Join the celebration as we light the candles on My Burbank's 14th anniversary, reminiscing on our journey from a budding news source to the heartbeat of the community. Reflect with us on the remarkable evolution that shaped us into ‘my Burbank’, and share our excitement as we ponder the future potential of ‘myToluca Lake’. This episode is a tribute to the stories and engagement that have woven the fabric of our platform, and it's bursting with the local charm and fervor that's garnered your steadfast loyalty.
Transportation woes and city council discussions take the driver's seat in this conversation as we dissect the Metro Bus Lane Proposal on Olive Avenue, offering our insights on why a mixed-flow traffic approach may be Burbank's best route forward. The rain's pitter-patter has sparked climate change dialogue and storm preparation plans, and we're here to navigate you through these complex currents. Plus, get the scoop on local events and the fiscal finesse of the city's treasury, from the unveiling of Centennial Park's new clock tower to the iconic 60th steak-sizzling celebration at Black Angus.
Our school board and city council agenda coverage is as comprehensive as it is critical, from solar power strides to campus safety enhancements, and we don't shy away from the hard-hitting issues like mental health initiatives in schools. Then, weave through the community tapestry with us as we highlight the events that keep Burbank's spirit alive, from the Cub Scouts' Pinewood Derby to the Rotary's karaoke night. Tune in for an episode that showcases the vibrant patchwork of Burbank life and the passionate voices that are integral to its story.
Join the celebration as we light the candles on My Burbank's 14th anniversary, reminiscing on our journey from a budding news source to the heartbeat of the community. Reflect with us on the remarkable evolution that shaped us into ‘my Burbank’, and share our excitement as we ponder the future potential of ‘myToluca Lake’. This episode is a tribute to the stories and engagement that have woven the fabric of our platform, and it's bursting with the local charm and fervor that's garnered your steadfast loyalty.
Transportation woes and city council discussions take the driver's seat in this conversation as we dissect the Metro Bus Lane Proposal on Olive Avenue, offering our insights on why a mixed-flow traffic approach may be Burbank's best route forward. The rain's pitter-patter has sparked climate change dialogue and storm preparation plans, and we're here to navigate you through these complex currents. Plus, get the scoop on local events and the fiscal finesse of the city's treasury, from the unveiling of Centennial Park's new clock tower to the iconic 60th steak-sizzling celebration at Black Angus.
Our school board and city council agenda coverage is as comprehensive as it is critical, from solar power strides to campus safety enhancements, and we don't shy away from the hard-hitting issues like mental health initiatives in schools. Then, weave through the community tapestry with us as we highlight the events that keep Burbank's spirit alive, from the Cub Scouts' Pinewood Derby to the Rotary's karaoke night. Tune in for an episode that showcases the vibrant patchwork of Burbank life and the passionate voices that are integral to its story.
From deep in the Burbank Media District. It's time for another edition of my Burbank Talks, presented by the staff of my Burbank. Now let's see what's on today's agenda as we join our program.
Speaker 2:Hello Burbank, craig Sherwood here along with the remote, ross Benson.
Speaker 3:Good evening from my remote location.
Speaker 2:Evening from my remote location. Sorry if those who listened live on Monday saw we were going a little late tonight, but we had some technical difficulties and had to set some things up and we had to get Ross on the telephone line. So it looks like we've got everything patched in properly. So let's start off with another week. That was, and we're going to start off with last week's winner, who is Mary Cunningham, who sent in the word Burbank Bus. But once again, mary did not send your address in, so please send me your address. We want to send you that $25 gift card to Hill Street Cafe, one of the greatest places you'll ever get to eat at. I can't tell you how many times I go there and enjoy the food.
Speaker 2:So please send me your emails.
Speaker 3:I wonder if you see any relation to Alfred Cunningham. Oh, no, that was Ron Howard, that's right, oh.
Speaker 2:That was his stage mother, right, yeah, I guess.
Speaker 3:That's right His.
Speaker 2:TV mother. Well, one of his TV mothers. He's right out of field, mr. Cunningham yeah, Well, so the week there was? Well, yeah, but before we get into that, you know today's a big day for us. You know that, don't you?
Speaker 3:Well, I you know what today is. You're right, it is our big one.
Speaker 2:It's our 14th birthday today. You can call it an anniversary, I like to call. I call it a birthday. This is like a child to me. When I created this, both Ross and I were working for another newspaper in town. That seemed to be going nowhere and I took a look around back in 2010. And I left there. Actually, the last day of the decade, in 2009, on December 31st, took about a month off and I said so, what's the next step? I've been in journalism for 30 years. What am I going to do next year? And I started looking at it and saying you know, I always am on computers, I get news on Twitter and everything else. Digital is the way to go. So I started to put the whole thing together and incorporate the whole thing and talked to Ross and said Ross, this is a ride you need to take with me. And, damn it, you did.
Speaker 3:Well, you know it's funny because I've always thought Burbank deserves its own news source. It's always bugged me that you know you get the Glenville News Press or what's happening in Glenville, what's happening outside of Burbank, and people care about Burbank. If you talk to Burbank people, they want to know what's happening outside of Burbank and people care about Burbank. If you talk to Burbank people, they want to know what's happening in their backyard.
Speaker 2:And that's where we made our mistakes in the beginning. Our first three years we actually called it Burbank and Beyond, thinking that if we had to go a little outside of Burbank we could, that'd be Beyond. But two things happened. Number one people couldn't remember if it was Burbank A and D beyond or Burbank the letter N beyond. It was two words, three words, one word. So they couldn't figure out how to get to us. That was number one. Number two they couldn't figure out. They didn't want to hear about Glendale. Like I said, they don't want to hear about Glendale. They don't care about Sun Valley. They don't care about Sun Valley. They don't care about North Hollywood, they really don't. That's right. So when I saw the name my Burbank come up and I actually got it from somebody in Australia I had to pay a pretty good sum of money for it too, but I think it was worth it.
Speaker 3:Well, it's funny you're saying that because the more people I talk to around town they don't care what goes on in Glendale. You know we have our own city and whatever, and the council and you know we have a great city. And I just, for example, my son went to dinner on uh, I think it was Friday night, and he they they asked what does your dad do? And he says well, have you ever heard of my Burbank? And they said we love my Burbank. We look at it daily and I hear it all the time. You know our numbers are up there. People follow us. Where else are you going to get news about Burbank?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's actually amazing Surprise from us. It's actually amazing when you look at our numbers. Our numbers are right around 70,000 people a month come to our site, and that's a lot, 70,000. And our Twitter is really growing fastly. I think we're over 51,000 on Twitter and our other social media is we have TikTok and Instagram and whatever. I think there's another Facebook. I think there's another 25,000 there. So it's amazing how you know, but it didn't happen overnight. Yeah, we're not an overnight success, so no, it's taken us a while.
Speaker 3:We, I know we've always had that guy at 634 Florence. You know, is he following my Burbank, does he know? And daily you hear people go. You know, I just found my Burbank. Yeah, and it's so funny. Where was I the other day? And oh, I did that Toluca Lake Chamber mixer and the president said I've followed my Burbank for years now, the only way you know anything that's going on in Burbank.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, down the line we were talking about doing that in my Toluca Lake, but until they get a little more behind us, I don't think that's going to happen. We have it in place if that ever happens, if we ever want to branch out because we don't have enough to do now, as it is Right. So you know what else today is. Also, it's besides our birthday and besides April 1st, and we're not trying to fool you whatsoever. Today's also, once again, the first day of voting for my Burbank's Best for 2024. And we have voting open on our website.
Speaker 2:Go to our website. You'll see all kinds of boxes, or just go to the top menu. It says Vote for my Burbank's Best 2024. And we have like 240 different categories on there and you can type in the businesses that you want to support. You don't have to fill every category out, but fill out the ones that you think are you know that you want to support their businesses. Last year we had close to 2,500 votes. This year I think we'll get over 3,000. In fact, voting has only been open for one day now. I think we have about 350 votes already. Come in the first day, that's tremendous.
Speaker 2:I mean we didn't push it until about noon today, but MyBurman's Best has become something that the merchants really like it, because if they get voted MyBurman's Best, they get a decal. They get a digital decal for their websites and stuff and they can use it for their advertising and I think people see that and say, okay, you know people, you know this is like a five-star rating you know this means that people in Burbank trust this place, yep exactly so.
Speaker 2:Voting is open. Go to our website and you will find how to vote as they say in Chicago vote early and vote often.
Speaker 2:That's right, Okay, well, let's get on to last week here. Now it's the week that was. Let's start off with the city council meeting and there's really only one thing I've noted in that council meeting about all the things that happened, and that was about the metro and what we're going to do with the metro and the bus lane and all that. There are going to be some dedicated bus lanes in Burbank and that's not a contention. I think there's a small lane on Riverside Drive, going to be a small lane on Olive between First and Glen Oaks and maybe on Glen Oaks going into Glendale. There are going to be some dedicated bus lanes.
Speaker 2:But the one that was really on everybody's mind was the bus lane that was supposed to go on Olive from Buena Vista to Lake, and it would not work. There are too many cars on our Burbank Main Street to do that and the council isn't. And I agree, nobody is closed to the idea. But prove it's going to work first. You know how you prove it. And they said right now that little section right there might only save one to two minutes. So it's not like a, you know, a ten minute swing or something. You're going to save one to two minutes in mixed flow traffic as it is, instead of going into one single dedicated lane.
Speaker 3:If you recall when they originally threw that out at us, they wanted to take the curb lane and that would have screwed all those businesses.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that meant no parking. You'd have three lanes but no parking. And if you're a small business on Olive and you have no parking, you're out of business.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know, right now a lot of people go uptown and if you've got to park in the parking structures you've got to have to hike to go to some places. Oh, absolutely so how they're what they finally decided.
Speaker 2:Right. The council decided they're going to stay with the original layer. They wrote a couple years ago to Metro and said they want to see a mixed flow solution. Mixed flow means the buses just run with traffic. But they're not. You know, they're not close to the idea they just want to see. I agree, let's see some proof of concept first. Like I said before, you show me buses are running 75% full instead of 90% empty, like the Burbank buses, then I'll start believing you. But if people aren't taking the Burbank bus, how is this game going to help Burbank to start with? I mean, we can't get people to take the Burbank bus. How many people in Burbank are going to take this bus to Pasadena or to North Hollywood? I think it's more for the people in North Hollywood and Pasadena to pass through Burbank. I don't think it really affects and helps Burbank people that much. With the Burbank bus running that runs to the Metro Lincoln Station in North Hollywood as it is on the same route.
Speaker 3:It'll be interesting.
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. They say that they're going to work with you know, and they also make a subcommittee. Council members Takahashi and Mullins are going to meet with the board itself. They've never done that, it's always been through representatives, and maybe that might help too. And you know, more to come later this year.
Speaker 3:And when it does, we'll let you know and we will, you know, we'll break it all down for you before it happens. Well, it was pretty funny. I've watched council for you know, over 50 years now and they came up with two to be on the committee.
Speaker 3:They literally picked straws out of a cup, or I think, they put, you know, the city clerk put people's name in a cup and they, you know, pulled out. And it was smart how council member member mullen said you know, let's look who's going to be here in the next couple of years. So, um, and, and you know, tamela said she rides the bus. She, you know, uses it quite a bit now. And I personally, you know with um, you know with Suzette, she was a business owner. She knows Burbank darn well.
Speaker 3:So I'm glad to see that they're going to get together and, you know, be face-to-face with your Metro board.
Speaker 2:Well, I think it's worth exploring. Like I say, nobody's closed to the idea we're just saying to make a drastic change like that. You got to show some proof of concept. Let's see if it's going to work first, and then we can make adjustments. You know what? And if those buses are running 75% full, then you know what People in Burbank need to make an adjustment, and maybe we all have to make adjustments down the line too when it comes to our vehicles. So I get that, yep, okay. Well, the only other thing last week that really happened was um rain. We had a lot of rain, in fact, we got over three inches but guess what? Another storm coming this next friday. In four days, we have another storm. So isn't that a beautiful thing.
Speaker 3:Well, but they say climate change isn't real.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't. I think climate change is yeah. If you look at it, so far in this storm we had 3.37 inches and we have a total this year of 24.18. Now, remember the rain season is not like a calendar or fiscal year. The rain season starts October 1st and ends September 30th. I have no idea how that came up with the season, but that's what the official season is. Last year we had 41.44 inches of rain, 5.69 alone in August last year, and that creek, little river that came through here, the Atmospheric River. We have more rain coming here on this Friday, a very cold storm too. The snow levels will be down low. This time we might get some snow on the Burbank Hills, you never know.
Speaker 3:I have to look out my back door.
Speaker 2:There you go. I hear maybe another possible storm the next week too. This is March or April. April showers bring May flowers, right.
Speaker 3:I think that's right.
Speaker 2:Okay, um, so that's kind of it for last week. Not a lot to really talk about last week. We're going to take a quick break here for a commercial and come back with the week that will be.
Speaker 4:Enjoying the show right now, thinking you may want to do your own podcast. Vibrate Talks is renting out our podcast studio on an hourly rate. You can do audio podcasts or both audio and video, and even bring in guests to talk with. We will help you get set up on podcast platforms and start a YouTube channel, and we can edit your productions to make you look and sound your very best. If you are interested, please drop us an email at studiorentalsatmyburbankcom. That's studiorentalsatmyburbankcom, and we will get back to you. Now back to our show.
Speaker 2:Okay, everybody. Craig Sherwood here with you once again, along with Ross Benson.
Speaker 3:Here we are, here we go. What happened? Let's go.
Speaker 2:Well, let's get on with. Well, today was well. It's funny, today was one of two things. It was actually three things. It's April Fool's Day, of course, no fooling, but the city offices were closed in recognition of Dolores Herta Day. Now most people use it as Cesar Chavez Day, but the city, because of Dolores Herta's ties to Burbank, made it Dolores Herta Day instead. So that's why all the city offices were closed today instead. So that's why all the city offices were closed today. But, it's funny, the school district that has a school named after her decided to leave it Cesar Chavez Day in recognition.
Speaker 2:So I'm not sure if it's cats and dogs living together. Let's move on here. Okay, tuesday, tuesday, we're going to start tomorrow, tomorrow off, with a low-cost dog and cat vaccine clinic, once again from 2 to 5 pm at the animal shelter. So if you have a dog or cat that needs a shot, and it's a very low cost, you get it done. And, like I say when I've had dodgers at my vet, it's a pretty nice little. I walk out there saying, holy cow, they took my wallet.
Speaker 3:Hope they give me something back well, this is the first time the shelter's done it um at the shelter, um by appointments. They used to do it once a year at the fire station and I remember people lining up with their dogs and oh, they were running in circles and everything and Dr Martin Small was the doctor that was, you know him, and a couple of the volunteers and they got through several hundred people. But it's very economical doing it this way and it goes to remind people that you know our animal shelter is full service, that's right.
Speaker 2:So the question is is Dr Martin small or is he a large man?
Speaker 3:He was a regular-sized man. I can't believe it.
Speaker 3:You know it's funny. A lot of people knew Marty. I happen to know him from the synagogue in Burbank. I used to spend the time at his house, knew the family quite well. So I've known Marty for many years. He passed away several years ago and his wife preceded him many, many years ago. And people love Marty For dogs. He had a bedside manner. I remember I brought a cat to him once. That broke her hip, you know, and he I was. So I was shook up, you know, and he said it happens, we'll set it, that will be fine. I mean he just his practice and how he did his stuff and I think everybody at the Burbank Animal Shelter learned from Dr Small.
Speaker 2:Well, he was a Burbank mainstay.
Speaker 2:He was a trusted person who spent his whole career here and did a lot for a lot of people and, once again, if you knew him, you were lucky. Yes, very, let's move on. On Tuesday we're going to have Now, this is something I got to tell you I look at stuff and I try to figure it out On the agenda and I look at the what's going to be talked about and I look at this and I go there's no way. The fiscal and treasury review group Will meet at 2pm at the community services building. They're going to review A review of 2024 City of Burbank investment policy and review of the city treasurer's investment portfolio report for December 31st 2023. Now, I'm sorry, there's only so much one person can know and I think my head would explode if I tried to figure out all the numbers and stocks and trends and everything. We have a great City Treasurer and you know what.
Speaker 3:She's done a great job. People don't realize Crystal Palmer has her thumb on it. I remember when she was first elected she'd been re-elected and she really keeps the money, that pencil, sharp and does a very, very good job. I commend Crystal for her office and the treasury office of everything they do.
Speaker 2:Well, if you look at the state of California right now, it's going into a huge deficit, I guess, but not the city of Burbank. So, yeah, I think she does some good investing and safe investing, but I think she's on the ball. So now the city council's not going to meet on Tuesday, they're going to take, they're going to meet on tuesday, they're, they're going to take. They're going dark on tuesday because they're going to meet on wednesday instead. So we'll check that out in a second. So let's move on to wednesday here, april 3rd, uh, at 11 am to noon they are going to have a dedication of the the clock tower that the people at rotary have donated to the city. So it's gonna be a um, a dedication at Centennial Park.
Speaker 3:Yeah, how many people went over there.
Speaker 2:I didn't know the name of that park either, so I had to look at. You know, I found this. When I saw it, I go that's what it's called. That's a little. It's a park, but it's more of a little walking sitting area. That's right next to the police department, in fact right next to the jail. So if you get out of jail you walk a few feet and you can go sit in that park and wait for your Uber to come.
Speaker 3:Well, I remember when they put that park in you could donate money to have your name put on a brick Gary Brick, Jack Hine, oh, it wasn't Gary Brick right, it wasn't Gary Brick, right?
Speaker 2:No, not Gary Brick. Oh, okay, okay.
Speaker 3:A real brick. But Jack Hine, who used to be an engineer at the radio station, lifelong Burbank resident, he bought one with his name and his kid's name and every time I walk by there I see that and I go, wow, you know, I don't know what they're going to do if they change that part, but the clock's been up for about a week and it is right on time. I looked at it the other day.
Speaker 2:Okay. Well that's going to be on on Wednesday from 11 to noon. They're going to have a dedication. Thank you to the rotary who put that in. Let's. Let's hope they keep it up. That's all I'm going to say. Let's hope they keep it.
Speaker 3:Well, and we want to emphasize, that's Noon Rotary. We're pretty fortunate in Burbank to have two Rotary clubs, but the one that donated that was Noon Rotary, who meet on Tuesdays at 11 o'clock over there at the hotel there at the corner of.
Speaker 2:San Fernando and Verdugo oh yeah, marriott no. The Garden, yeah, yeah, yeah, marriott no.
Speaker 3:The.
Speaker 2:Garden right.
Speaker 3:But Lynn wrote a nice article. We had it last week. Oh no, she wrote the article about their fundraiser coming up, so people can take a look at it. My Burbank can find that.
Speaker 2:Okay, 4 pm we're going to have a ribbon-cutting at Black Angus for their 60th anniversary Birthday anniversary. See, they say birthday too, 60th birthday. You know, the other night Dick Dornan, who's a friend of the program and was on with us the other you know we actually went over there and had dinner the other night and I got to tell you what the food there has really improved. I enjoyed the meal. There was nothing about the meal that was not good and I thought it was very, very good. So Black Angus might be a little place in Burbank people don't think about. You think about Smokehouse, maybe Morton's and all these places, but Black Angus they hang in there pretty good.
Speaker 3:Well, they moved. Their main offices are here in Burbank Now, their main, you know, and that is their flagship store. That they, you know, all the bosses, all the executives. So it better be good Give you a little trivia. When Black Angus moved in there many, many, many, many years ago, they had a hot air balloon team and I went flying. They picked me up right there for uh first street and angelino in a hot air balloon I think it was like six in the morning. We flew out all the way through the San Fernando Valley, we landed at the Black Angus on Reseda Boulevard and I shot pictures and first time I'd ever been on a hot air balloon. And then they broke open a bottle of champagne and we all had a toast.
Speaker 2:I always thought hot air balloons were at the mercy of the wind.
Speaker 3:Well, early in the morning they flew it from Burbank out to Reseda and, like I said, we went up right here in Burbank and then you were to fly it back. I know they had a crew, Okay so.
Speaker 2:I guess the wind was going in one direction then.
Speaker 3:Right. Okay, Well, that makes sense then, because I was going to say how would they be able to go in two directions Right and a hot air balloon and it was an experience.
Speaker 2:Well, I thought the rest for you a few years, wasn't very good, but my opinion is 100% changed. And you know what. And for you sports people out there, what a great place to go. If you want to watch a game, they've got a zillion TVs in that place. So if you want to go in and I remember it's funny.
Speaker 3:I remember back in the day when Gene Blevins, our good friend Gene Blevins, our good friend Gene Blevins, was a DJ and that was one of the places on Friday night, friday, saturday nights, you know, everybody would show up and there's a lot that has gone on at that Black Angus, but their food. You know it's funny how Sizzler, you used to go to Sizzler and you weren't sure about their steak. Well, that's what people said about Black Angus. I agree, yes, like Iler, you used to go to Sizzler and you weren't sure about their steak.
Speaker 2:Well, that's what people said about Black Angus. I agree, yes.
Speaker 3:Like I said, you learned the other day, it's pretty yummy.
Speaker 2:And that's why I'm passing it. You know, you know me, I'm the first guy to dump on somebody or to give my real opinion, and so when something's good, I'm going to pass that along too, because I think it's important that you know, I, I do see good things now and I do experience good things now and then.
Speaker 3:So, uh, when I, when it's good for me, you know it's got to be good. Yeah, about a year ago in fact, uh, bob frutos and his wife laura took me to dinner for some occasion and that's where they wanted to go and I couldn't believe how much food you got. Yeah, they got some triple plate trio or something and I had.
Speaker 2:I couldn't move when I walked out of there yeah, well, you know, coach, and I actually got the meal for two type thing and you guys, you know, each got an entree and you got two sides each and a, you know a dollar and a dessert. And I'll tell you this the the crab, and, uh, I got the, um, the wedge salad with crab and I got the, the wedge salad with crab, and not real good, that was the only thing that was disappointing. But the dessert, the end of the cake, was amazing. I got the prime rib Amazing. I got scalloped potatoes, I got mac and cheese Amazing, so very happy.
Speaker 3:So, anyhow, moving on, Happy birthday or happy anniversary to Black King.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 60 years, reasonably, they'll catch up to us.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:We gotta keep getting ahead of them. Okay, also on Wednesday the Civil Service Board's gonna meet at 4.30 o'clock at City Hall and mostly gonna talk about recruitment and things like that and just the usual stuff. And then later that night at 6 pm the city council is going to have a joint meeting with the school board. And now it's not at City Hall, it's not in the chambers, it's at the community services building at 6 pm. There's going to be so many people that need so many microphones they can't fit them all in City Hall because you know they're all going to want to talk.
Speaker 3:And they say the same thing over and over again. Um well, it threw me when I saw it. On wednesday, I sent a text to our city uh, cio, jonathan jones and I said a council meeting on a wednesday and he said, yeah, for them to get all their schedules worked out it had to be on a Wednesday.
Speaker 2:I'm going to say one thing I really hope that Steve Ferguson on the school board publicly apologizes to Justin Hess, our city manager, after throwing him under the bus after the last failed meeting they had and he blamed Justin Hess for everything and that was not right. So hopefully he apologizes, if we can. Now, public comment is going to be interesting because the public can now comment on anything that deals with the city of Burbank or the school district. You're not limited just to you know. You usually comment on the schools and say, well, you know, we can't do anything about that, we're not involved with that. Well, this meeting you can. So if you usually come in on the schools and say, well, you know, we can't do anything about that, we're not involved with that, well, this meeting you can. So if you want to talk about the schools or the city of Burbank, anything, you've got your three minutes, so I say you should use it.
Speaker 2:So let's see here they're going to talk about, they're going to get an update on Burbank's water and power partnership and issues with the school district. Water and power partnership initiatives with the school district I'm sure that's going to talk about. Maybe all the solar panels they have on the parking structures that help you know with that. Funny that they do solar panels on the school's parking structures to help them with the bills. But they will do no incentives for the public Because if we start doing solar then our public utility that we pay for is going to be in trouble. So they don't want us personally doing solar, but they'll do it for the businesses. There's going to be an update on campus safety efforts and once again, these are updates. They're not going to decide anything, they're not going to vote on anything, they're just going to talk about it.
Speaker 3:Well, I read the report. The report is pretty, you know. It shows pictures of you know they met with the police department, the fire department and Burbank High had quite a few improvements. I remember one of the topics was the off-site classrooms at John Burroughs and now all classes are on the main campus. They've made quite a few corrections. There's still stuff that they're doing that will take a while with ID cards and access points and more cameras at Burbank High. So it's a work in progress.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, cameras are so crucial. Nowadays Cameras are not that expensive. They really aren't. That needs to be done. We're going to have an overview of the sexual assault report, response and protocols and, as we most remember, that was very a contentious thing back in last year and a lot of people were very upset and I'm not sure how that ever got resolved because the school district really didn't talk about it. But hopefully that has been. We'll talk about it here. You know, with the responses and the protocols. They're going to have a traffic safety update and I'm not. They'll probably talk about traffic back in September or August when school started, I should say. So I'm not sure how that applies right now, but they'll talk about it. They're going to have an update on the school resource officers.
Speaker 3:That'll be interesting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, now that's something that's very important. That's something that we've all dropped the ball on Not that, you know, we've all dropped the ball on Not we, I shouldn't say we all dropped the ball on. It's something that has kind of been funded out and I think needs to get refunded because, as you and I both know, having that school resource officer when we went to school was always important. It was good to have him there and you know what it was somebody who, who wasn't there to to watch us and nail us. He was there to to, you know, and not be a friend either, but he was there and, you know, to support us if any special officer and I know how they choose them.
Speaker 3:You know people, officers, put their name in and it's usually I mean they really got to show, you know, and the ones that they've had. I don't know when my son went to Burbank High, even up to John Muir, he knew, you know, the school resource officer got to know her real well and there's just so many different times and there's just so many different times Today he can remember stories of her. You know when she brought her horse to the campus Wait, she brought her what.
Speaker 3:She brought her horse. Oh, okay, yeah. Her and her husband, kerry Shelf, were horse owners. They were part of the police department's equestrian team and they would bring the horse to the elementary schools. Great PR tool.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:It doesn't have an equestrian unit anymore. It's unfortunate.
Speaker 2:Another thing that we've kind of let go to the side LA does but not Burbank. Oh yeah, la the county sheriff, most departments do we have an equestrian district here, a rancho area, but yeah, we have no horses, so too bad. There's going to be also a report on the joint mental health initiatives. Now I'm not sure what they basically are.
Speaker 2:We'll listen to that on the report, if I recall some of those were well the two things they had on there I'll just throw real fast is one was a no wrong door policy and the other was an update on unmarked patrol cars for mental health hospitalizations of students, because they find that students freak out when they see they're going to be marched out to a police car instead of a regular non-marked car to go get, you know, mental health aid, you know.
Speaker 3:See, bo, you know what gets me about that and I'm still scratching my bald head about it. You remember it took them. They said after COVID they couldn't get a car, they couldn't get it equipped, and I saw it at that stabbing. Last week my son pointed it out to me. It's a regular Explorer, it's got a different cage inside, but it's just a plain white Explorer. And you tell me you can't go down to a Ford dealer and pick up a white Explorer. So I don't know what took two years for them to finally get it, but I think they have one or two.
Speaker 2:They still can't get another MET team.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:It seems like we all want to do things about mental health, but when it comes right down to the nuts and bolts of it, it seems they always fall through the cracks.
Speaker 3:Yep.
Speaker 2:They're also going to have a joint resolution in support of the lgbtq plus community and inclusiveness. So now that was the entire reason. Steve ferguson threw the meeting out the out the door last time because this was not on the agenda. He demanded it be on the agenda. So there you go, now it's on the agenda. It's there you go. Now it's on the agenda.
Speaker 2:It's only a resolution, and I mean who doesn't support this? I mean, it's not like it's something that's contentious or needs to be discussed. He just wants to have his time to make a speech. So you know what, steve Make your speech, the floor will be yours. Everybody's going to vote for it, we all support it. So at, everybody's going to vote for it, we all support it. So at least you know you'll get your way. Also, they're having a report on the district enrollment trends and the potential impact of affordable housing access. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. We're bringing affordable housing. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. We're bringing in affordable housing. I'm not sure.
Speaker 3:Well, but I read that report. The numbers are really dropping. That's a lot of money Burbank's losing.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, it's butts in the seats, and I think for one time it was $75. You made $75 every butt in the seat and that was. You had to be there for four hours a day and I think that's a stupid system to start with. But now you know, I mean, let's face it, in the last few years we've had a lot of principals leave. Our schools are no longer getting distinguished schools anymore and things like that. And I think people look at that and say why should I send my kid to Burbank? You know they're not being distinguished schools anymore, they're not doing those extra things and that used to mean a lot. So I mean, you'll see the painting on all the school walls, but the years are not current.
Speaker 3:Well, you know, excuse me. You know we hear a lot of people complain, complain left and right. This is a good time for you. You have something to say, you can call in, you can write. You got both forwards. Now's the time to say something.
Speaker 2:Right? Well, there's also going to be a discussion on the creation of a center for interpret, interpretorship and innovation. So, if you're an interpreter, not an interpreter, also going to be a discussion on the creation of a center for interpretanship and innovation. So if you're an interpreter, not an interpreter, how do you say it? Why am I stumbling here? If you want to start a business, there you go. Or you want to do something with innovation, they're going to talk about that. I can't believe. I can't believe you came up with that. There are certain words in the language that everybody has those little faux pas, and that's one of mine, I guess.
Speaker 3:Well, it's funny because my pages show notes. Apparently, the Xerox machine didn't work and I don't even see it. So you're, you're okay, yeah.
Speaker 2:And I haven't spelled out right here for me too. I mean, I guess I got to do it phonetically. In the future, you know, because I'm turning to Bob Frutos now just making up words I guess let's see. And then also, on Wednesday the youth board is going to meet at 630 at the Johnson Center, so they'll have their meeting over there again and during the other meeting. Once again, I never understand why they have two meetings at the same time. So I guess none of those kids will care about the school board meeting anyway. Thursday oh, we have another ribbon cutting. In fact this time it's a grand opening, the Cambria Hotel, which is over on San Fernando and Holloway, right in that area. It's a brand new hotel in that new area. There they're going to have their ribbon cutting at 4 o'clock. Ceremony starts at 4 o'clock. They have their ribbon cuttings at 5 o'clock.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Big big, big thing. This is a brand new style for Cambria Hotels and I hear they've had a couple events. It's a very, very nice hotel, got a good bar, meeting rooms and everything brand new. So I know they've invited the public. I think the Chamber had an event there last week Meet the Chamber or whatever their event was. But yeah, it should be a big shindig they call it.
Speaker 2:We like shindigs, we'll stop by. I think we have Lynn going to cover it, I think for us. I think so, and you'll be there to shoot some pictures, and I may even go shoot the video.
Speaker 3:I sure hope so. We've got to keep that one in there.
Speaker 2:And later that night the Water and Power Board is going to meet at 5 pm at the Water and Power Building, which is going to be once again. Some of the issues are very complex and I have a lot of respect for all those people on that board because they understand it far better than I do, and that's why we have some of these boards and commissions, because they do understand these issues and they are kind of experts in that field. You know, I won't say it. I won't say it. I won't say it. I promised I wasn't going to talk about that one anymore. The Heritage Commission is going to meet. All. I'm sorry the Heritage Commission meeting has been canceled. We have no heritage. Heritage is gone. And from 6 to 8 pm the Burbank Armenian Association is going to have a community business mixer and that's Elena's oh boy, elena's Esterario Bar and Lounge.
Speaker 2:I have no idea, hollywood Way it used to be called the Hollywood Way right.
Speaker 3:Right, it used to be called the Hollywood Way.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yep, they've remodeled it and they expect quite a few people at that event. Right, it used to be called the Hollywood Way. Yeah, yep, they've remodeled it and they expect quite a few people at that event.
Speaker 2:I got to tell you, though, if you have a business, why would you name it something that nobody can pronounce? I mean, you need to make it easy for people, so but figure it's Elena's okay Bar and Lounge 1333 Hollywood Way and it used to be the bar called the Hollywood Way, which, I guess, went its way, and so the Burbank Armenian Association started to do more and more in our community, so it's a group that is becoming a presence and I have a lot of respect for them. Moving on to Friday, it's another ribbon cutting At 10 o'clock, a ribbon cutting for Burbank Water Powers, iron Flow Battery, bwb Campus.
Speaker 3:But what's funny about that? It's not open to the public or to the media, because apparently the water plant is a working operation there and I was told that we'll have to see who will be there and who's covering it.
Speaker 2:Oh, Okay, well, you can't go to it, public, you can't go to it, you'll just have to hear about it.
Speaker 3:Only because it's on a secured campus.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 3:You know, our water and power plant is a secured campus.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is.
Speaker 3:Plus, apparently it's new batteries and so forth, and there's a hazardous situation out there that they want to keep control of. So it just kind of threw me off when I heard that.
Speaker 2:Okay. Well, moving on to the weekend, you know what Saturday morning is? It's the return of one of our favorite events. Do you have any idea what that is?
Speaker 3:Must be the Dig Project.
Speaker 2:Oh, there we go. That's our word of the week Dig D-I-G. Do you believe that? D-i-g, no, I don't like that. Okay, Well, with that, with the horn and everything else going on. That means if you send in an email to contest at myburbankcom and put in the subject line Dig D-I-G and send your address too. Send your name and your address to us and we will pick out one lucky winner to receive a $25 gift card to Hill Street Cafe.
Speaker 3:with that, you will fully enjoy, and also I don't know if I had written it down in the notes, but Saturday night- hold on here.
Speaker 2:we're not done with Dig yet. Oh, I'm sorry. Dig's going to be at the Buena Vista Library from 8 to 10 am and, as always, bring your equipment, bring your shovels and, of course, bring your hose. I'll leave it at that. Then the Friends of the Burbank Public Library are having a pop-up sale, one day only. It's on the second floor of the Burbank Central Library from 12 to 4 pm. So we're going to have a great selection of children's books, new and used fiction and nonfiction books, and DVDs and CDs at bargain prices.
Speaker 2:Now here's the thing If you buy a DVD or a CD, make sure you have a player, because a lot of people that's like buying a VCR, getting a VCR tape and not having a VCR anymore. You know, it's a whole new world out there. Then I think we're going to talk about your. The Kiwanis are going to have their 2024 a salute to sports gala from 6 to 9 30 pm at Oakmont Country Club. But here you know what my problem with this is. We love the Kiwanis, we love what they do, but why, kiwanis, are you having your fundraiser in Glendale? Yep, I mean what?
Speaker 3:Burbank is not good we don't have good enough locations, why Kiwanis are you?
Speaker 2:having your fundraiser in Glendale? Yep, I mean what? Burbank is not good. We don't have good enough locations in Burbank here. Our businesses in Burbank, we can't support them. Who support you? Bad, bad. We love the Kiwanis. I mean, this is not. We want all the groups to understand this. If you're a Burbank community group and you're a nonprofit, do business in Burbank. You want Burbank people to do business with you, then you do business with Burbank. I think it's kind of a simple thing.
Speaker 3:Now, Ross, do you know if Lynn's going to go and cover that? No, because there's a conflict, if I recall, with the Rotary having their karaoke night. Oh, okay, so she had to pick which one she was going to cover and I said well, you know, it's not in Burbank.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:The Rotary thing is it's going to be held at Nickelodeon. We might have to get them to give us a shot or two and so forth, so we'll have to work that one out. I do know that, uh, kiwanis, they donate quite a bit around town. Uh, oh yeah. No, we love the kiwanis.
Speaker 2:So yeah, but you know what? Guess what kiwanis? We're not going to cover your thing because it's not local. So that's the reason you want to stay local. You want coverage.
Speaker 3:You gotta stay here in burbank and, like we said at the top of the show, how many people do you talk to that care about Burbank and what goes on here? They don't care about what goes on outside of Burbank.
Speaker 2:That is the truth.
Speaker 3:Well, there's an article in today's my Burbank that we ran that Lynn wrote about Saturday night's Kiwanis event, and a week or so ago she wrote about the Saturday night's Kiwanis event, and a week or so ago she wrote about the Rotaries karaoke night. It's one of their big fundraisers, so a lot going on in town, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, we usually don't have things on Sunday, but this Sunday we do have something. From 4 to 6 pm, cub Scout Pack 225 is going to hold their Pinewood Derby and that's going to be at St Robert, bellarmine's, st Eleanor Hall, which is at 5th Street and Orange Grove. And I got to tell you I mean, I was a Cub Scout at one time back in the day and I did Pinewood Derby and I remember getting that little block of wood and those cheap little wheels and then you've got to make the car yourself. But I've got to be honest with you my dad, who had an entire woodworking shop in our backyard, oh boy, we did that. I would say it was 60-40, 60-40 me, and I'm not breaking the rules, but you know it was a good father-son thing.
Speaker 3:I don't think a lot of people realize that your dad, gordon Sherwood if you go over to the LA Live Steamers, there's buildings over there dedicated to him. He was one of the founders. One of the founders and he made those trains in your in his shop right, I remember coming to visit your dad. He would make the nuts and bolts he.
Speaker 2:He would actually go to travel town and he would make a copy of it and make it to one tenth or whatever it was size and he would actually make every part. It took him over 10 years to build one one in their locomotives. They weren't trains or locomotives, steam engines. That's too bad, because the two steam engines he had when he passed away live steamers kept them both and didn't pay me for them or give them back to me or anything. They just kept them. So I've not been over there since because I think that was a that was bad on their part. They knew I was not a member and my interest was not in trains, but we could have worked something out. But at least the station still is in his name and he was one of the founders back in the 50s. But it's too bad that they decided that they were going to. I have no idea what happened to his two trains that he spent 25 years your dad's name.
Speaker 3:Over there you talk to people that have been involved with la lives of steamers.
Speaker 2:They know your dad quite well yeah, well, that was his passion, steam mocha. He took trains, uh train rides all over the country. You know, steam steam locomotive rides. I say steam locomotive, not steam trains, not steam engines. No steam locomotives at Steam locomotive, not steam trains, not steam engines, no steam locomotives. At least that's one that he did teach me well. So, anyhow, pinewood Derby, 6 o'clock on Sunday, it's kind of a fun event. Some of those kids do kind of fix their cars up and they run them, they get their patch or whatever. They get their merit badge for doing it. But it's kind of a fun thing. Well, ross, I think we've reached the end of another week, the week that we'll be. What do you think about that?
Speaker 3:Amazing, amazing.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:I'm glad we could do this remotely, because the room that I'm in is a little different, and the week there was is the week there will be, and this week I think we're going to. I don't know, there's tons of rants that I can come up with, but you know it's been a pretty good week.
Speaker 2:You don't have a rant for us.
Speaker 3:I do.
Speaker 2:Okay, because I got my finger on the button ready here. Are you ready to go? I'm ready, okay, and here we go.
Speaker 4:Ross's rant. Ross's rant.
Speaker 3:I'd take a flamethrower to this place. Watch out Doc Ross's rant. There I go. Actually, you know, I saw on social media I guess one of the local gangs went up and tagged stow park and they they wrote it in the street, they wrote it on the building, they wrote it everywhere you know and people. Today was a holiday, so I guess somebody tried to find it on the new city app and it said that street's not in Burbank and there's different ways you can get graffiti removed. And what's nice about it is if you call or do it on that app, they give you an answer. You know, they reply to you when it got taken care of and usually it's the next day or so. So you know, many years ago I remember a detective good old Eric Rossoff always said those guys are looking at the publications too, and that's why I normally don't shoot pictures of gang graffiti. I don't want to give them recognition. That's what they're looking for.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:So but you know, and Eric retired many years ago and the things that I learned from him and Ed Skobar and a couple of great cops that handled gangs and they had stories like, oh man, I mean, I could listen to them for hours. Talk about some of the gang stories that went on, but Burbank- still has a problem with gangs.
Speaker 3:Yeah, andvarna, now he's got a new gig well, he's chief over there at the airport, chief uh, head of uh emergency services, overseas the fire department. They just signed him a new contract. I was told recently, and in fact I had to call it the other day our partner in crime, craig derling uh, flew in after a mishap on his trip and, uh, I had to pick him up there and had to let me park right in front of the terminal. He said you help mr derling out, you can park right in the white zone there and 10 feet from the baggage claim. And Craig had help out of the plane in a wheelchair. He's convalescing, he has some surgery planned this week. He'll be out for a couple of weeks. But it's funny we're both kind of mending right now.
Speaker 2:You know, what's funny is I was by the airport the other day and there's that recording playing. The white zone is for loading and unloading only, except if you're ross benson waiting for craig derling. I couldn't believe that was saying that.
Speaker 3:It was saying that on there over and over again well, I, I just find that, uh, you know, I I called ed and arranged and he said no problem, the watch commander will know your car, send me a picture of your car. And one of their parking guys you know traffic guys walked up to me and I said this is where your chief told me to park and he said no problem. Then, sir, and in fact the guy that helped Craig off the plane in the wheelchair, he was pretty shocked, you know, because most people they've got to take them to the park construction and so forth. I said how did you get to park right here? I said it's good to know people in high places.
Speaker 2:And that's one of the class guys around, so I'm glad that he helped out.
Speaker 3:You know it's I'm so. Every time I see our commissioners, you know I commend them. You got somebody like Ed. He loves what he's doing. He has great guys out there, you know, and he's just, uh, people love him and hopefully, you know, like I said, they signed a new contract with him so he'll be there for a new terminal and, uh, we'll see there you go. Well, that's the week, that was the week, that will be the week to, will be the week to do, and the week to be.
Speaker 2:You got it. It's all in one thing. So, once again, I'm sorry we didn't see people listening live. We were a little late tonight, but you know what? The show must go on. As they say, we've been doing now a show. You know, since we started doing podcasts it's been about a year now we've done over 120 podcasts I think in that first year, averaging a little more than two a week, and the week that was and the week that will be has been on every single week.
Speaker 3:so we appreciate people listening and we always want your comments too. People stop me when I'm out shooting pictures, telling me they either love Ross's rants or they cover. You know stuff that we talk about. There's people in this city that it's hard to you know. They just brought it up during that meeting on the bus lane that some of the people didn't know that the meeting was going on. And that's our purpose. You know we keep our ear to the ground.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, I'm going to say this about that though. Okay, and this isn't, I guess, my greatest complaint maybe, but you know, I heard a lot of that too. Oh, people don't know. People don't you know what? Get your head out of the sand, people, I go. I was thinking we did say on my brick website it's been. You know, if you don't want to find news, then you won't find news. You know things aren't going to come over. People are going to walk up to your house and say did you know this was going to happen this week? That doesn't happen. You got to take some personal responsibility and that's what we, when we first started this we, you know, we said how do we get the person at 630 Florence to know we're there, to know, to look at us? And that was the battle, you know, and I think we've solved that to a point. But you know, if people don't check in on the website, people need to take their own.
Speaker 3:Have some personal, you know responsibility well, we've tried to make it as easy as possible. You know you put out many different fleet of. You know Twitters and everything you know, so we're many different.
Speaker 2:You know twitters and everything you know.
Speaker 3:So we're doing our best to try to get people in. You know, it's just again.
Speaker 2:We're working at it we want people to know what's going on absolutely happy anniversary, happy birthday and the same to you, alright, and we'll see you next week thank you everybody for listening.
Speaker 3:We do appreciate it. Happy birthday, and the same to you All right, and we'll see you next week.
Speaker 2:Okay, thank you everybody for listening. We do appreciate it and we will talk to you next week.
Speaker 1:My Burbank Talks would like to thank all of my Burbank's advertisers for their continued support Burbank Water and Power, cusimano Real Estate Group, umi Credit Union, burbank Chamber of Commerce, game Credit Union, providence, st Joseph Medical Center, community, chevrolet, media City Credit Union, ucla Health, tequila's, burbank Logix Credit Union, hill Street Cafe, pertain, escobar Wealth Management and the UPS Store on 3rd Street.