December 3, 2007

 

Preparing for “Burbank: Confidential,” I’ve taken it upon myself to read every local column and article I’ve written in the last 17 years, a total number just a shade over 2,200.  In most cases, I also ended up reading the newspapers around those columns, and the notes and files related to them.  This is something of an explanation for my silence at WillRogersHome.com for the last several weeks.

 

Aside from having developed a deep and sincere sympathy for those who forced themselves to read several of my columns that I found virtually unreadable, I’ve been astounded to realize how many scandals, outrages and local governmental atrocities I’d forgotten.  In many cases, while I remembered the overarching controversies and debates, details that once had steam coming out of my ears had quietly faded away.

 

For example, in 1990 the city was supposedly assessing the potential negative impacts on the residential neighbors of a proposed office building project, a project already clearly favored by the city staff and a city council majority.  As part of that process, the city hired consultants to pass judgment on the developer’s plans for reducing the project’s impacts on area traffic and parking.

 

The developer’s plan was created by a firm called Crain & Associates.  To analyze that study and identify any weaknesses or unrealistic forecasts the city hired… wait for it… Crain & Associates.

 

I’d forgotten that Burbank council members used to be given free memberships to the Lakeside Country Club in Toluca Lake, a perk many of them happily lapped up.

 

I’d forgotten that Larry Zarian, then Mayor of Glendale, bitterly opposed shifting his city’s council meetings from their traditional start time of 2pm by arguing, “Anyone who has serious business before the council will find a way to attend.”  He also ridiculed the idea of televising meetings, which he said was an idea opposed by “everybody” he had ever spoken to.  I’d also forgotten Zarian was simultaneously conducting monthly “forums” in City Hall, events wherein Zarian made himself available to those who wanted to ask questions – absent other council members, or activists, or staff who might contradict his claims.  He said he scheduled those for 7pm because, “That’s when most citizens can come.”

 

I suppose I only WISH I had forgotten that, when Glendalians finally elected a council majority that approved shifting the meeting time and televising council sessions, Zarian proudly boasted of having fought in favor of both ideas for years, and congratulated his colleagues for finally seeing the light.

 

I’d forgotten there was one Burbank City council member who saw years in advance exactly what the biggest flaw was with the mall project now known as Burbank’s Town Center Mall.

 

I can hardly believe it, but I'd even forgotten what I believe was really the motive for a city council member to falsely accuse me of assaulting her a few years back.  Now I remember.

 

I’m looking forward to reminding readers of these and so many other “fun facts” at “Burbank: Confidential.”  Of course, if you don’t plan to attend, or if you’re seeing this after Dec. 6 and missed out, I’m afraid you’re out of luck.  There’s no way I want to live through most of that a THIRD time.

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