Sorry I’ve been late all week with the Daily Brief. But I’ll tell you it’s been nice to sleep in.
News
- Smith/Smyth want criminal probe over Las Lomas: The City Councilman and Assemblyman think the state ought to investigate whether a man who owns six parcels of land in the Newhall Pass was tricked or defrauded by developer Dan Palmer, who wants to build a 5,500 home project there. Major press coverage for this one, including The Signal, which broke the story. Interesting quote: “”It’s a political thing. Newhall Land and (Farming Co.) doesn’t want him to build there … they don’t want this guy to build, and that’s not fair. (Palmer) had a really nice project in mind and they stopped it,” said another person who once owned land in the Newhall Pass. LA Times , Daily News , Signal
- Alleged Drive-By Shooter busted, counterfeiting operation discovered: The SCV Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with other LA County Sheriff resources, “served ten search warrants in the Canyon Country area and two warrants in other areas, as far away as San Bernandino and Norther San Diego County.” The sweep was designed in response to recent “gang related” shootings in the SCV, and one man, Daniel Gonzalez, m/20, was arrested “in connection with a January 8 shooting” in Canyon Country. Deputies also found a “substantial counterfeiting operation” at one of the Canyon Country locations. Los Federales are investigating that. SCVSheriff.com
- 59
DummiesDrivers Cited for railroad crossing violations: Other Sheriff’s units patroled and monitored railroad crossings in Santa Clarita yesterday, and handed out 59 citations to drivers who were caught “rushing through lowering gates, stopping on the train tracks, or walking on them,” according to the Daily News. Notable funny quote: “Those red flashing lights and bells at railroad crossings mean pedestrians and drivers need to stop, not barrel through the gates.” Captain Obvious - Man tries to euthanize dog, deputies try to save it: Sad story out of Canyon Country this morning after Deputies attempted to save a 13 year old female dog who’s owner had attempted to euthanize her by slashing her throat with a knife. KHTS picks it up from there: “After finding the dog struggling to survive in the backyard of a residence, deputies took the dog to the Newhall Creatures Emergency Center in an attempt to help her, but the dog could not be saved.” The dog’s owner was arrested on felony charges of animal cruelty. KHTS
- David Gauny/Smart Growth SCV endorses Kellar and Trautman: Saying it “takes homework and leadership to recongize and oppose vague contracts that will ultimately shortchange our community,” the main opposition group to Henry Mayo Hospital’s expansion plan formally endorses Planning Commish Diane Trautman and Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar for the two positions on the City Council. Dave Bossert got the scoop.
- LA City Councilmen want to fight….Newhall Ranch? Late breaking news this morning that a few members of the LA City Council (Alarcon, Smith, Cardenas) want City of Los Angeles Public works, transportation and planning staff to review the “environmental reports, and any and all staff reports relative to the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan, proposed Landmark Village Development,” and then “based on the determined negative impacts, write opposition letters to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.” I got this from a reliable source but can’t find it on the City’s labyrinthine council website. Could this be retaliation for the recent Las Lomas developments or is this par for the course ahead of Landmark Village’s approval with the County? Word Document
Interviews:
- COC Advanced technology Incubator: SoCalTECH.com interviews Douglas Howe, who is interim director for “the Advanced Technology Incubator” at College of the Canyons. The goal of the facility, set to open in 2009, is to “match education with entrepreneurship, as well as provide traditional services of an incubator for startup companies.” It’s kind of a buzz-word heavy interview, but has some interesting insights into how COC and the City have cooperated to promote the SCV as business-friendly. Link
- Placerita Canyon Nature Center: Ranger Frank is the “recreation services supervisor and education director” for the beautiful park just east of Highway 14 and he answers 11 questions for InsideSCV.com
Misc:
- Mayor Sam asks “Something shady from the 661?”: The ghost of Mayor Sam Yorty, the former Mayor of LA, asks why Santa Clarita and other areas in LA are in such an uproar about Las Lomas while virtually ignoring the much larger Newhall Ranch project. Mayor Sam also quotes a community activist named David Hernandez, who seems to favor Los Angeles annexation of the Las Lomas territory so that Angelenos can have a say in how it develops. He’s also highly suspicious of Santa Clarita “paid lobbyists” who are “warning local community groups” in the SFV about Las Lomas. All of the sudden, this is getting pretty exciting, yeah? Link
- I Heart on Santa Clarita and Growth: Everywhere you look, Santa Clarita is growing, but I Heart wants to know how smart it is. His March column in InsideSCV is here.
- New Signal Website: Be sure to check it out. City Editor Josh Premako is one of the first staffers to post a blog on the new website. “Finding out the truth and reporting it remains top priority, and hopefully this new site serves as one more tool for us to do that as excellently as possible,” Premako says. Refreshing to hear from our reporters in a venue outside of print. FINALLY! Now I have so many more blogs to monitor. Hope you’ll stick with SCVTalk despite the new shininess of The Signal.