Glendale Works

In our part of La Crescenta, I can annoy my neighbors by reminding them we live in Glendale. No, they say, we live in La Crescenta. Or Montrose. Or Verdugo City. Never Glendale.

Yet, for me, three-ish years reporting on the doings of the Glendale City Council, following years and years representing local workers in dozens of large and small Southern California cities, it is my professional opinion and humble observation that Glendale works.

It tries. It is a self-aware and self-effacing city, proud to provide basic, competent municipal services. It seeks and strives and aspires.

It recognizes years of bad development decisions. And how it loves to complain about its neighbors, especially the City of Los Angeles. (The best way to get the Glendale council to act is to tell them how LA is doing it.)

Recently, Glendale made the news for messing up a program to support the locally unhoused (Nov. 26, 2021, LA Times, “Glendale’s homeless community lost access to showers during the pandemic. A nonprofit sees racism.”)

Shower of Hope shut down its program to offer showers to Glendale’s homeless after only five months because the city insisted on verifying that the participants were homeless. (There was no requirement for this.) The organization suggested Glendale’s actions were based in racism.

“‘There was a misunderstanding on the city’s part,’” said Onnig Bulanikian, Glendale’s director of community services and parks.”

Me? I don’t believe the City’s actions were racist. I think they erred – true to form – on the side of bureaucratic ridiculousness as it is a city that overthinks. It’s a cautious burg, one that aims diligently to follow the rules, however arcane they might seem, and tries to make the best use of limited public resources.

Glendale has faced its history of racism and exclusion straight on, passing a resolution acknowledging and apologizing for its history as a Sundown Town, the first California city and third in the U.S. to do so.

“‘Glendale was a cruel place; I have to tell you that,’ Councilmember Ara Najarian said expressing his strong support for the resolution. ‘I’m shocked to see those redlined neighborhoods on the maps of neighborhoods I know, neighborhoods I drive through.’” (Sept. 17, 2020, CV Weekly, “Resolution Passes Council Recognizing Glendale ‘Sundown Town’ History’ and NBC Los Angeles “City of Glendale Apologizes for Its History as a ‘Sundown Town.”)

Notwithstanding bold action adopting this anti-Sundown Town ordinance and publishing a detailed report on the city’s past, pledging organization-wide action to implement an anti-racist, inclusionary future, Glendale’s population as of the 2020 census is 1.6% African American. In 1980 it was 0.3%; in 1990 1.0%; and in 2000 and 2010, 1.3%.

Some other numbers from datacommons.org: Glendale’s population at 196,543 is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, 23^rd largest in California, 25^th among 6,406 U.S. cities in foreign-born residents. At 31 square miles, it has a population density of 6,450 persons per square mile. The average household income is $66,130 and the poverty rate is 13.49%.

The city and homeless service organizations counted 243 unhoused Glendalians in 2019 according to the 2019 Homeless Count Report from the City of Glendale – and 169 in 2020, a reduction of 30%.

Way back when we could attend council meetings in person, local historian Michael Morgan told me the history of the building of city hall.

“Delightful historic expert guy told me all about it, to my squealing delight! Glendale CH was built in three parts, an historically more thrifty municipality than its Burbank and Pasadena neighbors,” I shared in December 2018. Glendale City Hall is small and utilitarian, belying its Art Deco façade.

Glendale has done a lot right in the time I’ve been covering it. Last month, on a 3-2 vote, the council voted to harvest Scholl Canyon biogas for electricity rather than flare the gas, a tough but wise move.

Glendale electeds are proud of the roads and their maintenance. (“You notice when you drive into Glendale.”) (See March 28, 2019, CV Weekly, “Full Agenda for City Council,” my first story on the Glendale beat.)

The city has adopted comprehensive plans for pedestrian and bicycle safety, created 30.23 miles of bike lanes; and plans protected bike lanes on Glenoaks Boulevard. During the pandemic, the city implemented a modest “slow streets” program.

Responding to extensive community pressure, the city rethought its plans to retool the Grayson power plant with gas, planning instead for as much renewable energy as possible.

“‘Since 2020, 64% of our energy is clean, 39% of it renewable, said [Mark] Young [of GWP]. ‘Our neighbors can’t touch those numbers. So we are being progressive and trying to find a way to meet our energy needs in the most environmentally conscious way.’” (Dec. 2, 2021, CV Weekly, “Biogas Debate Subject of Council Meeting”)

Glendale has set aggressive clean and renewable energy plans, expanded EV infrastructure and boasts that it has concerned itself with the environment “since way back.”

“‘In 1931,’ [Michael De Ghetto] explained, ‘Glendale became one of the first California cities to contract with the federal government to purchase clean hydropower from the Hoover Dam.’”

‘The city became one of the first municipal utilities to offer solar rebates in 2002, De Ghetto continued. Glendale included renewable energy in its portfolio beginning in 2003 and reached 23% renewable by 2017. In 2007, the city installed the first city-owned and operated solar system at Glendale City College. Currently, the city is at 35.8% renewable and expects to meet 60% clean energy goals by 2030, 100% by 2045.’” (March 4, 2021, CV Weekly, “Clean Energy Focus of Council Meeting”)

This month the council reviewed plans to electrify the city’s fleet, including its Beeline buses. The city has embraced the rapid bus coming through Glendale connecting the Burbank airport with Pasadena. (In contrast, note the different responses from Burbank and the Eagle Rock part of LA’s CD14.) Last month, the council reviewed visioning plans for Space 134 (a “moonshot”) to build a unifying cap park over the 134 Freeway.

In June, the city joined 733 other cities (along with 3,061 businesses, 31 regions, 173 investors, and 624 universities) in committing to global climate crisis action and adopting the United Nations’ Race to Zero pledge.

“‘The objective is to build momentum around the shift to a decarbonized economy ahead of COP26, where governments must strengthen their contributions to the Paris Agreement. This will send governments a resounding signal that business, cities, regions and investors are united in meeting the Paris goals and creating a more inclusive and resilient economy.’ COP26 is the acronym for Conference of the Parties, the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Scotland in the fall.”

‘The next decade will decide the future for humanity.’” (July 22, 2021, CV Weekly, “Council Discusses Race to Zero”)

Glendale has hired a sustainability officer and created a citizen Sustainability Commission.

In February 2019, the council adopted a moderate, reasonable form of rent “stabilization.”

“After months of debate and deliberation, on Tuesday night the Glendale City Council passed a Right-to-Lease measure to replace the rent freeze implemented in December, a compromise aimed at protecting tenants against unchecked exorbitant rent hikes while respecting the rights and interests of the City’s landlords.” (Feb. 14, 2019, CV Weekly, “Glendale Passes Right-To-Lease Measure”)

The city is cautious with its money. Running a reserve of 36%, this last fiscal year saw income $9.2 million above what was anticipated and $9.4 million less than what was budgeted in expenditures. The city aims to be responsible in dealing with its workers. Recently, city employees negotiated fair contracts, agreements that recognize years and years of financial sacrifice. The city recognizes longevity and appears to promote from within (this year’s selection of a new city manager, for example); it has streamlined services while facing budget cuts and staff reductions. People seem to stay. (Sept. 16, 2021, CV Weekly, “New Contract for City Workers Approved by Council”)

Glendale was quick to address the COVID pandemic, issuing early mask requirements and moving as soon as it could to vaccinate its workforce.

The city has adopted a food recovery program; banned single-use plastics, Mylar balloons, and the sale of flavored tobaccos; implemented serious protections for historic houses and neighborhoods. During the pandemic, the council voted for “Heroes Pay,” an additional $5 per hour for 120 days for local supermarket workers, reached a fair compromise with the Montrose business community to maintain outdoor dining and focused on encouraging the building of affordable housing, even purchasing land to build their own.

Police Chief Carl Povilaitis espouses a commitment to constitutional policing (I’d still like to see their texts!). The department has officers assigned to address homelessness and mental health issues.

This year the council reviewed extensive reporting on the state of the city’s trees and set a goal to increase the urban canopy to 25%.

‘“Trees are critical infrastructure,’ said Councilmember Brotman, ‘as much as roads and sewers – and it’s clear we’ve neglected it all. I don’t think there’s anything we could do that’d be more impactful for our children and our children’s children than to rebuild the urban forest. Besides the carbon sequestration, we know trees provide cooling and clean the air, and reduce noise. A lot of research suggests they reduce stress and improve general health.’”

“To ‘close the canopy gap,’ [urban forester Loren Klick] said it will cost $790,340 annually through 2032.” Klick also noted that “It is rare that every city staff [member who] touches a tree is a certified arborist, but that is the case here in Glendale.” (May 20, 2021, CV Weekly, “Fireworks Funding Given ­– for Downtown Glendale”)

Glendale debated and adopted a suite of ethics ordinances and policies: lobbyist disclosure, matching funds to encourage diverse new candidates to run for office, conflict of interest measures, and campaign finance regulations.

The city honors its sister-city relationships with nine cities across the globe: Higashiosaka, Japan; Tlaquepaque and Rosarito, Mexico; Boeun-gun, Goseong, and Gimpo, South Korea; Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic; and Gyumri, Armenia and particularly strives to support the communities of Armenia and its diaspora.

“‘The City Council supported the installation of the [Korean] Comfort Women Peace Monument as a lasting tribute to the suffering of women and girls of many nationalities during World War II and to promote peace between all,’ said Mayor Ara Najarian.” (Sept. 19, 2019, CV Weekly, “Korean Comfort Women Peace Monument Vandalized”) 

The city bought Rockhaven in 2008. Since then, at least three prospective developments of the historic property have failed. This year, the city finally, perhaps reluctantly, accepted $8 million legislated by State Senator Anthony Portantino to repair and renovate the women’s mental health haven Agnes Richards opened in 1923, complete with a museum honoring the past. In accepting the funds, the council acknowledged the skilled organizing of the Friends of Rockhaven and committed to including the organization in future planning.

I believe the council is wrong on scooters and its vote against funding the CVHS July 4^th fireworks show was petty and small. I think they pander a bit too much to the Americana and the Galleria.

The council deliberates with sincerity. For the most part, each of them acts consistently with who they are and what they believe. As a group, they are conscientious, deliberative and thoughtful.

Ara Najarian is irresistibly quotable. Sometimes the others roll their eyes at Dan Brotman, even though they often find themselves agreeing with his environmental and progressive leanings.

All in all, it is a city that works. It’s not flashy or sophisticated. But it provides reliable, competent municipal services, quietly and professionally. Glendale works.

Julie Butcher is a reporter for the Crescenta Valley Weekly who focuses on the City of Glendale.