File Photo from March 2008: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Council Member/Mayor Marsha Ramos
Former Burbank Mayor Marsha Ramos is speaking out again about those allegations of misconduct against the Burbank Police Department. Ramos is interviewed in Today’s Burbank Leader about a deposition she gave last month to attorneys representing five Burbank Police officers, who filed a lawsuit against the department in May of 2009, alleging discrimination, racism, harassment, and other civil rights violations.
The first time Ramos shared her concerns in the media about this lawsuit and the city “system” that produced it was last year on this blog: “I’m saddened, because I think this should have been avoided. Leadership is critical. That said, I recognize first hand, that hands are tied by a dysfunctional system that escalates conflicts to a point of no return.” More of Ramos’ comments published here on June 12, 2009.
In the Leader article, Ramos points an accusing finger at certain city officials for questionable handling of the allegations and for keeping city council members in the dark about problems in the city’s police department: “The amount of information that we, as a council, were given about police department issues was very, very limited.”
Also, Ramos blames a system that is broken:”What I really want is for the system to be improved, for the city to look at the hard issues raised through all of this and to fairly address the culture that created this.”
Meanwhile over on Jim Carlile’s popular blog, the depositions of Ramos and others have been discussed for several days now. In fact, Carlile published an interesting section from the transcripts of Ramos’ deposition showing the kind of pressure the former mayor/council member was getting from city officials. Details here.
Ramos returned to private life on April 30, 2009, when her last term on the Burbank City Council ended. During two terms on the council, Ramos served as mayor twice. Before being elected to the city council, she served on numerous city boards and commissions.
The only way Burbank can get down to coprrecting the culture that created this is to take action quickly and get rid of the good ol’ boys club run by Golonski.
I think all of this is like a virus that has made city hall more than just disfunctional, it has made it evil.
Years of corruption have left Burbank with broken streets, a broken council and a complete police department disaster.
All of this happened at the hands of complete incompetant council members like Reinke and Golonsky.
As residents we need to hold these people resonsible for what they have done to our city.
Top staff in Burbank is over paid and over rated. Mayor Ramos is pointing fingers at them for how they ‘mishandled’ everything and fingers should be pointed at them. They were very well paid by us taxpayers to mismanage everything. Why do the likes of former city manager Alvord get to sit back and collect money from us through retirement after she mishandled everything ?
The city council needs to stop supporting staff all the time and start showing staff who is the boss and who is in charge of Burbank.
This all makes me sick and it makes me sick that we elected such lame brains that hire such incompetant people at high prices to screrw things up like this.
Mz Ramos will find out now how she was the hispanic token for a lot of years.
The streets in Burbank are a mess that’s for sure. So what have they been doing with all the money for the last say 10 years ?
Ramos should call the FBI and ask for a meeting and tell them everything she knows. Burbank as to be cleaned up and the only way to do it is from outside because inside is just to much nepotism.
The system is the problem. It protects what is wrong and kills off what is right. Government has to much control of to many things and it’s time to make government step back.
Burbanks whole system is a joke. There should be a mayor elcted by the people and we should get rid of the city manager. I don’t think people who are not elected should be running anything in our government.
The city council needs to grow some balls and start handing out termination notices to the top people who should have been supervising everything that’s been going on.
Elected mayor ? I wonder if Gary Bric would be mayor if he had to be elected to that position ? He is a big disappointment with everything that is happening.
The culture that created this is a bad case of racism and intolerance for people who are different than they are.
Councilwoman A Renkie is one of the most intollerant people I have ever seen. So who voted here into office, maybe a coalition of racist groups ?
Things are certainly a bit strange these days in Burbank. I just may move.
People get over yourselves. Cops are paid to beat people and keep them under control so what’s the issue with that anyway. Do something you are told not to do and you get a beat down for it. That is called crime and punishment.
I for one was glad when Ramos retired. To read now that she was a part of many cover ups is no surprise as she did nothing whatsoever as a councilmember.
Now if this mayor and vice mayor would simply retire and move away we may just have a chance to get something done here.
I lived in Burbank for 2 decades and yes I learned that in Burbank schools. Theres so much to say and explain so in video so everyone can see would be the best. This has been a love of mine(videography) and I will show everyone how Burbank really is. Watch out for the BPD Burbank Police Army ready to tack on any offenses, ect. shred the gnar and stay loose. surfs up.