BYE ARA

At last night's city council meeting, anti-picnic activist Ara Najarian ended his 4th tenure as "mayor," and viewers had to listen to him and his colleagues fall all over themselves to talk about how great he is and how well they all worked together (when he wasn't fearmongering about LGBTQ+ inclusive books in schools, accusing queer community members of crimes, or suing the city for not letting him be mayor when he wanted).

Ardy Kassakhian will be the next "mayor." (At least until a renter or person from another affinity group within the city who has no representation on council sues the city to create districts!)

Anyway, the council acknowledged both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Denim Day. Equally important we're sure.

Public commenters mostly praised incoming "mayor" Ardy Kassakhian, and/or complained about electricity rates, except for council candidate/overalls enthusiast Beth Brooks who proclaimed her love for Vartan Gharpetian.

City Clerk candidate Susan Wolfson showed up to complain about a candidate forum being hosted by two progressive groups. Wolfson took issue with the forum's description which noted the majority of Glendale's candidate forums are hosted by homeowner's associations. A representative from a homeowner's association also expressed "shock." Apparently, it's inappropriate to acknowledge facts publicly.

Vartan Gharpetian took the opening to attack Wolfson's rival, incumbent Suzie Abajian, with the "armeniansofglendale" account (allegedly run by former "mayor" Najarian's sister Maro Yacoubian) continued its ongoing mischaracterization of and harassment campaign against area LGBTQ+ and parent groups.

The city's site includes this disclaimer for all candidate forums:

Anything that makes these people this afraid and incensed is probably something to watch. GEN will be tuning into the People's Forum, and hoping all 12 (???) current candidates attend...