Burbank

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Freaky weather in the Southland

The weather turned very freaky today. Those overcast skies this morning did not give way to sunshine as was the case during the past few days. Instead wacky thunderstorms rolled through parts of Southern California this afternoon bringing lightning, thunder, rain, and even some hail in places like the coastal community of Venice. Two women were reportedly injured by lightning; one victim died […]
Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Debate and controversy at Burbank City Council meeting

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Hall That discrimination lawsuit filed by five members of the Burbank PD last Thursday, popped up several times at the Burbank City Council meeting last night. First, it was on the written agenda as having been discussed with legal counsel earlier in the afternoon during the council’s closed session. Also seven, yes that’s right,  potential cases against the […]
Monday, June 1, 2009

Both sides in that Burbank Police lawsuit speak out today

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters A controversial lawsuit filed by a Burbank police Lieutenant and four officers last Thursday is the talk of the town. In fact, the story is still getting a lot of exposure across the Internet and in the media. Today, the lead lawyer, whose firm filed the lawsuit, reiterated the allegations of widespread discrimination, […]
Saturday, May 30, 2009

Explosive allegations against the Burbank Police Department surface in a lawsuit

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank police vehicle Like a ticking time bomb, folks in the know have been waiting for an explosion of bad news and legal trouble to hit the city of Burbank. It happened on Thursday, May 28, but the bomb, in the form of a lawsuit, came from a surprising source — several members of the city’s […]
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

California Supreme Court rules on anti-gay marriage Proposition 8

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank The battle over same-sex marriage has been long and contentious in California. Today the state supreme court ruled the ban on gay marriage, Proposition 8, is constitutional, but that doesn’t appear to settle the debate. That’s because the high court’s ruling allows 18,000 gay marriages, that occurred before the proposition was approved by the voters, to stand. It’s […]
Saturday, May 23, 2009

Mixed blessings on this Memorial Day holiday weekend

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank The economy is still struggling. Job layoffs by the thousands continue. Gasoline prices at the pumps are up. On Thursday, May 21, I paid $2.60 a gallon at a gas station in Burbank. A month ago at the same station, I paid $2.30 a gallon.  And food prices are still outrageously high; why is that […]
Friday, May 22, 2009

More controversy in Burbank

  Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Council  (from left to right) Dr. David Gordon, Dave Golonski, Anja Reinke, Jess Talamantes and seated, council member/Mayor Gary Bric Suspicions are growing that something troubling is brewing behind the scenes in Burbank that involves the police department and legal matters. Officials are trying to keep it hush-hush, but all that has done is fuel […]
Wednesday, May 20, 2009

California voters turn thumbs down on five budget propositions

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Polling Place/Joaquin Miller Elementary School California voters didn’t just reject five of the propositions championed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other legislators as fixes for the financially-strapped state budget, they slammed them to the mat in yesterday’s special election. Propositions 1A through 1E were soundly defeated by huge margins. STATEWIDE RESULTS Proposition 1A  “Rainy Day” Budget […]
Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Burbank police facing allegations of misconduct and other problems

Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr  Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove A cloud of uncertainty is hanging over the city of Burbank, the “Media Capital of the World.” The uncertainty is not linked to the prominent entertainment industry in town nor is it fallout from the sluggish economy. No, it’s the city’s police department, which is the focus of this negative energy. For weeks now the rumors […]