myBurbank Talks
myBurbank Talks
The Week That Was and That Will Be - April 15
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Ever wondered how a city pulses with life, through its victories and its challenges? Join Craig Sherwood and Ross Benson, back to the studio, where we peel back the layers of Burbank’s vibrant community. We cheer on local hero Debbie Watson's Earth Day word-of-the-day triumph and delve into the tender moments of family life, from celebrating birthdays to the sweet solace of ice cream after a tonsillectomy. But it’s not all cake and candles; we also pay tribute to Dolores Huerta's recent visit to the city council and candidly reassess the unexpectedly engaging financial reports from Treasurer Crystal Palmer.
As the heart of Burbank beats, we grapple with the complexities surrounding homelessness, touching on the fragile thread between personal liberties and the welfare of our town. We reminisce about the OJ Simpson pursuit's local ties and its imprint on our collective memory, then shift gears to extend a warm welcome to Burbank Police Department's newest officer, Francisco Grado, amidst conversations on the nuances of police recruitment. And because everyone loves a good mea culpa, Craig shares his previous underestimations—turns out, financial reports can come to life in unexpected ways.
Dodger the Shepsky may have stolen the show with his birthday antics, but there's more to our episode than wagging tails. We navigate the practicalities and pleasantries of Tax Day and the delicious anticipation of a new bakery in town. Diving into city affairs, we highlight the Sustainable Burbank Commission and the Arts and Public Places Committee’s efforts. Wrapping up with a personal Dodger tale, we affirm that sometimes, the simplest joys—like a dog rejoicing over a found toy—embody the spirit of our community.
Burbank Talks
Speaker 1From 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 2Hello Burbank, Greg Sherwood here with you once again and back in the studio after a couple weeks of missing him, is Ross Benson.
Speaker 3Here I am in person with my hair no hair, but I'm in the studio. We'll see how long this we can do. You know just hearing that intro voice from our missing partner, Craig Durling. Hopefully he's mending well and he'll be back with us very, very soon.
Speaker 2And he's convalescing, hopefully, yeah, we hope he's back and we do miss him yes, we do, and his input and everything.
Speaker 3So we'll see we've got a status report for this week's show well a lot going on.
Speaker 2Huh yeah, last week's winner was Debbie Watson. So, debbie, congratulations. You sent her address and everything. And, of course, the last week's word was well, it's actually words. We're Earth Day. So she wins a $25 gift card to Hill Street Cafe on Glamis Boulevard. So, congratulations. We appreciate you listening and off we go. You know what? Today's another big day too? Know, he's just out of camera. Oh, there he goes, he just. He just left the room. But oh well. Well, elvis has left the building, so has dodger. It's dodger's birthday. Dodger turned four years old today. Oh, an entire tub of beef jerky.
Speaker 3Well, it's funny you Talking about birthdays. Yesterday my older granddaughter had a party up at Montrose Bowl because Burbank doesn't have a bowling alley anymore. She had all of her friends there, Boy. They took over that whole place. There's only 10 lanes or so.
Speaker 2I thought we had one of that arcade. It's only got one or two lanes. Oh, that's all it has yeah what I'm told.
Speaker 3So she had a great time. And then tonight we, her and I, got together and we got to celebrate her birthday again, big eight years old. I tell you that. And then my other granddaughter is getting her tonsils out tomorrow oh my goodness, they have stocked up on jello and oh, get the ben and jerry's ready.
Speaker 2Yes, everything make sure it's been in jerry's without any kind. They have stocked up on Jell-O and ice cream and everything. Make sure it's Ben and Jerry's without any kind of nuts or things like that in it, because that's the last thing you'll do is bite down on one of those.
Speaker 3You don't talk to many people that have their tonsils out these days.
Speaker 2I had my adenoids taken out. I beg your pardon. Adenoids but not my tonsils, oh, which is very strange, I guess.
Speaker 3I guess you didn't need them. I guess not. Maybe that's what they keep going in when they're digging on your neck looking for I guess.
Speaker 2So all I know is I got a lot of ice cream and to this day I haven't stopped eating it that's a good thing, she knows.
Speaker 3You know she gets ice cream and pudding and jello and we'll see. Hopefully she'll uh, recover rather quickly and my other. They're going to separate the two girls. They usually share a room. Maddie's so happy she gets her own room for a week. Oh so, oh, kids, grandkids are great.
Speaker 2Yes they are. Let's move on to what happened Last Tuesday. We had our city council meeting and what was very nice to see was Dolores Hurta, who we have now. You know everybody else calls it Cesar Chavez Day, including the school district that has a name, a school named Dolores Hurta, but the city, instead of going Cesar Chavez Day, named it Dolores Hurta Day on the holiday, and her birthday happened to be in the next week, and she came by the city council and picked up the proclamation herself. So very impressive. And I think she's in her 90s now, isn't she 94. 94 and just getting around and being Dolores Hurta.
Speaker 3Well, that's a nice thing. I've done a couple of projects with her East LA College here in Burbank and they renamed David Starr Jordan under her name, and she is very, very popular locally and it was nice to see the city honor her and her get a real set of them cardboard fold-out proclamations.
Speaker 2This one was a real one, but you know, you think about what she has done for women, for farm workers, for any labor. Yes, so, and I, like you, and I talked Because everybody knows she's a Chavez and that's just you know.
Speaker 3But I got to tell you we have all been educated now on Dolores Hurta also. Well, now that we know, and, like I said, having her in our city council chambers, that's a national figure, a big day.
Speaker 2Yes, absolutely Okay. Next is I'm going to have a little. Let me get the pie slicer out here. I need to cut myself a piece of humble pie here, because you know when I'm I shouldn't say when I'm wrong, but when I, you know, last week I said you know well, we're going to talk about. We're going to have the financial reports. That's going to be two different budget items and it's going to oh my, you know what? Grab a pillow If you can't sleep. This is we'll put you to sleep, no matter what. And you know what?
Speaker 2Crystal, our treasurer, our elected treasurer, crystal Palmer, made two great presentations. I mean, they were very well done. They were. I couldn't even actually understand them. The graphics were great. I couldn't even actually understand them. The graphics were great. She did a great job explaining them too. So I apologize. Yeah, we're still talking financial numbers and everything else, but it wasn't just the boring old report you usually get. She did a great job on it and I want to make sure I give her some props and let her know that her hard work was appreciated.
Speaker 3Well, it's funny. I did watch the meeting and she broke it down for the layman For me.
Speaker 4Yeah, for me.
Speaker 3For the citizens of Burbank and she really she does her homework. But if you look at the group of people that she has put together, that she goes to to ask these questions blows me away. They're, you know, the head of GAIN, sell a couple of banks you know here in town and so forth.
Speaker 2She really you know, we should maybe have her on for a podcast.
Speaker 3Oh, I bet that'd be interesting.
Speaker 2Yeah, she has a great personality.
Speaker 3She really does and lives in Magnolia Park, loves Magnolia Park. She does a real good job and it was easy to listen to.
Speaker 2Dodgers has brought his birthday ball into the studio.
Speaker 3Well, he's almost on camera.
Speaker 2There he is Coming, and going, he's chasing his own tail for a while. Going, he's, he's chasing, he's chasing his own tail around for a while. Um, they also are moving forward on the. You know, first they got declared a housing emergency, a homeless shelter emergency, which allowed them to do some things, and they're putting um, um and they approved, basically moving forward on where the Hollywood Piano Shop was, on front and on the parking area they're going to put together a little farther down on the corner of Verdugo and front for overnight parking. Only they have to all leave during the day, so you won't have motorhomes there for existence.
Speaker 2And we were listening to it and they started talking about Measure H and the fact we're not getting anything out of it. And they're talking about putting this little mini-home, little mini-apartment thing together in the shelter and they're saying you know what? We're not sure we can put in bathroom for these people because it's going to be expensive, it's going to be more expensive. And I'm thinking to myself you know you're trying to get people off the streets and so what are you going to do? Have one big communal bathroom somewhere where they have to all go share it, you know, and that's down on. You know, who knows where it's going to be.
Speaker 2If we're going to do this, we got to do it right, you know. I mean, if you want people to feel good about themselves, then give them some pride, you know. Give them their own facility, give them their own little bathroom, their own little sink to wash up, and things like that. Treat them like a little bathroom. They're in a little sink to wash up, and things like that. Treat them like a real person. Treat them like it's a member of your family that you would want to treat, you know.
Speaker 3Well, you know, I watched that whole report and I will tell you, you go outside of Burbank and you look around and you listen to these TV reports. These shelters they're putting these people in Burbank is really putting together. You know they decided not to go over there by Buena Vista and San Fernando.
Speaker 2I think that was called the train property or something. Yeah, they had a pipeline there which I don't think they realized. You knew about it.
Speaker 3And it was too close to residence. Where they're putting it, the backside is the train tracks, the front side is a road. The backside is the train tracks, the front side is the road. I mean, and I will say I got to commend Nikki Perez, our vice mayor. She is a social worker, she has a lot of history outside of Burbank. Yeah, she understands all that stuff. She really did and she voiced her opinion and, again, she doesn't want these tough sheds, you know, assembled for these people. They're going to call them a different type of, you know studio, you know, because they want it to feel.
Speaker 2But you've got to give them their own plumbing, you know. So if it's going to cost us money and we've got to run a sewer line or whatever we have to do, then do it.
Speaker 3Yeah, in for a dime in for diamond, for dollar that's what they're working on now. If you go over there I remember I think we had edward cover it once before they have for the storage for homeless people. They can store stuff, they have showers, all those things. And if burbank residents are worried that how it's going to turn out, we don't have that many homeless, you're not going to be able to spend.
Speaker 2Well, they don't really have a good number, because they did it on a very cold night. They did it during a city council meeting, they did it. Who would have planned that out?
Speaker 3Yeah, it's just nice to see that the city of Burbank is doing it right.
Speaker 2It's going to be a couple years, I think. They said we've paid in like $56 million in Measure H money and we've received back about $2.5 million of that. So huge problem there. And I just saw a report also that they did an audit of all the money spent lately on the homeless and they can't figure out where the money went. They can't figure out what they spent it on. They can't figure out where the money went. They can't figure out what they spent it on. They can't figure out where the money went. They don't know. You know, they have no records well, that's a funny thing.
Speaker 3Tonight, right now or earlier, karen bass was doing her state of the city and everybody you know they're, they're in a big deficit. I mean big, big, big, big deficit and all this money for the city of la yeah so I kind of wonder, while we're doing our podcast, she's uh explaining well how city of la is going to catch up. But it's not. You know, I will say, and I know we're going to do, aren't we going to do a ask the mayor show here real quick.
Speaker 2We're going to do an ask the mayor show and uh, um, we're actually going to tape that tomorrow night. Oh, okay, good, if you're listening, if you're listening to this on Monday night, send in those questions on Tuesday morning. You have until 5 o'clock on Tuesday, april 16th to get us any questions you want answered.
Speaker 3The one thing the mayor said at the dais in the four years that we've been working on this he's glad to see us moving forward and it was a 5-0 vote. So it's nice to see that the homeless is going to be cared for in our community, Cared for like real human beings, like they should be.
Speaker 2I still say the challenge is to get the people who don't want to be housed into housing, who say no, it's my right not to be in a. You know, I get it, I understand it's their right. There's a lot of rights out here. Do you have the right to swear at a public meeting? There's a lot of rights out there. But at what point do we say you know it's not good for you, you know I mean.
Speaker 3Well, it's funny, I worked at Hollywood Presbyterian Church head of security for several years and they had a food, you know, and a shelter. I knew a guy that lived right here in Barham. He had all the amenities that he wanted. Up there in the brush, you know, I would see, I'd go to church and I'd see him walking into Hollywood, coming back and I always ask him. He said you know what? I don't want a roof over my head. And he lived up there very good for years.
Speaker 2How would you like a roof over your head this last weekend, when it was 45 degrees and raining?
Speaker 3Well, they get used to it. That's the thing. It'll be nice once we get this move, and they couldn't pick a better location. No, I think.
Speaker 2Well, more on that we're going to find out as plans come along, when they decide to do the final construction. We'll let you know what what they decide.
Speaker 3And, like you just said, if you got a question about it, shoot us an email early in the morning, because tomorrow night the mayor will be here. He dedicates that show answering readers questions. So if you have any questions on what they're doing on that, good time to send them into us in the morning.
Speaker 2Well, last Thursday we woke up to news that the death of OJ Simpson and a lot of kind of Burbank connections to that. I think Cato Kalin is a Burbank resident who was in his trial and played a lot in his trial, like Al Callings had ties to Burbank the guy who drove the Bronco and the number one connection that Burbank has is the guy that helped negotiate OJ to get off that freeway, come back to his house and go into custody, and that was our own police chief, mike Albanese. Well, there, was a.
Speaker 3Did you get to watch that video of him talking about that?
Speaker 2I do not believe so yet. Okay, it's.
Speaker 3Listen to Mike Albanese. The world is watching LA and he knows in his head we mess up anything. We are going to be the laughingstock of every police department, laughing stock of, oh, absolutely, police department, you know.
Speaker 3And he says you know he's at home and gets a call and he's going to rockingham, and you know he says he sees the satellite trucks and the, the road is narrowing and he says they got guys, snipers in bushes, you know, because oj threatened you know he was going to shoot himself and my and I'm gonna shoot him first before he shoots himself. I guess, right, they, they were worried. There was apparently he had two dogs and and the lapd was worried, what if the dogs go crazy when this all goes down, boy, and the dogs didn't give a damn, you give them a bone. They were happy. But it's a great interview, well, speaking of which I think we have Dodger on camera now.
Speaker 2Now he's got himself a ball. He's celebrating his birthday.
Speaker 3Celebrating his birthday 4 years old, or 28 years old in dog years but the funniest part about that whole interview and Mike Albany said it they got him in the house. All he wanted to do was call his mom. Albanese hands him a phone and said here's, your mom Sits down. Think of the situation the world is watching. Albanese is in control and in charge. All he wanted was something to drink.
Speaker 2So, chief Albanese, Was he Sergeant or Lieutenant Albanese? No, he was Commander. Commander, okay, so Chief Albanese.
Speaker 3Was he Sergeant? No, he was Commander.
Speaker 2Commander, okay, Commander.
Speaker 3Albanese and David.
Speaker 2Okay.
Speaker 3And he sends one of his officers in to get something to drink. What do you think they brought him?
Speaker 2Well, there's only one thing they could have brought him.
Speaker 3They brought him OJ.
Speaker 2Yeah, they brought him OJ.
Speaker 3And if you listen to that whole interview you think about that. Well, I know the Chief. He had many situations, but that was one in his career. He could tell you minute by minute and Mike is a great storyteller. He also was in charge of North Hollywood Shootout. Yeah, but you put Mike. You know, the other day when OJ passed away, I guarantee Mike.
Speaker 2It brought up memories. Oh yeah, many memories. So that is the Burbank connection to OJ Simpson. Yeah, yeah, what a complicated man that was. And it pointed out how we have two sets of our laws kind of go two different ways, and you know what? They haven't changed, as we're finding out right now New York maybe.
Speaker 3Yep, exactly I hear somebody was sleeping in court today, oh, was he really? Oh, they kept going to the reporters because they couldn't show live. Yeah, he closed his eyes and when his chin hit his you know fell down. They all realized he keeps falling asleep. He couldn't stay awake.
Speaker 2Yeah well, he's up all night in the bathroom sending out text messages. That's right. Okay, let's move on to Friday, but no Thursday, I did cover. I did cover that Thursday. Oh you know what? Yeah, there was Thursday. We had something else on Thursday.
Speaker 3We did. We got a new officer here in. Burbank yes, we do A new recruit, laso Class 274 Officer Francisco Goretto is the only officer in this class, but nice, nice young guy. I go, I shoot for the department and he's a new officer. He's out doing field training now, but Burbank has another new officer. They're trying to raise that number. It's hard.
Speaker 2It's hard because as soon as they hire one, one or two retire.
Speaker 3That's the problem.
Speaker 2It's kind of a revolving door there.
Speaker 3In fact, this weekend I was listening, but they're not losing them to other departments anymore. No, Well, because of that new package. Right, you know there's a good incentive package, but I will say that over the weekend I heard some detectives work in the field. They're still pretty low on. You need guys.
Speaker 2That was Thursday, the 11th Friday our state senator for another eight months, maybe until January, senator Portantino. Senator Portantino and with the Burbank Housing Corporation, announced a $2 million allocation for affordable housing in the city of Burbank. The allocation was in Senator Portantino's budget request from last year and was included in the new state budget. The funds will go toward a new community development project in Burbank that would create new affordable housing units. So I have a feeling a lot of that money was going to be used on Front Street.
Speaker 3Yeah, I don't know how they're going to divide that up and the Burbank Housing Corporation too, I think, for vouchers and things.
Speaker 2I'm not really sure either, because there's so many programs going on and so many grants going on and everything else. It's hard to know which is going to what. But all I know is that we're getting $2 million toward housing for the homeless and the low income and you know I read the report and I don't know if I read him saying that you know the governor.
Speaker 3They had some special funding put away and he jumped right at it. Let's bring it to Burbank.
Speaker 2It's too bad we're losing him. Yeah, you know he's a.
Speaker 3Burbank resident, he thinks of Burbank.
Speaker 2The new state senator is going to be zero in Burbank. No, no, pretty much no footprint on our city.
Speaker 3Pretty much.
Speaker 2Well, let's hope, our assembly member in Burbank. We will see we have an assembly member who will protect us in Burbank.
Speaker 3And will protect us in Burbank, and that's the reason he's well, he said it here on his podcast. The reason he wants to be on the assembly is so Burbank is at the table. If not, we have nobody at the table in the assembly.
Speaker 2So hopefully, so this past weekend, of course, was Earth Day and they had their the community garden over on Pass and Chandler. I think Ashley did a nice little video about that which is on our on our site.
Speaker 3You remember looking back, we always look back and that thing was work and for you know, it's under water power, it's water power property that's a big Sharon.
Speaker 2I thought it was yes.
Speaker 3Well, she's very her and Craig Hampton, and so some other people, but I wasn't able to go because I'm still convalescing. I didn't shoot it, Ashley covered it. They got people growing all sorts of veggies and plants out there and I even saw Ashley on a bicycle that when you pedaled it made the blender work. Oh yeah it made the blender work. Yes, so that was a big thing, Earth Day. And there's another Earth Day, I guess, coming up.
Speaker 2We'll talk about that later. Then leadership at Burbank had their event at Johnny Cart. Oh, for a while Did it actually go. I mean because of the weather.
Speaker 3They got it in before the weather.
Speaker 2Okay, good, and I saw I they got it in before the weather Okay, good, and I saw I hope they raised their $48,000 that they're giving to the city.
Speaker 3Well, what they did is, if you made a donation of a certain amount, you got a goodie bag which was valued a lot more. But I'm told that I saw some pictures. There was a good turnout there. People you know had a good time, and that park is getting used for what it's supposed to be, not the beer festivals or Well, that's kind of it for the week that was. A week. That was Now. Does that mean we have a commercial?
Speaker 2That means we're going to have a commercial, so we will be back with you in just a second.
Speaker 4Enjoying the show right now, thinking you may want to do your own podcast, library 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. That's studiorentals at myburbankcom and we will get back to you. Now back to our show.
Speaker 2All right, everybody. Craig Sherwood here with you, along with Ross Benson.
Dodger's Birthday and Local Updates
Speaker 3Hi there, good morning America. And of course it's Dodger's birthday and he's on camera.
Speaker 2He's just having a good time. Yes, he is. He's got one of the balls he got for his birthday today. He's chewing and chewing on that thing.
Speaker 3Now wait, he didn't get a Bundt cake. You gave him a ball instead of a Bundt cake.
Speaker 2I gave him a ball. I gave him a whole jar of beef jerky.
Speaker 3Okay, oh yeah.
Speaker 2He was a happy, happy dog today.
Speaker 2He's today, he's a happy, happy dog every day though, so he's just have, he's on camera and he's just having a great time. He was born today, but I didn't get him until he was six weeks old, so that was been june. So maybe I'll show a picture of what it looks like. It's at six weeks old, but he's a big boy. But today was his birthday because I got his papers and uh, and it said he was born today. So who knows, the papers are right or not, I don't care. Care about breeding, but his mother was a shepherd, a white shepherd, and his dad was a husky Look what you got.
Speaker 2He's called a Shepsky, shepsky, shepsky. Okay, yes, that's with a P, not a T.
Speaker 3Shepsky. Oh, you know what, if they're listening to the show now, they better hurry to the post office because you got, uh-oh, it's probably too late.
Speaker 2Probably too late, Because by the time I get this on the line tonight it's probably going to be too late. Yeah Well, I hope you either got your. It was tax day.
Speaker 3I hope people got their tax in or their form 4853 or whatever for the extension. You know I remember years ago when we shot for the Leader and the Burbank Daily Review. That was an assignment Always go to the post office the line down Hollywood Way. There would be post store guys out there with big carts taking in mail.
Speaker 2And then they shut that down and they decided to go to Van Nuys, I remember, and now Van Nuys can't go anywhere anymore.
Speaker 3So it's, you know, I know I went by the post office today and there were no lines. So people must they make it so easy now.
Speaker 2So yeah, you do it online anyway. You know Nothing but cakes open today in Burbank. Excuse me, nothing, what? Nothing but cakes.
Speaker 3I'm glad you clarified that. Bunt cakes.
Speaker 2I'm glad you clarified that. You can't swing away. You have to bunt.
Speaker 3Now, when's the last time you had one?
Speaker 2Because you had one, the last time I had one was at the State of the City, and how was that? That was outstanding.
Speaker 3They're right here in Burbank now.
Speaker 2One problem.
Speaker 3To the Empire Center in and out.
Speaker 2Then it will be actually ready to go buy it and get the Bundt cake itself.
Speaker 3Well, the thing is, you know, those cakes are delicious. I can't, I gotta stop eating that stuff, my doctor said. But you know, it's next to Dave's hot fried chicken and whatever they're right next. I mean boy.
Speaker 2Fried chicken and a Bundt cake. That's just about as good as Larry's chili dog. And, uh, right next to yeah, holy cow. How true, how smart to put those things right by each other.
Speaker 3They were in Glendale and they've done quite a few chamber events. I think they have one in Granada Hills also. Great to see them here in Burbank. Folks, you want to take something to some party. You remember the line at Marie Callender's at Thanksgiving. I can picture the line at Nothie Buntkanks for holidays now.
Speaker 2Oh, I can imagine.
Speaker 3But we'll cover their opening when they open. I think they're doing a soft opening now, which you know. Just get the bugs worked out and the parking lot figured out.
Speaker 2And now the grand opening down the line, which I'm sure you'll be covering and you will be there. Well, Sustainable Burbank Commission met tonight at the Community Services Building. It was all subcommittee reports. They have a lot of subcommittees and all the subcommittees got together and reported at night. So that's what they were doing. And also tonight, because we can't have just one meeting on a night, we have to always have both meetings on the same night.
Speaker 3Wait, how many parking spots are in that lot?
Speaker 2Not enough? Yeah, well, for all the commissioners, arts and Public Places Committee met and they were going to have representatives of the Burbank-Clandell-Pasadena Airport present the final design for the interior artwork of the new terminal and request the committee's approval. So, whatever the artwork's going to be inside, they're going to talk about that tonight. I don't think it's on television, I'm not sure. Is that yes?
Speaker 3that is one of those that's on.
Speaker 2YouTube, you can watch later.
Speaker 3But you know what I will say. You know I read in the. We get a newsletter every month from. I get one from Bud Overem, one of our commissioners, and he didn't like the artwork. It didn't represent burbank like he wanted it to, and but they're. You know how they voted, whatever. But it's just funny.
Speaker 2A lot of decisions going the commissioner has to prove it, then that's right like so maybe he will make his his uh voice heard oh, he does, he does, it's not.
Speaker 3I'm glad we still are three commissioners, just telemontis, emily gabaletti and bud overham um.
Speaker 2On tuesday, city council is dark, no meeting. It's dark, in fact, that you know why because they want to save on electricity because the mayor needs to come here and do a podcast. Oh, ask the mayor for april. So we're looking forward to that. Please send in your questions before 5 o'clock on Tuesday.
Speaker 3On Wednesday oh, you know what? Let's jump back real, real quick. I'm sorry I did write and I forgot to say in the show notes. You know, I noticed on the mayor's calendar for tomorrow Robert Perrin, a city employee for 37 years is retiring from the department which department? Community development department. Okay, 37 years, that gentleman has put his life into the city of burbank. So the changes he's probably seen oh yeah, before we had high rises, right yeah absolutely congratulations, uh, mr perrin, on your retirement.
Speaker 3Thank you for serving the city of Burbank for all 37 years.
Burbank Animal Shelter and Community Updates
Speaker 2Enjoy your pension. That's right Deserve it. So on Wednesday we're going to once again have another low-cost vaccine and affordable microchip session for your dog at the animal shelter. Dogs and cats only. The vaccine's only $16 each and the microchip's only $10 each.
Speaker 3You know, I read somebody had gotten a pet and they were looking around to get their shots and all You're talking a couple hundred bucks.
Speaker 2Oh, that's what I paid for Dodger. Even the microchip was like $80 or something you know.
Speaker 3Well, he's now got his donuts, so he's pretty happy.
Speaker 2He's got a little of everything right there. Oh, look at this, a little tongue action there and everything he's saying.
Speaker 3Almost out of frame but oh well. Well, what can we do? But you know, I looked at that Now that the Burbank Animal Shelter is doing that, you know, at low cost you make the appointment. You can go in. It's really a convenience.
Speaker 3I think it's two to five o'clock and I think you don't have to be a burbank resident, no, uh, to uh use a service kudos. You know what last week was and I think our ace reporter ashley erickson is writing it was, uh, animal control officer appreciation week. You know, we used to remember them, good old Fred DeLange and his everybody over there. Now they have a whole mess of new people.
Speaker 2They fall under Parks and Rec. Who's the guy who's been there forever?
Speaker 3Fred Hagler. No, john, john, john 30-. What a great guy, 30-some odd years. What a great guy he is yeah, he was, and you know, tracy and brenda and the whole slew over there. You gotta love animals and I'll tell you, burbank being a no-kill shelter, they, they take in a lot of people, a lot of dogs. Yes, they do but uh again, hats off to our animal shelter employees for appreciating this.
Speaker 2I will say one thing it's been a good transition from a parking wreck. It hasn't been a disaster like we thought might happen, so good for them.
Speaker 2Kudos, kudos 6 o'clock at City Hall the Police Commission is going to meet. They're going to have a presentation discussion and recommendations on the zero bail measure and its effect on the police department. We have another presentation discussion on results of the biennial citywide survey conducted by the police department as required under the standards of the CALEA accreditation. I'm not sure when that survey happened. I don't think that survey was recent. I think it was.
Speaker 3Oh yeah, we did it December. I think this is April. Well, it was a couple months ago, four months later.
Speaker 3But they had to put all the stats together and figure that out. But the one that got me is the zero bail measure. Their hands are tied. They can't do a damn thing about it. You know it has to go back to the electorate and that means a couple years. I think now, with some of these smash and grabs people are thinking about, you know how you're going to rewrite some laws and some of it is that bail.
Speaker 2I said I'll tell the police commission there's nothing we can do about it. But they wanted to report anyway well, yeah I have another report on um. They want another data request, uh on pedestrian safety.
Speaker 3I'm not sure you know and again it was that joint meeting, uh, a couple weeks ago with school board and PD and the traffic lieutenant made a presentation. There's still a lot of people getting hit in this city, so look at the cards and not your phone. Yeah.
Speaker 2Either ad hoc subcommittee. Let's see about transportation users. Traffic safety outcomes in the city. Okay, I'm going to keep my word and I don't talk about the police commission anymore. Let them do their thing. And there you go.
Speaker 3You know what? I will commend one of our commissioners well, all of them, but Mike Ellman came to the recruits' graduation last week and the first time he'd ever been to a graduation. It was nice for that recruit to shake a commissioner's hand, but also for it to have somebody from the city besides a commander.
Speaker 2I'll say this I had a talk with Romick, one of the police commissioners, also the other day and he has a which. I had a talk with Ramek, one of the police commissioners, also the other day and he has a which. I ran a release for him on our website and he wanted to do a. He talked about a path that they want to put out to all the car dealers in Burbank. Somebody buys a car and everything else, and I told him. I said you know, that's a great idea and I'm sure there are people who do that for you, but what happens to the salesman who just doesn't feel like doing it? I said what you need to do is you always talk about recommendations to the city council. Why not have them put a BMC code in that says they must do it and there must be a signed piece of paper that says the person received it? Now that's how you do things. You go to the city council, you recommend something, especially a positive thing like this. I don't feel they'll do that or not.
Speaker 3He did put a lot of effort.
Speaker 2I gave him a suggestion. That's all I can do.
Speaker 3I've got to give Romick a pat on the back. He came up with going to all the car dealers and this brochure that he came out with for young drivers, first-time drivers, that they understand what's going on.
Speaker 2So we'll see. I hid his squeaky toy and he somehow decided where it was and went and found it for me. Oh, dodger, hey, come here. You Come here, good dog. Okay, of course we're going to have another meeting at the same time, because that's what we do in this city. The Community Development Goals Committee is going to meet at 6 pm Now, I didn't see an agenda when I looked earlier, so they might have put it up since then. But also, wednesday night a real positive thing the PT is going to hold their 74th Annual Honorary Service Awards at the Deluxe Banquet Hall at 6 pm. I will be there covering it. Hopefully you take a listen to Ashley's podcast, women of Burbank, and she had a very interesting conversation with the council. President of the PTA. I think there's a lot going on, a lot that you know, a lot you can do to help out. That's a way to help those schools out.
Speaker 3Well, you know, I listened to that podcast also and I was. We got to get people to understand even if you don't have kids in the school, your property value depends on what our schools are like, and so forth and one way to get involved. And the other point and I see it in my own son and daughter-in-law's life Ashley said it once you get to know people in PTA, they're part of your life forever. And um, you know, I know for a fact, ashley one of her boys was sick. She had people pouring help on her and it's all from her days of being PTA president at.
Speaker 2Red Heart. My mom was a PTA president at Stevenson and at Jordan and and the board at Burroughs.
Speaker 3And one of the points that Ashley said and you think about it. You walk across a school campus, all the kids that know you. That makes you feel good but also makes them feel secure. They know their community. $7 to join PTA 15 minutes if you donate your time, so it's a great podcast to listen to and if you got $7 and 15 minutes, you can help out PTA and.
Speaker 2PTA people let us know what's going on. Always Send us emails. When you have events, let us know. We'll publicize it for you. We'll put it on our website. We have our calendar on our website, which we'll talk about later.
Speaker 3Well, that's funny. You say that because did you hear during her podcast, this coming Saturday busy, busy day here in town for some of these people that are coming from other countries or speak other languages they're having an event at Burroughs I believe 9 to 11 or 9 to 1, to help people that don't understand English that well, to understand our school system, to understand this city, and that's a PTA event. I know Char had told me about it, john Burroughs this Saturday, but again, it's PTA's putting it on.
Speaker 2I wish they would send us a release on it too that's the thing I heard it during her podcast. It's too bad that we can't. I mean it's free publicity.
Speaker 3We don't charge Yep and we'll get to that later on during one of my set piece of calendaring.
Speaker 2So Thursday and Friday if you should be hired for the first part of the week, you take Thursday and Friday off. You're tired from the first part of the week. Take Thursday and Friday off. No real events going on in the city. It'd be nice weather, so enjoy the weather this week, but Saturday you better rest on Thursday and Friday, because Saturday it's going to be a busy one. And let's start off with one of the great annual events that we have in the city year after year that does a lot of good, that a lot of the community comes out for, and that's our Care Walk, which is from 8 to 10 am at Johnny Carson Park. Now, ross, I believe you're on the board for Care Walk.
Speaker 3I am on the committee for Care Walk. This is our 16th annual. Why don't?
Speaker 3you give us a rundown of well, you know the care people don't get it. You know, all of our schools have counselors and and um, the care and counseling that goes into that. Kids don't have to pay for that and that's why we raise funds. Um, it's five mile walk, I believe. Real nice around there. We're going to have some other fact. Uh, my Burbank talks will be there doing a podcast. Um, I love the look on your face, cause you're a little shocked. I noticed your mouth is open. You told me the other day we weren't going to be doing it, but I have been requested by Mr Mickey DePaulo, okay, and Eric Hansen. Lori, they said last year that was a big thing for them. They really want us back and hopefully we'll be able to get Craig with us to work with us because it's a busy morning. We got that going on.
Speaker 2We got to get ahold of Austin. For me too, then.
Speaker 3Oh yeah, we got to get Book Austin in there, but also that morning. I mean, like you said, if you walk you get a full breakfast, pancake breakfast.
Speaker 2Command Performance.
Speaker 3I wish I could walk. Command Performance has donated for years pancake breakfast with everything you get fruit and juices and syrup and bacon and oh my gosh. But you get done with that. Like you said, there's a lot of stuff going on that day. I have a memorial for our friend Mike Bolton. It's at noon that day. I know the event's also going on up at City Hall.
Speaker 2Let's talk about one thing at a time here. Oh, there's a lot. Finish up with anything else with the Care Walk.
Speaker 3Well Care Walk. You can still sign up. You can go to uh family fsa care walk.
Speaker 2Um, you get a shirt breakfast and where's the money the care walk? When they raise the money, where does it go?
Speaker 3that goes to supporting and paying for counseling in all of our schools okay, a very, very worthwhile thing, and I know it's very well attended.
Speaker 2I guess we'll'll be out there and come up and say hi to us.
Speaker 3Well, if you want to check out the podcast live, we'll be out there, and also the kids from Dolores Hereta School. The band comes out and plays in the morning, so you get some parents out there that can walk. Hopefully not next to the podcast. We kind of learned that before yes, we did. So not next to the podcast. No, we kind of learned that before yes, we did. So that is just the morning.
Busy Saturday Schedule in Burbank
Speaker 2Yes, now we move on actually to the Burbank's annual Armenian Genocide commemoration and flower-laying ceremony on the steps of City Hall, which I believe is 10 am. I think I saw that 10 am, so a very important day for Armenian citizens here and to recognize the genocide. I know that very solemn day and I know it's important to them and a lot of respect for that. Now, burbank Park and Rec. I guess they didn't want to celebrate Earth Day last week, is it the whole month? Well, no, it's called Earth Day, not Earth Month.
Speaker 3Well, here in Burbank, we do things different.
Speaker 2Well, here's where I'm a little surprised is that they used to always do a Planet Tree Day on Arbor Day, Right? But instead they're going to celebrate Earth Day and include Tree City USA tree planting ceremony on the same day, the same place, and that's going to be up at Stow Park from 10 am to noon.
Speaker 3Now between you and me. I'm just curious if that's a real low-key event. Because of all the tree incidents and the pine trees in Burbank, they don't want to have any protesters up there, you know, complaining about what kind of trees they're planting, but you kind of wonder yeah.
Speaker 2They put a tree somewhere, so I'm a little surprised they're not having it on a separate day, like they usually have in the past.
Speaker 3Well, they usually do it during the weekend. They'll bring kids from school and they do a whole thing.
Speaker 2Usually during the Easter break week.
Speaker 3Yeah, so I'm not sure We've covered that for years.
Speaker 2I'm not sure what they're. Somebody found a shortcut. Yeah, also the Burbank. Now You've got too much going on. That's just the morning. The afternoon now you have the Burbank Historical Society. Burbank Historical Society there you go. They're going to have a program about the red cars that traveled in Burbank At the museum, and it's at 1100 Clark From 2 to 3pm.
Speaker 2The red cars were the red cars were the red cars. Those were like the trolley cars, right, that ran on tracks and ran down Glen Oaks into LA. We had trolley cars on tracks at one time, although we're trying to get trolleys on wheels now.
Speaker 3Yeah, our friend Don Baldessaroni is president of the Historical Society. If you haven't been over to that museum, you know we had a great time last year and I talked to Don today. He's looking forward to that event on Saturday.
Speaker 2I think it's very interesting, the red car system we had. In fact it's funny If you look, if you go to Dodger Stadium and as you're driving down the 5 freeway right around Fletcher Drive, you look over to the right against the mountain, and you see a couple of pillars by the mountain. There's some pillars on kind of a shelf up there. Those used to be the red car tracks and they took the train tracks out but they left the pillars there. So that's the only remnants of that we had. But we had a great transportation system here one time, all those red cars. Until Goodyear Tires decided hey, you know what? La, a lot of driving, get rid of the rails, let's make sure that everybody has to drive cars and let's sell a lot of tires. So that's what happened. That's what happened and how that happened. We had politicians that all of a sudden had very nice vacations and big houses in the hills. Yeah, that's part of la. We don't like to.
Speaker 3They like to talk get back to wheels rolling wheels not wheels on a bus, not wheels on a. On a red, no, but we do have wheels on skates.
Speaker 2There, you, you go, and they want to see your. Burbank is having, I guess, a skate-off. This is at the skate park on Clydebourne from 5 to 8 pm. They want you to show off your best roller skate and skateboard moves. The event is free to all.
Speaker 3So, rashi, go for free, wait you said free and did I see your notes that said barbecue.
Speaker 2Yes, enjoy some barbecue and win prizes.
Speaker 3Well, you know our good friend, I gotta say you remember when Mike Graceffo was in charge of the skate place over there and I went to a couple of his. He gets things donated from everybody and that's a pretty big for kids, that the roller skate. It's a great park so that's a great look at saturday it's just so much going on.
Speaker 2Sometimes they have the bike, the bmx bike, stuff, and this time it's on skate.
Speaker 3So but you know, some of those people are very, very talented too, the tricks they can do and everything else and you know the our last mayor did an interview of a blind roller skater out there that he did a whole show on. It's just amazing. You know all the different opportunities that you have right here in Burbank. Look at this Saturday so much going on.
Speaker 2So much. I mean it's a lot going on, and as we get towards summer it's going to be a whole lot more much. I mean it's a lot going on, and as we get towards summer it's going to be a whole lot more. Well, I think we've covered Dodger's birthday. We've covered our events, we've covered.
Speaker 3Happy Birthday to my granddaughter.
Speaker 2Maddie yes, absolutely Eight years old. We've talked about our marriage. Oh, by the way, something we're working on right now is part two of our literally departed restaurants. We have to do uh um m through z. We got through a through l.
Speaker 2We don't get the whole show done in one night oh no, there's yeah, so we're gonna get m through z done and then we're gonna probably come back for part three the restaurants we missed, because you know what we're funny we missed. Come back for part three the restaurants we missed, because you know what we missed a lot of restaurants. People are letting us know in a friendly way, and if you watch our show, which has had a tremendous amount of views, if you watch our show and we missed a restaurant, send us an email, tell us the restaurant we missed, where it was located and why it was special to you. We'd love to hear, and why it was special to you, we'd love to hear, you know, we'd love to hear about it. So, yeah, part two is in the works. So one more thing, but I guess that kind of only leaves us with one last thing, just one last thing for tonight to send you off in a great mood, and that can only be the one and only Ross's Rant.
Speaker 2Ross's Rant. Ross's Rant.
Speaker 4I'd take a flame through into this place. Hey, what's up, Doc?
Speaker 3Yeah, what's up, Doc, I got a couple of rants for you. You know, as I sitcomed with us in a week ago or so, I had to go to see a doctor today and Boy, people in parking lots, people driving. I got cut off by three people just going three blocks. I couldn't believe it. I know I'm getting older, I understand you. Old fogey, yeah, I'm old, Well, 67, going on, 68 soon. I've lost all the hair years ago. But I'll tell you.
Speaker 3People in our town you wonder why they changed all of East of Glen Oaks to slow people down. You wonder why they changed all of East of Glen Oaks to slow people down. You wonder why they're doing it here, doing it there. The cars are faster, the kids are younger. You know slow down and if you're in a parking lot we're not all as quick as some of these Yahoo little kids in their race cars.
Speaker 3You know that and I just find my other part of that rant is why are people so angry these days? You know we are so fortunate here in the city of Burbank. You walk out and you look up. I was at a medical doctor today and the windows showed the hill and there was a guy I was waiting on for the elevator and I said, boy, what a gorgeous day. And he said yeah, it sure is.
Speaker 3Think about what's going on in our world. Think about what's going on in the community right next to us. You know where I hear Glendale schools are fighting here and LA is fighting there, and today we lost a LA city fire recruit, you know, and there's a ton of bad news. But you know what we can make it positive and that's what I really feel, that I always feel that we are so fortunate here in Burbank to have what we have, you know, and our city is clean. Our government is not crooked as they were years ago, so it goes a long way. You know, if you have to say thank you to somebody or open a door for a 60-year-old, you don't know what you do to change their life that day. So that's my rants.
Speaker 2Okay. Well, I think you want to talk about one more thing too. I think you kind of want to talk about calendar and scheduling a little bit too, don't you Just? Kind of bring that up.
Speaker 3Yeah, I calendar and scheduling a little bit too, don't you just uh kind of bring that up? And and yeah, I'm just so frustrated. You know, last week we witnessed two fun two um non-profits rotary had their um karaoke night at the same time that kiwanis had their their. It's happening all the time my Burbank offers a community calendar.
Speaker 2It doesn't cost Free community calendar.
Speaker 3And people. If you want to know what's going on, go to my Burbank Up on the right.
Speaker 2you can see the calendar, but also if you're a nonprofit, put your event on the calendar.
Speaker 3You know, you know, and people don't understand when we do that, I will say I'm cameras on Craig. He's the one that does that part of our back room. Yes, it is, and I will tell you. He tweets it out to over 50,000 people. Yes, I do, it goes on Facebook. It goes on Instagram.
Speaker 2New event just posted on my Burbank calendar. You see the little graphic.
Speaker 3And all those things. You know that's the nice part about advertising with us too. But you're right that community calendar. Take a look at it. You know we put a lot into it and it's free. Folks. You want to know what's going on in Burbank? Take a look at myburbankcom. Go to calendar. If you follow us Twitter-wise, you'll know things that are getting put on it all the time. That's. You'll know things that are getting put on it all the time that's. You know you're right, calendar is a big thing and we all have only so much time to do things.
Speaker 2Yeah, and it's just too bad the city can't figure out their own calendar and put meetings on nights when they're not conflicting with each other. I mean, I'll never understand why they do that.
Speaker 3Never understand. If you notice, we got two emails from the mayor's secretary about his calendar. I tell you, sandy, george, she is fantastic how she sorts out where he goes and what he does. But, sandy, I want to give you a pat on the back. You have been in that office for a long time and you keep our council members right on spot. I mean, I have been personally told.
Speaker 2They run the city, but she runs the council.
Speaker 3I'm told she will call council members 10 minutes before to make sure they're there on time. She is one of those fantastic city employees. We have a lot of them.
Speaker 2She's a behind-the-scenes person.
Speaker 3Yep, and I will say you know they all. I know you'll say, too, our city management, justin Courtney Padgett. I got a card from them last week, a get well card, and I thought, wow, you know from our city, but it's the time to do that. They're running an entire city but they have card and I thought, wow, you know from our city, but it's a time to do that.
Speaker 2They're running an entire city, but they have the time to do it, which is phenomenal. You know you don't have to do that, you know.
Speaker 3I was real grateful for that envelope. So I think that kind of wraps up the week that was the week that will be.
Speaker 2We've done it again. We've done it again the week that was the week that will be. We've done it again. We've done it again. Okay, I think that's about it. For another week, we will.
Speaker 3If you want to come see us on Saturday, we'll be at Johnny Carson park. Hopefully maybe hop along. Cassidy Greg Thurley might be with us running side helping up on the board. He's a convalescing. Hopefully he gets good results from his doctors. And a lot going on, A lot going on.
Speaker 2Well, we will see you when we see you, as they say. So thanks a lot for listening, and we will, if anything else, at least come back and give us a listen to next week. Thanks again for listening.
Speaker 1My Burbank Talks would like to thank all of my Burbank's Logix Credit Union, Hill Street Cafe, Pertain, Escobar Wealth Management and the UPS Store on 3rd Street.