The Signal may get away with forgetting to deliver my paper in a timely manner, but I still soldier on and do the Daily Brief.
- Illicit Sex, Drugs, and the Do-Nothing Hart District, this story has it all: The mother of a Golden Valley High School boy who is alleged to have been abused by counselor Roselyn Hubbell is suing the Hart District for “sexual harassment, molestation and abuse,” and is seeking unspecified damages. Hubbell, you’ll recall, resigned in the spring after allegations that she had “inappropriate contact” with students; the 33 year old counselor was later arrested as she allegedly tried to check into an SFV hotel room with an underage student. The Signal’s story on the suit and the then 14 year old victim is full of detail; the mother even talked to The Signal about Hubbell and her son: “I thought, oh my God, I found someone to help me with my son, because she was a counselor and he was having some problems. Then, I found out she was making love to my son in my own house.” The lawsuit claims Hubbell’s relationship with the student evolved over time, from “sensual hugging” to massages, oral sex, unprotected sex and even marijuana use. Hart has no comment on the suit. Must read
KHTS/SCV Sheriffs learn you on how to spot a Mexican Gangbanger in SCV: “While clothing may be deceiving, it is still worth noting that gang members usually wear baggy clothing, pleated white cotton t-shirts, undershirts and button up shirts, usually buttoned all the way at the top,” Jon Dell writes in a “Special Report” on gangs in Santa Clarita. Other ways you can spot a Mexican gang member (because that’s pretty much what all our gangs are despite the white supremacist ones who, you know, actually beat up black guys in Canyon Country) is by looking into their sketch pad or school notebook, where “aspiring gang members will generally doodle their gang name, moniker, or common gang slogans.” The report also mentions some of the things the SCV Sheriff’s Station does to deter gangs in Santa Clarita.
- July real estate stats tell the same story as June: That story, of course, being that prices continue to slide even as sales pick up. The median price of single family homes fell some 23% ($129,000) in July compared to July of 2007 according to the Southland Regional Association of Realtors to around $441,000. Sales increased 22% though and some 237 homes were sold. Condo sales showed more modest gains (2 percent above July 2007) and similar price reductions (21 percent to $285,000). The SRAR data-sheet isn’t available online yet, but the Daily News has a decent report.
- LA Weekly unearths 23 year serial killer: The weekly LA mag had an excellent report yesterday on a serial murderer who has targeted South Los Angeles since 1985. The paper nicknamed him the “Grim Sleeper” because cops think he went on a killing spree in the mid-to-late 80s, paused throughout the 1990s, then resumed in 2002. The article is long but worth a read. The LA Times says the LAPD is officially back on the hunt after a long hiatus.
- Unincorporated SCV areas get new trash hauler: Katie Geyer reports that Stevenson Ranch and Castaic residents will have a Burrtec Waste Industries as their trash hauler starting in November under a new contract with Los Angeles County. Burrtec, the people behind the very popular MRF idea, will charge $20.88 to haul your refuse. Link
- Labor Day weekend is here! Signal reporter Brian Charles details what some people are doing with the long weekend that traditionally marks the end of summer.
- Tony Natoli on Benz Road resolution: The Benz road resident who has led the fight to get the City to do something about what he and his neighbors view as excessive traffic says the City did a good job resolving the 5-year old issue on Tuesday night. Link
- Another voice in support of Newhall Library: Wow- Paul Strickland, Hart Board Member/Signal Columnist, actually wrote an LTE about a local issue rather than his usual “Let’s slam the liberals!” column. Strickland says a new Newhall library is “the best idea I’ve heard in years,” and says the City has selected the perfect spot for a “grand entryway into Old Town Newhall.” Link
- Local SCV Democratic Delegate shown on TV during Obama speech last night: I’m told a Democratic delegate from Santa Clarita was shown briefly during Barack Obama’s speech last night and the place where local Democrats were watching the speech “went crazy.”
- Two Valencias: I’d like to see Valencia Spain’s tradition of pelting each other with tomatoes replicated in our own uptight Valencia, and to get there, you could ride your brand new Trek Valencia bike on a path.