Santa Clarita, land that I love, your Daily Brief is ready.

News

• Take that Hasley Hills Secessionists: Castaic is looking to be a nicer place to live even though it’s in County territory. Supe Antonovich announced yesterday that the northern SCV community would get its first library by this summer complete with a “children’s book collection, homework center, teen space, Internet and computer access and dedicated reading areas,” according to the Signal. In politics as in comedy, timing is everything, so I’m sure I don’t need to remind astute SCVTalk readers that a certain Castaic neighborhood is considering annexing into the City of Santa Clarita amid trash fee hikes and the never-never-land status of Castaic High School. Katie Geyer has the details, not online, so dig into the County’s press release.
• Pot Prohibited, CPK Endorsed, and More Planning Commish business: Planning commissioners unanimously voted to permanently ban medical marijuana dispensaries in the city at a meeting last night. The item will be forwarded to the City Council. Meanwhile, the Commission also approved the architecture for the new CPK slated for Westfield Town Center. And perhaps most importantly, the Signal reports that city planners “have begun to work with county planners to provide input on county developments within the SCV.” No mention of the controversial Las Lomas project which lies in County territory in the Newhall Pass.
• Various Crime: An armed man and his accomplice allegedly robbed a female shopper in the parking lot at Food 4 Less in Canyon Country on Monday night. The woman had her purse stolen as she was unloading groceries from her shopping cart. SCV Sheriff.com And on Creekside a car dealership reported some $2,700 in damages after vandals reportedly “scratched and dented” five different cars. And finally the Burbank Leader reports that a Stevenson Ranch woman was busted by Costco security in Burbank after tying to steal “a bra, shirt, sweater, and two containers of king crab spread.”
• McKeon Pitches Romney on KHTS: During a show yesterday morning, our Congressman called into KHTS to sell listeners on Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts who won a convincing primary victory in Michigan yesterday. McKeon said voters ought to trust Romney because of his experience as a businessman and government leader. Link
• Newhall Land Touts Newhall Ranch: At a Valley Industrial Association luncheon Tuesday, Newhall Land spokesperson Marlee Laufer told guests that the 21,000 home project won’t use a single drop of State Water project water, according to the Signal. She also said the project, one of the largest developments in state history, will create 19,000 jobs, up to 13 parks, seven schools, a library and sheriff’s station and would preserve approximately 50 percent of the area as open space. Tammy Marshlian has a report, not online.
• Buck gets good press: Our Rep is the lead sponsor for the “Social Security Fairness Act” that would “repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision.” That’s fancy talk for eliminating a penalty on professionals who choose to teach after they retire from their primary careers. It also affects other public employees. McKeon has worked on the bill for a “number of years” with Democrat Howard Berman and it currently has 336 co-sponsors. It will be considered today before the House Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee and comes in the year 2008 when the first group of baby boomers born in 1946 turn 62, the federal retirement age. Victorville Daily Press.
• Meetings tonight: It’s not enough that the City just completed a nice median project on San Fernando Road; now they want your input on whether to change the thoroughfare’s name to Bouquet Canyon Road and/or Railroad Avenue. You can weigh in on that tonight at 6pm at the Santa Clarita Community Center Classroom at 22421 Market Street in Newhall. Also tonight, Council Candidates Bob Kellar and Maria Gutzeit will meet and chat with voters at the George Caravalho Activity Center. Canyon Country Advisor blog has more on that.

Rock and Blues:

• Two Concerts at Santa Clarita PAC: Hat tip to SCVLife.net for noticing that the COC Performing Arts Center will host a Kool & the Gang concert on January 22 and a classic rock concert on February 1. Hopefully the volunteers at the PAC won’t get upset when people dance, like they did at a Berlin concert last year. Details at CanyonsPAC.com

Blogs, the Internets and The Signal:

• Council Candidates Read SCVTalk: So far, only one candidate for City Council really takes the time (and risk) to blog her personal thoughts, official positions and other miscellanea: Laurie Ender. It turns out she also reads other SCV blogs. Today, she reacts to I Heart’s comment that she’s been running for City Council for 35 years.
• More Clues about Signal’s new site: In the tradition of former Signal publisher Richard Budman, the paper’s new management ran two “teaser” ads in the paper today touting the Signal’s new website, due to hit the internets on January 28. One ad just advises readers to keep an eye on The-Signal.com, while another says that the new site will feature an interactive dining guide with info on “location, phone number, hours of operation, music, alcohol and kids menu and so much more!” That would put them in direct competition with Food411SCV , SantaClaritaGuide.com and other info sites.
• TITTS Dead Again: And in an editorial today, The Signal officially announces that it’s pulling the plug on TITTS, the on-again-off-again forum for SCV residents that has been mismanaged from the start and is now home to bickering partisans. The forum, less than a year old, will die by January 28 and will probably be replaced by a story commenting system moderated by Signal staffers.

A note on the video: I hesitated posting this lame video, but it’s out there and offers a refreshing look at the nose and facial habits of our Assemblyman. (It’s also been posted by several LA blogs, so I’m not the first)