Burbank’s RV restrictions to take effect Tuesday

Operators of recreational vehicles beginning Tuesday will be required to obtain a permit to park on Burbank streets. Any private vehicle at least 22 feet long will be prohibited from parking within 80 feet of intersections, under the new city ordinance which comes after years of complaints about the cumbersome presence of recreational vehicles in residential neighborhoods. The restrictions also extend to vehicles that are at least 8 feet high or 8 feet wide. Permits are available at the Community Services Building, 150 N. Third Street. The cost has been set at $5 for a 24-hour permit, which may be issued in three-day blocks. Operators can pull a total of 96 permits in a calendar year.

Man arrested on airplane

From the Burbank Leader A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexual battery Thursday after he inappropriately touched a 16-year-old girl on a flight from Northern California to Burbank, authorities said. Van Nuys resident Alexander Weber, who was aboard the Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to Bob Hope Airport with his 2-year-old child, was booked about 9 p.m. Thursday on suspicion of misdemeanor sexual battery and later released on $20,000 bond, Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said. The 16-year-old girl and her 12-year-old cousin were returning from Sacramento on Thursday afternoon when witnesses informed the crew that Weber made sexual advances and touched the older girl's leg and breast, Ryburn said. ... Continue Reading: Man arrested on airplane

Man arrested on suspicion of sexual battery on Southwest flight

From the Burbank Leader A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexual battery Thursday after he allegedly inappropriately touched a 16-year-old girl on a flight from Northern California to Burbank, authorities said. Van Nuys resident Alexander Weber, who was aboard the Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to Bob Hope Airport with his 2-year-old child, was booked about 9 p.m. Thursday on suspicion of misdemeanor sexual battery and later released on $20,000 bond, Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said. The 16-year-old victim and her 12-year-old cousin were returning from Sacramento Thursday afternoon when witnesses informed the crew that Weber made sexual advances and touched the older girl’s leg and breast, Ryburn said.  ...Continue Reading: News Man arrested on suspicion of sexual battery during Southwest flight

Opportunity for Armenian Genocide resolution rises out of U.S. discontent with Turkey

[caption id="attachment_18071" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Protesters chant 'No compromise with Turkey' at a gathering near Pelanconi Park in Glendale Sunday. Thousands showed up to rally against the protocols for the new talks between Armenia and Turkey. "][/caption] From the Glendale News-Press As U.S. lawmakers continue to take Turkey to task for its support of an aid flotilla to the Gaza Strip, Rep. Adam Schiff is seizing on the discontent to garner more support for his long-stalled resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Fear of angering Turkey, a strategic military ally in the Middle East, has long stood in the way of Congress officially recognizing the 1915 massacre of 1.5 million Armenians at the hand of Ottoman Turks as genocide. But since Turkey has refused to back down from efforts to send supplies to Israel’s Gaza Strip, a new crop of U.S. lawmakers say they may now support the Affirmation of the U.S. Record on the Armenian Genocide. Turkey supported the flotilla of six ships that were stopped by Israel from bringing aid to Gaza. Nine Turkish citizens died after Israeli commandos boarded the ships ahead of an Israeli blockade. Turkish officials have since condemned Israel and called for an investigation of the incident. ... Continue Reading: Opportunity for Armenian Genocide resolution rises out of U.S. discontent with Turkey

General manager of Burbank utility finalist for post in Austin

The head of Burbank Water and Power, Ron Davis, has emerged as a finalist for the top job at Austin Energy, the nation's ninth-largest public electric utility with annual revenues of more than $1 billion. [UPDATE: 11:55 a.m.] “I am happy in Burbank,” Davis said Thursday. But he added that he originally agreed to serve five years under then City Manager Bud Ovrom. "This is a good opportunity, so I am testing to see if I would be a good fit for them,” he said. According to a statement from Austin City Manager Marc Ott, three finalists will take part in panel  interviews on June 30. They include Davis; Larry Weis, general manager and chief executive of  Turlock Irrigation District; and David Wright, general manager of Riverside Public Utilities. Austin officials will also host a community meeting after the panels for the public to meet the candidates. The candidates are vying to fill a vacancy left when Roger Duncan retired in March. The Austin Energy plant serves roughly 400,000 customers over 437-square miles. Davis, a 30-year veteran of the industry, has run Burbank Water and Power for 12 years after moving to Southern California from Washington. Burbank's utility is recognized as one of the nation’s most reliable electrical providers, and in 2007 adopted a 33% renewable energy portfolio standard.

Burbank aims to secure revenue

From the Burbank Leader Burbank residents could be asked to vote on codifying a utility tax that brings the city $20 million a year — a move cities like Glendale and Pasadena have already made to protect themselves against lawsuits from telecommunications companies. The 7% tax on telecommunications, electricity and natural gas generates $20 million per year, and is the third-largest revenue source for the General Fund. Unlike many other cities, Burbank does not charge a utility tax on cable television, water or sewer services. The measure, slated to be on the ballot next year, would simply codify the utility tax and protect it from challenges from the telecommunications industry. ... Continue Reading: Burbank aims to secure revenue

Airport police officer wears many hats

From the Burbank Leader When Rick Massa agreed to join the Bob Hope Airport Police Department, the 60-year-old was obligated to work just two days a week. But the 35-year LAPD veteran, 25 of them in Special Weapons And Tactics, ended up giving a great deal more. After joining Chief Ed Skvarna's department two years ago, it didn't take long for the recipient of the Los Angeles Police Department Medal of Valor to start in with large-scale improvements to policy and training. He appeared before the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority six months into his tenure with a stern warning: They were ill-equipped and unprepared to handle an active shooter. ... Continue Reading: Airport police officer wears many hats

La Crescenta center tutors one on one

From the Glendale News-Press The glut of after-school tutors lining Foothill Boulevard did little to deter Tariq and Saddia Rana from launching a learning center of their own. "Each center offers a very different service," Tariq Rana said Saturday at the grand opening of his Kumon Math and Reading Center. "For us, everything is one-on-one, independent and individualized." The center, which on Tuesdays and Fridays serves roughly 120 students between the ages of 2 and 16, opened last month with support from the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce. ... Continue Reading: Center tutors one on one

In the ‘Twilight’ of their lives

From the Glendale News-Press Before his inauguration, President Obama told US Weekly that he and daughter Malia bonded over "Harry Potter" and were ready to delve into "Twilight." "I don't know if they ever finished them. He got kind of busy after that," said Jessica Groper, a scholar of 19th century literature who teaches English at Glendale Community College. "But I would guess that Malia did finish the books." She and roughly 100 million others worldwide. The "Twilight" series has been translated into 38 languages and includes the four top-selling novels of 2008. ... Continue Reading: In the 'Twilight' of their lives

Budget cuts ordered by L.A. County sheriff hamper fingerprint operation

From the Los Angeles Times Budget cuts ordered by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca have undermined his agency's ability to collect and analyze fingerprint evidence, causing delays for more than 65 homicide investigations and resulting in the destruction of potential leads in scores of other crimes. Baca cut overtime expenses for 59 fingerprint specialists in an effort to help make a $128-million budget cut. The move has delayed the collection of evidence in crimes such as burglaries by as much as a week or more. Some burglary victims have had to stay away from parts of their homes or temporarily close their businesses to avoid smudging prints and destroying potentially vital evidence. For others, the delayed response has been too much of a burden. Sheriff's officials estimate that since the cuts went into effect in March, 10% of burglary victims have simply cleaned up and moved on with their lives because they couldn't afford to wait. ... Continue Reading: Budget cuts ordered by L.A. County sheriff hamper fingerprint operation