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August 16, 2010 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • The Signal’s Jim Holt has a pair of articles on the state office that’s tasked with enforcing water quality laws. The generically-named “Office of Enforcement” has only been fining communities for a few years, but its M.O. is largely the same: find cities that have dumped excess chloride in rivers (or small tributaries) or been lax in their reporting, fine them, then accept a negotiated settlement. Santa Clarita faces fines up to $3,000 a day as officials grapple with the demands of the regional water quality control board. Also, a money quote from Councilwoman Laurene Weste who says the SCV shouldn’t be too angry with the fines we’re facing: “I don’t want us to get crabby so that they won’t deal with us. We are rational, logical people.” SIGNAL 1, #2
  • Speaking of the chloride matter, take a look at the LTE sent into the Signal by a trio of Ventura County interests which accuses SCVers of being ill-informed and unethical. “Ill-informed residents in your community have demanded that farmers and ranchers here bear the cost of cleaning up the contamination, or have suggested that these families simply be bought out and forced off the land that many of them have been farming for five generations.All this so that Santa Clarita households can avoid paying a few more dollars a month to meet their moral and legal obligations to protect water quality.” LTE
  • Local school districts not sure how $10 billion in federal aid will help them, but they’re welcoming the one-time teacher rescue aid anyway. The money will filter through the state of California first before reaching SCV districts SIGNAL
  • College of the Canyons Culinary Education program moves from Town Center drive to a Castaic restaurant. Once complete the new site will be large enough to accommodate 17 culinary arts students SIGNAL
  • Off-road and desert racing events and the government agency that’s supposed to monitor them are being criticized in the wake of Saturday’s racing accident that killed 8 onlookers in Lucerne Valley. One of the victims was from Fillmore LA TIMES
  • A Santa Clarita man has received a patent for a new bicycle design in which the rider sits directly over the rear wheel. Doug Fraser says it was a neat experience to learn that he had been awarded the patent. The bike makes it easier to pop wheelies SIGNAL, YOUTUBE
  • Speaking of bikes, Mayor Villaraigosa will host an LA Bike Summit today following his accident last month in which he broke his elbow LA TIMES
  • New York Times looks down its nose at Southern Californians in an article about the three year construction plans on the 405 through the west side. They note, for example, that we preface freeways with “the” and say that we’re paying the price for a lack of investment in public transit. An MTA official says west side residents are “sucking it up” and will appreciate someday having a carpool lane on the northbound 405 NY TIMES
  • Interesting article about the two CLWA employees who take turns monitoring the SCV’s water infrastructure and watch as water usage spikes in the morning hours SIGNAL
  • Anti-Buck McKeon blogger predicts McKeon will not be elected come November, never even mentions McKeon’s challenger’s name. Now that’s faith. BUCK STOPS NOW
  • Local Tea Party leader calls President Obama “anti American and anti Christian” and slanders Islam as an “intolerant, brutal, devious religion” in a post that argues against the NYC Islamic community center located a few blocks from Ground Zero TEA PARTY SCV
  • Yet more Letters to the Editor against the City’s library takeover plan LTE 1, LTE 2
  • Tim Myers compares the total amount spent in 2008′s City Council election with the total amount spent this year, noting a 37% decrease this year. This is the “New Normal” for City Council candidates. All that money for only 17% of the people to vote SIGNAL
  • Steve Lunetta doesn’t like the federal aid Obama is sending to the states to prevent the layoffs of teachers, firefighters, police, misses the point that such spending is stimulative in nature in that those people won’t be in the unemployment lines SIGNAL
  • Grace Baptist pastor traces Prop 8 ruling to a worldview founded & nurtured by Charles Darwin (no kidding) SIGNAL

Comments

35 · as published
  1. Your Web GuruAugust 16, 2010 at 7:08 am
    Oh Tea Party, your three-point mission statement of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free markets actually makes a lot of sense. Instead you allow your constituents to try to make points that have nothing to do with the above by stigmatizing and/or outright demonizing any group that isn’t white, Christian, or straight. By doing so, you alienate yourselves from those who might be either sympathetic to the ideals laid out in your mission statement, or who might outright join your cause.
  2. Mike MAugust 16, 2010 at 7:59 am
    Except this crazy tea party guy is asian. I met up with him once for coffee, after several vigorous arguments on Twitter, with the intent of proving that liberals and crazy conservatives could actually get along in real life – and over that cup of coffee, we did. Then he started ranting and raving during an Obama speech, re-tweeting genuinely racist trash posted by other #tcot lunatics, and when I called him on it he first denied it, then tried to justify it by saying “somebody else said it, not me” and then blocked me when I pointed out how childish that was. He got angry when Nate found out that he is in the insurance business and suggested that we not patronize him, but thinks it’s acceptable to boycott “liberal” businesses that support “progressive” politics. Man, that guy’s an idiot.
  3. lvogelAugust 16, 2010 at 6:22 pm
    Do any of these Tea Party members work, live or associate on any level with Muslims? If so, would they look at these neighbors and/or co-workers (in the eye) and tell them they are intolerant, devious and brutal?! It’s a shame really, that this group is so divisive in nature.
  4. SFC PerezAugust 17, 2010 at 9:33 pm
    No, they prefer to do so behind the anonymity of a protesting sign or a computer. They dont realize the immense contributions Muslims have had in this country since its founding and find it easier to hate then engage in positive dialogue.
  5. KellyAugust 16, 2010 at 7:52 am
    Thanks for a great post, Jeff, especially the NYT article link, gee, that’s funny, I drove “95″ and “75″ for years when I lived back East and in the Midwest, but never noticed how we call our freeways, “The 5″, “The 10″, “The 14″ out here, hmm, gotta love those regional differences!
  6. Mike MAugust 16, 2010 at 8:02 am
    Oh yeah – and thanks for pointing out that Grace Baptist is not on my list of churches to visit as we look for the right Sunday morning option for my family… I’m always stunned (as a pastor’s son) to find out how many ministers believe they should be this involved in politics (but of course singers and actors shouldn’t be, right?).
  7. Tim MyersAugust 16, 2010 at 8:12 am
    On Buck Stops Now: I get the feeling that these posts appear about four in the morning after some really incredible weed and about three bags of baked Cheetos!
  8. SFC PerezAugust 16, 2010 at 8:57 am
    Tim, you have given me a great idea when I retire in a few years. Baked Cheetos infused with marijuana!
  9. Tim MyersAugust 16, 2010 at 9:39 am
    SFC Perez: Since California now has an open primary system I was going to change my party affiliation to the most militantly pro-legalization party out there. Is it still the Libertarians? I have never smoked marijuana but if it legalized there is a pretty good chance I will spark it up at least once!
  10. lvogelAugust 16, 2010 at 6:23 pm
    What, not on the ‘bucket list’?
  11. SFC PerezAugust 17, 2010 at 4:55 pm
    Well someone from the Evangelicals told me the Libertarians have all gone Tea Party, so you may have to wait for the next immigration protest and ask who has dime bags to pass around.
  12. Alan FerdmanAugust 16, 2010 at 8:59 am
    Just a reminder. If you are interested in the Library issue, Darren Hernandez will be presenting the City’s Library Plan and answering questions, at the Canyon Country Advisory Committee, this Wednesday August 18. In addition Eva Payne will be providing information on Kindle Ranch. The CCAC will be meeting in the Activities Center Banquet Room, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway from 7 to 9PM. Attendance is free and open to the Public.
  13. Berta González-HarperAugust 16, 2010 at 9:40 am
    This is in reference to the “gentleman” from Ventura who talks about the poor Ventura farmers we Claritans are “demonizing” in the Signal newspaper. Those poor Ventura farmers used to grow citrus and other crops that were not affected by even much higher chloride (salt) levels in the river water than currently measured. They made a business decision to pull out many of those citrus trees, grape vines, etc and replace them with strawberry plants and avocado trees because there is more PROFIT in those crops. The science does not justify their claims that those newer crops are suffering. Just take a drive on the 126 and you will see stand after stand selling gorgeous strawberries and avocados. Nevertheless, if I believed what they say about our water negatively affecting their crops, which I do not, I say you chose to replace salt tolerant with salt sensitive crops, your decision, and your problem. The other issue of course is that we pay the State for water, which already contains high chloride levels, so I believe the state should be responsible for cleaning up their product before selling it to us. Therefore, “gentlemen” in Ventura figure something else out. We taxpayers already subsidize your labor force largely made up of illegal aliens. I will not agree to subsidize even further your irrigation source and business so that you can make even higher profits on my dime. I will grow my own strawberries and buy avocados from Mexico before I give you Ventura farmers anymore of my hard-earned money. Maybe that will also provide more jobs for those Mexicans who choose to stay in their homeland.
  14. navigatorAugust 16, 2010 at 10:36 am
    Ditto! Not to mention the fact that under the $200MM+ plan we will be paying to dig their well and fill them too. Who’s in whose pocket here! Oh, I guess that’s an easy answer. Just look at the makeup of the board members.
  15. Kevin D. KorenthalAugust 16, 2010 at 9:42 am
    Jeff, I would like more information on how taking someone out of the unemployment line is directly stimulative. I mean, I see that the unemployment check puts some dough in the pocket, but doesn’t the fact that there is no exchange of service for that money cancel that stimulation out? That is a withdraw without a corresponding deposit… Mike M: The fact of the matter is that powerful liberals ARE directly advocating for and against causes that don’t even affect them. Why shouldn’t Christian leaders be able to do the same when the issues at hand directly affect the people they represent? We will not go silently into defeat in the Culture Wars.
  16. JeffAugust 16, 2010 at 9:48 am
    Huh? Two scenarios: A: Mrs. Jones is a 5th Grade teacher slated to be laid off due to budget cuts. 30 days after receiving her pink slip, she is laid off. She heads down to the County office to sign up for unemployment. She is now draining from unemployment funds and spending much less on herself and her life as a result while she looks for new employment. B: Mrs. Jones is a 5th grade teacher slated to be laid off due to budget cuts, but before her 30 days are up, a federal aid package filters down to her school district that allows her to keep her job for the rest of the school year. Instead of being laid off and drawing on unemployment, Mrs. Jones keeps getting a real paycheck and she keeps spending her money on things like gasoline, entertainment, transportation, food, rent, and the occasional mani/pedi. The federal funds are directly stimulative in that Mrs. Jones spends them right back into the economy. Elementary.
  17. gregory molineriAugust 16, 2010 at 1:01 pm
    By and large, the vast majority of people are either holding on to their paychecks or trying to pay down debt. This is especially true for lower wage earners like Mrs. Jones in the example you give. Since she will soon not be able to write off classroom expenses, she will be even more restrictive in the future. see second from bottom here – but read the whole thing too: http://www.atr.org/six-months-untilbr-largest-tax-hikes-a5171 Until we remove the uncertainty and the now-chronic problem of our U.S. government re-writing the rules on a monthly and quarterly basis, we will have chaos and loss. If confusion and bailouts are Obama’s plan, then he is doing a fantastic job.
  18. Kevin D. KorenthalAugust 16, 2010 at 9:56 am
    I get that Jeff. I guess the issue then goes to: Is that amount of spending going to sustain the economy? And does it grow the economy or just hold it in place? And what of the continuing falling employment?
  19. Jim FarleyAugust 16, 2010 at 12:13 pm
    You also can’t forget that the “Federal aid” comes from the taxpayer so it is pulling that money out of the economy. It is simple wealth redistribution taking money the taxpayer could spend to stimulate the economy and giving it to someone else. This is the fundamental flaw to Keynsian economics and why it does not work to stimulate the economy.
  20. mikeAugust 16, 2010 at 12:53 pm
    Taxes went up? What did I miss?
  21. gregory molineriAugust 16, 2010 at 1:03 pm
    As i cited aboe: http://www.atr.org/six-months-untilbr-largest-tax-hikes-a5171 Actually, mike, you miss a lot. Less sarcasm and more honest review of the facts would go a long way for you.
  22. mikeAugust 16, 2010 at 1:09 pm
    Greg, “Six months from now” is in the future. “Went” is past-tense. Thanks, Mike
  23. gregory molineriAugust 16, 2010 at 2:04 pm
    Sorry, you’re correct, taxes go up in 3.5 months. Not sure how splitting hairs like this dismisses the fact that taxes will go up to cover reckless “stimulus” plans that completely miss the mark.
  24. Samuel AdamsAugust 16, 2010 at 9:40 pm
    Some small businesses may see 55 percent tax rates. How does this stimulate the economy?
  25. mikeAugust 16, 2010 at 10:05 pm
    How so?
  26. Jim FarleyAugust 16, 2010 at 1:19 pm
    Indeed taxes have not gone up to pay for the current stimulus. I’m using taxes as a basic way to explain why Keynes was wrong. If the feds don’t raise taxes to spend on stimulus then they are “printing” the money to do it. This is also bad for the long term economy. Again, there is no net gain from Keynsian “prime the pump” economics.
  27. Kevin D. KorenthalAugust 16, 2010 at 1:54 pm
    This looks like it might be a very interesting (straight to video) film about the varying views of what we should be doing as an economic plan for the country. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wty7974IKg
  28. gregory molineriAugust 16, 2010 at 2:02 pm
    Sorry, you’re correct, taxes go up in 3.5 months. Not sure how splitting hairs like this dismisses the fact that taxes will go up to cover reckless “stimulus” plans that completely miss the mark.
  29. mikeAugust 16, 2010 at 2:33 pm
    I think you’re reading too much into my post. Jim spoke as through the stimulus and the tax increase were concurrent, they weren’t.
  30. john adamsAugust 17, 2010 at 6:27 am
    Can we finally put Keynes out of his misery? It has NEVER worked anywhere. 20 months ago we were promised a pot of gold. We sold out our grandchildren. For what? Now I realize die hard liberals will stick to their guns and say “It would have been worse” That is nothing more that laughable. In 2007 unemployment was 4.6% when democrats took over congress and immediately raised the minimum wage (at a point when the economy was weakening) 3 years later we all (all who are honest) see how liberal leadership has killed the economy. New liberal plan to fix??? are you ready for it? Here it comes! Raise Taxes and add more stimulus and bailouts. BRILLIANT!!
  31. mikeAugust 17, 2010 at 6:42 am
    Amazing how you cracked the code with the minimum wage. You’re right, that’s what did it.
  32. john adamsAugust 17, 2010 at 7:19 am
    Just one of many bad ideas brought forth by liberal leadership. At some point you are going to fess up and admit obamunism has been a complete failure. No light at the end of the tunnel and even the most cerebrally challenged citizens now are now starting to get it. The day will come when you admit you were wrong about this guy. His experience-his ideas- his advisors were all wrong. It may be 2023 but you will admit it in the future.
  33. john adamsAugust 17, 2010 at 7:27 am
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wusgcG4rfo All the citizens need to know in one quick video
  34. cashAugust 16, 2010 at 4:54 pm
    Hey guy with the bike patient, don’t sell your mobile home just yet.
  35. cashAugust 16, 2010 at 5:04 pm
    The economy goes nowhere without a new economic engine; past engines (war notwithstanding) like housing ,ran out of fuel, and before that the dot com petered out. Obama his hoping that green energy will be the next engine that drives the economy.. Well good luck with that happening anytime soon. Save your money because all we have to look forward to for many years to come are higher taxes or a lower quality of life.
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