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January 19, 2010· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

January 19, 2010 – Daily Brief

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There's still time to escape SCV.

  • HyperMegaSuper Storm 2010 reloads, puts Santa Clarita in its cross-hairs: Today & tomorrow KHTS says we can expect up to an “inch of rain per hour” and wind gusts up to 50 mph. That means it could be as bad or worse than yesterday when the storm dumped over an inch on us and contributed to over 80 local vehicle collisions. SIGNAL
  • The SFVBJ profiled Newhall Land Development this week. Some interesting facts from the article: Newhall laid off 15-20 people during its reorganization and has now moved from its landmark building on Valencia Blvd to one of those new buildings on Tourney near the freeway where the lease 27,000 sq. ft. Emile Haddad, the CEO of Newhall’s parent company, says the leaner firm has “an unleveraged balance sheet” and “sufficient cash to fund operations going forward.” Meanwhile, over at the City of Santa Clarita, econ development manager Jason Crawford says the City is “excited to see them back in full force.” Marlee Lauffer is still at the firm and says Newhall Ranch might break ground within 2-3 years No word on what is to become of their building on Valencia blvd. SFVBJ (Subscription)
  • The City’s anti gang task force wants local school districts to forbid students from wearing sport team hats because “they are a big part of gang attire and gang recognition.” A Sheriff’s official says there are six gangs in Santa Clarita and the kids use the hats to show which one they belong to. Wait, for real? Six street gangs in the SCV? I’m skeptical but ok SIGNAL
  • Santa Clarita Valley school districts receive some of the lowest per-student funding in the state, the Signal says. Newhall and Saugus, for instance, receive per-child amounts based on a formula developed in 1973-74, but “equalizing” funds local districts receive is a tough battle. Great reporting by Tammy Marashlian SIGNAL
  • The woman shot in the head & killed last week by her husband has been identified. She is Martha Starr, 51. Neighbors say they never heard problems at the couples’ house until late Wednesday night. Gordon Starr, 64, has been charged with murder and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail SIGNAL
  • Old Orchard I owner battles his HOA by striping his house in illegal shades of beige. Some neighbors support the man, saying that Old Orchard I’s strict covenants and rules make the oldest Valencia development look like it’s in a 1970s time warp SIGNAL
  • Marco Valencia, the 20 year old man accused of driving drunk and mowing down five cyclists, killing one, in July 2009, will attend a pre-trial session this week. I do hope the Signal is planning on covering his trial BIKING IN LA
  • Assemblyman Cameron Smyth likes the state’s new energy efficient green building codes and that’s the reason we like Assemblyman Smyth here at SCVTalk KHTS
  • Speaking of Smyth, he visited some AP government students at a Crescenta Valley high school and struck them as earnest and “plainspoken.” The teacher told the students that the 38th Assembly district almost has Republican/Democratic registration parity and that’s the reason Smyth is so smoov CV WEEKLY
  • The Signal joined the LA Times and the Oprah Winfrey show in writing about 7 year old Jani Schofield, the Valencia girl with severe schizophrenia SIGNAL
  • Hart District to vote on Hebrew Charter school SIGNAL
  • Congressman Buck McKeon says the US government shouldn’t get between Hatian patients and their doctors. Earthquake victims should be able to choose their own doctors “in the context of the free market,” he says. SATIRE
  • CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta performs brain surgery on earthquake victim on an aircraft carrier. What a stud LA TIMES
  • City of Santa Clarita presents giant novelty check in the amount of $187,000 to Senior Center for services rendered CITY BRIEFS
  • Supervisor Antonovich in town to open West Creek park KHTS
  • Concerned Saugus parents say the District is moving to fast in its proposal to shut down Bouquet Canyon and Emblem elementary schools SIGNAL
  • Meanwhile Tim Myers says the Saugus District’s problems lie in the fact that it overestimated demand during the housing boom SIGNAL
 

Comments (16)

  1. PubliusJanuary 19, 2010 at 9:06 am
    Good luck to the Old Orchard homeowner. The HOA Boards can be real lawn nazis at times.
  2. Fred ButlerJanuary 19, 2010 at 9:15 am
    Wait, for real? Six street gangs in the SCV? I’m skeptical but ok I’m sure they all operate out of Canyon Country, the “unincorporated” parts of Canyon Country North of Sierra Hwy on Jakes Way, so they can’t be rousted out of the place, because it’s not officially “in the city limits.”
  3. lvogelJanuary 19, 2010 at 9:29 am
    You are absolutely correct Publius, however if you don’t want an HOA don’t move into a neighborhood that has one. If you do,, adhere to the CCR’s like the rest of the ‘hood’ has to….pretty simple. This gentleman says it was only a “gentle elbow to the ribs” when painting his house; yeah right!
  4. mike cJanuary 19, 2010 at 9:42 am
    Problem is, when you purchase a home, they say there is an HOA and fees, then that is it. Generally, you are not provided with CCRs until after you move-in. Then you have to read the CCR’s. I served on my HOA board and when reviewing landscape applications a couple of board members wanted to deny applications, because they didn’t like the proposed plants that would be planted in the backyard! Mr. Gibson should either recall the board (check your CCRs on how to) or get a slate together and run for the board and start changing some of the rules.
  5. navigatorJanuary 19, 2010 at 11:59 am
    Good suggestion Mike. Since most of the HOAs can barely raise a quorum for a meeting or a majority vote for elections he’d probably be a shoe-in
  6. drydenfireJanuary 19, 2010 at 12:14 pm
    JW- Any idea if either the SC Velos or the Newhall Bike Club count as 2 of those 6 gangs?
  7. spineflower2January 19, 2010 at 12:54 pm
    Normally an copy of CC&Rs is required as part of the package when closing escrow. Also, one should exercise their own due diligence and ask to attend a HOA meeting. Many prohibit non-memebrs, but if you are in escrow, they may make an exception. Or talk to neighbors there before you buy.
  8. KellyJanuary 19, 2010 at 1:01 pm
    I don’t think Old Orchard is in a time warp, except maybe now this striped house is in a bad acid trip from the 1960s. A copy of CCRs are required prior to close of escrow and they are also available online as is the approved colors. I don’t mind HOAs, at least I don’t have to look at cars on blocks and a RV storage yard.
  9. mike cJanuary 19, 2010 at 1:23 pm
    From my own personal experience, when I purchased a brand new home. the CCRs were given to me, when I picked up the keys back in 2002. When I sold said home, I was advised to leave the CCRs on the kitchen counter for the new owner. I highly doubt not receiving the CCRs is deal breaker when purchasing a home. I see the pros and cons of HOAs, problem isn’t always with the CCRs, but sometimes the boardmembers themselves.
  10. ReaderMamaJanuary 19, 2010 at 2:06 pm
    There are also gangs in Newhall. Students at McGrath Elementary come in sometimes with hats or just one glove — another gang indicator. They are told to remove them. Up at Stevenson Ranch Elementary, the issue of hats isn’t taken as seriously. Different demographics.
  11. ReaderMamaJanuary 19, 2010 at 2:13 pm
    I liked the stripes idea! I bet stripes are not specifically prohibited by the CC&R’s, so as long as he used approved colors, he is not in violation. Clever! I would love to see brightly colored houses. I think the obsession we have in this country for painting our houses boring shades of brown makes for a very dull landscape. Imagine driving down your street and seeing houses painted bright pink, yellow, orange and purple. At least it would be one way to tell some of the houses apart! Although it might confuse the hummingbirds . . .
  12. Timothy MyersJanuary 19, 2010 at 3:07 pm
    If you want to know what makes the white folk nervous just look at the what is prohibited by CCR’s!
  13. Drive66January 19, 2010 at 3:45 pm
    ReaderMama, I hope someone paints their house pepto bismol pink right next to your house, just like the did to me in North Hollywood before I moved. We’ll see how much you like bright colors then. I love me some HOA!
  14. Berta González-HarperJanuary 19, 2010 at 4:18 pm
    Readermama you can come to my “hood” in Canyon Country where on some streets you feel like you are in Tijuana. Houses painted bright lime green, pepto pink, turquoise, canary yellow, etc, yikes!!! Cars, boats, trailers, jet skis, parked on the front yard, dead vegetation, peeling paint, cemented front yards, and all the other garbage for your viewing pleasure that the “nice” part of town would never put with. That’s why some of us really appreciate the City of Santa Clarita Community Preservation efforts, including the Extreme Neighborhood Makeover Program, for those things that can be addressed via the City.
  15. navigatorJanuary 19, 2010 at 4:49 pm
    RM – Have I got a Swiss chalet for you!
  16. NickelDimeJanuary 19, 2010 at 6:02 pm
    A little HOA goes a very long way. (yes, I just made that up)

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