My Letter to the Editor

No Excuses: Maintain Focus on the Next Generation

Burbank has been blessed with programs that develop the holistic health of many of our young people, forming a social safety net. From sports to job skills, counseling to tutoring, many of our bases are covered. They have become the model for the region and enable our city to produce healthy and well-prepared young people.

Our intricate safety net has come under attack. The School District, trying to identify cost savings, closed the Crisis Outreach Center, overloading administrators, teachers, classified employees and non-profits. Now the City’s Management is taking another whack by letting let go of many non-sports youth programs.

Next: Funding for the Youth Task Force, sustaining the most basic program; our school-based counseling. These programs, provided by the Family Service Agency of Burbank, are saving lives. Any action or request defunding this program is a clear indication of inability to represent the whole community’s interests. It is that simple.

Join me in sending a message of support for our young people and call the City Council at (818) 238-5750 or email CityCouncil@ci.burbank.ca.us. If we want these programs to stay alive we are going to need to be proactive.

The administration wrote themselves bonus checks in the amount of $1.1 million, which could fund all of these programs - for two years. I have a feeling that they know where money can be found.