By Julie BUTCHER

“Usually I see you from the comfort of my own home – sometimes it’s from my bedroom because you go so long – but today I thought it was really important to show up and say thank you for the decision the city has [made],” said Anita Quiňonez Gabrielian when addressing the Glendale City Council on Tuesday night, flanked by two other members of Amigos Unidos for Immigrant Rights. “Thank you to the City of Glendale for ending its agreement with ICE to house detainees in the Glendale city jail. The city has taken action – a good step towards rebuilding trust and reaffirming out city’s values of inclusion, safety and fairness.”

On June 9, the City of Glendale issued an announcement that it was canceling the contract: “The City of Glendale has made the decision to formally terminate its agreement with U.S. Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house federal immigration detainees at the Glendale Police Dept. facility.”

Glendale resident “Jeff” also referenced this decision when he addressed the council.

“In a press conference yesterday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was asked about President Trump’s suggestion that Gov. Gavin Newsom should be arrested. Speaker Johnson’s response was this: ‘That’s not my lane; I’m not going to give you legal analysis on whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested … but he ought to be tarred and feathered.’ These are the words of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a national leader, second in line for the presidency, casually calling for extrajudicial violent actions to be taken against the governor of our state,” Jeff continued. 

“Perhaps you could say that Speaker Johnson was being colorful or flippant or just careless with his language but at a time when tensions are so high – when the National Guard and U.S. Marines are being deployed into our cities against our own residents – when you hold such a high, powerful office – you do not get to be colorful, flippant or careless. Such an inflammatory statement undermines public safety and our trust in public service.” He then called for public condemnation of Johnson’s statements and for the speaker to apologize and resign.

Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian then congratulated all of the graduates celebrating their accomplishments and offered happy Fathers’ Day greetings.

Mayor Ara Najarian announced the opening of Metro’s transit center “at the doorstep of LAX.” The “people mover” anticipated to be up and running in the next six months will move people directly to the airport’s terminals, “a big step forward to bring transit to LAX.”

The mayor also highlighted two new local restaurant openings: Lē Brand at the intersection of Brand and Glenoaks for “great food and great music,” and Fat Sal’s, now open at 301 N. Brand. 

“They’re open ‘til 3 a.m. and it’s a lot of fun,” he said.

Additionally, Mayor Najarian issued two proclamations. The first celebrates June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and “honoring the ongoing journey for justice. Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, reflection and the shared responsibility to uphold freedom and dignity for all.”

The second proclamation declares June Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. 

“Mental health is an important part of overall well-being, yet many men struggle in silence due to stigma and societal pressures,” Najarian observed. “The City of Glendale encourages open conversations, greater awareness and access to support so that no one feels alone. Together we can create a community where seeking help is a sign of strength.” 

Alan Durham announced a third season of Classic Films Under the Stars, presented by the Alex Film Society, to be shown on the lawn of the Doctors House in Glendale’s Brand Park: https://www.alexfilmsociety.org/2025/05/classic-films-under-the-stars-2025/.

Four classic films will be shown starting with “Walt Disney’s Lady and the Tramp” on Saturday, June 28; the film noir classic “Double Indemnity” on Saturday, July 26; MGM’s celebration of classic movie musicals “That’s Entertainment!” on Saturday, Aug. 23; and “The Pink Panther Strikes Again” on Saturday, Sept. 27. Gates open at 6 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. for all of the shows. Admission is free. Folks are encouraged to bring picnics, blankets and chairs.

The film series is presented by the Alex Film Society, the Glendale Historical Society, the Northwest Glendale Homeowner’s Association, G&C Properties and Brand Associates, with support from the City of Glendale’s Arts and Culture Commission and Community Services & Parks.

During a special meeting of the council on Tuesday afternoon, the council rejected staff’s recommendations to award five-year contracts for the operations of the tennis courts at Glorietta and Fremont parks to new vendors after hearing from the public and from tennis players and a packed room full of supporters of the existing contractor. The city will reissue the RFP with updated, more appropriate evaluative criteria.

The council will meet next on Tuesday, June 24.