Michael Antonovich and the rest of the county supervisors are adding their voices to those calling for a stamp for the Japanese-American soldiers who fought in World War II. Antonovich, who brought the motion before the Board of Supervisors and represents "East of the 5" country on the five-member panel, says that the U.S. Postal Service recently announced they will consider issuing a stamp for Japanese-American fighters when their Stamp Committee convenes this fall.

Antonovich mentions that Japanese-Americans fought for the United States despite the fact family members and friends were being put in internment camps during World War II. And he mentions the many Japanese-Americans who fought in the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Services, one of the most decorated units in American history.

Check out this article from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin about the Japanese-Americans pushing for a stamp for the 442nd.

Posted by Alex Dobuzinskis at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Barry Allen, self-appointed public watchdog number one, is still going after Glendale City Councilman Dave Weaver over Miss Asia USA. This month, Allen filed a complaint with the city attorney, accusing Weaver of "improper use of the official position" of city councilman for his involvement with the Miss Asia USA Pageant. Weaver has been a member of the pageant's executive board. In his complaint, Allen accuses Weaver of making improper use of Glendale police officers for the event, commandeering a city library auditorium so the girls could rehearse, making Glendale Water and Power send cases of bottled water and a host of other allegations.

Weaver and City Attorney Scott Howard, whom the complaint was addressed to, declined to comment.
One of the most interesting allegations has to do with payments made by Benvani Inc. to the Alex Theatre for the use of the facility for the beauty pageant. Allen says Benvani Inc. paid $12,500 to the Alex Theatre for Miss Asia after getting $6 million from the city for some open space.

As an exhibit attached to his complaint, Allen included a letter from Weaver to Police Chief Randy Adams asking for some cops to hang out at the pageant for security.

Posted by Alex Dobuzinskis at 6:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Meanwhile in beautiful downtown Burbank, City Council meetings could start at 6 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m., and it'll require a majority vote for discussion to go past 11 p.m., according to the Leader.

This in a town where meetings often run past midnight (I personally have stayed till 2:30 a.m. during that Whole Foods in the Rancho flap a couple months ago). It was a 4-1 vote to introduce the changes last week, which also includes combining into one the two seperate public comment periods.

Councilman David Gordon -- that beacon of contratrian freedom and targeted populism who is still fighting the good fight despite backing the losing horses in the council race earlier this year -- dissented. He wanted the start time kept at 6:30 p.m. to accomodate people's work schedules.

If I were conspiracy minded, I would read this as just another erosion of our right to free speech in the name of efficiency, while limiting City Hall accountibility to the public; an overall affront to civil discourse and democracy, the very foundations of our system of government....

But I'm not. I guess we'll see how it all works out, but it won't be happening tomorrow -- the council's dark this Tuesday, 8/7.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Speaking of Dave Weaver, what was up with his lashing out at the Glendale city employee unions at the council meeting last week?

It was an oddity that aligned the councilman with his nemesis -- City Hall gadfly Barry Allen -- who blames unions for what he believes is an overstuffed city payroll.

The clip starts at 3:43, when Weaver, who got no love from the Glendale Management Associaiton, and the police and fire unions (the GMA gave $11,000 to incumbent Rafi Manoukian, who lost) wanted to strip their right to contribute to council candidates.

Weaver: One thing I like to see ... I would like to see every association in this city, GMA, fire, police, not be allowed to give a single penny to any council candidate.

To this day, GMA has not congratulated me. the police have not congratulated or spoke to me, fire has been kind enough just to say congratulations. Now there's no dialogue, all because the association sat out there and forced-handicapped who's going to win. We wanted to be on the winning side. I was supposed to lose -- well gee I didn't ... and now we ahve a problem. I love to see that removed off the books.

Uh...not so fast Dave. Isn't there a First Amendment issue here? City Attorney Scott Howard was around to remind our honorable councilman: "With regard to a ban on union contributions, I'm somewhat reticent about recommending that you can do that pursuint to Supreme Court deicions."

In fact, while the city can prevent city employees from donating to City Council candidates due to conflicts of interest (it's in the city charter), it can't prevent individual employees from participating in the political process -- a First Amendment right -- through their unions. Still, the city could set contribution limits.

Weaver wouldn't have any of it -- "I say ban it! Let them defend themselves in court."
Howard: "Actually if we impose our ban as a government, we would be defending ourselves in court."

I wonder which Constitutional right Weaver will try to curtail next...just because some person or group didn't congratulate him on his council win.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 5:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

If you're into following the money, the latest round of Form 460 campaign disclosure statments covering March 18 - June 30 have hit the Web, at least in Glendale.

(In case you're wondering, the Burbank forms were not too exciting...check this space -- the City Clerk may have it up soon.)

According to latest campaign finance disclosures due last week, Rafi Manoukian, the incumbent councilman who lost despite spending nearly $222,000, was the top fundraiser in the April council election with $150,382 from the first half of 2007.

First-place finisher John Drayman collected $73,740, while reelected Councilman Dave Weaver received $68,771.

In comparison, Gray Bric, who won a seat on the Burbank City Council in earlier this year and was the race’s top fundraiser, received just over $21,000 in contributions in the same period. Burbank has a $250 per donor contribution limit, unlike Glendale, where the sky's the limit.

But Bric and candidate-turn-Councilwoman Anja Reinke, who raised nearly $13,000, both enjoyed support from an independent political committee. Working Californians, spent more than $18,000 campaigning for Bric and about $5,000 for Reinke.

Among the biggest donors in the Glendale race — Weaver received a total $17,500 from developer Rick Caruso’s Americana at Brand LLC, the company behind its namesake downtown retail and residential project.

The Glendale Management Association — a City Hall union — gave Manoukian $11,000.

CREPAC/BORPAC, the political arm of the California Association of Realtors, gave $4,000 to both Weaver and Drayman. Local contractor Alen Builders Inc. also gave Drayman $5,000.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 3:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Gledale's self-appointed watchdog Barry Allen is hosting a series of discussions and workshops on being a pain-in-the-rear in City Hall...

Here's the skinny:

CONTACT: Barry Allen –818 243 1502
Vanguard -- POB 11202 -- Glendale CA 91226

Vanguard1@Charter.net

DATE: July/21/2007 Glendale California USA
HEADLINE: The Future of 101 Year Old Glendale
Summary: The City is 101 years old? What is its future?
Body: Through a series of nine 2-hour, small group meetings in Conference Room ‘A’ at the Glendale Central Library on Louise between Harvard and Colorado on July 25, 26 and 30, Vanguard, a community fiscal watchdog, will focus on the future of the 101-year-old city.

Vanguard Executive Director Barry Allen said, “Like most large cities, the residents suffer from a disconnect with the local government that dissolves into apathy demonstrated by a lack of involvement and engagement with the governmental process. Our guests will learn how to turn that apathy into advocacy; how to use the ‘Sunshine’ laws effectively and the possibility of living with an accountable, responsible and responsive government through grass roots involvement, engagement and advocacy.”

Vanguard started in 2003 as the need for community advocacy arose and has fulfilled that need through the use of the Open Government laws, publication of a widely distributed, weekly electronic newsletter and through successful interaction with Glendale City Officials.

Reservations are suggested, as the space is limited. Contact Barry Allen at 818 243 1502 or Vanguard1@charter.net.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 4:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Robert Phipps, one of the local activists who helped shepherd the second-hand smoke control ordinance through Burbank City Council earlier this year, has a new proposal for our local officials -- past a resolution in support of troop withdrawal from Iraq.

But our council -- unlike those in West Hollywood or Santa Cruz -- wasn't in the mood to play. Only Mayor Marsha Ramos and Councilman David Golonski addressed Phipps' comments, and both said it was inappropriate for city councils to deal in federal issues.

Here's a copy of Phipps' remarks at Tuesday night's council meeting:

Mayor Ramos, members of the council, I’m Robert Phipps, a Burbank resident, and a grateful citizen of the United States.

Some of us have loved-ones in the military. Some have probably lost loved ones in the military.

Every member of the military is a hero. They, like our police officers, fire fighters, rescue workers, and others, have made it their job to keep the rest of us safe. They have agreed to put their lives on the line to protect our lives. They have said to the President, or other leaders, “We trust you to do what’s right for our country, and we will go into harm’s way whenever and wherever you say we must.”

But we have learned that sometimes our presidents lie to us. Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and now this President Bush have shown us that they will go to war for reasons of their own and then lie to us about those reasons.

I am not a hero, and I do not trust presidents, and I did not agree to sacrifice my loved ones to a folly.

We’re a smart people and we can learn from our mistakes. And I don’t think we want to wait ten years and lose 58,000 of our family members and friends like we did in Viet Nam before we finally decide to make a change. If someone is lost in the military, their family’s emotional survival demands, they believe the cause was noble. But in advance, I doubt there are many people in Burbank--even if they voted for Bush--who would willingly sacrifice a loved one for Bush’s … reason of the month. Bush will be gone in eighteen months. This war will soon end. But a lost love is gone forever, and the pain in the heart lasts forever.

Therefore, I ask you as the collective voice of all 105,000 people in our city, to pass and send a resolution to President Bush--with copies to Congress and the major news media--telling Bush that the people of Burbank are not willing to lose any family members or friends for his unnecessary and counterproductive war in Iraq, and to remove all our troops from there immediately.

Thank you.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 7:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

So the Immigration Reform bill went down in flames this morning, and among the losers is The Home Depot.

According to this report from Marketplace, the Atlanta-based company convinced Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson to squeeze an amendment in the package that would "ban local governments across the country from forcing home-improvement stores to build shelters for the day laborers who gather on their properties seeking work."

Burbank pull a day labor shelter out of The Home Depot to build an outlet there last year. They also got $94,000 from the company to pay for additional services .

But none of that matters now -- no one in Washington will be talking immigration for at least the next 18 months.

Here's the AP story.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Local state Assemblyman Paul Krekorian got some lovin' from the Los Angeles City Council today, when they went on the record in support of a tough-on-crime bill package. Among the proposals is one from the Burbank Democrat, AB1013, that would grant city attorneys the right to bring eviction actions against building tenants who illegally use or possess dangerous weapons.

Other measures in the package:

• SB 271, a bill authored by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, would allow district attorneys and city attorneys statewide to go after gang assets to satisfy criminal judgments, and return recovered funds to the communities they terrorized.

• SB 989 would make it easier for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to deal with racially motivated gang activity. The bill, introduced by Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles, would add hate crimes to the list of crimes in the Street Terrorism and Enforcement Protection Act.

• SB 844 -- also authored by Calderon -- would establish sentencing enhancements for gang activities, hate crimes, child abuse and drug crimes committed within 1,500 feet of a school.

• AB 1033, which targets gang members trying to recruit children. If approved, offenders would be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, sentenced to a year in jail and fined $2,500, according to the bill’s author, Assemblywoman Anna Caballaro, D-Salinas.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

As if working to save Hollywood from runaway production and piracy wasn't enough, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian has brought some acting muscle to the issue of health care. Here's the release:

Assemblymember Paul Krekorian, Hollywood Stars and Local Activists Join In Demanding ‘Healthcare For All’

GLENDALE, CA– Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) will join actors Yvette Freeman (Nurse Haleh Adams on ER), Kirkwood Smith (That 70’s Show) and John Harnagel (formerly in Desperate Housewives), along with activists from the Service Employee International Union and League of Women Voters, to discuss California’s healthcare crisis this Saturday afternoon in Glendale.

The gathering will feature personal stories of concerned local citizens, a brief video program and comments from Assemblymember Krekorian regarding the landmark healthcare reform proposals passed by both the Assembly and Senate on Thursday.

“More than six million Californians lack any health coverage at all, and millions more are underinsured. That is a crisis by any definition, and we need to get serious about solving it,” said Assemblymember Krekorian. “Yesterday we took a bold step by passing a sweeping proposal to ensure that all of California’s children will have the health care they need, and to substantially reduce the number of adult uninsured in our state. But we still have so much more to do. Our leaders of the past wiped out poverty among the elderly through the Social Security program, and they ensured comprehensive quality health care for seniors through Medicare. Certainly we can have similar vision and courage in solving the healthcare crisis for all Californians.”

WHAT: It’s our Healthcare!

WHEN: 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 9th

WHERE: 326 Cumberland Road, Glendale, CA

Posted by Eugene Tong at 7:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Glendale City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian wants to pick your brain about the conduct of the recent municipal elections. If you have something to say, stop by the Glendale Police Department's Community Room Wednesday night. Come one, come all!

Me? I expect absentee returns by 7:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. on election night, and a good third of the precincts counted by 9:30 p.m. I got a couple screaming editors to mellow, y'know...

The City Clerk of Glendale is holding a public meeting to discuss the last city election and seek input from the public about ways to improve the municipal electoral process. Community members are invited and encouraged to share thoughts and ideas at a “Town Hall” meeting and express how they think the City can improve its municipal elections.

WHO: Glendale City Clerk

WHAT: Election Process Town Hall

WHEN: Wednesday, June 6 6:30 – 8:30 PM

WHERE: Glendale Police Community Room
131 North Isabel Street

CONTACT: 818-548-4000 www.ci.glendale.ca.us/city-clerk

Posted by Eugene Tong at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Local Assemblyman Paul Krekorian is chairing the new Select Committee on Preservation of California's Entertainment Industry, charged with developing policy to combat runaway production and piracy. Have to admit -- it could use a snappier name. Or just use the initials! SCPCEI --pronouced "sep-see." Awesome.

Also on the committee is Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, whom I once knew as Santa Clarita Councilman Cameron Smyth when I used to cover THAT valley, and whom I've read is a snappy dresser, according to at least one gay Republican blogger.

Click the link to see the full release...

Continue reading "Paul Krekorian Goes Hollywood" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 7:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Dan Evans laments the state of democracy after working the polls in Burbank in yesterday's mostly ignored, mostly school-related elections.

We had about 600 registered voters for our little area, 12 of whom showed up at the polls. ... It was dull, friends, dull. I did get a fairly lengthy discussion about Burbank politics going with my fellow workers, but spending 15 hours in a flooring showroom off Hollywood Way is about as much fun as it sounds.

Of the three valley races, the main event was the battle for the LAUSD District 3 seat, which pitted LA Mayor Villaraigosa-backed city prosecutor Tamar Galatzan against union-backed incumbent Jon Lauritzen. Galatzan won, which means Mayor V gets majority support on the LAUSD board, which I guess is like Plan B or C in his campaign to assert executive influence over the school district.

As for Burbank voters, they only get to pick the undercard -- a Los Angeles Community College District race between incumbent Georgian Mercer and retired sheriff's Deputy Roy Burns. Burns won by just 88 votes, with voter turnout hovering around 6 percent.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

If you ever find yourself in hungry in Washington D.C. on a Wednesday morning and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff's in town, you can breakfast with the congressman. Constituents, be sure to call ahead for reservations, and let us know how it went.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

If you're not home watching the Gilmore Girls series finale (as I likely will be), stop by your local City Council meeting! It has its moments, though both the Burbank and Glendale councils seem a lot less exciting with the elections out of the way.

• On the Glendale Council agenda -- new nerve gas antidote kits for first responders, paid for by a Homeland Secuirty grant; new traffic signal at Wilson and Kenwood; a final vote for that proposed at-grade railroad crossing on Flower Street between San Fernando Road and Air Way; more Adams Sqaure mini-park revisions and a no-bid $980,000 contract for a GWP generator overhaul. Meeting starts 6 p.m. at City Hall, 613 E. Broadway.

• Meanwhile, Burbank offers, uh, parking lot resurfacing at Central Library, Northwest Library, Verdugo Park and Foy Park; sidewalk extensions and bike racks! Also a bit of budget study action. Starts 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave.
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Westfield said it would duke it out in court with high-profile Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso to try to prevent his latest 830,000-square-foot mall project from going forward in Arcadia, the Pasadena Star-News reports. The Australian-based Westfield plans to use the California Environmental Quality Act within the next couple of weeks or so, saying Caruso's The Shops at Santa Anita is "fatally flawed" and reflective of "a political process where the City of Arcadia's haste and desire to approve the project outweighed proper and objective consideration of critical issues and long-term impacts." Arcadia Assistant City Manager Don Penman, whose city recently approved the Caruso project, says everything was done properly, according to the required Environmental Impact Report. Caruso said Westfield is simply trying to "stop competition" and is abusing the court system. Readers recall that Caruso is the developer behind Glendale's Americana at Brand, slated to open in 2008. Caruso's best-known project is The Grove.

Posted by Jason Kandel at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Lisa Burks, Burbank resident, history buff, and resident gravehunter for valleynews.com, decries the loss of yet another historic L.A. home, as a developer has requested to bulldoze an old Craftsman in Montrose, one of the city's first homes, to make way for an apartment complex.
Lisa Burks Online

Posted by Jason Kandel at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

James Omahen writes today in the Atwater Village Enquirer on valleynews.com that the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council and others are lobbying the city of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power to change the annual Light Festival Christmas celebration at Griffith Park. Folks apparently want it to become solely a walking or shuttle-riding experience not a drive-through.

He writes ...

Some advocates for change have also suggested moving the display to another location in the park which would better accommodate the numbers of people and the vehicles they come in. Then there are those who believe to counter global warming or to spare the park wildlife of such disturbances, this annual event should just be discontinued.

Full disclosure: This reporter has both walked and driven the route and, yeah, it's kinda kitchy, but still pretty cool and definitely a parade befitting of our car-obsessed culture. And nobody walks in L.A.

Read the rest here.

Posted by Jason Kandel at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

This morning was the annual Burbank City Council reorganization meeting -- or for City Hall insiders, an annual love-fest of teary farewells and triumphal smiles during which we say goodbye to the old and hello to the new.

There was nothing blue about the proceedings (unless the electorate didn't swing your way) -- Todd Campbell, stepping down as mayor and councilman and Jef Vander Borght, also retiring from the dais, reflected over their years in office (four years and five years, respectively), their turns as Huell Howser-clones on City Hall public access TV and gave shout-outs to their relatives -- holla.

In a Top Gun moment, Campbell called Vander Borght his "wingman" -- both were on the same wavelength on many land-use issues, despite one being an environmentalist and the other an architect. I was waiting for Iceman Jef to make Campbell his Maverick, but no dice.

Then time came for Gary Bric and Anja Reinke to be sworn into office. They did, and took their seats. Both thanked their supporters, and Bric brought the house down when he thanked Todd and Jef for NOT running. Otherwise he wouldn't be sitting there.

Finally, it's time to pick the mayor -- since Marsha Ramos was vice mayor this past year, it's now her turn to be mayor (her second time, actually). It's unanimous -- with Bric, Reinke, David Gordon and David Golonski voting her in. Golonski gets to be vice mayor.

Gordon, who supported Carolyn and Phil Berlin in their failed bid for council seats, chatted me up briefly on the way out -- "It's going to be an interesting year..."

Let's hope so. It's tough keeping a daily blog interesting otherwise.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Happy reading ...

• Glendale Redevelopment Agency meets to vote on a 100-unit condo complex that could be a part of the Americana at Brand project. Glendale News-Press

• Glendale's Board of Education will consider hiking before and after school care fees at a meeting tonight. News-Press

• Burbank Councilmembers elect Gary Bric and Anja Reinke will be sworn in at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Burbank Leader

• Heat over comments about the Armenian Relief Society ... Leader
  

Posted by Jason Kandel at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Larry Mantle of KPCC's Airtalk discussed the issue this morning with guest Harut Sassounian, publisher of the California Courier, who broke the story, reported earlier by LA Observed.

And here's another take on the whole affair from USA Armenian Life Magazine's Appo Jabarian -- scheduled to be published in Friday's edition. Excerpts:

In recent years, the Los Angeles Times officially adopted a journalistically accurate editorial policy regarding the veracity of the Armenian Genocide. Readers welcomed Times’ highly commendable editorial position. In fact, the Times illustrated how much it values its professional integrity. Over the next few years, the common expectation that Times will no longer question the veracity of the genocide, metamorphosed into a sigh of relief. But alas, that sigh of relief turned out to be a false sense of security when a very disturbing development emerged only recently.

Continue reading "More on the Times-Arax-Armenian Genocide Flap" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

KPFK is doing special coverage today about the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The station aired a special edition of "Uprising" earlier, and will have another special at 4 p.m., hosted by Serge Tankian, the lead singer of the rock band System of a Down, whose documentary, "Screamers," pushes to have the genocide acknowledged across Europe and the U.S. Our own reporter, Brad Greenberg, wrote earlier today about a conservative Encino synagogue that has begun pushing for Jewish recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

To listen to KPFK's report, click here.

I was informed that the station's audio archives were down earlier, but listeners can download audio from the archives later by clicking here.

Posted by Jason Kandel at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Today, Armenians around the world remember the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian genocide.

• The blood-stained carriage and the smoldering city still seemed fresh to the Rev. Vartan Dulgarian as he recalled personal memories of what many believe was the first genocide of the 20th century, Eugene Tong writes in today's Daily News.

  "The garbage wagon - all the bodies just piled up - the blood was flowing for three days," Dulgarian, 96, said Monday as he recounted memories of a massacre of Armenians in Izmir in 1922. The city on Turkey's Aegean coast, then held by Greeks, was set ablaze by invading Turks.

• A remembrance at Glendale Memorial Hospital ...
  Glendale News-Press

• The Armenian genocide was inspirational to Hitler.
  Daily Kos

• Still can't call it a genocide, though ...
  Chicago Tribune

  More ...
  

Continue reading "Morning Briefing -- April 24, 2007" »

Posted by Jason Kandel at 8:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

• More on Glendale's affinity for former Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who is Mormon -- a friend who grew up here told me the city apparently has a large population belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Could they be the ones funneling contributions to Romney?

• Could next Wednesday's Glendale City Council meeting promise the return of former Councilman Rafi Manoukian? When Manoukian lost re-election, he also lost his seat as one of the city's three representatives on the nine-member Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority governing Bob Hope Airport. The council can choose to reappoint him to serve until May 2009, which wouldn't be a bad deal since he does have the experience, though council members Dave Weaver and Frank Quintero may also want in (Bob Yousefian already serves on the panel with Lt. Carl Povilaitis from Glendale Police and Ara Najarian is going to be pretty busy as mayor; John Drayman is a freshman...). Watch out!

  Note the meeting is scheduled Wednesday April 25, since April 24 is Armenian Genocide remembrance day.
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 2:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Burbank blogger (and photographer and mid-level bureaucrat trying to get by...) Dan Evans comes roaring back to life this week with an interesting idea:

The recent Burbank general election had a certain Lockean quality - nasty, brutish and (thankfully) short. From my perspective down in the flats, it seems odd that so much anger and vitriol would be spewed over a friggin' city council election. ...

... You should be able to point out your opponents flaws, as much as you can (and must) tout your own ideals and credentials. But voters must know where those attacks are coming from. And to do that, the city of Burbank should create an Ethics Commission to oversee the local political process and make things more transparent.

As a guy whose job includes following the money in the last election (and doing a mediocre job, I might add), it would be great to have a body enforcing local election laws. Buddha knows the state Fair Political Practices Commission has had enough going on already.

What do you think, council? Gary? Anja? Berlins? Gordon? hello? anyone? anyone?

Posted by Eugene Tong at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) |

A couple of items on politics:

• Burbank blogger Joe Fein at Valley of the Shadow ("A man in exile from the Washington Beltway. An artist and policy-maker.") posts another installment of his analysis of the local and state GOP.

• Glendale City Hall's favorite uncle Barry Allen has this preview of this week's Vanguard newsletter:

  City management places Council in a no-win position on Beeline Contract; Vanguard invites Fire Department to open discussion; Unsuccessful Council candidate had undisclosed city contracts; Challenge to City Council...

  To subscribe to Vanguard Weekly News, send an E-mail to
  Vanguard1@charter.net with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Disclaimer: The views expressed by Vanguard are not necessarily those of Daily News Los Angeles or this here reporter.
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Cast members of the musical, "Bush is Bad," will sing tunes like "How Can 59 Million People Be So Dumb!" at the next meeting of the Burbank Democratic Club on April 25. Also, Robert Nakahiro, the vice chairman for Region 3 of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, will be on hand.

From the group's e-mail promo:

Have you ever wondered how delegates are selected or elected to attend the state and national conventions? Or the role that local clubs play? Come and join us to find out.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on April 25 at McCambridge Park Recreation Center, Room 1, 1515 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank.

More

Posted by Jason Kandel at 5:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

A regular part of a balanced breakfast...

• NEW FEATURE: East of the 5 on YouTube!

• The News Press has a write-up on Sudanese genocide survivor Valentino Achak Deng, who gave a talk at the Glendale Library last night. Dave Eggers novelized his story in "What Is the What."

• The News Press also has a round-up of rest of the City Council committee assignments for the year.

• Glendale College -- meet your new golf coaches! PGA pro Greg Osbourne and actor James Caan are taking on the program, writes Daily News columnist Jill Painter: "Osbourne, who landed the job as head coach in February, and Caan are both competitive and passionate about the game of golf. They hope to breath some life - and a little humor - into a program that was cut in 1985."

• Checking in with Will Rogers -- the local newshound parses the Burbank election results in an eagerly-awaited column (for me, at least!). Scroll down a bit for the April 16 entry. Up top on the same page is a piece about Burbank Councilman David Gordon outlining allegations he mixed optometry with politics. Now I haven't looked into this -- judge for yourself. Also, we may see a lot more of Will's pontifications online. Thanks for the kudos!

• Just in time for tax season -- a release from the IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles office.

  April 17, 2007 -- Los Angeles, California – A former City National Bank Vice President who was found guilty of participating in a conspiracy that was designed to structure cash deposits into accounts in a manner that was intended to aid his coconspirators avoid bank reporting requirements, was sentenced yesterday to serve 21 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Continue reading "Morning Briefing -- April 18, 2007" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

If you're into reading the tea leaves that is the Glendale City Council, Monday night's special meeting installing a newly-elected councilman and a new mayor was a warts-and-all display of both what has been, coupled with a silver-lining of what could be.

click on Ara for meeting video

For on full-display last night, after all the congratulations, platitudes and oath-taking, was the sour, fractious relationships between the four sitting council members, who once again broke down into camps in electing a new mayor for 2007-08.

Now the mayorship is mostly a ceremonial role in this town, a first-among-equals who gets to represent the city's elected leadership at local functions and forums, and can set the agenda at meetings. The title is rotated among the five, and can offer incumbents a boost at the polls if they're up for re-election.

But the evening also revealed the keen political sense of newcomer John Drayman, who managed to stay above the fray and look good doing it.

Continue reading "Hopping on Mayor Najarian's Red Wagon" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Before getting off to our morning routines, I'd like to offer condolences to those dealing with the senseless tragedy in Virginia this morning ...

• A community meeting is scheduled for noon today at New Woody's to provide Woodbury University students, faculty, and staff with an opportunity to share their feelings regarding the Virginia Tech tragedy and to pay their respects to members of the Virginia Tech community and their families. "We send our condolences to the students, faculty, and staff of Virginia Tech. The tragedy which occurred on their campus today cannot be imagined – more than 33 people killed in a senseless mass shooting. Please remember their community in your thoughts," says Dr. Kenneth Nielsen, president, Woodbury University.

• A Burbank man was among those who has family members at Virginia. The Virginia Tech alumnus recounts his story of hearing the news about the shootings. He tells nbc4:
  

  I lived in a dorm adjacent to the one in which (the shooter) killed the people. I actually have two cousins there. One was at home. I was worried about both of them.

  
  nbc4

  In other news ...

• They built a science lab and improved test scores at Luther Burbank Middle School, and that helped earn the campus new status as a California Distinguished School, one of 171 middle and high schools statewide earning the distinction this year.
  Daily News

  Updated 4:30 p.m. -- Here's video of the visit:
  

• Ara Najarian is Glendale's newly selected mayor on a City Council that rotates mayors. The selection wasn't easy. Before Najarian was selected, newly minted Councilman John Drayman was nominated. He declined. Oh, and, uh, Councilman Bob Yousefian offered up himself, Dave Weaver, Najarian, and Tony Soprano ... think he's a member of Glendale's shadow government ...
  Glendale News-Press
  

Posted by Jason Kandel at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Some deep thoughts to digest with your coffee...

• Expect politiking galore tonight when the Glendale City Council installs new Councilman John Drayman, and elects a mayor. Is Dave Weaver, who won another four years earlier this month, going for another term? Do Bob Yousefian and Ara Najarian have the time? (One serves on the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Commission and the other serves on the MTA board.) What about Frank Quintero? I don't have the answer, and they're not telling the News-Press. Here's the agenda for the 8 p.m. party.

• Meanwhile, Burbank City Council is preparing to adopt tomorrow night a deal with Burbank Unified School District to share recreational facilities.

• Local blogger Joe Fein talks further about whipping the California GOP back into shape at Valley of the Shadow. Scroll down a bit to read about his take on Burbank.

• The New York Times has an editorial up over Turkey's protests of a Rwanda genocide exhibit at United Nations headquarters because it mentions the Armenian Genocide.

• The Times looks into earlier reports of fish in the LA River near Atwater and the Glendale Narrows.
  

More to come...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

A couple of thoughts from Barry Allen of Vanguard this week -- Who's going to be Glendale's new mayor when the new City Council convenes next week? Barry tries to handicap the proceedings; A couple of genocide-related events with Holocaust Remembrance this week and the Armenian Genocide march next week.

To subscribe to Vanguard Weekly News, send an e-mail to Vanguard1@charter.net with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Disclaimer: Vanguard's content are from its publisher, and does not represent editorial content or views of Daily News Los Angeles or its staff.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The dust has settled in the final canvassing for the Glendale Municipal Election -- No changes on the City Council. It's still John Drayman, followed by Dave Weaver. Rafi Manoukian gained some more votes, but it still wasn't enough for a seat. In the school board race, board member elect Nayiri Nahabedian finished second, 230 votes ahead of first-time candidate Todd Hunt, increasing her lead from just 29 votes last week.

Election results
Earlier
Even earlier
Daily News school board story
Daily News City Council election story

Posted by Jason Kandel at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The art of Paul Batou is being featured tonight at the Harvest Gallery in Glendale. His work, entitled "My Iraq ... The Destruction and Aftermath of Mesopotamia," features 25 paintings and the release of his new book, "My Last Thoughts About Iraq." His work shows the pain, humiliation and destruction from ancient Mesopotamia to today's Iraq. Harvest Gallery is at 938 N.Brand Blvd., Glendale. His reception will be held from 7-10 tonight. The gallery will be open Friday through April 27. Batou, a native Iraqi, is a Burbank resident and pharmacist by trade, who served in the Iran-Iraq War as a medic.

valleynews.com

Posted by Jason Kandel at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

My name is Arsineh and I am not the President of Armenia, but I do have an idea. I have been joking lately about the idea of running for president of Armenia and the joke itself has sparked a lot of interesting dialog among my peers about the issues facing Armenia and its Diaspora. It seems everyone has an opinion about everything, but perhaps some of them would interest the real candidates. The one thing I don't see in Armenia is the public debating on these issues and the ideological fight to win over the hearts of the citizens, as I'm used to in the US. That said, I'd like to see what would happen if we open up the debate to the backseat-drivers of the world. You might think your right, but what do others think?

So, in the spirit of election season in Armenia (even though this year is just parliament), I would like to try running an actual mock election. I am inviting all Armenians worldwide to run an mock campaign for the presidency of Armenia here on this blog.

Sign me up!

Posted by Eugene Tong at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The Glendale City Clerk's office is canvassing all the ballots today from last week's election, including some 2,000 provisional ballots that could decide the Glendale Unified School Board race (a 29-vote gap separates 2nd-place Nayiri Nahabedian and 3rd-place Todd Hunt), or even narrow the City Council results (though that's unlikely)

Results are expected Friday.

Barry Allen promises to hover over the proceedings (but apparently couldn't make it, he just told me), while Will Rogers riffs on the topic at his site.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

My Burbank Election 2007 Scrapbook:

Sorry for the delay -- got caught up on an assignment (and I probably should've uploaded this stuff last night...)

Since the photos from City Hall weren't all that, I'm just going to go with two post-election interviews conducted last night with the winners.

Post-election interview with Gary Bric:

Post-election interview with Anja Reinke

Posted by Eugene Tong at 8:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Just a couple of things this morning:

• Burbank election results -- Bric and Reinke are in, beating the Berlins nearly 2-1 at the polls; meanwhile, voters defeated the hotel occupancy tax hike and the appointed city clerk and treasurer proposals; but they embraced the other four measures. Daily News

• Interesting precinct-by-precinct analysis of the Glendale elections in the News-Press.
  

That's all for now -- I gotta run to an assignment, but will be coming back with more Burbank election goodness, including photos, video and notes later in the day.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

8:20 p.m. -- No results yet. I'm holed-up inside the City Council chambers watching channel 6 with the crew and city spokesman Mike McManus.

About a dozen die-hards are waiting for the returns in the City Hall foyer, gathered around the T.V. Lively crowd, at least as much one can be for local politics.

8:30 p.m. Fresh results -- 5 of 42 Precincts

Gary Bric 776

Anja Reinke 772

Phil Berlin 416

Carolyn Berlin 441

8:35 p.m. Fresh results -- 8 of 42 Precincts

Gary Bric 1226

Anja Reinke 1220

Phil Berlin 635

Carolyn Berlin 659

8:45 p.m. -- okay - 14 precincts in, and Bric and Reinke are winning 2-1 against the Berlins. I'm close to calling it...

9:30 p.m. -- It's over. Gary Bric and Anja Reinke won. I'm wrapping this up and heading to Lashers.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 8:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

A few notes on tonight's electoral showdown in Burbank:

• It's time to check that ballot -- whether it's Carolyn Berlin, Phil Berlin, Gary Bric and Anja Reinke for City Council or deciding between those seven ballot measures -- make sure they're dropped-off at these designated collection centers by 7 p.m. tonight.

• As for potential parties, word is Gary Bric will, of course, be at the Ramp after checking-in at City Hall; while Anja Reinke will kick it at Lasher's across the street. As for the Berlins -- I haven't check-in with them yet.

• I'll be in Burbank City Hall tonight live-blogging in between filing stories and monitoring returns -- feel free to stop by online with your comments and for updates.

• New finds -- a couple of Burbank political blogs, one from the left and one from the right. The Burbank Democratic Club blog has some good items on the local election if you scroll down, including some endorsment news on the Berlins and thoughts on the Bric/Reinke attack mailer fracas.

  Meanwhile at Valley of the Shadow, "JSF" assesses the state of GOP politics in Burbank and Los Angeles.
  

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

A couple of Armenian Genocide-related items:

• The state Assembly unanimously passed Assembly Joint Resolution 15, co-authored by local Assemblyman Paul Krekorian. It designates April 24 as "California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923."
  It's an annual gesture by the state Legislature to remember this still-contentious piece of history -- Armenians contend the Ottoman Empire began an orchestrated slaughter in 1915 in which about 1.5 million Armenians were killed. Turkey denies it was a genocide, saying about 300,000 were killed and noting that Armenians sided with invading Russian troops in the aftermath of World War I and took up arms against Turks.

  “It's an important opportunity for the Legislature to take a moment each year to remember the victims of the genocide and also demand truth and accountability on the part of the Turkish government,” Krekorian told me. “By doing that, the Legislature is reallly taking a step in trying to prevent future genocides from occurring. ... Through inaction in response to human rights violations, we run the risk of encouraging future violations.”

  The federal government has only taken baby steps on this issue for fear of alienating Turkey -- an ally in the War on Terror. Asked if it's the state Legislature's job to move on this, Krekorian said: “We're elected to lead. When the federal government fails to act as it should, it's incument on state government to press the issue.” Plus California is home to the largest population of ethnic Armenians outside of Armenia.

  It's now up to the state Senate also to approve the resolution.

• Burbank Library Blog has a post on genocide history and recommended reading. An excerpt:

  After decades of denial and silence, scholars, historians, journalists, and authors like Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak have published books that tell about the killings of Armenians. Orhan Pamuk has been indicted by a prosecutor in Istanbul on the grounds that his remarks amounted to "public denigration of the Turkish identity". Shafak’s latest novel, The Bastard of Istanbul, has caused an uproar in Turkey as it may be the first Turkish novel to explore the emotional realities of the Armenian Genocide through three generations of women in a Turkish family in Istanbul and an Armenian American family in the United States.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

via Barry Allen de Vanguard...

Let's talk with Barry Allen about the election results in Glendale. One popular Council member was not re-elected and another who is the subject of FPPC violations and has used City resources for the benefit of ‘friends’ was returned to office. You can vent and share your thoughts on the election. Was it a manipulation of one professional politician? Did incumbent Manoukian fall victim to endorsements? Did 4 Armenian candidates slice the cake too thin? Call in Tuesday April 10th at 9 AM. You can participate by calling - (605) 990-0400 Access Code - 244852#

To subscribe to Vanguard Weekly News, send an e-mail to Vanguard1@charter.net with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line..

Posted by Eugene Tong at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) |

Back in the saddle after two days of Glendale election madness with the MSM...

• But first, more Gledale election aftermath -- Did the ethnic divisions in Glendale's City Council elections spill over to the school and college board races? Daily News
  
• A few words from -- well, there's no other way to say this -- the losers, via Glendale News Press. MIA -- Rafi Manoukian, who word has it, win or lose, is taking a break with his family.
  
• More election analysis from my idol Will Rogers. It starts with "They elected who?" -- financing, identity politics, attitude adjustments -- it's all here.
  
• Here's Pasadena Weekly's take.
  

• The News Press comes through with gavel-to-gavel coverage of Carlos Palma and Julian Martinez, who were found guilty of first degree murder in the 2004 New Years' Eve drive-by shooting death of 16-year-old Carlos Pinon in Glendale. Palma, the shooter, faces 50 years to life while Martinez, the driver, could see at least 25. Here's a partial copy of the charges.
  
• Burbank Library Blog! -- I know it's been online for a year since last August, but it's new to me! And any blogger who digs author Haruki Murakami and Mike Judge's underappreciated Idiocracy is worth plugging in my book (hey -- book! get it?).
  
• It's an actor's life in Burbank -- from the Branford Era in Pennsylvania.
  

Finally, for Burbank folks looking to serve the city, it's commission application season once again! Follow the link...

Continue reading "Morning Briefing -- April 6, 2007" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) |

Good morning ...

• Eugene Tong explains the back story to the twists and turns of the Glendale elections.

  He writes ...

  How did the best-financed incumbent lose his City Council seat, a mayor widely believed to be vulnerable retain his and a community advocate who once fell short of a win emerge as top vote-getter?

  For Glendale City Hall pundits, Tuesday night's surprising election results could be rooted in an odd political convergence: a strong grass-roots campaign by the newly elected John Drayman, who rode an anti-incumbent tide into office, coupled with a miscalculation from those counting on Armenian politics to win the day.

  Daily News

• More news about the Gyumri Mayor shooting in Armenia ... The chief of Armenian police vows to find and punish those responsible for the attempted killing of Gyumri Mayor Vartan Ghukasian armeniandiaspora.com

• An annoucement of the April 24, 2007 events marking the 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

  hyelog

  
  

  Posted by Jason Kandel at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Glendale elections are tame, fortunately, compared with what's going on in Armenia right now. Yerevan reporter Marianna Grigoryan writes that a car with no plates sprayed bullets into a Mercedes carrying the mayor of Armenia's second-largest city and his entourage. Nobody's been arrested and there's no motive for the attack. But Democratic Way Party Chairman Manuk Gasparian predicts more bloodshed as the country is set to hold a contentious parliamentary election on May 12.

Grigoryan writes ...

Vardan Ghukasian, mayor of Armenia’s second largest city, Gyumri, and his staff came under gunfire late in the evening of April 2 while returning to Gyumri from a meeting of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia in Yerevan. At the gathering, party leaders made acting chairman and Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian their choice to become prime minister, replacing Andranik Markarian, who died from a heart attack on March 25.

A car with unidentified license plates sprayed Ghukasian’s Mercedes-Benz automobile and another car accompanying the mayor with automatic gunfire near the town of Ashtarak on the northward-bound Yerevan-Gyumri highway. Three security guards died on the spot; Ghukasian, Deputy Mayor Gagik Manukian and the mayor’s driver were badly wounded. The driver subsequently died from his wounds. Ghukasian and Manukian were reportedly in serious, but stable condition.
...

One opposition leader argues that the shooting is a sign of trouble to come in connection with Armenia’s upcoming May 12 parliamentary vote. "During a press conference this year, I said that blood would be shed in Armenia during the elections, and this is only the beginning," commented Democratic Way Party Chairman Manuk Gasparian. Like other observers critical of the government, however, he notes that it "is not ruled out" that Ghukasian’s alleged business interests played a role.

eurasianet.org.

Posted by Jason Kandel at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Will Rogers just posted an update on the election results. The column's titled "DRAYMAN WINS, AND WEAVER TAGS ALONG!" Oy vey...

Posted by Eugene Tong at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

A quick briefing today -- got a load of work today:

• I'm sure Glendale folks are reeling this morning at the surprising City Council election results. John Drayman, the head of the Montrose Shopping Park Association, came out on top, and Mayor Dave Weaver, who many thought was vulnerable, kept his seat, leaving incumbent two-term councilman Rafi Manoukian out in the cold. Here's how the numbers break down:

  1. John Drayman 8,576
  2. Dave Weaver 6,582
  3. Rafi Manoukian 5,906
  4. Greg krikorian 5,754
  5. Chahe Keouroghlian 4,351
  6. Vrej Agajanian 2,330
  7. Herbert Molano 2,314
  8. Lenore Solis 892
  
  If you're into ethnic politics, this spells an end to the three-out-of-five Armenian American majority on the council. It's two of Armenian descent, a Latino, a returning councilman who's white and married to an Asian Amerian, now joined by a self-proclaimed Jewish atheist. It almost reflects the city's demographics. More Daily News coverage here.

• The Burbank City Council finalized the details and enacted the Second Hand Smoke Ordinance early this morning by a 3-2 vote. I'm still trying to sort out all the changes.
  

Now I have to make sense of all this, or you can check out tonight's Armenian American Real Estate Association mixer. Flyer coming up...

Continue reading "A little late Morning Briefing April 4, 2007" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

It's all over -- just after midnight, Glendale elected one new councilman, John Drayman, and kept Dave Weaver, the incumbent mayor. Two-term councilman Rafi Manoukian got the boot. He finished third -- 676 votes behind Weaver. More coverage here.

Here's a trip down live-blogging memory lane...(thanks Technorati for keeping a record of that post after I deleted it!)

Continue reading "Glendale Election Update" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

If you're looking to do more than just spend Tuesday night in front of the television (I'm a Frontline man myself), have I got a slate of alternatives for you! It's election day in Glendale, and that means candidate election night PARTIES!

Word so far from local muckraker and party animal Barry Allen of Vanguard is council candidate and Montrose Shopping Park honcho John Drayman is holding his shindig at Damon's downtown. Lenore Solis, the former GWP commissioner who's also running but is not really spending much on it, will likely be there too.

Candidate and immigration consultant Chahe Keuroghelian is staging his party at Little Russia on Broadway; TV host Vrej Agajanian will be kickin' it at his office at 436 W. Broadway.

Challenger and Glendale Unified School Board member Greg Krikorian is holding up at that new Phoenicia restaurant on Central; his rival and incumbent Councilman Rafi Manoukian will dance the night away at Giggles on Brand.

Candidate and City Hall agitator Herbert Molano will be at Bacara restaurant downtown; Mayor Dave Weaver -- will be having a private party? Hope there's no velvet rope.

And if partying with Glendale politicos isn't your drink, there's always the Burbank City Council, where they'll attempt to sign-off on those new public smoking restrictions. The Burbank Armenian National Committee also is planning an action during public comment tonight to condemn a city grant committee's questioning of whether to fund a local charity with the word "Armenian" in its name. The Armenian Relief Society has been around since 1910, and provides social services such as job placement and immigration adivce geared towards Armenian Americans, though they won't turn away anyone who show up needing assistance.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

So besides two City Council seats, Burbank voters also will have the pleasure next Tuesday to decide on a slew of amendments to the city charter. The changes proposed by the charter review committee last year and arrived at after many hours of public hearing are intended to give the city's constitution an overhaul.

Among the bigger changes being considered are turning both the city clerk and city treasurer from elected to staff positions just like the city manager.

Supporters believe that will offer more immediate oversight, granting the City Council the ability to hire base on experience rather than popularity, and fire as needed instead of waiting until the next election. Opponents, which include Councilman David Gordon, would prefer to keep both these posts elected by the people as another check on council power. Then there's the argument _ if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Will Rogers shares a few belated thoughts on the matter here.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

A blogger out of Chicago has taken interest in Burbank's new smoke ban outdoors.

Fanningtheflames writes:

I can't help but think we are rolling ever faster down this slipperly slope of eroding personal freedoms and government intrusions into all aspects of our lives.

Read more here.

You agree?

Posted by Jason Kandel at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Citizen journalist Gary Judy scoops writes on valleynews.com this morning with news about Nayiri Nahabedian throwing her hat in the ring for a seat on the Glendale School Board this spring. The vote is April 3. She's running on a platform that includes securing funding to make schools safer for kids by engaging parents and the community. Her endorsements include the Glendale Teachers' Association, Glendale Police Officers' Association, Armenian National Committee of America, and the Glendale Young Democrats. Other notables include Pam Ellis, who's on the Glendale Board of Education, state Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, former state Assemblywoman Carol Liu, Glendale Councilman Rafi Manoukian, Glendale Community College Board of Trustees President Dr. Armine Hacopian, Glendale Community College Board of Trustees member Victor King, and Montrose Shopping Park President John Drayman, who's also a candidate for the Glendale City Council.

In her candidate statement, the Cal State Los Angeles professor writes:

I am running for Board of Education in our city. I am running for this seat because I have a fundamental commitment to excellent public education. As an educator myself, I know what it takes to have outstanding public schools. First-rate education is crucial for our children's success, and I have the experience and the ability to fight for excellent public schools.

Updated March 29 at 6 p.m.

Posted by Jason Kandel at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

It's settled -- big chunks of the the city are now smoke-free zones with a City Council majority introducing the "Second Hand Smoke Control Ordinance" early this morning.

Among the key changes is a reduction of the smoke-free zones to five feet from 20 feet from the entry and sidewalks of some downtown businesses in order to allow designated smoking areas.

Mayor Todd Campbell and council members Jef Vander Borght and Marsha Ramos voted in favor of the ban, while councilmen David Golonski and David Gordon dissented. The ordinance will return for a second reading Tuesday before it is enacted.

“I think it’s a great start, and honestly, I think the city has come up with a pretty comprehensive ordinance that addresses our concerns,” said Eric Michael Cap, one of the ordinance’s proponents. “I’m very happy with it.”

Joe Georges, whose family operates several hookah waterpipe cafes downtown, said the changes will allow him to stay in business.

“It will still affect me, but it’s better then them banning the whole thing,” he said. “I’m still not happy with it, but they did take consideration of some of the business owners.”

more updates at Daily News
Earlier:
Burbank Smoking Ban Hot Issue
The Debate So Far
Council to kick some butt

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Burbank community activist Eric Michael Cap, who has been leading the charge to get the Burbank City Council to impose strict new rules on smoking outdoors, posts an update on valleynews.com. His story, "D-Day looms for Burbank smokers," says the council is set to vote tomorrow on the controversial issue. He predicts fireworks.

A standing-room-only crowd and some very lively debate is expected prior to Council deliberations and the vote, he writes.

The public hearing will take place Tuesday, March 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave.

Read the proposed second-hand smoke control ordinance here.

Posted by Jason Kandel at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

In compiling the Glendale City Council candidate profiles, I asked each candidate to respond in writing to a questionnaire. Here are extended excerpts of their answers, in the order they appear on the ballot.

Continue reading "Glendale City Council candidates -- in their own words" »

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

It didn't take long for the sharks to smell blood as revelations about Gary Bric, the perceived frontrunner for Burbank City Council, and his past run-ins with the law made the news last week. A mailer paid for by the Coalition for Responsible Leadership, also known as the Good Government Committee, juxtaposes his Los Angeles Superior Court case history with the bullet point "Bric's record shows a repeated history of BAD judgment." (emphasis from mailer)

On the back, the mailer knocks Anja Reinke, who finished second in the primary and has the support of most of the current council except for Councilman David Gordon. The good doctor is backing Carolyn and Phil Berlin. Both long-time local activists, the Berlins supported Gordon's run last year in the special council election.

Now I haven't looked into the allegations _ and there are plenty in this one _ but Will Rogers takes a shot analyzing the hit piece in his latest column.

Not sure how Bric and Reinke plan to respond _ hope it doesn't get too ugly.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

So the Glendale Teachers Association took time off from their still-unresolved salary negotiations with Glendale Unified to name their endorsements in the April 3 election.

From their March 22 release, they're backing challenger John Drayman and incumbent councilman Rafi Manoukian for the City Council. From GTA president Allen Freemon:

The 1,400 members of the Glendale Teachers Association know that both John Drayman and Rafi Manoukian value our public schools. As elected Council members, Drayman and Manoukian will be committed to making Glendale schools a priority. Furthermore, these leaders have made it clear that they value the work done by all public employee groups here in Glendale.

I'm not sure how much weight GTA endorsements have in a municipal election, but it's a straight-up dis(missal) for GUSD board member Greg Krikorian, who's also running for council. But it's not too surprising _ the teachers pressed Krikorian to take sides in their negotiation with the district, which has reached an apparent impasse, but not much has happened.

The GTA also is backing incumbent Vahe Peroomian and challenger Christine Rodriguez for the Glendale Community College Board race. Rodriguez, as you may remember, won support of the college's faculty union.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The Burbank Council is holding a public hearing March 27 on a proposed public smoking ban ordinance.

It's now called the Secondhand Smoke Ordinance, and includes the following restrictions:

• Indoor and outdoor areas at all City parks and other City facilities and public areas within 20 feet; except that smoking would be permitted at the DeBell Golf Course;

• Pedestrian sidewalks, alleys, paseos, plazas and walkways in a defined area of Downtown Burbank and all outdoor areas within 20 feet;

• The Chandler Bikeway and all public areas within 20 feet;

• Outdoor dining areas, including at restaurants and bars and all outdoor areas within 20 feet;

• Outdoor areas and lines where people wait for goods or services and all outdoor areas within 20 feet;

• Public transit vehicles and pedestrian areas of transit stations and stops and all outdoor areas within 20 feet;

• Outdoor areas where people are seated or gathered to witness or participate in a show, event, or competition and all areas within 20 feet;

• Outdoor shopping areas such as Farmers Markets and swap meets, pedestrian areas of outdoor shopping malls, and all areas within 20 feet;

• All elevators;

• Within 20 feet of a door, operable window, or air intake to a building that is open to the public;

• Any area that a business or property owner has identified as a non-smoking area; and,

• Common areas of multiple-family residential development projects (staff is recommending that smoking not be prohibited in multi-family common areas; however, they have been included in the draft Ordinance based upon Council direction).

Meeting starts 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

It was like two screaming siblings fighting for attention...

While Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver's State of the City luncheon carried on inside the Hilton, about 100 sign-tolling picketers organized by Unite Here Local 11 staged in a peaceful "Shame of the City" rally outside to showcase their two-year effort to organize the hotel's workers and urge city officials to honor their boycott.

The gathering of civil and business leaders were starting their salad coruse when about 15 protesters stepped out onto Glenoaks Blvd. and sat down in a circle, prompting police to arrest them for blocking traffic in a carefully choreographed dance of civic disobedience.

The ones arrested _ some all smiles as police officers hauled them way in plastic cuffs _ included students, union volunteers and workers from other hotels, but no Glendale Hilton workers.

The actual Hilton employees were either inside or took time from their 15-miniute breaks to walk the line and talk to reporters.

By the time they served the main course _ some kind of chicken over rice _ the protesters have disbanded.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Burbank City Council candidate Gary Bric's past run-ins with the law are just coming to light, and his opponents are smelling blood.

According to the Burbank Leader, court documents show Bric, a local restaurant owner, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in June 1997. He also was arrested in 1990 on bookmaking charges, which were later dropped. The charges were apparently based on allegations from an informant.

The informant alleged that Bric accepted wagers at his residence, also acting as a pay-and-collect person for a gambling operation. The informant also alleged that he often settled up on wagers with Bric.

...

Bric maintains his innocence in the bookmaking charge, which he said is evidenced by the fact that when another defendant in the case, Arthur Hanlon, was convicted for bookmaking in February 1991, the charges against Bric were dropped.

"I know the arrest doesn't look good, but I hope people will look at the fact that all charges were dropped against me after the bookmaker pleaded out," he said.

Word on the street is these revelations about Bric have already found their way into the latest round of mailers. Since I'm working out of Glendale, can someone Email me a copy?

Background checks the Leader conducted on the other candidates in the April run-off _ Carolyn Berlin, Philip Berlin and Anja Reinke _ didn't turn up much.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, is upset.

At an appropriations hearing before the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs today in Washington D.C., Schiff repeatedly asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice if she believed that the murder of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 could be characterized as anything other than a genocide.

Schiff was reacting to a letter Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recently sent to some of the chairs of committees on the Hill opposing recognition of the Armenian genocide.

Schiff writes:

I was disappointed that Secretary of State Rice was unwilling to acknowledge the plain facts of the Armenian Genocide. We cannot maintain the moral force we need to take action against the genocide going on in Darfur, if the Administration continues to equivocate about the genocide against the Armenians.

Here's Rice's response, via Schiff:

Congressman, I think that these historical circumstances require a very detailed and sober look from historians and what we've encouraged the Turks and the Armenians to do is to have joint historical commissions that can look at this, to have efforts to examine their past and, in examining their past, to get over their past. But I will tell you, Congressman, I don't think that it helps that process of reconciliation for the United States to enter this debate at that level. I just don't think it's helpful.

Posted by Jason Kandel at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Unite Here Local 11, the union that has been trying to organize workers at the Glendale Hilton for several years, is staging a protest there Thursday as counter programming to Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver's State of the City address. Here's the spin from the union:

Dozens Plan to Risk Arrest at the Glendale Hilton During Mayor's State of the City Address

Protesters to Highlight the Glendale Hilton as the 'Shame of the City' at Civil Disobedience Action

WHAT: Dozens of hotel workers, faith leaders, community members and students will risk arrest on West Glen Oaks Blvd. in front of the Glendale Hilton during the Mayor's State of the City address.

WHEN: Thursday, March 22, 2007, 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: 100 W. Glenoaks Blvd. Glendale, CA

WHO: Glendale hotel workers, faith leaders, students, and community members

Dozens of hotel workers, faith leaders, community members and students are planning to risk arrest on March 22, 2007 in front of the Glendale Hilton during the Mayor's State of the City Address which is scheduled to be held at the Glendale Hilton. Protesters are planning an action set to highlight the Glendale Hilton as "The Shame of the City", because of the poverty wages, lack of affordable health insurance and dangerous working conditions that hotel workers face at the hotel.

This civil disobedience action was planned after repeated visits by workers to the Glendale City Council, at which workers asked the Council and the Mayor to honor their boycott. Despite the workers' repeated pleas for support from their elected representatives, city officials have continued to hold and attend events at the boycotted hotel. Just two weeks ago, hotel workers and their supporters held a prayer vigil outside of the hotel during the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the Glendale Hilton.

Glendale Hilton hotel workers have been struggling for over two years for the right to organize, but their efforts were met with fierce resistance by hotel management. "I am a long time Glendale resident, and have given years of my life to make sure this hotel is successful. Yet, despite working full time, I still can't afford health insurance for myself or my children. We are disappointed that officials from the City of Glendale have chosen to cross our picket line instead of standing with us in our hour of need," said Rosa Garcia a housekeeper at the Glendale Hilton.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Here's another column from local pundit/blogger Will Rogers involving one Bob Garcin, which is not entirely flattering for Burbank City Council Candidate Phil Berlin. Judge for yourself here.

A disclaimer _ Will is a former writer for my local competiton who has since taken his opining online. His views are entirely his own, and in no way reflects the views of this Daily News reporter. I do read his stuff, and I think he could try cutting it down a bit. (Info-snacking is the future, as envisioned by a certain institutional investor whose firm owns a large chunck of Tribune Co. stock.)

Why link to him? Why not? This site is operating in the age of open media, and if there's a Burbank or Glendale angle to any item, I'm going to post it, regardless of ideology. Think of this site also as a local editorial page, where the market and a little news judgement are the best filters.

So I look forward to hearing from any online Garcin or Berlin backers, either in the comments section or by email. If you want me to post your email, be sure to include your name and a number (hey, stand by your words! The phones are just for a quick check, and will remain confidential).

Posted by Eugene Tong at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

So the Glendale College faculty union is endorsing one of their own in the three-way race for two seats on the Community College District board. Word from the Glendale College Guild is they're backing challenger Christine Rodriguez, a former guild member who now teaches at East Los Angeles College. She's trying to unseat incumbents Tony Tartaglia and Vahe Peroomian. Here's the release:

At its February meeting, the Glendale College Guild voted to endorse Christine Rodriguez for our district's Board of Trustees. Ms. Rodriguez was a member of the Guild until recently, teaches full-time at East Los Angeles College, and has been active in the Guild in that district. Among other service to the LA College Guild at ELAC, she has served as the Grievance Officer for that campus. She has also worked many years as a (employee-side) labor lawyer.

In her endorsement interviews, Ms. Rodriguez evinced a commitment to improving the lot of adjunct faculty, direct communication with all members of the campus community, and respect for the rights of workers to organize.

Both of the other candidates presented significant strengths, and only a few troubling weaknesses, but Guild members decided not to pick between them. The Guild's political action committee will do what it can to help elect Ms. Rodriguez, and the Guild will work closely with whomever is elected to the Board on April 3rd.

Now I haven't been following this race that closely _ does this make a difference? Or is this as much an incumbents-only done deal as my mediocre political handicapping tells me?

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

It's a supermarket shelf-full of policy decisions facing the Burbank City Council Tuesday night.

First up is the introduction of the shopping cart ordinance, which is intended to corral the carts within local stores and parking lots. Then it's another shot at the Whole Foods Market, the controversial proposal to build a branch of the natural foods grocer in the Rancho. A council majority already rejected it 3-2, but the developer wants one last crack at it, this time with a 40,000 square-foot store.

Finally, a discussion of Councilman David Gordon's suggestion of installing security cameras in the City Hall underground bunker where City Clerk officials count ballots.

Meeting starts 6:30 p.m. at 275 E. Olive Avenue.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

Brace for another spine-tingling evening of civic debate and policy making at the Glendale City Hall.

Of note is item 7-b, Councilman Bob Yousefian's proposal to tighten protection of indigenious trees.

Meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 612 E. Broadway.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) |

The latest Glendale City Council candidate forum held Thursday night by the League of Women Voters Glendale/Burbank is up on the city Web site.

For a guy whose job it is to watch and take notes _ two words: Seek Function.

During the 90-minute round-robin Q&A, the moderator quizzed the eight candiates on such salient issues of the day as hillside development, downtown economics and transportation. How did they do? Judge for yourself. Between the civic boosterism, plain restatements of city issues sometimes passed-off as answers, and occasional pie-in-the-sky rhetoric, I'm sure all of them said something substantial or had at least one good idea.

Perhaps the most telling was what each chose to address when they were given the floor at 1:20...

Challenger Vrej Agajanian said the city is falling behind in the use of solar power systems, and is in favor of open space and clean air.

Incumbent and current mayor Dave Weaver supported hiring city treasurers by appointment, rather than by general election. The reason? The public might elect someone on the basis of popularity, rather than by actual experience.

Candidate John Drayman, president of the Montrose Shopping Park, urged the city to purchase Mountain Oaks, a property near La Crescenta where a developer wants to build condos and a school to the distress of area residents.

Former Glendale Police spokesman Chahe Keuroghelian said the community should organize neighborhood watch meetings and engage the police department in dialogue to address public safety.

Glendale Unified school board member Greg Krikorian attacked the current council for recently failing to review a proposed hillside view ordinance for lack of quorum and urged the city to be pushier with developers.

Incumbent Councilman Rafi Manoukian touted the local economy is "strong and robust," reciting figures from a city investment forum earlier in the day. He also said he has always been respectful to public speakers at council. He's open to meetin constituients in South Glendale and Montrose.

Challenger Herbert Molano said there's a lack of involvement by the current council and the public when it comes to addressing the issues.

Challenger Lenore Solis, a former Glendale Water & Power commissioner, sought fiscal accountability and was concerned about fund transfers the city has used to prop up the utility. She's also against mansionization.

Can't wait till April 3.

Posted by Eugene Tong at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) |