’t. I never even heard of them before so what have they been doing and why didn’t anybody ever hear about them doing it ? These people are like some big mystery or something why is that ?
Oh with the Kitty Pants cat they never planned to do anything about sending the cat back home I think they just sold that cat for the money.
Thanks for your report on this, it really sounds like they didn’t do much and I am starting to think they never do.
The link for that First Ammendment Project you have is great Thanks for that. I hear this and that and Brown Act that’s the first time I ever knew what that is. From reading it sounds like it’s there to stop crooked politicians from getting away with it. Looks like we need more laws to prevent crooks in office and fewer laws to control the people. It’s the politicians who are way out of control these days.
Does this Police group cost us any money ? If they do it’s time to get rid of them and save the cash, the really don’t sound like they do much.
This is a good story on what happened to Kitty Pants in my opinion:
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/citys-going-to-have-to-pay-off-on-kitty-pants/
The writer of this is dead on and everyone should ask just what happens to property that is turned in by people. The analogy with thrift stores and the black market type dealings with ‘the good stuff’ is dead on target.
Have the Police Commissioners asked any questions about the procedures and safeguards at the Animal Shelter ? Don’t forget in many cases a ‘turned in animal’ is in most cases some families pet. I believe that means the animal is in a legal sense ‘owned property’, which should mean it could have been either lost or stolen. If the Police Commissioners fail at looking deep into those procedures to protect the publics interests they really fail the test.
Not returning Kitty Pants home is cruel. Where do I find the public apology from the city about this???
What have they done to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else ???
I said before and I will say it again…Kitty Pants and her owner are flying solo. Burbank police and the city council put on the concerned face and ended up being lame. I wonder what Reinke has done?
This new police commission is better…but too little too late. Stehr and Scott are still running the show. Believe me, it is a good show….and that is all it is A SHOW! I hope the new president of the commission does a good job in rooting out the “Good Ol’ Boys” network.
Yes the Police Commission is nothing but a show. A show stacked with nepotism. The only chance this commission had was if John Brady had been left on there to shake it up, but alas they couldn’t have that so poof he is gone.
What Reinke has done ? What has Reinke ever done ? Oh wait she has a title, Vice Mayor like Bric has a title Mayor. Somebody let both of them know you don’t step into a phony title and get respect, you do something and earn respect.
So far neither of them have earned much.
http://www.burbankleader.com/articles/2009/07/17/publicsafety/doc4a6098b742d03288745576.txt
Former Burbank detective files suit against department
By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Friday, July 17, 2009 8:33 AM PDT
BURBANK — A former Burbank Police detective has filed suit against the department alleging racial and gender harassment and discrimination, six weeks after a lieutenant and four police officers come forward with nearly identical claims.
Wow – nothing satisfies. A couple of comments about the article.
1. When is Mike Nolan – not pissed?
2. How is nominating someone who is not present “strange”. You do not need to either accept or reject a nomination – it simply needs to be seconded and voted upon.
It’s great news that they got their act in order – agendas, public comments, etc.
With all the rants on this board – what SPECIFICALLY would you have them do differently now that they have implemented the full slate of rules concerning public meetings?
Al you really need to look beyond the nice little box they have laid out for you.
I wonder what you will have to say as the lawsuits continue to hit the press and the city loses on most of them.
Burbank has nothing more than the ‘appearance’ of law and order, but behind the ‘appearance’ is a very nasty and dirty reality.
This is a highly decorated officer who served with honor and distinction. His leaving the department was a loss to the citizens of this community.
He was recognized and given awards for his valor and professionalism by not only local authorities but by Federal Authorities as well.
This is the caliber of officer who has been mistreated, abused and run out of town. As this has all gone on ask yourself what the city leadership has done ? Oh and for Al, ask yourself what the Police Commission has done.
These are very sad days for the citizens of Burbank.
My apologies, in my last post on the blog I failed to mention the name of the officer, former Burbank Police Detective Christopher Lee Dunn.
Actually Robert Frutos is in law enforcement – does he get no credit. Perhaps that doesn’t jive w/ your “little box”.
Al is right, Robert Frutos is in law enforcement and so was the dude that left the commission. So what’s the point ?
Sure some people in law enforcement have been on the police commission, all the more reason they should have caught the serious problems in the department. Did they ? Why didn’t they ? What’s wrong with this system. If nothing is wrong why all the lawsuits or do you just believe we have lots of lazy greedy cops who want to sue ?
Come on there Al its people in the system trying to tell you things are bad, so bad their only recourse is to sue to correct things. Get a clue dude.
Also – nobody has answered this question:
With all the rants on this board – what SPECIFICALLY would you have them do differently now that they have implemented the full slate of rules concerning public meetings?
We can all say “times are bad” or “government is taking all our money” or “our politicians don’t care” – but that is all fluff. Give some ideas on what you want them to do going forward.
Meanwhile, as the lawsuits continue to pile up, the City Attorney is busy filing frivolous retaliatory lawsuits against volunteer kid’s baseball coach Sandoval and their latest ditty against council critic Kevin Muldoon. Did anyone see this in Wednesday’s Leader.
http://www.burbankleader.com/articles/2009/07/17/politics/blr-film15.txt
Permit violation is first to court
Two men filming segments on cars for their website received notice of violating amended ordinance.
By Christopher Cadelago
Published: Last Updated Tuesday, July 14, 2009 10:30 PM PDT
BURBANK — Kevin Muldoon, a longtime City Hall critic, is scheduled to appear Thursday in Burbank Municipal Court for filming without permission, the first violation since the city’s film permit policies were amended in January.
These posts are so one-sided. It’s like talking to a wall. So Robert Frutos is law enforcement – well you just spent a whole post glorifying one, but utterly neglect to mention any others. It proves a point. That point being there is absolutely nothing these people can do that will satisfy this board.
Burbank is not falling apart, it is not in distress, it is not the scene of chaos that is painted by every last post here.
Take this Kitty Pants issue. People are calling to investigate the shelter personnel? Please.
1. They make like 10 bucks an hour
2. Hello – where was the chip if this was an “expensive cat”
3. The person made a mistake – have YOU never made one?
It’s so easy to judge. Yes I feel for these people – although instead of BUYING a cat – it would have been nice for them to get one at a shelter (like I did). What do you want them to do – send in a police squad and get the cat? Lame.
Al at this point they should realize they have been spoon fed untruths.
They should end the accepting what they are told and face the reality their own officers are setting their own careers aside to make it known things are not right.
They should as a group march into the city council and demand the council authority to begin investigating the policies and procedures that are apparently not working very well.
I am not holding my breath for that to happen, but it’s time it does.
‘Take this Kitty Pants issue. People are calling to investigate the shelter personnel? Please.
1. They make like 10 bucks an hour’
What does how much someone makes an hour have to do with what is expected of them on their job ?
No matter what someone makes on a job they agreed to take the job and to do it correctly. I think the police commission should investigate what went wrong. Are you saying what went wrong is that if they want a job done right they should pay more ? Sheesh Bernie Msdoff was paid like what millions and that didn’t make him do a job right so I don’t get what your saying at all.
The two are very different. Sure there are and have been law enforcement people on the Police Commission however how those individuals acted as commissioners and how they acted as cops on the street are two distinct issues.
Not sure what honors the individuals received from the Federal Government as commissioners of the Burbank Police Department, enlighten me on that. I simply stated the fact that Detective Dunn was honored by the Federal government a few times for his valor and honor as an officer.
Which commissioners were honored in that way by our Federal Government, sorry I overlooked those esteemed awards they received.
Everyone,
I got the impression from last Wednesday’s meeting that the Police Commission is going to be asking for input from the public.
Also, the two new officers Chairman Robert Frutos and Secretary Elise Stearns-Niesen seemed to be the most eager to make the commission responsive to the concerns of Burbank residents. So we will have to wait and see what changes and improvements they make.
Also, I heard about the new lawsuit filed by ex-Burbank Police Detective Chris Dunn. Thanks for posting the story link, Burbank Watch Dog.
So what’s wrong with people wanting an investigation of just what went wrong at the shelter Al ? Are you afraid they just might find something or what ? How can things ever get better when people like you have the mind set everything is always just peachy ?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/sixth-burbank-police-officer-sues-department-for-discrimination.html
What a mess in lawyers alone this will cost a bundle of money.
I keep hearing from people there are tons of lawsuits on the way. City Hall and the council has realy been asleep at the wheel. We have a bartender as mayor and from what I hear everyone is related to everyone else, someone should write a book about this city.
Hey Watchdog I checked the link on that car show film site and wow that’s a cool site. So they advertise for the cities Be Boppin in the Park what’s wrong with that ? I would think the city would thank him and not arrest him. What is going on in this city anway, some media capital where you get arrested with a camera!
Check out the be bopping flick it’s really kewl.
http://livecarshows.com/BeBooping.html
They need to get real and leave this guy alone and go after some real crime in town.
I agree what’s the deal with the film laws. For me it’s amazing what the mayor said.
Mayor Gary Bric said he was surprised that prosecution for violating a new ordinance would move forward without the issuance of a warning.
“When we pass ordinances, they have to be enforced,” Bric said. “I know that. Let’s hope common sense prevails and the judge maybe gives him a warning.”
Did he pass this filming law and if he did and he wanted people warned why didn’t he write it like that ? He needs to read things before he passes them or something because I bet he passed this and signed it and didn’t know what happenes to people if they have a camera in Burbank. Just stupid.
and about the cat named Kitty Pants.
This is messed up and I believe someone made money off that cat.
Well – if the job demands are such that they can NEVER EVER make a mistake w/o an investigation occurring or fanatics w/ pitchforks demanding their heads – then yes they should be paid more. You get what you pay for.
>>No matter what someone makes on a job they agreed to take the job and to do it correctly. I think the police commission should investigate what went wrong. Are you saying what went wrong is that if they want a job done right they should pay more ?
Al as the saying goes, there is none so blind who shall not see. Burbank is crashing — again you must have missed the meeting where then Vice-Mayor Bric said the “sky isn’t falling it’s crashing.” He said that in response to Marhsa’s the sky isn’t falling comment. Remember that? Talk about one sided.
And Al, Mike Nolan has done more to help average residents from seniors to the disabled and others. You complained that folks posting on this board have done nothing to offer suggestions to the police commission. What have you done to help average citizens? And I’m not talking about reporting graffiti.
Just wait until every lawsuit and every scandal comes to the forefront, if it ever does, which it probably won’t but who knows. Anything can happen. Those will cost the taxpayers a lot of money. This could have all been prevented and avoidable if things were handled properly.
Fronnie, I hope that Bob and Elise do actually work to make the commission more responsive to the public and their complaints as it should. It seems they are on the right track.
I agree with Catwoman, it doesn’t matter how much employees make. They were hired to do a job regardless of what the pay is and they didn’t go into that job with their eyes closed and made a choice to accept. And Al most people probably have made mistakes in their careers as they are human, but it is how the company or organization rectifies those mistakes that matter. But no the police dept or the City can’t send in the squad to get the cat back and I truly think people know this but they are angry.
People have a right to an investigation of what went wrong in the animal shelter. As you know there are problems in the shelter–a Lt. on leave for sexual harassment, for example.
And what Al? Everybody has a choice whether to adopt a pet or buy. I think it’s noble of folks to adopt from a shelter like you did but the last time I looked, it was a choice and we still have freedom of choice. As for being an expensive cat, the Roaches had that cat for three (?) years, it’s also sentimental value far beyond any financial cost. Apparently and I could be wrong but they didn’t let the cat roam, it got out. There are folks who don’t “chip” indoor cats, if that was the case in the Kitty Pants matter.
I found this on the Internet and would like to share. It’s pretty interesting because a number of these quotes are pretty valid today as we watch what’s happening in government everywhere including Burbank.
http://www.davar.net/QUOTES/LIBERTY.HTM
You’re right!! It’s a conspiracy!! I know they’ve been funneling money for years. Do you know how paranoid your post sounds?
>>So what’s wrong with people wanting an investigation of just what went wrong at the shelter Al ? Are you afraid they just might find something or what ?
I understand it’s a choice to buy a cat when there are millions that go unadopted and are killed in our system. It’s certainly a choice. I’m just saying if you go out an buy an expensive cat, choose (because it’s a choice) not to chip it then it’s PARTIALLY their fault. Yes – the probable upper-teens, lower 20-something summer-job-in-a-shelter worker made a mistake – but it happens on occasion. Does it warrant an investigation – that is the question. When has this happened before? I’ve never heard anything about it. Have you?
Uh – no – I disagree. Mike Nolan dislikes decisions made by anyone and everyone on the city council for as many years as I’ve lived here – if there is a crowd or a camera – Mr. Nolan does not miss his opportunity to be in front of it “doing things for to help the average citizen”.
This is the reason we have elections. Actually I did make a request that the Police Commission be more open – and now it is. So, I guess your point is moot.
>>And Al, Mike Nolan has done more to help average residents from seniors to the disabled and others. You complained that folks posting on this board have done nothing to offer suggestions to the police commission. What have you done to help average citizens? And I’m not talking about reporting graffiti.
Are you serious? Are you comparing Bernie Madoff who destroyed thousands of lives by stealing to a worker in the Burbank Animal Shelter?
Wow … this is EXACTLY what I’m talking about. Reminds me of the mentality of the Salem witch trials. All that’s missing are the cries to burn the worker at the stake.
>>Sheesh Bernie Msdoff was paid like what millions and that didn’t make him do a job right so I don’t get what your saying at all.
Sure – and they have a right to be angry. I agree that it was a mistake, and a bad mistake at that. To call for an investigation though – everyone takes things just a bit too far. People have a right to ask for an investigation, but one mistake by someone at a shelter does not warrant an investigation – in my opinion anyways.
>>But no the police dept or the City can’t send in the squad to get the cat back and I truly think people know this but they are angry.
I also like this line from your post: “I hope that Bob and Elise do actually work to make the commission more responsive to the public and their complaints as it should. It seems they are on the right track.”
Bob Frutos is a great guy and he wants the PC to be open and have autonomy.
Don’t get me wrong I love animals however Al forgets that if everyone adopted strays then the pet store dogs and cats would become unwanted left overs. Only so many homes and people have an absolute right to adopt from a rescue or pyurchase a new kitty or puppy. In either case a living animal is given a home and this is exactly how it should be. This idea that everyone should adopt because I did is just nonsense, you Sir are not a model of all things and while I am happy you chose to adopt a rescue kitty that does not diminish the person who rescued a kitty from a pet store.
Please don’t make it sound like everyone must do what you do and be like you, this is America and our strength has always come from people being different and making different choices.
How do we know there has only been one mistake at the shelter ? Perhaps its just the only one we have heard about. I support an investigation not so someone is punished but so that we uncover what caused the mistake and correct things so that it does not happen again to anyon else. No one can be sure it will not happen again without investigating what the cause of the error really was.
No doubt about it – I’m not making it sound that way at all. All I said – which was CORRECT is that there are millions of dogs and cats that are killed in shelters every year. True? Yes. If you choose (it IS your choice) to buy one from a store that normally gets their pets from puppy and kitty mills that churn them out litter by litter from inbred animals so that they suffer a whole range of genetic ailments – then by all means go ahead. If it means so much to you that you get a “name-brand” cat or dog, much like a clothing accessory – that is your choice w/o caring about those animals in shelters as they are drug off to their death – fine by me. 😉
>>Don’t get me wrong I love animals however Al forgets that if everyone adopted strays then the pet store dogs and cats would become unwanted left overs.
The mayors comments about the film stuff story should mean the police lusten to what he says because he is mayor right ?
Ok Al you have no bias that;s very apparent so let me use your logic to promote adopting a pet.
If you chose to buy a rescue pet, who may have been abused and trained to attack small children or may come with any number of diseases or maybe even a mixed breed which has some coyote and the animal just might attack you or your children not to mention may have unknown ing worms or other insect infestations than that is your right and so be it and if you don’t care that the animal may attack or otherwise harm your children then so be it that is your right.
In no way am I opposed to pet adoption however I just explained your right to do it in the same bias way you explained the right of a person to purchase a pet from a store. It’s called intollerance, you expressed it better than I could as my heart is not really into intollerance.
So – are you saying that any and all mistakes in any city department should be investigated simply because you have not heard of “any others”?
This is a case where the employee didn’t check a book before the pet was adopted (that was in the leader’s story). A new process might be needed.
Also – let’s not forget this cat not only did not have a chip, but no collar, no tag, no license (actually a violation), etc. I love cats, and I would be outraged if this were my cat. Yes – definitely, but the situation is impossible to fix. You can’t grab the cat out of the new owner’s house.
>>No one can be sure it will not happen again without investigating what the cause of the error really was.
The last I looked the shelter is a Police Department operation. I do not believe internal investigations within the department take place in a newspaper article. If people here were to state convict them nased on a news story I trust you would be saying let the department investigate. As you admit above your intel is that some employee did not check a book. Police procedures are all important and it only benifits the department to investigate and correct when they do not work for any reason.
There is nothing wrong with people expecting that a close check be kept on all police actions that is simply part of our form of government which is intended to protect us from police misconduct of any kind.
What bothers me the most is the growing number of police officers claiming that there are very real problems in the Burbank Department. We can’t forget it’s members of the force who are pointing out flawed procedures and practices and not the public just making accusations.
I am not sure what if anything the Police Commission should be doing, but it doesn’t sound to me like they have done anything at all. Just my view.
I’m just amazed that after buying an expensive cat, the owners wouldn’t think to provide ANY ways to id it. I don’t like the whole pet trade (obviously) but that doesn’t mean I don’t know that it IS indeed a choice. I get it – I just don’t agree w/ it. As for being intolerant – if I am intolerant because I bring facts to the table regarding the killing of pets in shelters then I plead guilty. I don’t really like the rescue societies either because they are so choosy with who wants to adopt. I prefer to get pets that are offered free via craigslist (litter born to unfixed pets) or through the local shelter.
>>It’s called intollerance, you expressed it better than I could as my heart is not really into intollerance.
Heres the story about the detective suing Burbank from the Daily News
http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12858519
So because funding comes from the PD – then all the shelter employees are automatically deputized? I sincerely doubt every shelter employee knows that they are even under the PD’s operations, let alone thinking their actions constituted “police actions”. Really… a little off the deep end.
>>that a close check be kept on all police actions that is simply part of our form of government which is intended to protect us from police misconduct of any kind.
I would hope shelter employees know they are part of the burbank Police Department since until recently their boss on site was a fully uniformed Burbank Police Lieutenant and now its a fully uniformed Burbank Police Seargent.
It’s not just funding comes from the department management comes directly from the department and the animal control officers are sworn police employees while the other are non sworn personell. There are also non sworn personell at the Police Station, maybe they missed the fact they work for the police department too ?
This is sinking into absurdity, they know they work for the police department and are part of the department.
Reading the news stories about Detective Dunn sounds really bad. What is going on with upper management that they do not immediately take action on this sort of thing ?
Even IF they know they are part of the PD – do you really believe pet adoption out of a shelter is a “police action” – those are the words you used. POLICE ACTION.
911 Emergency – we got the call. A family comes in wanting to adopt a pet. Officers on the SCENE – guns drawn – READY TO FIRE at a moment’s notice since this IS a police ACTION.
Totally overblowing a simple mistake, but that’s nothing new in Burbank.
The only thing that keeps me from agreeing with you is the bias in the report. There is no avenue for rebuttal, and there are no quotes and the first half of the article is dedicated to Det. Dunn’s glowing resume.
If you read the comments below apparently Detective Dunn is receiving his full pension. That wasn’t even mentioned.
I’ve served in the military – the US Army – and there are plenty of racists in many of the uniformed professions. That being besides the case – I need more information (as should most of us) before making up my mind.
>>Reading the news stories about Detective Dunn sounds really bad. What is going on with upper management that they do not immediately take action on this sort of thing ?
Johnny-
I am reading the news stories about the detective and what it sounds like is a really, really hostile work environment where if you are not good buddies with somebody you are in big trouble.
Reading the stories I feel bad the guy had to live through all of that mistreatment. These things make me want to say Sorry because you know what it’s our city and that kinda makes us responsible for what happens to people here.
Sure does Vampire.
Something I am wondering about is how many police officers do we really have now ? I mean I keep reading about ones that quit or get fired or just leave and I don’t read anything about hiring any so you know how they say there are so many cops to the population ? How are those stats now if so many are leaving ?
From what has been in the press that we know about I am convinced this is all worse than we can even imagine.
This detectives background is really imoressive. He began as a military police investigator and then became a Police Officer. It looks to me from the detective’s background that he is an all around reliable guy and has proven himself. You know how they say consider the source ? Reading his background makes him sound like a very reliable source to me.
Yes I agree it’s terrible if the accusations are true that one of our military vets was treated this way in the Burbank Police Department. I echo the sorry that someone else wrote.
My question about these policemen suing the city has to do with the police commission. Do the commissioners ever talk to the officers about any problems in the department ? I am really wondering about this right now.
This is just terrible for the city and I would like to know what the Mayor and the council plans to do about this mess.
Just saw this about ther Burbank Police Commission. What is wrong with these people running this cioty anway, I am starting not to trust any of them
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/city-now-admits-june-pd-commission-meeting-was-violative/
If you ask me everything being said about the police and this commission is maybe not true but with so much being said some of what has been said must be true.
I hope the detective get’s some justice because if a dective can’t get justice in Burbank there is little if any hope for the rest of us.
http://www.globenewswire.com/news.html?d=169173
It really makes you wonder who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Gone are the days when you could tell by the color of their hats.
For me it is feeling more unsafe here everyday.
Sorry guys title of this story is Police Commission get’s down to business and from the story text it sounds to me they sat around saying what should we do and that was about it.
It might be nice for them that they elected a president and vice presidnet and even a secretary wooppee! So what did they really accomplish and just what work did they really get done ? From what I read in the story they didn’t even get anything done so I say about their meting – so what!
For example on my comment:
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.
What tangible way did they decide to do this and when do they start doing it ? Does it start tomorow, or next year or what ?
Jon they plan to go from concept to design phase around 2016
In regards to KITTY PANTS, no collar with ID, no chip in neck that would have detected who the cat belonged to. Don’t blame the PD, no disrepect to the owners, they dropped the ball ……………… sorry
Everyone,
Great discussion. I believe the folks commenting here are taking the time to do so not because they want to dump on Burbank, but because they care about the town. The city belongs to its citizens.
As for Kitty Pants, I’m sure in hindsight there are things the owners and the animal shelter could have done better. It’s a sad situation all the way around.
s from what I hear the cat was reported lost to the shelter by the owners before it was put up for adoption and adopted. Someone failed to check the book for lost cats, is something wrong with that story ?
If not then stop acting like a chip is the answer and a fault of the owners, face it if the shelter failed to check the list of lost cats they could have missed checking the chip before completing the adoption.
Now that’s a question, what if the shelter failed toc heck for a chip and there was one, then they adopted out a cat. Is the situation somehow different if there is a chip and the adoption can be revoked ? I doubt it but tell me if it cghanges things.
BF: If you had watched the Council Meetings, the cat was reported as a certain breed but was listed as another. Checking with the shelter I found out that any cat or dog that is turned in is checked for identification purposes to see if they have the micro chip which I understand is the size of a grain of rice, that is inserted in the animals neck. I understand the owners went numerous days without checking back to see if the cat had inturn been brought to the shelter. Sorry, they screwed up, period end of conversation.
More here about the Kevin Muldoon harassment:
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/
The city attorney lacks any cause to do this to Muldoon. Kevin is legally exempt from any filming permit requirements at Bob’s Big Boy. For several different reasons.
I predicted this would happen with that new ordinance. But I thought at least the city would handle it the way they told the council they were going to!
S,S,S,
So if there is no checking of lost animal reports before adoptions are made what is the point of reporting lost animals.
The chip thing reminds me of Lojak on a car. Yes if you have Lojak I guess they can check for the chip but if you don’t have Lojak it doesn’t mean they don’t check the car for any lost or stolen reports.
It is hardly the end of the conversation. Further, who knows exactly what happened and exactly who screwed up until it is all investigated. It appears to me that right now the owners blame the city and the city, no surprise here, blames the owners. Who has investigated and who has determined just what went wrong, sorry it won’t wash if it was the very people who want to blame the owners they have a bit of self interest in claiming that.
Jim Carlile
Unbelievable story about filming. It is as if the entire city has become one very big nightmare these days.
The stories of police being victims of hate crimes, citizens being harassed and prosecuted, where does this all end ?
How on earth is it such a problem for people to film things in the first place. The old film equiptment we used for family events and outings, the old projectors and all of that, were heavy and required many batteries and lots of wires. We would film at parks, school events and everything with no threat or harassment from officials. I marvel at the portability of equiptment today as compared to what we once lugged around.
Today with camera equiptment that is so light weight and film that isn’t even film at all, it pops into a computer and is reused by popping back into the camera, there are problems for people to film events etc ?
This is insane. How have we reached the point where things appear not to be about human rights but about who you are friends with and/or who you are related to as to what rights you have ?
Why am I not surprised about the filming arrest ? Well hell, we have a city council packed with little doo gooders that think they knoe everything about everything and that only they can determine how YOU and I should do everything.
Bric maybe great at pouring a drink, maybe he makes the best Martini, but why the hell do we have a bartender for mayor ? Is this Idaho or what ?
Maybe Gary Bric can pass a law about how many cubes of ice we can use in a glass next. On filiming he should leave it to the real experts. We promise not to tell him how to mix a drink if he promises us he won’t tell us how and where to film. Otherwise maybe we should start looking at how he mixes drinks after all we could believe we do it better.
Their film law is wackadoo. No one is fooled at all, if they like you then you are kewl to film. If they don’t like you then you are not kewl to film. It’s that simple so don’t over analyze the thing.
Jim Carlile,
The City Attorney’s case against Kevin Muldoon for allegedly violating Burbank’s filming permit ordinance appears small and even petty. With all the lawsuits and investigations, you’d think the City Attorney’s Office would have plenty to do dealing with these serious matters.
To S
I am so sorry you seem to believe that every cat must be micro chipped by it’s owner. I believe that is cruel and will lead to the police next requiring our children and then we ourselves be micro chipped. This is the mark of the beast and I am opposed to it.
To Fronnie Lewis
I so agree with you and am left to wonder how the officials can spend our precious dollars on so much nothing. I heard prisons are so full they want to release people to save money and some stories say that means even rapists being released. Why are we spending money punishing a person with a camera when that money could be used to keep rapists in jail ?
To Member of the Sag
At first I liked the mayor but now I think he is one big mistake and like you say should stick to mixing drinks.
It is getting to where it’s hard to keep up with all the breaking news stories out of Burbank. None of them good and all of them indictments of an elite group that runs the place through abuse and terror.
People need to wake up and dump the crowd in charge while they can still afford to do so. No matter how much you just love people like Golonski, Bric and yes Renke, ask yourself just how much you are willing to pay out of pocket to keep loving them so much.
Just a few thoughts,
Burbank is like a car. First on comes the check engine light, then the check oil light and next the over heating light.
I could keep on driving and telling myself that the light warning system is just acting up, ut the likleyhood is my car will just die on the free way suddenly.
Maybe I can dismiss one claim of racism, maybe even two but this has reached the point of oversaturation with a growing number of claims. What worries me the most is it’s not just citizens, its also police officers.
Sure the city can say these are fringe nuts. Now I ask why are you giving guns and badges to fringe nuts in the first place. I don’t believe they did and that tells me this is all believeable.
It is getting very hard to dismiss the claims of harassment and discrimination and it seems all the city and police comission want to do is move on and live in denial.
This denial is very troublesome.
On the cat, on the coach, on the film guy, on the lawsuits, etc,etc.
Think for a minute and play along with me here. When is the last time you ever heard, read or experienced the City of Burbank ever admit fault in anything that has gone wrong.
I can’t think of even one example when they did so what does that mean, everything just has to be someone else’s fault every single time ? Like the cat owners, their fault for not buying a chip ? Like the coach his fault for speaking up about a bad call ? Like the film guy his fault for trying to film an event in Burbank ? Or like the cops, their fault for being members of a minority class ?
Ryan you ask a very good question. To my recollection no matter what happens the city always blames the victim. I can think of no event where the city came out and said we are sorry it was our fault. You make a good point as to how everything can always be the fault of someone else, but that is how they do business it appears.
City accept the blame for something ? NEVER HAPPENS
From what I can tell this police commission is made up of all long time members except for one new face. Is this correct ?
With a board of all long time members just how can they be getting down to business with discussions centered around the eternal question WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING ? and HOW SHOULD WE DO IT ?
If these people were my long time employees I would hardly congratulate them for asking what they should be doing after years of sitting there. I would FIRE THEM!
What am I missing here, or am I missing anything here ? Are these people new or are they long time members of this group ? Someone told me that one woman has been there forever and even been the presiding officer before and after all that has no idea what her role is. If this is true please city council FIRE THESE PEOPLE.
Best guess TLF you are talking about Commissioner Bonus, the same one who voted against the commission meeting more often from the story above. There is a funny youtube video of her so you can see who and what she is. Check her out and tell me you feel like your in safe hands.
Hey member of sag, the Mayor owns a Restaurant and what ever it takes to run it he will do. He parks cars at his biz also, when your a small business man you do what you have to due, the man is a hands on owner, don’t knock him, he’s a hard worker and Mayor. I guess your everyday working stiff isn’t good enough to sit on Council.
Check out the cartoon in today’s Burbank Leader, and then tell me the camera guy shouldn’t have a permit.
Dear little s;
Good for the bartender. Ok so he parks cars and he makes drinks good for him but my point is that really doesn’t make him at all qualified to decide what is the situation with filiming at all. So you proved my point about the mayor which you may recall was I won’t tell him how to mix drinks and he can not tell us how to film.
So glad you base your decisions on guilt and innocence on cartoons in a newspaper. That really sounds like the way we do it here in Burbank. Let me ask you if I get a cartoon pubolished of the mayor sweating a brick trying to take a picture will you then be convinced the mayor knows nothing about filming ? Come on small s people’s lives are not a cartoon unless they are elected council members.
I have to ask just how S knows all about everything the mayor does, are you a stalker, a groupie, a regular at the bar or what exactly.
It puzzles me how you seem to know even when he poops and where he poops. So what’s up with that ?
Maybe you sit across the street to watch if he parks cars or something ? Let us in on how you know everything the dude does.
One more comment, maybe we could save money on trials and let juries just check the Leader cartoons and forget other evidence. I don’t get the cartoon comment at all.
It’s obvious that “S” is either Gary Bric or a friends of…or his wife Shelley. “S” why are you so concerned with the Bric stuff. Since you are so concerned with the Ramp business, why don’t you ask the Mayor why he is not outraged that the taxpayers are going to lose millions in these lawsuits?
From Kitty Pants to racism and corruption this city is screwed. Who can fire Mike Flad? If this was a NBA team or NFL the coach would have been canned long time ago.
Oh, Juli Scott is great to admit her boss was wrong for cancelling the police commission meeting. When is she going to admit that she is covering up for a corrupt police chief?
Stretch you may be right. This means the only guy in town to love the mayor is the mayor himself. Interesting thought.
On cancelling the Police Commission meeting think about it, they cancel it as if everything is fine and while they sit doing nothing yet another lawsuit comes on in for the department.
The only thing I want to know about the mayor and the rest of them is just when they plan to get serious and clean up the dirt all over city hall ?
And as for the Ramp Bar, I don’t get free drinks as a reward for touting our great mayor, maybe if I did I would say how great he is in dealing with all the problems Burbank faces right now.
Thanks to a tip-off from someone here, there’s an update on the Christopher Dunn lawsuit:
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/
Unbelievably, the Burbank Leader deliberately left out the rest of the story about Dunn’s experience. The news story they wrote comes off in favor of Burbank. It’s dishonest the way they end it.
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/
The benifit of people talking is that what they know has a chance of being heard.
Anoyone remember the secret John Brady papers that council members were all to willing to refer to as indicating absolute evil but no one, not even John Brady could see ?
Long time tactic of the city of Burbank right there. Someone comes forth with just a little truth that could hurt those in power and off they go into overtime putting out secret papers and secret documents. No one can directly see them ofcourse because they are sort of confidential and well how could they be anything but truthfull they come right out of the city hall.
Well, that story from the Burbank Leader leads me to suspect that city hall began spreading the word to reporters that very senisitive documents, highly classified don’t you know say this and say that.
Reporters are known to trust documents handed to them by highly placed people like mayors, city managers and city attorneys. I suspect that is what they are busy doing, after all Detective Dunn is saying bad things about them.
Glado for the additional information Jim, happy those who know the real truth in stories are speaking up. It’s time to put the evil empire and it’s evil lies where it belongs and that’s in the zero credibility file.
and one more comment on the new story at http://semichorus.wordpress.com/
everyone needs to question anything that comes out of Burbank City Hall, it’s generally self serving, self protecting and usually very false in nature. Not even Adolf Hitler could create so called documentation of facts as fast as they can at Burbank City Hall.
Flippification & Stretch, I am not a stalker, or a groupie, & I have no idea when or where he poops. I have known Gary for awhile, & I’m not a regular at the bar, but I have been there with my husband, family & friends many times, over the last 4 years. Why are all of you obessed with Gary and his business? Everybody is worried about the the lawsuits, shouldn’t the city be worried about the officers, and everybody else involved? The truth will come out. Everybody is innocent till proven guilty. If you would take the time to talk to Gary in person, he would tell you his concerns about the city. Sag member thanks for calling me “little”, but I am far from it. You all seem to have a problem with me going by “S” , but who is Stretch, & Flippification, Member of Sag, etc…As far as Kitty Pants goes, the city tried everthing to get the cat back, but the people refused. We have 2 cats & a dog and they all have been micro chipped, it is not cruel & they don’t feel a thing. We got our dog back by having a chip. Member of Sag, Mr. Bric is the owner of a resturant, and if he has to park cars, make drinks, serve food, wash dishes, he does what needs to be done. If you were the owner of a business you would do what you have to do to keep things going, well maybe not. The people of Burbank elected Gary because he was the best choice, even if they “thought” he was a bartender. Dare any of you to call Mr. Bric and set up a meeting with him in person, or even over the phone, you will find a different person.
s,
First, you have chosen to log yourself in on this blog with a lower case “s” or little “s.” Maybe that’s why some of the other commenters refer to you as little “s.” I believe you are the only one letter commenter on the blog, a very obscure way of identifying yourself.
As for why Gary Bric’s name comes up a lot on this blog: He’s the mayor and a top official in Burbank! That’s why his name and quotes frequently appear in the newspapers.
As you know there are a lot of serious issues, lawsuits and investigations swirling around the city. During times like these, residents as well as the media will turn to the mayor for answers. Gary Bric probably knows this because it goes along with the job. Handling tough questions and yes, criticism, are all part of the job of mayor as well. It’s a high-profile position with certain responsibilities, which Bric willingly accepted.
Also, the issues of the location of Bric’s restaurant and those trash-talking e-mails put the spotlight on Bric. An odd situation for the mayor to be in, so of course, it’s going to get him attention.
Little s,
That hit the nail on the head, I call you little s because you use a little s. sheesh you need a reality check.
If anyone is obsessed with the Ramp Bar, it is you. My Point was, and is that Mayor Bric has NO background or expertise in filming or in film equiptment. You keep going on and on about washing dishes, parking cars and mixing drinks. That only proves my initial point because you never bring up taking pictures or filming the parking lot as one of the mayors many duties.
My point is simple, I will leave mixing the drinks to the mayor and he can leave filming to those of us in the industry.
“The people of Burbank elected Gary because he was the best choice, even if they “thought” he was a bartender.”
and the people of America elected Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon to, so your point is ?
This Burbank film law is all about making the $$$ off anybody with a camera. I don’t buy they care one bit about the public. here’s the deal. Some big time company can pay and get the right to block off even the street you live on and make you wait to go home. Just pay the bucks and no problem cutting people off even from their house.
Let some small guy come along and these city people jump all over it to protect their big time buds that fork over the big time bucks. Can you spell control the news and cut the competition for the buddies ?
It’s like the Wall Street bail outs. What did you get from the bail out ? Some government employee hand you even a penny ? If this had been wome buddy of their filming cars they would have asked to hold the camera and help but it was a small time guy and the gather like a bunch of vultures to snag the money off him.
The cartoon in the paper, wonder what it cost the city to get that over exageration printed there ? They think we are fools and base our decisions on cartoons. That’s how much they think of us and it’s why they think they can do anything they want, hand us a cartoon and we will say yes your majesty to them.
No doubt the film law is about the city making money, and no doubt it works great to harass people who the high and mighty officials don’t personally like.
If you have a camera I suggest you rent a storage locker outside of Burbank and store it there. You never know when they might go house to house looking for cameras. Burbank has become sur-real.
Hoping that police officers begin letting us all in on just who orders when laws are enforced and on who they get enforced really soon. It really seems something is wrong here in Burbank to me. So many things really don’t make any logical sense so what is behind the nonsense or should I say who is behind it and why ?
Responding to comments about our local Burbank newspaper, I don’t read it because I got fed up with being told about who goes to what party and what they wore. For real news just hang out places around town and you will hear it all direct from people who saw what really happened. Thats my thre cents on it.
My new Bubank Water and Power bill arived yesterday. The fees are higher and it is robbery what they are charging us.
Does anyone know how much the top people at Burbank Water and Power are being paid and if they just got raises. I bet the high costs are not because of the real workers something tells me the top bosses are overpaid and all make to much money for what they do.
Who knows how much the top bosses there are getting from us ?
For the record I voted for Gary Bric. I did so due to Councilman Gordon.
Councilman Gordon is a small business owner and the only one I feel ever expresses any concern about what concerns me.
I felt that Gary Bric would be the same as a small business owner. I have been very disappointed because he doesn’t do anything but agree with the others.
It is my opinion, right or wrong, that our city officials have no experience of what our lives are like. They spend their time with very wealthy developers and live insulated lives. They sit and make decisions without no care for how we are impacted.
Gary Bric is a small business owner but he has disappointed me because he never stands up and says how will these effect the poor fixed income people in Bubank. His has been an attitude of oh well this will just cost everyone more. I am disgusted with that attitude because it shows favoritism to people already paid well and no concern for those of us who struggle to pay them already.
Who knows how much the top bosses there are getting from us ?
Don’t get me started on how obscene all the charges are on these bills.
Buzzie9,
The Chief of Police and the City Attorney are behind most of the problems! There is a reason nepotism is wrong. Take the coach Sandoval incident, Barlow decides to file charges in an obvious attempt to discredit a person complaining to the city council.
To a much more sinister degree, the Chief of Police does the same thing. If you vacation with the chief legal affairs CA, Juli Scott, then off course you can enforce whatever you want. I have heard of incidents where the Chief used Burbank special police units to enforce laws outside the city against people he didn’t like in his neighborhood in Sun Valley. This is provable if you talk to the people who were harrassed and arrested.
I would not be surprised if Jim Carlile gets set up by the police soon enough! Keep up the good fight for the truth Jim, but watch your back! Oh and by the way Jim, the “secret files” that you wrote about are real. The chief has the “Intelligence Detective” maintain ongoing files of all sorts of people in Burbank, including outspoken writers like yourself. If you ask the chief he will tell you that officially the intel dick is working as a info source for stuff like terrorism.
When was the last time you saw terrorists in Burbank???
Stretch I thought it was illegal to use police to gather information on people just because you want to use the informationn against them ?
If this is true our cops should reveal what they have been ordered to do and those responsible should go to jail for this activity.
If what Stretch said is true we have city people gone wild. There is somebody called the intelligence detective for real ?
Could it be that we have representatives that honestly believe this is the proper way to do business ?
I have no way of knowing if all these things are true but at this point I believe all these people must be investigated to determine if it is or not.
What is described in many of these things is simple tyrany. You know the kind where a little power goes to a persons head and BAM they become a tyrant without even knowing it.
It is totally true and questionable as to its legality. The files exist and are very complete (photos, back criminal records, financial records, etc..) Many police departments abuse this authority under the guise of “intelligence” gathering. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0322-03.htm
Burbank has several files on people like Mike Nolan, Esther Espinoza, and so on. Anyone who the chief deems a problem.
Does the council particpate in all of this and that’s why they have secret sessions ?
Secret files on people because some council member doesn’t agree with the person sounds like China or Cuba to me. If they do this there is no way it’s legal.
I wonder if people ask the Police Commission to look into if there are secret files on people they would do anything at all ?
lmao Jon, title to this story is Burbank Police Commission gets down to business, I’m holding my breathe for them to do something. I’m turning blue waiting but no progress from them is any where in sight.
I agree with basically what Fronnie says in #99. Sorry I missed the point about little “s”, wasn’t thinking and thought different. Member of SAG #100, don’t know anyone on Council with expertise in your field, that goes for all 5 Council members. Seeing the picture in the Leader of the equipment they used, sorry that’s not your basic hand held camera you use at a family gathering. Don’t know if Gordon or Bric were aware of the info provided in the Leader, but they both thought the violation of the law or the ordinance was border line. Would love to see some comments on Fronnie’s latest blog about the passing of Walter Cronkite, hard to believe only her and I found time to post a response.
Thanks for your concern, Stretch.
I would think that people inside the city of Burbank are smart enough to realize that ever since the Mayor of Burbank sent me threatening e-mails wherein he expressed his displeasure about things I had written in the Leader and elsewhere, and kept talking about “we,” I now have in my possession direct evidence of a retaliatory motive should any adverse action suddenly befall me.
At least, I hope they do, because I do.
When it comes to files, you guys are aware that former Leader columnist Will Rogers used to boast about his files on people and things all the time?
In fact, anyone else remember how he kept saying he had evidence on something big, and people kept challenging him to produce it, and then all of a sudden he claimed that someone had deviously entered his house while he was gone away to a meeting and the burglar alarm was broken, and they had stolen the exact boxes wherein his evidence lay?
That was a classic column–a real hoot. I’ll try to find it– about ’99 or 2000.
These guys are really classic. It’s always the same old story around here.
p.s.
I just wanted to add, that a lot of people in town blame the BPD for these problems, but it should be remembered that in almost every case they are not the ones who are making policy here.
They don’t make an adverse personnel move without getting guidance from Dennis Barlow and the city attorney’s office. It’s Barlow and his people who advise (and ultimately decide) on firing and demotions, and who handle all discrimination complaints.
The PD is not calling the ultimate shots here, so don’t blame them. They just get the heat.
This fact means that the blame squarely belongs to the city attorney and his staff for all of these adversarial situations. Some of them are unavoidable in the course of their duties, but my beef has always been with Barlow and people like Juli Scott. I think if we replaced them with attorneys who were more progressive and sophisticated– and less into punishment and reprisal — 95% of our city’s legal problems would go away.
I partially agree with you Jim. However, I think you underestimate the power of the police chief in Burbank. Especially the current chief Tim Stehr.
You are correct that Juli Scott approves all the legal aspects of action, but it is insider knowledge that the PD controls a great deal of city management. Remember they have one of the largest budgets in the city and maintain all the dirt.
When the facts surrounding the current crisis come out, it will be evident that the Chief cooks em’ and Scott cleans em’.
hey s
Why on earth would you basde your info on a cartoon not to mention the cartoon is located in the Burbank Leader. Do you honestly believe that the cartoonist went out and measured the actual camera and made a size porportioned cartoon ? Its called a cartoon because its a charicature and exaggerated in porportion. Give me a break it can’t be hand held because the cartooon says so, I sure don’t get my new or base my opinions on cartoons.
Stretch and Jim
If my facts are right the City Attorney works for and carries out the orders of the city council members by simple majority vote. This means the things you are talking about come right off the orders of a council majority, and if they don’t the defacto do because the majority can direct him other wise any time they want. Did I miss something in summing up where the buck stops ?
It’s time for the Mayor and Council to shake up that city attonrneys office, unless of course it abuses people just like they instruct it to.
In theory the city attorney and city manager take guidance from the council, but in reality they make most of the the decisions, and in legal situations the council stays out of the way, which is appropriate. They are supposed to have no say in prosecutions or law enforcement.
Previous councils have indeed knocked heads– the best example was in the early 50s, when half of the old guard ended up in state prison for corruption. So they can do so, in a general sense.
Soon I’ll be writing about the one time in the recent past when we could have done so too, and almost did, but for one person on the council. Everything would be different now.
Tim R,
Officially the city council does have control over the city manager, city attorney and so on. However, it has been a long standing practice to preserve Burbank’s way of life to “shield” the council from legal affairs and internal crisis. Kind of a wall against accountability. If they don’t know about it…they are not liable.
It is been a long standing belief that anybody can get elected to the city council (a bartender or narcotics user) so the career city officials (20 years or more) really handle the bad stuff. Council people are only there for a few years.
Jim is right about getting rid of Juli Scott and her underlings (Barlow is not as inside as Scott). She has been screwing with the truth for over 20 years!
Jim,
How does one get a hold of you or make comments on your blog?
I’ll post an email contact on the blog. Others have asked too. I’m always open to tips and scoops as well, but I tend to stay aloof from that city hall crowd over there myself.
Hey stretch on your comment #126. “Anybody can be elected to the City Council ( a bartender or narcotics user ) that’s quite a comparison, did you grow up under power poles when you were a kid, sounds like your brains fried, come on, what are you on other then Mr. Happy Pills.
I just read this from the other blog
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/did-burbank-illegally-leak-officer-dunns-personnel-file-to-the-local-paper/
This brings up a big question. If it’s true then it must mean its what they did with the John Brady secret files too. It sounds to me like with friends secret files stay secret and with enemies secret files go out to the reporters or something like that. I hope someone finds out if this is really true and catches them at this stuff.
Hey S,
Why are you even on this blog? It appears that you are always negative to anyting that is written. Everybody knows and it is fact that Stacey Murphy (ex-mayor and council woman) plead guilty to a lesser charge of cocaine possession in order to avoid the other more severe charges. I would say that is proof of the drug use by a council person. As for the bartender thing…your small mind provided that factoid about your precious current Mayor.
Do something constructive and next time your having a drink with your buddy, tell him Rome is burning on his watch!
Stretch,
Would you prefer just everyone nodding heads in agreement with you? This is a exchange of opinions. 99% of the posts here seem to have a very anti-council feeling with extreme generalizations such as “the council doesn’t care about us” or “they are wasting our money” and light on facts.
Facts such as the filming ordinance was enacted before Gary Bric was even elected. That might be important to Member of SAG who lashed out at him for this law that he had nothing to do with.
Yes – the council does make bad decisions sometimes, but the city council does not determine who gets prosecuted from the city attorney’s office.
Most of these posts tug at the conspiracy theory that all of us can get pulled into at one point or another. “They are out to get us” mentality. Here is a tip – the animal shelter is just that – an animal shelter. They made one mistake and people are yelling off with their heads. “s” said that the wrong breed was put on the form – that is VERY interesting and would explain quite a bit – no?
Also – those who are attacking “s” for her name – why dont’ you put your full name on the board?
Stretch,
How is this productive to the conversation, “As for the bartender thing…your small mind provided that factoid about your precious current Mayor. ”
Jeez…
My thoughts are that many of these bloggers supported the Berlin’s run at City Council and have never “gotten over it”.
The dislike and hate for our mayor are shining through. Perhaps instead of actually wanting to contribute to Burbank’s well-being you would prefer to harp on every decision he makes – whether it benefits Burbank or not.
Fronnie,
While these stories are important and valid I’m really looking for some balance. You could go the route of Jim C.’s blog (which you’ve quoted) and choose a side which he has clearly done, or you could be an objective blogger and report both sides. How about comments from the Councilmembers involved?
Here’s a story. Think of a the many thousands of people that are homeless. Then hearing that Glendale’s shelter that normally is open during the winter had been shuttered. Now Burbank is the only choice.
Now – think of Dr. Gordon trying to shut it down. Yes – that is exactly what happened. For all the sympathy this board shows to everyone harmed by the filming ordinance or the animal shelter – imagine being kicked to the curb during winter.
Real class act.
If you read Jim C’s blog post – there is not a shred of evidence on that regard.
Also the Daily News had an article that mentioned Dunn by name at almost the same time as the Leader did. Nobody can say that the Daily News article was biased either – it reads like it was put out by the plaintiff’s attorney.
>>This brings up a big question. If it’s true then it must mean its what they did with the John Brady secret files too. It sounds to me like with friends secret files stay secret and with enemies secret files go out to the reporters or something like that. I hope someone finds out if this is really true and catches them at this stuff.
While past events may be interesting it occurs to me there are many, many current evets that are crying to be dealt with.
Something is very wrong in a city where more and more of it’s own police are filing charges against the city.
It brings back in my mind images of Rodney King and Rampart. Maybe because those images flash in front of my mind I am unable to say, let’s look at the past and say we have a great city.
I was rather shocked to read this “Facts such as the filming ordinance was enacted before Gary Bric was even elected. That might be important to Member of SAG who lashed out at him for this law that he had nothing to do with.”
How quick some are willing to just grab the towel of denial and let things remain the same in Burbank.
as I remmebr it, it was Mayor Marsha Ramos who brought forth the film ordinance for review, and yes Councilman Bric voted on this ordinance. Maybe I missed something but I believe that Mayor Bric was quoted in the Leader regarding the ordinance, which was perhaps the reason why people talked about him, his comments and his involvememnt in the filming law.
Al in so cal, maybe I am wrong but it sounds often to me that you go off half cocked with partial facts and many innaccurate facts. Do you read the newspaper and watch city council meetings on your TV ?
From what I read about the homeless shelter, which is a rather old issue now, the issue was bringing megan law list child predators into a location close to a park and a school. If I remember what I read this created the problem and even created issues with state law as to where pedofiles can be in relation to a school or park.
Flanburbank your memory is right Mayor Bric did vote on the film law that we have. I remember watching because none of them knew anything about film equiptment and the discussion they had was embarassing.
No – you’re right – my bad. He did vote on it. I was thinking he wasn’t mayor at the time.
ps – glad you’re not homeless. Those “facts” were brought about by the not-in-my-backyard folks who actually have a bed to sleep in. I gather all it takes is 1 bad apple to toss out homeless women and children. Do you deny that women and children would also have been tossed out if the shelter were to close?
>>>as I remmebr it, it was Mayor Marsha Ramos who brought forth the film ordinance for review, and yes Councilman Bric voted on this ordinance. Maybe I missed something but I believe that Mayor Bric was quoted in the Leader regarding the ordinance, which was perhaps the reason why people talked about him, his comments and his involvememnt in the filming law.
Ok this will settle it al in so cal, so watch the video and see just who wrote the filming law. Oh by the way, this starts with the question what about a tripod, it’s ok according to what the guy tells vice mayor Reinke. Watch it Al and see who was there ok ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OoCrLLkTLA&feature=channel
It’s only as quick as the members of this board are to grasp the negativity and continually harp on every decision coming out of city hall.
I stopped watching the council meetings because I was sick and tired of watching the usual suspects get up – grandstand – and harp on every aspect of Burbank.
Shockingly – I like living in Burbank! Election after election has proven more people actually agree with me, than you, the Berlins, Dr. Gordon, or the numerous council challengers. This is the reason we have elections – they matter!
>>How quick some are willing to just grab the towel of denial and let things remain the same in Burbank.
Al if you watched the issue and read what about it they did not allow families or children to stay there due to safety concerns. It’s not denial the shelter did not allow families or children to use it they were very clear about that if you watched the council meetings.
Actually – before your post I already admitted I was wrong. I was thinking he wasn’t mayor.
I can actually admit when I make a mistake.
>>Ok this will settle it al in so cal,
I think it’s sad – trying to defend closing a homeless shelter during the winter. No matter the case – actually.
Sad situation – and I’m thankful 4 on the city council (the ones I voted for) made the right decision to keep it open. Vote – 4 to 1 as usual.
I mean – literally what is next? It’s like you people think everyone that works for Burbank, every police officer, every staff member is against the citizens. It’s hard for me to comprehend your thinking process.
Do you vote?
>>Al if you watched the issue and read what about it they did not allow families or children to stay there due to safety concerns. It’s not denial the shelter did not allow families or children to use it they were very clear about that if you watched the council meetings.
Al in SoCal,
I’m really not your personal source for information. I write the stories the way I see them. That’s what a blog is about. Now if you want to read other stories or other opinions of the stories I’ve written about, it is your responsiblity to seek out other news sources.
Or perhaps start your own blog where you can write your own “balanced” stories.
Also,you complain a lot about the opinions of the commenters here— but you keep coming back. I think there are variety of different opinions here and that’s a good thing.
News flash for al in so cal,
Sorry to say two I voted for, voted for the shelter to house homeless near a park. Got to be more carefull whom I vote for in the future.
I haven’t read that people think all officers are against the citizens, infact I have read the opposite.
So you asked if people vote, I answered. Now here is a question for you. Since you don’t watch city television or read much in the press just where do you get your information about Burbank ?
Like where did you get that Gary Bric didn’t vote for the film laws ? Where did you get families and children stay at the shelter, just to name a few things you have me wondering about.
Arman
Thats a great clip you just posted. Seems no matter what a cartoon may show about a tripod, from what I head on the clip tripods are ok. So who got confused ?
One of the long standing problems with elections in Burbank has been highlighted right here today. Voters who vote with a lack of knloweldge and an agenda.
Take a look around, that has brought us the police station and the millions to fix a new building. It has brought us pools that fell apart and now we are looking at lawsuits.
The city needs to do a much better job of keeping cictizens informed because the way it is now it takes more time and effort than most people are willing to give.
Thanks for the blog Fronnie, and Jim thanks for your blog as well.
Actually (3rd time writing this) I was thinking Gary Bric wasn’t mayor at the time.
If the Mike Nolans of the world stop using their entire allocation of free airtime every Tuesday I might go back to watching the city council meetings – until then I will skip them.
Here is a question for people so worried about all the tax $$ Burbank is spending – how much $$ have Mike Nolan’s various appeals and suits cost the city of Burbank? He is unelected and has cost the city thousands and thousands of dollars defending itself. All the planning board appeals, etc etc.
How can you have an objective opinion of anything in Burbank if by your own words, “Burbank has nothing more than the ‘appearance’ of law and order, but behind the ‘appearance’ is a very nasty and dirty reality.”?
Ah – and you know better than the voters.
We bow to you – all knowledgeable one – please vote for us – the ignorant and meek. The problem with our election system is a pathetic turnout.
If these elections are sooo very important to you tell us how many precincts you walked for your candidate to spread your uber-knowledge and enlighten those of us unenlightened.
>>One of the long standing problems with elections in Burbank has been highlighted right here today. Voters who vote with a lack of knloweldge and an agenda.
I find it very interesting that when an animal shelter employee doesn’t check a logbook – you are calling for an investigation, but when someone is arrested (Sandoval), or might be breaking the rules (tripod issue – note I said might) – then it’s like “why are they harassing that person?”
I don’t know if Sandoval is guilty or not – but the disparity of the comments here is eye-opening. If it’s an agenda someone is looking for – you need not look any further than the comments on this board.
Why am I not at all surprised by the dismissive reply ?
I was speaking of the city getting information about the city out there for people. I was talking about how many have no idea about the facts of anything here in Burbank. I was speaking of the shock many have hearing about the lawsuits and who is filing them, when they have simply been told everything is going great for so long.
Perhaps your pathetic turn out is the result of a difference between those who could care less about being an informed voter and those who will not and do not vote if they don’t feel informed.
Burbank has become static and time has passed it by. We have a group who for their own self interest wants to keep things as is, without any change.
Al in SO Cal,
Your right, I ‘m sorry. I am just going to forget all these flippant comments. I love living in Burbank as well. I will just dismiss the fact that all my tax dollars are going to lawsuits that could have been avoided. I will sleep well at night knowing my great neighborhood is patrolled by only a few racists. It’s only a few, right? I love having peoples civil rights violated so I can enjoy my morning coffee.
Why do we even need a police commission or a city council for that matter?
Thanks for your prudent rational..it is so refreshing.
Getting amusing there al in so cal, all over the map and now since you brought up the coach, let me know how long you followed the story.
Have any idea about the appeal process that was such a disaster they had to run and scramble to salvage it ?
Hey!
Al is so right. The mayor only pays the poor shelter workers 10 bucks an hour, we get what we pay for.
People should be reuired by law to chip a cat, and like has been said it’s their fault if they don’t. If Al apporves they should be arrested and lynched for failing to do so on a gallows over the fountain in front of city hall.
I love Burbank, hate personal freedom and choice and Al has convinced me that anyone who sees anything wrong here, well they should be chipped, tracked and files kept on them untill such time as they might be arrested and put away for the peace and tranquility of Burbank.
I find it very interesting that when an animal shelter employee doesn’t check a logbook – you are calling for an investigation, but when someone is arrested (Sandoval), or might be breaking the rules (tripod issue – note I said might) – then it’s like “why are they harassing that person?”
Hey
I agree with Al. Why does anyone need an investigation when Al just told us went wrong and why. Question asked and answered so no one should need an investigation at this point.
Tripods should be banned in Bubank. That ends the question and the problem. If you like tripods there is no room for you in Burbank so move.
Coaches bring up way to much controvery so if Al approves I say we get rid of them and just have umpires, cross our fingers that umpires all just get along and that settles the problem right there.
Thanks Al we have solved all the hot topics of Burbank and now the peace is restored.
I think this is untrue. Perhaps you believe that but I don’t.
I think you are disappointed by our election and feel that there is not enough information out there because you simply do not like the results.
I’m finding more and more about this board. If the people on this board don’t like the results it’s because of racists, self-interested councilmembers, rights violators, deadbeat commissions, ignorant voters, etc.
Don’t you see that in these posts?
>>Burbank has become static and time has passed it by. We have a group who for their own self interest wants to keep things as is, without any change.
My work here is done. My healing hands flow with truth and justice.
Yes – sometimes investigations are warranted, but for this ONE incident. I mean – with all the whining about our tax dollars – let’s not spare ANYTHING to find out the truth about Kitty Pants!
>>Thanks Al we have solved all the hot topics of Burbank and now the peace is restored.
Anything?? All I see here is that “everything” is wrong. What exactly do you like in Burbank? I have yet to see any of that in ANY of these messages.
>>I love Burbank, hate personal freedom and choice and Al has convinced me that anyone who sees anything wrong here,
Dear Al,
I have read the blog. The blog is actually about and a discussion of current events in Burbank. The only one who keeps wanting to shift the bolog topic off to past history is YOU.
I saw you don’t follow issues so maybe you are just unaware of the current issues so all you can think about are issues from the past when you followed issues but the only one writing about the past is you.
Oh there is one exception, you made it clear that people who buy a cat are terrible people according to you.
Get yourself a subscription to the Times and Daily News, as news continues to break even you will be shocked as the information comes out in court about what has been business as usual Burbank style.
As yet unreplied to.
>>What exactly do you like in Burbank? I have yet to see any of that in ANY of these messages.
REMAINS UNANSWERED:
So you asked if people vote, I answered. Now here is a question for you. Since you don’t watch city television or read much in the press just where do you get your information about Burbank ?
Like where did you get that Gary Bric didn’t vote for the film laws ? Where did you get families and children stay at the shelter, just to name a few things you have me wondering about.
Here is my analysis:
1. The next election – everything will stay the same.
2. The voices here are a minority who voted for the Berlins
Was anyone ever a member of the Taxpayers of Burbank Yahoo Group that the Berlins ran? I’m sure there are because the comments here are exactly like the comments there.
REMAINS UNANSWERED:
Getting amusing there al in so cal, all over the map and now since you brought up the coach, let me know how long you followed the story.
Have any idea about the appeal process that was such a disaster they had to run and scramble to salvage it ?
Now we are doing analysis ?
LMAO do you want everyone here to do an analysis as well ?
Wow – CAPS? That’s neat!
I guess I could tell you for a fourth and final time that I was thinking about when Gary Bric became mayor – not councilmember.
Al in SoCal,
I don’t agree with you at all Al. In fact, the commenters here ask some very tough questions and bring up important issues. And the generalization you made about how the commenters react if they “…don’t like the results” is way off the mark.
As I read your comments today Al, I get the impression you are seeing only what you want to see or read. Apparently, it really doesn’t matter how anyone responds to you — you are going to keep up the negative bashing of this comment section.
Sure Flip – dismiss the questions. Say you like living in Burbank then continue to rag on it – endlessly. Yawn – tired.
I’ve already seen your analysis – everyone is against the people. Here is a quote from your buddy Stretch, “I will sleep well at night knowing my great neighborhood is patrolled by only a few racists.”
Al in SoCal,
For the record, I’m a Burbank voter and I did not vote for the Berlins. And I comment here. So your generalization about “The votes here are a minority and voted for the Berlins.”
Actually, from what you have written here today –YOUR VIEW — is the minority …. in my opinion.
Fronnie lewis
Your comments are the same as my thoughts. Our nation is strong not because we have a tradition of no questions asked, it’s because we have a strong tradition of questioning authority.
I presume there are some who thought segregation was acceptable due to it’s long history. However that did not make it so. If those who began to question had not done so it would remain in place today.
There are things posted here that I don’t share the same view, however I appreciate the view as it makes me think and re-examine things in my own thoughts. So thanks to everyone.
I would never turn off a City Council Meeting simply due to the fact I don’t agree with something Mike Nolan or even Esther Esspinosa said. I want to hear what they think whether I agree each and everytime or not.
I believe we have a very caring city, however I don’t believe that based on opening a shelter and busing people off to some building in an obscure corner of Burbank. I believe it as we all sit and listen, regardless of whether we agree or not.
As the saying goes, I may not always agree with Esther Espinosa but I will defend her right to be heard and I will listen to her. Turning her off and running to a shelter makes no sense to me, as she is right there begging to be heard.
I am tripping out! The negativity is not coming from me – I don’t think anyway.
I’m saying while I don’t like the lawsuits, etc coming out of city hall – I do like the way Burbank is progressing as a whole. I have yet to see one comment not bashing the city council – or the city departments.
I will wait to see if balance comes to the blog, if not it will simply become a vehicle for those running against the current councilmembers and will lose “the other side” if you will.
I have said I don’t like some things going on – but the sheer volume of band-wagon jumping on this board is amazing. Nothing is right, nothing is correct, nothing is going well, etc etc etc. Jeez….
>>you are going to keep up the negative bashing of this comment section.
When it’s every week – every comment is ragging on the city – yes it gets tired. I guess you are just a better citizen than I.
It’s amazing how welcome you are to opposing opinions – you’re just a breath of fresh air. How wonderful to always keep the tv on to every opinion all the time.
>>I would never turn off a City Council Meeting simply due to the fact I don’t agree with something Mike Nolan or even Esther Esspinosa said. I
Al in SoCal,
Clearly, you are not about discussion, but about antagonizing the commenters. That’s not productive nor is it interesting.
If all you want is head-nodding agreement then I will leave you at it. You can all agree with each other.
I can take some comfort that for the next 2 years at least it will continue to be 4 to 1 votes overriding the paranoid rantings of conspiracy at the city that you supposedly love to live in (yeah right).
It’s amazing how welcome you are to opposing opinions – you’re just a breath of fresh air. How wonderful to always keep the tv on to every opinion all the time.
Honestly Al my comment was intended to share my view of things with all on the blog. I do not believe that my message attacked the city. It is very apparent that you have no eyes or ears for anything contrary to what you want to think and hear, in all honesty no one required you to even read my message.
Al Sayz
I can take some comfort that for the next 2 years at least it will continue to be 4 to 1 votes overriding the paranoid rantings of conspiracy at the city that you supposedly love to live in (yeah right).
Danny sayz:
Use a little windex on the crystal ball Al, things may come in clearer in the months ahead.
About Mike Nolan– as far as I know, he’s spoken at comment periods during some Planning Board appeals, but he’s never filed one.
He did act as intervenor in the ROAR case a few years ago, but remember— it was the city who sued to vacate the ROAR initiative, not Nolan or anyone else. People should blame Burbank for all of the expense– it wasn’t the critics’ fault at all.
The problem with the homeless shelter was that most of the residents were from Glendale– they were being pawned off on Burbank because Rick Caruso didn’t want them around his new Americana. But the Glendale shelter has been finished for awhile and will now house them next winter.
Of the filming permits, Bric and the others did vote on the new ordinance, which Kevin Muldoon did not violate, by the way– that’s why the police never cited him.
And worse, he did exactly what the city attorney told the council the intent of it was– he complied with them by stopping his filming. So if he complied, why is he now being prosecuted?
Here is an electric question. The news says to cut back on your air because the grid has all this demand. ok so if you didn’t hear about that you heard about it now.
So here is the question. It’s hot and ofcourse people ned lots of air to survive. Why do they keep building more and more stuff to use more and more electric if they are short on electric ?
They keep making the bills bigger and bigger and then they say use less electric. Its stupid. If you don’t have enough electric then stop building more and more buildings to use it.
Think about it, they just say shortage this and shortage that to charge you more for it. If you pay more you get as much as you want. I don’t believe the shortage on water or electric, they just want more money.
Al in SoCal: Where have you been the last two weeks, your spinning your wheels like I have. All we do is upset the 25-30 people, let them live in their small little world and complain and complain. For the record when it comes to the election of 2007, I voted for Bric and Carolyn Berlin because of her years on the Planning Board, I couldn’t support a Husband/Wife ticket, no pillow talk. In regards to whom ever made the comment about freedom of speech, they are right but when the same speakers address the Council every week, I think they lose their credibility.
After reading for awhile it’s time for me to weigh in
here.
I am not sure what is going on in the lawsuits against the city but they really bother me. Not just because they can cost us millions either, although that does worry me as well.
Not sure why it’s all important who anyone voted for at all, but I do expect to see some leadership with everything that’s going on at City Hall.
Who I or anyone voted for has nothing to do with today and how the council leads us through these terrible financial and moral times we find ourselves in.
Can someone explain to my why exactly a few people bring up the election of 2007 over and over again ? In case you didn’t notice we had an election in 2009.
Why is the election of 2007 so important to a few in here I really do not understand.
Can you say stuck in time Terri ? Their writers groove got stuck in the spring of 2007 and they just can’t get a new groove.
Previous comments were made about the Berlins, even Fronnie makes a comment about it and it’s her blog. People have made comments about Kitty Pants, what does that have to do with the curent topic about the Police Commission. If everyone would just comment about the topic, you wouldn’t have 183 comments, and this narcotic/bartender bit falls into those comments. Makes some sense, yes.
s,
Actually, I respond to the ranting of Al that we were all supporters of the Berlins in the comment section. One of his many misstatements and exaggerations today. I have nothing against the Berlins and I too wonder why certain folks keep bringing them up.
As for Kitty Pants. The Police Chief Tim Stehr gave a status report on the Kitty Pants saga at last week’s police commission meeting. That’s why I included Kitty Pants in this story about the police commission. It’s as simple as that.
I just don’t get why some folks don’t like what they read here—but can’t stop reading and commenting about it. Strange.
Fronnie: Personally, when you decide the topic for your blog, why can’t you make the comments pertain to only the subject rather than have people stray from that discussion. That goes four everyone, even little “s”.
s,
That’s a pretty hard line. Also, I think some of the side discussions have been interesting. So I have no plans to change the format for now.
OK
To s,
See you really on see what you want to see and you don’t read everything. Fronnie Lewis is right. You say what does the kitty pants have to do with the police commission, but read this from the story about that group right here on this topic.
‘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.’
So what the cat caper has to do with the commission topic is right there if you read it and it’s there because of the police chief from what I see.
This business about 2007 and who ran and who didn’t run is what has nothing to do with anything from this topic or anything in current events at all.
s I suggest that you and al read everything and not just see what you want to see and then claim things that just are not even true.
s are you not the one that based your opinion about the camera guy on a cartoon ?
My thoughts
I voted for Jess Talamantes. One person, one vote and he is the only one I voted for.
He has experience and is more active in the community than all the rest of them combined.
I had hopes that he would be mayor but they put that embarassment Gary Bric in as mayor. What on earth were they thinking ? Next I hoped Jess Talamantes would be vice mayor and they put the brain dead woman in that position.
Jess Talamantes should have been mayor and David Gordon whould have been vice mayor. Bric has got to be the biggest embarassment as mayor ever.
Call out the Police Commissioners to investigate what is going on with all of this. Buy them some bright lights, get them a dark room and a small table to sit the city attorney at, the Burbank Leader at and get to the bottom of all this. Yes I am serious.
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/
I have a few questions about the lawsuit filed by Detective Dunn.
Here is the Leader story http://www.burbankleader.com/articles/2009/07/19/publicsafety/doc4a6098b742d03288745576.txt
and above BF has a story about what is in the Leader story.
This is what confuses me.
“In a March 9, 2007, letter to Burbank Police Chief
Tim Stehr, Los Angeles County District Atty. Steve Cooley determined that Dunn did indeed tip off the informant, action that amounted to “obstruction of justice, an act involving moral turpitude.”
Roughly a year later, on July 17, Dunn received a 21-page notice of termination, citing the informant case and alleging diminished credibility among other agencies.’
What I don’t get is it doesn’t say a year later Detective Dunn was found guilty of the accusations ? Was he or wasn’t he ? What does ‘citing the informant case’ mean ? Does this mean you get accused, you get cleared and you get fired ? Or does this mean you get accused, you get convicted and you get fired ? The way the Leader says this I can’t tell which it is.
Ryan C
Could be when the paper makes the cartoon about the detective you will better understand.
I am thinking after reading about Detective Dunn that if he were found guilty of anything the reporters would not be leaving that out as a fact. Because the stories leave you to just wonder my bet is Detective Dunn was found guilty of nothing.
You are right I don’t see anyplace where it says the cop was found guilty of anything so I am not sure what the point is of the acusation.
I looked and I agree the new story in the Leader is very confusing. The same part someone else questioned is a question for me but maybe for a different reason. It says
In a March 9, 2007, letter to Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr, Los Angeles County District Atty. Steve Cooley determined that Dunn did indeed tip off the informant, action that amounted to “obstruction of justice, an act involving moral turpitude.”
Roughly a year later, on July 17, Dunn received a 21-page notice of termination, citing the informant case and alleging diminished credibility among other agencies.
March 9,2007 it says the District Attoryeny wrote some letter and he handed a letter of termination a year later on July 17 which would mean July 17,2008.
First that would be a year and four months later and second what the officer doing during those 16 months is my question. Also if the letter from March 9, 2007 was some conclusion the officer was guilty of telling some inormant something why did it then take 14 months to terminate him ?
The math on this doesn’t really add up for some reason so what is missing in the story ?
Note to the Leader cartoon man. Have the detective standing on calendars to explain this story lol 🙂
Nothing adds up these days. Murder investigations don’t take 16 months…something is definitely fishy. I don’t think a lawyer would take a public case like this if there wasn’t more to the story.
It’s obvious from the tweet about Barlow and the Leader editor. They are in bed together. I wonder who paid for dinner?
Note to Leader cartoon man. Show Barlow paying for all the drinks at the cookoo cafe and the leader guy dancing on the table singing good times.
Stretch
Maybe they are so busy arresting those nasty felons with tripods in parking lots that they have no time for the murder investigations.
Chances are good the lawyer took the case and hopes to get paid when the officer wins. You are right attorney’s look very carefully at cases like that before they take them.
From my view point the city is certain to tell us how bad all and any officers are that file any claim. Funny how you can go from being the best and getting awards for it until you claim something is wrong.
I don’t know if the officer is in the right or in the wrong but I equally don’t just believe the city is in the right. In the minds of the genusises at city hall they are always right but I don’t buy that ever.
additional comment here. Looking at what is said about officer Dunn and his long background in law enforcement it is really hard for me to believe that he went from good cop to bad cop overnight. Could they prove to me that happened I guess so but like I said they would need to prove that to me because his background leads me to give him the benifit of the doubt for sure.
I think this page from the LAPD is about the same Officer Dunn that filed the lawsuit. It’s about him getting the medal of valor in 1999. The officers are not listed in alphabetical order not sure why but Officer Dunn is number 2 on the list.
http://www.lapdonline.org/september_1999/news_view/28393
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/mambo-jambo/
Disgusting!
Has anyone been able to read what the city and the paper are talking about ?
Why do they think they can just ‘infer’ things when they don’t just publish or hand out the document itself to everyone ?
I don’t need all of them to tell me what something says. Hand it over or print it and let me read it for myself.
Discredit and deny = damage control
The Burbank Officials never pursue the truth. I can see that when I watch their meetings on tv.
The Leader story was terrifically misleading about Dunn. The L.A. Times version was accurate. The Leader got purloined, leaked information from Dunn’s personnel file and they clouded the issue– covering big time for Burbank.
Here’s what happened:
Dunn was investigated for this informant claim after he prevailed in his discrimination complaint. It was done by three agencies, Burbank, Culver City, and the D.A.
Eventually, the witness against Dunn recanted, the investigation completely fell apart, and the D.A never followed through on the criminal charge against Dunn. No evidence.
But the BPD didn’t let it rest. D.A. Cooley wrote Dunn an angry reprimand anyway, which Burbank used as cause to terminate him a year later or so– after letting him go through all his due process disciplinary rights.
So even though Dunn was NEVER charged with anything, why did Burbank do this? Because they can– the employer can fire him anyway, plus they trumped up some “insubordination” charges to paper his file that revolved around the phony investigation.
The Leader didn’t tell you the whole story– they left it hanging and in doubt. They made Dunn look like a flake. And both the Leader and the city are in big trouble now, because they published specific details of Dunn’s termination papers from his CONFIDENTIAL personnel file. They violated Penal Code 832.7.
The story and article links are all here:
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/
Jim Carlile,
If you ever get this document the city provided to the Burbank Leader please publish it so I can see it.
I have lived in Burbank for many years and am well aware of the way they begin whispering untruths about people who question anything they do.
Note to Leader cartoon man. Place the city attorney grabbing a manilla folder from a file cabinet located at the kookoo resturant. Have him with smile on face and tap dancing singing good times!
Hey Jim
That’s my question, was Officer Dunn convicted of some crime or are they just making him sound bad with no real basis for it. If he was investigated he was either charged or not charged, if charged he was either found guilty or not found guilty. Those are the things that matter and not some slimy file that sets him up to just look bad. If all the Leader has is a look bad file from the city attorney it makes the Leader and the city attorney look really slimy.
Don’t forget tonight is a city council meeting. I wonder what surprises we will get to watch tonight on television.
Hopefully Al in so cal tunes in so he understands what everyone is talking about tomorrow lol.
I plan to watch to hear what Mike Nolan asks about, and in honor of al in so cal I plan to use the mute button when the mayor speaks.
Jim Carlile,
How does one leave information for you? I have some interesting factual tidbits for your stories.
There’s a comment area on both the ‘about’ and ‘google’ section of the blog, for anyone who wants to get in touch.
Dunn was never ultimately charged with anything. They initially charged him with tipping off an informant, then investigated it, then dropped it, but they wrote him up some big time reprimands anyway.
They can do that. It gave them the evidence to ultimately terminate him. Remember, a police officer does not have to be guilty of a crime to be terminated.
About the documents: according to the Brown Act, once public agencies hand over documents to one party– even exempt ones — they must hand them over to whoever else requests them.
So now, anyone can go down to city hall and demand to view them, for free, or get copies for a reasonable fee.
If they refuse, you can file a complaint with the D.A. Won’t that be fun for them to handle…
BTW, the new story going aound is that Dunn himself was the one who gave the Leader the documents– I don’t believe it at all, because it makes no sense, tactically. And it would be violation of the Penal Code for anyone to do this right now– no matter who.
Hit it right on the head. In Burbank some get their very own day labor lounge. Owned and operated by contract through the City of Burbank this center requires NO license, NO fees, and NO legal status to work in the USA. With cash in hand deals, there are no state or federal taxes either, all guaranteed by none other than the Burbank City Council who operates it.
Ask youself just when the city has offered you such a sweet deal. The next time they arrest an American for daring to use a camera without paying them a fee to do it think about the Burbank Day Labor Center!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk5L_xzxYjk
We call it the American Dream, but in Burbank it’s the Burbank Dream. Reflections on life in Burbank and feeling safe from the City Council Meeting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUHYeaTL1xE
Here is my thing on this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk5L_xzxYjk
There are so many people losing jobs and searching for work and no way am I buying we need this or “those workers who the jobs Americans won’t do
‘ Americans have a right to work here and visitors legal or not legal have no right to work without a work permit. That’s the law and Burbank is breaking the law by protecting illegal employment and it hurts the worker and the economy. Funny how after they started this work center the economy just went further down the tubes.
BF you bring up something to think about. If someone went to the day labor center and hired say 20 labor guys to drag out cameras and speakers and microphones and film for you would the city even say anything ? After all they are exempt from license fees and all that right ? Very interesting question indeed.
I believe someone will defend the labor center however I suspect the same person who would do that will denegrate Mz Espinosa for her pleas for help.
It has troubled me for some time that Mz Espinosa pleads for help and as a citizen her please go unheard while mch time and effort is poured into protecting those who work in our state illegally.
Here is a question. That day labor center has electric and water right ? Who pays the bill for the water and the electric at the day labor center? How much you want to bet we do and they run the air with the door open so the bill goes high and then they jack up the rates on all of us to cover it.
Dorothy,
It bothers me as well that Ester Espinoza pleas for help are being ignored. I’ll have more to say on that later.
Lpooks like Jim Carlile has been right on his blog, give it a checxk out Detective Dunn has filed another lawsuit this time against the city and the city attorney by name. Looks like the good people of Burbank will now get to hire a top gun attorney to defend the city attorney so add that to the half a million already spent that Mike Nolan was talking about last night.
http://semichorus.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/update-dunn-sues-city-for-release-of-confidential-personnel-file-material/
I am in the hope that the attorney on this case will compel testimony from each council member, the city manager and the city attorney.
Here’s why. The mayor is in charge of meetings. I assume he is incharge of closed session but because they hide who knows. So who ordered the city attorney to meet with and strike a deal with certain news reporters ? Who gave the orders for a personell file to be released ?
These questions need to be answered. If it was the city attorney acting as a rogue attorney he should be hung out to dry. If it was the mayor he should be recalled. If it was a council majority they should be recalled. If it was the city manager he must be terminated.
Somehow they are all to smug and that leads me to think orders were given, but by whom ? At this point no matter where the growing number of lawsuits end up they will cost us all great amounts of money. As the people paying for their actions we have a right to demand answers, and they have an obligation to us to answer them.
The mayor needs to be questioned about this, he is the chairman of this council. He seems to know nothing and why is that ?
Tim R,
The city is not including the settlement they paid to a female gay officer last month. Nolan wasn’t specific so they left that big chunk out! 500,000 is chump change to what defending Barlow, Police Chief, and others is going to cost.
Is defending misconduct really good policy?
Hi Stretch
I can not understand why with so many under a cloud of suspicion some people are even still working. If the City Council continues to allow this City Attorney to run everything and tell them what to do they are a part of this themselves. I personally believe that the mayor needs to tell the city attorney to go home while this all goes through the court because he is acting in a way that will cost us more and more money. What is wrong with these people!
Honestly Stretch I heard Mike Nolan at the meeting say 500,00 and thought that is low ball and many expenses have been left out. When did they pay one officer 500,00 to be quiet ?
Nothing against Mike Nolan but when he held up and read from that memo regarding the officer last night I choked. There must be those same memos on many officers so why is only one being passed around ? I have but one answer, vindictive retailiation which is how this council seems to do business with everyone.
Is defending misconduct really good policy?
NO! The city attorney gives the council bad advice and it’s time to send him on his way. He is why we have all these costs, he created the mess and he needs to go.
Tim R,
I am not sure what the settlement was…but it wasn’t small. My point is Mike Flad and Barlow are again not telling the public the whole truth about what they have spent.
Eileen, you have to understand Burbank has never been challenged internally before. They are applying the same tactics used on Brady, coach Sandoval, and anyone who stands up…even thier own.
The mayor seems more worried about the Ramp and having a great steak than making this Burbankrupt!
Just about evryone knows or has heard about Burbank using these tactics for years. Some people are just in denial about it but that doesn’t change the fact its reality. Burbank is run by very mean spirited people.
You can only mistreat and bully people for so long before they start to stand up and say no more. It’s about time because they have trashed people and done whatever they want for way to long.
With regard to the mayor and vice mayor, we are not in good hands. Both of them are more concerned with themselves than anyone else that’s apparent just watching meetings.
I could say how sad this will cost us all so much money but freedom is not free and i’m afraid to be free of these tyrants it will cost us dearly.
You may be right about never being challenged internally, but I think the insiders that come clean and stand up for the truth will end up becomming the heroes in Burbank History.
I suspect there are many average citizens who have grounds to sue the city as well.
The council seems to have an attitude like if you don’t like what we do then sue us. Today they have a problem as people take them up on their offer.
I see the lawsuits as something the city really has been begging for. They are arrogant beyond belief and they never even follow their own rules.
Tim,
I don’t know. I think it will take the citizens of this city to start being more vocal. Espinzoa and Nolan are ignored, but with others behind them, they won’t be.
Councilman Gordon is all alone SOS!!!!
Well Stretch if people start going down to protest what they are doing maybe more people will come but you know people don’t go because they are afraid. They threaten people.
The do threaten people just look at Mayor Bric’s emails threatening Jim Carlile.
Does anyone know how to get a hold of Mrs Espinosa ? I wanted to send her something to help a little.
At first I had my doubts but this is developing into too much to ignore. It seems to me that we need some real leadership in the mayor’s seat and a staff that knows what they are doing.
Why is it that we get a new mayor and a new city manager and the whole town starts to fall apart ?
I watched the re-run of teh council meeting and where is the vice mayor ? Did she get arrested or something ?
Somebody wrote a few days ago that someone should tell the mayor Burbank is burning. Have they told him yet ?
What exactly is the mayor doing. Did he ever think that maybe if they stop mistreating people and start doing some seious apologies for their rotten actions just maybe things would start to get better ?
Imagine what a year in review under Mayor Bric is shaping up to look like ? The guy has been mayor what 2 months and everything spins out of control ?
One more thing, close that day labor center. There is no workers comp for injured workers and that’s what has screwed up our state health care system.
In fairness to Mayor Bric just maybe this was all set up by the mayor before him, David Golonski. It just could be Mayor Bric was handed a disaster Mayor Golonski created with his arrogant attitude.
There is a definite question here about how much the city council has been involved in any of this BPD mess. My suspicion is that it is internal and mostly attorney-related and the council only hears about these things when they blow up.
I doubt they are pulling the strings here– although at some point they have to put their foot down. Prediction: some retirements in the year to come.
The council’s longtime hands-off attitude, as well as their “you’re so wonderful and we are soooo lucky” words over the years have definitely contributed to this big problem. They’ve let them operate with impunity, combined with lots of love and admiration– so far.
As far as it goes with the Day Labor Center, my understanding is that it is run by Catholic Charities and Home Depot. I never see anyone there, ever.
By law, job-seekers are allowed to stand on public sidewalks and solicit work– so getting rid of the Center won’t change anything. You’ll just end up in a situation like what Glendale has over on Broadway by the paint store– next to their city hall.
Also, I’m also not convinced nowadays that they are all illegal, either. Anyone can go down there and get work if they want to.
Jim
I remember the hub ub when they opened up that day labor center. Way I remember it is somewhere around 100,000 a year is handed to the city who hands it off to catholic harity to run the place. Contract is with the city from what I remember.
I never go near the Home Depot, I won’t shop there but if you are right and no one uses it then whats the objection to closing it ?
Maybe we can’t check id’s for standing on a sidewalk but you register at the center. It’s not a sidewalk it’s a center and if you can’t check id’s there then stop checking id’s at Burbank Pools and the senior centers.
That center is a sham and it adds nothing to the city no matter how much the nerds in town who support it shout it does.
One of the problems is most people in Burbank don’t even know what is going on. They don’t read blogs or alternative means of information.
It will take reporting, which the Leader won’t do. So I am out of solutions. Mabye “Burbankruptcy” is the only way…but then it’s too late. Sorry skate park…we are out of money!
Who knows mabye the attorneys will donate some of the millions back to the community?
I think some people use the center, so if you shut it down they’ll just congregate on the street anyway.
The law doesn’t allow police to go and check people’s citizenship, and they have enough to do anyway– it’s the last thing they want to do. They can still detain and check IDs if they need to, so if there’s a reason they can do it.
The big problem is– who are you gonna check? people that look foreign? What if your grandkids have dark tans in the summer– they might get checked on the street, too. And then that just opens them up for more police scrutiny, to be detained for their looks. What if they mouth off? Boom– they’re in trouble. It opens a huge can of worms.
The cops don’t want to do this– like I said they can already detain anyone for a good reason if it looks like there’s trouble brewing.
If the charities do it then people just won’t come any more– they’ll go over to some other street– and then we’re back where we started. It’s not an ideal situation, sure. And if illegals are afraid that cops are going to hassle them, they’ll avoid cops and crime reporting and witnessing incidents– and then we all suffer.
Oh gheesh Jim Federal law requres all employers verify status of all employees. The center is registering people to find jobs. They don’t need to profile they ask everyone for proof like all employers and all temp services are required by law to do. The police shouldn’t be doing it the agency registering the workers for the temp jobs should be doing it.
Why is it that if you register with a temp service they are required to do it yet a city funded ‘so called non profit’ can make 100k and not do it ?
“And if illegals are afraid that cops are going to hassle them, they’ll avoid cops and crime reporting and witnessing incidents– and then we all suffer.”
How about citizens getting afraid of cops and not reporting crimes they witness any more ? If one more job asks for my social security number so cops can tax me I will never report a crime I see ever.
Stretch I think more people are reading the blogs all the time and less people are reading paper newspapers.
I have a great idea. If we don’t want people to be afraid of cops then stop giving all traffic tickets no matter what people do. Getting traffic tickets makes lots of people scared to talk to any cops.
Three cheers for Jon’s idea about ending the reporting of income using social security numbers. If refusing to report crimes will end the over taxation count me in.
What happens if we get a job and refuse to give our social security number for taxation purposes ?
Hey Donna
You get beaten and thrown into jail. They want you to fear the cops. What a mixed up society we live in.
And about Dave Golonski leaving a royal mess for Gary Bric, there is I am sure some truth in that. Biggest problem for Gary Bric is he swoons over Dave Golonski’s super intelligence and Bric didn’t catch on yet that it’s not super intelligence coming from Golonski each week its a blast of frigid air.
You are all a bunch of idiots! Get the facts before becoming professional critics. You make me sick!