burbankindependent.com
Glendale council member Zareh Sinanyan selected as Mayor Councilmember Zareh Sinanyan was selected as the new Mayor by fellow Council Members last week. Glendale Council Members are elected by the public at large while the Mayor is selected by the Council Members on an annual basis. Glendale Council Members serve fouryear terms with an election cycle every two years. Mr. Sinanyan was elected to City Council in April of 2013 and has since served as the Chair of the Housing Authority. Councilman Sinanyan has been involved with the City of Glendale directly since 2006, when he was appointed to Glendale’s Parks, Recreation and Community Service’s Commission. During his two years as a Parks Commissioner, Mr. Sinanyan Please see page 2
INDEPENDENT
Please see page 2
FREE
MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2014 - APRIL 20, 2014 - VOLUME 3, NO. 15
Rep. Schiff asks U.N. to help 2000 Armenians Hot meals program to forced out of Kessab, Syria 99th Memorial of Armenian Genocide is April 24 continue at The starting date of the Villa-Parke genocide is conventionally held to be 24 April 1915, the day when Ottoman Community authorities arrested some 250 Armenian intellectuals Center and community leaders in Constantinople. Although the United States has not officially recognized the Genocide by name, one local Congressman continues the fight for not only recognition of the atrocities but also to render aid for a city of 2000 men women and children in Kessab who were forcibly removed from their homes in March. The Armenianpopulated town is located in northwest Syria. United Nations Security Council members have mentioned Kessab in their speeches or interviews of the recent takeover of the historically Armenian town of Kessab, Syria, and urged the world body “to do more to meet the needs of these people,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power told Rep. Adam Schiff (DCA) and members of a key House Appropriations panel recntly during a Congressional hearing, reported the Armenian National Committee of
Assemblymember Roger Hernandez released the following statement regarding the crash that killed 10 people Thursday: “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families for those students and staff members who lost their lives in last night’s Northern California crash. I am saddened to hear of such an unfortunate incident occurring during an exciting time when students and their families are finalizing their decisions on where to attend school in the fall.
Power,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram
The Pasadena United Hot Meals Program, founded by local restaurateur Mr. Robin Salzer, will continue at the Villa-Parke Community Center for the next 60 days, according to a city press release. Previously, the City had asked Mr. Salzer to relocate the program after April 10, 2014 to a non-City location or consider merging it with Pasadena United’s meal program at the Jackie Robinson Community Center due to its impacts on other regularly scheduled recreational and organized sporting events. Further discussions with Mr. Salzer have resulted in an agreement to continue the program at the Center for at least 60 days. During this time, City staff and Mr. Salzer will work together to address issues associated with operating the program at the Center, including potential conflicts with recreational uses. Efforts to enhance
Please see page 4
Please see page 3
-Photo by Terry Miller
America. “We join with Armenians across California and around America in
Sunrise Service Asm. Roger Hernández in Wilderness statement on Northern California bus crash Park Our Savior Lutheran Church invites the community to worship the risen Savior at the 44th Easter Sunrise Celebration in Arcadia’s Wilderness Park at 7:00 a.m. It includes choirs, trumpets and a live dove release. The park’s beautiful outdoor amphitheater is located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Services the in the church sanctuary include a Maundy Thursday service at 7:00p.m. And Good
BE SURE TO VISIT: PASADENAROSEPARADE.COM
The El Monte community suffered a tremendous loss in a time of joy for many students who have yet to decide their future. I want to thank the California Highway Patrol, the Orland Rural Fire District and countless public safety personnel for their dedication and assistance they provided at the scene. I also want to thank El Monte Union High School District Board of Education, Superintendent and staff for their compassionate leadership during this time.”
thanking Congressman Schiff for raising the plight of the Armenians driven out of Kessab with Ambassador
Health insurance loophole bill clears first committee AB 2088 would require large employers to provide comprehensive health insurance Assemblymember Roger Hernández (D – West Covina) announced AB 2088 passed the Assembly Health Committee on a 13-6 vote. AB 2088 protects California workers by prohibiting an insurer from selling a limited benefit health plan to a large employer unless the plan is supplemental to a comprehensive health plan. This bill makes standards for health insurance sold to large employers similar to the standards for the insurance sold to individuals and small employers. “I applaud the commit-
tee’s support of this measure. Most large employers do the right thing and buy comprehensive coverage for their workers, but given the federal employer contribution and potential penalties some employers and insurers may be tempted to pass off limited benefit coverage as meeting the individual mandate,” stated Hernández. Under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), large employers with more than 50 full time workers are subject to different rules than individual
and small group employers. The new law exempted large employers from offering comprehensive health insurance to their employees. Currently, under federal and state law, health insurance sold to individual or small employers (with less than 50 employees) must cover essential health benefits, such as prescription, maternity care, pediatric vision, pediatric dental, hospitals and others. AB 2088 would require that insurance sold to large employers satPlease see page 3