May 13, 2008 - Daily Brief
What do you get when you add angry seniors, outraged Newhall neighbors, and a demand for ethics reform? You get tonight’s Santa Clarita City Council meeting, that’s what!
News
- Are high gas prices forcing motorists off the freeways? It might be happening, according to the Los Angeles Times, which did a story yesterday that took a look at traffic data, anecdotes, and other information about how crowded Southern California’s freeways are in an era of $4 a gallon gasoline. Some freeways, like Interstate 5 in the Newhall Pass, have noticeably less cars than this time last year. The Times even cites a source that says the commute from Santa Clarita to Los Angeles has gone down from 45 minutes in 2007 to 43 minutes in 2008, a decrease of some 3%. Transit and Metrolink ridership is up too. Others are skeptical, however. Link
- Seniors, “in a panic,” to protest TCU closure: Seniors will gather at City Hall today at 5pm to protest the imminent closure of the 27 bed Transitional Care Unit at Henry Mayo, Katie Geyer at The Signal reports today. The TCU, used by patients who aren’t quite ready to be released from the hospital, will be converted to beds for general use and ought to relieve overcrowding in the ER, according to hospital officials. Seniors who need TCU-type care will be sent to the Santa Clarita Convalescent hospital on San Fernando Road in Newhall. Daily News, Signal
- April real estate numbers incoming! No official word from the Southland Regional Association of Realtors (which tracks the SCV as a separate market) yet, but in Southern California in April, home sales were off some 43% from the same time last year and the median price fell to $456,000. It’s not all bad news though; sales in April increased 15% from March, and most reports are using words like “rebound” and “recovery” to describe the market. Foreclosures, however, are still up big over last year, but the SCV has been relatively insulated from the foreclosure crisis. More details in this LABJ report.
- City speaks out about Ethics Code: Mike Murphy, the City’s intergovernmental relations officer, spoke with The Signal’s Katie Geyer about the proposed Code of Ethics & Conduct document that will be discussed at tonight’s council meeting. Murphy says the five page document is meant to unify policies and principles that city staff are already expected to adhere to. In fact, he says there isn’t much that’s new in the document itself, telling Geyer: “There really wasn’t anything that we didn’t have in some form or other in our organization already…The one thing we are lacking is that we don’t have a document called an ethics code, which a lot of other jurisdictions have.” Meanwhile, Bruce McFarland also talked to Geyer about the document saying it wasn’t enough; he seems to want a full-blown city of LA-style Ethics Commission that would give the public a means to address supposed ethics violations by city council members or city staff. Impacting tonight at the council meeting.
- The Signal guide to the June primary: We have to vote again?!? Why yes, yes you do! On June 3, we’re being asked to vote on two confusing and somewhat contradictory propositions that deal with land use, eminent domain, landlord rights, and a whole lot more, as well as voting in the primaries for our valley’s elected representatives and their challengers. Cam Smyth, Buck McKeon, and George Runner have no challengers from their fellow Republicans and the same is true for their Democratic challengers in the fall, Carole Lutness, Jacques Conaway (Barstow) and Bruce McFarland. But in California’s 37th Assembly District, which includes parts of Castaic, there will be some June competition for the ballot. Finally, there’s the interesting 19th Senate seat race which includes a Stevenson Ranch and may be one to watch as a Santa Barbara Democrat and Republican Tony Strickland square off in November. And last but not least, the list of candidates running for LA County’s Republican Central Committee include many SCV notables, including Scott Wilk, Kevin Korenthal, Steve Lunetta, and Joe Messina. Parimal Rohit walks you through the names and proposition details here.
- More student/authority shenanigans at Hart District: It seems Hart is laying off the wrong people (there, can I say that?). For the second time in a month, an employee in an authority position at the Hart District is under investigation and has been put on leave for “inappropriate contact” with a student. There’s no details on who/what/when/where/how/why as the District is keeping tight-lipped on the matter, but both The Signal and KHTS say it may have happened at Canyon High. The last case of “inappropriate contact” involved a counselor at a local high school who reportedly engaged in “inappropriate” communications with a minor (texting and emailing were mentioned) but the Signal today says that that person -who will resign her position by the end of the year- may have had a “sexual relationship with an underage male student.” Isn’t that the kind of thing the police and DA prosecute? Link
Jeff, the tension creator at work::: “What do you get when you add angry seniors, outraged Newhall neighbors, and a demand for ethics reform? You get tonight’s Santa Clarita City Council meeting, that’s what!”
Good job Jeffery. You got the “Who” “What” “Where” “When” and “Why aspect of reporting right, as well.
Now we should all be able to respond with our opinion.
Jeff, the tension creator at work::: “What do you get when you add angry seniors, outraged Newhall neighbors, and a demand for ethics reform? You get tonight’s Santa Clarita City Council meeting, that’s what!”
Oh yeah, I create the tension with this little blog? Come on Cash, you flatter me and give me too much credit.
Someone has to provide the narrative for this community. If you don’t like the way I do it, you’re more than welcome to start your own blog.
Anyway, respond with your opinion away!
I think there is widespread support to curb eminent domain, but the supporters of the propositions haven’t been able to help themselves and take the opportunity to include a pocketful of side issues. On its face, the Jarvis initiative seems unlikely to withstand a court challenge based on the single-subject rule. This morning’s article was a great survey of the ballot. I noticed that Bruce McFarland is on the ballot running for two offices. I didn’t think that was permissible, but maybe because one race is just a primary.
Jeff, the tension creator at work:::
I was trying to give you a compliment Jeff. The tension is necessary to promote a good exchange. Keep that mind of yours open!
Perhaps you are too sensitive to be a reporter. I could be sensitive and conclude that you have attacked me personally, but I am not. Get the point Jeffery!
It is a shame. Any illegal that walks in the emergency room gets treated, with or with the ability to pay. It is reported that they use the emergency room as their family physician. This fact has brought closure to many hospitals in California. Now Seniors are having to fight to keep the TCU open. This is a damn shame, but there is a lesson to be learned. The Seniors (those with good memories) know how life should be in this country. Abide by the laws, and care for your family first…..
It is not an anecdote, the traffic is much lighter over the last few weeks, I rarely have to go below fifty to get over the pass where it was normally backed up at Lyons. My friends at work who travel the 14 also see the same reduced traffic over their pass. I drive a Hybrid, so I am not complaining.
The traffic is definitely lighter. I’m thrilled as my commute is 20% quicker. Unfortunately, public transportation (as it is now) isn’t an option for me but I hope it will be in the future.
The City Council meeting is guaranteed to be more entertaining than anything on T.V. tonight.
Is is me? Or does the Hart district always have a layoff right before they float a bond? Hmmmmmm
Jeff, if indeed you did not block my IP Address I sincerely apologize for jumping to that conclusion. I just found it very strange that suddenly I could not access your blog after the “fiesty” exchange last week. At any rate, I will investigate this further on my office computer.
Cash, thank you for your good words.
Best regards, Jeff…
Jeff, sorry if I’m beating a dead horse here, but this is the error that I’m getting when I go to www.scvtalk.com:
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access / on this server.
Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Additionally, I “pinged” www.scvtalk.com and I do in fact get a reply. So, this tells me that I can reach your website, however your website will not let me in. What could be other possible causes?
FYI - I spent an hour with Time Warner attempting to fix the problem and they were unable to solve it. I continue to post from other locations.
Well, well, well… will miracles ever cease? Amazingly, this morning I’m suddenly able to access scvtalk. Since last Saturday morning when I abruptly did not have access here, I continually had access to all Internet Sites that I routinely use. Hmmmm, very interesting…
Dear Mayor Kellar, tonight I watched the entire City Council meeting. It was a late night for all. I compliment you for the action you supported on two of the agenda items. Letters to the Hospital to express concern about the closing of the TCU and
to the developer of the Smiser (Smizer) property, are appreciated. You nearly had a night that we could all celebrate. Then came the Code of Ethics agenda item. On this item you failed miserably. Like the two aforementioned items, concerned citizens expressed their belief and opinion regarding the proposed Code of Ethics. All seemed to be going well as your fellow Council members were looking for common ground in an effort to recognize the opinions expressed by the public. There seemed to be hope that the Council was listening, and then it was your turn to speak. What a disaster! You single handily turned the table, lashing out at the public by admonishing them for even suggesting that there is an Ethics problem in City government. What you seem to fail to understand, as I believe do your fellow Council members, is the Ethics concern is not with the rank and file City employees, but with you, Mr. Pulskamp and the other Council members. Within a matter of minutes after the public participation/comments were complete, comments that clearly expressed concerns and were directed at the City Council and the City manager level, the five of you lowered the bar and began to focus on Ethics and the rank and file employees. You all either missed the point or very cleverly redirected the focus away from were the problem is believed to exist.
Mr. Mayor, I am aware of your law enforcement and military background. A background of which you are very proud. A background that expects, no demands, that you defend those that you may have to depend on to save your life. Well the job of Mayor is a little different. It demands that you listen to the concern of the residents of the City, and acknowledge that their concerns are worthy of your consideration.
Your diatribe at the end of the Council discussion, prior to taking a vote on the Ethics item, only turned people away more convinced that there is a problem of Ethics in the City. You could have handled the issue more effectively, but now I am afraid your problem is sure to grow. If the residents can’t turn to you for support, what will they do!
Many in the City are convinced that you and the City manager have lost your bearing with respect to dealing with the special interest and balancing the needs of the taxpayers.
It is no more difficult to understand than that, and your actions tonight only reinforced the concern.
Regards,
what was the final outcome last night? Sounds like a late one.
Cash, brilliantly stated. I was stunned when Mayor Kellar lashed out. He blew it for the people of SCV and then without further-to-do, the 5 of them promptly approved a shoddy/weak ethics policy. What a joke. Sorry, but Laurie Ender is firring right in with the scheme of things - not a good replacement for Tim Ben!
Fitting right in.
Ya know, I have never been a big Kellar fan. But last night I though he did a very good job with the Hospital/TCU & Avenues project. I was thinking that maybe I had misjudged him. However, comments this morning lead me to believe that I was right all along. I taped the rest of the meeting and will review it tonight. If this is true, shame on you Bob. And shame on Frank as well. He was stumbling all over himself last night after suggesting that the City find a way to limit public input.
More than ever we need an Ethics Code!
“Laurie Ender is firring right in with the scheme of things - not a good replacement for Tim Ben!”
You are correct, and this is only going to fuel the fire that motivates the various citizen groups to speak.
I still can’t get over Ferry’s inability to put two coherent sentences together. Well, at least he admits he is a babbler!
It is very sad that more of the voters are not paying attention. This council seems disfunctional to me.
CIB Bill, welcome back. Did Ender speak up on anything?
Ender led off the evening with a little spiel on the wonderfulness of our City Seal and what it means to SCV citizens. I think that recent video depicted our City Seal more accurately.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmvIwJBChY4
Ender chimed in on several issues during the evening, which resulted in me visualizing Frank Ferry standing over her pulling little strings.