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The Edit Alaverdyan Podcast
Welcome to "The Edit Alaverdyan Podcast," the podcast where insightful conversations unfold, and the depth of the human mind is explored. In each episode, I sit down with a diverse range of individuals—thinkers, innovators, and captivating personalities—who share their unique insights and experiences. Together, we embark on a journey of discovery, unraveling the complexities of the human psyche and uncovering the untold truths that influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
The Edit Alaverdyan Podcast
Elen Asatryan | Leadership, Economic Development, Public Service | The Edit Alaverdyan Podcast #27
The Secrets Behind Glendale's Leadership with Mayor Elen Asatryan
Curious about what drives the daily decisions of Glendale's city leader? In this exclusive episode, Mayor Elen Asatryan shares her unique journey as a leader, blending her professional achievements with the personal stories that define her leadership style. Discover how her love for the mountains, commitment to self-care, and a recent cultural trip to Armenia have shaped her approach to governance.
Mayor Asatryan reveals the strategies behind her efforts to make Glendale City Hall more efficient, with a special focus on supporting small businesses and promoting environmental sustainability. Through insightful discussions on policy-making and community engagement, learn how she is fostering economic growth while staying true to environmental values. Get a behind-the-scenes look at her community meetings with local restaurant owners and her meticulous approach to crafting fair, effective regulations.
This episode also delves into the challenges of work-life balance in local governance. Mayor Asatryan candidly discusses the emotional and financial sacrifices of public service and shares her tips for maintaining well-being and nurturing personal relationships amidst a hectic schedule. From her spirited participation in the Vartavar festival to her reflections on self-acceptance, this conversation is a rich blend of leadership, culture, and resilience.
Tune in to gain invaluable insights into Mayor Elen Asatryan's leadership philosophy and discover what makes her a dedicated and compassionate force in Glendale.
I love being in the mountains and I'm like you know I'm going to move to the mountains. Make you know, make jam. I'm like I will probably last two weeks, like, and then I'm like OK, what's next?
Speaker 2:I think we get that backhand a lot as human beings Like we don't get to see the full picture. There's these snippets and then you're just glorified.
Speaker 1:The difficulties with people getting permits to renovate their house, to open a small business, all of those things I mean have become now priority areas and we're doing bucket by bucket, like cleaning up the codes.
Speaker 2:Self-care is all about just the silence, just to yourself, maybe, like the water, like the mountains, or doing something much deeper than that.
Speaker 1:As I was growing up like, for me there was no difference between like men and women in the sense of like oh well, you know, you're a woman, you can't do these things, or, you know, chivalry was always there.
Speaker 2:Hello everyone, thank you for joining me today. Today's episode we had a wonderful guest on and we talked about the personal life of Mayor Ellen Asatrian. I know that everybody is waiting for more of a political conversation and I tried to have a little bit of questions here and there in reference to everything that's happening in our school system and Glendale in general, burbank in general. But I really wanted to dive away from that and really make this show about her. I wanted to understand about her upbringing, her morals, her values, what she looks for. It was really interesting because she dived and talked about her purpose. She did talk about her interests.
Speaker 2:She talked about herself, her self-care and one thing interesting that I think that we tend to forget as human beings, despite the differences of what side we are on, we tend to forget how lonely sometimes life can get when we're in a higher political position, and I think Mayor Esatrian eloquently explained how she feels at times and the sacrifices that, as politicians, have to make when they are running or when they are in support of a system, and it was really intriguing and interesting to hear her story, her life, her views and some politics in there too. So I think you guys are definitely going to enjoy today's episode with Mayor Asadrian. Make sure to support this channel, you guys. It's such support for a new podcaster like myself. So make sure to subscribe, make sure to like, make sure to ring the bell all of the above and enjoy this episode with Mayor Ellen Asatrian. Ellen John, thank you so much for joining me today. It's such an honor to have you A pleasure to be here.
Speaker 2:I know, so tell us about your Armenian experience. You went back home. How was that?
Speaker 1:It's not the first time. I go almost every year. I was obviously born there and my dad's side of the family is still there, my godparents are still there, but this was actually the first US-Armenia local delegation trip organized by the US State Department, which was huge because it had mayors and executives from different states. So we had folks from Michigan and Montana, montana and I want to say Wyoming. The deputy state department was represented, the ambassadors were with us. It was I mean, I was the only Armenian mayor, which also gave me an opportunity to also give the group different highlights, right, and things that we need to try. Like you know, we were in Gyumri for our local democracy forum.
Speaker 1:And then we were about to head back and I was like, but you can't leave Gyumri without having bonchiks in Gyumri, and so, and they were like, what is that?
Speaker 1:And so we actually like, because we were a large group, it was like two cars and I was like, well, whoever wants bonchiks, stay in one car and the other one can head back to Yerevan.
Speaker 1:But it was a great opportunity, I think, for US elected officials to see Armenia, and I think you know this is obviously this is not my first delegation trip, but I also used to organize delegation trips to Armenia, so being on the other side of it as an elected official was different for me. But I will tell you that one of my favorite parts about landing with a delegation trip is seeing individuals that are not Armenian experience Armenia for the first time. And I think that might also have to do a lot with our messaging and lobbying efforts. Where we talk about the Armenian genocide, we talk about Artsakh, we talk about the refugee situation right now, the difficulties, the war, the genocide, the ongoing genocide, and so yes, ongoing and you know, but as you are talking about those things with elected officials that are not Armenian, what you're also doing is also painting a picture of what a place would be like.
Speaker 1:So, um, especially that first day, or in Yerevan, like when they land, um, I think the the common theme across the board over the years has been like I had no idea this.
Speaker 1:It was so metropolitan, uh, didn't realize it had such a nightlife and amazing restaurants and whatnot, right? So, um, I think, um, looking at how we are presenting both to elected officials moving forward is really, really important, because we also tend to operate in our own bubble, right of the things that we are fighting for, but we're also not highlighting all the wonderful things that comes with Armenia and Armenian culture and the Armenian economy and all the opportunities that are available for the rest of the world to actually enjoy. And I remember the first time I actually went back after we had moved in 2013,. My first feeling of Armenia as an adult right was I compared it to Barcelona, in the sense that, like for me, it was a reminder of Barcelona because, of all the places that I've traveled, you know, it's the only other place aside from Armenia where you will see a 70-year-old with a 5-year-old out at 1 in the morning.
Speaker 2:Right, this is so true, but that's so special, it is very special.
Speaker 1:That cross-generational connection. That cross-generational connection, you know, the idea that a child can be out at that hour for especially Americans is like such a foreign concept, right, but really how family-oriented Armenia is and in many ways, when you look at like the urban planning and there's so much you know. As part of the forum I said, you know we constantly say like how can the US help Armenia or how can others help Armenia? I really do see our sister city relationships and our relationship with Armenia really as a bilateral relationship. There's so much that we can learn from Armenia.
Speaker 1:There's so much that Armenia has to offer to the rest of the world, and you know, I'm currently working on… there's a couple of restaurants and bars that are absolutely out of this world, that are in Armenia, that I'm actually trying to bring to Glendale.
Speaker 2:Really which ones?
Speaker 1:Right now we're in talks. I'm hoping… I can't. I'm not going to disclose it now, but I'm hoping that we can.
Speaker 2:Well, Gadsden is here. Gadsden is here and I'll tell you so with us was. Gara too, Karas. Karas is yes, Karas is all over yes.
Speaker 1:The director of urban planning and research from Governor Newsom's office was also on the trip with us, and California and Sunni are sister cities, so when I was going to Kapan I told Sam to like join us. I'm like you know it'll be a great opportunity and he absolutely fell in love with Kapan and Sunni and, just like the region itself and just Armenia, he won't like, he won't stop talking about it. He's Ethiopian. So you.
Speaker 1:You know his roots are also like he grew up around Armenians and eating Armenian food in Ethiopia. But you know we were looking at economic development opportunities in Armenia and all, not just like you look at the IT sector and. I mean, glendale is a perfect example of that, because we have, you know, companies like Disco that are headquartered in Glendale, but they also have an office in Armenia right and so how do you really create that bridge?
Speaker 1:where you're not only giving to Armenia, but there's true like exchange programs. I'm really excited that this morning I visited the Women's Center in Armenia.
Speaker 2:You did.
Speaker 1:I'm very passionate as you know, about women's issues and domestic violence issues, and they went from getting like 50 calls a year to 1,000 a year. Their programs are expanding and it's not because domestic violence is necessarily on the rise in Armenia, it's just the culture is changing and women are feeling comfortable enough to speaking up more and turning to resources, right, and so we had our first meeting with the YWC of Glendale and the Women's Center of Armenia this morning, where I brought them together.
Speaker 1:So they're going to be starting to like exchange different programming, how they build out the shelters and all of that stuff.
Speaker 2:That's beautiful.
Speaker 1:Wow. And then part of that discussion was also because there's a rise in response. There's not really training on behalf of like on the part of the police officers in Armenia to respond to domestic violence calls, because they're not trained to do that. Our police officers have a great training program that they have to go through. California is one of the strictest when it comes to domestic violence. So, you know, creating a partnership where our police officers in Glendale are actually doing training with police officers in Armenia specifically on domestic violence response, right, and the beauty of having a diverse workforce here is being able to say I need an Armenian speaker, and preferably somebody that speaks Eastern Armenian, to be able to communicate with the officers there. Right, because the…. And coming from that culture, you also understand some of the social norms around it, where you help break down some of the barriers that you know exist within the community.
Speaker 2:I love that. Yeah, it's so interesting to hear you talk about passions Like what other passions do you have? Because we only see well, not only maybe you portray it and some people don't see it, but like, what other passions do you have other than you know, being in the political party and having this passion for women's rights? Like is there anything else that you would want like the audience to know about you?
Speaker 1:I'm very passionate about equity.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, that's not just like I'm not talking about women only Of course, right, but I think my experience as an immigrant here why is that important? You know, you see, in many ways, look, I think whatever we are, we bring to the table. You know I'm somebody that loves concerts and art and food and hiking and the outdoors, and I think the more active you are and the more love you have for life, you also get to experience things and you also see where the gaps are. Didn't take into account family or friends or trying to squeeze in, even if it's at 11 o'clock at night to grab a bite to eat with a friend.
Speaker 1:Then I wouldn't know that we don't have XYZ in our city and it's lacking. Because for the most part, you're also looking at how you create economic development, which has been like. I'm very big on economic development, proud to say that for the first time in the history of our city, I initiated for us to have economic development as one of the four priority areas, and then I call it the unsexiest thing because it's, I find it, the most important. But it's usually not things that the public grasps on.
Speaker 1:So you'll hear things like housing and you'll hear things like sustainability or economic development as, like you know, priority areas for a city, but one of the things that I also introduced was creating efficiencies and efficient systems within our city hall, which applies across the board, to everything, and I point to it's the same thing as if you don't have your house in order, you can't service out and you can't have people over, can't have people over. And so for me, when I look at our planning and permitting department, the difficulties with people getting permits to renovate their house, to open a small business.
Speaker 1:All of those things I mean have become now priority areas and we're doing bucket by bucket, like cleaning up the codes, because a lot of that is just a lot of red tape that's in the books. That makes the process more difficult, even things like you know, our planning department doesn't have deadlines Like, so the planners can take as long as they want to do something right, but they're also overloaded.
Speaker 1:So how do you create a system where you're supporting your workforce? And I think that's where my business background also comes in. I've always taken pride in being a support system for my own employees at my small business, and I look at the city as a business as well. So how am I catering to make sure that I have policies in place and procedures in place that welcome small businesses to come to our city versus go somewhere else? How do we make it easy for somebody to build their dream home, whatever that looks like?
Speaker 1:And so those are all the things that really impact. And then I'm very nuanced in policy so I'll give you some examples of. One of my colleagues had introduced this very hefty plastic spam that was going to impact all of our restaurants and all of our eateries. The policy or the ordinance would have had things like all takeout items would have to be biodegradable, zero plastics. And then there was something about a 25-cent cup charge if you didn't take your own cup to the restaurant. For me, initially, like the 25-cent was like definitely off the table, because both like sanitary reasons, right, like, okay. And then, like I'm very practical and things, so I'm like, okay, walk me through it. I walk in to In-N-Out with my eight ounce cup and there are things 10, 12, and 16. How much are you charging me? Right, like.
Speaker 1:And I think a lot of times, especially nowadays and I've been complaining about this both on the local level and state level like there needs to be more thought put into the implementation part of a policy, if we want to say we did it and we put it on the books and somehow in the books, but you're not really seeing it through. And so with that policy, actually, you know, none of us own a restaurant or an eatery on the city council. So I started calling some of the restaurant owners that I knew. I said, hey, can you walk me through? You know I care very much about sustainability. This is really important to me. I want to be supportive of this effort, but walk me through how this is going to affect you, because I don't know what you use, I don't know what the prices are.
Speaker 1:And after speaking about four or five restaurants first, I learned that no one knew this thing was coming to council, which I have a very big issue with. It's going to affect all of our mom and pop shops. But they had no idea that we're voting on something like this. They talked about how there's supply chain issues, that the inflation costs. Like a takeout box that was costing them 45 cents is now costing them like 70 cents and they can't even get it from the US. Now they've changed vendors because there's a supply chain issue, right? And so the Sunday before the Tuesday meeting it was scheduled for, I kind of went nuts and started going down Brown Boulevard and going into all the restaurants. They thought I was an inspector coming in because you know council members and stuff.
Speaker 1:Don't do stuff like that and you know my goal wasn't to stop it. For me it was, like you know, number one being educated myself about the policies that I'm making. That's going to impact an area that I care about, which is small businesses and how we support them, but also making sure that they were also aware of the decisions that we're making and that they have a voice. I come from an advocacy background, so for me, I very much care about the grassroots effort and the true grassroots effort, because a lot of times what you'll see and this is what I really struggle with, even with our community, we tend to complain around barbecues and on social media and dinner tables, but when the moment comes, when the vote is happening at the city council meeting, they're nowhere to be found. And this is their city.
Speaker 1:40% roughly 40% of our population in Glendale is Armenian American. About 16%, I believe, is Asian right, and I want to see that diversity. When I look out and sometimes, you know, some of my colleagues have said like oh, the whole room was like shaking their head at you and you still voted the other way and I was like it wasn't the whole room. I literally split the room into two and if you are somebody that's active, you know what the issues are and what people are struggling with and who is privileged enough to be able to show up to a council meeting Right. So I take all those stories with me. I know that we have permitting issues, I know that people struggle with housing, but I know that the restaurants are struggling, and so let me ask you something.
Speaker 2:It's a really good, interesting point. You brought up how and this is just a personal question, Because this is what we're going to- make it today.
Speaker 1:It's all about you.
Speaker 2:How do you, how do you handle, like afterwards, like after work? How do you handle so much I don't want to call it hate, because that's such a harsh word to state but how do you handle so much like hate, I guess, around the decisions that you make? Because, I mean, some people are really against a lot of the things that you were, like the equality that you were talking about, like things that are happening in the schools, like we understand this politician side, but you as a human being, as a person like, how do you overcome moments like that? I'll give you an example, right, Like just on the restaurant.
Speaker 1:Thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So about 60 restaurants showed up to the meeting and I told them. I said it's not enough for me because anything to get passed or stopped, three votes Okay, we're five people, you need three votes. Unless it's land use, you need four votes out of the five. So I said it's not enough for me to know, you need to also let my colleagues know, because I'm only one vote.
Speaker 2:Right but.
Speaker 1:I'm also trying to get your voice at the table. So about 60 restaurants showed up. The Chamber of Commerce showed up. They weren't even aware that this thing was coming and they all talked about their own. They weren't following what's happening and no one had informed them from the city.
Speaker 2:This is the Chamber of Commerce, wow.
Speaker 1:So, sure enough, about 60 of them showed up, and obviously our local environmental coalition, which I have a great relationship with, also showed up on the other side of the issue, wanting this, and I said look, I'm very interested in the impact that we create in this space, but how do we help our small businesses get to that space is what I care about. I'm not okay with making decisions in a dark room that impact the whole industry and say you go, figure out how you're going to deal with that. This is an industry that was just like even after COVID, still has not recovered. And if I care about economic development, if I care about my small businesses and mom and pop shops, why would I do something that makes it difficult without helping them? And so I said I'm interested in data-driven decision-making. So I proposed and I got colleagues to agree that we halt this whole thing and we work with our restaurants to find out what is actually available, what's not, and then also look at bulk buying as a city to see if the costs actually match up and be able to reduce that, and then for us to come back with something that works for everyone. And also, this is important to me as an elected official or as a city, and this is part of my goals.
Speaker 1:How do I? What incentive programs do I create? Or programs to create that help that whole industry move into that space? Right, and it was the same thing with, like, gas leaf blowers. It was like a four to one vote. I was the only one that voted against it to ban them. I agree that they're, you know, they're awful for your health there, but to replace those are, it's between 10 to $15,000. Okay, so just by one vote. What, uh? What I'm doing without creating and I said I will only support this if there's an incentive program that helps gardeners move into this space. Without it, I won't do it. Center program that helps gardeners move into this space. Without it, I won't do it. And how do you? You know, for me it was how do you pass something and put it into effect? Where then code enforcement can come out and start citing and penalizing people for having a gas leaf blower instead of electric? And you've just put a $10,000, $15,000 burden on a gardener Like that, doesn't you know?
Speaker 1:I mean, those are the things that happen on. Like you know, every Tuesday we make a lot of decisions at the council that affect our residents, that affect our small businesses and how you're thoughtful in creating those policies.
Speaker 2:Do those decisions affect you in any way?
Speaker 1:In what sense?
Speaker 2:For instance, going back to kind of like my original question oh, like, how do I process?
Speaker 1:Yeah, like, how do you process? Look I'm very. I think when you know your purpose it becomes very easy. I can look out and you know. After that restaurant span, for example, the Glendale Environmental Coalition was very upset at me right.
Speaker 2:What did you get from that? Like, what kind of what do you mean? Like, when you said they were upset at you, how do you know, Right?
Speaker 1:so it's like well, is she really for sustainability? Right, like some folks were about that you know. Then, you know, the colleague that introduced it was upset. Like you know, I'm just having like very frank conversations on how, like politics really works, right. But you know, when I ran for office, I talked about being a voice for those that really don't have it. And for me, yes, you can be an organized group and I'm all about bringing different have it. And for me, yes, you can be an organized group and I'm all about bringing different groups together. And that was my solution to it.
Speaker 1:Okay, glendale Environmental Coalition, our sustainability chamber and restaurants, you guys get together and see what works, what we can create to actually leave an impact. And part of that I also said look, we want to talk about plastics. Man, your Indian Cafe on brand is not your problem. You know what your problem is. Your schools that are schools and hospitals create the largest plastic waste. So you know how do I help GUSD, for example, get funding to switch over to reusables at the school sites for kids, for example? Right, we used to do, we used to have that when I was going the school sites for kids, for example? Right, we used to have that when I was going to school, it wasn't all this plastic stuff, it was, if you remember it was like right.
Speaker 1:So like how do you, if you know, if you take care of some of those bigger things, then the burden is not placed on the little guys, right and so? And you know there was conversations, well, they can come and get a waiver. I'm like, I'm trying to like clean up codes here. So the restaurant owner is like, being a restaurant owner is hard. And, like you know, I have family members that are restaurant owners right Like they own their little. You know that they, like they live and breathe that.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, it's a different kind of hustle. Right they live and breathe that 24-7,.
Speaker 1:right Now, I'm going to ask my restaurant owner to leave his business and come fill out a paperwork and say but this thing that you're asking me to use doesn't exist, or it's like you know. The cost is this much more, so it's going to affect me and I can't you know. And so I think again when you for me, I'm in that moment. You know I talk about this a lot, but I got involved in politics at a young age and my dad gave me, I think, perhaps like the greatest gift. He wasn't too keen on me being in politics because A there weren't any women when I got involved. I'll be very like Armenian women particularly.
Speaker 2:There weren't any women when I got involved. I'll be very like… Armenian women, particularly right.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, but also, like you know, I came… you know, I started off as like a canvasser, then a campaign manager, then… you know, in all those different roles, I tended to be…. And as I climbed the ladder, especially in those initial years when I walked in….
Speaker 2:Is it difficult?
Speaker 1:I never found it as such because my dad always took me to work with him and so I, and you know I've always had male friends. I've never seen really that difference Like it. You know I work that I don't see that difference when I'm in like a professional setting or even my, my friendship circles, there I'm very, you know, I have my girlfriends but like my overall friends are like a very big mix. It's not so. I've never seen that as an issue and I've also been like a lot of times the youngest, and so I'm also very… the youngest of… Like in the room.
Speaker 2:In the room, right? Okay, I know what you're saying.
Speaker 1:So it's you know, and now like sometimes, when people are like well, you know, he's much older, but since I was 15, I was working with people that are already like at that time, 40, 50 years old, yeah, yeah, you learn to navigate and I never.
Speaker 2:But.
Speaker 1:I don't see the difference right Like, because I became I was placed in leadership roles at an early age, so I think that even that quick decision campaigns are. I used to run campaigns so, and with campaigns like you don't have time to worry, you don't have time to sit there and dwell on an issue, because things happen left and right and you have to be very quick on how you respond to things, and so I think that's also trained me in many ways.
Speaker 2:That's so interesting. I loved how earlier you said my purpose. I'm all about purpose. I think purpose is pretty essential in a person's life and we're all here for a reason. What do you think your purpose is?
Speaker 1:I would say, you know, in my own way, leaving a dent in my city that I call home. It's better than I found it right and my purpose really has always been access, like if I had to like. Sum it up, it's not like when we talk about small business support, when we talk about equity issues, when we talk about women, all of those things, for me, at the end of the day, are through a lens of an immigrant whose family had language barriers, who continues to have language barriers. It is the story of most families. Over 53% of our residents are immigrants, right, and I always say that. You know, if we can, if I can, help create a system where you know anybody's mom or dad that doesn't speak English, doesn't know how to navigate, can show up to the counter and get their things done without calling their children. We have created a system that works for all Americans. It's not just for my community, but that applies across the board for working class families that you know don't have the luxury, don't know how systems work.
Speaker 1:You know I'm proud to have initiated the Small Business Summit. Um, that now is like you know, we just had a second year in a row. Um, we had about 500 businesses, small businesses, that participated and I think my happiest moment was walking in and seeing the diversity in that room because all of a sudden it wasn't. I've been going to city events for many, many years. It tends to be the same group of people that are just kind of and I walked in there diversity in age. I saw a lot of young people, young entrepreneurs, young business owners. A lot of cultural diversity, people that had language barriers, but it was also how you market that right and how you make it even palatable, where we were making sure that any of the sessions also if someone needed it was available to them in Armenian yes, it was available to them in Tagalog.
Speaker 1:We have a huge Filipino community so I know a lot of people were like why? You know you're always posting stuff with it you know it's and for me it's.
Speaker 1:The reality is that things that a city council member makes a decision on are things that are impacting all of us and we have a shared issue with the things that concern us. Housing and affordability is huge. I mean, I keep talking about it, we keep talking about it. It's like we're building affordable housing. We're not building affordable housing. We're building housing. I will give that, but affordable housing means that building housing.
Speaker 1:I will give that. But affordable housing means that somebody on minimum wage can actually afford to live in those units. Oh, there's so many people moving out, and so there is you know, but there's also things like you know, I'm the only, I guess, now mayor, but like on the council, that doesn't have a single family home.
Speaker 2:Right and.
Speaker 1:I think about, like my generation and the generations that come, who's going to be able to afford to buy a home in Glendale without without support, without help, right? But you, when you look at some of these things. Now I'm looking at partnering with some other cities to push for a change in the state law, because the reason that condos, for example, are not being built and have not been for like many decades now is because there's a state law that puts a liability on the developer for 10 years that the homeowner up to 10 years can come back and sue them, and so there's been a trend of people at that last minute suing, right, and so developers don't want to build condos anymore, and that is why a lot of the condo buildings you'll see are older.
Speaker 1:Older yes, Are older buildings right. And so. But condos are also your starter home, like that's where you like. If you have the ability to get that, then you have like your first Transition into yes. And things like and this is true, yeah.
Speaker 2:A lot of people tend to lean on.
Speaker 1:This is very like controversial on the city council. But you know, historic districts are another big thing for me and I'm all for. You have a historic home. There's an iconic thing that was built last year. It doesn't have to be old, but it can be historic.
Speaker 1:But these whole concepts of historic districts are not taking input from a larger group of residents and I tried to change that Our current process. If you collect 50% of the signatures from those residents, then you can bring it and it's done under these guise of preserving the beauty of our neighborhoods. We already have codes and stuff that allow for that. But what ends up happening is and I talk about like this is when I say, like the immigrant or the working class experience right, I didn't, I never.
Speaker 1:So I finally bought a house. So I finally bought a house and with a lot of working class families, a couple of people have put their life savings into purchasing that property, if they were able to. But more often than not they don't have the money to renovate. So they purchase this property. Then they're saving because they want to change their windows at some point, they want to do all these upgrades to their home, but they can't afford it. Then comes in and, without ever having their signature, that area is converted into a historic district, which then forces them to comply with, not being able to change anything on the house that they bought in hoping to change.
Speaker 1:And I have cases now where I mean my hands are tied right Because with the things that are in the books where somebody like it was a young family trying to change their windows, they were anticipating it's going to be about a $10,000 project. It's costing them $80,000 right now because the wood has to be a certain look. And you know again like being mindful of how you're preserving the beauty of your neighborhoods but also not adding these barriers. Affordable housing isn't just for rent, it's also how do you make home ownership affordable? Yeah Right, and so I mean there's like all these things I'm very passionate about.
Speaker 2:I love that and that seems like it's a lot. So how do you manage self-care? What do you do for yourself? What does Mayor Esotrian do for herself? Because you were talking about getting an hour of sleep.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'm running on. That's pretty intense. I'm officially right now running on four hours sleep. How do?
Speaker 2:you take care of yourself, so I feel like it's very natural.
Speaker 1:It has been that way. I used to be the executive director for ANC and when I was leaving there, I jokingly said and there was definitely truth to that that I hadn't slept for 11 years.
Speaker 2:Sorry for cutting you off, but my old boss would say I'll sleep when I'm dead. Right, but I also I try to like.
Speaker 1:I'm very big on like, trying to fit things in, so I'll give you an example Like even if it's, you know, not the last meeting, but the meeting prior, I think, went until like 11, right, and we were in a meeting for nine hours 11, like at night, yes, so a lot of times it'll go until midnight, but we start. People think it starts at 6. We have an afternoon session. I've been trying to like get people to understand what's on the agenda if they want to call in and whatnot.
Speaker 1:Or if they don't want to come in, at least call in. But so I was in a meeting for nine hours and usually before that meeting we have a whole bunch of other meetings and then you get a packet that's this big to review on. So on Thursday the agenda becomes public with all the reports. It's usually a binder this thick, and between Thursday and Tuesday's meeting you have to go through the whole thing and then, if you have any questions with staff, you go through the briefings on Mondays. So meetings are on Tuesdays. You usually like start your day very early and then, you know, go into meeting. But even if it's like 11, 1130 at night, like I'm known for not going home, I will go and grab some food with friends or grab a drink.
Speaker 2:Yeah, to squeeze in that self-doubt time.
Speaker 1:And I don't also want to get in the habit of that and then neglecting, I think, one of the things I used to be a consultant before.
Speaker 2:I ran right. Oh my gosh, that's what you were asking me, yeah.
Speaker 1:Political consulting right, but I think one of the saddest things that I have seen over the years is I don't think that the public understands the self-sacrifices that elected officials make in public service. But I think the saddest things I've seen is people that are in elected office lose their family friends over time.
Speaker 2:Is this really true?
Speaker 1:It is, and I've seen that loneliness in other people, I think, over the years, and I'm very conscious. I'm so blessed to have an amazing group like support system, both in friends and in family. I'm very close to my family and my time with them and my nephews is, like, really, really important to me, and how I try to like squeeze that in. And sometimes I don't want to be squeezed in, I'm like you know what I'm really sorry, but I'm not going to be able to make it to this event.
Speaker 1:You know what's interesting? I don't want to miss the water polo practice, right? No, absolutely For your nephew that we all share that. Help with our calendar, but we're in charge of checking our own emails. Anything you'll see on my social media is me doing it, and obviously the more active you are, the more requests you get right. And so I had this conversation with like a colleague when I first got on, where I was like you know, how are you managing your calendar? Because this is kind of crazy and each of our experiences is very different on the council.
Speaker 1:They'll be like what do you mean? I have like three or four meetings a week. I'm like I have 10 meetings a day, right, and so the more vocal you are, or then the word gets around like OL is like responsive so I can reach out to her and she can help, like help me navigate this permit thing. And especially if somebody I'm not somebody that will just send an email and then sit knowing that like there needs to be some sort of hand-holding through that process, right, no-transcript. But I'm also mindful, I'm very, very mindful to want to make sure that, and sometimes it requires like sit down conversations with friends saying just because I couldn't make it to this thing doesn't mean that I'm not going to try to make it to the other right.
Speaker 1:Or your friends and family start thinking that you're busy so they don't turn to you, right, like they don't want to. They think they're being a burden when they know what your schedule is like. But those are things that I value and that are important to me, right and so like making sure that I continue to, both emotionally and mentally, not just like for good times, but be present in my personal relationships.
Speaker 2:So you're being torn in like if you are mindful of those things which I really really am and I care about those things.
Speaker 1:You know I had a friend out in Colorado. I was working for some time there. He was a former elected that was running for a different office and his dog got sick and I happened to be in Colorado in that time and you know he was devastated and he called saying will you come by? And I have this image of him in his apartment. This guy was like loved, like he was always surrounded by people right during the day and I walked into his place and I was surprised that like he called me right, like he may be a friend, but I wouldn't in that moment I don't know if I would have called him right, like the relationship is yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:And he had this like piece of chicken on the counter that he was like trying to eat, but his dog was sick and he was, like you know, on the verge of like dying, and so it was like a very emotional moment for him.
Speaker 1:But in that moment I always, like I always have that picture of this person that was like surrounded by so many people during the day, but in his toughest moment he was alone, you know, and like I never want to take my relationships for granted, I don't want to take my friendships for granted, my family for granted and I really am lucky in that sense because I think sometimes, even like being Armenian right, really am lucky in that sense because I think sometimes, even like being armenian right, like there's an added layer of um, the expectations from family or whatever, and I'm, like you know, I I call my family like a pleasant unicorn in many, many ways, um, because my parents not only brought us up in this like love bubble, which has also, like, said you know people. A lot of times, when people talk about like women's issues and domestic violence and stuff, they'll say, like you know, were you like you know? People that have come through that or are survivors of that tend to be the ones that are very passionate about that?
Speaker 2:Oh, yes.
Speaker 1:And my answer has actually been like no, it's the reverse for me, because I grew up in this what I call perfection of a love bubble, where there was so much love and mutual respect that there is to date, not just between my parents, but my extended family is also like that, and a lot of equality in those rooms, right Like everyone's kind of like a partner.
Speaker 1:So as I was growing up, like for me there was no difference between like men and women in the sense of like oh well, you know you're a woman, you can't do these things, or you know, chivalry was always there and I've always said this like being feminine, you can be do these things, or you know, chivalry was always there and I've always said this like being feminine, you can be a feminist and feminine at the same time. Like that's not exclusive from one another. But I think, as I was growing up, I think seeing the disparities, like in the families of like my friends, really like created like a shock factor for me and I think I'm constantly operating out of a place of shock. It's not like the personal experience for me and I want to say, like I'm also blessed that none of my personal relationships have ever brought me to a point where, like, I have felt that in any shape or form.
Speaker 2:On, my own, but it still does. You still sacrifice a lot, don't you?
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely, I mean with respect to personal life. Oh, absolutely, yeah, I mean. What do you think?
Speaker 2:you've sacrificed.
Speaker 1:Well, I would say definitely being unelected. The system that we have in Glendale is really skewed towards people that are retired and who are wealthy. So I would definitely say, as somebody who's in their early 40s, I basically committed financial suicide personally to do this. We get paid, I think, like $1,400 a month. What? Yes, and you know I had no plans to run for office. I got pissed off during COVID at a thriving consulting firm and I got into an argument with one of the current council members about a program.
Speaker 2:You just dropped a bomb.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I said you know what I'm going to run and a lot of my political friends were like, what are you doing? Because usually people run for office, they serve and then they open up a consulting firm because they make the contacts throughout. But I already had the contacts. I had a thriving consulting firm and my reputation is everything to me. I had a thriving consulting firm and my reputation is everything to me.
Speaker 1:So actually, like I didn't want there to be a perception that I'm like somehow, like I even canceled contracts that I had. So I've literally been living off of my savings in the last year and a half and like committing financial suicide by being in this position. And that is why, historically, when you look at the Glendale City Council members that have served, they've either been older and retired or wealthy, or they have a second income at home which allows for them to basically do this. And if you do this right, it's more than a full-time job. You can choose to be and I have colleagues that they show up on Tuesdays, they vote and then maybe you'll see them at a few events here and there.
Speaker 2:But if you actually want to make meaningful change and you want to work on policy and whatnot, it's more than a full-time job, absolutely. And the financial piece, that's definitely a big one. That you just said, but also personally. No Like as a human being that you just said, but also personally. No, like as a human being, you make such personal sacrifices.
Speaker 1:I don't see them as sacrifice. I think it's just ingrained in me. No, I love, love, love. What I do, I see it as a privilege and an honor to serve.
Speaker 1:And, again, like, depends on what you're driven by, right um, and what you want. And some of the times, sometimes, when, like, people will show me like the awful comments that, like you know, like people have left. Um, I think that's the hardest part, where, especially in this day and age with social media, um, anybody can, like, post anything without it being fact-checked or accurate. And you know I've had this running joke for a while. I'm like, you know, every morning I wake up, I'm like what did I do today that I didn't know I did?
Speaker 1:I think that's all of us Right, like I mean, even with like taxes and stuff, I was like I was adamantly against taxes, any new taxes, increase in any taxes. I brought up the fact that there's inflation right now. I was actually the only one that voted against fee increases, saying like this is not how we do it. And then the morning after I'm seeing like on social media, like some groups are posting like I increased taxes. I'm like, no, I didn't. Like, not only did I not, but I actually like helped, like halt the whole thing. And because we don't have staff support, I don't have time to put together. I hear you can't just hand it off to a volunteer. So, yes, I have some like people that support me and that volunteer to help with certain things, but they're all, they're like, just supporters. They're not it's, they're not my staff. What do you need?
Speaker 1:I think it would be helpful for people to. I think not just for me, I think just in general, right, I would. My first call would be to A like not believe everything that you see on social media, right, but also be active in your local government. I think the greatest thing, the greatest help I can get with any of these things that I'm talking about is people to stop talking around dinner tables and around drinks, and you don't even. You know the system has been in place as such that you don't even have to come into the council chambers, you can call in from that restaurant or wherever you're at, or you know you can't leave, right, but really follow the agendas, your council decisions, um, because they're impacting every part of your life on a daily basis.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I'll tell you, some of the greatest initiatives I've had have come from constituents, right, um, they're like, oh, it would be a great idea if. And I'm like, oh, let's check on that, you know, and so you know what's very funny, the grandmas oh they yes they give you a whooping and I just love how you answer it, though.
Speaker 2:You're like in europe, you're like people don't know what people don't know, but these grand.
Speaker 1:I admire them what people don't know, and that's the the caveat here, because they're seeing the snippet. I think Tamara and I talk on a daily basis.
Speaker 2:Yes, If not like on a weekly basis. There's a relationship there.
Speaker 1:So when I call her Tati, I'm not being rude, because for me she's just like my grandma, but I also deal… I mean even…. So she actually, for example, came yesterday to the council meeting and then, I think it was like a week and a half ago, she called and left me a voicemail about there's a tree that is like tilting over, and then there's some like news box that that has like trash over it, and so I literally had public works go out and take a look at the tree. And then you know she's somebody that's very active right, and so you know, so I see her. So she had come about another thing that like at the council meeting, and so after the council meeting, what people didn't see is my interaction with her after the council meeting or before the call that she made, or how I sent staff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, right, and I have to agree with you on that. That's those snippets Right. It is we. I think we get that backhand a lot, as, as human beings, like we don't get to see the full picture. There's these snippets, and then you're just glorified.
Speaker 1:I'm not number one, I'm not going of these things, then we're never going to get through that agenda right and. I'm not here and again when I say like when you know what you're doing on a daily basis, everything else becomes really noise right, and so I don't. So no, I'm actually like if there is hate on certain issues, it actually empowers me. I actually have an adverse reaction to that.
Speaker 2:How did you get to that level?
Speaker 1:I've always just been like that. I don't think it kind of grew over time. I've always just been like. You know, my parents raised me to be thoughtful and kind and making sure that I'm like somebody that is respectful of everybody, and for me that's, you know, that's really, really important in the sense that I can't just, you know, I think it's especially as an Armenian elected official. Right, there's this kind of like double standard where our community is looking at me from one view or something that they saw which is not even true, right, and then what they're not seeing is that other 60% of the city that I represent, right, and so being somebody that's accessible to all.
Speaker 1:If I'm talking about access, my beginnings were because my community didn't have access right, like they weren't hiring Armenians in City Hall. We had to make policy changes. When Rafi Monaghan was there, we had to create sensitivity training programs for the Manukian was there. We had to create sensitivity training programs for the Glendale Police Department. I was working on those things. I created a police complaint hotline that helped identify the officers that were like targeting Armenians, like especially the community that A either wasn't involved back then or the immigrant communities that have come in the last 10 years they haven't seen that change. What they've come into is a police department that's extremely welcoming and very community-oriented, and you get to see Vahe.
Speaker 2:They don't get to see the backstage of what it took Right.
Speaker 1:And so for me, like when we talk about equity, I always say that I never want anyone to feel that they are not welcomed in the city. This is everyone's city, so my job as a leader is to make sure that all of my residents are safe, that all of my residents feel like this is their home.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, my residents are safe, that all of my residents feel like this is their home, absolutely. And what do you think about the other portion of people that don't feel so safe that, with all the changes that are happening in schools and this equality that you're talking about, I mean, do you feel like those people also deserve to feel safe, like all those parents?
Speaker 1:So I will say this you know I think a lot of folks don't know this the city council makes zero decisions when it comes to schools. Let's start there. So the school district is completely ran by the state of California, right, but I will say, you know, as an example and this is not something that you saw when those protests were happening this is America, this is where you get to protest, but you get to do it in a civil way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, peaceful protest.
Speaker 1:And so even during my remarks during that time at the council you know my direction and my comments were that I don't care what side this is, and I don't think this issue is even two-sided. I think it's very layered. Everyone has to feel safe to be able to make their voice heard in a manner that is civil and respectful to others right.
Speaker 1:And so you know, but those are not the comments you'll ever see on some of those platforms, and you also have to look at who's behind those platforms and what purpose are they serving. Right, and I'll even give you an example on, specifically, like you know, that I ran for state assembly and that was not part of the plan, and really the main reason that I did it is and I kept waiting and I got in very late. I kept waiting to see if there's an Armenian, there's another Armenian that's going to jump in the race because we don't have a single Armenian in the California legislature and that's just absolutely unacceptable to me.
Speaker 2:Why do you think that is?
Speaker 1:But what ended up happening?
Speaker 1:if I may, finish that, but the groups that were constantly posting, oh she's this or she's that or whatnot. During my state assembly race. They didn't even know who my opponents are Right. And then when the race finished they were like, wait, who's Nick, that one right? Or who's this? Like 20%, that was in the race or who's? And so you know there is something to sometimes you know, I think about, you know, the elected officials that aren't so public right, the ones that don't have social media right. I mean, I have four other colleagues. How many of them are as active right?
Speaker 1:And the more active you are, the bigger target you become, because people recognize your name, that were absolutely attacking me without knowing who I'm running against, what I stand for, what they stand for, by all means. I think that's the beauty. I've always loved campaigns for that reason and my beginnings were registering Armenian Americans to vote for them to actually have a voice at the ballot box.
Speaker 1:And I would say my biggest mentor throughout these years is Rafi Manoukian, whose campaign inspired me to get involved right and so and I still turn to him like I would definitely say that he's like my one and only like true, like I will turn to him when it comes to policy decision-making or when I'm trying to like figure things out where um struggling with like a certain decision right, um, or how I bring consensus around an issue, but, um, it's interesting to me that I, the people, are so, so wanting to put you in a box right, and when they can't put you in a box right and when they can't put you in a box, I think that's where the struggle is, and some of the jokes for me is like some of those comments would be like oh my God, her hair is so short, it gets on my nerves.
Speaker 1:Or I think some of the things I've seen, like the shorter her hair, the crazier she gets. Or what are these converse she's wearing? Or I hate her lipstick color. Or like, change your lipstick color. I'm like, may my hair, my Converse and my lipstick be the biggest problem in your life. Because if those are the issues and those are the things that, like you never hear, like you know, I think women are judged differently, right, and I actually, if you kind of go back, for many years, I actually wouldn't. I always wore suit dresses because I didn't even want to think about by the way we're dressed so alike today.
Speaker 2:I was looking, I'm like what?
Speaker 1:Now people are going to think this is like arranged yeah no, but I literally wouldn't even want to like spend time on picking a top for the suit. It's so convenient.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:So I just I would just do a suit dress and call it a day, because and you know, there's been even like at City Hall, I'm cause I I tend to be like more put together, and I remember the first time like I was only going to meet with staff about something and I showed up with, like you know, my hair.
Speaker 1:I had to like fix my hair and staff's not like used to seeing me that way and like, are you okay? And just kind of looked and I was like I chose to spend as much time on my hair as my male colleagues today.
Speaker 1:Let's get the business Like it's not, you know, I mean I'm not in a public setting. Let's get the business Like it's not. You know, I mean I'm not in a public setting, right, I'm meeting with my team and I don't, and I think about those things as a woman, right, like I think I have perfected. I actually think I should do a video on like I can go from a hike to a gala in 30 minutes like take a shower blow your hair.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you start learning to manage you. You know you get ready so quickly, but even even if it's that 30 minutes or whatever it's gonna take, you know, many times I'll be like but this is not what my colleagues are spending their time on, right, like you're putting makeup on, you're fixing your hair, you're those are all like added things that I hear you, you, you know how do you remain presentable? Uh, and make sure that that that that's there, right, um, because it it's also how people view you and um, and women are judged differently, um, and so you know figuring out like clever ways to get around that and you know how you're making. Like you know you're doing one thing while the other one's trying and rushing out the door Right, so but want people to know about you that they don't know.
Speaker 2:On a personal level well, not too personal, but maybe something about like your, your life, your likes, your, your goals, your dreams.
Speaker 1:Besides, I'm absolutely sarcastic and ridiculous in my personal life like you're funny uh, I want to say it's like dry humor dry, dark humor.
Speaker 2:My son's got that. It's hilarious um and I don't.
Speaker 1:I'm very light in my personal life and I think it has has always also had to do with that like balance, because I think my work has always been so, you know, just heavy and decision making where oh yeah, in my personal life. I'm just literally like you know, the the joke would be, even like with friends, like just tell me the time to show up at the restaurant.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I understand that.
Speaker 1:And I'll be there, right? I remember we were planning a girls' trip for one of my friends' birthdays a couple of years ago and I do these like things where like there's a whole text thread happening and I'm not looking at it. But you know, I know that it's at 7, so at 6, 50, like I'll pop in and be like there's no way I'm reading that whole thing, so I'll be like where are we meeting you know?
Speaker 1:but we're going on a trip and you know one of my friends who's very like she's the planner. Um, she was like well, I need to know who wants to do what and, like I said, look, I only care that I open my eyes and I see the ocean and I can walk to the thing, everything else, like I'm fair game, but, um, I think, um, people forget that sometimes elected officials are human, uh, and personal, and I get.
Speaker 1:I get that a lot too, because I'll try to post some like personal stuff, right, and I, you know, I I think just even growing up, people are so used to seeing their elected officials be so serious, right, like, because it's just been the stiff and you know, I think if you are like I, you're a public and a lot of the comments, even as mayor, like, I'll get back saying like, or as a council member, like, oh, you know, you're more approachable, you're like, if you're a public servant, you're a public servant, you're one of the people. I'm not above you, I'm your servant, like, and that concept, you know, I've just I've always cared about impact and not titles, right, and so if you're coming from that place, then I think everything else just kind of falls into place.
Speaker 2:Wow, yeah, it's. What would you be doing if you weren't the mayor of Glendale?
Speaker 1:Like if you weren't into politics. Oh, I think we're one in the same.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't yeah, no, I mean.
Speaker 1:I loved my political consulting. I'm really proud to say that I not only did not, I never seeked a client when I opened it, it just took off on its own. Yeah, and I never took on clients I didn't believe in. I worked on causes that I really, really cared about on the state and federal level and helping other people get elected, and advocacy efforts and nonprofit. So it was like the firm had like really three wings, which was nonprofit development, political advocacy and political campaigns. It's all the stuff that I loved and knew how to do. And I and again like that's why I say like titles are not the it right Like you could. There's so many different ways you can make an impact and you know, when I had my consulting firm, I still was always available to my community. I never, you know, every time I would go and fight the city over permits or whatnot, they weren't my clients and I had, because I had a consulting firm. I would have to stay this. I'm not like, I'm not their consultant on this, I'm not being paid.
Speaker 1:I'm like, but it would drive me crazy that somebody wouldn't be able to like navigate the system, and especially when it came to Glendale and my community, I was very like you know, I would be in Colorado and something would happen in Glendale and then I would like volunteer to like put some action alert together around that. So I think it's always just been part of me Like I don't. I can't imagine.
Speaker 2:I can understand that. I understand that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's not.
Speaker 2:You're like what? You don't even.
Speaker 1:Sometimes I'm like no, sometimes I'm like you know, I like I'm going to move to the mountains. I love, you know, I love being in the mountains. And I'm like you know I'm weeks. And then I'm like, okay, what's next?
Speaker 2:We're so not used to it. I love that lifestyle too, like the nature. Yeah, just away from all the noise, away from Glen Oaks.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, that's my self-care, and I will say that For sure. So you know if I am going to block off an hour or two.
Speaker 1:And ridiculous thing about my car, like I'm always ready for the beach or a hike or whatnot. So, and when we say like, squeeze in, like I may be, like you know I can't really just try to do it nowadays, but not really but I used to like if there was like if I had an hour or two in between a meeting, and say like I was in orange County and then I was going to come back to LA, definitely if I had an hour or two in between you would find me at the beach at those two hours right, like a water person like.
Speaker 1:So it's not like, but but that's like what you do with your time yeah, I'm not a couch person. No, no, I'm not, I can't sit and watch tv. That I will exactly.
Speaker 2:I will leave at night and drive to the beach at night and hang out at the beach, the sound of the water, it's so healing, right. I think that some women, and men too in general, don't the understanding of self-care. It's, I think, backwards. Oh, it's okay Backwards, because most people think it's about like outside care, like, oh, like getting your hair done. But I think it's about like out outside care, like, oh, like getting your hair done, getting. But I think it's so much deeper than that.
Speaker 1:I think self-care is all about just the silence, just to yourself, right, maybe like the water, like the mountains, or doing something much deeper than that so I I love hearing people I love being, I love traveling on my own, yeah so, and I love time I on my own, yes, I think, especially now, even like I was having a conversation with someone at the Vartavar event.
Speaker 2:You went to that event. Oh, I love it.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, Are you kidding me?
Speaker 2:I love Vartavar, but I'm always so like scared to go because it's just, it's a lot.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean that's. I mean okay, so that's my personality. Yes, that is my like I will.
Speaker 2:You're like extroverted.
Speaker 1:And well, I also. You know I'm very activity-oriented.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:So it's, you know, the skiing and the ice skating, that's amazing.
Speaker 1:So I can't just like sit still. But yeah, someone was like, you know, I think they were just seeing that like a lot of people were approaching and I was just kind of being pulled and they're like how do you do this all day? Like? I'm like honestly, like sometimes I think, especially after COVID, I used to be able to do it like and not be tired, and I think, having been like even operating in small circles during covid, I get overstimulated now where I'm.
Speaker 1:you know, it's like one event after another and these are the things right I just like, when I get home, like okay, I just, oh, yeah, I don't know, and that's why, like for me, those like close relationships where, yeah, um, you know, I had sent like a meme to two of my girlfriends the other day because we're like a triangle and I was like I love hanging out in threes because, like you know, the conversation could go on without me and I can be like, ooh, tree, cute. Yeah, I hear you Like it's, you know, being able to be in that space where you're comfortable and you're just, you know also being able to be in silent space. Yes, just, yourself.
Speaker 2:like you and yourself, a lot of people are so scared to be in their bodies nowadays, and that's so unfortunate, because it's such a beautiful place to be if we can genuinely just be comfortable in ourselves. Well, mayor Asatrian, thank you so much. This was such a pleasure and I had fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah, much this was such a pleasure and I had fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. It was such a good conversation and I'm happy that you came, thank you, thanks for having me, absolutely.