Meet Eddy.

When Eddy moved to Burbank with his wife in 1991 to start a family, they were able to buy, at the time, an affordable home. It’s the Burbank dream that draws so many to our wonderful city, but unfortunately, that dream is becoming increasingly out of reach. To address skyrocketing housing costs, Eddy knows we need to add more housing, and he will work to promote increasing access to affordable housing, put forward common-sense tenant protections, and increase home ownership opportunities for the next generation of Burbank residents.

In 2016 Eddy had a severe bicycling crash. This incident transformed his outlook and he began focusing his efforts on advocating for safer, more accessible transportation options in Burbank. This led him to become a Transportation Commissioner, where he has learned that many of our challenges can be fixed with focus, hard work, and forward-thinking. With a goal of fewer accidents, more affordable and efficient transportation options, and better commutes, Eddy is ready to make our streets more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, and he will work to finish key infrastructure projects (such as rebuilding the Olive Ave Bridge), and to connect Burbank to the region’s rail system.

As a lifelong environmentalist, Eddy will look at our policies through the lens of sustainability. He will prioritize reducing emissions, encouraging community-level advocacy, and advocating for sustainable transit and city planning. Eddy will also work with the Burbank Water Department to determine what steps are needed to reduce or eliminate the contaminants in Burbank’s water supply. According to the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database, there are currently 12 contaminants that exceed EWG guidelines. (https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=CA1910179)

As a longtime and now retired small business owner, Eddy knows the ingredients to fostering a better economic environment. In 2003, Eddy and his wife returned to a family and personal passion when they bought a neighborhood bakery, Continental Kosher, which they owned and operated for 18 years. Eddy knows firsthand that all businesses - big and small - from our amazing coffee shops to our world class entertainment studios, need support and encouragement from city staff, because successful businesses are essential to our local economy and entire community. Eddy wants to make Burbank a better and friendlier place to do business.

Eddy believes that Burbank residents and business owners are not just customers, but vested shareholders in our great city. Having high-quality and resilient city services is essential to our long-term growth and sustainability. Eddy will fight for better collaboration and transparency between city staff, elected officials, residents, and business owners to achieve a safer, more livable, and more inviting Burbank.

From his youth organizing days with the United Farm Workers fighting for a livable wage and reasonable worker protections, to joining the Writers Guild and fighting for fair compensation and recognition, to being one of the few bakery owners in Los Angeles to sign a union contract, Eddy has always acted on his core beliefs of fairness and equity for everyone. On the City Council, Eddy will advocate for better workplace protections, fair wages, and promote access to unions.

Eddy believes that Burbank’s new Homeless Solutions Center is an important first step in providing help and support in getting people off our streets and on the road to better lives. He believes the combination of offering comprehensive solutions coupled with compassionate law enforcement is the right way forward in addressing this regional crisis and he is proud to support these efforts, and will work to expand them as necessary.