You are a bit arrogant in your beliefs. You make a big assumption when you state that you know posters have “no evidence”. You seem to be the one that lacks the background and understand. this is clear in your posts. The reason this blog is more active is because the residents are tired of the way the City is operating.

I would like to arrive at a point where builders think first and foremost about respecting our valley. Who step back and say, “We can’t mess with Santa Clarita so we need to start off right.” Not the G&L/Avenue approach of strip mining our neighborhoods for their bottom line regardless. That’s all. It’s that simple for me. I understand that’s not easy to change, I hope we can.

I went out and visited with 8 of my neighbors this evening and it was awesome to see the spark of excitement they had about supporting this course correction for the Avenue. Every one of them had a hunger to be involved. Half of them with little kids and want a place that is pleasant, safe, and uncongested as was intended. It’s nice to get out and walk a neighborhood and see what people think. You all should try it sometime and see the like-mindedness you run into. Anyway, it was good times. Have a good weekend !!

sok

Back on point. Let me say that I completely agree with your stance on the hospital plan, and I also agree with the way you convey your message. You do so in an intelligent manner and seem like someone who, when faced with facts, right or wrong would easily admit so. Of course we need people like you who will intelligently debate the issues and bring up points that others may not have considered. However, there are others in the community who try to push their agenda with outrageous accusations and in a dramatic style that is frankly getting old. I don’t think you are ALL idiots.

I find it hard to believe that city staff is willingly misleading people because of a diabolical city manager’s direction. I find it hard to believe that the entire planning department is out to “get” the residents of this valley. For what? Could there be some other reason that traffic counts should be averaged over a 24 hour period? Has anyone asked? But that is not the point.

What I have a problem with, here and any online forum, is that people that have strong opinions sometimes have those opinions for the wrong reasons. Voicing your opinion is one thing, but doing so while dragging public officials through the mud with (usually) little or no evidence just sits wrong with me. And that type of post seems to have been increasing as of late in the world of SCVTalk.

I’m the first to admit I may be wrong. Maybe the big bad government machine has me fooled or maybe I just happen to like the flavor of the kool-aid. I’ve never been wronged by said government. No one has ever tried to take my house to build a new freeway. No one has ever told me that my buisiness is encroaching on the city’s right of way.

However, I do enjoy where I live. I’m raising a family here in a safe environment; a clean community that allows me, my family and friends to enjoy an excellent quality of life. Because of that, because of what this City has accomplished over the last 20 years, because other city’s are declaring bankruptcy, I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt.

At the same time, I will always listen to an intelligent argument from any side…

Kip - I get that your comments were intended to be humorous; I get the same way when I see everyone fired up over something and it just seems like it needs to be defused. But regarding the “will of the people”, if the “majority” wants these developments, why does our city staff so consistently obfuscate the facts so the people can’t see the real impacts? If people want the project, then damn the facts, right?

Surely, you’ve seen/heard the countless examples of our staff downplaying major flaws in developments, right? For example, Pulskamp has proposed averaging traffic over 24-hour periods when considering new development in order to reduce traffic mitigation requirements on development. Does the majority view traffic this way? Don’t we really care about what traffic we are actually in as opposed to what is happening at 3am?

The problem is that the public is misled. I have no doubt that the vast majority of the citizens support a hospital expansion. I certainly do! But what they think they’re getting and what is actually contracted are entirely different and our wonderful city staff NEVER uttered a word. It took Boydston forcing the issue until the CEO finally caved. Where the hell is everyone else who was representing the “majority”??

These issues are not endless rhetoric regurgitated on this site. A majority who is misled on a project may support it in concept but if they’re lied to, that support is not genuine. This false premise should not result in approvals and it certainly isn’t a legal approach to planning or due process.

This site, as well as the many groups that are beginning to form, are creating a forum for the FACTS to be heard. Something our city and our local paper has not been providing.

I for one welcome your humor but I hope you’ll also bring a bit more depth than spelling corrections and off-topic points. If you choose to be misled and think we’re a small group of impotent idiots, there are certainly other news resources for you in the community. If not, then welcome!

Again, thanks to all for hearing me out on the hospital/Avenues issues.

Thanks for being here today. Have a good evening. Cash

You would be very wrong if you believe your statement. I lived here before the mall was built and was happy to see it completed. I think the mall expansion will be nice, yet I know the traffic is going to be a nightmare. Personally, the traffic is not a problem , I can see the mall from my home. Secondly, you have no way of knowing what the majority thinks. If one were to judge from the recent election, the majority has no opinion. Kenny is influenced by special interest, and of course they want to see more homes and more people. They need this to continue to grow their business.