Ask the Mayor with Nikki Perez - A Mayor’s Year In Burbank

A year that began with windstorms and fires ends with a gavel passed—but the real story is everything in between. We sit down with Mayor Nikki Perez for an unguarded look at what city leadership actually takes in a place like Burbank: twice the work, the same vote, and constant pressure to keep meetings civil and residents heard. Nikki opens up about navigating pregnancy and new motherhood while chairing council, the moments where decorum faltered, and why protocol matters when the room is tense and the stakes are high.We dig into the most contentious issue of the year—rent. After two years of study and public input, the council lands on a 4% soft cap with relocation assistance when increases exceed that threshold and tenants can’t afford to stay. Nikki wanted a hard cap, but chose to compromise to get the city moving and prevent serial shock increases. The conversation reaches beyond rent to the bigger affordability squeeze—utility rates, inflation, and the cost of delay—and how early, steady adjustments beat crisis spikes every time.Burbank’s wider identity and economy are in play, too. With studios shifting and mergers in the headlines, residents fear for jobs and small businesses. While the city can’t reverse federal decisions, it can clarify zoning, protect infrastructure, and keep Burbank film-friendly with a responsive, human permit process. Nikki highlights the city’s police leadership, the strength of its staff and PIO team, and the practical realities the next mayor will face: a likely budget deficit, tariff impacts, and the need to prioritize core services while communicating clearly about what local government can and cannot change.What keeps a leader going when the inbox is harsh and the chambers are loud? Letters from kids, neighbors who stop her in the grocery aisle, and a family that shows up—every time. If you care about how cities actually work—rent policy, public safety, film permits, zoning, budgets—this candid, grounded conversation delivers clarity and heart. Prefer more of these deep dives into local power and policy? Follow, share with a friend in Burbank, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.Support the show