Running a bit late, this morning’s brief will be…brief.
News
- Valencia gets profiled in Economist Magazine: Fascinating article on suburbs and Valencia in the Economist. Sample: Valencia “was supposed to be orderly and self-contained, unlike the chaotic San Fernando valley just to the south. As one of the town’s early planners explained, it would be “an island of reason in the path of metropolitan sprawl”. It didn’t quite work out that way. Valencia contains no building taller than six storeys and few taller than three storeys. These days the paseos are used mostly for walking dogs, and by children. Everybody else drives. Nor did Valencia prove to be economically self-contained.” Must read
- GPS System for City Buses: Santa Clarita Transit will deploy a new system capable of tracking bus locations via GPS and will have the ability to notify passengers if the bus is running late. There will even be signs posted at some bus stops that notify passengers when the bus will arrive, or you can view where the bus is at on your computer (or iPhone?). The system will be installed by next year. Katie Geyer has more.
- Weekend Crime and Graduations: The FBI and Sheriff’s Deputies tracked some Santa Barabara bank robbers to the SCV, two kids celebrating a junior high graduation at Magic Mountain used Ecstasy and were hospitalized, three women from Dubai, United Arab Emirates graduate from COC and get profiled by The Signal, and West Ranch High School graduates its first class.
- Cancer event nets nearly $500k: The Signal reports that thousands participated in the 10th Annual Relay for Life event in which 109 teams walked for 24 hours at Central Park to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. The event “set records in terms of attendance and money raised,” reports Tammy Marashlian at The Signal.
- Gas prices and stations: There’s an interesting article in the Daily Breeze today about gas stations in the South Bay that are offering discounts if customers pay with cash, rather than their bank card. I’ve heard some stations here in the SCV do that as well. As for our gas prices here, I saw $4.20 for regular this weekend. Link
- It’s wonderful living in a place named after an auctioneer/land baron: The Signal tells us briefly who Henry “Hold the” Mayo was.
Misc
- Hart Superintendent on Measure V in Mag of SC: His op/ed/advertisement only mentions Measure V successes and none of the District’s problems with spending the money properly. Is he getting ready to kick off the $240 million bond measure?
- McKeon: It’s the Democrats fault you couldn’t honor war dead on Memorial Day: Did he really just say that? “Instead of traveling to the landmarks that honor our fallen soldiers or spending time with family and friends, many Americans were forced to stay home this Memorial Day,” the Congressman says in an op/ed posted at KHTS. Of course you know it’s the Democrat’s fault for high gas prices, so blame them.
- A different view on high prices: The USA still pays less for gas than most Europeans, and despite rising food prices, no one in the states is starving, so stop whining! says the Daily News.
- Signal dares to question City support of Seniors: Wow. Sunday’s Editorial in The Signal actually questioned using public resources for the benefit of one group, Seniors. The editorial asked why city buses will be used to carry seniors to a Valley TCU after Henry Mayo closes its TCU this week. “Will rides be provided for parents of children who are patients at Children’s Hospital in downtown Los Angeles? If your wife is being treated for cancer at City of Hope in Duarte, can you count on Santa Clarita to give you a lift?” the paper asks. “Is the best solution to use taxpayer funds - your money - to aid a select group affected by a local nonprofit’s decision?” it continues. And here I thought senior issues were sacred, untouchable even…Link
- California to become even more blue: The LA County Democratic party chief says a “big blue wave” is crashing down on California and that even conservative areas (perhaps the SCV?) are turning blue.