Editing Burbank, California (section)

===Burbank today===
[[File:BURBANKAerial2022.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Burbank]]
Burbank, like other cities in California, has been facing many economic, political and social challenges in recent years. One of the main issues is the lack of affordable housing in the city. The cost of single-family homes in Burbank topped $1 million by early 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=Leonard|first=Christian |url=https://burbankleader.outlooknewspapers.com/2021/12/04/home-prices-keep-climbing/ |title=Home Prices Keep Climbing |publisher=Burbank Leader |date=December 4, 2021 |access-date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref> According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average rent price in Burbank is around $1,800 and 29% of Burbank residents spend over half of their income on rent.<ref>{{cite web |last=Quentin |first=Gavin |url=https://burbankleader.outlooknewspapers.com/2022/08/30/governor-signs-portantino-bill-creating-regional-affordable-housing-trust/ |title=Governor Signs Portantino Bill Creating Regional Affordable Housing Trust |publisher=Burbank Leader |date=August 30, 2022 |access-date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref> These high housing costs are putting a strain on many residents, and as a result, a rent-control ordinance known as Measure RC was put on the ballot in 2021 to cap rent increases at 7% annually on at least 24,000 residential units; the measure failed to pass 36 to 64%.<ref>{{cite web |title=November 3, 2020 Measure RC - Summary |url=https://www.burbankca.gov/web/city-clerks-office/measure-rc |website=City of Burbank - City Clerk's Office |access-date=January 16, 2023}}</ref> California law bars communities in the state from putting rent control on complexes built after February 1995. Rising housing costs in California in the last decade have contributed to a shortage of affordable housing in large metropolitan areas. Rent control is seen as a way to keep housing costs affordable but some economists have suggested ordinances limiting rent only contribute to California's chronic housing problem.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clark Carpio |first=Anthony |url=http://www.latimes.com/socal/burbank-leader/news/tn-blr-me-rent-control-20171223-story.html |title=Burbank official presents City Council with pros and cons of rent control |publisher=Burbank Leader |date=December 23, 2017 |access-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107045831/http://www.latimes.com/socal/burbank-leader/news/tn-blr-me-rent-control-20171223-story.html |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Burbank has taken the initiative in various anti-smoking ordinances in the past decade.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lawrence | first=Carol | url=http://sfvbj.com/news/2007/mar/28/burbank-toughens-smoking-ordinance/ | title=Burbank Toughens Smoking Ordinance | publisher=San Fernando Valley Business Journal | date=March 28, 2007 | access-date=January 15, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081213/http://sfvbj.com/news/2007/mar/28/burbank-toughens-smoking-ordinance/ | archive-date=January 16, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> In late 2010, Burbank passed an ordinance prohibiting smoking in multi-family residences sharing ventilation systems. The rule went into effect in mid-2011. The new anti-smoking ordinance, which also prohibits smoking on private balconies and patios in multi-family residences, is considered the first of its kind in [[California]]. Since 2007, Burbank has prohibited smoking at all city-owned properties, downtown Burbank, the Chandler Bikeway, and sidewalk and pedestrian areas.<ref>{{cite web |last=Meier |first=Gretchen |url=http://www.burbankleader.com/news/tn-blr-smoking-20101002,0,7283614.story |title=Smoking law gets tougher again |publisher=Burbank Leader |date=October 2, 2010 |access-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124214147/http://www.burbankleader.com/news/tn-blr-smoking-20101002,0,7283614.story |archive-date=November 24, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The murder of Burbank police officer Matthew Pavelka in 2003 by a local gang known as the Vineland Boys sparked an intensive investigation in conjunction with several other cities and resulted in the arrest of a number of gang members and other citizens in and around Burbank. Among those arrested was Burbank councilwoman Stacey Murphy, implicated in trading guns in exchange for drugs.<ref>{{cite news | last = Lee | first = Wendy | title = Burbank Official Arrested in Gang Probe | work =[[Los Angeles Times]] | location = Los Angeles, Calif. | date = July 15, 2005 | page = B.1 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-15-me-burbank15-story.html | access-date = August 12, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024112107/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jul/15/local/me-burbank15 | archive-date = October 24, 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jan-10-me-drugtest10-story.html | title = Council Revisits Drug Testing | work =[[Los Angeles Times]] | first = Michelle | last = Keller | date = January 10, 2006 | access-date = June 26, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024115559/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jan/10/local/me-drugtest10 | archive-date = October 24, 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref> Pavelka was the first Burbank police officer to be fatally shot in the line of duty in the department's history, according to the California Police Association officials.

The city's namesake street, [[Burbank Boulevard]], started getting a makeover in 2007. The city spent upwards of $10 million to plant palm trees and colorful flowers, a median, new lights, benches and bike racks. Additionally, various utility boxes throughout the city were painted in 2020 with original art inspired by the theme of "A World of Entertainment." Artists were selected through a committee consisting of City of Burbank representatives and members of art communities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Calling all Artists for Burbank Arts Beautification Program |url=https://www.burbankca.gov/newsroom/-/newsdetail/20124/calling-all-artists-for-burbank-arts-beautification-program |website=City of Burbank |access-date=January 16, 2023}}</ref>

Today, an estimated 100,000 people work in Burbank. The physical imprints of the city's aviation industry remain. In late 2001, the Burbank Empire Center opened with aviation as the theme. The center, built at a cost of $250 million by Zelman Development Company, sits on Empire Avenue, the former site of Lockheed's top-secret "Skunk Works", and other Lockheed properties.

In a real estate deal announced in April 2019  [[Warner Bros.]] plans to open a series of two new [[Frank Gehry]]-designed office towers near the former NBC Studios lot that have been described as "like icebergs floating alongside the 134 freeway."<ref>{{cite news |author=Meg James and Roger Vincent |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-warner-bros-burbank-studios-gehry-design-ranch-sale-20190415-story.html |title=Warner Bros. plans to buy Burbank Studios and occupy new Frank Gehry 'iceberg' towers |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 15, 2019 |access-date=May 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505114006/https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-warner-bros-burbank-studios-gehry-design-ranch-sale-20190415-story.html |archive-date=May 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>