Burbank Mayor Anja Reinke’s daughter drama
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Burbank Mayor Anja Reinke at a city council meeting last May.
The Burbank City Council is dark tomorrow. That should give Council Member/Mayor, Anja Reinke, some extra time to deal with a personal matter that has serious public ramifications. Last Thursday, the popular Semichorus blog was the first to nail down some details on the DUI arrest of Mayor Reinke’s daughter, Ericka Reinke, who happens to be a Burbank City employee.
Here’s what two sources reportedly confirmed for Semichorus.
2:15AM on Sept 1, 2010
Ericka Augusta Reinke
arrested for DUI by the LAPD NorthEast Division.
Placed in Van Nuys Jail
booking # 2461650
$5,000 Bail
Released to Mayor Reinke at 2:00PM
Some reports say that when arrested Ericka Reinke tossed out her mother’s name and position as mayor of Burbank, apparently in hopes of getting some kind of preferential treatment.
You know, Daughter Reinke may have had a shot at getting special handling if her misfortune had happened in Burbank. If she’d been busted here, I suspect proponents of the city hall status quo would have made sure that police arrest report disappeared or at least got sealed up in some kind of legal mumbo jumbo that would prevent the case from ever going to court.
Sadly, DUI arrests happen all the time.This arrest is news in Burbank for a number of reasons. First, many have pointed to Ericka Reinke’s hiring and quick promotion as a prime example of the brazen and rampant nepotism in Burbank city government. Yesterday a Burbank employee, who doesn’t want to be identified, told me that in her department the workers in their 20s and 30s are the hardest hit by this culture of favoritism. She says these employees are qualified and skilled, but see themselves as being passed over in career advancements by marginal candidates with connections.
We should keep in mind that at this point, Daughter Reinke has not been convicted of a crime. However, her duties reportedly involved investigating other Burbank City employees with personal problems or issues of concern. If that is the case, Reinke should be removed from handling those investigations immediately.
As Burbank City Attorney, Dennis Barlow, is known to say there is “the potential for litigation” — especially if some of the employees Reinke is or has investigated, would challenge her fitness to conduct those investigations.
Yeah, I know, there is a chance Daughter Reinke could beat the DUI rap or the case could be thrown out for whatever reason. No matter, in the best interest of the city, Daughter Reinke should step down from her Burbank position. If she’s as bright as supporters claim she is, finding a new job without the influence or the appearance of influence from her mother, should be a breeze.
Those Dog Days of Summer
Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Burbank dog, “Jack,” enjoys a walk in the Burbank sunshine, except when it’s a hot summer day.
“Jack”, a five-year-old lovable mutt, is a member of the Settlemoir family. Jim Settlemoir tells me “Jack” was a pound puppy the family discovered at the Burbank Animal Shelter.
I’ve know the Settlemoirs for years, but only met “Jack” on a sunny day last May at the Burbank Fire Service Day event.
Like a lot of canines, “Jack” gets a kick out going outside for a walk. However when it’s a hot summer day, I’m told, “Jack” seeks out the coolest part of the Settlemoir Burbank home to hang out. Smart dog.
Burbank could get some more upper 90s and 100 degree days through September and even in October. So staying cool is still a concern for pets as well as people.
