The County promised to respect the will of unincorporated voters last fall, yet in the last week, they’ve started an offensive against the City of Santa Clarita’s efforts to annex portions of Castaic.

I have one message for them.

Cherry Pick This LA County!

In 1811, John Quincy Adams wrote to his father regarding the western territories of the North American continent:

The whole continent of North America appears to be destined by Divine Providence to be peopled by one nation, speaking one language, professing one general system of religious and political principles, and accustomed to one general tenor of social usages and customs. For the common happiness of them all, for their peace and prosperity, I believe it is indispensable that they should be associated in one federal Union.

You see, it is in our national character as Americans to expand westward. First from the colonies to the mid-Atlantic states, then to the Appalachians, the Great Smoky mountains, the Mighty Mississippi and then the Great Plains. From there we expanded westward even more, to and over the Rocky Mountains, all the way unto the Pacific Ocean, Alaska, Hawaii and even further.

And so too is the City of Santa Clarita meant to expand westward, over the mighty Interstate 5 into the hills of Stevenson Ranch, West Ridge, Castaic, Val Verde all the way unto the Ventura County line.

And the Santa Clarita Valley is destined by Providence to be governed by one general system of political principles, that of the general-law city with its at large City Council (that will one day, of necessity, change to Districts).

For these unincorporated communities’ peace and prosperity, I believe it is indispensable that they be united under one banner, that of the City of Santa Clarita.

It is our Manifest Destiny! We the people! No taxation without representation! And all that good stuff.

Wild-eyed jingoism and home-team boosterism aside,  it’s not like Castaic is some cohesive unit of geography. It’s not like Castaic’s Main Street is being divided in half, with one side joining the City and the other side staying in the County.

No, if you look at a map, there are really two Castaics. The one up by the lake (itself divided on by I-5) and the one around the Valencia Commerce Center, Hasley Hills and those areas. The residents of the latter have expressed an interest in joining us, as is their right. But it is now clear that the County won’t let them go easily.

Very well. The battle lines are drawn. Now is the time for our city to let slip the dogs of war and to go west.

In its dealings with the west side communities, the City should adopt an expansionist policy and take as its motto a phrase made famous by an Angeleno with ties to our valley.

“There it is. Take it!”

Maybe that’s language the County can understand.