August 25, 2008 - Daily Brief
Written by Jeff on August 25th, 2008
My Sunday morning bike ride, Tour De Santa Clarita! Notice how I’ve manipulated the topography data to make it look like I’m a hill climbing king. In reality, this ride only involved 400 feet of elevation gain.
- FPPC reviewing complaint against Laurene Weste: The state’s fair political practices commission will take up to two weeks to notify Placerita Canyon resident Ben Curtis whether it will conduct an investigation into Curtis’ allegations that Councilwoman Laurene Weste’s activities in city redevelopment and Old Town Newhall matters is a conflict of interest. The Signal’s Katie Geyer also reports that Curtis’ complaint “did not point out specific votes that could be considered conflicts of interest.” She also spoke with Paul Brotzman, city development director, who said Marsha McLean steps in for Weste on a subcommittee when it’s necessary. Link
- A weekend of ill repute: The first incident of violence was on Thursday night, when a gas station in Canyon Country was robbed of $140 at gunpoint. Then at around 1:30 am on Saturday morning a ‘brawl’ took place outside of South Pointe Grille in which some 50 individuals were apparently beating up three victims. And then early on Sunday morning, a patron of the Londoner Pub in Canyon Country threatened a bartender, left, and came back with a 9mm handgun, which he then pointed at the bar’s bouncer and the bartender. The 48 year old man in that case was later arrested and no one was injured. And in my own neck of the woods, I was walking my dog Friday night and was startled to see 9, yes, 9! CHP cruisers parked near my house and two others driving slowly through my neighborhood with their powerful searchlights illuminating dark spots of the street. It looked like a chase had ended near my house; there was an abandoned pickup truck with both doors open and CHP officers -guns drawn- were searching garbage dumpsters, backyards, and bushes for suspects. Finally I found this disturbing and undated video of a big fight in Newhall (Warning, check your volume if you’re at work.)
- Homeless woman profile #2: “Crystal” is a 36 year old mom who’s been homeless since March, and to make ends meet, she enrolled in a medical testing program that paid her $6,000. She’s the second homeless woman to get an in-depth profile in The Signal. Good article.
- Council meeting tomorrow: Katie Geyer has some good information on City staff’s proposal for solving the Benz road dilemma and writes a bit about proposal to “develop a more permanent historic preservation review.” The council meeting tomorrow is the first one after the summer recess and all the issues look like small potatoes compared to what’s coming in September: Hospital expansion! Link
- Gas prices continue to fall: The average cost for a gallon of gas in Santa Clarita is $3.94, some 60 cents off its June high. Locally, the cheapest gas is in Newhall at the American gas station. Link
- Gold for Felix, Neville: Neither runner could come up with a gold in individual Olympic events, but they both got gold in relays. The Chicago Tribune has a great article on Allyson Felix, the Valencia track star who says she was “heartbroken” after losing her marquee event, the 200m. But she still won gold as part of the women’s 4×400 relay. Link
- City Luncheon next month: Mayor Bob Kellar says attendees to the city’s “State of the City Luncheon” will “get a first hand account of what the city is doing now” regarding public safety, traffic, “green practices,” Old Town Newhall redevelopment and more. They’ll also get a “commemorative gift” and I’m sure Mayor Kellar will have a stand-up routine with some business person or other. The lunch is September 17 and costs $30. Link
- Signal 51 most Influential: Quite a diverse group this year, including some surprises (A boxing coach, for instance?). TimBen Boydston topped the list of “Most Influential”- even though he’s no longer on the City Council, “he’s made great strides in establishing himself as a man concerned about the welfare of his fellow residents, laboring to ensure the peoples’ voice is heard,” in the opinion of City Editor Josh Premako. Also new on the list: New Councilwoman Laurie Ender, Lynne Plambeck, Mike Murphy (intergovernmental relations officer for the city), Jason Crawford, and more. Some of the choices seem entirely arbitrary - why in the world is an English teacher #4, for instance, while superintendents are listed lower on the list? I was also pleased to see Scott Wilk in #16 and this description of how the lobbyist/COC Board member works the issues behind the scenes: “Recently, Wilk donned his public-relations hat to promote a story about concerned local parents asking the Hart District to reconsider a $300 million bond request. Then he turned around and roused the other side for comment.” List isn’t online.
- McKeon slams San Francisco Mayor: San Francisco has had a policy of dumping illegal alien probationers into some houses it owns in the San Bernardino area, and the Victorville Daily Press wanted to get reaction from local pols on the matter. McKeon, who also represents that area, had this to say: “The actions of Mayor Newsom are unconscionable and a violation of this oath of office he swore to; to uphold and defend the constitution of the US.” As to whether Newsom ought to face criminal charges, McKeon dodged the question and referred it to the Attorney General. Link
- Myers on Dropout numbers: Signal columnist Tim Myers provides “more color” on his recent analysis of drop out rates at the Hart District.
- Valencia Blvd closures: CLWA will build some pipelines over the following two months on/near Valencia Blvd. between Magic Mountain Parkway and Bouquet Canyon. You can expect road closures in the evening from around 7:30 pm to 5 am. Link
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“The council meeting tomorrow is the first one after the summer recess and all the issues look like small potatoes compared to what’s coming in September: Hospital expansion!”
Jeff, It is not a ‘Hospital expansion’; it is a G&L Medical Office Development.
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I love the Signal and all, but why does it take an opinion columnist to get to the bottom of the dropout story? Great work by Myers here, by the way. He seems to exonerate the district, but I wonder if OFL is giving these kids a real education.
Also, and this is not mentioned in the brief, but there is an article about a shooting in Palmdale and the only local connection is that the canine unit happened to be in Santa Clarita at the time of the call. A well-written piece, but is something that happens 35-40 miles away newsworthy for a local paper? It’s roughly the same distance to Downtown Los Angeles. You will almost never read coverage of the northern SF Valley in the paper although it is much closer. I’d prefer neither, really. I’d actually prefer deeper coverage into our more complex local issues (see above).
Great homeless story, once again. The story of SCV homeless seems probably consists of many unexpected sketches, but given the hard times, it really makes sense. More like that Will Smith movie.
I’m no fan of Weste, but if there are no votes, the FPPC thing sounds like harassment and/or intimidation.
Benz road solution sounds interesting. It’s a marginal shortcut, so hopefully the speed bumps will, in addition to slowing down traffic, make that route less desirable.
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I find City Hall’s Benz Road plan COMPLETELY unacceptable. Staff will urge Council Members to spend $150,000 of our tax dollars on a temporary measure. Six months later, the adjacent neighbors who have already been polled on stifling thru traffic will vote against the residents who are directly affected. Thus, the temporary speed bumps will be removed leaving the status quo intact but with our tax dollars wasted… again. This does not require the gift of clairvoyence to see this…
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I find City Hall’s Benz Road plan COMPLETELY unacceptable. Staff will urge Council Members to spend $150,000 of our tax dollars on a temporary measure. Six months later, the adjacent neighbors who have already been polled on stifling thru traffic will vote against the residents who are directly affected. Thus, the temporary speed bumps will be removed leaving the status quo intact but with our tax dollars wasted… again. This does not require the gift of clairvoyence to see this…
What is your solution then? Seems no one wins. Either one neighborhood street gets calmed and the other gets more traffic.
The City Staff is not Solomon, after all.
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Your Sunday morning bike ride puts mine to shame.
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Truly, City Staff is a far cry from being anything like Solomon. The obvious solution is to close off Benz Road like it was when the folks moved there.
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Furthermore, City Staff’s plan simply wastes more of our tax dollars with thier existing idea.
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Give Tony (and his few unhappy neighbors) the money and the problem may go away. Benz road is the least of our problems. I have visited Benz road many times, at mid day, and the traffic is less than light. Speed bumps seem to have worked in some of the Valencia tracts, where cut through traffic had become a problem. I hate speed bumps, but I would like to see Tony relax, Benz looks to be affecting his health.
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Weekend of ill repute…
Yet another fight in Town Center? 50 people jumping 3 guys and there were no arrests? Fights like that don’t start spontaneously. I guarantee that something was brewing for a while before it blew up like that. Town Center needs MUCH better security. That’s unacceptable and this sort of stuff seems to be happening with greater frequency. I’ve posted it here before… I’ve personally witnessed violence at Town Center.
I live in the Northbridge area of Valencia — late Friday night a police helicopter was circling very low, with it’s searchlight pointed into a nearby paseo, concentrating on what seems to be a water tank. The copter circled for about 20-30 mins. and there was some sort of police activity going on. This stuff would happen all the time when I lived in the SFV, but this was a first since we’ve moved here.
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It is my understanding that there is a simple solution to the Benz Road that was suggested by the traffic engineers and joyfully accepted by the residents concerned: it is called the “diverter” option which forces traffic through different route that will make the current shortcut more like a “long cut”. This is the cheapest solution to the problem, it eliminates speedbump nuisance, and it doesn’t block streets.
For some reason, however, the city came back with a larger survey pool which diluted the concerns of those acutally affected by the problem. As a result, the city is now pushing the speedbump idea.
I believe this is correct - can anyone confirm?
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Eric typed
This stuff would happen all the time when I lived in the SFV, but this was a first since we’ve moved here
I think this is the sign of the times. Unfortunately, not only the good people like you have moved here. We are fast becoming another SFV. Our sheriff knows this and he seems to be hard at work trying to slow the frequency of weekends of ill repute.
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Eric:
I live in the Northbridge area of Valencia — late Friday night a police helicopter was circling very low, with it’s searchlight pointed into a nearby paseo, concentrating on what seems to be a water tank. The copter circled for about 20-30 mins. and there was some sort of police activity going on. This stuff would happen all the time when I lived in the SFV, but this was a first since we’ve moved here.
The Sheriffs just released a report about that area on Friday night. They don’t mention a helicopter, but it looks like the trouble might have been some drinking teenagers on BMX bikes, Michael Day wannabes, for sure!
At 11:30 p.m., eight teenagers were arrested for curfew and minor in possession of alcohol in the paseo area west of Riversbridge Way, Valencia. A 19 year-old at the same location was also cited for possession of alcohol. Neighbors in the area had complained of the disturbing activities but deputies had previously been unable to catch the teens.
Late that night, the deputies on bike patrol heard a car alarm sound in the area of Bridgeport Lane and McBean Parkway. They then saw four BMX bicycle riders leaving the area. They were all contacted during the subsequent investigation.
The burglary investigation revealed that the riders had kicked the side of a vehicle, causing the vehicles alarm to sound, but there had not been a burglary, nor did there appear to be any damage to the vehicle. The riders were then released in the field.
Imagine, the Sheriffs called up the ghetto bird all the way from long beach for this! Must have been something else.
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Ben Says: “The plan that is proposed by the developer and the planning department is indeed within our defined canyon area”.
Ben’s comments kind of sum up my response and validate my previous comments.
It is not your canyon Ben! To suggest otherwise is indicative of special interest and someone that thinks he deserves special treatment. I did not say you lobbied for open space, but the record is clear that the council has been approached to make such a purchase in “your Canyon”. By the way, you did not deny the fact. I am not offended or jealous by your existence, but I am concerned that in your case, Ben, as to why you do not feel a bit of dirt running from your forehead, given your record of previous involvement and profiting from Ms. Westes vote. Why did you fail to comment on your land sale transaction?
I to believe David Gauny is a bright man, but I am troubled that David would hitch his wagon to your fight. I think he has been depositioned with the Hospital matter by aligning with you, a guy that seems to have profited from the City Councils vote at the taxpayers expense.
As always in closing, Ms. Weste needs to be challenged as do all that profit from the taxpayers.
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Well Cash… It is indeed “our canyon”. I suggest you try and tell the numerous 20+ year residents of Placerita Canyon that they have no say in what happens to ‘their’ canyon. I suppose, using your logic(?), that you live on ‘my’ street in ‘my’ tract. I don’t recall saying it was MY Canyon Cash. I certainly have developed some ‘ownership’ since I have lived in OUR canyon for over 35 years. If you don’t have that same feeling of ownership in your neighborhood, I then fully understand your attitude about others that are proud of where they live and want to protect it.
I have no knowledge of anyone lobbying the council to make a purchase in Placerita Canyon. Even if they did, I am at a loss to see how that taints their right to see that the City is more transparent in it’s decision making process.
As to the ‘dirt running from (my) forehead, that is an interesting comment since I have more than my share of exactly that happening, after working so many years working in the dirt and dust of a gravel plant. Thanks for reminding me of better days of the past.
As to the land sale between the City and my company, there are facts there that you don’t know, facts that couldn’t understand if they were explained to you, and hence you will never realize what really happened. Trust me when I tell you that I have been in that “gravel battle” for most likely longer than you have been old enough to read. Please don’t embarrass yourself by trying to second guess any of the actions take by me or my company in that fight. That land sale was never a subject of this blog, hence no comment would have been proper. If you can’t keep on track CASH, please at least try to do that.
Since you seem to be bent on attacking me personally, I have to assume there is some good reason you hide behind a nom de plume from where you can take pot shots for personal reasons. The fact remains I do represent the bulk of the property owners in Placerita Canyon, and I can tell you that they simply want a fair shake from City Hall. And that they are not satisfied with decisions made without the legally require transparency.
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Ben, just for the record, I have lived here since 1976, so I am not impressed with your claim of your being a long time resident. Secondly, I have obviously struck a nerve, seems you are the one that has personalised the discussion. I am certain that there are facts about your sales transaction that are private, and I expect they should remain private. However, this does not limit my criticism of you benefiting from the taxpayers, and a vote by Ms. Weste, while claiming she is not to be trusted. It is a bit disingenuous.
Your land was not the subject of this blog, but your claim that Ms. Weste is using her position to benefit personally, is somewhat like the pot calling the kettle black. Enter the land sale. David Gauny is fighting the impact special interest has on “OUR” city and it seems to me that you are part of that league. The problems with our city government does not stop with Ms. Weste. By the way, (”As to the land sale between the City and my company, there are facts there that you don’t know, facts that couldn’t’t understand if they were explained to you”) try me or is it safer for you to hide behing the legal definition of transparency, as does Ms. Weste and others with whom you are unhappy?
As President of your HOA, I guess you were the logical one to speak out against Ms. Weste and to expect better from the Council. The problem is, you have your own baggage. Good luck with the complaint, I hope Ms. Weste learns “the spirit and intent” for meaning of transparency. She did not demonstrate that she does during the open space debates (which your HOA supported) and now with the North Newhall Plan.
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Cash wrote:
>>>just for the record, I have lived here since 1976<<<
Newbie
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Yeah, but I can remember the day……. life was good!
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Elected officials and private citizens have different levels of accountability, especially when it comes to personal gain or loss. Using your logic(?), any vendor in the Valley that deals with the city is abusive in some way. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that you would crumble under the inability to understand the intricacies of the land dealings in Soledad Canyon. Perhaps you would like to discuss your personal land dealings with buyers or sellers, or is that to remain a secret as well? The transparency of dealings within the City is the subject. Cash, get out the thesaurus and your dictionary, and try again. I fear you will be alone in this online baseless argument henceforth. It is easy to know who I am, I am easy to talk with, and most any morning you would like to do so, I will gladly spring for coffee at the Saugus Café. Some background on the free enterprise system offered by a scarred veteran, may be an eye-opener for you. And for the record, I was probably correct about my estimation of your local experience… unless you were reading at a VERY young age.
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“There isn’t a doubt in my mind that you would crumble under the inability to understand the intricacies of the land dealings in Soledad Canyon”.
Ben, the issue was your selling the land to the city so that they could claim an interest in the area to fight the CEMEX growth plan. Land that I think was outside the city limits and land the city had no business spending taxpayers money to purchase. You benefited from that purchase and the purchase had Ms. Westes vote. That is the issue Ben, so stop talking like a guy that wears a Slump Cone for a hat and don’t stray from the issue. I have nothing against free enterprise or transparency. It is appears you only want to apply the later when is convenient for you. The argument is not baseless, if it were, you would not be trying to cover your tracks. Again, Ms. Weste needs to be challenged, as do others that benefit from the use of taxpayer dollars. Ben, I have not “crumbled”, but you are struggling with this because you are not in the best position to speak out against the lack of transparency in the city. You have been on the receiving end of the way the city does business. David should not have hitched his wagon to you and your fight. If you like we can talk about the way “your canyon” residents were attempting to reach an agreement with the college for the expansion without considering how agreement would affect your neighbors to the south. Some might consider that to be a bit selfish. Is it all about you Ben!
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As to the land sale between the City and my company, there are facts there that you don’t know, facts that couldn’t understand if they were explained to you, and hence you will never realize what really happened. Trust me when I tell you that I have been in that “gravel battle” for most likely longer than you have been old enough to read. Please don’t embarrass yourself by trying to second guess any of the actions take by me or my company in that fight. That land sale was never a subject of this blog, hence no comment would have been proper. If you can’t keep on track CASH, please at least try to do that.
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Curtis is whinning about Weste and special interest. He is no better when it comes to special interest, and he has in fact benefited from that interest. The city seems to have bought his support for McKeon’s bill. There is more if you like.
The legislation also puts McKeon — a self-described conservative
Republican and champion of property rights — in an
unusual position.
While the BLM owns the mineral rights in the project
area, another
company — Curtis Sand & Gravel — owns the surface
rights. Curtis Sand
owner Ben Curtis has also come out against the
legislation, calling it a
“taking” of his rights to develop the property in the
future.
“It’s far too broad,” said Curtis, a Santa Clarita
resident.
If the community is willing to accept a smaller mining
project, Curtis said, “I
don’t think we should be precluded from being able to
do that.”
Foy countered that McKeon’s bill would actually help
Curtis by forcing out
Southdown. Curtis — the losing bidder in the 1989 BLM
mining rights
auction — is an outspoken critic of the Southdown
plan.