[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6598963,"mediaKeyId","3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62","parentId",3020457,"title","USC Verdugo hospital workers say negotiations stalled; vote to authorize strike underway","audioSeconds",213,"startMs",11839000,"endMs",11626000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62&start=11839&end=11626","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62/thumbnail_11839000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6598963/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/USC-Verdugo-hospital-workers-say-negotiations-stalled-vote-to-authorize-strike-underway","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598963-868281be7da0612ca9fd7fd865de6df5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773438592&Signature=PqvUiwOnMr0TnNsN3c61COOriHwtOM9ndZ8WjW7wc3Q8NmShEtnvyMycP6knNwRbSHb1~jYV8K15uh8UTub1Crj0aPtjGhNO2GTOaZZijsVJTm7hyeymd-vllHL~C9-91guqLzJxWv0LyRMtHttKDz5K154mNdtW-8RmzN-Fo4oiRWOdvPQhu97s-~KguLqIAlGhF9RR5zlIEpupY2i-QxqxnpQ0qOSa2mnbaXGUcbH~Npxkn7WynIN8GSeDUuRCT0totKuY1ihM84FAGIFOdIP0UvQmZtto-1DCQry0GEB1qC4TYChiWFqB3mqFMKjDIq5JGk4u800uYhw8cArZmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Glendale","date","2025-04-16T06:14:37.687Z","article","Workers at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital told the Glendale City Council during public comment on April 15 that contract negotiations with hospital management remain stalled and that employees have voted to authorize a strike.

Union representatives from the National Union of Healthcare Workers and several hospital staff described understaffing, repeated mandatory overtime and pay that lags nearby hospitals. “We voted to unionize in February 2024,” said a union organizer, noting the group is still without a first contract a year later. A CT technologist said her department has been forced to cover double shifts and that there is limited transportation support for patients; another worker who specializes in breast imaging said high-volume caseloads and turnover have made it hard to provide the time patients need.

Speakers urged the council to meet with workers, return communications and put pressure on hospital leadership. The union said USC reduced a previously discussed wage offer and that the bargaining conduct was “regressive” — a claim the union said justified an authorization-to-strike vote. Several commenters urged councilmembers to contact USC leadership and to join potential picket lines if a strike is called.

Councilmembers took the comments under advisement and asked staff to make facilitations available if informal meetings could be arranged. Councilmembers did not take action on the bargaining dispute during the meeting; public comment is not a council directive.

Workers asked for three specific forms of support: (1) that council representatives meet directly with bargaining committee members, (2) that the council communicate with USC leadership urging good-faith bargaining and (3) that local elected officials visit the picket line if a strike is scheduled.

Council staff noted the council’s limited jurisdiction over private employers but expressed sympathy for workers and said they would relay requests to appropriate officials and provide available contacts. Workers said they would continue bargaining and that they will notify the public and the council of planned actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - 4/15/25","oneSentenceSummary","Hospital staff at USC Verdugo Hills told the Glendale City Council they have authorized a strike vote after more than a year without a first contract, citing chronic understaffing, heavy overtime and wages below nearby hospitals.","taxTitle","Glendale, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4651,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598968,"Residents and council clash after removal of trees at Glendale Gardens; city staff apologize",6301,10223000,16524000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62&start=10223&end=16524","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62/thumbnail_10223000.jpg","/articles/6598968/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Residents-and-council-clash-after-removal-of-trees-at-Glendale-Gardens-city-staff-apologize","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598968-9a6d947004eb4ac0d0418a7cf0f4c9e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773438592&Signature=it3TOEPUWofQxc2tutYIfl1QutVWHK-FTLimQmzhjLV2bTMSWGa5ajB1eeY~1hNcXH3OURM-xRRM57WzbTo4aRKXAkGdNKyNneVCzHDiaUC4xn7PrTQS8pYE3q8SYTv3D9NOQo2BilZrixqbpufwgtaaboCPr44LqOzpRkyklwCTBgi1u6CszE7gqP9H7cgXvqkKqTGApBM82itzAm9cgtOJe2vvh230A3feoFmPm7d6dsKquNgiXz9k3T4Y5ygFZIgtkVgGaogMfb~9JTJF~Ldh~TXnx~wVw5j~y6lEwx5-cdisLMqq9-58mBShIXTQmbmL7b19TrqYkSZCznsHvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of the Glendale Gardens apartment complex and nearby neighbors pressed the Glendale City Council on April 15 over mass tree removals at the property, saying the work began with little or no notice and caused safety, health and emotional distress.

Several residents and community speakers described heavy chainsaw work starting early in the morning, dust, falling logs and apparent property damage. “They started 20 minutes to 7 without notification of any kind,” said a resident, describing early-morning noise and ongoing dust and debris. Another resident described large logs falling near occupied apartments and said tenants worried for their safety.

City Attorney John Garcia and Community Development Director Bridal Calvert answered residents’ questions in the meeting. Garcia said the trees were on private property and were not protected under the city’s rules: “They are not protected trees. And those those trees do not need permits to be removed.” He told the council that staff had placed a stop-work type hold to review the work and that the city’s primary concern had been protecting the property’s historic character while addressing public-safety and fire-safety concerns.

Garcia and Calvert said the property is now in a very high fire severity zone and that the city’s fire and arborist staff evaluated the site. Calvert said the buildings’ large eaves mean some trees sit within five feet of roof eaves, which informed his department’s fire-safety recommendation. Garcia added that the city had intended to notify council and the public before the work proceeded, and he apologized: “I apologize. We all apologize. It was not the intent.” Calvert said a staff member had received an email about the planned work but had not passed it along; he said the lack of outreach to residents and the council did not meet city standards.

Residents disputed staff characterizations that work was strictly for fire safety. Several speakers said they had repeatedly sought information and been given inconsistent answers. Public commenters said portions of the property were now stripped of canopy: one councilmember described “the loss of close to 50 trees out of about 80 trees” on the property. Residents said the contractor’s crews were not adequately controlling dust and that property features, including fences and pool areas, were showing damage.

Calvert said the city had issued notices of violations for failure to maintain parts of the property and would enforce codes where appropriate. He also said the city had planned to require an environmental review (an EIR) of any proposed redevelopment of the site and that legal proceedings are underway: the property owner has filed suit seeking to overturn the council’s earlier decision to require an EIR.

Residents asked the council to inspect the site, document damage, provide transparent updates and explore legal tools that might prevent demolition by neglect or fund tree replacement. Councilmembers and staff agreed to increased site inspections and said they would share findings with the public. Calvert said staff would return to the council with updates and that the city would start issuing and pursuing enforcement actions where violations were documented.

Speakers who described the removal as “an arborist massacre” urged more protective rules for private trees; several councilmembers said earlier efforts to expand protections had not been completed and that staff would bring options back for consideration.

Councilmembers and staff said they regretted the communication failures and committed to more frequent updates. Residents said they will continue to document damage and pursue remedies through code enforcement and by participating in any pending litigation.","Residents, councilmembers and city staff clashed over removal of mature trees at the Glendale Gardens apartment complex. City attorneys and planners said trees were private and not protected under current rules and apologized for failures in communication; residents reported damage, health and safety concerns and fear of demolition by neglect.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598972,"Glendale council elects Ara Najarian mayor after contentious nominations session",5175,3490000,8665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62&start=3490&end=8665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62/thumbnail_3490000.jpg","/articles/6598972/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/Glendale-council-elects-Ara-Najarian-mayor-after-contentious-nominations-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598972-6f2b1b0489b4f4a81f5e78a4487e0f0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773438592&Signature=UrwfVQG9M2mEwSsnQVlMzMLCMj5HgVH7ggeMTi6IlwRhU4CgfNXwCtA-Tb4EgQgkw-xUOTkhHFdD1qUlD1imUI-Z2VbUes5A0ZU0i851s1E2-BJZvX6KRle2bZ5v9gzxZh5yLIu1SHxnuxRjOoZvBCaQ42g0d1pAL8GRilYrV7YlYFjyg~b9WpR2MlsYyGLku0DfYcsS5d2k33N68BK~~Unq9X8jejts1qdkUz-1ivLXY3MbkKFCw8vcKK3kC2s8MBdq5luZgsA8c3ri2l1VnIx6yykt91hGLn9TeXWt6lPBAE6kwgqAjkRt717AudK9x9KxUXAvZ4KnojYzHmQ3Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Glendale City Council elected Councilmember Ara Najarian mayor on April 15 after a contentious public meeting that included repeated calls for unity and lengthy public comment.

Councilmembers voted by roll call to name Najarian mayor. The vote, taken after a period of nominations and debate, was recorded as five yea votes and no nays. Councilmember Dan Brotman nominated Najarian; other nominations were made and recorded during the meeting but the roll call returned unanimous support for Najarian.

Council members debating the mayoralty repeatedly referenced an existing council ordinance intended to set a predictable rotation for the position and a court decision last year that upheld council discretion in mayoral selection. Councilmember Hakim Kasakhian said he would not seek the mayorship this term and reiterated a prior decision to focus on family; Councilmember Vartan Garpetian said he believed the ordinance left him next in line but accepted the council process after debate. Several councilmembers urged the council to repair public trust and move on to substantive city work.

The session included extended public comment, with speakers expressing both support and opposition to the nomination. Supporters pointed to Najarian's long record of service; critics raised concerns about prior public statements Najarian made about the Glendale Unified School District. Several councilmembers who had opposed Najarian last year said they had discussed matters privately and now supported his nomination.

Najarian gave prepared remarks after his election, saying the city had endured a year of “deep, and filled with intolerance” criticism and that he condemned “vile, profane, misogynistic, hateful, racist, bigoted, and demeaning” statements directed at anyone in the community. He acknowledged earlier misstatements he made about schools, said he did not have evidence that schools were administering hormones to students, and apologized for remarks that may have contributed to division. Najarian said he would work to foster constructive dialogue between parents and school officials.

City staff and the city attorney also noted the legal and procedural background: the council discussed the 2021-2022 amendment to the city’s mayor-selection process, a court judgment issued in October and finalized in December that found the council had discretion to select the mayor, and the subsequent motions over costs that were recently resolved.

The council convened other business after the election, including appointments and project approvals. Councilmembers repeatedly asked staff to bring back proposals to revise the mayoral selection ordinance and to consider timing that aligns with election cycles so newly elected councilmembers have a chance to serve as mayor.

The vote closed a highly visible item on the agenda; several councilmembers called for renewed collaboration on budget, housing, and public safety matters going forward.","The Glendale City Council voted unanimously to elect Councilmember Ara Najarian as mayor in a meeting marked by heated exchanges over an ordinance governing mayoral rotation. The vote followed public comments and a lengthy debate over fairness and prior litigation.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598958,"At-a-glance: Glendale council votes on mayor, appointments, projects and transit funding",1530,8315000,9845000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62&start=8315&end=9845","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3020457-09e2d8272e6c497cab4c31c4449f6c62/thumbnail_8315000.jpg","/articles/6598958/Glendale/Los-Angeles-County/California/At-a-glance-Glendale-council-votes-on-mayor-appointments-projects-and-transit-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598958-cdee2749fe88b81e4c9bb2be86e671c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773438592&Signature=ZzqKtmWm-OKqmMcWNTpX5~0qBLx4FDCiEN7FJUCk-Ru-WHl4OgiHq1LbQXONY5CbfT-2JSmeoDd4j5-prsitdYOlohGV67TAq~cjTUMNotCDh-yNk19fcrDdRqBwzLfCX5F8zMWGjuKKw-qWex8d5qIv5CipE9OUqKT8HOityssx0OL7FtJNrDl0BTRpT8ljYvOQJkMef58BdMAdclRVrEFktHDBqwY3A~a-BGGmd5Kb50dgrduODbdCghVlVfhwtaHAFL4rGY3W7-gAGyGVHd5Dow7-TedoSKEgtIBFA6ojjKZEAymYuV-13VqUxMElA1eKjUcqWo2bkegXhRVewQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Votes at a glance — actions taken at the April 15 Glendale City Council meeting (selected formal votes and outcomes):

1) Mayor selection — Elect Ara Najarian as mayor
Motion: Elect Ara Najarian as mayor of the City of Glendale.
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 5, no 0, abstain 0.
Provenance: Nomination and roll-call vote recorded on April 15.

2) Appointments — board and commission nominees (group vote)
Motion: Approve commission and board nominees listed on the April 15 agenda, except hold the four Design Review Board (DRB) nominees pending verification of a required licensed architect.
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 5, no 0, abstain 0.
Notes: Council directed staff to return with options to either identify a licensed architect applicant or propose code changes if council wishes to modify the DRB qualification.

3) Building and Fire Board of Appeals — appointments
Motion: Appoint remaining verified applicants to fill vacancies on the Building and Fire Board of Appeals (two positions as listed in the agenda packet).
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 5, no 0, abstain 0.

4) Citywide Facility Painting Project (Specification No. 3997) — advertise for bids (Consent item 4C)
Motion: Adopt specifications and direct the city clerk to advertise for bids for the citywide facility painting project.
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 5, no 0.
Note: Council requested staff check whether the contractor could add Montrose lamp-post painting as a change order or otherwise provide paint to allow local volunteers to assist.

5) Pacific Park Edison artificial turf replacement (Project No. 4016) — advertise for bids (Consent item 4D)
Motion: Adopt plans and specifications and direct city clerk to advertise for bids for artificial turf replacement at Pacific Park Edison.
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 4, no 1 (Councilmember Dan Brotman voted no). Councilmember Brotman stated a policy objection to artificial turf.

6) Surplus land / Surplus Land Act (Consent item 4G)
Motion: Adopt resolution declaring certain small city-owned parcels exempt from the Surplus Land Act (SLA) under specified conditions.
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 5, no 0.

7) Weed-abatement program public hearing and abatement order (Item 9A)
Motion: Approve abatement order directing the county agricultural/weights-and-measures authority to abate declared parcels for vegetation and fire hazard.
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 5, no 0.

8) Metro included municipal operator designation request (Action Item A)
Motion: Authorize the city manager to submit a joint request with Pasadena to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to be designated an included municipal operator for regional transit operating funds (Bee Line / Glendale Bee Line).
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 5, no 0.
Notes: If approved by Metro’s board (9 votes required), Glendale estimates receiving approximately $11.6 million in regional operating funds toward Bee Line operations; Pasadena submitted a parallel request.

9) Legal retainer (new business)
Motion: Authorize the city attorney to enter a retainer agreement with outside counsel Goldfarb Lippmann to assist the city attorney on a specified matter; agreement to include a fee cap.
Outcome: Approved. Vote tally: yes 4, abstain 1 (Councilmember Dan Brotman abstained due to recusal).

How votes were recorded: Most roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript. Where councilmembers requested holds (for example, DRB nominees), the council recorded a hold and approved the remainder of the slate.","The Glendale City Council approved mayoral selection, multiple appointments, project specifications and a joint request to Metro for transit operating funds. This round-up lists each formal action taken April 15, the vote tallies and next steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

USC Verdugo hospital workers say negotiations stalled; vote to authorize strike underway

Residents and council clash after removal of trees at Glendale Gardens; city staff apologize

Glendale council elects Ara Najarian mayor after contentious nominations session

At-a-glance: Glendale council votes on mayor, appointments, projects and transit funding