March 14, 2008 - Daily Brief
Mea culpa! For being late ALL week long.
News
- Child pornography found on hard drive at COC: A teacher at COC found “substantial” child pornography images on an external hard drive on Thursday. Deputies jumped into action and reportedly obtained a search warrant on the home of the hard drive’s owner. No names or other details; COC refused to comment as of yesterday. Parimal Rohit reports.
- Housing downturn worse than in early 90s: At least according to some experts in this Times story. A firm that tracks real estate says home prices in Southern California are off 19% over this time last year, and sales are plummeting as well. One other interesting item in the report: home values in so-called “outlying” areas of Los Angeles are being hit hardest “where prices got pumped up artificially with the sort of crazy loans that no longer exist,” one expert said.
- And on the foreclosure front: We haven’t seen any of these in the SCV yet, but in other areas, realtors are outfitting “foreclosure buses” to carry loads of interested homebuyers on a tour of foreclosed properties. One SCV realtor is interviewed in the article; he gives tours of foreclosed Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley properties.
- Attendance at Six Flags Magic Mountain flat in 2007: As is usual for Magic Mountain, no hard numbers are given, but the LA Times reports today that our theme park enjoyed no growth (and no decline) in 2007. Worldwide, some 25 million people visited Six Flags theme parks. Disneyland, Universal Studios and other SoCal parks give out attendance numbers, but not Magic Mountain. Link
- St. Patrick’s Day in the SCV: Signal writer Jim Holt covers the requisite traditions, gathering places, and activities for Irish (and those who think they are) in the SCV.
Miscellaneous
- Guy doesn’t like City’s dog park: Over at the Signal’s blogs (hidden between the PR & advertising posts) is a rant from a guy who opposes the City’s first and only dog park in Central Park. “Why should all of us, incidentally, some of us are not dog owners, pay for the luxury of some of us? I never complain of taxes, because they are a necessity. I ask you, is it necessary for dogs to have a park at taxpayers’ expense? This is a total waste of my taxes. “
- KHTS endorses Kellar/Spierer: Vote for the Law Enforcement Duo named Bob, Carl Goldman says in a brief op/ed. “After careful consideration, KHTS is endorsing Bob Kellar and Bob Spierer. Our time spent with Spierer has revealed a bright, level headed, compassionate man, someone who will carefully weigh each issue and judge it on its own merits, not on outside lobbying,” Goldman writes. As a bonus, he opens up the op/ed thankful that there are no “whacko” candidates in the race this year. Link
- For once, a positive,uplifting mailer: It just wouldn’t be a real, genuine City Council race without mailers from mysterious groups appearing in our mailboxes would it? Yesterday in the 91321 at least, voters received one such mailer from…well…I’m not sure who exactly. The mailer encourages the recepient to “Vote for the Right Team in Santa Clarita’ and says Congressman Buck McKeon has endorsed Laurie Ender and Bob Kellar for City Council. On the list of what Bob and Laurie stand for are building out the cross valley connecter, fighting Cemex, more trails and parks, and cleaning up Whittaker Bermite. So what’s interesting about this mailer? Well it’s not negative, which is nice. Also, it has a return address to the Frank Ferry Committee, though Buck’s picture is on it, not Frank’s. Postage is paid by Victory Mail, the same group that mailed out open space mailers last year.Finally, it almost gives the impression that Laurie Ender and Bob Kellar are running as a team, even though Bob Kellar was presumably one of those “flip flopping” opponents Laurie Ender mentioned last week when she was endorsed by Buck. Anyway, here’s the link to a PDF scan.
- McFarland making a mountain out of a molehill: Dave Bossert doesn’t usually get along with Bob Kellar, especially over annexation, but the Mayor is being slandered by a “local political gadfly” (ie McFarland) Bossert says in a blog post about FormGate. Bossert also says McFarland was a Hare Krishna in the 1970s (ROFL. Is it true?)
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Mr. Goldman said: For us, “the two Bobs bring a nice balance to the current City Council mix.
Goldman has no clue about balance. Both Bob’s have nearly the same background an experience. If the only issue facing the City was enforcing the Law, then both Bob’s make sense for the council. Obviously there are many other important issues. Problem is, Bob #1 has shown his disregard for the law, and Bob#2 has proven that he lacks the necessary skill to be affective in other areas. He has demonstrated this by the way he has handled the Downtown redevelopment project. If both make it to the council, maybe Bob #2 can police Bob #1.
I wish Mr. Goldman well with his radio station, but think he should not use the station as a forum to promote is candidate for council. It smells bad!
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 7:15 am
Sadly the “rant” as you call it is nothing more than suggestive abuse of an animal. I cannot even believe our paper printed this. I love my dog, and cat, more than most people and much more than some children. I could go on a tangent about how misbehaving kids and ignorant parents allow them to mess up my calm afternoon in the park or at the mall or while attempting to enjoy a meal in one of our finest corporate restaurants and what I suggest they do with them, or how parents should take an intelligence test before pro-creating, but that would be lowering myself to this monster’s level.
Honestly, you should remove the link altogether. Why feed this moron’s ego by linking to it at all?
“I would suggest a presidential plan for this one. Lyndon Johnson exercised his beagles by picking them up by the ears. The dogs’ struggle to free their ears was good exercise for them. A third option is to leave our city and take your dogs with you. A fourth option is to put them to sleep, if you do not know how to take care of them without taxpayer help. “
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 7:23 am
Legitimate news outlets often endorse candidates during election season. Nothing wrong with that.
I expect we’ll hear from the Signal in the coming days on who they think we ought to vote for.
Jeff
14 Mar 08 at 7:25 am
Jeff -
I was so angry about the dog park post I have called the Signal and demanded they pull it off the site.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 7:31 am
Zephyr, I see your point. I didn’t read the rest of the post closely. I’ve removed the link.
Jeff
14 Mar 08 at 7:33 am
Legitimate news outlets often endorse candidates during election season. Nothing wrong with that.
No one said it was not legitimate. I said it smells.
Thanks for the link on the dog park. I too believe our money could be better spent in a other areas. One example were the money would be better spent would be to not spend a penny on a dog park, until we have corrected the public education funding crisis.
I am a dog lover, but I have not lost sight of the fact that they are dogs. Some people love horses! Do they deserve a park for their horses to run free!
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 7:39 am
that dog park rant was just a joke, maybe not a good one, but dude, relax!
Mike
14 Mar 08 at 7:39 am
Oh silly me! My bad. Someone suggesting I put my dog to sleep or hang him by his ears to “exercise” him is funny. ha ha. Sorry Mike, any suggestion of abuse is never funny, animal or human.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 7:45 am
Hi Jeff,
I wrote about Six Flags earlier this week. The story appeared in Wednesday’s business section.
http://newmedia.the-signal.com/news/article/769/
Tammy Marashlian
14 Mar 08 at 7:53 am
To all those that think money is wasted on a dog park, I have to pay taxes for YOUR kids to go to school while I have no children of my own. Do I get a tax break or a refund? I live in Tesoro and probably pay more taxes then you since I have to pay for the Tesoro Elementary and Hart Schools, which I do not use and will not in my lifetime. I can be childish too, why do I have to pay for your playgrounds at the park?? I do not use them. What a waste of taxpayer money. My suggestion, buy a house with a bigger backyard and put up a jungle gym for your kids.
Before the city converted that lovely piece of rock hard useless 1/2 acre into a dog park, I walked my dog each day around the neighborhood or drove him to the dog beach. I didn’t demand it be built, I didn’t cry to the city to please build me a dog park. They did it and it is done. Get over it. Pay your .02 a year in taxes for the upkeep of it and shut up, just like I pay my $10 a year to fund your kid’s school.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 7:57 am
Zephyr, you can certainly find humor to be in bad taste, but you clearly took it literally.
Mike
14 Mar 08 at 7:58 am
Holly crap, Bossert has a soul!
As for the housing downturn, I’m curious to see how the current “horrible” housing market would compare over a longer span of time. I’m not talking about looking at percentages of decreases over a two year period, or median house prices this month 2008 compared to this month 2007. I’m curious what the average median home price is, for example, over the past ten years.
Yes the market was inflated, but that’s what the real estate market does. I have a feeling that over the long run, prices (and equity) are still up overall and those of us who didn’t go for the quickie turn around/”crazy” loan will be fine.
The papers and TV news make it sound like houses are going to be boarded up and cities will become ghost towns with foreclosure after foreclosure…
Kip Rockfist
14 Mar 08 at 8:00 am
Mike, if you google that guy’s name or the “society” he mentions, you’ll find a website with pictures/video of kids riding dogs, steering them with their ears.
Jeff
14 Mar 08 at 8:00 am
Tammy….wow, I didn’t see your report. Thanks. It’s much better than the Times one.
Jeff
14 Mar 08 at 8:01 am
also an absurd website, not an actual organization, more like a compilation of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” type stuff.
Let me be clear, I don’t think that post is funny, but it’s not being serious or literal, either. I don’t find Dane Cook or Carlos Mencia funny, but I know they are telling jokes when they get on stage.
Mike
14 Mar 08 at 8:05 am
These are good signs for magic mountain. Last year I went for the first time in 12 years and was surprised at home many things haven’t been changed and have been left to waste. They would do well to make the whole experience more welcoming.
Mike
14 Mar 08 at 8:07 am
These are good signs for magic mountain.
Agreed. I want to get up in that tower once the museum is completed.
As for the rides? Well, not sure I care for them anymore. The last time I went on Viper I was terrified.
Jeff
14 Mar 08 at 8:09 am
“Get over it. Pay your .02 a year in taxes for the upkeep of it and shut up, just like I pay my $10 a year to fund your kid’s school.”
It’s a dog not a kid, get over it! Tesoro, your one of those people that live in the county and use City services. Well, at least your helping the Hart School district. With all your wealth ,perhaps you can afford to pay $10.00 for Fluffy to run free in the park.
By the way, for you to assume that you pay more taxes is as silly as your dog park argument.
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 8:12 am
President - Dave Bossert
DAVID BOSSERT first moved into the Santa Clarita Valley in 1980 to attend California Institute of the Arts. He graduated in 1983 with a B.F.A. in Animation from CalArts’
Where was Bossert dancing while Kellar was a cop? Has Bossert forfeited his personal opinion because of the Fleming influence in West Ridge!
The law is the law and officer Kellar needs to follow the law.
The law is “the mountain” not the form Mr. Bossert!!
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 8:21 am
On the topic of The Signal blogs… does any one else find it troubling that between the self-promoting blogs of local businesspeople and the “Expert Q&As” the Signal website is taking on some of the qualities of the Magazine of Santa Clarita? Their so-called dining guide puts sponsor names in bold and allows for such sponsors to add promotional text to their listing. Ease up Signal! You’d be better off with less junk on the site anyway.
Mike
14 Mar 08 at 8:45 am
For Jeff: you obviously did not read all of Bosserts article. If you had, you may have not provided a link.
For Bossert to include the politico link is indicative of Bossert’s character. Very unfortunate!
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 8:48 am
Mike2 - I am lost on your stating I live in the county and use city services. Which services am I using that I do not have to pay for? Our trash collection is higher than yours, I pay Mello Roos, which you more than likely do not and our HOAs maintain the grounds and roads around us. Try calling SCV and asking them to do something in Tesoro. You will quickly learn that the “city” has nothing to do with Tesoro.
“It’s a dog not a kid, get over it!” Yeah I know, and I already stated I like my dog a whole lot more than people!!!
As to the tax argument, just ask Linda how much Tesoro residents pay in taxes vs. the rest of SCV. Try 1.5%.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 8:52 am
Housing prices do indeed go in cycles…
When I moved to the SCV 20 years ago, people were signing up for lotteries to buy homes on the Valencia Summit, houses that went up for sale on the MLS were sold by noon the same day, and for well over asking price. By the time escrow closed on the resale home that we bought, the value of our home had gone up another $50k. And this was BEFORE the internet! Realtors in those days had to use a funky dial-up system that most could not use from their homes, and it only provided very basic info. The general public had absolutely no access to the MLS whatsoever until many years later.
Home prices were soaring back then just as they were a few years ago, and then they fell for a while, and then they skyrocketed yet again to well over the previous “inflated” prices. Welcome to real estate… it does tend to have up and down cycles in the long-term - this is why the most wealthy people invest in it!
Linda Slocum
14 Mar 08 at 8:58 am
I am sorry you live in an area that has such high fees. This coupled with the fact that your house is worth much less than you paid for it must be painful. The city has nothing to do with you because you live in the county! “Which services am I using that I do not have to pay for”? Answer, the dog park to name but one!
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 9:03 am
Wow… quite an uproar over a dog park!
Zephyr, the property tax rate in Tesoro generally ranges from about 1.5% to 1.75%, depending on whether the property was bought new or as a resale. Homes bought from the builder had taxes assessed at about the 1.75% rate, but since part of that is Mello Roos, the percentage will go down a bit if the home is resold at a higher price.
Most homes in the SCV (other than those with Mello Roos or Community Facilities District Fees) have a 1.25% tax rate with all the added landscape and other assessment districts, but some are as low as 1.1%. Most new construction has either Mello Roos or CFD fees that raise their taxes to the 1.75% range or higher.
Many areas in the SCV started out as County controlled, and then were annexed by the City later on. Valencia’s NorthPark area has only been in City territory for about 4 years, if I remember correctly. As long as we have Bossert and friends opposing annexations, new annexations will remain a long and difficult process.
Linda Slocum
14 Mar 08 at 9:13 am
Mike2 your assumption that my home is worth less than we paid for it, well, you what happens when one assumes don’t you? We, thankfully, are far from being underwater and we live in the cheap seats of Tesoro.
To all residents of SCV, thank you for the 1/2 acre dog park I use twice a week. I hope you enjoy the education I am providing your children as well. Fair trade off I think.
Linda, so funny that 5 years ago homes were won by lottery and now they are being won by auction. History often does repeat itself, just not always in a good way.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 9:13 am
Mike2, this has turned into a pointless p***ing contest, IMHO.
Whether on County or City property, people within the SCV share the same schools and other facilities, as well as the same stores. Kids in homes within the City’s boundaries go to schools on County land, and kids who live on County land go to City schools. And of course we all pay sales taxes, and I would guess that very few people avoid shopping in one part of town or another based on where their sales tax dollars are going.
Do you like shopping at the Valencia Mall, but live outside City boundaries? Your sales tax dollars are going straight to the City, and will do nothing to reduce the cost of your County services. If you prefer shopping in the Stevenson Ranch area, then your sales tax dollars are going straight into the County coffers, and adding to that $20mm surplus that they’re shipping off to Compton instead of providing any local benefit.
The only way to stop this bleeding is to complete the proposed annexations, including the Tesoro area, since incorporating the West Side into a new City would not stop the County from continuing to take “their share” of revenues from the currently unincorporated areas. Only annexation into an exisiting City will keep those sales tax dollars local.
Griping about who can and cannot use a dog park, or whether it should exist in the first place, really won’t solve anything.
Linda Slocum
14 Mar 08 at 9:23 am
“I pay Mello Roos…Try calling SCV and asking them to do something in Tesoro. You will quickly learn that the “city” has nothing to do with Tesoro.”
The reason you pay mello roos is because your developer chose to develop OUTSIDE of the City boundaries and then passed the charges they incurred from the County (for building roads and obtaining permits) onto you.
And why did they choose to develop outside of the City? The same reason every new development (save one) has done so, the City imposes fees and restrictions to promote smart growth and those developers aren’t willing to pay those fees or adhear to the policies this City has cerated over the last 20 years to promote smart growth and maintain a fiscally responsible government. So those developers go just outside the City boundaries and the wonderful County of Los Angeles lets them do pretty much whatever they want, as long as they adhere to state regulations. Forget the surrounding community, just increase the County tax base so they can provide more services somewhere else in the County that “needs” it more.
You want the City to “do something” in Tesoro? Get annexed. And your HOA may take care of the plant life and keeping people from painting their house purple, but the County’s Public Works dept. takes care of the roads.
Kip Rockfist
14 Mar 08 at 9:27 am
ZEPHYR I looked to buying in your area. I did not because it did not make good sense to me at the time. I looked when the first models opened and know the price structure. Given the facts associated with house prices, if you are not upside down, you are fortunate.
My kids are grown, and I do not use the parks. Dog or otherwise.
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 9:31 am
Kip - I never expected the city, well okay not true, to be honest I half the time don’t even know who does what here. being we live in Santa Clarita but Santa Clarita does not have anything to do here is confusing enough. The Sheriff does not have control of Copper Hill, the CHP does, but the Sheriff will come and service the area inside Tesoro. We have no speed limits here, and no one enforces traffic laws here. I don’t get to vote in most elections yet Kellar has signs abound Tesoro. I get to use the city’s parks and areas yet don’t pay taxes for it. All I can say is we were on list after list of homes 5 years ago in the city and out. We got priced out phase after phase. Tesoro had homes to sell and we bought. It was NEVER our first choice due to the tax structure, but you buy where you can and can afford for your first time home. We bought first phase and so far have not lost anything other than paper profit, but we are not selling so it matters little. Tesoro HOA is talking about annexation but who knows how long that will take, if ever. With SunCal and Montalvo at the helm, heaven help us.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 9:43 am
Linda, thanks for the civics lesson. But the issue was not annexation. It was the dog park and how the city spends our tax money. ZEPHYR is the one that decided to broaden the scope of the discussion, not me. Be that as it may, I do not blame anyone that is fighting annexation to this city, given the City councils track record at throwing our tax money away. I would include the dog park as a throw away item. West Ranch may be far better off as its own City, I do really know. What I do know is that things are not getting any better in this city, and I first moved here in 1978.
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 9:46 am
Kip, where within the Santa Clarita City boundaries is there buildable land where new developments can be established, other than possibly along the railroad tracks in Downtown Newhall? Although I don’t necessarily agree with all of the ongoing or planned developments, fact is that new homes will need to be built at some point to satisfy the growing population needs. It would make much more sense to ask why the City didn’t claim a much larger geographic territory in the first place.
Linda Slocum
14 Mar 08 at 9:49 am
Ok, guys, this is getting pretty out of control for a talk that is “just” about a dog park.
Want to add up dollars wasted by the City? Try the Old Town Newhall striping and restriping SNAFU, or the new “streetscape” efforts that are doing nothing but highlighting a declining area with run-down buildings that likely won’t improve for a very long time, or the renaming of San Fernando Road, which entails new street signs and freeway signs for starters… There are those running for City Council that admit that the area will more than likely be boarded up soon, rather than making a quick recovery into the proposed upscale shopping district.
Wasted dollars? A measly dog park is small change compared to what else is going on around town.
Linda Slocum
14 Mar 08 at 10:00 am
“fact is that new homes will need to be built at some point to satisfy the growing population needs”
Why is this a fact and what is the logic! Many here, would be very happy if the growth would occur in other areas of the country. Take your realtor hat off for a minute and consider the opposing argument.
Why is it necessary for us to increase density and traffic, I say it is not necessary or a fact that we need new homes. Don’t build them and they won’t come!
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 10:03 am
“Wasted dollars? A measly dog park is small change compared to what else is going on around town”. You are correct about wasted dollar, and the dog park is only a symptom of the bigger problem.
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 10:07 am
From what I’ve been told, the county drove a very hard bargain when it came to boundaries. At one point, they even wanted a narrow strip of land extending to the civic center so they could keep that as well. The city was founded with no sphere of influence, which is rare, and when it petitioned for a sphere, some years later, it was rejected by LAFCO. There are very few significant housing developments that have been approved by the city. It was either there before formation or it occurred on county land. The whole nature of the city and the problems we have with poor planning in general are not the fault of city hall (for the most part, at least). I think they’ve done a reasonably decent job with the cards they’ve been dealt.
Mike
14 Mar 08 at 10:07 am
Zephyr - Technically, CHP has jurisdiction on all public roads in California. The Sheriff does patrol all of Santa Clarita, including Copper Hill. However, there are more units that patrol the City proper because the City pays for that. There are some units that are designated to patrol only the unincorporated areas. That being said, if something goes down (like an emergency, or a guy growing a few hundred pot plants in his garage) the “City” Sheriffs are more than happy to help out the “County” Sheriffs and vice-versa. In fact, wasn’t the officer who was killed in the “shootout” in Stevenson Ranch a few years ago actually a “City” cop? I could be wrong about that but you get the point.
Linda - You’re right about there not being any available land in the City to develop on, at least not at the present time. But when there was available land back in the 80’s & 90’s developers kept going to the outskirts to build without the City’s influence. As for Old Town Newhall, I guess I’m in the minority (at the least of those who post blog comments) but I think the City’s intentions are truly good down there. I’ve heard all your arguments so no need to repost, just my opinion.
Mike - ditto.
Kip Rockfist
14 Mar 08 at 11:19 am
What the Hell was Palskamp thinking! Isn’t he the smartest guy in the room on Tuesday night? Let’s see! Traffic flow has many many time been identified as the most concerning issue for the residents of the SCV. Ken has the results of several focus groups to tell him this! So how does Mr. Pulskamp respond to the concern? He closes the Golden Valley bride so that a film crew can film there all week. Jeff, watch for another check to be handed to the good Mr. Pulskamp. Only this time it will come from the film industry. I know, I know, it’s the sales tax and the Chamber of Commerce again. Hey Ken, you work for the taxpayers, not the Chamber of Commerce!
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 11:53 am
In fairness, that bridge is hardly used. It will have its day once everything connects, but I’ve never shared it with another car.
Mike
14 Mar 08 at 12:07 pm
Oh, I hate to admit it but I agree with mike2 - How darn long did we wait for that bridge? How much money was spent to get the bridge up and running? Why the heck should I not be able to use it because our stupid city thinks if a movie is involved everyone should drop dead and get out of their way. The city needs to put the citizens first!
carrie
14 Mar 08 at 12:09 pm
ZEPHYR on Mar 14th, 2008 at 7:45 am
“…..any suggestion of abuse is never funny, animal or human…..”
THANK YOU, Zephyr! In all the years I have worked with various organizations rescuing animals, there is nothing I have seen that could have a joke made of it. And allowing children to treat their pets with a lack of respect for the animal’s feelings is beyond disgusting.
People who abuse animals will often abuse children, and if you don’t believe this, just check out all the reports from the FBI and other various institutions and agencies that have released studies connecting animal abuse with child abuse. In California, it is a felony to abuse an animal. I have a bumper sticker taped to the window of my car, courtesy of the Animal Legal Defense Fund organization, that says, “Abuse an animal, go to jail.”
Pauline Harte
14 Mar 08 at 12:17 pm
“Oh, I hate to admit it but I agree with mike2″. I feel much better now. Ha ha!
Mike you need to visit the area during rush hour! I think you will change your mind. The current bridge bypass has drivers back up next to beyond Home depot. Besides, you may have missed the point. Public roads and bridges were not built for film company’s to make movies. This kind of thing used to be done at the studio expense on a sound stage, but the clever among us found a way for taxpayers to pay for the props! The 4th bridge over the LA river in LA used to be the preferred bridge by the film company’s. I hope they go back there. We do not need more traffic congestion in this valley, no matter what street Ken might think is available.
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 12:37 pm
Mike 2 says: “Take your realtor hat off for a minute and consider the opposing argument.”
Mike2, I didn’t say I was in favor of all new development, just that it’s going to happen regardless of whether SCV residents want to stop it or not. There are TONS of new developments that have already been approved, both within the City and outside the City limits. You just don’t see them yet, because the builders are waiting for better market conditions.
People will buy homes whether there’s new development or not. And no, you can’t force everyone to relocate somewhere else just because you don’t want them living in or near the SCV.
As long as babies continue to be born and lifespans continue to be extended, we’ll have population growth that will translate into a need for future housing. That is, unless you’re planning on housing everyone dormitory-style somewhere? Or did you want to somehow restrict the number of children born per household?
Let’s be real, guys… housing needs will continue to increase, and we can’t have zero growth of new housing in the SCV just because we’re a bunch of NIMBY’s. You can have growth within the SCV that is at least someone controlled by the One Valley, One Vision agreement, or you can have high-density growth like Las Lomas polluting our landscape. What’s your preference?
Linda Slocum
14 Mar 08 at 12:58 pm
Mike2: I’ve been enjoying all your posts and agree with most everything you have to say. Actually, you made me laugh a few times.
Zephyr: There’s a problem with our society when dogs are given more consideration than children. They are called animals for a reason. BTW: My 2-year-old daughter could beat up your dog!! LOL
Everyone else: Thanks for the education.
My 2 cents: I’ve learned from the traffic department that when the city was incorporating some 20 years ago they were told the city could only “take” what was then already built up and considered at that time to be SCV — Newhall, Canyon Country, Saugus & Valencia — as the boundaries existed at that point in time. That’s why the city today has these funky city/la county-owned areas. This area turned into a freaky cut-out puzzle. The city tried to acquire more areas in anticipation of future growth but was met with a tremendous amount of hostility and resistance from the county. LA County, not surprisingly, loves our area’s money.
Dessert: I’ve heard this 1,000s of times from city officials. The No. 1 complaint in our lovely valley is traffic/traffic enforcement/overdevelopment. You are right Mike 2: As long as they continue build, they will continue to come.
Birgitta
14 Mar 08 at 1:10 pm
“People will buy homes whether there’s new development or not”.
Linda, if no new homes or apartments are built the area does not grow. That is the point. Put another way, you can’t put 10 pounds of sand in a 5 pound bag. If you furnish at 10# bag it can be filled! You seem convinced that more is better. It isn’t in this case. Of course if you want the City to look like China, Boyle Heights, or the San Fernando Valley, I guess we can. Your view of what is getting real is your view to have. And that is fine. I just won’t agree.
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 1:10 pm
Brigatta -
“There’s a problem with our society when dogs are given more consideration than children. They are called animals for a reason. BTW: My 2-year-old daughter could beat up your dog!! LOL”
I find it hard to believe that you think because the city granted a worthless 1/2 acre of rock solid useless area of a park that we are giving more consideration to animals then children. How long did it even take for that “park” to be created? I have been here for 14 years and we just got it at the end of 2007. There are plenty of parks with slides and swings for your kids. I doubt anyone has forgotten this is breeder heaven and your kids will be well taken care of and a priority for many years to come. One dog park a decade will not change that.
BTW- keep your kid away from my dog. ha ha ha. If I said my 3 year old 90 pound dog could beat up your 2 year old daughter that would be funny too? ha ha ha.
I love living up here, where the air is clean and the minds are simple and open.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 1:39 pm
Brigatta -
I am sure there is are several potential good reasons ZEPHYR has no children.1)Her unwaviering love for dogs may be a reason, 2) there is a medical reason, 3) there is no husband, or 4) she just does not like kids. Based on what she has said, I vote for 2,3 or 4. 1 can’t substitute for 2! But 3 and 4, perhaps.
My simple way of thinking about the matter.
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 2:04 pm
Knock it off mike2. This is not the place to speculate about other readers personal lives, so drop it.
Jeff
14 Mar 08 at 2:06 pm
If stephenwinkler had any idea that his bad joke would result in such a long winded blog war, he’d roll over in his grave.
Mike
14 Mar 08 at 2:21 pm
Thanks Mike2 for clearing that up. You were spot on though, the answer is # 3, I have no husband!! Perhaps due to the fact I am a man!
And for your info, I love kids and have several wonderful nieces and nephews, all who love animals as much as I. I never once said I do not like children. I just find so many people either hate animals or love them. Those that express such intense arguments that animals are a waste of time and money tend to also feel that those of us that do care about them are child haters and only wrapped up in our animals. Why is that? Why did you assume I was a woman? Surprised you did not ask me how many cats I have.
Simple is as simple does. You proved my point beyond a shadow of a doubt.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 2:21 pm
Well this has been fun, but I need to get to the dog park with my wife who only recently has been feeling up to it since losing the baby 2 months ago. Our dog keeps us happy and provides us a true source of unconditional love.
BTW- Cesar Milan has been filming at the park all day with Daddy his pit bull terrier.
Just like Zephyr, the god of the west wind, I am blowing out of here. You all can carry on your lengthy, yet so boring, discussions of politics and who did what, when and where. Yeah, politicans who have hidden agendas, imagine that? Geez. Only in the SCV.
ZEPHYR
14 Mar 08 at 2:31 pm
ZEPHYR you have opened yourself up for a debate that I will avoid. Apologize to your wife for me. For whatever reason you think appropriate. By the way I have a cat, and the cat has no park to run free either. BTW, your lack of concern for children is understandable and your comments make the case.
ZEPHYR said: “I doubt anyone has forgotten this is breeder heaven and your kids will be well taken care of and a priority for many years to come. One dog park a decade will not change that”
No dislike for kids !
A little less than truthful aren’t you?
mike2
14 Mar 08 at 2:58 pm
I’m forming this fantasy in my mind, in which you are all locked up together in a car with the windows closed on a hot summer day and not allowed to leave until you all agree on which door to open…
RickL
15 Mar 08 at 5:46 am
Have a great weekend! The door on the right, be sure of that!
mike2
15 Mar 08 at 8:39 am