March 18, 2008 – Daily Brief

Ding-dong the MRF is dead, the wicked MRF, the awful MRF…News

• Materials Recycling Facility on Sierra Highway dead, NIMBYs win: Alan Ferdman, who heads up the Canyon Country Advisory Committee and sits on the Open Space Panel, announced in an email to supporters yesterday that Burrtec Waste Industries had decided not to pursue a recycling facility on Sierra Highway. “We realize that the Santa Clarita Material Recovery Facility project has raised concerns among local residents,” a VP of the company stated. “In light of recent community input, we have decided to postpone the current Santa Clarita MRF Project until viable options can be discussed with City staff.” The plan for the 170,000 sq. ft. facility that would have sorted all the trash in Santa Clarita faced opposition in the last two City Council meetings after neighbors mobilized. Ferdman ended his email by saying, “We are not done. Santa Clarita will still need a way to meet our recycling goals.” Katie Geyer has the story.
• Hart District lets two teachers go amid budget woes: School beat reporter Sharon Cotal says the SCV’s largest school district has laid off two teachers and will probably lay off an additional 20 classified employees as it prepares to deal with state cuts of up to $4.8 billion from education. Elementary school districts locally seem to be faring better according to the report. Hey- didn’t Hart just hold a teacher recruitment fair?
• Another Department of Education investigation into Saugus/Hart District: Remember the fracas a few weeks ago when the Saugus High administration and softball coach disbanded the girl’s softball booster club only to reinstate it a few days later? Well, the Los Angeles Times Varsity Blog says the US DOE Office of Civil Rights has launched a second investigation into the school after a parent complained that the booster club shutdown was in retaliation for an earlier Title IX complaint. Not many details on this one, but here’s the story.
• More on Las Lomas before the LA City Council: A Planning and Land Use commission made up of some of the LA City Council will meet today to consider whether LA City should stop its work on the Las Lomas project. The matter may go before the entire LA City Council tomorrow. Jim Holt has the report.
• Robbery at Local Gas Station: A woman was filling up her car with gas when a pickpocket took her gas and bank cards, according to The Signal. The unidentified woman then followed the man back to his car and demanded the suspect return the items. That’s when one of the occupants of the car threatened to shoot the woman. She was not injured and the cards have not been receovered. Parimal Rohit has the story.

Miscellaneous:

• One-on-one City Council Candidate Interviews: KHTS will interview all five candidates for an hour long starting next week. Bob Spierer is up first followed by Diane Trautman, Ender, Kellar and Gutzeit. The shows will be broadcast live but you can also get the podcast. Details
• Not to be left out: Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t link to Leon Worden’s news maker interviews of all the candidates as well.
• CurbedLA readers review Old Town Newhall: Another popular LA Area blog takes a look at the redevelopment plan for downtown Newhall. So how do they view our ambitious project? Well, some don’t even know where Newhall is, the rest of them call it Fauxjai (Faux Ojai, get it?), and others think it could end up becoming a trendy littles pot. Link
• SoCalPundit reviews new Knight Rider TV show: It’s apropos to review this show since it’s filmed locally and Kevin Korenthal doesn’t like what he sees.
• West Ranch Town Council holds special meeting tonight: They’re going to dish on the city council candidates and endorse one more, according to Bossert’s blog.
• Ender mailer speculation: So apparently the Laurie Ender for council mailer that one SCVTalk.com reader characterized as a “hit mailer” was only targeted to specific neighborhoods. A reader tells me that the mailer only arrived in Valencia mailboxes, particularly the Summit neighborhood and other areas near the hospital. The reader speculates that Ender is targeting the same people Dave Gauny has targeted in his door-knocking campaign to encourage residents there to vote for Diane Trautman and Bob Kellar, the two candidates who have gone on record as opposing the hospital’s expansion plan until it can Mayo can guarantee an inpatient building.

Photo of the Day:

The brand new Wickes Furniture store in the Centre Pointe project still displays a “Now Open” sign even as a “Going out of Business” banner is hung over the door. Wickes Furniture is no more; all stores nationwide are shutting down amid the housing slump and deteriorating economy. At least three large furniture stores have shut down recently in the SCV.