Patrick Murphy is running for Glendale City Council with a clear message: the city is on a dangerous path, and local control is disappearing. A retired entrepreneur with experience in real estate development, Murphy emerged from grassroots activism around a controversial wash project to become a vocal critic of the city council’s approach to housing, development, and public engagement. His campaign centers on various issues, including what he views as the threat posed by SB79 and the Bus Rapid Transit project, a bloated, wasteful city budget and a city government that talks at residents rather than listening to them. Murphy comes to politics with 40 years in real estate and construction, specializing in the repositioning of distressed retail properties. That expertise shapes his view of the city’s financial management. He emphasizes both his discipline and his commitment to staying local, as a political newcomer frustrated with the status quo, armed with private-sector expertise and grassroots support. Whether that’s enough to shift Glendale’s direction remains to be seen. What’s clear from this conversation is that he’s not interested in Sacramento or Washington; his focus is entirely on his city.
Who Is Patrick Murphy?
“I’m the youngest of 9 children,” says Murphy. “I grew up in New York. Dad was with the NYPD for 29 years and retired as a lieutenant. I like to say that I grew up in a paramilitary environment. I’m disciplined, very disciplined. I’m committed to Glendale, and I have no political agenda beyond Glendale. I won’t go to Sacramento. Washington is completely out of the picture, and I don’t want a county seat. All I want to do is help make Glendale better. That’s all I want to do, and I’ll work hard.”
On why he decided to run, Murphy describes a gradual shift from skepticism to conviction.
“At first, I was like, yeah, no, thank you very much. I am not a politician. I don’t want to do this. I want to travel. I want to retire. I want to travel with my wife, and then I thought, you know what? It’s a mess. This is my way of giving back. After a successful career, I feel I can give back to the people. And this is my way of doing it.”
Your thoughts on SB79 and the proposed BRT line?
SB79, in conjunction with the Bus Rapid Transit line, is an existential threat to our entire city. The proposed BRT line runs from North Hollywood to Pasadena. In Glendale, there are 21 stops on this BRT line, and most are on a dedicated bus-only lane. Within ninety-five feet of one of those stops along Glen Oaks, developers can build up to nine stories, within a quarter mile, seven stories within a half mile, five stories within a quarter mile—all of these with no parking requirements…