April 10, 2008 - Daily Brief
Written by Jeff on April 10th, 2008Big (comparatively) voter turnout in Tuesday’s election, the incoming councilmembers and what they’ll work on, McKeon’s reaction to Petraeus’ report, a local biotech firm gets hit hard, plus Santa Clarita is still a bedroom community? All that ahead in today’s Daily Brief.
News
- Voter Turnout possibly highest in 10 years: Santa Clarita voters went to the polls (or more likely, their mailboxes) for the 2008 City Council election more than in any council election since 1998, reports Katie Geyer at The Signal. Geyer says that preliminary stats show that some 12,408 ballots were counted at City Hall on Tuesday night. Of that, 67% or about 9,000, were vote-by-mail ballots. An additional 1,000 absentee & provisional ballots remain to be counted. Going by those numbers, it appears many voters only chose one candidate on their ballot: VoteSantaClarita.com reports that a total of 21,971 votes were counted, a disparity of some 2,845 votes if all 12,408 voters had selected two candidates. Even with the higher turnout, only 16% of the city’s 82,000 registered voters participated in our local election. Signal, VoteSantaClarita
- Ender, Kellar talk about agendas on City Council: In the same article referenced above, Councilperson-elect Laurie Ender told The Signal that she believes the new city council be a “well-represented and dynamic team” and that she hopes she can travel to Washington to work on fighting Cemex. She also mentioned Mayo expansion and the MRF and said she was looking forward to new public participation in city affairs. Mayor Bob Kellar, who won his third term on the council, told the Daily News that his “mandatae is to do a good job serving the community.”
- McKeon, Iraq, the anatomy of a Bin Laden quote, and local media: Lost in the post-election blahs yesterday was a telephone press conference scheduled by Congressman Buck McKeon to discuss with local reporters General David Petraeus’ Iraq report before Congress. The eight term Santa Clarita congressman, who’s running for office again this fall, told reporters that success in Iraq was “undeniable” and that the results of the military surge are “important and impressive.” At the beginning of his discussion with reporters, he quoted from 2007 Osama Bin Laden message in which the Al Queda leader emphasized the importance of Baghdad in the fight against Americans. The Signal reports on that quote and the telephone press conference here. Part of Bin Laden’s quote was apparently used by McKeon earlier in the day when he was quoted by the Wall Street Journal about the war in Iraq: “I think we’ve also talked about the price of being there and the price of leaving…it is either victory and glory or misery and humiliation.” Meanwhile, the Victorville Daily Press took a different approach to McKeon’s conference call and mentioned that not all Republicans share his views.
- Valencia based MannKind Corp stock loses nearly 60% of its value: The pharma and medical products company based in northern Valencia is trying to develop an inhaled form of insulin, the hormone injected by diabetics to help control their blood sugar. But investors dumped MannKind stock yesterday after rival Pfizer announced that tests of its inhaled insulin product showed increase risks of lung cancer. The LA Times reports on that and billionaire found Alfred Mann’s ideas for the product here.
- Santa Clarita is so generic it could be anywhere: That’s the consensus from Variety, the Hollywood trade journal, which reports that the “bedroom community of Santa Clarita often doubles for numerous cities and countries.” Nothing really new in this report, though there’s a quote from city “film analyst” Jessica Freude who told Variety that Santa Clarita “has thousands of locations but not one distinctive look.” Link
- Thieves better not touch my NetFlix, or two crime shorts: Two perps were arrested by SCV Sheriff’s deputies on Monday after a “tipster reportedly saw them taking items from several mailboxes” in Saugus. The perps, both of Granada Hills, had “checks, credit card statements and NetFlix DVDs” on them. And north of Soledad Canyon Road, a 47 year old man was arrested for allegedly trying to steal copper from “a pole holding high tension wires” according to KHTS.
- Castaic Library taking shape: Brief report today from the Daily News on new county libraries. Troy Anderson reports that a space in Castaic has been leased by the County for a “storefront library” that will open this summer. No details on where it’s at, but it will apparently be in a shopping center. Link
Blogs & Opinion
- I Heart on the differences between Laurie Ender and Frank Ferry: As a public service, I Heart’s taken the time to examine the similarities and differences between Councilman Frank Ferry and Councilwoman-elect Laurie Ender. Link
- Publisher Jay Harn says Laurie Ender may have a “mandate”: The Park Commish’s win in the election was “definitely strong” and the “public has spoken,” so much in fact that Jay Harn, Signal publisher, says “no one can question the fact that she may perceive she brings a ‘mandate’ with her as she takes her seat.” Link
- Photo of SCV Walmart appears on Chinese news site: This one isn’t really newsworthy, and I really doubt it’s of an SCV WalMart, but a Chinese news website reporting on the economy has what it describes as a photo of the bread section in a Wal Mart store in the SCV. There’s an elderly woman who looks like an old Russian babushka in the picture.
- These are the kids who get a free temporary skate park: SCVLife.net blogger has a video of local teens skating in places they shouldn’t be. But they’ll all hang out at the $170,000 temporary skate park, right?
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Ender deserves the same pass that everyone seems willing to offer Kellar. His missteps are a statement of fact and Enders are not at this point, yet Kellar has not apologised. I hope that Enders will do a better job of representing the taxpayers, then do the other. Additionally, David G has some work to do to mend a large hole that may have been created by his comments opposing Ender.
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Those Santa Claritans who are attempting to bring honesty and transparency to our local government are the truly disenfranchised in this city right now and Laurie Ender needs to reach out to every person who felt that this election represented a new low for Santa Claita.
As an elected representative, she will be working for us. Mr. Harn, a “mandate” claim will not help heal this city, that will only vlaidate the disgust. So…..what will bring this city together, with such a huge rift growing wider every day? An apology from Laurie Ender is all that will help at this point. When that occurs, I will have no problem wiping the slate clean.
I will make it easy: if Ender “just” apologizes for any “regrettable misunderstandings” that arose from her campaign in this election, I would accept that. And while I don’t speak for anyone else, I believe many others would feel relieved to know that our new elected representative cares about EVERYONE in this city and not just those who voted for her. My husband and I raised our two wonderful daughters to understand the principals of being personally accountable for their actions. We raised them to be sorry if their actions hurt others, even unintentionally, and we raised them to hold their heads up and apologize when neccessary so all concerned have a chance to move on with a clean slate. I cannot accept anything less from elected representatives.
So - in the spirit of moving on and wiping the slate clean, if Laurie Ender would like to apologize for “misunderstandings” that arose from her election “mishaps,” I would personally accept that apology and move on with my clean slate. I think the council session at which she is sworn in would be a perfect opportunity for Ender to reach out to all us disenfranchised folks who have trouble accepting how this city was torn apart in the name of the win at any cost kinda politics from the Ender campaign. This city is wounded and bleeding, and an apology is the ONLY medicine that will start the healing process on its way.
So here is how it is, Laurie: just apologize to this city, to the disenfranchised, for all the “misunderstandings,” and we can all move on. I don’t even expect you to admit you have no experience in the Cemex issue, I’ll give you a free ride there, but publicly acknowledging all that Bob Kellar and Laurne Weste have done to keep a mega-mine at bay for 10 years is something you could/should do. The healing process must begin now, or it will never happen, and only you, Laurie, can set this process in motion. If we receive an apology from you at the next city council meeting, even if it is for misundertandings, I will be applauding along with everyone else as you are sworn in.
As we told our daughters, a clean slate must be earned - and this important life-principal should certainly be applicable to all elected representatives. I can’t imagine why anyone could disagree with that.
And here is my phone number, in case Laurie would like to start the healing process even sooner: 255-2695.
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Cash has it backwards: I’d say, Ender has much work to do in mending things with David G. regarding her misguided notion with HM/G&L’s HUGE office expansion project.
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Ender doesn’t owe anyone an apology. She won fair ‘n square with an innovative approach to a local campaign. SCVTalk reader Mike said it best yesterday. It was a grown-up campaign, sophisticated in its approach and novel in the way it reached out to people who Ender herself admits didn’t normally vote (those “nobodies” I referenced which apparently became a rallying cry).
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She took a big beating in the blogosphere and in the local media. She was dismissed or denounced by activists of just about every persuasion, yet she managed a massive vote total. If were her, I’d listen to exactly zero of my critics. I wish she would, but she has no incentive to. Until she blunders in office or a vote cast leads to actual, observed harm, she will be unshakable. Just the political reality, I’m afraid.
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Cash has it backwards: I’d say, Ender has much work to do in mending things with David G. regarding her misguided notion with HM/G&L’s HUGE office expansion project.
No cash does not have it backward.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. David G. said many things about Ender he may regret at this point. Enders position on the hospital was and is no secret. David, tried his best to make sure Ender was not elected, now he starts in the hole when it comes to the hospital and Enders support for the smart growth position; a position which I support. Ender is in the drivers seat and David has to do catch up to convince her that her position is wrong. Much of David’s excellent work went down the drain on election day. Sad but true.
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Jeff, we will have to agree to disagree as to whether lies and misrepresentations can be written off as “innovative.” I couldn’t have been manipulated into that mindset by my daughters, but maybe we were too strict as parents by today’s standards.
It would go a long way to healing the rift in this city if Ender alologizes for any misunderstandings. That is the fair, caring thing for her to do, considering all the outrage over this election. Telling people to basically suck it up, Jeff, will do nothing to help this situation; will not be possible to start off with a clean slate any other way.
David Gauny is a hero in this city, he owes no one an apology. Those who deliberately refuse to acknowledge the G&L escape clause in the Development Agreement and continue to push a hospital expansion that G&L and Roget Seaver cannot gurantee are the ones who owe this city an apology. But on this issue, I will be happy if I can be assured that BOTH sides of this issue are beeing appraised, not just G&L’s side.
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It’s always hard when the new girl in town gets elected the prom queen. The old prom queens just can’t easily let go of their crowns.
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By the way, I predict that once the numbers are all in we will be able to trace the ENTIRE uptick in turnout to the 91354, where Laurie Ender “tricked” all those folks who have known her for 15 years.
C’mon former “cool kids.” Get up from the lunch table graciously.
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I don’t think Laurie will apologize for anything she did, just like Ferry won’t apologize for anything he does - and we all know he should. I agree with Mike that, once you’re in the seat, damn the critics.
I also agree that we should give her a fair shake to make meaningful, honest decisions on the counccil. And I say this NOT to suck up or “mend holes” as Cash suggests. I just think it’s unfair to say she’ll be terrible when she hasn’t even had her first meeting!
Having said that, I still think she ran afoul in her campaign. Contrary to Jeff’s remarks (or quoting of someone’s remakrs), IMHO she did not run a “grown up” campaign at all. Yes, it was effective and, yes, it’s a preferred method today, but misleading the public about what you’ve accomplished and misrepresenting the views of your opponents in a bulldozing campaign of ambiguously funded fliers is just plain dishonest. It’s a bullying tactic better suited to a playground - or, say, Frank Ferry, whose fingerprints are also all over this. Personally, I think Frank got beat up a lot when he was a kid. Regardless, I won’t make apologies to either of them for what I’ve said - what they did was wrong.
Nevertheless, the bottom line remains that she did win and she should be given a chance. What decisions she makes from this point forward will define her and if she goes with blind approvals, then she will be exposed for that - it’s what community groups do, right? Until then, it is what it is and we have to move on and hope for the best.
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This has nothing to do with old prom queens or tricks played. Buck and $$’s won this election for 91354. Now, we rely on David G’s continued magic and holding City Council’s feet to the fire…. if it were not for him & his group, HM/G&L Ofc construction would easily be in full swing by now. If City Council approves their Master Plan/Development agreement without a guarantee for actual hospital expansion, then 3 City Council Members better start looking for new jobs in two years.
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I appreciate your remarks, Cash, but there has been no dialog with either Ferry or Ender. Ferry and I talked for about 10 minutes on his cell phone a couple of hours before a hearing - and much of that time I was on hold. He took the concerns I had and blasted them without consideration that evening. Remember, that’s 10 minutes of time in over a year of trying.
Ender has repeatedly and deliberately ignored the contractual concerns we’ve addressed in the G&L project and I’m not sure how you “fix” problems that can’t even be acknowledged. It has been clear up til now that she is not interested in a deeper understanding of the matter. There’s just not much to embrace when someone won’t consider the facts in front of them.
I mean, should I “mend ways” with Ferry also? Would another 5 minutes of his time be worth the effort?
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timothy.myers on Apr 10th, 2008 at 8:41 am
It’s always hard when the new girl in town gets elected the prom queen. The old prom queens just can’t easily let go of their crowns.
Interesting analogy…and an unfortunate fact. Our city politics has turned into a popularity contest. It has become apparent that the most popular and ‘money-backed’ individuals will win. As mentioned before, not very many of my neighbors know what is happening around ‘their’ community. It might be too late for them, however, when they realize that they’re tax dollars are going to uneccesary projects (Big League Field of Dreams) and Developers are going to continue to build large developments on small parcels( G&L and Mule Farm) which will cause their ‘quality of life’ to change dramatically due to overpopulation, traffic jams/congestion, more crime and overcrowed schools.
Yes Tim, being ‘cool’ and popular seems to be the only way to go! I can’t wait to here her acceptance speech when she gets ‘crowned’!
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dgauny: I understand the situation. It is unfortunate but you are not in the drivers seat. My hope is that you will find away to be bring the right outcome for the hospital expansion. Politics are a bitch, and negative comments about Ferry or Ender will not lead to the right outcome. If a vote were taken on the expansion once Ender is seated, we will lose the fight and G&L will win.
Suck up hell no, less public proclamation of your personal opinion of Ferry and Ender, yes!
Let the rest of us throw the stones. They need to be thrown, but not by you.
You have my support and I believe in your leadership.
Win the war, not the battle!
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Dave, all good points. I’ll point out that I meant “grownup” in the sense of being professionally managed and focused on image and organization instead of persuasion. In an election this small, I’d much rather have the more innocent, issues-based campaign we yearn for.
I don’t know if the pointed nastiness was part of the professionalism or not. I’d imagine she could have won without it. Unless there was a strategy of encouraging supporters to vote for her and her alone, then it would make sense to go to such lengths to discredit your opponents. I wonder if this single-candidate voting has a geographic bias or if it’s higher than previous elections.
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“If City Council approves their Master Plan/Development agreement without a guarantee for actual hospital expansion, then 3 City Council Members better start looking for new jobs in two years.”
Boy, I have been hearing this for 12 years on EVERY issue and NO incumbent has lost their bid for reelection in any local office other than folks on the Newhall County Water Board who later got elected again. It’s really getting hard to stay awake!
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CIB Bill on Apr 10th, 2008 at 8:57 am
This has nothing to do with old prom queens or tricks played.
Exactly, and silly grade school level attacks like this add nothing to the discussion and only degrades the quality of this blog. I am requesting that Jeff step in here and remind posters to keep the silly insults for the wide-open type blogs. I don’t know if Tim was directing his old prom queen potshot at me, since he didn’t use a name, but in the interest of full disclosure, I have not ever been a prom queen and I have never even considered myself prom queen material, young, old or any other way someone wishes to envision me. But this comments must have been meant for someone in oarticular, if not meant for me, and that still makes it uncalled for.
I believe my offer to mend fences is more than generous. I even included my phone number. 255-2695. That goes for you, too, Tim. I am willing to talk, I am willing to fogive, but if extending my hand is going to get it bit off at the elbow, what is the point.
In the interest of keeping this board at an adult level, replacing relevant comments with snippy insults should be curtailed. I like this blog because we don’t attack each other with gratuitous, personal insults even in heated discussions, and that is the reason some of us only post on this blog and not other more “wide-open” sites. Demeaning posters at a personal level is just unkind, no matter how thinly veiled the demeaning comments are. Let’s keep the discussions at an adult level.
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It’s hard when you realize that thousands don’t care what you think. Well, it was a bit easier for me because the front of that long line is populated by my children and spouse.
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timothy.myers on Apr 10th, 2008 at 9:58 am
It’s hard when you realize that thousands don’t care what you think.
Tim, I am at a loss, I don’t know why you cannot hide you disdain with those of us who do not march lock-step with your opinions, but that is a personal issue you need to rectify; civility needs to reign here with so many controversial issues.
LOL, I don’t care if a MILLION people don’t care what I think, Tim, I will still have a voice. And my voice, raised with other voices, well, that is what makes the changes in this world, and in this city. As for implying that you know how thousands of voters think of the people who voted differently than you and your “spouse” did, well, I don’t see the point of a statement like that.
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What a group this is! Your all great Santa Claritans all. I think a new town council should formed out of this group of bloggers. Or form the new SCV advisory committee.
It sure is a beautiful day out today. Not a cloud in the sky and a slight breeze if any. Spring, I love it.
With so much behind us now I’m sure grateful for what we do have here, even with our occasional hiccups. It’s time, I’m outside for the rest of the day. Cheers to all of you.
Sterling King
Jeff, good remarks about biking by the way. Great insight!
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“Should BE formed” = very sorry, very sorry!
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Pauline, your comments are much appreciated… keep up your good work!
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Tim, knock off the personal references and semi-attacks. That may fly elsewhere, but not on SCVTalk.
Passionate debate and disagreement are welcome here, but NO personal attacks.
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“Tim, knock off the personal references and semi-attacks”. These must have gone over my head. Did not read any of the above.
Jeff. Please define personal reference and semi-attacks.
Landscape business must be slow today and Tim is overpaid! Where does that statement fit your definition?
Thanks
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oh boy…
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Oh boy is right! Who is the prom King? No pun intended!
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Not you, Cash.
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Different pun! I know it is not you Billy Boy.
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Truly, Cash Boy…
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I am not sure who the queen is either, and I do not know the gender of all that post. But in today’s world it does not really matter much. From where I sit, you can be the queen or the king if you like, it really has no significance here.
Perhaps Jeff can guide us through this conundrum!
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I’m quite sure that Jeff will advise you very soon that this dialog is completely idiotic.
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Yes it is, much like asking Jeff to be the referee over what is said or implied here.
The queen comment was innocent.
By the way, I will not be asking Jeff to sanction your criticism. I can handle it young William!
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Criticism?
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Depends on your interpretation of the definition. And how sensitive you are. Some here may be too sensitive.
Your statement would probably be offensive to the person that has decided to be the queen for today. However that may be.
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Seems your own sensitivities are in play here…
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Not really. If you feel the need to mask the issue, that’s fine. Enjoy your evening.
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Issue?
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ROTFLMAO, CIB Bill, you are really funny. Wethepeople, I had no idea you are Sterling King - I love your videos!! The one showing the traffic problems at the top of Lyons is right on and your traffic barrier suggestion needs to be taken very seriously by this city, that is such a nightmare. And getting in and out of that Vincenzo’s shoping center is a joke. I can’t believe it when I see someone go from the freeway to the gas station across the street, even when traffic isn’t cleared; we almost got wiped out on our motorcycle by one of those idiots and 2 guys were trying to run across the street right in front of us, how nuts do ya have to be to try doing that in the middle of that mess!
In fact, your videos are a lot more interesting than what my husband put on TV tonight (my idea, so I can’t actually blame him) - “There Will Be Blood” - NOT a movie for people with attention deficit disorder issues, but I do like your videos, they are very interesting and not boring at all and I am actually learning a few things - great job! What a super view from Towsley, wow; a bit more “cluttered” now, though, than 30 years ago, as time (and our urbanization) marches on……….
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A great movie if you love milkshakes
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Yes!
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Pauline - I honestly don’t think you have a firm grip on reality. If apologies are to be spoken, they should begin with you, for the continuous hate-filled crap you’ve directed at Councilmember-elect Ender. You should be ashamed and embarassed, but you certainly have no clue about that.
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Passionate debate and disagreement are welcome here, but NO personal attacks, unless they’re leveled at Laurie Ender, and then the more bitter, loathing the attack, the better.
FTFY
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“TeeJay,” why so much anger? I find it odd that all your anger is always directed at lil ole’ me when so many others here have posted the same truths about Laurie Ender that I have posted and some have even been harsher. Odd, isn’t it, that I am SO much more annoying to you than the others? And you are still afraid to come out of the shadows, even though you demanded full disclosure from me, very interesting. Come on, how bout some of that full disclosure from you, “TeeJay?”
Smile, “Tee Jay,” we are, life moves on. Here is some sound advice for you:
WethepeopleSCV on Apr 10th, 2008 at 10:38 am
What a group this is! Your all great Santa Claritans all. I think a new town council should be formed out of this group of bloggers. Or form the new SCV advisory committee.
It sure is a beautiful day out today. Not a cloud in the sky and a slight breeze if any. Spring, I love it.
With so much behind us now I’m sure grateful for what we do have here, even with our occasional hiccups. It’s time, I’m outside for the rest of the day. Cheers to all of you.
Sterling King
It’s another beautiful day today, “Tee Jay,” enjoy, smile, and be happy. Your candidate won, remember?
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Pauline Harte,
I Second that for sure.
I want to thank you for kind remarks. I’ve had a lot of fun with those videos. I started doing little videos about a year ago with the Open Space stuff and that was sort of accidental at fist then it caught on.
When we had those fires last year I went out to get a look that night hoping I would get a little movie of some hills burning but soon found myself in the middle of flames, embers, wind and a lot of adrenaline and that made for some fun videos. The Towsley video was my Huell Howser monent for sure! It still makes me laugh when I see it but it is a good view.
You are 100% right about the Lyons off ramp. It drives me up the wall! I’ve been downtown about it 6 times now and is It’s still on my agenda . I’m glad you enjoy the movies. I will be finding more random things to film here and there. Stay tuned, I will be dazzling scv again with more of my random handy work. I’m open for ideas.
You have a great knack for writing and I appreciate that very much. It’s indeed a talent I wish I had. I’m sure as the months proceed on there will be plenty to write about. I look forward to the accountability faze with our new council. I’m sure you will play a part. At this point, a breath of fresh air is what a few people need in here. I hope they get some.
Have a nice weekend to you and your family.
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No anger here–just LMAO that all your fear mongering and loathing didn’t prevent Councilmember-elect Ender from getting the most votes.
You should be ashamed and embarassed, but you certainly have no clue about that.
Emphasis on you having no clue.
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Yes, you exhibit lots of anger, “TeeJay”.
We who opposed the dirty poltics and Ender campaign “fear-mongering” in this election have moved on, we’re happily talking about other stuff here now, yet your anger will not allow you to move on even though your candidate won. On and on and on you go, and it seems impossible for you to be happy about your candidate’s win. Quite baffling. We are discussing other stuff here, and here you are, in stalking mode, foaming at the mouth again, LOL, sliding in at the end of a thread to spew at me when it is videos and other stuff being discussed here. LMAO, it is actually funny that you cannot let go of anger.
The only “fear-mongering” came from Laurie Ender fear-mongering hit mailers that tried to make voters think Bob Spierer was “playing policits ” with this city’s healthcare, then came the fear-mongering lie that he may be playing politics with “anything.” Very hateful kind of dirty politics here, “TeeJay.”
TeeJay, please bring proof that Bob Spierer played politics with anything, including healthcare. And if you cannot provide proof, then I would suggest that you sit back, and try to remember that your candidate won, and move on. For some reason, you do not seem happy about how this election turned out. And you keep singling me out when most here have said nothing differently than I have said, some have been harsher, yet you continually ignore all of the other posters and just single me out. You never refute anything I have said, or anything anyone else has said, with proof that we are wrong. The fear-mongering hit mailers did exist, they were sent out by the Friends of Laurie Ender, and they appeared twice in mailboxes. They DID lie about Bob Spierer, and their intent was to scare people out of voting for him by smearing him with fear-mongering lies.
When people write ABOUT fear-mongering hit mailers that dishonestly smear another candiate with fear-mongering lies, exposing this kind of low-down dirty, fear-mongering politics is not the fear-mongering, “TeeJay.” The fear-mongering was in the lies put in the Laurie Ender fear-mongering hit mailers, in a dishonest attempt to provide voters with incorrenct, fear-mongering lies about Bob Spierer by implying they should be afraid of him. THAT is the hate/fear-mongering, lying about a candidate just to frighten people out of voting for him - based on the baseless accusations and fear-mongering lies of a smear hit mailer.
“TeeJay,” If you can provide documented proof why Bob Spierer would “play politics” with healthcare or “anything,” please show us. If you can’t provide documented proof, then THAT is proof that the only “fear-mongering” came from the Laurie Ender fear-mongering hit mailers when these hit mailers attempted in a very dishonest manner to frighten voters out of voting for Bob Spierer.
I hope you understand the term “fear-mongering” now, “Tee-Jay.”
Smile, be happy, “TeeJay.” Time for you to move on. You are getting nowhere, and you keep the Laurie Ender fear-mongering hit mailers in the news, so to speak.
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“questions regarding the expansion plans of Henry Mayo came front and center and bob spierer refused to state his position on the matter”
that’s playing politics with health care
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Still not happy, I see, TeeJay. I’ve never seen this much unhappiness from supporters of candidates who have won, this is a first, LOL.
Fact - Laurie Ender smeared Bob spierer Bob Spierer with baseless accusations and resorted to fear-mongering hit mailers to frighten people out of voting for him when his views about the hospital issue were quite clear. The Signal was proven wrong, just as Laurie was, when Bob Spierer discussed the incorrect portrayal of his stand. Yet Laurie Ender sent out a SECOND fear-mongering hit mailer, the exact fear-mongering hit mailer that was proven to be nothing but filthy smears against Bob Spierer. She proved she has no integrity. Beginning and end of her story. Another fact - an EIR is being completed, and until that study is done, it is irresposible to decide how one is going to vote on an issue when all the studies have not been completed. yet we know exactly how Frank Ferry and Laurie Ender are going to vote, they have made that quite clear, proving that it doesn’t matter how much the negative impacts will harm the community of Valencia, they will vote for G&L no matter what. The other candidates said they must wait for the studies to be completed, which is what EVERY candidate should be doing before announcing how they will vote. From David Gauny:
David Gauny on Mar 19th, 2008 at 11:18 am
TeeJay - I don’t really want to get in the middle of this but Bob Spierer was prehaps the most articulate of any of the candidates. After spending nearly a dozen hours in private negotiations with us and the hospital, he is perhaps also the most educated.
Bob’s greatest concerns is the same as ours: The third and final proposed medical office building (MOB3) appears to trigger either eminent domain or a newly proposed TOTAL realignment of McBean Parkway along the hospital frontage. This is a HUGE undertaking.
The G&L team has gone to work on a new EIR and they are proposing studies that will reveal no further mitigation is needed. Our concern is that, typical of such studies, the findings are typically in favor of the purchaser.
In short, Bob’s concern is that he can’t answer until all of those facts are presented which is both a prudent and thoughtful approach to dealing with the issue. On the other hand, Laurie “would give her left arm” to find a parking space on the campus (source: her own website) yet suggests that the hearings are a waste of time and that we should approve it now - but much of the hearings are on this very issue and the G&L team is hiding facts that have taken years to finally come out.
Her other drumbeat of “Centers of Excellence” is based on nothing rhetoric. This was never even mentioned until the council sought a study to determine if the proposed 200K sqft was justified. This new feature, they claimed, would use up 150K of the proposal. But when the contract came out, this number changed to literally ZERO. There is no assurance of any of these services - it is vapor and if you have the time, I’ll gladly prove it to you.
Our group did not endorse Bob Spierer but I respect his approach and his commitment to understanding the issues. MY outrage is focused on the fact that Ender’s fliers take a swipe at him when she’s totally devoid of fact.
[yep]
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Funny thing, TeeJay, you had nothing to say to Dave Bossert on his EXCELLENT commentary about this election in the West Ranch Beacon. You did not refute a thing he said, proving you must have agreed with him, or you couldn’t refute anything he said because everything he said was the truth. All you did was ask a question you already knew the answer to - you didn’t figure Dave had the fear-mongering hit mailer in question since he lives outside of the city and he didn’t get any campaign literature. You figured (wrongly) that your question could not be answered. Here is that entire thread from the West Ranch Beacon, proving your issues with me are simply personal. You have nothing to say to Dave, or others, even though their comments about Laurie Ender’s fear-mongering hit mailers are pretty similar to my own comments. From the West Ranch Beacon:
Commentary: Frank didn’t get spanked! The status quo still rules in the City
Posted by admin under City of Santa Clarita , Dave Bossert
Well, the Santa Clarita City Council election is finally over and it wasn’t soon enough. This year’s election will go down as one of the worst as far as I am concerned. It was the lowest and dirtiest. It truly has further soured me on the current management of the City.
The election was certainly a “win-at-any-cost” affair by some of the candidates or their supporters and it was disgusting. The hit mailers; the over blown accusations and the attempted character assassination were absolutely embarrassing to watch. It had nothing to do with the issues or of a greater vision for the City or Santa Clarita Valley as a whole.
I was truly hoping that Laurie Ender would loss only because she was Frank Ferry’s candidate. If she had lost it would have been a public spanking for Frank; a rebuke by City voters tired of the small-minded politics that has festered in the City for so long.
Frank apparently boasted to a friend that when Laurie got elected he would be able to “control” the City Council vote and be able to further his agenda. Now that Ms. Ender has won, it will be interesting to see just how beholden she is to Frank. Only time will tell and her voting record over a period of time will be evidence of that.
Another friend and politically savvy individual assured me that Laurie Ender was her own person and not a puppet for Mr. Ferry. Again, I think actions will speak louder than words. She will have to prove to skeptics that she is in fact her own person and not indebted to Frank Ferry for her election to the City Council.
In any event, the status quo is still intact and there will not be any shift in the City’s vision or lack there of. That is sad. It is also a disappointment because the election itself was a microcosm of what is endemic in the City. It was a display of infighting, back-biting, lying and selfish behavior. The only thing it accomplished was to galvanize the myopic view that is currently the norm in the City.
With the exception of a few candidates, it lacked any vision or sense of serving the community for the greater good. What we will see in the next two years will be more of the same ridiculous circus twice a month at City Hall. One just has to look at the series of “Franken Ferry” videos on YouTube to see how City residents are treated and talked to at those meetings.
Why, in God’s name, would anyone want to be a part of that kind of carnival? Why would any community in the un-incorporated areas around the City want to be subjected to an environment that is not truthful or willing to honor their word? I for one would not consider any arrangement with the City unless it was in writing; a binding contract.
The election sent a clear and precise message that nothing will be changing anytime soon in the City. There will be more disingenuous rhetoric about One Valley/One Vision but the underlying meaning will still be “One City/Our Vision” which is nothing more than an oxymoron.
Dave Bossert Commentary
Dave Bossert is a community volunteer who serves on a number of boards and councils. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.
3 Responses to “Commentary: Frank didn’t get spanked! The status quo still rules in the City”
TeeJay Says:
April 10th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
“The hit mailers”
Can you please identify these “hit mailers”?
Pauline Harte Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Well said, Dave.
These are a couple of the character assassinations in the hit mailer that went out twice…..
Mailed by The Friends of Laurie Ender: “Why is Bob Spierer playing politics with your healthcare?” Nothing behind this character assaination to prove that The Friends of Laurie Ender had a right to ask this, and it clearly tells the readers at Bob Spierer is playing politics with their healthcare, and he was not. So, TeeJay, please tell us (offering proof, of course) how Bob Spierer was “playing politics with our healthcare.”
Another character assassination on the same hit mailer from The Friends of Laurie Ender:
“If he plays politics with your healthcare, he’ll play politics with anything!”
First, they have not even offered documented support for their unproven accusation that Bob Spierer is playing politics with healthcare, then they use this baseless smear to accuse Bob of playing politics “with anything,” and again, that is an unproven accusation, and they offer no substantiated proof that Bob Spierer has played politics with anything. TeeJay, have you proof that Bob Spierer can be justly accused of playing politics with anything? Opinions don’t count here, only documented proof.
TeeJay, you need to relax now and remember that your candidate won, but you will not be able to change the facts and the truth about the hit mailers that did exist smearing Bob Spierer. Enjoy the fact that Laurie won, and move on. Would you like to refute anything that Dave wrote? Oh, that’s right, you didn’t, just asked him to identify the hit mailers, and I did that, there were 2 sent out, the same hit piece the second time, even after all the public outrage. So I guess that’s it. 2 hit mailers went out, and even one was unacceptable.
I believe people wish to move on from this disturbing election mayhem but as an elected representative, Laurie should address all the damage that was caused by her smear mailers.
Laurie claims she likes to solve problems, and I hope that is true. In the SCVTV interview with Leon Worden, Laurie said she went to many neighborhoods and spoke with people, sitting around tables, solving the problems of the world and the community together. Well, “community” is a general term, and I hope that includes us all, not just her supporters, but it seems she should have sat around some tables apologizing for the first hit mailer, instead she sent out another one, compounding the outrage.
admin Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Well said Pauline.
Thank you
[And nary a word from TeeJay]
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From Dave Bossert on The West Ranch Beacon: “…..Frank apparently boasted to a friend that when Laurie got elected he would be able to “control” the City Council vote and be able to further his agenda. Now that Ms. Ender has won, it will be interesting to see just how beholden she is to Frank. Only time will tell and her voting record over a period of time will be evidence of that…..”
I won’t even offer an opinion here, TeeJay, I will just report on the fact that at a Republican forum, Laurie Ender did NOT show up, nor did she even bother to fill out the questionaire sent to the candidates. Laurie sent Frank to speak for her.
At a City Council meeting, Frank Ferry said he told Laurie Ender not to come to the meeting to speak on the issue of the MRF. And Laurie did not speak, proving she does whatever Frank tells her to do. Frank tells her not to speak at a council meeting, and she obeys him. No opinion here, TeeJay, just reporting actual truths from actual meetings.
And TimBen Boydston chastised Frank Ferry for campaigning for Laurie Ender from his council seat.
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“TeeJay” had nothing to say to
Wethepeople when Wethepeople posted this, nary a word from “TeeJay” about any of this:
WethepeopleSCV on Apr 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
“It’s time to be more involved then ever before. When Ender lacked what it took to win on the merits of her own positives - by inventing false negatives against others, taking illegal campaign dollars, and deceptive hit mail, then her election is truly unholy and illegitimate. She won from deceived voters obtained by lies and deceit. It’s an absolute same to all of us.
Everyone needs to be on “SCV RED ALERT” with her councilship. Wethepeoplescv will be a constant reminder to her and take action when deeded to correct issues that will directly appose the Santa Clarita Valley and our future. I have hopes She will become her own person and dump the secret combinations by those working against our interests. We will see.”
[Wow, and nothing from "TeeJay," nary a word of disagreement with ANYTHING Wethepeople said here]
And, “TeeJay” - one person’s opinion of another person’s opinion does not ever = documented proof of anything. :-/