By Jenny Yettem
On Thursday, June 29, the CV Meher and Satig Der Ohanessian Youth Center hosted “Ask The Mayor” with Glendale City Mayor Dan Brotman, as well as city council members Ardy Kassakhian and Glendale City Manager Roubik Golanian.
The questions and comments included many issues important to the livelihood of Glendale residents, such as rent control, affordable housing, traffic congestion, and concerns about the public education curriculum.
A number of city officials were also present, including councilwoman Paula Devine; Glendale Fire Chief Timothy Ernst; Glendale Police Chief Manny Cid; and former Mayor Vartan Gharpetian.
Brotman said that environmental issues—such as a safer, sustainable system of water delivery, as well as 100% clean energy by 2035—are at the core of his efforts on the council. Brotman also touched on the importance of electrification of buildings and vehicles, and creating a better infrastructure for people to charge electric cars. Brotman said that the city is well on its way to eliminate the use of gas equipment in Glendale parks, and would have entirely electric equipment for parks and maintenance by the end of 2023.
Brotman said that Glendale needs more affordable housing, so that people can live closer to work thereby reducing pollution and other negative social effects.
Brotman said the biggest issue facing Glendale right now is becoming a six-district city that votes for its mayor. Kassakhian and Brotman explained that it was a mandatory redistricting, and that the city would be sued if it did not comply with the California Voting Rights Act.
Among the comments that came up were the recent anti-GUSD protests and concerns from parents about what they believe is being included in the curriculum about LGBTQ+IA subject matter.
In a June 29 Facebook post, Brotman said that Glendale is “not immune” to hate crimes that have been predicated on “demonizing an ‘out group’, often with suggestions that they are after our kids. It’s always about the kids. The public becomes primed to see the group as a threat that needs to be dealt with. The rest follows, to a greater or lesser extent, in a way that any descendent of genocide survivors can understand. We’re not there yet. Hopefully we’ll never get there.”
Brotman wrote, “Of course, not all of those protesting GUSD policies and practices are engaging in this kind of dangerous speech, or have hate in their heart. I’ve been accused of suggesting that, and I didn’t mean to. In the last few weeks, I’ve spoken to many parents who have legitimate concerns about what their kids are learning. I truly believe that many, if not most, of those concerns are based on a distorted view of what’s actually happening in school. But some warrant real, honest discussion and efforts to find solutions. I want to find a way to bring people of good faith together to engage in constructive dialogue.”
Brotman said in his post that extremist agitators have been brought from the outside, which then has resulted in counter agitators coming in to oppose them—leading to the violence that has erupted at the GUSD Board of Education meetings in recent months. “I have no interest in engaging these bad faith actors. The only way to deal with them is to stand together as a community and soundly defeat them at the polls in 2024.”
Brotman was criticized for this post by several participants—one who said Brotman labeled parents as “bigots, homophobes and fascists,” another who suggested that he did not address the presence of Antifa at the protests, and another who said that she had done considerable research on the curriculum and did not have a “distorted” view of the issue, and further demanded an apology from Brotman for his post.
Brotman said he had anticipated the GUSD issue would come up, but that he would not let the topic dominate the evening’s conversation. Brotman rejected the misinterpretation of his Facebook post. “I spoke to what I think is the core issue. I don’t think Antifa is the core issue. I never said what you said. I never said that all parents are all these things that you just said. and you’re paraphrasing. you’re not using my words. and that is a problem when people twist facts to create a narrative that fits their political perspective,” said Brotman.
Brotman said he has met with a lot of people over the last few weeks to talk about the issue. “If you’re willing to talk to me, I will take my personal time. I’ve been accosted. People have hurled expletives while I am walking down the street. This is not acceptable in our city,” said Brotman. He went on to say he would not apologize for his Facebook post because he has “heard a lot of distorted views that are blatantly false. ‘Teachers are providing hormone replacement therapy for kids’—false.”
Kassakhian noted that parents who attend these meetings show they care about their children—and that city representatives value the relationships with parents. Kassakhian said schools help children grow into law-abiding citizens who contribute to their communities. “Our schools are there to help our children to grow into law-abiding citizens who contribute to our community.” Kassakhian echoed Brotman’s sentiments about outside agitators such as Antifa—and also indicated that there have been agitators within the parents’ side. “Two wrongs don’t make a right. We can and should do better—and not allow outside narratives to cloud the discussion.”
The meeting continued for nearly two hours, and Brotman reiterated his offer to meet with concerned residents. Brotman said that he has an open table coffee on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at Urartu Coffee (119 N Artsakh Ave.), and the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at rotating locations that are posted in advance to Twitter, on the page @MyGlendale.
