We’re having a hard time deciding between the two, obviously. While the well-qualified Bob Frutos is the clear choice to replace Anja Reinke, we don’t know enough about Jackie Waltman to even begin to craft an opinion.
She’s on the Landlord-Tenant Commission, and they’ve been trying to do some good work these days, so that’s a plus. The LTC is not longer the bastion of those suspiciously helpful landlord representatives who used to eagerly take up tenant cases for investigation just so they could bury them. They’ve even lately been talking about (now sit down for this) the idea of some kind of rent control provisions or protections. In Burbank of all places.
They said it, we didn’t. So Chamber of Commerce people, you can put down those subpoenas. Don’t panic just yet.
The idea of Frutos being an LA cop intrigues us. There’s no better person to get in there and ask the right kind of questions of the BPD, and the thought of staff having to generate a whole new set of excuses and rationalizations (or lies) is very appealing.
Now about Gary Bric. One of the things we like about him is that he actually listens to Dr. Gordon and makes an effort to get on his wavelength. At times he even votes with him against the other three. We’re also happy to see him get in there now and fight for the 183 bus line.
He’s a known quantity, too, and his responsiveness to local concerns is near-legendary. There probably hasn’t been anyone other than Bob Kramer who’s made such a straight-ahead effort to always follow through on citizen feedback. Bric is accessible as hell and that’s important. We don’t really know anyone who dislikes him, either, at least not actively. You always know where he stands.
But we wish we knew more about Waltman at this point. Didn’t she used to speak at oral communications at one time? She looks familiar.
So which is it, Bric or Waltman? It’s too bad that we can’t swap them right now for those two others. Just a couple of more years though….
I definitely have a check for Waltman. It’s now Frutos or Bric. I’m still mulling the whole thing over. My thinking right now is that Waltman will need on the job training and perhaps it’s not good to have two people needing on the job training. On the other hand, maybe that’s what we need. Also, it’s going to be important to consider who the new City Attorney will be and how that will play out with the Council. Semi do you own a copy of the Oxford English Dictionary? If so, what edition?
Well I think the experience and expert stuff has not served us well.I look at all the lawsuits and the condition of our streets today and can’t help but feel that our city is in decline. To me we need average citizens who understand average life and what’s important to us. I think Gary Bric has done nothing on the council but follow Barlow’s every word while our city declined. Gary may be accessable. but does he listen or understand what he hears or sees? I am shocked that after four years I don”t think he does. I like Frutos because he is a guy who understands that we are in very bad economic times and can’t just do things the same as we did during good economic times. I think he gets it that needs change and the city has to respond to those changes. Gary on the other hand sits there and defends utility bill increases and attorney bills and yes even bonuses. Gary doesn’t get that times have changed, so for me the choice is clear, I am voting for Frutos. With Gabel she seems to be out of touch and aloof.
I talked to Waltman she gets it about the lack of balls on the Council, she’s a regular Burbank resident, lived here since 1964. She watches Council meetings and the giveaways to developers would stop she’d question raises and rate hikes. She worked for the public sector and didn’t get the silver spoon deals that seem to be the norm in Burbank. She was the first one to declare she would try to end bonuses. She’s anti airport expansion, Bric who knows she wants to release as much as possible of the investigation reports to the public, Bric wants advice from Dennis. Her work background seems to me to be the kind of experience lacking on the Council. Bric had his turn, he has never lead anything even when he gets involved David’s Vending or Muldoon’s film permit, and his gut tells him the City is wrong but he never takes a stand for his belief and votes with the majority, or votes for staff recommendations. I think 2 new bodies are what’s needed on the Council, and as far as on the job learning, look how bad Gary runs a meeting. He still needs a script and prodding from Dave to get it right. Luddy’s the same, so what she knows how to get to City Hall already?
Don’t get me wrong I think Gary is a decent person, he got his chance and failed to deliver in my book.
Semi, Honestly what has Councilman Bric done during his 4 years on the council ? I had hopes when I voted for him but honestly I have been very disappointed in the way he just does whatever he is told by the city workers sitting there. I got his flyer in the mail and it says he is for transparency ? Since when has he been for that? It says he is creating jobs ? Where and when has he done that ? The whole thing describes someone other that Gary Bric so what hope is there if we vote for him at all?
Marsha Ramos told me to vote for anyone but Bric. I am following that advice and after I read about Gable Luddy here I threw her sign out. She has a bad attendance problem from what I read.
Don’t know what is up with Marsha endorsing Luddy she if anybody needs someone to clear her name. I don’t think Luddy will even want to get involved in the Police matter Waltman and Futos on the other hand I’ll bet can’t wait to see what’s really going on. They’ll most likely vote to protect the tax payers interest in closed session question the lawyer bills and really bring more transparency. With Luddy it would be all about ECO and development with and ECO = tax payer $$$$ and save Dave’s ass at any expense she’ll owe him big time..
Maybe test questions for all FOUR would help semi?
Here goes:
Questions for all Four Candidates—–
Do you support the efforts of “outside lawyers” to spend $Taxpayer Money$ to subpoena & depose folks such as Mr. Cap about posting videotaped depositions on Youtube?
If depositions are “public” according to the barlow, why would the City Paid lawyers be interested in “how” the “public” reviews them?
Do you believe, if you were on the City Council, that YOU could ASK why the City Attorneys Office is using Court Orders to “hunt down” citizens—but haven’t deposed Command Staff about the Burglaries at Police Headquarters?
Good Luck with your dilemna!!
Call Jackie directly: (818) 970-8263
Bob Frutos By Phone: (818) 823-6541
Call Bric at the Ramp (818) 768-6499
Could not find a site for Luddy.
Masked can you stoop any lower of a person than you are? I have gone through all the candidates flyers that have been presented. I don’t remember seeing Councilman Bric’s restaurant phone number being posted on his flyer. I just verified this.
So if you had all these questions, why would you have people call Mr. Bric’s place of business? Was this a trick to try and disrupt his business? Why don’t you post the correct phone number. You are playing dirty. Its cheap and low. You are just as much a slimeball as the people at City Hall.
Yes, what dirty tricksters these city critics are. Posting an already-available phone number !!
The villains. How far will they stoop now? How low can they go?
Someone, please notify Councilman Golonski quick ! – or maybe one of his tenants…
Bad Boy, Masked!!
You had the “nerve” to offer a way for folks to actually call an Elected Official at WORK–not at home.
What a simple mistake you made.
The Ramp doesn’t have an extension in the Parking Lot.
I went online looked for all 4 candidates. Only Waltman and Frutos had a web presence Luddy under construction and Bric only came up as the Ramp.
Gabel-Luddy only wants to hear from the staff and Dave Golonski to tell her how to vote. I watched her on the planning board and she never wanted to hear from the public — who needs the public when you believe you know everything because you have been a professional planner for 30 years and know all about how to do everything in LA.
Did Warner Brothers REALLY endorse Luddy?
When was the last time that Corporation gave endorsements in ANY City Council Election?
Word has it that it never happened,and…..Luddy has no document that indicates such endorsement?!?
Yes, Dixie, it is on the only mailer we got from her. I still have it, it is a large card, second column right under the her husband’s organization, Southwest Regional Carpenters Council of California, Sierra Club, Warner Bros. Studios, Greg Jackson, Carolyn Jackson, Paul Dyson, Jack O’Neill, Linda Barnes (that is the second column).
I have never known any studio to endorse a candidate but they are listed on her mailer. Makes you wonder whether they want to start selling off property with huge development entitlements like NBC has done.
I had to go look for that flyer and you are right Warner Brothers Studio endorsed her. I wonder why they would do that.
Because they can now. The Citizens United case and all that. This is just the start, too.
The complaint about Citizens has only focused on the problem of corporate interference in national politics. But there’s nothing to stop them from getting involved in any race, at any level.
But did they-IN FACT-endorse her?
Answer: NO.
The corporations in Burbank have been interfering in elections and major decisions in Burbank for as long as I can remember. They used to have employees contribute instead of making so many corporate donations. They also provided political consultants so I’m guessing they are doing that for Gabel-Luddy and Bric in this election. There are also outside packs that do mailers when they receive big money from donors. There is nothing small town about Burbank. It is dominated big business and big bucks. If the voters will finally wake up and vote in large numbers it is possible to change how things have been working.
http://gabel-luddyforburbankcitycouncil.com/
BDC,
Thanks for providing Gabel-Luddy’s website, I had not seen it before. However, while her site says “supporter” for Warner Bros., the card that was mailed to voters lists them under a heading of “Endorsements”. I guess this means they will be providing hair, makeup, wardrobe and other things as they have done in the past for other council people.
Would BDC care to s-p-e-l-l out what their initials stand for–without using any H2O?
We ALL want the electorate to be better informed?
That is a good point. The city spends a lot of time and money to investigate who put a video on you tube, but no effort to figure out who broke into two separate offices in the police station at different times. Most of the property (including evidence in the police mess) was never recovered.
Whoops, my bad. They know who did it and he still is a police supervisor, who got a pass on the illegal immigrant smackdown. I wonder what secrets that guy has. Is it that his wife works in the city attorneys office or that he is good friends with Kristen Pelletier (now an assistant city attorney herself)? Maybe Bric can tell us.
Hey Masked
I agree on that. Gabel Luddy cares only about forcing everyone to buy green junk from China. She fails to understand many residents can’t afford her mandates to be like her and do what she thinks is best for them. She is really, really out of touch with the general public and the current economy in my book.
Ramos has made many bad judgement calls that she later regreats. The las female she promoted was Reinke and look at the disaster that has been. Emily is just one more Ramos lapse in judgement.
Bric should show how he is into transparency and call for the release of who got bonuses and how much they got. Who is Mr Cap and why is the city molesting him ? Why are they always harassing residents and why doesn’t Bric call for an end of it ?
Good to see other voices in here on a great topic. Masked, I appreciate your assessment.
I see it this way. There has really been no sign of leadership at all from Bric. He sits and waits for everyone else to speak and then shows no sign of any original thought. I want change and both Frutos and Waltman seem to have new and original ideas while Luddy echoes she is on planning board for a decade but in that decade traffic became far worse especially in residential neighborhoods so where was her leadership or care in making that happen. Luddy is like Bric in my mind no care and just plain lazy.
I want change and a change in direction this election. Watching the forum I think Frutos and Waltman will bring change. Our city is stagnated with Brick and spinning its wheels.
Experience has gotten us into this economic mess in the first place I am ready for fresh new ideas and that is certainly not Gary Bric. I agree it’s time to stop bonuses and I am real suspicious why this council wants to hide who got a bonus.
BTW, nothing in the “follower” about the lawsuit or the Burbank Election in Wednesday’s Edition.
Not even ONE story from their City Hall Reporter, and no Forum Page in my copy.
Maybe a few of the home burglaries and a hold-up at gun point were left out,also.
Another Edition of the “follower” out this morn.
NO Election coverage, HUGE puff piece on the Big “Cus” family–front page by the City Hall reporter.
Even an Editorial–great P.R.
What happened to our Election?
Isn’t that considered “Local News”, anymore?
I’ve got it!!! Local ADVERTISING, my bad.
Check out the Sunday Edition—–
NO Election in Burbank!!!
More pablum from ” Craig’s list” of confused topics. Interesting claims about the use of the term nepotism.
Even Craig wants disclosure, although he feels there is no need for concern!?!
Personally I feel that Gabel-Luddy lacks substance. I really liked what Waltman said on her candidate talk and Bric was reading from a paper like he didn’t even understand the words he was reading. Frutos is my favorite he is a smart guy and honest. I am looking for honesty on the council and really tired of the no questions asked let’s just follow staff and go home attitude we have now. I could not be more disappointed than I am in both Bric and Reinke at this point.
We now face economic times like no one who is alive now has ever dealt with. That’s why there are no experts so what we need is good old fashioned common sense. Incumbants are way to stuck in their ways so it is time for change.
“Holy split personality Batman!!!”
Does that mean Batman has the list of who got what bonus? Seriously the times are bad and we must make carefull choices this election. It’s not a time to continue the failed programs and spending of the past, if we keep on the same road the end is near I suspect. I am very concerned how much money we spend on lawyers. Do we really believe our city never makes a mistake? Council people should take responsibility when things go wrong and work to fix the problems. I just don’t see them doing that right now.
Didn’t we hear the barlow claiming they needed some “time” to collect the financial information on our ‘Legal Costs” for THE MESS?
What kind of “cost accounting” does the City Attorney utilize?
How much “time” has Juli Scott taken to produce documents from “files” ordered by the Court or routinely provided by most attorneys during the course of litigation?
Did dennis learn from juli?
Mr. Californian,
BATMAN does not have the list. BATMAN is also NOT Charlie Lombardo. My allies and friends who post here are also NOT Golonski or Loutenstock. I am not a City Defender. I am a citizen who demands that the facts be presented in a right manner. Many of your followers do NOT have all the facts to their stories. Present the proper facts and there will NOT be an issue. This is a fact, Waltman, Frutos, and Gordon are all aligned together. Just like my friend from Dragnet said, “Just the facts”
Dadadadadadadada BATMAN
Thanks batman,
You’re RIGHT about the facts.
Please encourage your friends at City Hall to share with all of us—the facts.
From the beginning that has been the focus of many commenters on this Blog.
Welcome aboard.
You may save all of us lots of $Money!!!
Batman’s full of crap. He might as well be a city defender.
There is no alliance between anyone– except maybe Golonski and Gabel-Luddy. Those are the “facts.”
So nice try, guys–
Batman, you’re mixing your metaphors, I mean, your prime tv series. If they can’t come up with a tally of how much they’ve spent on attorney’s fees for recent litigation in a timely fashion, well, maybe it’s time to light up the Bat Signal.
Good thing semi has endorsed Frutos, we can all breathe a sigh of cause now he is certain to lose. Anyone who knows anything about LAPD would certainly not want that model brought over here to the city of Burbank. If the citizens of this city are happy with two hour response times I suggest you keep supporting the new chief and guys like Frutos.
Trying to tie “tin cans” by the BPOA won’t work anymore.
Apparently, the “old guard” of the BPOA Board is feeling “LEFT out” these days (and nights).
Did the “current” BPOA Board members that conducted Candidate Interviews ASK Bob Frutos about “response times” as part of their process?
Did they ask ANY of the others about the subject?
Next, we’ll start hearing about an “L.A.Mafia” !!!
More Fun in Burbank Politics!!!
Remember when the Firefighters Union failed to endorse Jess “Right Dave” when he ran for City Council?
Word is that the BPOA (don’t know if it was the OLD or NEW Board) has endorsed Gary Bric.
Are they endorsing “anyone else”?
If so, when?
After the Primary, maybe?
Call the “Ramp” or stop by;
ask Gary about the “contract”!!
HE DELIVERS…………Takeout!!!!
Chad You are onto something here. Why would how much they spend on lawsuits or even bonuses be a big secret ? I wish we would get the facts from the city on many things instead of the attitude that everything is a matter of national security. Things just don’t smell right at city hall and councilmembers who say they don’t know anything and don’t even want to know anything is not very comforting at all.
Bric has had 4 years to do something — anything — instead he has done nothing! except vote for whatever staff tells him to do. He promised to do something about traffic but it is just as bad as ever, even worse, yet there have been huge layoffs in Burbank and businesses going out, and the Airport has been crying the blues because they don’t have as many passengers. With all this, traffic still backs up on Hollywood Way everyday all the way to Clark from Magnolia.
The only thing Bric has contributed to is the rudeness of drivers who run lights constantly or cut you off because they are wanting to move up the line of cars ahead of you.
We need more traffic officers to enforce the speed limit and signal violations. The signals need to be timed so you don’t have to stop at every light. This must have been too much for Bric to get done.
Gabel-Luddy has done nothing to improve traffic or protect neighborhoods in her 10 years on the planning board. All she has done is to vote for every project staff supports including the Cusumano give away with no parking. The only time she opposed a project was Whole Foods that was in her own neighborhood.
Bric and Luddy have had a chance to do something and have done nothing. Did anyone find a list of accomplishments by either?
Jackie Waltman is a very capable woman who knows how government works and is not afraid to make changes. I believe Frutos will bring needed expertise to help implement the changes needed in the Burbank Police Department. There is no question these are the better candidates so just vote for them and pass the word.
Have you been to any Police Commission meetings? From what i have heard, Frutos is so far up Chief Lachase’s butt he can’t control himself. Another question, what makes him so special to implement changes at the police department? just because he worked at LAPD?
I have spoken to many officers who are not real happy with the direction of the department. I have been told that schedules have changed. There are less officers on the streets and it is taking officers longer to respond to residents who call the police. Is Burbank Police become a LAPD?
Maybe you received your information from some sort of “intelligent officer”, maybe not.
Commissioner ES-N raised the concern about scheduling back on Tim’s watch, according to the minutes-as a result of complaints from Officers while she was on a ride-along.
It came-up again at the first meeting of the Commission after LaChasse’s appointment.
Any concerns from BPD personnel can easily be addressed by the “new and improved”BPOA Board of Directors.
Your description of Frutos’s relationship with the Chief sounds anatomically impossible, but the generally accepted description of “Bric and his asshole buddies” seems to “fit” quite nicely.
Gary Bric is broken. Time for him to watch the council meetings from his bar.