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Public commenters raise concerns about delivery robots, policing and housing policy during Glendale council meeting
Summary
During oral communications residents criticized the council's approval of food-delivery robots, accused the police of discriminatory conduct, and raised questions about SB 79 and naturally occurring affordable housing; the council acknowledged the comments and asked staff to follow up where appropriate.
Several members of the public used the council's public-comment periods on July 28 to press the council on separate issues: safety and ADA conflicts from new delivery robots, an unresolved policing complaint, housing-law implications of SB 79, and interest in novel energy technology.
On the robots, one resident criticized the council's recent vote permitting sidewalk delivery robots, saying the city had "failed" to protect pedestrians and listed obstacles such as narrow sidewalks, bike racks and restaurant furniture that could create hazards and ADA conflicts.
A second commenter, Seta Bandari, gave a lengthy account of perceived mistreatment by the Glendale Police Department and demanded a police report and follow-up for an incident she described; the mayor and other council members responded that the city does not endorse generalized accusations about staff and urged following administrative complaint channels. Bandari told the council, "I have a complaint about the police department in Glendale" and said she believed officers in the incident were racist; the mayor emphasized the city's hiring standards and invited staff follow-up.
A separate speaker warned that SB 79 contains off-ramps that could allow developers to avoid building affordable units and cautioned that naturally occurring affordable housing may be at risk of sale to developers.
Council members acknowledged the concerns, asked staff to follow up where appropriate, and reminded the public about avenues to file formal complaints and obtain records.
