The Burbank Blog

Post Convention Thoughts

2018-02-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well that was an interesting convention. Your always tired blogger is really tired after a long weekend in San Diego. However, it was good as your truly got to listen to some truly inspiring speeches by our faves Dave Jones and beloved local congressman Adam Schiff. Adam talked about many issues that we care about here at this blog and it was really nice to see the crowd react to his impactful words. It was also nice running into our much loved Burbank assemblymember Laura Friedman.

Elsewhere however party disunity seemed to still fester above and below the surface at so many caucuses and confabs over the long weekend and it was obvious that many people in our formerly big tent are still a little divided over many issues and other things. The Bernie Hillary divide is still present as is a generational divide clearly as many people don't seem to react that nicely to DiFi or Nancy Pelosi anymore.

This blog's view is that our party will need to come together to win as people underestimate the power of Trump in the minds of a lot of people including voters here in California.

Outside of the convention the nastiness is still present even coming from local "Dems." We put Dems in quotes because we've written before about Glendale City Councilman Zareh Sinanyan's disgusting misogynistic and racist posts and we've questioned why he was still in office. We've also written much about Glendale School Board Member Greg Krikorian whose over the top screaming nationalistic posts make him sound like a 1940s dictator. It just dawned on us that the political hit blog "mikegattoisasweetdude" came online right after we started shouting from the rooftops about the Armenian National Committee's endorsement of these racists individuals who despite any claim for party unity clearly have no place in our system. Then because of this blog's support of local assemblymember Mike Gatto the Gatto hit blog suddenly emerged. If one needs any further proof it's run by Sinanyan and the ANCA one doesn't need to be a genius to connect those dots. Sad because Gatto was a good man and is out of politics and doesn't deserve that crap. This is a long digression to state that local activists are whispering and we support a quiet but strict "no endorsement" policy for any Democrat affiliated with the Armenian National Committee because of their tactics.

2018 races to watch include the congressional race just to the north of us in the antelope valley currently held by Steve Knight. Our precinctwalking time is finite but that is where we will choose to donate our time. Where will you?

Party Disunity and the Continuing Prickishness of Anthony Portantino

2017-09-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

Deep into 2017 the newspapers are still running stories about the sniping between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Elsewhere in the news activists in California are trying to recall Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon over his decision to study a major healthcare bill. If it seems to you that Democratic party disunity is at a new high you're not alone. How can a house this divided band together and defeat Trump and take back the congress?

Local activists have tolerated conservative democrat Anthony Portantino in the name of party unity especially since local favorite former Assemblymember Mike Gatto decided against a Senate run thereby handing Portantino the seat. One would think that Portantino would be greatful as the local activists were genuinely appreciative that Gatto chose not to put the party through another tough internal fight and who also spared Democrats in the state senate and Kevin de Leon from spending mucho dinero to defend the seat after what would have undoubtedly been a bruising battle.

However "class" is not in Portantino's vocabulary and his team is back with a revived and reviled Gatto hit website which they created when Gatto was considering his run. It's rather vile. It's designed to be just enough of a parody that some careless readers mistake it for a Gatto fanboy site.

The site has all the markings of a creation of Portantino campaign consultant Douglas Morrow, an alleged sexual harasser and an alleged sexual blackmailer who allegedly got fired by the State Assembly for allegedly sexual harassing female staffers with alleged sexual blackmail and yet despite all that who Portantino shamelessly hired. It's a special kind of lowlife who has to blackmail women for sexual favors but if you've ever seen political consultant Doug Morrow you understand the allegations.

In cowardly fashion Portantino has tried to blame the site on everyone from the ANCA to a still bitter Greg Krikorian but those in the know understand it's a Portantino job.

Portantino, a large man, apparently has a small heart and a pea brain.

Someone tell him, and Bernie Sanders, and Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump that 2016 is over.

What Happened to Party Unity

2017-07-09T15:20:00.001-07:00

The co-publishers of this blog are longtime Democratic activists and neither of us has ever seen the party seem so fractured. One sign of this was the overall mean and nastiness that marred the race for party chair with Los Angeles' own Eric Bauman fending off a very agro attack from Kimberly Ellis. That race exhibited the deep divisions within the party. Now its a battle that is taking place in the halls of the state capitol in Sacramento with Berniecrats including Sen. Sanders himself taking out some anger on state Speaker Anthony Rendon for holding up a shell bill that claimed to put in place single payer, genielike. The nurses union has been particularly critical.

So, what is the reason for this? Which faction ultimately prevails? Your thoughts...

CD1 Controversy Reminiscent of Zareh Sinanyan Scandal

2017-04-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times has pulled its endorsement of Joe Bray Ali, a candidate for council in Los Angeles after it came out that he posted racially charged comments on online blogs as well as other nasty posts about overweight people and the transgendered. Dakota Smith wrote the story with the details.

Yet an even bigger bigot is still in office in a major city here in Socal. We're talking of course of Zareh Sinanyan of neighboring Glendale.

The similarities between the two are striking. Just like Brayali, Sinanyan admitted (but in Zareh's case only after an attempted cover up) that he posted pretty horrific stuff online.

What did Sinanyan post?

Oh, here was the one where he made homophobic jokes about child abuse.

Here's one where he calls a woman he disagrees with a cunt.

Here's one where he makes ridiculously anti-Muslim comments that not even Donald Trump would not be comfortable saying!

Here's one where he ridicules Mexicans.

We can't forget where he calls Muslims ragheads, and tells a female blogger that he is going to shit in her mouth.

It goes on and on.

If you're wondering where the outrage is, where is the LA Times story, you're not alone. You see when the story broke, the Times deferred all Glendale reporting to the Glendale News Press, which was then run by a weirdo named Dan Evans who wanted Armenian American advertising dollars and so didn't want to offend the community by criticizing a racist homophobic candidate of Armenian heritage. Yes, true. In fact Evans published denials until Sinanyan got elected, and now the city is stuck with him.

A lot of scribes like Aura Bogado breathlessly claimed to have broken the Bray Ali story. Perhaps the media owes the southland community an explanation or maybe at least a little public soul searching on why they didn't cover Sinanyan and why they tolerate this bigoted little man to still be in office.

Elections Update: Applebaum Defeated; Gordon Limps Into Runoff

2017-03-01T11:50:00.001-08:00

Burbank residents yesterday saw our votes counted and the result was a decided rejection of certain incumbents.

School Board Member Larry Applebaum got defeated for reelection by newcomer Steve Frintner. The results weren't even close. This was a clear rejection by Burbank residents of Applebaum's questionable political judgment and regularly jerky demeanor.

On the City Council Bob Frutos and Jess Talamantes cruised to reelection both winning outright. The results reflect the love that the community has developed for these two who work to make wise decisions and are always gentlemen.

For the final council seat Sharon Springer takes David Gordon into a runoff. This was quite the shock since the other incumbents cruised to such easy reelections and because a majority of voters did not vote for an incumbent councilmember, David Gordon. We've made no attempt to hide our distaste of the creepy and clueless Gordon. City workers often quietly apologize to citizens for his bluster and how much he embarrasses the city by constantly speaking about things he just doesn't know diddly squat about. Burbank residents would be better served by Ms. Springer.

In other news, our own Shanna Ingalsbee got elected Chair of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley! We are just ecstatic...

Update on Municipal Elections

2017-02-14T08:35:00.002-08:00

We have the latest crop of um interesting people running for council in our fair burg including Greg Sousa who is running against the incumbents accusing them of approving too much development and Juan Guillen who is running against the incumbents accusing them of being out of touch. Both are perennial candidates having run several times before and Sousa has had some brushes with the law for unsavory conduct. Guillen has made some rotarians and other civic types a little wary of him for his sometimes aggressive and odd behavior.

Sigh. Is there no one better to run for office here? Anyone with some well developed and wise ideas instead of the same old Dave Gordon cliches?

Your thoughts?

Municipal News

2016-12-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

It's been a somewhat strange year in our hallowed burgh, as news of another shooting in town seems like it hits the papers every week and that is very out of character for our humble city. There were two more this week and some of us are starting to wonder what is going on.

Meanwhile although elections everywhere are drawing a lot of attention a small field filed for Burbank school board. Aside from Larry "I Take Up Oxygen and Food" Applebaum and the delightful Char Tabet there was just one challenger. Steve Frintner, a 57-year old senior manager at the Walt Disney Co., is aiming for a seat on the board for the first time, following years of involvement in various PTA groups. In 2013, Frintner became the first man in Burbank Unified's history to become president of the Burbank Council PTA, the guiding post of the district's 16 schools' PTA groups. He has since worked with fellow parents and students to pass a resolution backed by both the California PTA and National PTA to promote an inclusive learning environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, and to incorporate health standards into curriculum to address LGBTQ students.

In other news Laura Friedman got sworn in to the Assembly ushering in a new era in our 43rd AD. We will miss Mike but we know Laura will do a great job.

Finally in other local news the Compton deputy treasurer or some such nonsense was arrested for embezzling. Seems like a lot of municipal employees must engage in antics like that dipping their hands in the kitty. So this is my challenge to you dear reader. Who locally in Glendale or Burbank might be the next official or employee to get busted for corruption?

Taking A Break From Electioning

2016-10-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

Ohmigawp! The 2016 election will be over in just a couple weeks. We have been hard at work volunteering our time on a couple local efforts and at two Dem headquarters. Have you? There's still time to volunteer to call into swing states to help make sure Hillary breaks the tallest glass ceiling.

If you are interested, drop by DPSFV headquarters:

12208 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood
In Valley Plaza, just east of the 170 and next to the Regency Theater

Saturday and Sunday 12:00 – 5:00, Monday thru Friday 1:00 – 8:00

Buttons, bumper stickers, shirts, hats, and yard signs are available.

If you want to volunteer but live closer to the San Gabriel Valley, drop me a note and I will send you info on the opportunities there.

This is a chance that comes along once in a generation to elect a congress and president and others who will break thru the gridlock and TCB. Get involved and vote or don't complain later!

Great. More Traffic

2016-09-14T09:30:00.001-07:00

We almost started this post by writing that "Burbankers Can Expect More Traffic" but then I recalled the not so fond memories of the small but very outspoken minority here in town who make it their business to yell at anyone who uses the word "Burbanker" because they believe "Burbankian" is the proper moniker for Burbank residents. But I digress.

Here's the latest intelligence on the traffic snarling mess of projects working through our lovely Burg.

Commuters will soon see more detours near the 5 Freeway around the Providencia Avenue bridge as the state begins work on the structure starting Monday. Continuing the state's ongoing project to improve the heavily used route, crews will be putting up and bolting 110-foot-tall girders to the Providencia bridge as part of an effort to widen the freeway and make way for a carpool lane.

Crews will work from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday through Friday. During those times, up to three lanes on the 5 between Burbank Boulevard and Western Avenue will be closed on both northbound and southbound lanes, but not all three lanes will be closed in both directions at the same time.

Caltrans may also have to close the southbound Verdugo Avenue on-ramp, southbound Alameda Avenue off-ramp and northbound Alameda on-ramp.

Additionally, until the end of this month, crews will close Flower Street between Verdugo and Alameda during nighttime construction hours during the week. Providencia between Flower and Varney Street will also be closed when Flower is shut down.

While crews work on the bridge, motorists are being routed to take Lake Street or Victory Boulevard instead of Flower Avenue.

Oh joy! More traffic!

Happy Labor Day

2016-09-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day everyone.

As you enjoy your BBQ today, remember who brought you the minimum wage, the five day workweek and eliminated child labor. It was labor unions and the Democratic party. Both continue the fight for all workers.

Then, this November, be sure to elect our Democratic ticket.

HRC for President, duh!

Anthony Portantino for Senate

Laura Friedman for Assembly

Darrel Park for County Supervisor

Enjoy the day everyone!

Midsummer Thoughts

2016-07-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

Me and my fam just got back from Huh Vye Ee to the jarring headlines of gun violence across the country. It's a sad day when two young black men are murdered and then several innocent cops.

I've been involved in politics for approaching 50 years and the polarization is present more now than ever. I know people say this all the time and every election cycle but answer for yourself this, was there ever really a candidate for president like Donald Trump? Was there ever really such a tone of 'Might Makes Right' out there, 'My Way Or The Highway' and 'My Side Right Or Wrong?'

There are some who throw up their hands and say that a bunch of factors contributed to this so Eff It All and we cant solve it. But I believe in laying blame where blame is due and if we are honest with ourselves, we will identify and call out such Radicalization within politics, and we will identify by name those who spew extreme identity politics with the goal of conquering a region or a district, so as to gain personal power.

These polarizing politics aren't just national, theyre local too. They were evident in a recent post by Burbank's own Garen Yegparian in the Asbarez newspaper. In a post that would make most people blush, the shameless Yegparian did everything possible to race bait and hoist more false flags than a threatened dictator in a totalitarian country.

I suspect Yegparian doesn't even know how bad he sounds. I know you do. Here are his own words, unchanged and unedited:

Past events perforce drive us to review the outcome in the 43^rd State Assembly District of the California Primary election held June 7. This is the district in which Ardy Kassakhian, with 24.28% of the vote, is in second place behind Laura Friedman, with 31.94% of the vote (figures as of June 30).

. . .

Pride should now drive us to coalesce around Ardashes and put all our efforts into assuring his win in the November General Election.

Why?

Population – look at the district and you’ll see that with Glendale, Hollywood, Burbank, and the Crescenta Valley, the 43^rd is THE Armenian district. None should begrudge a community such as ours this district.

. . .

Pots-of-money are also necessary. Paltry, relative pennies are OUT. Anyone able should contribute the maximum allowed $4200.

. . .

Predatory practices preempt propriety for some political actors in the district. There’s a long history of this, which many of you already know. Any sense of proportion is perverted by the lust for poaching this elected office from our community.

Perfidy is a good way to describe the misleading, deceptive propaganda campaign that maligned Ardy. Plotters pandered to people’s incompletely-informed political proclivities.

. . .

To get ready, you’ll be out raising money for the Kassakhian campaign throughout the Summer. When Labor Day arrives, if you care about Armenian political progress which can translate into many benefits for our communities and cause, then you’ll follow the suggestions made above and dive into a two-month period of intense activity.

What an insult to the beautiful diversity of our district, and all the many peoples who call it home.

What an insult to Latinos, who make up more by population and by voters in this district and who have long been oppressed in this country, by this country.

Kassakhian lost because he was a bad candidate who made some serious miscalculations. Yegparian could have written an article detailing qualifications, issues or any of the other things we care about. Instead he featured paranoia, false flags and the Trumpist ME FIRST politics that is destroying our country.

2016 Democratic Primary Shaping Up To Be Crazy

2016-05-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

And no I don't mean the Presidential race, I mean the race for the 43rd Assembly District to replace our Assemblymember Mike Gatto. What used to look like a vurrrry complicated field has now shaped up to a two person race. Those two people are Glendale City Clerk Ardasshes Kassakhian and Glendale City Councilmember Laura Friedman.

The two have waged war over which one is the truer Democrat based on which independent expenditure is spending dough on each. The California Association of Realtors' Crepac and the Apartment Owners Association has spent hundreds of thousands on Kassakhian. The Charter School association has spent hundreds of thousands on Friedman. Our opinion as jaded longtime Democratic activists? You can't control who spends money on you, but big Real Estate Investment Trusts are by far the more corporate special interest than those trying to reform education. Laura Friedman 1, Ardasshes Kassakhian 0.

Then you have the fact we just learned which is Kassakhian used to be a Republican until pretty recently. Apparently he worked for Clinton impeacher and far-right-wing Congressman James Rogan, then switches sides to take a different job. We appreciate how valuable a yob can be, but if someone was a Republican during his 20s and 30s then its pretty fair to say he's a less truer Dem. Laura Friedman 2, Ardasshes Kassakhian 0.

Finally we look at endorsements. Kassakhian has got the distant statewide people but Friedman has the local people like Will Rogers and Emily Gable Luddy and of course outgoing Assemblymember Mike Gatto. Laura Friedman 3, Ardasshes Kassakhian 0.

Folks this race isn't even close. We'll take the locally supported homegrown gal with her heart in the right place, over a cynical party switcher whose career seems marked so far only by the drive to get ahead. We will be casting our ballot for Laura Friedman.

Sobering Thoughts on Sober Living Facilities

2016-04-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Lately Burbank has wrestled with the issue of sober living facilities which are integrated in the fabric of our community located right next door to regular homes in the middle of residential neighborhoods.

The federal government has essentially mandated that cities have no choice but to allow these group homes into quiet neighborhoods under the principle that addicts and such cannot be treated any differently because they are according to the federal government a suspect class.

Now, under guidelines released this past week by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, turning down tenants based on whether or not they have criminal records could be considered discriminatory and landlords could, as a result, face lawsuits or penalties. This is crazy.

According to the New York Times, "Landlords must [now] distinguish between arrests and convictions … and consider nature and severity of the crime."

Ordering cities to locate rehab centers in the middle of quiet residential neighborhoods, and now lessening the ability to screen residents is pretty crazy.

Since when are businesses permitted in R1 neighborhoods? This is an overreach that runs the risk of turning sleepy charming Burbank streets into profit centers for companies loading up their homes with people with criminal records and addictions.

We are as progressive as any but value the concept of local control and the ability of people to choose through their city governments where they want businesses to locate in communities.

Credible Poll Shows Friedman With A Large Lead In Race To Replace Gatto

2016-03-11T13:03:00.004-08:00

Polling just completed in AD43 by Paul Goodwin, the gold standard for polling, shows that Glendale City Councilmember Laura Friedman is the strong favorite to be elected to the State Assembly in 2016.

In the initial head to head, Laura leads all Democrats with 18%. This shows that the initial gut reaction that people have to her starts way above others. Ardy Kassahkian starts at 6%.

Against Kassahkian, Laura Friedman leads 25% to 5% among Democrats, 17% to 6% among independent voters and 29% to 11% in Glendale (the city where both candidates are elected officials).

Laura also leads all Democrats in Burbank and Los Angeles. She leads among men and women, young and old, Clinton supporters and Sanders supporters. Her lead increases as voters hear more information about all of the candidates.

To be honest, this poll was a surprise. We think with a presidential election turnout and this large head start, Friedman will likely finish first in the primary. What remains is whether it will be a Dem on Dem runoff.

News: Portantino Blog Denies Its A Portantino Blog

2016-02-17T08:55:00.001-08:00

After we discussed below the underhanded tactics of an Anthony Portantino operative posting offensive material online under the guise of a Mike Gatto fansite and how such posts stopped with Gattos exit of the senate race the blog in question has gone out of its way to restart posting.

"You see everyone? We weren't done by Anthony Portantino. We kept posting after being called out for stopping posting."

Its exactly how one would expect them to react if it was a Portantino operation.

The blog in question has now taken to specifically denying that it is Portantino operation. It even went so far as to mock "hit" Portantino too with "hard-hitting" words like:

"if you’re waiting on voters to pay attention to Anthony Unimportantino’s pathetic, party-engineered, unchallenged, cake-walk to the State Senate, you can keep right on waiting."

Get it? They want you to believe that Portantinos run is "supported by the Democratic Party" and is "unchallenged" and is a "cake walk?"

This is the political insult equivalent of a humblebrag and the blog puts the friend in "frenemy." We have no idea why people even without our inside info think that blog is a Portantino operation LOLOLOLOL.

Now we are just some dumb activists but Phlunte Riddle's campaign is very much giving a challenge to Portantino and yes sometimes people wait to come out with what they have until voters are paying more attention.

If you think the dirty website in question is anything other than a Portantino operation, we have some bridges to sell you in Jersey and some RVs to rent to you in a safe part of Mexico. To morrow the posts will get better and better. Promise.

Wethinks Anthony Portantino Doth Protest Too Much

2016-02-14T08:32:00.004-08:00

Since we published our post linking Anthony Portantino to a Mike Gatto hit blog, the same blog has posted not one but two denials. Oh sure they're couched in the occasional fat joke about Portantino, but those are the same jokes that Portantino makes about himself on the stump.

We realize we have not published our conclusive evidence, and we are saving it for the right time, when voters are paying attention and when we can maximize the gross factor for all the disgusting posts Portantino's team has put up on the Internet. There is a pattern of people close to Portantino posting some pretty vile crap.

In the meantime, if you want circumstantial evidence, how about the fact that the operators of that hit blog read this humble blog? LOL

I mean, we are a small political operation blog run by two activists in town. Everyone who comes here is political.

To be honest we are surprised anyone would have known about our post linking Portantino to the blog, unless of course the people publishing it are (a) political operatives or (b) linked to Portantino.

"Dude Anthony, that Burbank Blog connected us to you! What should we do?" "Post a bunch of denials; keep posting for a while; throw in some fat jokes and some bad pictures of me."

You're not fooling anyone, and you continue to disgust us.

Portantino Sends Out Email Complaining About Portantino Website

2015-12-30T21:17:00.000-08:00

You've got to be one sick person to take a play out of the Nazis' playbook. You know, like when they set fire to the German parliament building and then claimed to be the victims, using it as an excuse to seize power.

Local state senate candidate Anthony Portantino sent out a fundraising email today in which he begged for money stating

"and just yesterday there was another internet attack on me, my character and of all things my weight with such vile language that I can’t even repeat it in polite company."

Oh the horror! While one could have a field day with the narcissism of this email, that is not the topic of this post.

You see, when you complain of such an attack you make people curious. So we scoured the Interwebz to locate this alleged attack on Portantino that fit this description in his email -- posted on December 29, made fun of his weight, used filthy language.

Lo and behold only one website in all tarnation fit that description and it's a website run by a Portantino operative.

Anthony Portantino

We're talking about the Mike Gatto is a sweet dude website, which regularly posts vile filth about Assemblymember Gatto adopting the guise and tone of a fanboy site. Get it? The clever folks behind that site think they can fool people by making comments faintly praising of Gatto, while slamming him and using gross language. Such cunning!

This blog has been presented with clear proof that the person behind the Mike Gatto is a sweet dude website is an Anthony Portantino operative. Someone with a very close relationship to him in fact.

You see, when you do stuff on the interwebz, you leave traces.

So Portantino operatives created a website to mock Gatto, but subtly, and because they do it from a mock Gatto fan point of view, they had to occasionally joke about Portantino. But were they ever real hits, like talking about his lack of substance or his poor legislative record? No, they were mostly weight jokes in the midst of filth.

Get it? Portantino created a website to slam Mike with disgusting stuff. Even after Mike bowed out of the race, the website posts more filth, complete with a few comments about Portantino's obvious girth. Portantino then sends out an email trying to raise money, replete with feigned horror at the "Internet hits" on him, which his operative posted!

Those responsible for the Reichstag fire would be proud.

Are you?

Mike Gatto Disappoints, Delights Local Activists

2015-12-07T18:36:00.000-08:00

The local political world is abuzz with the news that our Assemblyman, Mike Gatto, dropped last week like a ton of bricks which is that he is taking a pass on running for Carol Liu's state senate seat in 2016.

The two of us bloggers were angry when we heard the news and we know many people were upset or maybe the right word is disappointed at this decision. We then engaged in a bit of self criticism and realized that we don't "own" any elected official. As easy as it is to feel wronged and upset that he was abandoning the district or whatever, his decision is up to him and ultimately he has to do what is right for his family at this point in his life.

Among other personal reasons, Gatto did say it was for the good of the party as he didn’t want to be part of a campaign that would be destructive to the Democratic Party and the activists within the district. We can appreciate this and value it because we are still suffering the devastating after effects of the Berman-Sherman race, one of the most divisive in the country which the party is no shape to repeat. How many of us locally, whether Reep or Dem, have felt the divisiveness that seems to attach itself to these type of races no matter what? So we can appreciate the fact that, not only does Assemblyman Gatto acknowledge the toll these brouhahaha take on activists and local communities, but he also understands how it could hurt the Democratic party to continue down that path.

2016 is a year where there are big fishes to fry. For example we are hugely concerned that the Supreme Court could be pushed to the right if any of the various Republican candidates for president are elected. We are also hugely concerned that the tone of the national campaign could push whomever are the final two candidates for president so far to the warmongering right and repeating the mistakes of Iraq etc.

What we are trying to say is that many of us will be walking precincts in Nevada and making phone calls into Florida and Ohio. Due to Gatto's selflessness we can focus on the big picture. That being said we are still very disappointed in his decision.

Progress for Burbank Airport Hoped For

2015-10-27T09:22:00.001-07:00

The Burbank Council and other local officials will be flying to DC soon to meet with Congressmembers Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman to finally get a mandatory curfew at our local airport. It is unknown whether they will also talk about how the expansion efforts will inevitably ruin a good thing.

Sources say that after decades of tension and years of back-and-forth between the city and the airport, including setbacks in recent months and incremental negotiations, mostly behind closed doors, officials think they’re closer to an agreement than they’ve ever been.

Burbanker have long sought the curfew, but in 2009, the FAA disapproved the airport’s application for a full nighttime curfew and in 2011 and 2014, Congress voted down proposals for a mandatory curfew. Currently the "voluntary" curfew encourages commercial airlines to not fly between 10 pm and 7 am.

Also being discussed is a change to the agreement governing the Burbank Airport Authority board, which would increase the strength of Burbank’s voting position on certain decisions, such as those affecting the number of gates or size of the replacement terminal. Under the proposed terms, such decisions would require a “supermajority” vote of at least two out of three commissioners from each city, meaning a two-person coalition from Burbank could block such changes.

Remember almost all of these changes would have to go to the voters of our fair city before becoming binding.

In other news, the city was able to finally evict a holdover tenant not paying rent on the airport site, who had a storage business near where Lockheed used to build the famed B-6.

Powerful Piece on the Minimum Wage

2015-09-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

This blog doesn't always agree with Dan Evans at the Glendale News Press but we also pride ourselves in being fair.

His recent essay on the minimum wage and its local effects as seen through the eyes of a local, was powerful stuff and we feel a nice synopsis of why the wage needs to rise. We also believe this is why our fight against the Walmart and other "McJobs" in Burbank was important but that is an aside.

From Evans' essay, a window on just what living on "minimum wage" means:

Jordan Townsend is 27, and has been working on-and-off at a Glendale Starbucks since 2008. Though he graduated from Cal State Northridge last year with a bachelor’s in Music Industry Studies, he hasn’t been able to find work in his chosen field.

As Evans noted, we note that Townsend's mom is director of Glendale Healthy Kids which just means to us that he comes from a family that believes in giving back to the community and is not wealthy.

Townsend, who talks alternately of moving to Oregon or starting a local music festival, shares a place with two roommates in North Hollywood. But not long ago he was couch surfing, and even lived in his car for a month. He has no phone and no Internet save what he can get off free Wi-Fi.

He rarely, if ever, goes grocery shopping. Starbucks allows each employee to take a food item once per shift. He also grabs the food that has expired and is slated to be thrown out.

“It sucks, but I can’t afford to go to the market,” Townsend said, adding he recently found out he makes $40 a month too much to qualify for food stamps.

Now here are the numbers in all their raw glory. We can already here some oldtimers saying to get by, but they need to remember that the prices of everything have gone way up especially housing costs:

Before anything gets taken out, full-time work would amount to $18,720 per year. But Townsend’s employer, like many, limit his hours so they aren’t required to pay him benefits. (Note this shell game was going on long before Obamacare, and for both low-wage workers and professionals. Many journalism companies are themselves guilty of the practice.)

Townsend says he works about 30 hours per week. Since he has nearly six years of experience at Starbucks, he has received a number of raises and now makes $10.40 an hour. Assuming he works 52 weeks per year — remember no benefits means no paid time off — he will bring home $16,224 per year. In actuality, it’s less than this.

Though he pays no income tax, there is Social Security and various other state and federal taxes that knock it down to about $14,770 a year, or about $1,231 a month. And that’s assuming he doesn’t get sick or take any time off.

A wage of $15 an hour (at 30 hours a week) jumps this to $23,400, or $21,154 after taxes. That which seems like a hell of a lot more until you figure out that still only means $1,763 a month for rent, food, transportation and — god forbid — medical expenses. Still, it’s something.

This is affecting settlement in Southern Cal too since people like Townsend cannot live where they have roots.

Interestingly, this princely sum is considerably above the federal poverty line, which is set at $11,770 this year. That means that he does not count as one of the 7% of people in Glendale who hold a college degree but remain below the poverty line.

Actually, since he lives in North Hollywood, he wouldn’t anyway. He can’t live in his hometown. Too expensive.

If you don't live on minimum wage you should thank your lucky stars you don't. If you think this is only an "LA problem" or a "minority problem" you should think again. If you want to read Evans entire piece you can do so here.

The Collective Narcissim in Politics Today

2015-08-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

Collective narcissism (or group narcissism) is a type of narcissism where an individual has an inflated self-love of his or her own ingroup, where an "ingroup" is a group in which an individual is personally involved.^[1] While the classic definition of narcissism focuses on the individual, collective narcissism asserts that one can have a similar excessively high opinion of a group, and that a group can function as a narcissistic entity.^[1] Collective narcissism is related to ethnocentrism; however, ethnocentrism primarily focuses on self-centeredness at an ethnic or cultural level, while collective narcissism is extended to any type of ingroup, beyond just cultures and ethnicities.^[1]^[2] Some theorists believe group-level narcissism to be an extension of individual narcissism, though others believe the two to be independent of each other.

Noting how "people's desire to see their own groups as better than other groups can lead to intergroup bias", Henri Tajfel approached the same phenomena in the seventies and eighties, so as to create "social identity theory, which argues that people's motivation to obtain positive self-esteem from their group memberships is one driving-force behind in-group bias".^[8]

Characteristics

Collective narcissism is characterized by the members of a group holding an inflated view of their ingroup.^[1] It is important to note that collective narcissism can be exhibited by an individual on behalf of a group or by a group as a whole.^[1] Fundamentally, however, collective narcissism always has some tie to the individuals who make up a narcissistic group.^[1] Collectively narcissistic groups require external validation, just as individual narcissists do.^[9] Organizations and groups who exhibit this behavior typically try to protect their identities through rewarding group-building behavior (this is positive reinforcement).^[9] According to Golec de Zavala and colleagues, collective is an alternative form of narcissism, not altogether connected to individual, where most characteristics of individual narcissism apply, but are manipulated to include the word "group" where "self" might be found. Golec de Zavala et al. state some parallels between individual and collective narcissism:

Individual/Collective Narcissism Equivalencies^[1]
Individual	Collective
I wish people would recognize my authority	I wish other people would recognize the authority of my group
I have natural talent for influencing people	My group has all predispositions to influence others
If I ruled the world it would be a much better place	If my group ruled the world it would be a much better place
I am an extraordinary person	My group is extraordinary
I like to be the center of attention	I like when my group is the center of attention
I will never be satisfied until I get what I deserve	I will never be satisfied until my group gets all that it deserves
I insist upon getting the respect that is due to me	I insist upon my group getting the respect that is due to it
I want to amount to something in the eyes of the world	I want my group to amount to something in the eyes of the world
People never give me enough recognition for the things I've done	Not many people seem to understand the full importance of my group

Perhaps the most significant example of this phenomenon would be that of Nazi Germany.^[14] Adolf Hitler's charisma and polarizing speeches satisfied the German people's hunger for a strong leader.^[14] Hitler's speeches were characterized by their emphasis on "strength"—referring to Germany—and "weakness"—referring to the Jewish people.^[15] Some have even described Hitler's speeches as "hypnotic"—even to non-German speakers^[14]—and his rallies as "watching hypnosis on large scale".^[14] Hitler's charisma convinced the German people to believe that they were not weak, and that by destroying the perceived weakness from among them (the Jews), they would be enhancing their own strength—satisfying their ideal-hungry desire for strength, and pleasing their mirror-hungry charismatic leader.^[14]

Intergroup aggression

Collective narcissism has been shown to be a factor in intergroup aggression and bias.^[1] Primary components of collectively narcissistic intergroup relations involve aggression against, and perceived threat from, outgroups with which the narcissistic ingroup has frequent interaction.^[1] Collective narcissism helps to explain unreasonable manifestations of retaliation between groups. A narcissistic group is more sensitive to perceived criticism exhibited by outgroups, and is therefore more likely to retaliate.^[16] Collective narcissism is also related to negativity between groups who share a history of distressing experiences. This intergroup callousness is the result of an unforgiving narcissistic party.^[1] For example, one might consider gang-violence and inter-gang aggression highly collectively narcissistic. Gangs are typically ultra-sensitive to perceived outward negativism.
It is common for narcissistic ingroups to have an unstable high group self-esteem.^[1] Because of this instability, narcissistic groups are especially prone to perceived negativity towards themselves. The members of a narcissistic ingroup are likely to assume threats or negativity towards their ingroup where threats or negativity were not necessarily implied or exhibited.^[1] It is thought that this heightened sensitivity to negative feelings towards the ingroup is a result of underlying doubts about the greatness of the ingroup held by its members.^[14] These perceived threats result in a damaged collective self-esteem, which is associated with increased intergroup aggression.^[17]
Similar to other elements of collective narcissism, intergroup aggression related to collective narcissism draws parallels with its individually narcissistic counterparts. An individual narcissist might react aggressively in the presence of humiliation, irritation, or anything threatening to his self-image.^[18] Likewise, a collective narcissist, or a collectively narcissistic group might react aggressively when the image of the group is in jeopardy, or when the group is collectively humiliated.^[1] On this point, Golec de Zavala et al. argue that collective narcissism—and not individual narcissism—is really responsible for intergroup aggression.^[1] This is to say that while the narcissism of an individual may govern the link between narcissism and interpersonal aggression on the individual level, that analogously, collective narcissism solely governs the link between collective narcissism and intergroup aggression at the group-level.
A study conducted among 6-9 year-olds by Judith Griffiths indicated that ingroups and outgroups among these children functioned relatively identical to other known collectively narcissistic groups in terms of intergroup aggression. The study noted that children generally had a significantly higher opinion of their ingroup than of surrounding outgroups, and that such ingroups indirectly or directly exhibited aggression on surrounding outgroups.^[19]

Ethnocentrism

Main article: Ethnocentrism

Collective narcissism and ethnocentrism are closely related; they can be positively correlated and often shown to be coexistent, but they are independent in that either can exist without the presence of the other.^[2] In a study conducted by PhD Boris Bizumic, some ethnocentrism was shown to be an expression of group-level narcissism.^[2] It was noted, however, that not all manifestations of ethnocentrism are narcissistically based, and conversely, not all cases of group-level narcissism are by any means ethnocentric.^[2]
It is suggested that ethnocentrism, when pertaining to discrimination or aggression based on the self-love of one's group, or in other words, based on exclusion from one's self-perceived superior group is an expression of collective narcissism.^[1] In this sense, it might be said the collective and group narcissism overlap with ethnocentrism depending on given definitions, and the breadth of their acceptance.

In the world

In general, collective narcissism is most strongly manifested in groups that are "self-relevant", like religions, nationality, or ethnicity.^[11] As discussed earlier, phenomena such as national identity (nationality), and Nazi Germany (ethnicity and nationality), are manifestations of collective narcissism among groups that critically define the people who belong to them.
In addition to this, collective narcissism that may already exist among a group is likely to be exacerbated during conflict and aggression.^[1] And in terms of cultural effects, cultures that place an emphasis on the individual are apparently more likely to see manifestations of perceived individual greatness projected onto social ingroups existing within that culture.^[1] Also, and finally, narcissistic groups are not restricted to any one homogenous composition of collective or individually collective or individual narcissists.^[2] A quote from Hitler almost ideally sums the actual nature of collective narcissism as it is realistically manifested, and might be found reminiscent of almost every idea presented here: "My group is better and more important than other groups, but still is not worthy of me".^[2]

Notes from around town

2015-07-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

It's been an exciting couple weeks in local politics and we will provide you a rundown.

"We screwed up." Some local residents are angry that they got dunning letters from BWP about their water usage. Basically some people who watered on the wrong days got letters saying they used too much water and some people who maybe possibly used too much water got letters saying that BWP was watching them. While these letters may have made some feel like the "B" in BWP stood for "Big Brother," we don't think it is that big of a deal just a sign o' the times. This drought sucks and city officials were classy to have apologized so profusely for perhaps overwarning our neighbors.

"Aryan, or Armenian, Supremacists?" Supporters for for Assembly candidate Ardashes Kassakhian and Senate candidate Anthony Portantino showed up en masse to prevail in the local Dem party delegate election redux which the party ordered after finding massive fraud by their supporters the first time. The two prevailed this time only after whipping up an ethnic furor with "my race first" tactics that have no place in our swirling melting pot of a community. Articles like this one called "By Any Means Necessary" are emblematic of the "us first always" rhetoric. We know we speak for most when we say that bad taste in our mouths appears to be 1950s cornbread from the deep south. What gives this white, privileged group the right to be so radically ethnocentric?

"I'm not moving, I love this house." Burbankians near Cornell Drive are still reeling at the details of a scary home invasion robbery emerge. The perpetrators tied up the elderly resident who has lived in our hood for years and showed remarkable resilience. These guys seemed to mess with the wrong person and she reminds us of many tough old birds we know and love in our home burgh. Good for her and good for our police for catching the suspects.

Local Couple Played Big Role in Historic Supreme Court Decisions

2015-06-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Two of the plaintiffs in the landmark case that struck down Prop 8 (California’s voter-approved same-sex marriage ban) live in Burbank: Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo. They were the first couple to be married in Los Angeles after same-sex marriages were allowed to begin again following the 2013 ruling.

The two have always been grateful and humble to have played a part in the long fight, which was not an overnight victory.

Friday's decision means couples like them will now be treated as equal citizens throughout the country, providing important federal protections for spouses in same-sex marriages. The decision defined the issue as a pursuit of “equal dignity” under the law.

That was the root of it really: equal dignity.

It's never easy being the face of a movement especially if the movement involves prolonged public court battles. We are proud of the work our local Burbank activists do in the judicial realm, whether on the marriage cases or on fighting against low wage employers here in town.

Press Release "from Anthony Portantino"

2015-05-30T22:07:00.000-07:00

We love user submissions. Here is one from a Burbank resident involved in the entertainment world.

Keep 'em coming!

May 30, 2015 CONTACT: Friends of Portantino

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Anthony Portantino Campaign Finishes

Its 1554th Consecutive Day of Campaigning

Only 523 Left until Election Day!

“I am kind of dreading the specter of having a job.”

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE--Former Assemblymember Anthony Portantino celebrated his 1554th consecutive day of campaigning for his next public office. Mr. Portantino shared today's milestone with family, friends and supporters to remind them that election day is less than 600 days away.

The Portantino campaign also revealed that it had sixty(!) whole endorsements from fellow politicians, an incredible rate of one politician every 25 days.

“At this pace, we expect to be able to reveal at least another 21.2 endorsements from politicians by Election Day,” Portantino's campaign manager stated. “Even though we came under fire for that made up endorsements web page earlier this year, this time these are real politicians, we promise.”

Always the ambitious campaigner and never short of praise for himself, Mr. Portantino took the opportunity to share his deep gratitude that he is so wealthy that he doesn't have to work. Portantino's ballot designation previously called himself a “filmmaker,” even though exhaustive IMDB records show that this, too, was essentially bullshit. “I'm basically a full-time campaigner por vida!” he stated.

As one of his supporters, a blogger and local ethnic activist noted, “Being without a job for the last two and a half years has allowed Portantino the chance to spin his odometer on the 210 freeway to remind folks that he is going to be on the ballot in at some point in the future some time.”

Portantino declared for Congress in California's 26th District (against David Dreier) on February 28, 2011. In August of 2011, Portantino declared for Congress in California's 32nd District. Then, briefly, he campaigned against Judy Chu in the 27^th District. Then, in December of 2011, he declared for the State Senate in the 21^st District, and then the 25th District.

“When voters ask what the burning issues are that mean the most to them, 'perpetual campaigning' is surely atop that list,” Portantino stated.

This one thousand five hundred and fifty four days of campaigning has enabled Portantino to boast a solid showing in the polls, where he is showing just a scoche beneath Phlunte' Riddle, who has been campaigning for about a month.

However, according to a Portantino aide, gladhanding is what Portantino was made for, and no matter what the outcome, his campaign saga, which is now approaching Icelandic proportions, has enabled Portantino to self-actualize, in a Stewart Saves His Family kind of way. “After spending the last four years years campaigning for this or that and asking people for cash, I think Tony has finally found himself,” the aide commented.

One political operative stated, “Even us grizzled veterans are shocked of the fact that an unemployed former Assemblymember began campaigning and fundraising over two years before Hillary Clinton had even announced her run for President. This level of commitment to campaigning is impressive. I have never seen it done before on a state, national, or local level.”

A La Canada Flintridge supporter and neighbor who did not wish to give her name stated, “Even if Big Anthony doesn’t win, I am proud to be a part of the record books for the longest campaign in American history.”

###

Democratic Party Unanimously Refuses to Seat Kassakhian/Portantino Slate Due to Voter Fraud

2015-05-17T14:01:00.003-07:00

The Democratic Party met for its annual confab this weekend in Anaheim. We delegates were treated to the first conflicts of the Senate race between Kamala Harris and Loretta Sanchez. Plenty of tension and conflict were evident.

One place where there didn't end up being much conflict was the 43rd AD ADEMS. A second committee of the California State Democratic party unanimously overturned the results procured by the joint Ardy Kassakhian/Anthony Portantino slate, after finding widespread voter fraud.

Like street based purveyors of a confidence game, the fraudsters threw every head fake in the book at the system, and the system rejected every one. (Well except perhaps Dan Evans and the Glendale News Press, who apparently got hoodwinked).

The people reviewing the evidence were largely men and women from up and down California who don't know any of the local factions and who didn't want to find that voter fraud occurred. It's a black eye on the party and the revote will be a major pain the patootie. Guess the evidence spoke for itself.

The consensus was that the joint Kassakhian Portantino slate behaved like fugazi dealers on the streets of Bangkok. Don't like the overwhelming evidence you brought circa 200 fraudulent voters to the caucus? Focus on one credential with alleged ties to the other side (which could have easily been faked). Think things are going to go south? Try to employ bullying tactics from the few friends you have left. Are your distractions failing and logic prevailing? Cry "racism" -- neverminding that the candidates, the fraudsters, and the fraudulent voters were pretty much all caucasian.

The Kassakhian Portantino lost a lot of friends in the process and came across looking weak and stupid and losing credibility. That was the local buzz at the convention. In the end it wasn't close -- the dozens of people who reviewed the evidence and the hundreds who watched the spectacle voted unanimously.