The Moment I Thought We Might Just Need Someone Different Managing Burbank.

I don’t do politics.
Literally or figuratively.

I’ve worked in the corporate entertainment world prior to staying home with my kiddos and the politics associated with that kind of structure…yuck.

And on the other end of the political scale, I try to educate myself the best I can in order to vote for elected officials, offices and policies that are all important to our democratic nation, or my state or city. But, I don’t do Political Science or engage in political debates or frankly, pay attention as much as some of my dear friends around me do. I would almost (I say almost) rather watch a Teletubby marathon.

Politics and math…both can ignore me and I’d be perfectly fine.

I did have one class in college that engaged me more than any other class I’ve ever taken on the subject. Jeffrey Bernstein, wherever you are, thank you. I know what I know about American Government because of you. (I also appreciate the Oak Ridge Boys a tad bit more too)

As much as what I’m saying is true about me, I wanted to make a comment on the news that our Burbank City manager is departing his position sometime early next year.

News that, I’ll be honest, I’m not altogether sad to hear.

Earlier this year, I was invited to a tour of the Warner Brothers Lot in an effort to show the folks in the media (mostly outside of Burbank) that Burbank is a fabulous place to visit.

And it is. It’s a beautiful place. It’s the Media City! The movie studios are here…not in Hollywood as most outside of here think. Burbank is where it’s at. (Excuse the horrible preposition at the end of that sentence.)

We live in a tourist destination. That’s great for all of us.

But, when our city manager stood in front of the group that morning and spoke about how amazing Burbank is, one string of words he let go, shocked me. It saddened me. It made me think that this man doesn’t know what the residents of this city want. And if he does, he’s willing to look past.

“We need to build Burbank bigger!” said Mr. Mark Scott, fist in air.

My heart sank. Many people around me smiled and clapped and I sat stoic, silent.

No. Burbank does not need to be built bigger.

I could not believe what I had just heard.

I said it over and over in my head. I wanted to stand up with my cup o’ joe and throw that coffee on the ground in a tantrum-like fashion and shout at the top of my lungs, the complete disagreement I had in his statement.

But I didn’t. I sat there, and for the remainder of my time on that tour, thought about my family and how the city we’re in is changing right before my eyes.

Burbank is changing. Burbank is getting bigger. It doesn’t ‘need’ to, but it is.

Change is always hard. We’re getting a Talaria project with a Whole Foods and more housing. We’re getting a Walmart. The interchange is being expanded at the Empire Center. Our classrooms will soon get bigger…taxes, higher. But, not everything is bad. Many people are eager for a Whole Foods (even though there’s one on either side of us) Walmart…isn’t going to be terrible. (hold your tomatoes, please)

It’s all just different.

The retirement of our City Manager is based on his frustration in a situation with the City Council. It might be valid..who knows!? I still think Burbank might ‘need’ a new City Manager.

This week, I read an article posted on The Burbank Leader…the ‘official opinion of the Leader’  on this subject and I couldn’t agree more.

“To this end, our recommendation to the council when it starts interviewing for the next city manager is this: Decades of experience does not mean a good fit. Deep knowledge of Burbank and an understanding of its various constituencies — and the patience of Job — are much more important.“

For more information on what led to this crazy post by me… Check out
MyBurbank.com
BurbankLeader.com
MediaCityGroove.com

And now…back to your regularly scheduled posts on Library activities, product giveaways and pictures of cute kids.