Funding

GLENDALE — The Verdugo Jobs Center could lose a $171,000 grant to educate and train recently released state prison inmates because officials said some workforce centers aren’t spending their money fast enough. As a result, state officials are considering terminating the parolee program to recapture funding that was designated to go to all 49 job centers across California, said Don Nakamoto, labor market analyst for the Verdugo Workforce Investment Board, which operates the local job center.

Decision to cut funding for New Horizons was unfair I can't believe that anyone would want to hurt an agency that does so much good for so many children. Well, that's what happened at the CDBG Advisory Committee meeting on Feb. 9, when the committee, at the urging of two members, decided to cut New Horizons' funding. Maybe Mr. Cianfrini and Mr. Ovanesian didn't know that there are more than 18,000 children in south Glendale. Maybe they didn't understand that New Horizons operates the only comprehensive after-school program in that community.

CITY HALL — With easement issues coming to a close, the long-awaited walkway along the Los Angeles River once again rests on the availability of state funding, city officials said Friday. The Glendale Narrows Riverwalk project, which received concept design approval from the City Council in 2006, has encountered a number of bumps keeping it from becoming a reality. The project was put on hold in February when the state froze a $1.1-million grant because of the budget crisis.

Josh Kleinbaum The Glendale Symphony Orchestra might be holding on by just a string. With grant money drying up and no new funds in sight, Executive Director Pam Ellis said she will step down on Friday because the symphony can no longer afford her salary. If the symphony does not find some funding, it could go out of business. "Maybe in the next round, somebody with some experience with musical organizations should take the position, but I don't think the symphony's future lies in my hands," Ellis said.

Janine Marnien For volunteer organizations like STEP 2000, the path to getting funds can often be an arduous task -- the organization must first go to its local agency before approaching the state for grant money. But all that could change, thanks to Assembly Bill 2620, written by STEP 2000 founder and Chairwoman Pat Mumbauer. STEP 2000 is a program that provides disaster preparedness training to the community. "I started working on that about two years ago, after realizing what the frustrations were in getting funding," she said.

Josh Kleinbaum As the La Canada Flintridge City Council prepares to make difficult decisions in its budget deliberations, council members are trying to use some financial creativity. In the second of three budget hearings, the council trimmed an additional $29,975 from its expenses Friday, freeing up a little more money for special projects. The council will consider 32 such items today, ranging from a $10,000 request from the La Canada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn.

CITY HALL — Apparently convinced that a better deal might be found elsewhere, the City Council on Tuesday voted narrowly to explore hiring a new federal lobbyist after some members on the dais said they wanted to explore other options. The City Council voted 3 to 2 to solicit bids for federal lobbying services after denying a recommendation from city managers to renew the city’s one-year, $88,000 contract with David Turch and Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that has petitioned the federal government on the city’s behalf since 2003.

All eight candidates for Glendale Unified school board are scheduled to appear live Thursday on “The Larry Zarian Show” for an election forum moderated by Glendale News-Press city editor Jason Wells. The eight candidates are running for two available seats in the April 5 election. The candidates will be asked to discuss a range of topics and issues facing the school district against the backdrop of state funding reductions. The 1 1/2 hour forum will start at 7 p.m. on Charter Cable Channel 380.    

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- A second phase of funding for the Western Avenue and Flower Street ramps at the Golden State (5) Freeway is moving through channels. As expected, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted Thursday to recommend another $14.5 million be budgeted for the project. Two years ago, the California Transportation Commission approved $7.7 million for the interchange work with the intent of budgeting more funds in the future as the project moved closer to construction.

The Glendale City Council Tuesday endorsed a proposed half-cent sales tax increase that would increase law enforcement funding at the state level. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who spoke to the council Tuesday, has been leading the drive to put the issue on the November ballot, where it requires two-thirds approval. He told the council that the cost of the increased tax will be about $12 per month for the average resident, and the measure will raise about $500 million a year.