Library takeover protesters at City Hall last night. Photo courtesy of Bruce McFarland
- The City of Santa Clarita Council voted 4-1 last night to takeover the three County libraries in the SCV from the County and outsource their operation to LSSI, a library services company based in Maryland. The Council chambers were packed with people against the move, but the opposition made no difference. Money quote from Laurene Weste, who told the crowd to be quiet: ““I know we’re all library people, so shhhh.” SIGNAL, KHTS, My commentary
- Next move: Supervisor Antonovich? An LTE writer pleads
- Assessed value of all 2.6 million homes in Los Angeles County fell $19 billion to just over $1 trillion in the last year. The news is good for homeowners who can apply to get their property taxes decreased, but it’s bad news for local governments because it means less revenue will come their way. Santa Clarita’s homes fell 0.7 percent in assessed value. DAILY NEWS
- I saw the temperature yesterday hit 109 degrees in the SCV; no relief is expected today, we could, in fact, hit 110. Stay indoors, drink plenty of water, and please, don’t leave your pets or kids in a locked car! SIGNAL
- 17 year old girl injured in a mountain bike crash is the first patient of Henry Mayo’s new Intensive Care Unit, an 18 bed, 9,660 sq. ft. addition to the hospital that is part of its master plan renovations SIGNAL
- Jay Thomas, the “popular” president of Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor, has been relieved of his duties and will take a job with Six Flags corporate in Texas. The move was part of a shake up at a few Six Flags parks nationwide. KHTS
- Jewish Journal of Los Angeles takes a look at the SCV’s new Albert Einstein charter school and notes the growing number of such schools nationwide. Rabbi Mark Blazer, the guy behind Einstein, wants to start up three more charter schools in the LA area. “Some are celebrating this development, but many others are asking questions: Is it possible to teach Hebrew without teaching Judaism? Do publicly funded Hebrew-language charter schools violate the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state in schools?” the paper asks.
- 90% of the Hart District’s 10th graders can pass the state high school exit exam, says the SIGNAL
- Rim of the Valley corridor meetings will be held this fall to determine whether mountainous areas surrounding the SCV and other places should be added to the national park system. BLOG
- Harry Welch, the celebrated Canyon High football coach who took the Cowboys to the state championship and defeated feared De La Salle in 2006, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. “I’m going to beat this thing,” he told the SIGNAL
- Neat: City of Santa Clarita streaming Old Town Newhall redevelopment work SIGNAL
- Letter writer thanks Egg Plantation for switching to cage free eggs SIGNAL
- So that’s where he’s been: Dave Bossert sends a postcard from Zurich WRB
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Wow! Just looking over vote totals across the nation puts a huge smile on my face. November is going to be a great month!
I really enjoy the daily briefs. I feel up to date on whats happening in Santa Clarita in just 5 minutes.
Who new the head of Magic Mountain was so “popular?”
Jay Thomas was one of the nicest men I have ever met. He was always willing to give a hand and contribute to the community. Something Magic Mountain had not been doing much of for awhile. He will definitely be missed.
http://westranchbeacon.com/blog/2010/08/antonovich-orders-canyon-country-traffic-signal-at-via-princessa-and-swan-lake/
Link to a write up of the County via Antonovich approving a signal to help pedestrians get to a park safely in Fair Oaks Ranch. It is interesting to note that a LA County can nimbly take an action like this while our own City leaders continue to fumble with traffic safety issues for years.
Key words: “Funded by Pardee”
AKA. “See supervisors… we’ll take care of your needs, now please approve our next massive development.
my view of the City is at its nadir today, but even so, when it comes to traffic control, I would take the City over the County 100 times out of 100.
How many of those red shirted library folks actually live in the city?
The union may have supplied the shirts, but the majority of people who spoke were citizens of Santa Clarita. The vast majority of them were against rushing into this at least until they had more real answers. The Council, save Bob ignored the pleas of their citizens again.
Mr. Gauny nor I sent any emails to our lists. This was a whole new group of unhappy Citizens. The question is, will they become involved?
the answer for me and my husband is yes.
TimBen,
I really liked your comments last night.
@TBB, I’m curious what you would have said if the City had paid staff at each library site asking patrons to fill out comment cards once they heard the “facts” regarding how much of our money is being spent elsewhere for library services, and provided free blue tee shirts with “I Love City of Santa Clarita Libraries” on them, all of course paid for with taxpayer “donations”. What brilliant comment would you make if the City had trucked in a couple of hundred people from Moorpark, to advocate for local library control?
As long as I am asking questions, at what point do you stop referring to yourself as “former City Councilman TimBen Boydston”?
At what point do you hold Al Ferdman to the same standards you hold the City Council regarding “ethics”. When did you ask Al to stop identifying himself as “Chair of the Canyon Country Advisory Committee” before addressing Council and others or have him clearly state he does not officially speak on behalf of the CCAC in accordance with the City Code of Ethics and Conduct, and the Canyon Country Advisory Committee By-Laws? You must be aware he is not authorized to present any official positions for the CCAC without a vote of eligible voting members. No such votes have taken place nor has Al followed any approved policies allowing him to present any official position for at least a couple of years. Furthermore, he has NEVER been authorized to speak for the entire community of Canyon Country and certainly not for me since I do not subscribe to the “everything the City does or proposes is a conspiracy against us poor embattled residents” mentality.
Oh PLEASE let me answer for you, the answer is NEVER because it does not suit your purposes.
Berta, your first “what if?” actually happened. City staff members were paid to make a website that was more propagandistic than informative, and Darren Hernandez and other staff spent who knows how many hours promoting the LSSI takeover and squashing naysayers who posted on this site or who wrote to The Signal. City resources were spent to facilitate the LSSI takeover.
I know you were in favor of the change and informed on the issues, but did you at least think the City Council’s behavior last night was a bit overly hasty (by which I mean shockingly rushed)?
@IHeartSCV, I objectively see both sides of this issue. As I said before Council, I would have had no problem with Council taking more time to decide. Unfortunately, I also recognize that those who oppose would still oppose those who support would still support. The City could not go out and “sell” the plan without Al, Cam, TBB, & Co complaining about wasting taxpayer money to get what “they” want. If City Staff had not put up the website, they would be criticized for that too, so you see you actually prove my point. Some people are going to find fault with whatever City Staff and City Council do, no matter what. The County staff had all kinds of information available all over the place and you and I paid for that too. Are you criticizing them? No. I rest my case…
I recognize that to take more time, use more City Staff time for community outreach, etc will still produce the same results. The County/union, a few library patrons, and the Al & co group taking 6 hours to repeat the same stuff they have been spoon-fed. That is not Council’s fault. EVERYTHING the city suggests or proposes even if it benefits us the residents is opposed by this same bunch meeting after meeting. They put out skewed information and use their positions as “community leaders” to influence those who will follow their lead. They play on the mistrust some people have of government, and that those folks will not do their own independent research. They insinuate conspiracies, manipulate and lie but never offer any tangible proof. It sickens me.
I also happen to agree with Ms. Ender that those attending meetings are not necessarily representative of the community. For any number of reasons people do not attend these meetings. I have also found in my personal experience talking to people that while many people agree with my opinion that the City has done many things right, they do not want to take the time to oppose the more vocal and nasty same group that shows up to speak about everything. You may have noticed I am usually the lone rangerette out there. Yet residents’ keep casting their votes for these folks, and keep moving up here so it cannot be that bad. Additionally, the City keeps winning awards for financial reporting etc, two of them were mentioned last night. So despite all of the conspiracy theories, WE as a City must be doing something right! I am personally tired of all the posturing. I could not be a Council member. I do not have a good poker face and would be calling out the hypocrites and liars from the dais.
Berta:
I missed the meeting – were you the only one other than City Staff and LSSI employees to speak in support? How many supporters were there speaking? I only heard bout the 48 opposed…
@TBB, oh excuse me NFIC, please see response to IHeartSCV above.
And no, Phil and Dennis from NRD also.
Phil Ellis and Dennis Werner spoke with all the enthusiasm of someone in a Dentist’s waiting room.
What is NRD?
Yes. “We’re Mad as Hell, and aren’t gonna take it anymore!!”
My question is how many work for the County and/or unions.
I was given some very interesting information, after I spoke, at the break.
It appears that LA County has been subsidizing our 3 libraries from 2001-02 to 2006-07. It is only the last two cycles in 2007-08 and 2008-09 that our three libraries have been in the black by approx $240K. Except for Canyon Country, which has been in the black for the past 7 years.
For the last 2 cycles, the Canyon Country surplus was $862K and $702K. Canyon Country folks, it turns out, is not only subsidizing Newhall and Valencia Libraries but accounts for the entire city Library surplus as well.
If you look at the overall Revenue totals, you would see that Newhall is the smallest. Canyon Country revenues are more than twice Newhall and Valencia more than 3 times Newhall.
Why then is the City building the biggest, most expensive Library in Newhall?
The City’s presentation showed that if they selected the outsource option, it would give the city the ability to borrow $33 million dollars. If that were to happen and the money was used to build the Newhall Library, congratulations Canyon Country, you get stuck with the bill.
A good article on the where tax dollars meant to provide specific economic stimulations end up. Enterprise Zone or Think SCV anyone?
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/25/gulf-redevelopment-money-has-helped-oil-companies.html