Barry Allen’s Comments on Glendale Finances in the 10-05-08 Vanguard Weekly News

Vanguardians stands for government fiscal accountability. Apparently that stand is not shared by our elected officials who constantly demonstrate they have no interest in fiscal accountability. The two incumbents for re-election, Ara Najarian and Frank Quintero are much more interested in redistributing the wealth. They take our money from sales and property tax, from inflated water and power rates and distribute them to the highest paid municipal employees in Southern California, many of whom neither spend their money nor live here: the Police, Fire, Managers and Executives. I can’t remember an occasion where either of those Council members voted against more unnecessary spending. It is always better when you spend OPM (Other People’s Money). In answer to your question, I didn’t mention CCM Bob Yousefian as he is not running for re-election nor did I mention Mayor Drayman or CCM Weaver because they won’t be up for re-election until 2011.

People from all walks of life, all socio-economic conditions, all ethnicities and genders have given financial support to Vanguardians as they share our stand for fiscal accountability. Thank you!

One of the Sunshine Laws is the Political Reform Act of 1974 as amended. The Act requires each candidate for public office to provide financial disclosures twice a year and monthly when they are running for public office. Glendale has the beginnings of its own campaign reform wherein elected officials must declare whether they have received money or other benefits from those with business before them during a small window of time. I believe and encourage candidates, during the election cycle as defined in the Glendale Ordinance, to file disclosure statements monthly, not just semi-annually.

The City Officials bent over backwards to continuously assist the Americana to protect our $77,000,000 investment. Additionally, our Chief of Police took a political position to write a letter to the public telling them how to vote on the ABC election. Council couldn’t act fast enough to name a street Caruso. To support the grand opening celebrations the City provided a shuttle bus service, additional traffic police and City Manager Starbird authorized a charge for parking and all was well. Now the City stands ready to get an award as a business friendly city. Where? Why? How? The City had a booth in Las Vegas at the Shopping Center show and lots of restaurants wanted to come to Glendale. There is a lot of retail space on Brand. Empty, begging for business. What happened?

Our City Officials created a Livescan fingerprinting and passport service to compete with the post office where their employees are paid $40K a year compared with Glendale City employees at a $100K a year. Another failed idea came from the Fire Department which was to replace the private ambulance companies. After losses of millions of dollars, Emergency Medical Services are no longer classified as an enterprise operation as it has become an annual taxpayer burden of several millions of dollars since its inception. It has cost tens of millions even though the GFD said it would generate positive revenue. At a minimum full compensation package of $195K a year per person there is no way the City is going to compete with private enterprise.

Each of the above failures occurred on City Manager Jim Starbird’s watch. Even more to the point, the City spent $197,000,000 more than it took in during the 6 years ending June 30, 2007. Would you keep a Manager like that? Glendale needs a strong Council not one where the only Maverick gets kicked in the gut for standing up to Management; where others are rewarded for following, rather than directing, the City Manager. The Vanguardians Maverick was slapped by the City Manager who wanted to control the First Amendment by keeping Vanguard from being distributed in City Hall. He published the prohibition in the City Administrative Procedures Manual. During Starbird’s tenure the City raided the GWP for $134,000,000 to pay salaries and benefits and then the GWP bonded more debt to make up their shortfall; in the same timeframe the City spent almost $200,000,000 than it brought in; he presided over a $77,000,000 land give-away; our reserves dwindled to $440,000,000 from $600M and debt increased (principal and interest) to over $1,000,000,000 (One billion dollars). There is so much more: the police building fiasco; the engineering cause of the Gladys Street mudslide; the sexual harassment suit in the police department; the failure to blow the whistle TWICE on a CCM for his forays into the realm of sexual harassment. Under his direction there are 200 more city workers in 5 years, higher salaries and more benefits than ever. The last job performance evaluation of the City Manager was in 2004. The time has come for the Council to make a serious evaluation based on the poor performance of the City Manager who believes in using the city credit (read: “bonds”) for everyday basic needs. Albeit today he has three CCM that will do his bidding. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to pay the $250,000 severance pay former Council member Manoukian fought for and provide post-separation medical insurance for his family?