Saturday, April 23, 2011

Update on the Burbank election recount drama

What went down in the basement of Burbank City Hall on the night of  the Municipal General Election, Tuesday, April 12, 2011? Inquiring minds want to know. The recount request for the City Council race in that election has B-town buzzing and even folks in Sacramento talking, Oh, City Hall officials are  apparently worried about something and are trying to sink the recount at […]
Thursday, April 21, 2011

More on the recount of the Burbank City Council run-off

The parties behind the recount of one of the tightest races in Burbank election history — had to jump through a number of hoops tossed up by City Hall officials — not all of them legal. Burbank resident George Marciniw and Judy Alter of  Protect California Ballots, an election watchdog group, were first told by Burbank officials that all of the fee for the […]
Wednesday, April 20, 2011

News Alert: Recount in Burbank City Council race

Hold on!  The 2011 Burbank General Election is not quite a done deal just yet. Today a statewide election watchdog organization, Protect California Ballots , joined with Burbank resident, George Marciniw, in sending a letter to Burbank City Clerk, Margarita Campos, requesting a recount in that oh-so close city council run-off between City Planning Board Member, Emily Gabel-Luddy, and Police Commissioner, Bob […]
Monday, April 18, 2011

The tax deadline and President Obama’s 2010 tax returns

The midnight deadline to file 2010 tax returns is fast approaching. Usually, the deadline for filing federal tax returns is April 15, however, this year we got a three -day-grace period. The reason: Emancipation Day fell on a Saturday, but was celebrated as a legal holiday on April 15 in Washington, D.C. Emancipation Day commemorates the day, April 16, 1862, when […]
Saturday, April 16, 2011

Burbank Campaign News: City Council candidate Bob Frutos concedes

This afternoon Media City Groove was sent this press release about the city council race by the Bob Frutos campaign: BOB FRUTOS CONCEDES BURBANK CITY COUNCIL SEAT TO EMILY GABEL-LUDDY Bob Frutos, Chair of the Burbank Police Commission, entered the race for Burbank City Council to participate in his civic duty as a contributor to the betterment of the City and its residents.  After […]
Friday, April 15, 2011

Final tally for the 2011 Burbank General Election

 Burbank city officials sent out a news release this afternoon with the final numbers for the Tuesday April 12 General Election. The numbers changed from those announced earlier, but the winners did not. Emily Gabel-Luddy won the open seat on the city council and voters passed Measure U — the Modernize Utility Users Tax Ordinance by an overwhelming majority. Here are the final […]
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Burbank General Election winners: Measure U by a wide margin and Gabel-Luddy by less than 100 votes

Burbank’s General Election 2011 is history, but it will be talked about for some time. I joined a small group of election watchers in the lobby of City Hall last night, to wait for the returns to come in. It was a long wait! The deadline for turning in those controversial mail-in ballots was 7 p.m. Despite this early deadline the first return numbers were […]
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Election Day in Burbank!

  If you haven’t mailed your General Election ballot — don’t. Postmarks don’t count. You must deliver your ballot to City Hall or one of the designated drop-off centers by 7 p.m. this evening.  It’s important. Vote! Drop-off Centers: Buena Vista Branch Library 300 — North Buena Vista Street  7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Joslyn Center 1301 — West Olive Avneue  7 a.m. to 7 […]
Monday, April 11, 2011

City Buzz: Dirty politics in Burbank and the Leader’s attack on Bob Frutos

  I have covered numerous campaigns and elections during my many years working  in television news and now as a freelance journalist/blogger. A last minute attack on a candidate is not unusual, especially if the contender is the front runner or has recently gained some serious ground.  Nevertheless, I was surprised to see the Burbank Leader  fire a full-blown assault at City Council candidate Bob Frutos with less than a week […]
Saturday, April 9, 2011

A government shutdown is averted by 11th hour deal

After weeks of haggling and last minute wheeling-and-dealing, the powerful Democratic and Republican leaders in Washington , D.C. have reached a historic agreement. It happened last night, shortly before the government would have had to shut down for lack of a budget. The deal include a one-week funding extension, which quickly passed the Senate and the House. President Obama is expected to sign it today.The […]
Friday, April 8, 2011

Dodgers: New security measures for games and a fundraiser for beating victim

Los Angeles Dodgers owner, Frank McCourt, joined Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Los Angeles Police Chief, Charlie Beck, at a news conference today to unveil a new hard-line policy against disruptive fans. Mayor Villaraigosa said,” violence will not be tolerated” and that “public safety is number one.” Police Chief Beck praised the Dodger organization eagerness to embrace all of a series of […]
Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Burbank campaign news: One week to the General Election

UPDATED: Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 — As of today four thousand ballots have been received at City Hall, according to Burbank City Clerk, Margarita Campos. The Burbank General Election is just around the corner — on Tuesday, April 12. In the primary a few weeks ago, I dropped my ballot off at City Hall on Election Day. This time, I […]