Is winter over? It sure feels like it.
News
- Former CHP officer gets 60 days in jail: Dwight McDonald, the former CHP officer and City Council candidate, was sentenced to 60 days in jail after being convicted of all charges for a run-in he had with a jogger in Valencia last year. He’s also been ordered to serve three years probation and undergo one year of anger management counseling. The sentencing judge borrowed some remarks from the prosecutor when she handed down the sentence: “You of all people…” Signal writer Karen Elowitt has much more than just that in her article though; apparently McDonald hired a PI to look into his accuser’s life and, in a 2004 traffic collision, used a special police maneuver to corner a driver who had fled the scene of an accident. Loose Canon?
- County Digs into Las Lomas land ownership: Following Jim Holt’s big Friday story in the Signal, LA County Supe Antonovich has asked county officials “to determine the legal owner of the Las Lomas property and report back to the board within 30 days.” A Las Lomas Land official says it’s really not that complicated: “What we’re going to tell the supervisor is simple - Dan Palmer owns eight of the 14 parcels in question” and has “options” on the rest.
- McKeon/Smyth to Run Again: The 69 year old Congressman will seek a ninth term representing California’s 25th District, according to Parimal Rohit in the Signal. Rohit reports that candidate hopefuls have until March 7th to file for the state’s June primary election and that Cameron Smyth, Santa Clarita’s Assemblyman, plans to run again for his seat. No word yet on a Democratic challenger to either incumbent. Supervisor Antonovich also plans to run for his seat again.
- Realtor faces 82 counts of real estate fraud: James Rojas, 51, is alleged to have committed real estate foreclosure and investment fraud as well as “grand theft, identity theft, and forgery.” Carol Rock continues: “Most of the crimes involve real estate foreclosure fraud, in which Rojas allegedly forged grant deeds to take over victims’ homes.” The charges say he’s left victims from Long Beach to Santa Clarita. Link
- Santa Clarita scores a “D” on second hand smoking: In the first report of its kind on Los Angeles County cities, the American Lung Association gives Santa Clarita a “D” on “efforts by cities to protect residents from secondhand smoke,” according to the Daily News. The study follows a new state law that went into effect in January and grades on city ordinances “pertaining to smoking at parks, outdoor dining areas, entryways, outdoor service areas” and local efforts at reducing illegal sales of tobacco to minors. I can’t find this report online yet, but here’s the Daily News
- Activists target LA County animal shelters: Three lawsuits have been filed against Los Angeles County’s Animal Care and Control department, “alleging poor conditions and mistreatment” of animals at the nation’s largest shelter system. Santa Clarita has one such shelter in Castaic, and it’s unclear if any of the allegations relate to that facility. Link
Blogs/Miscellaneous:
- Bossert on LAFCO: The president of the West Ranch Town Council says a counterpart on the Castaic Area Town Council was a bit confused on what LAFCO was during a recent interview, so he’s posted a brief history and synopsis of what the organization does. Of course this all relates to annexatio, incorporation and all the complicated minutia therein, and Bossert says that the two reports on governance options for the West Side are being done to “LAFCO specifications.” Link
- Chamber Newsletter: I always forget to link to these. Inside February’s issue are some details on “The Avenue”, the mixed-use, highly urban community planned for the old Mule Ranch wedged between I-5 and Wiley Canyon Road, some friendly coverage on Newhall Ranch, and a piece by Carl Goldman inviting chamber members to go on this year’s trip to Sacramento. It’s in PDF but available here.
- Doc Rioux Dog park dispute: One of my favorite parks in the SCV is Doc Rioux park, perched high in the hills in Stevenson Ranch. Apparently people visit a certain section of the park and assume -since it’s gated- that it’s an off-leash dog park. Some blogger witnessed that first hand and had a confrontation with the owner of two off-leash dogs who kept pestering her daughter. There are no off-leash dog parks in the unincorporated areas of the SCV. Link
- City Manager February message: Da Boss wants you to know about the Amgen Race, Big League Dreams baseball park, expansion of Central Park and more. Santa Clarita Magazine