Fun evening serving with the #SouthHillsBurbank – #LoveThe818 Team @ Ashley Erikson‘s amazing National Night Out Block Party on Evergreen St. #iLuvBurbank #LoveYourNeighbor | FACEBOOK PHOTO Album – YouTube
Posts Tagged ‘police’
National Night Out on Evergreen St., Burbank
August 8, 2018 Burbank Police & Fire BBQ @ South Hills Burbank
August 16, 2016
South Hills Church hosted a wonderful BBQ honoring our Police & Firefighters at their Burbank Campus this past Sunday following their 10.45am Service. The BBQ was a culmination of their Love-The-818 campaign that included helping BUSD Teachers @ various school sites set-up their classrooms and providing Teacher lunches, helping BHC pack 100’s of free backpacks for kids who need them, BTAC undergarment drive, cleaning up Chandler Bikeway & serving at the LA Dream Center projects. In attendance were Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes (ret. Fireman), his Mom & son Scott; Councilman Bob Frutos (ret. Police); BPD Police Chief Scott LaChasse & Dep. Chief Michael Albanese; and Police & Fire personnel from Orange Groove & Verdugo Fire Stations. It was an honor to serve the men & woman who keep us safe everyday! I also had the chance to chat to the Mayor about a number of topics including various aspects of Police & Fire Dept. operations (recruiting, sro’s), as well as the upcoming Airport Terminal vote. Thank You Pastor Dave Stewart and South Hills Burbank for spreading the love of Jesus throughout our community.
IOS FLICKR Photos | FACEBOOK Photos | South Hills – SHARE Sermon
Burbank City Manager (+ Staff) Meet-&-Greet
November 10, 2013
I had the privilege of attending a wonderful meet-&-greet for new City Manager Mark Scott hosted by Burbank City Councilman Bob Frutos & Marsha Ramos. Also in attendance were Police Chief Scott LaChasse, City Clerk Zizette Mullins & a host of Burbank community leaders. Scott has impressed many since he took over the reigns as CM a few months ago with his humility & willingness to listen to everyone, regardless of whether they wear a suit & tie or a hawaiian shirt, a refreshing change vs. the previous arrogance & indifference displayed by some Staff members. I’ve also been impressed by his professionalism & honesty, and while I didn’t agree with his $300k contract, I have a lot more confidence that with his experience  & leadership approach we can right the ship, make better/wiser decisions & ultimately make Burbank a better place to live, work & play.
Among the topics I heard discussed during the evening; Tuesday night’s marathon 10hr Council meeting that went to nearly 4am, the Lemonade and Family Services Agency Youth Counseling decisions, the new Bob Hope Airport Terminal Measure B vote (2015) & B-6 property use/sale, the BWP fund transfer lawsuit & recent tragic house fire death of a disconnected customer, the Cusamano’s Talaria Condo project w/Whole Foods, BPD Litigation incl. 2 recent arbitration rulings against the City, the $12M price tag  & the Valento “extortion” indictment, the Walmart ruling re traffic mitigations & Staff’s “dishonesty”, as well as the Council decision NOT to appeal the ruling (3-2 vote), the DeBell Golf course ongoing viability, the Starlight Bowl, traffic, and much more. A night of great food, fellowship & conversations.
Conversation with Bob Frutos – BPD, BWP, Budget
December 29, 2012Eric Michael Cap discusses BPD Reforms, BWP Rates, Budget Balancing & Business Development with Burbank City Council Candidate Bob Frutos. Please visit Bob Frutos’ website for more information.
Burbank Election Issues & Candidates – 2011
February 20, 2011
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Kudos to the League of Woman Voters for hosting an excellent Candidates Forum that actually dealt with many of the issues Burbank residents are concerned with. If you didn’t get a chance to see it, please try & catch a replay before casting your ballot in the upcoming Primary Election. I came away most impressed by Police Commission President Robert Frutos. Robert is a 17 year Burbank resident with an outstanding record of community service. He has 24 years of law enforcement experience at LAPD, which makes him the best candidate by far to deal with the BPD “mess” and the institution of real reforms, including an independent Inspector with wide-reaching oversight powers who would report directly to the City Council. He seems to have what I consider a “fiscally-conservative” approach to dealing with many of the financial issues we face; He spoke strongly against the controversial payment of over $1 million in bonuses to Burbank public employees, as well as the 7-11% pay increases handed out to Snr. BWP Executives (21% over 3 years for GM Ron Davis) just weeks after our Utility & Water Rates we’re increased, the latter by a whopping 13%. He spoke of transparency with respect to the release of information on public employee salaries & bonuses, which hopefully also applies to a recent Civil Service Board members request for a list of all employees who are related to each other during a discussion about nepotism. In short, Robert gets it; He understands the financial hardships many are facing paying their mortgages/rent & utility bills, and is especially sensitive to the needs of our Seniors. He’s also opposed to further cuts in City Services including Police, Fire and Park services. I like his humility and the fact that he shares the same Christian values we do; I’ve seen so much grandstanding, anger & hostility at recent Council meetings, and he would be refreshing change for the better, a voice of reason, a voice of the people. Consider this an endorsement!
As for the rest of the field; Emily Gabel-Luddy has 10 years of Planning Board experience and while she spoke of cutting $1.3 million from employee bonuses and giving that to families in need which I’d support, I don’t see how we can do that and be fiscally responsible when we have an $8 million deficit that needs to be addressed first. Jackie Waltman seemed much stronger in her opposition to the bonuses, BWP rate/pay increases + audits, giving Police Commission & City Boards more power, so while we’re normally reluctant to support someone we’ve never heard of before, she might be the 3rd vote needed to ensure reform.
Finally, I have to say I was very disappointed in incumbent Gary Bric’s responses; The fact that he’s endorsed by every major organized Labor Union including the vulnerable BPOA is a huge turn-off, as it appears to me he’s more beholden unto them than being my/our voice/representative. He was the only candidate who did not oppose the bonus payments and actually defended BWP GM Ron Davis’ 21% pay increase over the next 3 years. I also didn’t care for his comments about getting rid of the LAPD folks who’ve been brought in to help clean up the BPD “mess” and end the nepotism so that they could promote from within. The fact that he’d rather push another 5% across-the-board cut within all departments to address the Budget deficit (that’s 15% in cuts the last 3 years), instead of cutting the 1-1.3 million in bonuses paid to public employees (15% saving) is bewildering, as what he’s essentially advocating is a cut in City Services & Programs over the elimination of bonuses. No wonder our roads are in such bad condition! (esp. Delaware) I like Gary as a person, he’s a neighbor of mine & we supported him last time he ran but it’s time for change and in my mind Gary represents a continuation of the “status-quo” and the “good-old-boy” network within the BPD which lead to all the BPD lawsuits we’re dealing with & millions of dollars in taxpayers money being poured out with little oversight to defend them, not to mention a liability that could seriously jeopardize our City’s future. I do agree with Gary on one thing; the reconsideration of the sidewalks on Screenland Dr. adj. to Luther Middle School…the children’s safety must come first!
On the School Board side I like Greg Bragg, a Manager at Bexel Video who wants to utilize technology in the classroom more and explore corporate partnerships to supplement Education funding shortfalls. While I like most parents with children within the BUSD am fairly happy with the School Board (outside of the Jolly hiring), having a fresh face with new ideas can often prevent staleness that sets in when you have the exact same people sitting on a Board year after year. That said, if the BUSB plans on putting a Property Parcel Tax increase on the ballot in 2013 they better be able to provide a full accounting of where the last Bond measure’s money was spent and full details of where future money will go…hopefully in the classroom where it belongs!
–LINKS–
Burbank Leader Mailbag Letter – 1/30/2011
LWV Candidates Forum Video Replay
Bob Frutos for City Council Website
Jackie Waltman for City Council Website
ILuvBurbank's Blog 