The Burbank Eviction Ordinance (20-2, 942), which protected against both residential and certain commercial evictions will sunset on September 30, 2020. It has already been replaced by AB 3088 that creates new regulations and does not include protections for commercial tenants. On October 6, the City Council will consider an extension of the Ordinance that would provide eviction protections for certain commercial tenants retroactively to September 30, 2020.

On August 31, 2020, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 3088, the Tenant, Homeowner, and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020, effective immediately.

Prior Executive Orders had allowed local governments to limit evictions for renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. AB 3088 requires that local jurisdictions not extend residential Eviction Orders after September 30, 2020; therefore, Burbank’s Ordinance will sunset on that day.

This means up until the signing of AB 3088 on August 31, 2020, local ordinance rules will be in place and afterward AB 3088 will regulate residential evictions.

On September 23, Governor Newsom issued executive order 80-20 that extended the ability for cities to impose their own restrictions regarding commercial evictions only. (E.O. N-28-20, Paragraph 2 and E.O. N-71-20, Paragraph 3) through March 31, 2021.

Meaning that although residential evictions must fall under AB 3088 regulations, as of September 23, 2020, commercial evictions can be regulated by local government. On September 29, the Burbank City Council directed staff to bring back an extension of the prior Burbank Eviction Ordinance with respect to only commercial evictions for review.

AB 3088:

This Act provides long-term protections to residential renters including:

1. On or before September 30, 2020, a Landlord must provide tenants who have missed a rental payment during the protected time period (March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020) a notice of their rights. (§1179.04 (a))
2. Landlords are prohibited from evicting a tenant for non-payment of rent or other charges that came due between March 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021, due to COVID, except as follows and certain regulations must be met if an eviction is to be implemented as listed below:

 a. Requires a Landlord to give a 15-day notice to pay rent or quit, which must include an explanation of the current law and inform the tenant if they didn’t pay rent due to COVID, the tenant must provide the Landlord a declaration of such on the form mandated by the statute and provided by the Landlord, before seeking to evict for any unpaid rent or other charges due between March 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021.

b. If the tenant returns the declaration, the tenant may not be evicted for non-payment of rent between March 1, 2020 and August 31, 202

c. As to non-payment of rent from September 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021, if the tenant returns the declaration (and documentation, if required for a high-income resident); and, (2) by January 31, 2021, pays 25 percent of the rental payments due between September 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021, then tenant may not be evicted.

3. Extends “just cause” protections under AB 1482 to all tenants until February 1, 2021, with limited exceptions.
4. Prohibits any unlawful detainer actions for non-payment of rent or other charges (regardless of when due) prior to October 5, 2020.
5. Prohibits unlawful detainer actions against tenants with COVID-19-related financial distress for non-payment of rent and other charges due between September 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021 until February 1, 2021.
6. All unpaid rent is still owed to the Landlord, who may sue in small claims court for unpaid rent and receive a civil judgment against the tenant.

Burbank Ordinances:

The Burbank Eviction Ordinance does not forgive the payment of rent, but rather acknowledges a tenant is still obligated to pay any missed rent as a deferred payment.  If the City Council extends the eviction moratorium on October 6, 2020, then commercial tenants will continue to be protected from evictions and the grace period to start paying rent is delayed.

Under AB 3088 there is a distinction between eviction protections and owing the Landlord past due rent and other financial obligations. Repayment of residential rents due between March 17, 2020, and August 30, 2020, will be governed by the City’s local Ordinance as written below:

1. Burbank’s current Ordinance specifically states that “Tenants, (residential and commercial) who do not pay their rent due to COVID-19 as provided Urgency Ordinance No. 20-3,942 will have up to six months through March 31, 2021, to repay any back due rent (Six Month Grace Period). Thus, tenants who are currently in the arrears and meeting the Ordinance criteria for repayment of rent provisions under the ordinance will have until March 31, 2021, to pay any back rent due without penalty.”
2. If the outstanding rent has not been paid within the six-month grace period, beginning on April 1, 2020, the Owner may charge and collect interest, late fees or other penalties allowed in the lease for any rent payments still owing. These fees were not allowed between March 17, 2020 and April 1, 2020.
3. An Owner may not recover rent from their residential tenant that is delayed for reasons stated in Urgency Ordinance No. 20-3,942, if the Owner has already obtained compensation for the rent through federal or state or local government relief funds or other programs that provide such compensation.
4. The current Eviction Ordinance affords both residential and commercial tenants protections that could be used as an affirmative defense in an eviction proceedin

Additional information on AB 3088, the Tenant, Homeowner and Small Landlord Relief and Stabilization Act of 2020, can be obtained from the State website https://covid19.ca.gov/housing-and-homelessness/.

The City encourages residential and commercial tenants to pay any portion of the rent they can afford, to speak with the landlords and if possible, work out a repayment plan.

The post Burbank City Council Eviction Ordinance Has Expired appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Letter to the Editor:

Measure RC – rent control, on the November ballot fails to address housing affordability and homelessness and will likely cause Burbank rents to increase, as the experience of other California cities and the chart below clearly show.  

Measure RC will cost Burbank almost $6 million to set up a bureaucracy that operates outside our city government structure, imposes what can be described as a non-voter approved tax, and reports to no one.  That cost will be devastating and could require cutting important services to our residents.   Due to the heavy burden on our community, the failure to address and further the achievement of our housing goals, and in reality, likely cause housing costs to increase, Measure RC is unanimously opposed by Burbank City Council. 

In response to misleading claims that Measure RC will keep rents low and reduce homelessness, I put together the chart below in order to guide me on the best policy decisions. 

I was especially interested in the experiences of famous rent controlled cities:  Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Berkeley and San Francisco.   The chart below supports the conclusion of study-after-study that rent control causes average rents to increase.  Please, consider why that might happen:  Small mom-and-pop apartment owners give up and sell; corporations buy and redevelop; gentrification; costs to fund rent control are passed through to tenants; units are converted to condos.  Due to the pandemic, Burbank market rents are projected to decline by approximately 9% through 2020.  Measure RC potentially reverses this tenant benefit by allowing rent increases back to a higher September 2019 pre-pandemic level. 

These famous rent control cities have significant homeless concentrations and the data confirm the failure of laws like Measure RC to offer necessary housing, resources and assistance. 

The chart points to the importance of increasing supply.  Glendale and Pasadena have built more housing and rents are lower.   Some residents will always need help with high housing costs, especially our seniors, disabled and our poor.  Localized homeless service providers such as Ascencia in Glendale appear successful in reducing homelessness.  

Please Vote No on Measure RC.  Rent control does not work.  Look around at these neighboring, famous rent controlled cities that have some of the highest rents in the country.  These cities are infamous for squalid homeless encampments. We must provide housing in our community at all levels of affordability.   We must help those who need it.  Burbank must stay the course on our housing goals, affordability, homeless prevention and the compassionate reintegration of our homeless residents.  Why should Burbank move almost $6,000,000 from much needed community services to fund a failed housing policy like Measure RC? 

* Service Planning Area 2 of which Burbank is a part.
Sources: 
2020 Population – World Population Review.org
Homeless Counts  – LA County Cities – LAHSA – Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
**Homeless Counts – San Francisco and Berkeley –  EveryoneHome.org 2019 stats –  every 2 years   
Q2 Asking Rents and Trends – CoStar 

 

Sharon Springer
Mayor of Burbank

The post Letter to the Editor: Burbank Mayor Wants Your No Vote on Measure RC appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Note: All suspects arrested are presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of law. The following are official public records being redistributed by myBurbank.com Inc. and is protected by constitutional, publishing, and other legal rights. These official records were collected in 2020. The person(s) named in these listings have only been arrested on suspicion of the crime indicated and are presumed innocent. Original Police Logs can be found on the Burbank Police Department’s website where this information was obtained from.

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Performing an extremely difficult job while at the same time keeping the city safe, the Burbank police department apprehended several individuals on Thursday, September 24.

They included Toluca Lake delicatessen operator Tamara Nicole Hymes, who was taken into custody at 7:45 a.m. The charges are robbery, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm and 484 (A).

Burbank resident Larry Linda, who works at an artist studio, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. and the charge is misdemeanor domestic violence.

Joseph Allen Dupras resides in Tujunga and is employed in roofing. Dupras was handcuffed on the charges of identity theft, 472, 166 (C) (1) and spousal abuse. The time was 11:00 a.m.

Andre Hovhanessian of Woodland Hill is unemployed and was nabbed at 2500 North Hollywood Way.

The charges are identity theft, burglary, 30305 (A) (1), 484 (A) and being in possession of a controlled substance. It occurred at 11:00 a.m.

James Michael McClure is a mechanic, who resides in Pearblossom. McClure was apprehended at Hollywood Way and Magnolia St.

It happened at 1:00 p.m. and the charge is being in possession of a controlled substance for sale.

Aaron Michael Mittman lives in Cucamonga and is a handyman. Mittman was nabbed at 1403 North Victory Place.

It occurred at 6:40 p.m. and the charges are being in possession of narcotics, identity theft and possession of access cards.

On Wednesday, September 23, Sean Wilkins Jr., a gardener, was apprehended at Biloxi Ave. and Magnolia St.

It happened at 3:00 a.m. and the charges are an outstanding warrant, being in possession of heroin/cocaine and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Arcadia resident and customer service employee Maria Elena Rojas was nabbed at Olive Ave. and Virginia Ave.

The charges are identity theft, being in possession of a controlled substance and the time was 4:15 a.m.

Christopher Peters resides in Burbank and was arrested at Alameda Ave. and Cordova St. It happened at 9:48 a.m. and the charge is 374.3 (A).

Medical biller Jesse Gonzalo Sanchez was taken into custody at 1:00 p.m. It occurred at 2021 West Olive Ave. and the charges are 3455 (B) (1) and 530.5 (C) (2).

Christopher John Martinez is a cook, who lives in Burbank and was arrested at 346 West Valencia Ave.

The charges are vandalism of $400 or more and being under the influence of a controlled substance. It happened at 9:48 a.m.

Northridge resident Christopher Mark Burson buys and sells cars. Burson was nabbed at 9:30 p.m.

It took place at Vanowen St. and Ontario St. and the charges are 484 E (D) and being in possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Tuesday, September 22, Arnulfo Bernal, who resides in Los Angeles and works in construction, was taken into custody at Buena Vista St. and Kittridge St. The time was 3:00 a.m. and the charges are grand theft, disorderly conduct and 40508 (A).

Israel Habram Lopez lives in Los Angeles and is employed as a construction worker. Lopez was also arrested at Buena Vista St. and Kittridge St. and the charges are being in possession of stolen property and grand theft. It occurred at 00:30 a.m.

Joseph Frank Priolo of Hollisville was cuffed at the Extended Stay, which is located at 2200 Empire Ave.

It happened at 11:45 a.m. and the charges are two outstanding warrants, being in possession of heroin/cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, 459.5 and 640.

Justin Terrance Truong is from Temecula and works as a mechanic. Truong was arrested at 2200 Empire Ave. at 11:45 a.m.

The charges are being in possession of heroin/cocaine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Monday, September 21, Burbank resident and delivery driver Artin Avanian Khoygani was arrested at 200 North Hollywood Way.

It happened at 1:10 a.m. The charges are being in possession of heroin/cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cesar Ulises Castro Garcia resides in Northridge and works in water damage. Garcia was nabbed at 1412 North Ontario St. It happened at 4:00 a.m. and the charges are arson, burglary, vandalism, 484 E (D) and 40508 (A).

Melissa Cardenas is a pharmacy technician. Cardenas lives in Sylmar and was taken into custody at 2:00 p.m.

The charges are being in possession of heroin/cocaine and being in possession of drug paraphernalia and it occurred at Heffron Drive.

Glendale resident Arin Hovsepans works in fast food delivery and was arrested at Heffron Drive and Pass Ave.

The charges are being in possession of heroin/cocaine, being in possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kristian Keshisian lives in Glendale and was handcuffed at 4440 Heffron Drive. The charge is being in possession of drug paraphernalia and the time was 2:00 p.m.

Sylmar telemarketer Edward Andy Isahakian was apprehended at 2:15 p.m. It occurred at 4404 Heffron Drive.

The charges are being in possession of heroin/cocaine, being in possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Glendale clerk Stephan Chakhoyan was cuffed at Vanowen St. and Frederick St. It happened at 8:35 p.m. The charge is being in possession of a controlled substance.

On Sunday, September 20, Tina Coral Dilley, who is an art director and resides in Van Nuys, was arrested after driving under the influence. It happened at San Fernando Blvd. and Olive Ave.

Pacoima resident and construction worker Josue Lomeli was nabbed at Glenoaks Blvd. and Fairmount St.
The charges are 475 (A), being in possession of heroin/cocaine and 466. The time was 3:10 a.m.

Juan Carlos Figueroa is a carpenter, who lives in Burbank. Figueroa was arrested at Walmart. It happened at 4:10 a.m. after being in possession of drug paraphernalia and 1551 (A).

Roberta Q. Reyes of Glendale is a veterinarian assistant and was handcuffed at 1:35 p.m. The charge is domestic battery.

Burbank resident Billy Ray Brown was apprehended after violating a restraining order at 5:45 p.m.

Jesus Rodolfo Sanchez lives in Van Nuys and is a handyman. Sanchez was nabbed at 7:30 p.m. and the charge is being in possession of a controlled substance.

Home health worker Nicholas Cesar Valenzuela resides in Burbank and was arrested at 1301 North Victory Blvd. The charge is 484 (A) and it happened at 9:00 p.m.

On Saturday, September 19, a trucker from Dayton, Ohio, Erik Alexander Shontee, was arrested at Bob Hope Drive and Riverside Drive. It happened at 3:45 a.m. and the charge is 484 (E).

Miguel Louis Jimenez is a music producer, who lives in Oxford, Ohio. Jimenez was taken into custody at the same time, same location and the same charge.

Kendall Anderson, who lives in Lawton, Oklahoma, was arrested at 8:20 a.m. The charge is vandalism of $400 or more and being under the influence of a controlled substance. The site was Empire Ave. and Buena Vista St.

West Covina construction worker Francisco Montanez was placed under arrest at 4201 West Kling St. at 8:30 a.m.

The charges are burglary, identity theft, resisting arrest, fraud and being in possession of narcotics.

Santa Ana resident Felicia Marie Ponti is a salon assistant and was arrested at the same site and the same time and the charges are burglary, fraud and narcotics.

Los Angeles resident Calvin Edward Newbourne, who had outstanding warrants and is a general laborer, was nabbed at 5:20 p.m. after shoplifting at Walmart. The charges are 484 E (D), 484 (A) and 3455 (B).

Serge Greg Manachian is a student, who lives in La Crescenta and was handcuffed at 200 East Cypress Ave. The time was 6:30 p.m. and the charge was 484 (A).

Burbank resident and cook Andrew Reid was cuffed at Front St. and Verdugo Ave. The charge was being in possession of heroin/cocaine and the time was 11:20 p.m.

Valentin Corona Pacheco lives in North Hollywood and was apprehended at Victory Blvd. and Clybourne Ave.

It occurred at 8:45 p.m. and the charges are outstanding warrants and possession of methamphetamines.

The post Weekly Burbank Police Log: September 19 – September 24 appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The Burbank Board of Education heard the first reading of Burbank Unified School District’s Anti-Racism Statement, an update on distance learning and attendance, reports from student reps and responded to some concerns from the community during Public Comments during their regular meeting on Thursday, October 1.

Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services John Paramo gave the first reading of the proposed District Anti-Racism Statement. BUSD has been working with the community, through the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, to “identify areas where the district can improve.”

“The Policy subcommittee [of the DEI] has been working on an anti-racist statement. While the district is not ready to create an anti-racist policy yet, the committee believes that a public statement regarding the vision for Burbank Unified School District to become Anti-Racist in practice and policy is critical.”

The statement is “100% reflective of our community members and stakeholders” on the committee, said Paramo.

The first reading of the BUSD Anti-Racism Statement is: The Burbank Unified School District officially denounces racism as the product of white default/supremacy culture and recognizes the impact of systemic and generational racism as traumatic to our country, community, and school district. In light of continuing racial violence, including the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Andres Guardado, Dijon Kizzee, and many others, we also recognize that Black people in this country have had a unique and traumatic history in terms of racial relations, equality, and equity. We stand with the truthful and humane statement that all lives cannot matter until Black lives and the lives of indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) matter. We are taking steps to actively work towards being fully anti-racist, not only in word, but also in policy, practice, and accountability. Change is rarely easy, but with the support and cooperation of the entire Burbank school community we know that we will reflect a district that is truly unified.

Board members asked a few questions and gave feedback on the statement to Paramo.

Burbank Unified School District office. (Photo By Ross Benson)

Two women spoke during Public Comment time, to express their views regarding the Anti-Racism Statement. Jennifer Jackson felt the statement itself was racist. Dana Morris asked the District to stop the anti-racism work until meetings could be held in person and denied the concept of systemic racism.

Superintendent Matt Hill thanked the women for their comments and responded to their concerns.

“I want to be very clear about why we chose to use the word around white supremacy… and racism,” Hill said. “The definition we are using is very clear about having an organized system of race that benefits power and privilege. It’s true.”

“In this country, across this country, we have a history that is harmful and hurtful,” he continued. “We need to acknowledge it. I do appreciate the words that were used [in the comments]; we need to heal and move forward. I feel that’s what this statement is saying. But first we have to acknowledge our history as a country and our history as a city.”

“Burbank was a sundown city. We had racist policies and practices in this city,” Hill added. “We all have biases. We need to acknowledge that. We need to have difficult and honest conversations about this, and that really is what the heart of this statement is.”

“White supremacy is not really about the KKK and neo-Nazis but how the systems, policies and structures were established in this country. We have to have critical thought about that and make sure we are healing and moving forward.”

“It’s not whites vs. Blacks, or any race, but to acknowledge the systems and structures we have in this country, city and school district and moving forward,” Hill said. “This statement is clarifying that we are just beginning the work and we need to move forward. We are going to be uncomfortable, some of us may say things that others may be offended by. We need to listen and learn and heal… together, with empathy and care.”

Justin Riner, English Chair at John Muir Middle School, also spoke during Public Comment to question BUSD’s procedure of removing four books from core curriculum lists (To Kill A Mockingbird, The Cay, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) at the beginning of the semester.

“I think we all want the same outcome and to insure the books we are teaching in our schools are the best and most relevant for our students at this time and represent all of our students,” said Hill, thanking Riner and DEI Instruction sub-committee member Polly Steinberg, who also spoke during Public Comment, for their comments. “We’re not looking for censorship or to ban the books.”

Hill explained the process and timeline of how the challenged books procedure works, noting the books were challenged for prolific use of the N-word. Steinberg noted in her comments to the Board that Huckleberry Finn uses the N-word 219 times throughout the book.

“It was my decision to ask the English teachers to not teach these four books this semester,” Hill said. “I feel that given the nature of the complaint and the concerns and the harm it has caused our students – especially our Black students – in this District…”

“I felt we should not ask them to opt out of instruction but we should pause and go through the process and come up with a strong recommendation,” he also said. “We want to respect the professionalism of our teachers. We want to respect our students and our families. But we have to acknowledge even the fiercest supporters of these books have highlighted the problematic nature of the books.”

“So we need to decide as a school district, are these the best books for our students? They will always be available. I keep stressing that because the censorship and banning conversation should not be part of this conversation.”

“We have to talk about our reading list and if these are the best books to teach these lessons. So we will provide updates as we proceed,” Hill added. “If anyone has questions about the process, please reach out to me and I’ll help address that.”

Board member Dr. Roberta Reynolds applauded Riner’s request for clarity about the process.

“It’s so important we listen to all the perspectives,” she said.

Reynolds also pointed out the BUSD policy regarding challenged books, saying, “they MAY remain in use. It’s ‘may’ not ‘shall.'”

“Certainly, some of these conversations ahead lend themselves better in an in-person situation,” Board member Steve Ferguson said. “It’s something to be mindful of, moving forward.”

“While it would be easier to have the difficult conversations in person, it’s not something we can even think of slowing down,” Board Clerk Charlene Tabet commented.

Board Vice President Steve Frintner said,” I think it’s important for people to hear different points of view and take the time to study [the issues.]”

“We have to acknowledge the systems that have been put in place for more than 400 years,” he continued. “To say there isn’t a system of white supremacy that has been put in place in this country… is to deny the reality of this situation. We need to acknowledge it so we can move on.”

“We are asking for everyone’s patience and understanding,” commented President Armond Aghakhanian. “It’s a very difficult topic but it is a topic we need to talk about and we need to respect individuals and families who have directly experienced racism, that it may be too painful and difficult to talk about. For the sake of our children and the future, let us have a civil conversation.”

Hill also gave his biweekly report on Distance Learning to the Board. Currently, BUSD is averaging about 15,000 free meals each week picked up by students. The District has loaned out 6229 Chromebooks by September 29, with 3000 more on order. They have loaned 1566 hotspots, with 50 additional on order.

Attendance for synchronous (live) learning is close to 99% average for all grades. Asynchronous learning continues to see lower attendance with 78% of students for Monday through Thursday and 72% on Fridays.

The specific number of disengaged students went up a little, but represents different actual students, and hovers at about 1% of the school’s approximately 15,000 student population. School administrators and Board members discussed intervention actions and tracking, along with how to connect with those disengaged students.

The video and complete agenda of the Burbank Board of Education meeting for October 1 can be found online here.

The Burbank Board of Education is comprised of President Dr. Armond Aghakhanian, Vice President Steve Frintner, Clerk Charlene Tabet, and members Dr. Roberta Reynolds and Steve Ferguson. More information on the Board can be found online here.

The post Board Of Education Hears First Reading Of Anti-Racism Statement, Clarifies Actions On Challenged Books appeared first on myBurbank.com.

By Rick Assad

Adam Colman, the Burbank High football coach, has literally come full circle.

A winning quarterback for the Bulldogs, Colman then attended UCLA where he majored in Psychology and graduated in 2015.

Colman found his way back to the Burbank campus during his senior year in Westwood, where he became an assistant coach.

When Richard Broussard stepped down as the head coach after the 2016 season, Colman, who guided the Bulldogs to the CIF Southern Section playoffs three times, including twice to the quarterfinals as a sophomore and junior, is entering his fourth season at the helm.

Burbank High football coach Adam Colman looking things over. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“To be honest, when I went to college my goal was to experience life without sports and find out what I was really passionate about outside of football,” he said. “I always knew I wanted to coach at some point, but that could’ve been my kids’ little league team one day for all I knew.”

Colman, who passed for slightly more than 4,000 yards and unloaded 44 touchdown passes in two and a half years between 2008 and 2010, spoke about what it’s like to be back home.

“I got into coaching at my alma mater because of people and that was what has guided me ever since,” he explained. “I had amazing coaches and teachers at BHS that shaped me into the man I am. In college I realized I wanted to give back and try to have that kind of impact on the next generation.”

Colman, who teaches Algebra I and II at Burbank, added: “When Coach [Broussard] got the head coach position, I knew I had to join him. I always looked up to him and he has always been my mentor and friend to me, so getting to coach with him was a dream,” he recalled. “My goal became to coach with him at BHS and build something special for the kids in our community.”

Colman added: “I honestly had no intentions of becoming the head coach, but when he left I felt it was my responsibility to carry on what we started together back in 2008 when he was the offensive coordinator and I was the quarterback,” he said.

Returning to his old stomping grounds has been a blessing for Colman.

Former Burbank High quarterback and now its head coach, Adam Colman is building something special. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“The experience being the head coach at your alma mater is obviously special,” he noted. “I know this community and what these kids’ lives are like because I lived it not that long ago. I’m an only child with no relatives West of the Mississippi besides my parents, so growing up the football team became my family and it still is to this day. That’s part of what has made the experience so special – getting to coach kids who have had brothers that I played with or coached before them.”

Colman, whose squads have qualified for the postseason all three seasons, continued: “The word “family” gets thrown around a lot in sports, but being at Burbank, it’s more than just a word. It’s a promise that no matter where you go or how old you get, we’re always going to be here for you because you’re part of the family,” he said.

When asked what’s the biggest difference between being a player and coach, Colman had a ready answer.

“I would probably say being a player was more difficult. As a player, especially as a quarterback, you want to feel like the result of the game is in your control,” he said. “So you put more pressure on yourself to be perfect and you care more about stuff that’s out of your control. As a coach, you realize that you can only control so much, so you put all your energy into the things you can control and you’re at peace with the things out of your control.”

Aside from reaching the semifinals in 2017 and the quarterfinals in 2019, Colman has built something lasting at Burbank.

Adam Colman wearing the headset during a game. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

“We care about not just the four years we get them, but the next forty-plus years too,” he said about that relationship. “Football ends for everyone at some point, so we better have prepared you for that or we haven’t done our job as coaches. I’m a big follower of John Wooden and it all really falls in line with his philosophy. The Pyramid of Success, the Two Sets of Three, everything he preached was about life and character first and being an athlete second.”

With the presence of COVID-19, the Burbank football team will begin its season early in 2021.

“COVID has definitely thrown a wrench in our plans. We were off to a great start in the off-season when everything shut down, but luckily we have an amazing group of kids and they were able to keep that momentum going,” Colman said. “We did all of our spring practice over Zoom. Watched a ton of film, studied the playbook. Once we knew the season was postponed, we scaled back a little and have turned our attention to culture building and using Zoom for workouts to keep everyone in shape so that when we are able to return to the field we aren’t starting from scratch.”

Colman added: “The biggest thing has been mindset,” he pointed out. “Like Wooden’s second Set of Three: don’t whine, don’t complain, don’t make excuses. We’re looking at this as an opportunity to get more time together and more time to improve both physically and mentally and, ultimately, we get to play one more memorable season in January.”

Former Burbank High head coach Richard Broussard (left) standing next to Adam Colman, when he was the Bulldog quarterback. The pair is seen years later. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Because everyone is human, mistakes are bound to happen. Still Colman wants maximum effort.

“Not to get too philosophical, but I really see success as Wooden’s definition: “piece of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming” and I share that with our kids,” he said. “Winning games, scoring high on a test, whatever the objective measure people may use really doesn’t matter. All you can do is measure yourself against what you are capable of.”

Colman went on: “For me, coaching and teaching is a passion so I’m going to put everything I’ve got into it. I’m not going to leave any room for any “what-if’s” and when all is said and done, I’ll be content knowing I gave everything I had to this,” he said. “If other people see the results as success, then that’s great, but I’m just focused on being the best coach and teacher I can be.”

Colman has constructed his program behind hard work, diligence and talent. “From a schematic perspective, my philosophy is a bit malleable. I think at the high school level when you’re not out recruiting or drafting players, you have to be able to work with who you have,” he said. “So I try to learn as much as I can so that each year I can assess our team and come up with a system that is going to put them in the best position to succeed.”

One way Colman prepares his team to play a rugged non-league schedule. “But ultimately, regardless of the scheme, we are always going to be tough. We take pride in our toughness,” he noted. “We don’t back down from a challenge and have the most fun playing the best competition. A lot of the time we’re not the biggest team on the field, but we’re going to battle no matter who the opponent is and win or lose, we’re going to earn our opponent’s respect.”

Finding wins isn’t like picking out a pair of shoes. “Dealing with adversity is always difficult. We take a few approaches. First, we schedule the best competition we can in our non-league season so our kids are used to struggling. We want things to be difficult so that they get comfortable in those situations,” he said. “In football, there’s a saying: “you’re never as good as you think you are, but you’re never as bad as you think you are,” so it’s all about staying level and approaching each game as a new challenge. No matter how good or bad you did the week before, it doesn’t matter this week and it won’t matter the week after that.”

Colman continued: “A lot of it comes down to leadership and that’s why we’ve developed a Leadership Committee to really teach our kids what it means to be a leader and how to lead both when things are going well and when things are difficult,” he said. “It’s all of the work you do in preparation that helps you right the ship when you hit adversity. There’s no magic pill or speech that is going to fix things in the moment if you haven’t properly prepared.”

The post Rick’s Sports Corner: Burbank High’s Adam Colman, Winner, Culture Builder appeared first on myBurbank.com.

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Letter to the Editor:

This is a very important election. Not only are we electing a President to lead the country, we are also choosing two City Councilmembers that will be tasked with guiding us through this crisis, and coming out of it even stronger. There is a lot at stake. So how do we filter through the nonsense and decide who will be our voice on the City Council? This is where we need guidance and insight the most. This is when I tell you about my friend and City Council candidate Nick Schultz.

I have spent over a decade working with the Democratic Party. As the former President of the Burbank Democratic Club, I have worked to get our City Council and School Board candidates elected as well as our Assembly and State Senate. In the last twelve years I have never gotten as personally involved in a city race as I am now, but when Nick asked me if he should run, I was all in.

I met Nick when he ran for a seat on the Executive Board of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, (DPSFV). I had just been elected for my first term as Chair of that organization and I was a little hesitant when meeting him because I didn’t know him. What I found out after seeing him work was that I could count on him. He and I share the big picture perspective which allows him to see how our decisions and actions effect all involved, not just the person in front of him. He was patient and listened to all sides before making a decision. He fights for what he believes in but never turns down a chance to hear from an opposing view. What impressed me the most was how he set his personal goals aside to do what was best for the organization. That’s leadership. That’s what we need on City Council in Burbank.

Burbank is a great city and I’m invested in keeping it that way. If that’s going to happen we need to be open to new perspectives and experience. We can’t continue living in our self-imposed bubble if we want to grow and become stronger. We need people like Nick Schultz on the City Council. Don’t just take my word for it. Visit his website at NickforBurbank.com and find out. One of the most important votes I will cast this election will be for Nick Schultz and I encourage you to do the same.

Shanna Ingalsbee
Burbank Resident
Chair, DPSFV

The post Letter to the Editor: Resident Supports Schultz for City Council appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Kade McGovern was on the radar of many top college volleyball programs early on in his high school career. But due to a new NCAA rule that went into effect May 1, 2019, colleges were no longer allowed to talk to players until after their sophomore years
So essentially they couldn’t talk to McGovern for a few months.
But once the embargo was over, the 6-foot-6 Burroughs High senior outside hitter began to receive lots of messages via text, phone e-mail and more, some even coming in the middle of the night.
The recruiting process that lasted over a year has finally ended as McGovern found out Friday that he was accepted to Harvard University.

“It has been a roller coaster of emotions.  I’m extremely grateful for how things worked out the way they did,” McGovern said. “It’s still surreal. I went through the recruiting process for so long. Knowing that it is all finished with is really nice. It is a lot less stress.”

Kade McGovern goes for a kill against Mission Viejo in a playoff game in 2019.

McGovern, who will turn 18 next month, had previously given a silent verbal commitment to Stanford University that was contingent upon him getting accepted into the university.
But things took an unexpected bizarre turn in the summer when Stanford announced that it was cutting a number of sports programs including men’s volleyball.

“It forced me to pivot pretty quick,” McGovern said.  “At that point, other schools had already been making their decisions and the schools I had (spoken with) prior to my Stanford commitment (I told) to wait. It was an awkward situation. Most schools were extremely accepting of the fact that I was looking at those schools as an option too.”
McGovern said one of the schools that stepped up to express interest after news of Stanford dropping its program was Harvard.

“I was so fortunate to have Harvard reach out,” McGovern said. “Coach (Brian) Baise reached out to me and let me know their situation and I was able to get one of their three applications.  At the beginning of September I submitted and I found out Friday.”

McGovern, who plays for San Gabriel Elite at the club level, said he has not decided on what he plans to major in. He does say however that he has an interest in math and science.
”Some schools focus more on volleyball, there’s some schools that have academics as more of their focus,” McGovern said of picking a college. “Either way there are amazing opportunities and there is no right or wrong way. But I really wanted to use volleyball as an outlet to reach those schools academically as an option.”

McGovern said he had taken four of the NCAA maximum five official visits to colleges and had already visited UCLA, USC, Cal State Long Beach and the Ohio State University. The fifth visit had been planned for Stanford.

“I was extremely fortunate to have offers from some amazing schools,” he said.

McGovern said he is hoping to end his high school experience by getting another chance to play with his Burroughs teammates if it is deemed safe to return from COVID-19.

“I’m trying to stay optimistic.  We’re making do with what we can in terms of practicing safely outdoors and distanced,” he said of the current practice arrangement. “I’m really hoping for our season to happen as planned.  But this whole thing has taught us that there are bigger things than volleyball. Safety is the most important thing.”

The post Burroughs’ McGovern Picks Harvard appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Jory Worthen was arrested by U.S. Marshals with the assistance of the Burbank Police Department. Jory Worthen was wanted for two homicides that occurred in Camden, Arkansas in 2019.

Photo Courtesy U.S. Marshals Office

Worthen is accused of murdering his girlfriend Alyssa and her 4-year-old son Braydon. Immediately after the murders, Worthen fled in Alyssa’s vehicle, which was later found abandoned in a parking lot in Seattle, Washington. The Western Arkansas U.S. Marshals Task Force was brought into the investigation to assist with apprehension since Worthen had crossed state lines and was believed to be armed and dangerous.

The investigative efforts by all agencies involved with Worthen led them to a hotel in Burbank, California Monday evening. After being identified by law enforcement, Worthen ran from U.S.Marshals and Burbank Police, but was found nearby and taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. Worthen is being held on the state warrant for Murder awaiting extradition back to Arkansas.

U.S. Marshal’s task forces combine the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the most dangerous fugitives. These task forces are dedicated to reducing violent crime by locating and apprehending wanted criminals.

They also serve as the central point for agencies to share information on fugitive matters. In 2019, the US Marshals arrested over 90,000 fugitives nationwide, of which 4,343 were wanted in connection with homicides.

The post Arkansas Fugitive Arrested in Burbank appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Courtesy Burbank Police Department

On October 6, 2020, at about 12:05 p.m., a victim had several personal items stolen from her vehicle in the City of Burbank. Among the items stolen was an urn, pictured below, which contained the victim’s mother’s ashes.

The theft occurred in the 4400 block of Sarah Street.

The Burbank Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating the urn so it can be returned to the family. It is red and inscribed with the name, Anita Sue Fowler.

If anyone has information about this crime, or knows the whereabouts of the urn, you are asked to call the Burbank Police, at (818) 238-3000.

If someone happens to locate the urn, please notify the nearest law enforcement agency immediately, and provide them with Burbank Police report number 20-6855.

Courtesy Burbank Police Department

The post Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing Urn appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Letter to the Editor:

A few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Tamala Takahashi as we were both new members of the Burbank Board of Library Trustees. I was struck immediately by her genuine kindness and openness. While she was also a new member she was no stranger to the library as she’d been a volunteer there through the non-profit organization Friends of the Library for several years. She was also a frequent patron of the library branches. As a Mom of 3 kids who are now all in high school and college, the library was a constant in the family from their infancy, so she was proficient on all the programs and services the Library offered.

I was impressed by her knowledge of not only the library, but Burbank as a whole. She was an excellent resource with her first hand knowledge of everything ranging from the Burbank Unified School District and Alternative Learning sources, Parks and Recreation services, to shopping and restaurant recommendations.

Tamala just in general is a person who really knows and loves the town she lives in.
I have been so appreciative of her campaign and have learned more about the current goings-on in Burbank through her monthly newsletters than from any other one source since I moved here almost 20 years ago.

She has progressive forward thinking ideas on how to help guide Burbank for decades to come. A Burbank that still has the small town feel of community but in a modernized world with equality, safety, efficiency, education and progress in mind.
I have no doubt in my mind that Tamala Takahashi would be an asset to the Burbank community as a City Council Member.

Melanie Renfroe

The post Letter to the Editor: Voter Backs Takahashi for Council Seat appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Letter to the Editor:

It is very beneficial for people in our community to engage in dialog about important matters that effect our city, and the more well informed we are, the better we can jointly address these issues. I agree completely with much of what local school advocates have been saying recently about our schools. Specifically, many local school advocates are saying “It’s time for large property owners to pay their fair share to support public schools,” and I completely agree that large property owners must pay their fair share to support public schools, but the fact of the matter is that business related properties (office, retail, industrial, investment properties, etc.) currently pay 55% of the property taxes in Burbank, and home owners pay 45%. That imbalance is growing every year as huge new commercial projects like the Worthe/Warner Bros. ”Second Century” project and Overton Moore “Avion” come on line, and the percentage of property taxes that are paid by business increases every year while the percentage paid by homeowners goes down every year. This is simple math……

Local school advocates are saying that “good schools are fundamental to an equitable society of educated citizens”, and that we need to do everything in our power to ensure our schools remain excellent. And again, I completely agree. Burbank schools are incredibly important and fundamental to what makes Burbank, Burbank.  Burbank schools are fantastic and need to be properly funded.  And these are not just empty words. My family and I have been actively involved in community engagement in Burbank for decades and have contributed an enormous amount of time, effort and money to a wide range of community causes, including many in support of education right here in Burbank. So again, I am on the same page with what local school advocates are saying regarding the value of the BUSD to this community.

What I don’t understand is why local school advocates would support Prop 15 because what it guarantees is so little in new funding to the BUSD as to be ridiculous. When I addressed this measure with school officials last year, they were dismissive that it held much promise of substantive increased funding for Burbank. What Prop 15 guarantees to the BUSD is $100 per student per year (see Section 8.7.(a)3), and that’s it. That’s about $1.5M per year. There is no reason to believe that Burbank will get any more than this statutory minimum. The state has never given Burbank an even break in funding going all the way back to Serrano. There is no reason to think they will now. We were supposed to get a bonanza from Lotto money; how did that work out? Further, Burbank gets about $11,054 per student from the State (2019) while districts like LA ($14,757) and Fresno ($13,225) get much more; how is that fair? And what evidence is there that this would change if Prop 15 were to pass? If Prop 15 is expected to be such a wind fall for districts like Burbank, why did it not include a meaningful new funding guarantee? $1,000 per student per year? $2,000 per student per year? Why? Because it’s not happening. Read the actual text of the proposition. The guaranteed funding under Prop 15 is $100 per student per year.

So the bigger issue here, in my opinion, is not whether business and investment properties should pay more than 55% of the property taxes that it already pays, but rather, 1) how do we fix the fundamentally flawed state funding format for education in the state where districts like Burbank always get the short end of the stick, and 2) how do we address the deficient overall funding allocation for education in California in general. As you know, in spite of being one of the highest costs states to live in, California ranks among the lowest states in per student funding for education. In 2016, the average funding for students in the State of California was $11,495 per student, while New York spent nearly double ($22,366 per student) and many states like Connecticut and Massachusetts spent 50% more than California, but Prop 15 does not necessarily change this, especially for Burbank.

Finally, the inability of our community of late to be able to engage in meaningful and mutually beneficial decisions that lead to long terms success for this community is disappointing. Last year the Burbank Chamber of Commerce reached out to the BUSD and recommended that the BUSD undertake a standard “parcel tax” in the exact form that had been used routinely across the state to provide additional funding to school districts like Burbank for decades. Chamber members even offered to fully fund an enormous community outreach campaign that would have virtually guaranteed the success of the parcel tax, and which would have brought in nearly $10M a year in new, unrestricted revenue to the BUSD. The BUSD rejected the Chamber’s offer to support a standard parcel tax that was commonly and successfully used across the state in favor of an alternative tax that is rarely used and has a much lower rate of success. As you know that effort failed. Twice.

Proponents of Prop 15 say, “there are provisions in the measure to protect small businesses”, but what does that mean? It means nothing because it’s really not true. Take an actual small business and run a desk top analysis of the real impact that Prop 15 will have. I have randomly selected an RV sales and leasing facility that has been in Burbank for about 30 years, for example, which has a current taxable assessment of $1.5M and their property tax due (before direct assessments) is $15,000 per year. The property taxes are paid by the tenant, not the owner. Under Prop 15, the property will be taxed at its “full cash value” which will be based on its underlying value and highest and best use, not as an RV dealer, and I suspect the new tax (before direct assessments and school bond assessment, etc.) will be about $100,000 per year; can a small business like this RV dealer absorb a $85,000 per year increase in property taxes? No.

Take Black Angus restaurant here in Burbank as another example. Their current tax assessed value is $6.6M. Under  Prop 15, the property will be taxed at its “full cash value”, and I suspect the new tax will be about $210,000 per year; can the Black Angus  absorb a $144,000 per year increase in property taxes? No. Is Black Angus not paying their “fair share” of property taxes by paying $66,000 per year plus all the special assessments, including costs of the current BUSD bonds? I suggest that they are paying their fair share now, and to expect them to pay significantly more is not equitable.

These two examples are indictive of the impacts that Prop 15 will have on most businesses in the community. This is all publicly available information, so interested parties can do the research and undertake their own pro forma reassessment model and will come to the  same conclusions of the impacts of Prop 15 for most of the “small businesses” in the community. The fact is that most small businesses will pay substantially more property tax under Prop 15.

Many, or maybe even most business properties have a value of $3M or more, so those get no exemption. Further, most small business lease, rather than own their properties, and most leased business properties are owned by ownership entities that own more than $3M in property, so are all re-assessable, with the increased costs paid by the business. So for example, I own a tiny property, say 1,500 sq ft on Burbank Blvd and its worth about $600,000 (1500 x $400/ft), and I lease that to a small retailer, that tiny property will be reassessed and the tax due will increase by more than 1,000%, and the small business that rents there will pay the entire increase in property tax. Most business properties in Burbank will be subject to re-assessment, which is why I say that the claimed exemptions for small businesses are mostly illusory….

An unbiased academic study on a split roll tax by Pepperdine University School of Public Policy titled, An Analysis of Split Roll Property Tax Issues and Impacts made the following key findings:

• Increasing the taxes of businesses…would result in lost economic output and decreased employment. The cost to the California economy of this property tax increase would total $71.8 billion dollars of lost output and 396,345 lost jobs over the first five years of a split roll property tax regime. These losses would be even greater in succeeding years.
• The introduction of a split roll property tax valuation system would result in increased instability for local government finances, as they would become more directly susceptible to the value gyrations of the real estate market. For example, in 2008‐2009 when California property values faced the traumatic decline in the wake of the sub‐prime crisis and the market collapse (industrial and commercial values fell 6.5 percent), property taxes collected from these same properties actually rose 5.0 percent. Accordingly, an assessment format that tracks market value will make the property tax valuation system subject to fluctuations in the market in a way that it never has before under Prop 13.
• A split roll property tax valuation system would also further undermine the attractiveness of the business climate in California. Because small businesses typically lease properties where the cost of property taxes is passed through to the lessee, this research concludes that the employment losses described above would be disproportionately concentrated in small businesses, and especially those owned by women and minorities.

In closing, we again reiterate our support for local public education, but to add a devastating new tax to business that will substantially damage the local economy and local business while not materially improving local education does not benefit this community.

Specific things to consider:

1. Because Burbank is such a business dense community, Burbank will be harder hit by this proposition than other cities in our state because billions of dollars of commercial, retail and industrial property in our city will now be subject to periodic reassessment. My estimate is that the cost to Burbank business will exceed $100M per year. Every year. And there is no guarantee (and I suggest, no chance) that any significant portion of these funds will be returned to Burbank.
2. Regardless of what proponents say, a huge portion of this burden will be passed on to small businesses and consumers. The so called “exemptions” for small business are mostly illusory and will not provide any real protection whatsoever to most small businesses in this community.
3. This measure dis-incentivizes investment in sustainable technologies as it removes the tax exemption for solar facilities.
4. This measure provides no accountability to the taxpayers.
5. Regardless of what proponents say, this measure will drive business from California.
6. This measure will increase prices across the state as higher property tax costs are passed on to consumers through higher prices.
7. This measure will hurt agriculture across the state as all agricultural improvements ARE subject to reassessment under this measure.
8. Regardless of what proponents say, Prop 15 lays the groundwork for the full repeal of Prop 13 at some time in the future.

Michael Cusumano

The post Letter to the Editor: Burbank Businessman Requests NO Vote on Proposition 15 appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The Burbank City Council approved amending the Urgency Eviction Ordinance applying only to commercial evictions. Residential evictions continue to fall under State legislation AB 3088.

The Burbank Eviction Ordinance does not forgive the payment of rent, but rather acknowledges a commercial tenant is still obligatedto pay any missed rentas deferred payments. Any deferred rent will be due six months after the end of the expiration of the Ordinance. The approved Ordinance expires December 31, 2020. This means all deferred rent would be due on June 30, 2021. Additionally, the Property Owner may not charge or collect interest, late fees or other penalties that could accrue on unpaid rent through the end of the six-month grace period.

The City Council continues to encourage both residential and commercial tenants to pay any portion of the rent they can afford, to speak with the landlords and if possible, work out a repayment plan.

Extension of Urgency Eviction Ordinance as to Commercial Tenants Urgency Eviction Ordinance 20-3, 942

The post Burbank City Council Extends Commercial Eviction Ordinance to December 31 appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Joaquin Miller Elementary School second-grade teacher Ericca Dent has recently been named as one of 10 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year for 2020-21 by the L.A. County Office of Education. She was named Burbank Teacher of the Year earlier in the year.

The Teacher of the Year program aims to honor outstanding teachers throughout Los Angeles County and Burbank regularly has a teacher recognized nearly every year. The ten honorees for the 39th annual LACOE Teachers of the Year were announced on October 1.

“Being named as Burbank’s Teacher of the Year and one of LACOE’s Teachers of the Year has been a wonderful experience,” commented Dent. “I feel very grateful to be recognized for such an incredible honor. The day after the announcement, I started my class Google Meet by thanking my students for allowing me to be their teacher.”

Miller Elementary second grade teacher Ericca Dent is the 2020-21 Burbank Teacher of the Year and one of ten honored Teachers of the Year for Los Angeles County. (Photo Courtesy Ericca Dent)

“I’m just thankful that I get to do something that I truly love,” she added. “All of my students over the years have taught me so many lessons and have helped me become the educator I am today.”

Dent has been teaching for nine years and for the past six years at Miller Elementary. Her first three years in teaching was at Baker-Butler Elementary in Charlottesville, VA, before she moved to Los Angeles.

Pre-pandemic photo of Burbank and Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year Ericca Dent in class. (Photo Courtesy Ericca Dent)

Dent taught third grade for her first year at Miller; she has taught second grade since then.

“I’m committed to establishing a safe and welcoming community for all students where they are free to make mistakes and be themselves,” she said.

The Chester, VA, native moved to Harrisburg, PA, with her family at age 15, where she attended Susquehanna Township High School. She then attended The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2011 and her Master’s in elementary education in 2012.

“Distance learning has been challenging. I miss being with my class physically. I miss greeting them at the door with a hug or fist bump, sitting at the carpet for read alouds and doing fun group projects where students are interacting with one another,” Dent commented. “Of course, some of these things are still possible, but it’s different.”

“All the ways I know how to help, challenge, and engage kids, I’ve had to rethink. I’m unable to quickly hand out manipulatives or throw up a quick anchor chart. Everything takes so much more time and so much more thought, and then it still may not work.”

Ericca Dent is the Burbank Teacher of the Year and a Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year for 2020-21. (Photo Courtesy Ericca Dent)

“Thankfully, my students (and their families!) have been very patient and understanding. I make sure I have brain breaks at least every 10 minutes, so the kids are up and moving. Sometimes we’ll play Simon Says, watch a GoNoodle video or simply stretch.”

“I also make sure I check in with them at the beginning of the day,” Dent continued. “We’ll show each other how we’re feeling by giving a thumbs up or thumbs down. I’ll then ask for students to share why they’re feeling good or bad. It’s a great way for us to encourage each other.”

“Although it’s been challenging, my students still show up ready to learn. We’re in it together and we’ll get through it together.”

“I am so thankful to have Ericca Dent as a teacher at Miller,” commented Miller Elementary Principal Judy Hession. “Her positive energy and attitude is inspiring! I appreciate that Ericca takes the time to get to know her students and build a classroom community that encourages them to work together, be respectful to each other, and to care about one another.”

Teacher Ericca Dent engages with her students during distance learning. (Photo Courtesy Ericca Dent)

“It is important to Ericca that her students are taught that they can make a positive contribution not only in her classroom but in our school, city, state, country and the world,” Hession also said. “We are so proud that Ericca was named one of the ten L.A. County’s Teachers of the Year! This is a well deserved recognition!”

“Ms. Dent is an amazing teacher who is always finding new ways to connect with her students,” said BUSD Superintendent Matt Hill. “We are so grateful to Ms. Dent for her dedication to our students.”

The 10 Los Angeles County winners automatically advance with other county titlists from around the state to the California Teachers of the Year competition this fall.

The state is scheduled to announce its five co-winners in October. One of the state co-winners will be chosen to represent California in the National Teacher of the Year contest in Spring 2021.

The Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year Program is the largest local competition in the state and nation, and is part of the oldest and most prestigious honors contest in the U.S. for public-school teachers.

The post Miller Elementary Teacher Ericca Dent Named One Of Los Angeles County’s Teachers Of The Year appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The Burbank City Clerk’s Office is accepting applications for the Senior Citizen Board beginning October 7, 2020 through November 6, 2020. To apply, please visit www.burbankca.gov/bccapplication to submit an application online or pick up an application in the City Clerk’s Office located in City Hall at 275 East Olive Avenue, First Floor. For more information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (818) 238-5851 or by email at cityclerks@burbankca.gov.

The deadline for submitting an application to the City Clerk’s Office is Friday, November 6, 2020, by 5:00 p.m. Applications may be submitted online at www.burbankca.gov/bccapplication. The appointments are tentatively scheduled to be made at the November 17, 2020 City Council Regular Meeting. All City Board, Commission, and Committee members serve without compensation from the City. No individual shall serve on more than one Board, Commission, or Committee at the same time. All applicants must be electors of, and actually live in the City of Burbank, with the exception of the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and the Sustainable Burbank Commission. (Per BMC Section Nos. 2-1-405, 2-1-406, and 2-1-407)

The post Burbank has a Senior Citizen Board Vacancy appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Letter to the Editor:

The post Letter to the Editor: Parent Supports School Board Incumbents appeared first on myBurbank.com.

The Burbank Public Library hosts Anti-Racism In Action, an anti-racism workshop, online with Kalyn Wilson from Dream Forward Consulting on Thursday evening, October 8, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

According to the Library representatives, the workshop will cover “the history of the Black experience in America, how bias works and actions you can take to become an ally.”

“We are excited to launch Burbank Reads 2020 with a workshop on anti-racism and allyship,” commented Library Services Director Elizabeth Goldman. “The protests and events of 2020 left many people wondering, ‘What did I miss about U.S. history? What do all these terms mean? What can I do to improve racial equity?'”

“This workshop is full of practical information that provides context, opportunity for reflection and advice on steps individuals can take,” Goldman added. “We hope this and the entire month of Burbank Reads programming will help further these important conversations in our community.”

Kalyn Wilson of Dream Forward Consulting leads an anti-racism workshop for the Burbank Public Library on October 8. (Photo Courtesy Kalyn Wilson)

The workshop is part of the Library’s Burbank Reads initiative. Burbank Reads is “a program inspired by the idea that the shared act of reading can bring the community together. Everyone in the community is encouraged to read the same book and participate in discussion and learning surrounding the subject matter.”

The Burbank Reads book for 2020 is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. The book tells the story of sixteen-year-old Starr Carter who balances two polarizing worlds: Garden Heights, a predominantly black and underprivileged neighborhood, and Williamson, her mostly white, upper-class, suburban prep school.

“The book shines a light on the complexities of race in America and invites social commentary. It poses many important questions about police brutality, discrimination, prejudice and fear. It also encourages readers to get involved in the change they want to see in the world.”

Image Courtesy Burbank Public Library

The Hate U Give has received literary praise and was awarded the Coretta Scott King and the Michael L. Printz Honor Awards in 2018.

“Our selection for 2020 was chosen to encourage Burbank to engage in conversation about racial equity and the Black experience in America. Activities and discussion will create a foundation of ideas to build on for the future.”

In addition to the anti-racism workshop, a conversation about “The Hate U Give” on October 22, a panel discussion on racial diversity in the animation field on October 29 and several community discussions for the book on October 17, 20 and 26 will be held for the Burbank Reads program. Interested attendees may sign up via the Burbank Library’s online RSVP system to join any or all of the events online.

Age appropriate reading suggestions for younger children are available. Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson will be read aloud and discussed on October 13.

I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal is the book selection for teens, who are welcome to join an author chat on October 16.

All the books for Burbank Reads are available for unlimited downloads via hoopla. Depending on availability, some books may be picked up curbside from the Library.

The anti-racism workshop is limited to adults and teens ages 16 and up. For more information and to sign up for the workshop, visit the Burbank Public Library’s webpage here.

The post Burbank Library Hosts Anti-Racism Workshop For “Burbank Reads” Program appeared first on myBurbank.com.

Letter to the Editor:

I have known and admired Tamala Takahashi since we met around 2001, when our children were small. We were regulars at the Western Bagel on Verdugo. At the time, Tamala was writing and editing a newsletter for parents in Burbank called Kidsize Connections, so from the first time we met, she was already proving her commitment to the families of Burbank.

When her kids were older, she homeschooled and wrote books about it. She volunteered all over the city for causes and organizations she believed in, and took up leadership positions with Toastmasters and her Knitting Guild of which I am a member. I was always hearing about her activities on social media. 

In more recent years, while Tamala’s daughters have been attending Burroughs, she has participated even more fully in leadership roles in our lovely city and it is only right that she be elected to our City Council. Tammy has demonstrated consistent and committed leadership for many years and in many contexts. She is an outstanding listener and, in my opinion, exemplifies the attributes of a servant leader who sees her role as support and encouragement, rather than as authority. 

Tamala Takahashi will be getting my vote for Burbank City Council. 

Wendy Stackhouse
Burbank resident

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Letter to the Editor:

There is a long debated English phrase: “may you live interesting times.” Central to the argument is the question as to whether it’s intended as a blessing or a curse. I feel little is more representative of where we are in this moment right now.

Just over six months have passed since COVID-19 first rushed in to our city limits, grinding our flourishing community to a halt.

We all know that Burbank is facing a public health and economic crisis, which appears to have no end in sight. Our small businesses have been hit hard. This is what initially inspired me to action and is a large part of why I am running as a candidate for Burbank City Council. The impacts of this pandemic on our businesses have been unprecedented, which calls for us to mount an unprecedented response.

We can do it. Our community is in fact one of the best equipped to respond to this crisis: we are the center of a global powerhouse that is the entertainment industry; a city with a rich history of entrepreneurship and strong small businesses; a town that built the planes that helped us win World War 2; and a city with a hardworking, skilled, and talented workforce.

Since the start of this campaign I have proposed the creation of a Burbank Economic Recovery Taskforce (BERT). I believe that it is crucial that we bring together our tremendous assets, experts, and stakeholders to the table to inform the Burbank City Council on the best strategies for economic recovery. I would like to see the BERT be comprised of leaders from the entertainment industry, small business owners, entrepreneurs, retailers, organized labor, community leaders, and representatives from the food and beverage and hospitality industries.

There are significant barriers to starting and maintaining a small business, including the financial costs and paperwork required for proper licensing and registrations with the City of Burbank. I would like to explore ways to make it easier to do business in our city so that we have new home-grown employers ready to offer good-paying jobs for our workforce.

We need to get creative. We also need simple changes such as offering concierge-level customer service in which any business, including locally owned small businesses, could obtain one-on-one assistance from a seasoned staff member in the City of Burbank. This concierge service could help our businesses navigate permits, licensing, and connect them with community resources.  It’s a simple fix that wouldn’t cost a lot of money. A simple fix we could do right this very moment.

We are certainly in interesting times. This moment has been challenging, and it will be for potentially years to come. But we also have so much opportunity, so much we can do, and the talent and spirit to get it done.

I believe the City of Burbank needs to roll up our sleeves and be proactive in exploring ways to enhance small business formation and retention.

With bold proposals like the one outlined above, I have no doubt that the City of Burbank can overcome the challenges that we’re facing and help to save our small businesses!

You can read more about my economic recovery proposals here: www.nickforburbank.com/economic-recovery.

Sincerely,
Nick Schultz
Burbank Resident, Candidate for Burbank City Council

The post Letter to the Editor: Council Candidate Appeals to Voters appeared first on myBurbank.com.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place every year during the month of October. The purpose of this annual health campaign is to provide education, draw attention, and encourage regular screenings for the early detection of breast cancer.

Various City of Burbank departments have teamed up in observing and supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the following ways:

–      Burbank Water & Power and Public Works field workers have pink hard hats; – The Public Works Department will illuminate City Hall with pink lights;

–      Burbank Police Department will participate in the Pink Patch Project, during which personnel, may wear a pink version of the uniform patch;

–      Burbank Fire Department will debut new t-shirts with a pink ribbon;

–      City Council and City staff are encouraged to wear pink at the last Council Meeting in the month of October.

To learn more about breast cancer awareness, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

The post Burbank Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month appeared first on myBurbank.com.