For Burbank City Council; We’re going with Michael Lee Gogin @ www.Gogin4Burbank.com(Candidate #4) because of his strong stand on Protecting our Public Safety 👮♂️i.e. Fully-Funding BPD! He’s also vowed to Preserve our Quality of Life & R-1/H Neighborhoods 🏡 from those who want to allow Multi-Unit Housing in R-1/R-1H. Finally, it’s about time we had a working Media Professional Promoting the “Media Capital of the World” 🎬 so we all can continue to work & support our families. 🇺🇸
For BurbankCity Treasurer; We’re going with Darin Shea @ http://www.sheaforburbank.com. Darin is a well-qualified servant leader with the highest integrity & character. He has a strong Business & Financial background & the skills needed to make wise conservative decisions to ensure the City’s long-term financial health. Darin’s volunteered for years @ our VMA Choirs (#BHSVocal @ Burbank High School) with his wife Kari. He’s also been a faithful member of Emmanuel Church where he was recently nominated to serve as an Elder.
Re Measure RC; We’re Voting NO on this Unnecessary & Costly Rent-Control scheme being funded by outside “entities” & used by a wannabe agenda-driven socialist council candidate to promote his own “political career”. This individual also wants to Defund our Police, Take “Under GOD” out of the Pledge & Raise everyone’s TAXES (esp. Businesses). We already have State Legislated Rent-Control! RC creates an unelected & unaccountable bureaucracy that would cost the City about $6M, resulting in cuts to City Services in order to pay for something we don’t need. This is why our Mayor & City Council Unanimously Oppose it. Vote NO on RC & NO on Konstantine Anthony.
As many of you know, I’m a Parent of a Burbank High School Jr and was part of the successful YES On Measure S campaign. I/We also own property in the Hillside area adj. John Muir. It might surprise you to know that Gloria & I are Voting NO on Measure QS, as are many other Parents, Property Owners & Measure S Supporters, incl. former BUSD President Larry Applebaum who lead the Bond campaign. Here’s just a few reasons why we can’t support this Parcel Tax increase at this time:
“THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CURRENTLY HAS A BALANCED THREE-YEAR BUDGET THAT PROVIDES FOR INCREASES IN PENSION OBLIGATIONS” – MATT HILL, BURBANK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINDENDENT (BURBANK LEADER)
File Photo. * BUSD Superintendent Matt Hill does NOT Endorse or Oppose Measure QS.
“HOWEVER, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO PROVIDE FOR A COST OF LIVING WAGE INCREASE OR ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS.” – MATT HILL
2. The Tax places an unfair burden on Burbank Property Owners & Renters who are still paying for previous School Bonds (until 2032), while approx 1300 Students who live outside the district pay nothing. Businesses with larger footprints are also disproportionally hit.
3. This Tax will exist in Perpetuity (FOREVER), highly unusual for Parcel Taxes which typically have sunset clauses and need to be reconsidered by voters every 4 -7 years.
4. The Tax does not address future Maintenance needs or extra Classrooms needed to accommodate anticipated demand from Planned Development (1200 Units @ old Ikea site adj. BHS etc.), requiring yet another Bond in a few years.
5. The Funding is NOT SUSTAINABLE & most of the moneywill be used to augment Salaries/Benefits. Having $9M/year that can be re-assigned to any goal “pot” will lead to more BTA demands for Salary/benefit increases, resulting in less money available for Student programs over time. For example, the promised 3% Salary Increase, given annually, would mean that by Year 3, the whole $9M raised would be spent.
6. Obscures the real problem – mandatory Pension obligations imposed by the State. Unlike our City, the School District has always dutifully paid its share of Pension contributions. But because of poor management by the State, our contribution to fund Pensions is increasing to 19-26¢ per Dollar of Payroll; taking money from current students to pay past obligations. Cost-of-Living-adjustments that previously provided money for modest salary/benefit increases are now being used entirely to Fund Pensions.
In conclusion, the proposed Parcel Tax is a band-aid approach to a STATE issue. Political pressure must be brought to bear at the State level to either provide More Funding to the district or Relax the onerous Mandatory Pension payments. #NOonQS#NOmoreTaxes#iLuvBurbank
Just months after pleading with Voters to Pass Measure T: “To maintain essential City services/infrastructure like police, fire, parks, libraries…”, Burbank wants to increase our Sales Tax by a massive 0.75¢ to 10.25¢, to essentially do the exact same thing.
An honest Ballot statement would read: “To pay for our Unfunded Pensions because previous Council’s took a Pension Holiday (now Illegal) and did not contribute what they should have for 6 consecutive years; and our highly paid City Staff Salaries + generous Benefits; future Infrastructure Maintenance needs because we don’t make Developers Pay their Fair Share in Fees; shall Burbank Taxpayers Bailout the City (again), even though we just passed Measure T, by raising our Sales Tax 0.75¢ Forever (no Sunset), giving Burbank the dubious honor of having the Co-Highest Sales Tax in the USA”?
The City has basically cut-&-paste their Ballot language from Measure T and will no doubt engage in a similar “fear-based” campaign threatening Service Cuts if this massive Sales Tax Hike doesn’t pass. What about Pay Cuts? What about Living Within Your Means like the rest of us? What about getting back to focusing on providing the best Municipal & Public Safety Services instead of wasting time on non-essentials like banning Columbus Day!
There’s so much the City can/should do before raising TAXES. 1. City Mgr Ron Davis mentioned $2M in potential savings during Budget discussions via Workers Comp changes & Outsourcing certain new positions where it makes sense (IT?). 2.Raise Development Impact Fees to match Glendale/Pasadena to pay for future infrastructure needs (they charge $18k/unit vs $2k). 3. Re-Negotiate Public Service Employee Union contracts requiring all workers contribute 50/50 towards PERS, not just new employees. 4. Remove Per Employee Biz Tax Caps that give large Employers tax breaks on the minuscule $10/employee they’re suppose to pay vs Gross Receipts other Cities charge. 5. Pay Cuts: 10% for 414 Employees $150k+ & 5% for another 284 Employees making $100-$150k. 6. Close the 1 Wall Remodeling loophole costing us Tax revenue 7. Divest of Assets that are draining City resources like Starlight Bowl, Golf Course, Colony Theatre or explore Public/Pvte. Partnerships, Naming Rights etc. 8. Get Back-to-Basics & focus on providing Municipal Services & Public Safety not Wish-List & Pet-Projects until revenue increases. Then, after you’ve Cut Costs & Re-Focussed on Essential City Services, come back to the Voters for a Temp 0.25¢ Sales Tax increase with a 3-5 year Sunset clause IF NEEDED, & I’m sure the good people of Burbank would be willing to help out.
This $20M Measure is 2x what the City actually needs to balance future Budget deficits, creating an $11M annual Cash Pot. It’s also Bad For Business, esp. those selling higher-ticket items. It takes a just a few minutes more to drive to L.A. for Appliances, Cameras, Computers/Electronics, Cars etc. Local Business are being hit with a double-whammy with the proposed 10¢/sqft BUSD Parcel TAX, meaning additional Taxes or pass-through Rent increases on top of what some have already endured in Magnolia Park. Big Corporations like Ikea & Walmart can afford to absorb the costs, but small Mom-&-Pop stores are going to be hit esp. hard if these new Taxes pass & some will probably go out-of-business.
Before Voting for Measure P, please consider doing the following:
1. Watch this Video explaining Why We’re in this Financial Mess. * (Start @ 5:38min. Apologies 4 “Jack Sprats” annotated comments – just listen to the City Manager’s honest reply to Council)
2. Review the Salaries + Benefits our City Employees’ are being paid.
I love Burbank and want to see our City prosper, but this Taxpayer Bailout only encourages More Spending & Waste. I urge my fellow Burbank residents to Vote NO in November and send our elected Leaders a loud message: Trim The Fat, Cut Spending & Live Within Your Means!
Amazing time @ 2017 Night of Magic Fundraising Gala & Dinner @ Pickwick Gardens. Kudos to all the Incredible Performers, BYVAF, Dir. Brett Carroll, MC Sean Holland and everyone who came out to support this wonderful program. FLICKR PHOTO’s | FACEBOOK Album
Primary Election Commentary – Burbank City Council
We Love Burbank – the Media Capital of the World; It’s Churches, Schools, Police & Fire services, Parks, Small-Town Feel & Quality of Life. But that Quality of Life is under threat from agenda-driven Politicians, Staff bureaucrats & Developers who want to buy & sell Burbank for their own benefit. From the approval of the Cusumano’s Talaria condos traffic nightmare on Olive with it’s extra density & lack of affordable housing, to the 3rd St. & Cypress Apt. project also approved by the Council* (Gabel-Luddy) & Planning Board (Rizzotti) @ 25% above code, tentative plans for the old Ikea site to be converted to mixed-use Apartments instead of an open commercial retail space, uncertainty re development plans for the massive 58 acre Airport B-6 Property (aka “Opportunity Site”) being sold to fund a new “safer” 14 gate terminal, rampant mansionization, speeding & unlicensed care/sober living facilities…Burbank is looking/feeling more like Glendale & West L.A. every year.
We need to put the brakes on! We need to change the fundamental direction the City is going in. We need smart growth that puts the needs of the Residents and our Neighborhoods above the profits of Developers. We need New Leaders who’s No.1 desire is to Serve & Protect You and I; Our Families, Our Neighborhoods, Our Livelihoods. So please join us in supporting David Nos & Juan Guillen for Burbank City Council, 2 longtime Burbank Residents & Small Business Owners with servant hearts & the right mix of experience & youth to be your voice on the City Council. And let’s work together to make Burbank a better place to live, work & play for everyone.
Update 2/24/15: It’s Election Day! If you haven’t already mailed in your ballot you’ll need to drop it off today before 7pm. Today’s drop-off locations incl. Joslyn & Tuttle Centers, City Clerk’s Office, Buena Vista Library, McCambridge Rec Ctr., John Muir Middle School, Edison Elementary & Burbank Adult School. #VoteBurbank * Check back tonight after 8pm for Election Results.
Gloria’s letter to Assemblyman Mike Gatto Re AB 1266 – the Co-Ed Bathroom / Shower Bill (Don’t make Mama Bear angry).
I am writing to voice my strong disapproval of your vote in support of AB 1266, the Transgender Co-ed Bathroom Bill. I cannot believe the legislator I voted for in the past 2 elections would support such a horrendous bill. I am a Parent of a 6th grader in the BUSD and can tell you that my daughter and her friends are horrified at the thought of confused boys going into the girls bathroom, not to mention showers if they elect to play on girls sports team. Why would you choose to inconvenience 99% of our kids to accommodate a handful of students? Why do you care more about promoting the LGBT agenda vs. promoting Family values and protecting our children? I can also tell you the nearly every parent I’ve spoken to in the district and @ Church share my concerns. And this is not a partisan political issue; parents agree regardless of their political leanings.
Gender-confused children are allowed to use Teachers bathrooms in many schools and this should suffice. Some schools are assigning special gender-neutral bathrooms just for these children, again a much better & safer solution. I ask that you re-consider your support for this & move to repeal the law immediately before the voters do. As you know, the Bill is currently in limbo pending approval of a ballot measure to repeal it. Unfortunately Sec. of State Debra Bowen continues to deliberately circumvent the will of the people by first refusing to count all the signatures submitted, & after being ordered by a judge to count them, throwing out 131k signatures she claims are invalid, and doing everything she can to hinder & intimidate those challenging valid thrown out signatures. My husband & I vow to continue to educate parents & members of the faith-based community in Burbank on this issue, to hold lawmakers accountable for their actions, and to protect our Children’s Right to Privacy.
ILuvBurbank's Blog 