- Assemblyman Cameron Smyth is one of 32 lawmakers whose tax-free per diem helps pay for a home in the Sacramento area even as he maintains a home in the district. The OC Register says the law even allows lawmakers to deduct property taxes for their second home. Last year many Sacramento lawmakers pocketed $37,000 in tax-free per diem income, the REGISTER says. You’d think the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s association would be outraged, but no! “You almost want to applaud them for their wise use of the per diem,” the HJTA president says
- COC’s relationship to Santa Clarita Public Television Authority (SCVTV), the creation of a High Speed Rail Ad hoc group, Phase III of the City’s Intelligent Traffic Management system, and a second reading of the City’s plans to have an “Industrial Development Authority” are all on tap at next week’s City Council meeting AGENDA
- McKeon shows how its’ done: when you flub a line or insert an inappropriate joke, don’t fight it, just apologize, as McKeon has done to some women he offended when he joked that Carly Fiorina is pretty successful “for a girl.” SIGNAL
- Congressman Buck McKeon has endorsed Carly Fiorina for Senate: “Carly’s business background, her real-world experience and her common-sense approach to politics is exactly what we need in Washington,” he said. EXAMINER . There was apparently a dinner at Mojitos too.
- Finally, Buck McKeon also made a surprise appearance at the Santa Clarita Republican Women’s Federated meeting at the ol’ IHOP SIGNAL
- We had nice weather all week long and so it’s only fitting that a cold winter storm is on its way to town today and will start dumping on us tonight, ruining our weekend SIGNAL
- KHTS profiles a small clothing shop that’s been open on Lyons Avenue for the last 35 years and is somewhat of a fashion hub for the SCV charity circuit set. Sadly, it is closing KHTS
- The City of Santa Clarita Economic Development department is launching a new “e-newsletter that will give you insight to grand openings of the hottest new retail establishments, restaurants and events in Santa Clarita as well as sneak peaks of new stores and restaurants that will be coming to Santa Clarita soon.” Sounds neat, but they’re going to scoop every blogger and foodie in town. I guess you won’t need ol’ Jeff anymore
Sign up here. - Valencia resident really despondent over closure of Bristol Farms because it felt like a local market where everybody knows your name. Now that BF has closed, he’s going to punish us and shop at the nearest BF that’s outside city limits. Dude, Sprouts is coming! And maybe a second Trader Joe’s! SIGNAL LTE
- Paul Strickland, an elected official, bemoans the lack of action elected officials take on illegal immigration. He also says laws that protect people from disclosing their immigration status during a Census aren’t very helpful. Overall, he’s really excited about the forthcoming City of Santa Clarita “Study Sessions” on illegal immigration SIGNAL
@SCVTweets onTwitter
- Excellent! RT @Petz2: Cadet Petzold
http://t.co/mfXxCymI2012/05/16 12:31 - It's an embarrassment of riches. As of today, 4 the 2nd time ever, there are 2 actual barbecue spots in SCV: @longhornsbbq and @Lucilles_BBQ2012/05/16 10:27
- Over the months, we've reached out to @Lucilles_BBQ several times to talk BBQ and got the cold [pork] shoulder. But still, we welcome real Q2012/05/16 10:17
- If you love substance like we do, Jeff has a great interview with @LeeCRogers.
http://t.co/sJj9FNvc2012/05/10 09:04 - Tone of the meeting: BK and FF playing dads to TBB rebellious teenager. LW and MM the aunts who don't see why you need to dress like that.2012/05/08 23:39
- Ferry's grand compromise for public comments passes. You could see the consensus form before your eyes. Government at work!2012/05/08 22:49
- Excellent! RT @Petz2: Cadet Petzold
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“Not bad for a girl”! That is ironically funny and even though I think Buck is useless, don’t see anything wrong with a comment like that. Lighten up!
Some years ago I was written up for calling the women on the production line “gals”!
That was another one of those overreactions by management and it took a while before I knew the jerkoff boss was serious. Of course this Iranian boss never had HIS wife at his side. Always a few steps back. Wrong person to do this particular lecture on political correctness.
Bucks friends know that there was no reason to apologize-Buck’s enemies pereceive it as weakness.
The letter to the editor on Bristol Farms was good to a point… until he mentioned that his wife has not stopped crying since they announced it was closing. C’mon, lady, get a LIFE! IT IS ONLY A STORE!
How have so many in our society become so thin skinned that apologies are requested when a few feel affronted. There was nothing wrong with McKeon’s comment and he should never have apologized. This is a sign of real weakness in our society.
I guess buying open space in Agua Dulce is OK (not). This stinks to high heaven. Go get them Jim.
Wanna take bets that the “Study Session” on Illegal Immigration with the City Council takes place AFTER the April election…if ever???
Just to be clear, an apology was not “requested.” The real story is that two women wrote their thoughts on Buck’s Women’s Conference and that the one who gave it a glowing review was vilified in the paper for giving him a hard time for being patronizing. (see original post from us here: http://www.scvmomsblog.com/profiles/blogs/womens-conference-empowering)
Not only was he off-putting by being ill-prepared and trying to put on the older dude charm, swap out the word “girl” for any nationality of your choice and you can’t disagree that he’d be as popular as Bob Kellar over this one. But we girls should keep our mouths shut, right?
While we can’t do anything to keep a newspaper from taking our story and subsequent words completely out of context, it is enjoyable to watch guys get their panties in a bunch because women aren’t afraid to have an opinion.
I’d write more but I better get my bare feet back to the kitchen.
How else would we be able to send such smart people like Cameron to Sac without allowing them to profit from the taxpayers.
Take Jill Brown back!
I happen to like opinionated women. I married an opinionated woman (who will tell you she takes great joy serving in her kitchen with bare feet, by the way). It’s just that if one is going to be opinionated, just be clear and concise and prepared to defend your opinion when it’s challenged.
The housing per diem is somewhat of a necessity for those assembly members who cannot commute from their district. In the long run, it is much less money than they would spend on hotel rooms, or additional airfare. Not everyone buys though. Many members jointly rent apartments with other members to defray costs.
So now the City is helping economic development by getting into the blogging business? Just wondering how local web sites may feel about this new city-owned “business” competing with them. Does not sound like true economic development to me.
{economic development blog}
Looks to me like City staff does not have much to do. In these economic times, private business is looking to cut out this kind of unnecessary stuff. But what the hell, it is taxpayer money staff is wasting.
I love how you fiscal conservatives justify the taxpayer’s dollars being spent so Republican lawmakers can enjoy a second home. Nice going Sam Adams, real consistent there.
Jackie,
I don’t care what they say. Keep it up.
Maybe Buck figured that he had to appologize for his loose lip since he had asked Kellar to do the same.
By George, I think you hit it on the head navigator!!!
sorry for calling you George…..
Appology accepted.
Jackie:
As long as you’re back in the kitchen barefoot, could you grab me a beer?
Make that 2 please!
Not only will I get you a beer, I’ll open it with my teeth and retrieve today’s Signal and your slippers for you.
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout!
You are classy lady, with a sense of humor, and not one of the thin skinned I alluded to in my earlier comment.
I have 12 siblings, 7 of them brothers. Thin skin would kill me.
PS That Montana “girl” I call my business partner is also known to open up a can or two. And I don’t mean beers.
Hey NickelDime,
I don’t think they have the guts to talk conversationally in public about illegal immigration…not with 3 of them up for re-election and Gauny and Boydston in the bleachers.
Jeff, I did not support it, just said I think it is overblown. This is why I mentioned the sharing of apartments which the vast majority of the conservative Republicans do.
“sharing of apartments which the vast majority of the conservative Republicans do…”
Sounds like a bad porn idea.
@Samuel Adams:
The City using tax dollars to create their own blog, setting up sites like thinksantaclaritavalley.com and shopcityofsantaclarita.com is wrong and miss use of tax payers money. what’s next, City run Real Estate, Mortgages, Banks?
Instead, the private businesses have had to cut back, lay off employees, etc but the City is still running fat with programs that could have been contracted with the private sector.
Jeff, why you are not outraged is beyond me. You should be at the next THINK meeting on March 11th, 4pm City Hall and tell them to back off.