http://scvtalk.com a blog for SCV nerds by SCV nerds. Blogging Santa Clarita daily since 2006 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:13:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://scvtalk.com/2012/02/02/february-2-2012-daily-brief/ http://scvtalk.com/2012/02/02/february-2-2012-daily-brief/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:45:46 +0000 Jeff http://scvtalk.com/?p=9881 Continue reading →]]>

If you thought Hatami’s antics were fun, wait till you read this: Councilwoman Laurie Ender suggested that the Jakes Way neighborhood be cut out of the City of Santa Clarita and moved to Palmdale while Candidate Ed Colley says the best approach to dealing with that part of town is to wall it off and turn it into a prison. Yes they actually said this during the Young Republicans debate forum this week. SIGNAL

Campaign manager for Patricia McKeon says “We’re never going to lose sight of the fact that this is a grassroots campaign,” in an article about the four candidates fundraising for 38th Assembly district race. SIGNAL

Meanwhile, Salon.com writer Lee Fang draws parallels between the donors to the Patricia McKeon campaign and huge defense contracts that her husband has influence over. “It’s not clear why a drone maker would rally to Patricia McKeon’s call to end plastic bag taxes, the industry is an important cause for Buck McKeon,” Fang writes SALON.COM

And another online magazine says many of Patricia McKeon’s donors are actually executives at defense companies NATIONAL JOURNAL

Newhall man who killed two teen passengers in his car while driving under the influence gets 19 years in state prison SIGNAL

A man who allegedly tried to burgle batteries from a Valencia garage  returned to the scene of the crime to retrieve his tools and got arrested by Deputies instead SCVNEWS

The City and Sheriff’s Department have placed a MADD trailer in Sand Canyon to warn drivers about the consequences of reckless driving. The trailer has the crumpled remains of what looks like an Acura inside. CITY BRIEFS

“Forget all the nonsense of helping to create the City o’ SClarita. Clyde Smyth made what could be indistinguishable yuppie concentration camps into a home. He was one of those community leaders who wasn’t a father figure. He was a father. Why? Because he was there. He suited up. He showed up. He acted with class. Reservation. Dignity. Light-heartedness. Courage,” writes John Boston in his remembrance of Clyde Smyth. WRB

This week forty years ago, “a switch at the Edmonston pumping station south of Bakersfield was thrown and water began pumping. The first drops of water roared through the massive pipeline, headed to fill the new Castaic Reservoir. Despite 2,500 gallons being pumped every second, it would take nearly three years to fill the massive man-made lake.” Wow. TIME RANGER

Why are the people who run Chiquita Canyon landfill seeking to expand their operation when their current permit doesn’t run out until 2019? A Friends of the Santa Clara river member says it’s to get ahead of any opposition future residents of Newhall Ranch would have and because the landfill operators know the City of Santa Clarita will support the move. Good column SIGNAL

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In her latest campaign finance filing with California’s Fair Political Practices Commission, Patricia McKeon reported receiving $19,200 from seven defense contractors, according to the VECO STAR. Common Cause California says that Lockheed, General Dynamics, General Atomics and other defense company donations to her campaign are simply “a clear sign that military contractors are seeking to gain favor with the Republican congressman.” McKeon campaign officials say that’s absurd and demeans Patricia VECO STAR, REALLY PATRICIA BLOG

Overall, Patricia McKeon for Assembly raised $127,884 last year; that’s including her personal loan of $40,000 to her campaign. Wilk raised nearly 50k and Democratic candidate Edward Headington pulled in 26k (including $250 from the bassist from No Doubt). You can review McKeon’s Form 460 filing here, Scott Wilk’s is here, Headington’s is here.

On the same topic, KHTS’ writer Mark Archuleta interviewed Lee Fang, a Slate.com-affiliated reporter who broke the story earlier this week that Defense lobbyists were currying favor with Buck McKeon by supporting Patricia McKeon. Fang told Archuleta that there’s no evidence of illegal acts here but says that defense companies are “circumventing Federal law.” Fang expects more stories to come out about defense companies supporting Patricia McKeon. Buck McKeon’s office calls the article “an opinion piece…riddled with factual inaccuracies.” KHTS

And finally, the same KHTS article says Buck McKeon’s office “rebuffed requests from KHTS to provide copies of [McKeon's 1998] Countrywide loan documents.” For what it’s worth we asked to get our hands on the documents too and were refused; apparently only the Signal and the AV Press (behind a pay wall) has seen them.

Meanwhile, Democrat Lee Rogers says he has raised $100,000 to date in his race against Buck McKeon. Rogers says he’s receiving donations from around the country LEE ROGERS

Are bond oversight committees like the one the Hart district has to oversee voter-approved funds effective? Then how come a Hart District official was able to pay $1 million of Measure V funds to a company he owned or was affiliated with? Tammy Marashlian reports SIGNAL

And in other school funding news, the Saugus Union district says it will be hit with $6.5 million in cuts if voters don’t approve Governor Jerry Brown’s tax increase measure that will be on the ballot this year. SIGNAL

The SCV’s Super Enterprise Zone, comprised of both city and county territory, is “two steps closer to reality” after County supes agreed to designate the City as administrator of the zone and accepted an environmental study about the effects of the zone SIGNAL

OLPH begins construction of its new campus & church with a blessing. KHTSCVTV

The City’s graffiti task force report for 2011 is out and has some interesting stats. CITY BRIEFS

More thrift stores for Stevenson Ranch? Maybe WRB

Times columnist Steve Lopez ponders California High Speed rail; talks to grumpy SCV commuter who says HSR costs an “obscene” amount of money LA TIMES KHTSCVTV says a ballot measure on whether to continue the project could be on our November ballot.

Go Steve Go: Petz tells us why we should support a light pollution ordinance in the City of Santa Clarita SIGNAL

Gary Horton says Florida is more sane than South Carolina, and that’s why Mitt Romney won so big last night. It seems to me the big losers are the Tea Party- their top two candidates aren’t what I think of when I hear the words “Tea Party Conservative.” SIGNAL

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Buck McKeon shared his loan details with The Signal, but the article appears to rely on the conclusions drawn by a broker who examined the docs on the McKeon’s behalf. They report that McKeon’s rate was above the “national average” at the time. Forgive me for holding my breath until another news outlet of three has a closer look. SIGNAL

Dr. Clyde Smyth’s funeral was on Saturday. A giant of the SCV, he passed away on January 22nd. SIGNAL

Really neat article about how our local landfill uses Hollywood-trained falcons to keep scavenging  birds away. SIGNAL

SCVNEWS runs the police blotter of Part I crimes, just like we used to see back in the day in the SCV LATimes weekly section. SCVNEWS

The Signal’s series on heroin continues with an in-depth look at similar issues encountered in Plano, TX in the 90s. SIGNAL

Anti-McKeon site has a cow over an online poll disappearing from The Signal’s website. BUCKSTOPSNOW

Coyotes are causing trouble in CC. I almost hit one driving on Via Princessa last week. SCVNEWS

Yes, yes you read it right. Myers offers an early endorsement of Buck McKeon in The Signal. Shorter Myers: you would have done the same if you were in his shoes; plus he was brave for voting for TARP. SIGNAL

Last week marked the passing of Clare Fischer, the composer whose career started with big bands in WWII and went on to work with some of the biggest names in jazz, latin, R&B and pop music. Perhaps most famous for his long series of collaborations with Prince, he is the brother of local legend Dirk Fischer, the longtime COC Jazz Band director. Clare had 50 albums and two Grammys to his credit. LATIMES WAPO BBC

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Eric Earle, the Saugus man whose fiance was found dead on her bed in September, has been re-arrested by federal marshals and charged with murder. Earle, 40, was arrested in September but released as detectives had no official cause of death. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 25 years to life for the murder of Karla Brada. KHTSCVTV

The family of Derek Milsap says the 22 year old Canyon high grad did not die while racing his car against a truck in Escondido. Rather Milsap’s father says his son died after being cut off by the truck.  ”Two cars were jockeying for position. We all do it,” according to the father. KHTSCVTV says both vehicles were stopped at an onramp signal and accelerated onto the freeway together. In a sad twist, Milsap was friends with 19 year old Dakota Demott, the man who died in the January 10 crash in Sand Canyon. A vigil for Milsap will be held tonight at the Youth Grove SIGNAL

Dante Acosta, the father of slain soldier Spc. Rudy Acosta, will not be allowed to tell his son’s story at a House Armed Services Committee next week on the matter of hiring & screening Afghan security contractors. Lots of quotes in the SCVTV story from the HASC spokesman on this. SCVTV

So long redevelopment agencies, hello again to Enterprise Zones: Redevelopment agencies will close by February 1 as a plan to extend them dies in the Senate. Meanwhile, final certification of Enterprise Zones, like the one serving just about the entire SCV, are moving forward again. SIGNAL, SCVNEWS

Apolo Anton Ohno, the gold medalist American speed skater, was apparently at Whole Foods recently serving produce to customers on roller blades. Funny video at  CBS (ht:Shawna)

The Humane Society through the DA’s office has awarded $5,000 to a tipster who reported on an “Antelope Valley couple deeply immersed in the blood sport of dogfighting.” Authorities found 11 adult pit bulls at the Lake Los Angeles home of the couple. Sad but encouraging pics at KHTS

The Defense Department is cancelling plans for a longer-range Global Hawk drone program. The Global Hawk (you can see it here in this YouTube video) is built in Palmdale but seven SCV companies manufacture parts for it according to the SIGNAL

RFI Realty, apparently the current owners of Whittaker-Bermite, is so broke it can’t even afford to pay a guy to unlock the gates to the sprawling donut hole in the center of the city. Lots of legal maneuvering on this story SIGNAL

Red flag warning in effect as General Santa Ana exacts his revenge on the SCV ACCUWEATHER

State GOP chairman endorses Tony Strickland in his run for CA-26 LA TIMES

Neat: If you’re a recent college graduate interested in public service, Sharon Runner’s office has paid fellowship positions available SCVNEWS

Don’t miss yesterday’s great National Journal article on the feud between the McKeons and Scott Wilk in the context of the 38th Assembly District race NATIONAL JOURNAL

Really Patricia blogger alleges Signal is protecting Buck McKeon after the paper apparently pulled an online poll that asked readers for their views on McKeon’s “Friends of Angelo” mortgage RP BLOG

The Signal’s automatic (or is it?) press release posting system called “This Just In” put up a story from a conservative abstinence group seeking to raise awareness for it’s “Day of Sexual Purity Campaign.” The campaign has nothing to do with the SCV but the PR is there anyway, sharing the same Local News page that I click on every morning for the Brief.  THIS JUST IN

Clyde Smyth was a “true role model of public service” for the SCV says the Signal editorial page SIGNAL Also, an attorney fondly remembers Smyth for his work on numerous local issues, including Porta Bella (remember Porta Bella?) SIGNAL

Don’t miss this “Shit People say in LA” YouTube video

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A former student and graduate of Canyon High was killed in a car crash in Escondido “while racing another on Interstate 15,” according to the Signal. TMS says Derek Milsap, 22, was racing his Nissan 370Z against a Titan truck when he lost control and crashed into a light pole. He’s the second Canyon High graduate to die in a car crash in the last two weeks. Story not online yet.

Meanwhile, Deputies and other first responders will host an “Every 15 Minutes” programs at Canyon High to display and talk about the consequences of drunk or reckless driving KHTSCVTV

Another recap of the City Council meeting focusing on the appointments conflict SIGNAL

A seat is open on the best commission of them all, the Planning Commission. Get your application in by February 8, Petz, I don’t want any excuses this time CITY BRIEFS

The SCV Young Republicans, the  group that caused a stir when it endorsed a rival to Scott Wilk during the COC Board race, will host a City Council candidate’s forum next week at the Santa Clarita Republican headquarters WRB

The city says it does not have employees enforcing helmet laws at the skate park because the law classifies BMX bike riding and skateboarding as hazardous recreational activities, but it does everything it can “to encourage kids to wear protective gear.” All this following the recent accident at the skate park involving a boy who was not wearing a helmet SIGNAL

College of the Canyons is undergoing a review of its election processes, particularly whether it ought to remain at-large or create voting districts within the Santa Clarita Community College District to ensure that minorities and neighborhoods have adequate representation. Some agencies in California have faced lawsuits for having at-large elections. Should the City engage in the same process to ensure its elections are fair? SIGNAL

A 21 year old man who worked as a safety inspector for some agency was arrested this week for allegedly building an improvised explosive device. Not much more detail than that other than the fact that authorities arrested him in the dead of night at his home SIGNAL

Ugh: 70mph Santa Ana winds could hit SCV by this Friday LA TIMES

What’s next in Real Estate? The LAPD is cracking down on LA Realtors who use remotely piloted drones to photograph houses. Creepy LA TIMES

Et tu Brutus? The Hill says staffers and even lawmakers are upset and angry that someone leaked the names of three Congressmen -including our Buck McKeon- who received favorable mortgage loans from Countrywide. Fellow California Republican Darrell Issa -whose committee brought to light the mortage details- thought he’d only ensare Democrats in his probe, but all three are Republicans. THE HILL

Speaking of McKeon, he apparently accused President Obama of being from another planet in a video released in reaction to the State of the Union speech. SCVTV

And one more from McKeon/Obama: turns out President Obama’s idea to penalize colleges who can’t keep tuition costs down originated in Buck McKeon’s Education and Workforce Committee in 2003, according to INSIDE HIGHER ED

John Boston’s TIME RANGER for this week

LTE Writer says he likes Buck McKeon’s personal touch; he wrote the Congressman asking him to make sure babies born to illegal immigrants don’t get citizenship and McKeon’s response “made me feel that he understood my concern.” LTE

Republican confidence collapses in the pages of the WSJ no less: “Let’s just say right now what voters will be saying in November, once Barack Obama has been re-elected: Republicans deserve to lose.” WSJ

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Home and condo sales rose 2.6 and 1.5 percent respectively in the SCV in 2011, according to a Realtor’s report. More demand for homes would equal median price increase right? Curiously, no- median home prices were down 10.2 percent to $364k for a home while condo prices declined 7.5 percent to $210k. The SCV still has an anemic supply of houses according to the report SIGNAL, SCV NEWS

City Council wrap: Councilmembers made committee appointments, took on $93 million in debt as the Newhall Redevelopment agency was axed, and heard more complaints about that guy with the tennis court in his back yard in Newhall I HEART SCV, SIGNAL

Meanwhile, the County has adopted a dark skies resolution for unincorporated areas that “promises to cut down on light pollution.” This should be named the Petz’ Sky Ordinance as Steve Petzold has been championing this freedom-slaying, liberty-crushing idea for years SIGNAL

City Council candidate Jon Hatami has picked up an endorsement from former LASD Captain (and 2008 Council candidate) Bob Spierer. Hatami also was endorsed by Krissy McAffee, the mother of a 24 year old man who died of a heroin overdose two years ago. McAffee shined a spotlight on heroin abuse in the SCV before the City Council.  SIGNAL

Really Patricia blogger unearths SecState filing showing that Patricia McKeon has sunk $40k of her own money into her campaign for state Assembly RP BLOG

Harry Welch, the former Canyon High football coach whose long career has had moments of great triumph and troubling accusations, may be in trouble again at his coaching post in Orange County. Mums the word but Welch has been placed on leave amid accusations of something involving a student/athlete. SCV NEWS

When did we start dubbing ourselves Hollywood North? Neat profile of Santa Clarita’s movie ranches in the LA Times; even Quentin Tarantino weighs in, saying “it’s a blast shooting here,” referring to P-Canyon’s Melody ranch. “Most other western towns look like dollhouses. This has the complete look. It’s fantastic.” LA TIMES

Speaking of celebrities and the SCV, Anthony Bourdain will visit the PAC on February 9. The Times says “renowned culinary bad boy will tell all.” LA TIMES

Hart Supe Challinor says the state budget for education is so bad that classrooms are bursting at the seams and the next thing on the chopping block may be athletics and visual/performing arts. He wants more money, plain and simple, telling Leon Worden Mark Archuleta that “We’ve got to make these issues real to our state legislators. They have to understand that if California is going to continue to thrive as a state, they can’t fund educational programs near the bottom of the 50 states.” SCV NEWS

Speaking of schools, this depressing but un-sourced stat on SCV students is quite troubling: “In the Santa Clarita Valley, home of the arguably best API scores in the State, 88% of the high school graduates need remedial math, English or both when entering college.” Phew! I only needed remedial math upon graduating Hart High CAL POLITICS BLOG

Buck McKeon was “edgy” and “difficult to deal with” back in 1998 when he was attempting to close the deal on his now well-known “Friends of Angelo” Mortgage with Countrywide according to a liberal blogger who references the AV Press, which itself highlighted portions of the Darryl Issa report on the matter.  Around the same time, Buck McKeon was going through the Howard & Phil’s bankruptcy according to the blogger. DOWN WITH TYRANNY 

Pile on: spot the spelling error in a recent Buck McKeon mailer BUCK STOPS NOW

Meanwhile, the Really Patricia? blogger speculates on why Assembly candidate Scott Wilk “released” the endorsement of his friend Tony Strickland. RP BLOG

Thems Fightin’ Words: What did you think of President Obama’s STOTU speech? I found it aggressive and was refreshed to see Obama defend himself a bit. I also liked the theme: you know what, America’s military is really good at killing people and breaking things, why can’t we be good at other things too? Buck McKeon, taking the GOP line yesterday, says it was a campaign speech. SIGNAL

Carl Goldman at KHTS says the SCV lost a “jewel” when Clyde Smyth died on Sunday night. “Clyde was all that’s good about Santa Clarita. He would always give a straight answer, often flavored with his wry sense of humor. He didn’t just talk the talk and he didn’t just walk the walk. Clyde led the walk,” he writes KHTS

From housewife to apparent “community activist” and finally savvy political columnist, Pat McKeon dazzles in her red meat Democrat attack piece in the Signal today SIGNAL

I don’t usually link to him because I find him verbose and tedious but Chris Sharp’s column in the WRB today on Romney is good. Romney gets painted as an inhuman stick figure who is overmanaged and over-groomed by the best paid minds in politics WRB

John Boston says to increase traffic safety in the SCV, we ought to give driver’s licenses to people only after they turn 40 WRB

Speaking of traffic safety, LA Observed picked up on my Newhall Pass Disaster Planning Tool. We should build an iPhone app for this LA OBSERVED

Facebook reports indicate a Gold’s Gym is opening up in the old Borders space. Is Gold’s Gym a right fit for Valencia?

Big Picture takes you inside the Lunar New Year celebrations (Year of the Dragon edition) BIG PICTURE

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A funeral for Dakota Damott, the 19 year old man killed in last week’s violent crash in Sand Canyon, was held yesterday. The driver, Colt Doherty, is off life-support and Sheriff’s officials say they’re looking into whether another car was involved SIGNAL

Up next in KHTSCVTV’s profile of Council Candidates: TimBen Boydston. Boydston says he’s running against Ender and he’s actually willing to pick a fight about the library takeover, which he says amounted to SCV residents paying for library buildings and materials twice. Boydston also says the city isn’t doing enough to attract high paying jobs and thinks Canyon Country needs a Sheriff’s Station. SCVTV

In yesterday’s Signal article about Buck McKeon’s Friends of Angelo mortgage with Countrywide, I missed something. Did you see the last sentence in the piece? Buck says that if he had known he was getting such a good deal with Countrywide, he would have put all his mortgage spend there. “If I had known we had got a good deal (on the loan) then I would have gotten all my loans from Countrywide,” McKeon said.” CHUCKLE

Dave Bossert says a “lot of digging” is going on into the fundraising machinations of powerteam Buck & Patricia McKeon over Patricia’s run for Assembly. He says the LA Times, WaPo and Politico are looking into it, particularly a fundraising meeting Buck McKeon held for his wife back in October in DC. No hard news yet though. WRB

Unsurprisingly, SCV Republican leaders didn’t like much of what Governor Brown proposed in his State of the State speech. SIGNAL, KHTS

Meanwhile, it’s come to this: Elementary school teachers and even a Principal will “double as McDonald’s employees” tonight to help raise money for their school SIGNAL

The Hart District renewed Einstein Academy charter for another five years at its board meeting last night. Board member Joe Messina quizzed an Asst. Superintendent of Instruction about her announced & unannounced visits tot he school and whether she had ever seen anything at the school that was “religious in nature.” She said she has not. SIGNAL

Mortgage guy tells VIA lunch attendees that the biggest problem real estate pros like him face is that banks don’t kick delinquent homeowners out of their homes quickly enough.  That has the strange effect of keeping inventory & prices low in the SCV for buyers. SIGNAL

Maria Gutzeit appointed President of NCWD Board KHTS

Mayor Laurie Ender via the City says residents should remove outdated yard sale signs. “Excessive signs can cause unwanted blight in our community,” she said. SCVNEWS

The theme for the Senses on Main event tonight is football tailgating. CITY BRIEFS

City unveils interesting “Black and White” art exhibit on the first floor of City Hall SCVNEWS

Local Tea Party leader Chris Lim isn’t fooled, urging his readers to not vote for the liberal Mitt Romney TEA PARTY ROUNDTABLE

Meanwhile, it turns out Rick Santorum actually won Iowa LA TIMES

COC student describes how cool it is to see TV and Movie shoots in the SCV, recalling that she and her sister were once shopping and saw Bill Paxton just casually stroll by them. Her sister had a panic attack and they went all paparazzi on him. She then recalls all the moments on film she’s seen that were shot in the SCV. I always love seeing old CHiPS re-runs for this reason! COUGAR NEWS

Speaking of COC, and further to my post about whiny SCVers and parking, a COC Student says COC charges too much for parking, then quotes another student who complains that she has “to leave my house an hour early just to spend thirty minutes searching for a parking spot that is far away from my classes.” Seems to me to be an argument to increase parking costs…how bad do you want to park next to Mentry Hall? Basic supply and demand. COUGAR NEWS

Stunning shots of the Costa Concordia shipwreck off Italy BIG PICTURE

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Wow: Remember James “Whitey” Bulger, the infamous Irish Boston gangster made subject of the Jack Nicholson film “The Departed?” He was captured in Santa Monica last year, but a retired cop says he may have been captured in 2008 had the FBI followed up on a tip & a gun delivered to the SCV Sheriff’s Station. The 9mm gun, which was seized from a man trying to hawk it at an unidentified California shooting range, was given to SCV Sheriff’s Deputies. Deputies & the Watch Commander apparently alerted the FBI but nothing was done. FOX NEWS BOSTON

McKeon was a Friend of Angelo? More details from Darell Issa’s committee investigation into four House members who received big discounts on mortgage loans from Countrywide. McKeon received forms to sign and a letter that said “Thank you for allowing Countrywide’s VIP Team to assist you.” Chief oompa-loompa himself, Angelo Mozillo, instructed the loan officer handling McKeon’s mortgage to “take off 1 point, no garbage fees, approve the loan and make it a no doc.” One point is a lot. McKeon tells the Siganl that “nobody told me they were doing me a favor” and says he was unaware that the $315,000 1998 deal was part of the VIP program, but do you buy that the former President of Valencia National Bank didn’t know the details of a loan he was getting into? ROLL CALL, SIGNAL, KHTS

McKeon’s presumed Democratic challenger in November, Dr. Lee Rogers, smells blood in the water and calls on McKeon to release the full details of his 1998 mortgage. ROGERS CAMPAIGN

More bad news for CEMEX deal as the Victorville City Council shelves a request by the Santa Clarita City Council to support Boxer’s CEMEX bill. Turns out McKeon’s old bill is subtly different from Boxer’s latest bill in that the new bill allows for mining in Victorville while the old bill did not. Victorville will hold a workshop to determine what its next steps are. SCVNEWS

Bob Kellar gets a warm profile in SCVTV/KHTS today, following up on yesterday’s Ender piece. In the profile, Kellar says City Council members must be “multi-faceted. You’ve got to look at a whole variety of issues and circumstances to properly serve.” The interviewer also asked him about his infamous 2010 “Proud Racist” comments and Kellar said now what he said then, that that quote wasn’t in proper context. SCVNEWS

VeCo Star columnist Tim Herdt takes a look at the possible race between Dem Sen Fran Pavley and former Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg. The 27th Senate seat would include western portions of the SCV VECO STAR

Meanwhile, the SacBee reports our own Cameron Smyth is considering a run for the 27th Senate District, pending an outcome on the Republicans’ challenge to the 2011 redistricting results SACBEE

An Old Orchard shopping center dry cleaner is getting a close look by state officials after chemicals used in the dry cleaning process “had been released into the soil” near a church preschool next door. Officials say the chemicals aren’t a threat to people but they’re testing anyway. The dry cleaner operator says he’s complied with all state mandates SIGNAL

The Santa Clarita Disney store will be one of eight remodeled into a new “interactive store design aesthetic” according to SCVNews. The store might move its location in the mall as well SCVNEWS

In other business news, a battery manufacturer is opening a 20,000 sq. ft. plant in Santa Clarita and an SFV manufacturing company will move its HQ to SCV. EDC NEWSLETTER

Cool: 20 year old geek college student starts up his own business mending broken hearts by repairing broken iGadgets SIGNAL

Are you curious about how to effect a citizen’s arrest? Then be sure to check out Ray Bowden’s piece today on a Ralph’s employee who arrested a woman as she darted out of the store with nearly $700 worth of groceries. Bowden talks to Sheriff’s Deputies about what a citizen’s arrest is, how it is similar (yet different!) to vigilantism and more. Up next in Ray Bowden’s refreshing yet unconventional look at crime and punishment in the SCV? How to call the Karma and Fashion Police  SIGNAL

The City has reopened Canyon Country library following repairs to the mysterious leaks that plagued the building last year SIGNAL

Not a Ferry Fan is still around and he’s got a new video on Frank Ferry’s alleged treachery against Bob Kellar YOU TUBE

First world problems: I got a scarf for Christmas, but I didn’t know how to wear it. So I Googled “How to wear a scarf – men” and now, fully satisfied, I’m posting the link here and to my Pinterest account under my “Men’s Fashion” category. HOW TO WEAR A SCARF

I’m enthralled by the Italian cruise liner wreck story. Recordings were released last night of an Italian Coast Guard captain loudly ordering the cruise liner’s captain back to the ship. The Costa’s captain refused, saying it was too dark. ”Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Go on board (Expletive!)” Whoa! TRIBUNE

Multiple websites, including Wikipedia, have shut down today to protest the content industries’ attempts to get the SOPA/PIPA bills passed. If enacted, those bills would essentially authorize the government to break the internet (by redirecting DNS) LA TIMES

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An inquiry by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee found that Buck McKeon and three other congressmen received loans with a special rate through Countrywide’s VIP program. McKeon claims ignorance and a challenger to his seat, Dr. Lee Rogers, is demanding answers. NYTIMES THE HILL SIGNAL

As Tim mentioned over the weekend, Tony Strickland is running for Congress after all, making it more likely that Cameron Smyth will take a run at the Senate, either in the new 27h district or in Tony’s current district if the CA Supreme Court puts the new maps on hold. Either district would include just a little bit of the SCV, but while Tony’s current 19th is dead even between Ds and Rs, the new district would have a 6-point D advantage. Smyth is about as moderate as Republicans come, but he might be facing a popular incumbent in Fran Pavely. Meanwhile, here’s some interesting speculation on whether Brad Sherman will blink in his staring contest with Howard Berman will run in the 26th against Strickland  (h/t VenturaTalk) SCVNEWS SIGNAL

The stage is set for the April 10th election: Ender, Kellar, Boydston, Colley and Hatami. SIGNAL

Family, friends and students past and present gathered to remember Pete Pew, the ever-admired government and history teacher from Hart High. Leslie Littman’s touching eulogy is posted here (I was a student of Ms. Littman in her 1st year at Hart). SIGNAL

Interesting look at the vehicle maintenance operation that keeps the LASD’s Crown Vics running by The Signal’s Ray Bowden, who seems to have a knack for articles like these. The 240hp V8 cars ars are retired after 125,000 miles in service. SIGNAL

On that note, does anyone know which vehicle the LASD will use now that the Crown Vic has been discontinued? (Last year, SCVtalk readers voted for the Dodge Charger.)

Installation of solar panels on Hart District campuses has been coming along quickly over the extended winter break, but until everything is wrapped up, student parking will be hard to come by. The panels will provide over 3/4ths of the district’s power and they are being installed at no cost to the district, which anticipates a $20 million savings over 20 years. KHTS via SCVNEWS (because they have pictures)

Little information is available about a shooting in Newhall on Thursday night that sent one man to the hospital. SCVNEWS

The Signal’s series on heroin is continued here and here. Reading the accounts of recovering addicts is quite disturbing because so many will return to the drug again and again.

Hometown golf hero Jason Gore made history recently by becoming the first golfer to get a sponsor’s exemption for a PGA Tour event via Twitter (@JasonGore59). Gore has been fighting to get back on the tour, made his plea in a tweet to the Northern Trust Open, which will be played at Riviera CC next month. YAHOO SPORTS

The COC PAC had one of its biggest names yet appear on Saturday when Dionne Warwick took the stage. I missed the show, but I’m hearing good things. SIGNAL

Speaking of the PAC, the City’s Art Commission has given unanimous approval to a 3-year contract that would continue the City’s support of the center, and arrangement that was on shakier ground a few years ago. The contract gives the City several days per year for City functions. The deal now goes to the city council for final approval. SIGNAL

Local bakery and cupcake shop, Bake You Happy, former winners of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, was back on the show last night competing in an all-star edition where they took 2nd place.

]]> http://scvtalk.com/2012/01/16/daily-brief-january-16-2102-mlk-day-edition/feed/ 17 http://scvtalk.com/2012/01/12/january-12-2012-daily-brief/ http://scvtalk.com/2012/01/12/january-12-2012-daily-brief/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:38:15 +0000 Jeff http://scvtalk.com/?p=9699 Continue reading →]]>

Questions, mourning over Sand Canyon Crash: A family that lives near Tuesday night’s crash site (along with several others) in Sand Canyon is frustrated that authorities haven’t cracked down on speeders in the area. KHTS Meanwhile at Canyon Country park, a candelight vigil will be held tonight. SIGNAL

Bob Kellar has qualified to run for City Council SIGNAL

More details on the DC agency the City has re-hired to lobby on behalf of Santa Clarita SCVNEWS

Part 1 violent crimes were down 32% last year in the SCV, making Santa Clarita #5 out of 23 locations in the county with most improved crime rates. A decline in aggravated assaults makes up the majority of the decrease. But there were six murders in 2011, double the amount in 2010. SCVNEWS

More charges being brought against man accused of using Facebook to lure underage girls to the mall where he allegedly molested them SIGNAL

Every year, KHTS sponsors a rolling bus trip to Sacramento so that the SCV’s best and  brightest can lobby Sacramento. Well this year is special as Governor Brown himself will dine and deliver a speech to the visitors SCVNEWS

SUSD facing more criticism over delayed construction of Emblem school SIGNAL

Banks getting even more aggressive with foreclosures which may lead to further declines in housing prices LA TIMES

I think median improvement projects (like the one underway on Lyons right now) offer really good bang for the buck. Check out Bouquet Canyon’s improvement CITY BRIEFS

City to host free Culture Night with “music, art and cuisine to highlight different cultures of the world.” CITY

Kellar, the hero of the people, according to this LTE

John Boston’s TIME RANGER this week explores the Newhall Pass and Fort Tejon

Flowers blooming in New Hampshire? 80 degree days in SCV? What’s with the weather? Lynne Plambeck and my favorite weather blogger Dr. Jeff Masters speculate SIGNAL, WEATHER UNDERGROUND

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