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Photo: FLLewis/ Media City G --The Los Angles Times and The Burbank Leader Saturday, February 10, 2018

The Burbank Leader’s parent company sold

By on Tuesday, February 13, 2018

A lot of chatter around the Southland and across the country about the sale of the embattled Los Angeles Times, the parent company of The Burbank Leader. Last Wednesday it was announced local billionaire/investor/philanthropist, Patrick Soon-Shiong, had agreed to buy the Times, the San Diego Tribune, and the California News Group for “$500 million in cash plus the assumption of $90 million in pension liabilities.” New owner for The Los Angeles Times Soon-Shiong made the deal with Tronc Inc, a Chicago-based media company. The Times will be locally owned for... Read More →

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Burbank Leader political cartoon November 15, 2014

City Buzz: Mayor Gordon reacts to Burbank Leader cartoon

By on Tuesday, November 18, 2014

A Burbank Leader political cartoon in last weekend’s November 15 edition has sparked some chatter around B-town. The cartoon focused on Burbank Mayor, Dr. David Gordon’s optometry business at 851 North Hollywood Way and the city council’s recent vote to keep in place the plan  to drop outside watering restrictions from three days to one day a week. This plan is part of an ordinance passed by the city council to deal with the severe drought problems. At the November 4 city council meeting, some residents criticized the so-called winter... Read More →

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News rack for The Burbank Leader

The Burbank Leader and those missing news racks

By on Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Back in February news racks for the Burbank Leader could still be seen on the streets, but no more. They have been removed. Despite the controversy and complaints from many residents, the news racks don’t appear to be coming back anytime soon or at all. The Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press and several other community newspapers are owned by the Los Angeles Times, which is in transition. On August 4, the L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, and several other major newspapers will spin-off to... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- A stack of Burbank Leaders at a checkout stand in the Handy Market on Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank July 16, 2014

City Buzz: Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press, and Tribune Publishing announcement

By on Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Demand for the Burbank Leader and its sister newspaper the Glendale News-Press, is apparently outpacing the supply of single issues of the newspapers available for readers. You have to wonder if this situation is going to get better or worse in light of yesterday’s announcement about the long-awaited spinoff of Tribune Publishing by the media giant Tribune Company. The spinoff is set to occur next month on August 4. Tribune Publishing includes several major newspapers, among them the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles... Read More →

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News rack for The Burbank Leader

City Buzz: Burbank Leader and Glendale News-Press controversy

By on Sunday, February 16, 2014

It didn’t take long for readers of the Burbank Leader to react to the ludicrous plan to remove all the paper’s outside news racks from city streets. Glendale News Press readers, who are victims of the same screwball  decision, responded as well.  The uproar prompted a newspaper editorial/weak apology. Here’s the first paragraph. “Some changes went into effect this week relating to the delivery of the Burbank Leader and Glendale News-Press that have caused a stir. Some of our loyal readers can’t find their... Read More →

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News rack for The Burbank Leader

Call-out: The Burbank Leader to remove all city news racks

By on Thursday, February 13, 2014

Outside news racks for The Burbank Leader have been disappearing from the city streets for some time. I have been critical of that fact in the past. Now the word from the editor, Dan Evans, is that all the Burbank Leader news racks will be history soon. Bad news. Terrible idea. The reason, Evans says, it’s “theft.” In a recent column about changes to the Leader and the Glendale News-Press, editor, Dan Evans, explained it this way: “Have you wondered why you were unable to... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis/Media City G - Char Tabet Burbank School Board candidate sign on West Olive Avenue Burbank January 14, 2013

City Buzz: Wholesale Giant fire, campaign 2013, and the Burbank Leader

By on Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Mystery surrounding Burbank fire So what’s up with the Wholesale Giant fire investigation? You might remember, a big blaze destroyed Wholesale Giant Inc, a tobacco and cigarette business, at 4410 West Victory Boulevard. The structure was packed with merchandise. The fire raged for hours on the morning of November 9, 2012. The day after, I took the photo (above) of a Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent on scene. Burbank Fire Captain Peter Hendrickson told me the fire was “suspicious” and that’s why the Feds had been... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Burbank Leader news rack, next to the Daly News, has beem removed January 3, 2013

Talk of the Town: Who will buy the Burbank Leader?

By on Friday, January 4, 2013

  The Tribune company, the owner of the Los Angeles Times and the Burbank Leader, emerged from a lengthy and expensive bankruptcy on December 31, 2012 — and now there is even more talk about selling assets — especially the newspapers.The Tribune has new owners and a new board of directors. The Tribune has in its financial portfolio eight major newspapers, among them the L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune, and several smaller papers ,and some websites as well as 23 TV stations — including KTLA in Los... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The Burbank Leader news stand at Mariposa Avenue and Riverside Drive in Burbank

The Los Angeles Times and Burbank Leader going up for sale?

By on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Los Angeles Times and its Times Community Newspapers, which include The Burbank Leader, are facing an uncertain future as 2012 wraps up. There’s a report out that the owners of the newspapers’ parent company, the Tribune Company, are quietly seeking advice from bankers about launching a fire sale after December 31, when the company is expected to emerge from bankruptcy. The Tribune has been in bankruptcy for four years. Last month,  the Tribune cleared the last major hurdle with the Federal... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- City Manager Mike Flad at a city council meeting at Burbank City Hall March 15, 2011

Burbank City Manager proposes dumping merit pay for some employees

By on Saturday, May 14, 2011

Major development involving Burbank’s controversial practice of merit pay for some employees. In the last fiscal year of 2009-2010, the city reportedly paid out an estimated $1 million in bonuses, during these hard economic times of cutbacks and reduced city services. The Burbank City Attorney’s Office is fighting a lawsuit to get details on those bonuses filed last January by The Burbank Leader/The Los Angeles Times. Last fall, the Leader filed a public records request for that information.  I also requested the same information from the City... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Porto's Bakery & Cafe 3614 West Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank

City Buzz

By on Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Leader sues the city of Burbank This is a big weekend for the Burbank Leader. If you check its website — you’ll quickly realize why. Two major developments. The new Sunday edition of the Burbank leader/Glendale News- Press comes out today. The other actually happened last Friday. The lawyers for the Los Angeles Times, the Burbank Leader’s parent company, sued the city of Burbank for the release of those individual employee merit-pay amounts. On December, 20, 2010, I delivered a letter to the Burbank... Read More →

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Photo: www.burbankusa.com/centennial

City Buzz

By on Monday, January 10, 2011

 Burbank’s merit pay for city employees controversy Some new developments in the growing controversy about merit pay for Burbank city employees — who gets them — how much per individual — what is the real criteria for who pockets those extra bucks — are the main questions yet to be answered fully by city officials. Late last Friday, city officials made an effort at damage control over the merit pay issue by sending an extensive e-mail to all employees on the issue. These officials are trying to put out a fire lit by... Read More →

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Clip art of person walking with umbrella in the rain

City Buzz

By on Wednesday, December 22, 2010

“Rain rain go away” When will it stop? Soon is what the weather watchers are saying about this deluge. Like most of  the Southland, Burbank is soggy from several days of heavy rain. The worst of the storms is rolling across Los Angeles County now through mid-afternoon. I was out driving in the Media City shortly before 9 a.m. this morning . The rain was moderate, but the forecast is for heavy periods of rain, scattered thunderstorms, strong winds, and even some hail before the day... Read More →

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local election graphic 2011 says Your vote Your Community

City Buzz

By on Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A chance to make a change in Burbank Burbank city officials are out to appease voters now that the Primary Nomination Election is coming up soon.  Last week, the Burbank City Council gave final approval to that election set for February 22, 2011 and the General Muncipal Election on April 12, 2011. There is a countdown running on this blog, in the far right column, that gives the exact number of  days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the Burbank Primary Nomination Election. Yes, I think it’s that important. Burbank city insiders... Read More →

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City Buzz

By on Wednesday, June 30, 2010

  Business is booming at one little shop in Burbank Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Customers waiting in line at Yogurtland in Downtown Burbank While many local businesses are struggling in this tough economy, Yogurtland is packing in the customers and making serious money!  “Business is very good.” Jamileth Mendoza, a shift leader, told me with a broad smile as she worked behind the counter last Saturday, June 26. I was out in Downtown Burbank when I noticed this crowded little pink shop near North San Fernando Boulevard and East Palm Avenue. Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove —... Read More →

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Burbank City Buzz

By on Saturday, March 20, 2010

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Controversial court ruling involving one of the lawsuits swirling around the Burbank PD A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge dismissed Burbank Police Officer Jamal Childs as a plaintiff from that explosive discrimination lawsuit filed against the Burbank PD last May by five of its minority officers. On Thursday, March 18, Judge Joanne O’Donnell ruled the statute of limitations had expired on Childs’ claim. Hmm, Childs has been a Burbank Police officer for five years. It’s not like his complaints date back 20 years or so. Well no... Read More →

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Ex-Burbank Mayor Marsha Ramos & the Burbank Police scandal

By on Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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... Read More →

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