Daily Brief – September 24, 2007

What a refreshing weekend. Much-needed rain on Saturday followed by a picture-perfect Sunday. Good thing too. It's going to be a busy week. Find out more in your Daily Brief.

News

Murder in Val Verde, Questions remain: Authorities know a man was shot and killed inside a Val Verde home early on Saturday morning, but not much else, according to Josh Premako's report in Sunday's Signal. The victim, age 26, may have been in a struggle prior to his death.
Showdown over hospital expansion: Jerry Berrios may be one of the newest writers at the Signal, but she's got a good grasp of all the issues and history involved in the expansion plans for Henry Mayo hospital and spoke to the crucial players in the debate for her Sunday preview of tomorrow's City Council meeting. The two sides appear no closer to compromise yet, with David Gauny telling Berrios that, "There is no hospital, there is no benefit in the plan. It's a three-building office park." Mayo CEO Roger Seaver says that guaranteeing the hospital expansion portion of the plan isn't possible. Hold the Mayo or Let them build?
All Aboard! SCV to Ventura rail line: Imagine a passenger rail line stretching from the coastal communities of Ventura, through the Santa Clara river valley, past Newhall Ranch territory, into "downtown" Valencia with stops at the mall, finally linking up to the north-south rail line near the Santa Clarta metrolink station on Soledad. That's the general idea, anyway, behind a study commissioned in part by the Ventura County Transportation Commission. The $450 million plan faces several hurdles, however, not the least of which is opposition from city of Santa Clarita councilmembers. Councilmembers are concerned with how the line would impact existing developments in Central Santa Clarita and whether freight trains would be permitted to use the railway. Pat Aidem reports on the matter in today's Daily News, and it's a must read
Back in parking dies an ugly death: I've looked into the future and that's the Signal's Thursday morning headline about the back in parking matter in Old Town Newhall. Katie Geyer reports that the city council will vote on whether to change the bass-ackwards parking rules at tomorrow night's city council meeting, a decision which would cost the city $60,000.
McKeon and the red-headed wonder-boy: On Saturday night, our representative Buck McKeon hosted a fundraiser dinner at the Hyatt Valencia. The $250-a-plate dinner didn't get much, if any, press coverage in this time zone, but it was notable in that McKeon wasn't the only Congressman at the event. The dinner's guest speaker was Congressman Adam Putnam, a 33 year old Republican from Florida who's rise within the GOP political machine is the subject of this Tampa Bay Tribune article. There's even a few quotes from McKeon's spokesman in the article. Bob Haueter says Putnam's visit to the SCV generated excitement among young Republicans and will benefit Buck McKeon, who's over twice Putnam's age. "A lot of our supporters out here know him and see him on TV. Now there's a great deal of interest in our constituents in getting to him better," Haueter told the Tribune, adding that 30-somethings were interested in the event. Reading between the lines, are local Republicans searching for a young candidate to run if 69 year old McKeon chooses to retire next year?
Sheriff's Department executive resigns: Division Chief Michael Aranda, who manages the Sheriff's Techinical Servics Division, has resigned his position after being charged with drunk driving on Highway 14 in June. Times report
Rain doesn't stop Native Americans from hosting pow-wow: Connie Llanos returns to cover the SCV for the Daily News with a story on the annual Native American pow wow held at Hart Park this weekend.
Are SCV bridges safe? Katie Geyer asks the question in this in-depth report.
Wasn't that a wonderful weekend? SantaClaritaWeather.com says only eight tenths of an inch of rain fell on our beloved Valley between Friday and Saturday, but it sure felt like more than that.

Real Estate News:

So much for free market economics: Speaking of McKeon, he voted "yes" on a HR 1852 last week, a bill that would expand "federal backing of mortgages in hopes of helping struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure." The bill was obviously supported by the home building industry and aimed at homeowners who got bit by ARMs and other variable interest rate mortgages in the still-developing national foreclosure mess. The foreclosure crisis hasn't really hit the SCV hard, according to Realtor Linda Slocum's blog post but media reports indicate the Antelope Valley, also part of McKeon's district, has had hundreds of foreclosures.
Lennar Plans for Orange County in doubt: Some Lennar housing projects and the redevelopment of Orange County's El Toro Marine base are in doubt, reports the Los Angeles Times. Lennar, the parent company of Newhall Land, hasn't filed updated plans for the projects since 2005, and one Irvine City Councilwoman thinks the home-building giant might be prepping a sale of some prime Orange County land. In January, Lennar sold a majority stake in the Newhall Ranch project, and has reported losses in its quarterly results this year. Link

Miscellaneous:

Deja Vu all over again: Ooops! Today, the Signal mistakenly printed the same Letters to the Editor that appeared in Sunday's paper. In case you missed both, Sharon Runner really wants Giuliani to be president.
Signal hiring new local government reporter: "The Signal seeks a reporter to cover municipal government in a rapidly growing, vibrant city," the want-ad at JournalismJobs.com says. They're gunning for an experienced reporter, but will accept curious and dedicated rookies looking to make a name too. Is someone leaving the paper? Katie Geyer and Jerry Berrios currently cover local .gov news, and both have articles in today's paper. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
More cougar/lion suspicions: I reported last week that COC Canyon Country staff had spotted three cougars in the hills above the new Sierra Highway campus. Sand Canyon residents have also seen evidence of cougars or moutain lions in the area. KHTS reports that a horse in Sand Canyon was recently attacked and had "claw gashes." Also, a dead dog was found last week. Link

Comments (7)

RickLSeptember 24 at 10:43 AM PT

Reading between the lines, are local Republicans searching for a young candidate to run if 69 year old McKeon chooses to retire next year? Maybe Robert Rodruguez is available.

PaulineSeptember 24 at 11:03 AM PT

Signal reporter Jerry Berrios did an amazing job covering the G&L/Henry Mayo Medical Office Building project; this was a very balanced, detailed article about this complex, controversial issue. Anyone uninformed about this issue could read this article and be brought right up to speed with both sides without becoming dazed and confused. Very well done. I will no longer call this project the Henry Mayo hospital expansion, however, becsuse there will not be a hospital expansion, and there never was going to be a hospital expansion. The new Development Agreement has the same escape clause for G&L Realty as there was in the last Development Agreement: G&L Realty is not leagally bound to build an actual hospital expansion, and as long as this escape clause exists, this project should not be approved until that clause is removed and we see a hospital expansion GUARANTEED IN WRITING. Oh, but wait: Roger Seaver informed us himself at a Council meeting that a hospital expansion could not be guaranteed in writing, and never would be. So - why has Henry Mayo been pushing a hospital expansion if Roger Seaver says it won't ever be guaranteed in writing? If it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist. And as long as an escape clause exists releasing G&L Realty from building said hospital expansion that Rogers Seaver says he is "committed" to getting built (but won't put such a "commitment" in writing) then it is safe to assume G&L Realty never intends to build this "committed" hospital expansion. So, should this project be approved only based on a bunch of worthless promises and "commitments" from people who have not been honest with us since day one? As a small business owner, we get everything in writing. Our customers demand everything in writing. Because if it isn't in writing, it just doesn't exist and give me a break PLEASE, but a huge project like this cannot get an approval unless everything is in writing. If I were remodeling a single room in my home, everything would be in writing, I wouldn't just shake hands with the contractor and accept his "promise and commitment" to do work and not bother to get ALL of his promises and commitments in writing. Why shoul we be expected to approve a project this huge with nothing but a promise of a "commitment" that isn't worth the paper the Development Agreement is written on, a joke of a promise issued by people who have misrepresented this project from day one. We need to start calling this project what it is, what it has always been: the G&L Medical Office Buildings Project and go from there assessing this project without considering a hospital expansion that does not exist in writing. Henry Mayo and G&L Realty simply used the term hospital expansion as a dishonet lure to get medical office buildings approved based on a hospital expansion they refuse to put in writing. This entire project has been based on a hospital expansion LIE; because if it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist, and presenting and pushing a project based on something that doesn't exist IS a lie. Pauline Harte.

PubliusSeptember 24 at 11:18 AM PT

It was a $250-a-plate dinner.

PaulineSeptember 24 at 11:22 AM PT

The consultants for G&L Realty and the Henry Mayo Hospital expansion THAT ISN'T, are: Scott Wilk, Hunt Braly, Arthur Sohikian, and former SCV Director of Planning, Jeff Lambert. And if they would be so kind as to get us the hospital expansion in writing IN the Development Agreement, then and only then will the expansion exist in the here and now instead of on a Henry Mayo wish list. Until the hospital expansion is in writing, no such hospital expansion exists and if it doesn't exist, well, I guess the G&L carpetbaggers and the consultants and Roger Seaver shouldn't be trying to push something on Santa Clarita that.....doesn't exist. Pauline Harte.

PaulineSeptember 24 at 1:29 PM PT

Coaster, thank you for the support. The most important thing on the side of the opposition is the fact that there has been so much dishonesty and so many misrepresentations from G&L and "associates." The fact that we know there won't be a hospital expansion in writing even though this is called a hospital expansion, is a serious problem for G&L and Henry Mayo that cannot be ignored any more than the dishonesty and misrepresentations from TMC/Southdown/Cemex could be ignored. It was stated at a council meeting that the opposition needs to state clearly what they want. Well, that is pretty obvious: the opposition wants a hospital expansion IN WRITING. And people who consider themselves "friends" of Henry Mayo, every person who stands up touting the advantages of a hospital expansion and demands an approval OF a hospital expansion, should be demanding to see such an expansion IN WRITING. How can these pro-expansion people support an expansion that doesn't exist in writing? They continue to stand before City Council singing the praises of a hospital expansion that Roger Seaver pretty much admits doesn't exist since it won't be guaranteed in writing. Then Henry Mayo people present their wish lists of everything the hospital will get from an expansion - but the expansion doesn't exist so what is the point of presenting hospital expansion wish lists based on an expansion that cannot be guaranteed in writing? We are stuck on a G&L merry-go-round here, and as long as they continue to call their project a hospital expansion, this pseudo expansion should not be voted on until the Development Agreement contains the hospital expansion in writing! This LIE of a project is just a waste of everyone's time until we see an expansion in writing. And as I stated at City Council, the REAL friends of Henry Mayo Nehall Memorial Hospital are the people who represent the opposition because it is the opposition that is fighting to get the expansion in writing so the Henry Mayo wish lists don't forever languish in G&L Realty Fantasyland. Pauline Harte.

pinkySeptember 24 at 2:07 PM PT

I am very interested in the outcomes of tomorrow's city Council meeting with regards to the Henry Mayo issue. Time is running out. Our community has tried to present our city council members with common sense, rational, legal reasons why we are concerned about this expansion and what have we gotten back in return in the form of the city's response? This dialogue is very very lopsided and its scary to think that our community members are the ones that have to educate our city council members and convince them why and how they should protect the interest of our entire community-not just a select few. Our leaders are supposed to look out for the interests of our entire community-not just the business portion of it. I am sick and tired of reading all the 'business growth' awards Santa Clarita is receiving while at the same time seeing how the quality of life of its residents has been decreasing with respects to health, education, safety. Who are we kidding??? If we as a community are not satisfied with how our city council members handle this situation, then I think we should SERIOUSLY consider starting a petition to gather signatures to hold a recall election for the City Council members.

MorningstarrSeptember 26 at 10:51 AM PT

If a council member asks one more time "what does the opposition want?" I'm gonna scream. It's like they are incapable of listening. It's simple. We want a hospital and a reasonable expansion. We want common sense. We want deals in writing out in the light of day. Get it?!?

RickLSeptember 24 at 10:43 AM PT
Reading between the lines, are local Republicans searching for a young candidate to run if 69 year old McKeon chooses to retire next year? Maybe Robert Rodruguez is available.
PaulineSeptember 24 at 11:03 AM PT
Signal reporter Jerry Berrios did an amazing job covering the G&L/Henry Mayo Medical Office Building project; this was a very balanced, detailed article about this complex, controversial issue. Anyone uninformed about this issue could read this article and be brought right up to speed with both sides without becoming dazed and confused. Very well done. I will no longer call this project the Henry Mayo hospital expansion, however, becsuse there will not be a hospital expansion, and there never was going to be a hospital expansion. The new Development Agreement has the same escape clause for G&L Realty as there was in the last Development Agreement: G&L Realty is not leagally bound to build an actual hospital expansion, and as long as this escape clause exists, this project should not be approved until that clause is removed and we see a hospital expansion GUARANTEED IN WRITING. Oh, but wait: Roger Seaver informed us himself at a Council meeting that a hospital expansion could not be guaranteed in writing, and never would be. So - why has Henry Mayo been pushing a hospital expansion if Roger Seaver says it won't ever be guaranteed in writing? If it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist. And as long as an escape clause exists releasing G&L Realty from building said hospital expansion that Rogers Seaver says he is "committed" to getting built (but won't put such a "commitment" in writing) then it is safe to assume G&L Realty never intends to build this "committed" hospital expansion. So, should this project be approved only based on a bunch of worthless promises and "commitments" from people who have not been honest with us since day one? As a small business owner, we get everything in writing. Our customers demand everything in writing. Because if it isn't in writing, it just doesn't exist and give me a break PLEASE, but a huge project like this cannot get an approval unless everything is in writing. If I were remodeling a single room in my home, everything would be in writing, I wouldn't just shake hands with the contractor and accept his "promise and commitment" to do work and not bother to get ALL of his promises and commitments in writing. Why shoul we be expected to approve a project this huge with nothing but a promise of a "commitment" that isn't worth the paper the Development Agreement is written on, a joke of a promise issued by people who have misrepresented this project from day one. We need to start calling this project what it is, what it has always been: the G&L Medical Office Buildings Project and go from there assessing this project without considering a hospital expansion that does not exist in writing. Henry Mayo and G&L Realty simply used the term hospital expansion as a dishonet lure to get medical office buildings approved based on a hospital expansion they refuse to put in writing. This entire project has been based on a hospital expansion LIE; because if it isn't in writing, it doesn't exist, and presenting and pushing a project based on something that doesn't exist IS a lie. Pauline Harte.
PubliusSeptember 24 at 11:18 AM PT
It was a $250-a-plate dinner.
PaulineSeptember 24 at 11:22 AM PT
The consultants for G&L Realty and the Henry Mayo Hospital expansion THAT ISN'T, are: Scott Wilk, Hunt Braly, Arthur Sohikian, and former SCV Director of Planning, Jeff Lambert. And if they would be so kind as to get us the hospital expansion in writing IN the Development Agreement, then and only then will the expansion exist in the here and now instead of on a Henry Mayo wish list. Until the hospital expansion is in writing, no such hospital expansion exists and if it doesn't exist, well, I guess the G&L carpetbaggers and the consultants and Roger Seaver shouldn't be trying to push something on Santa Clarita that.....doesn't exist. Pauline Harte.
PaulineSeptember 24 at 1:29 PM PT
Coaster, thank you for the support. The most important thing on the side of the opposition is the fact that there has been so much dishonesty and so many misrepresentations from G&L and "associates." The fact that we know there won't be a hospital expansion in writing even though this is called a hospital expansion, is a serious problem for G&L and Henry Mayo that cannot be ignored any more than the dishonesty and misrepresentations from TMC/Southdown/Cemex could be ignored. It was stated at a council meeting that the opposition needs to state clearly what they want. Well, that is pretty obvious: the opposition wants a hospital expansion IN WRITING. And people who consider themselves "friends" of Henry Mayo, every person who stands up touting the advantages of a hospital expansion and demands an approval OF a hospital expansion, should be demanding to see such an expansion IN WRITING. How can these pro-expansion people support an expansion that doesn't exist in writing? They continue to stand before City Council singing the praises of a hospital expansion that Roger Seaver pretty much admits doesn't exist since it won't be guaranteed in writing. Then Henry Mayo people present their wish lists of everything the hospital will get from an expansion - but the expansion doesn't exist so what is the point of presenting hospital expansion wish lists based on an expansion that cannot be guaranteed in writing? We are stuck on a G&L merry-go-round here, and as long as they continue to call their project a hospital expansion, this pseudo expansion should not be voted on until the Development Agreement contains the hospital expansion in writing! This LIE of a project is just a waste of everyone's time until we see an expansion in writing. And as I stated at City Council, the REAL friends of Henry Mayo Nehall Memorial Hospital are the people who represent the opposition because it is the opposition that is fighting to get the expansion in writing so the Henry Mayo wish lists don't forever languish in G&L Realty Fantasyland. Pauline Harte.
pinkySeptember 24 at 2:07 PM PT
I am very interested in the outcomes of tomorrow's city Council meeting with regards to the Henry Mayo issue. Time is running out. Our community has tried to present our city council members with common sense, rational, legal reasons why we are concerned about this expansion and what have we gotten back in return in the form of the city's response? This dialogue is very very lopsided and its scary to think that our community members are the ones that have to educate our city council members and convince them why and how they should protect the interest of our entire community-not just a select few. Our leaders are supposed to look out for the interests of our entire community-not just the business portion of it. I am sick and tired of reading all the 'business growth' awards Santa Clarita is receiving while at the same time seeing how the quality of life of its residents has been decreasing with respects to health, education, safety. Who are we kidding??? If we as a community are not satisfied with how our city council members handle this situation, then I think we should SERIOUSLY consider starting a petition to gather signatures to hold a recall election for the City Council members.
MorningstarrSeptember 26 at 10:51 AM PT
If a council member asks one more time "what does the opposition want?" I'm gonna scream. It's like they are incapable of listening. It's simple. We want a hospital and a reasonable expansion. We want common sense. We want deals in writing out in the light of day. Get it?!?