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August 17, 2010· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

August 17, 2010 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • STAR Tests results are in, and our local elementary schools did well, exceeding state minimums almost across the board. The Hart District posted increased scores, including a 10% jump in physics. KHTS
  • NRDC awards “Smarter Cities” designation to Santa Clarita. SIGNAL
  • 21 year old woman’s death is a mystery: Rosemary Flynn went to sleep at her boyfriends apartment after a night of karaoke but never woke up. The coroner is investigating SIGNAL
  • In an interview, outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates offers some backhanded criticism of Congress, saying that while he’s trying to make the DoD more cost effective, “members of Congress are still going to try to protect jobs and industries in their own states.” He thinks that’s diminishing though as lawmakers realize the economic challenges the US faces. I wonder who he could be talking about? Buck McKeon has been critical of Gates recently, saying the money Gates wants to save will be “harvested” by liberals for butter, not guns  FOREIGN POLICY
  • 9th Circuit Court of Appeals puts same sex marriages back on hold until at least December. But an interesting issue has been revealed: do proponents of Proposition 8 have standing to appeal in the first place? LA TIMES
  • Economic output of California’s housing industry has fallen an incredible 80% since 2005. In 2005, the home boom generated nearly half a million jobs and $67.7 billion in economic activity. By 2009, jobs had fallen to 77,000 and housing only accounted for $13.8 billion in activity says the TIMES
  • County issues heat warning, advising people to stay indoors. Also there is a chance of thunderstorms tonight SIGNAL
  • Obama fundraising visit to LA causes traffic headaches. Take for instance this lady: “I was an Obama supporter, but … was stopped by police from crossing Olympic to get home … during my daily dog walk. I’ve lost all belief in his judgment.” Ok. LA TIMES
  • Really Jerry? Jerry Brown has filed a lawsuit alleging that bouncy bouncy houses have too much lead in them CONSUMERIST
  • Interesting post at Simi Valley blog compares the SCV to Simi in terms of business-friendliness and taxes. Some commenters add in growth and home-lot size comparisons. Interestingly, they’re debating whether to bribe Nordstrom to come to town VOTE SIMI VALLEY
  • Of course we’re business friendly! Check it out, in the SCV, we hand out taxpayer cash directly to business owners CITY BRIEFS
  • Petz unearths a link chronicling the history of aviation crashes in California, including many in the 1930s right here in the SCV CA AVIATION DISASTERS
  • Tomorrow night from 7pm to 9pm at the Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting, City staffer Darren Hernandez will present the case for the City’s takeover of the library system. That and a few other items are on the agenda at the last CCAC meeting in a free place. WRB
  • Breitbart’s blog says the race for state controller, featuring our own Tony Strickland, could be a harbinger of things to come if Republicans are smart enough to start targeting controller offices around the country BIG GOVERNMENT
  • It’s been 17 years since LA’s last pro football team left the area. WRB blogger Chris Sharp says we need an NFL team pronto WRB
  • Awesometown blog answers the question, “Why did you guys pick Awesometown?” The answer is rather ho-hum…because it’s awesome. VALENCIA
  • Okay, someone tell this columnist that Al Ferdman is not the Jews and the City of Santa Clarita is not the Gestapo. And ending the City’s relationship with the CCAC, no matter how distastefully it was done, is not a “real act of political suppression.” SIGNAL

Comments

28 · as published
  1. Need for Involved CitizenryAugust 17, 2010 at 7:56 am
    I HATE the Hart District comparing their scores to the state averages. It would be more meaningful for them to compare the scores to other districts with comparable demographics. That would be much more telling and I would bet they would particularly not like the answer. Sulphur Springs does the same thing but statistically, they are below competing districts with comparable demo’s. Lets measure our apples against their apples, not the oranges in South Central and East LA.
  2. Tim MyersAugust 17, 2010 at 8:04 am
    Need for Involved Citizenry: Don’t worry. A comparison of the results will appear in the Signal on August 29 (God willing and the crick don’t rise) with the more demographically close districts of Simi Valley, TO, Moorpark, Las Virgenes, Ventura and the South Orange County Districts. I have done these comparisons in the past on API and the SCV Districts are actually marginally better than the Ventura County Districts, in the ballpark with massive Capistrano Unified in South Orange County, and most stunningly not far behind the vaunted Irvine Unified School District. I have talked with District personnel and they also do the same comparisons, but stunningly don’t put out the favorable comparisons in the press releases.
  3. Need for Involved CitizenryAugust 17, 2010 at 8:36 am
    Perhaps Hart feels it is better to look much better than a not too relevant average than look close or marginally better that true competitors. I’ll look for the Signal article.
  4. Jim FarleyAugust 17, 2010 at 9:29 am
    What about this LATimes story that shows the teacher is a huge factor in predicting scores, even over specific schools. How about that, some teachers are better than others. Who would have thought? I understand UTLA is in a tizzy over this http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-teachers-value-20100815%2C0%2C2695044.story
  5. Tim MyersAugust 17, 2010 at 9:55 am
    Jim: While this reporting probably does not deserve the slander it has received from the LAUSD Teacher’s Union it is not longitudinal and the sample size is too small to be an accurate predictor, but it did stir things up quite a bit!
  6. cashAugust 17, 2010 at 8:06 am
    Are you suggesting one race is smarter than the other! Kind of sounds that way. Perhaps you mean family income equates to smarter kids.
  7. Tim MyersAugust 17, 2010 at 8:18 am
    Cash: 40 year longitudinal studies of standardized test results always come to the same conclusion. The only reliable demographic predictor of scores on standardized tests is the educational achievement level of the child’s MOTHER. Besides, when one does league tables one always wants to compare apples to apples.
  8. NickelDimeAugust 17, 2010 at 8:07 am
    RE: NRDC award The city also has a high recycling rate, is bike- and pedestrian-friendly , and boasts a restaurant waste composting program, all of which also impressed the Natural Resources Defense Council. Kudos to the City for winning the award. Now: I challenge anyone in the City to commute to/from any business in the Valencia Industrial Center by bicycle. For all the miles of bike infrastructure touted, there are gaping, dangerous holes — too many to call the area “bike friendly.” At the risk of sounding repetitive, we’d love some bike lanes or sharrows on McBean, Copper Hill, Lyons, Rye Canyon, Bouquet — can I get a witness?
  9. ScottEAugust 17, 2010 at 1:03 pm
    I’m your huckleberry…
  10. TimBen BoydstonAugust 17, 2010 at 8:45 am
    Actually the City was very clear through Gail Ortiz as their spokesperson that the reason that they are pulling the plug on the CAAC was because they believe that it has become too political. There is no evidence of that, and although Al and some other members of the leadership of the CAAC supported challenger candidates on a personal level, the CAAC never endorsed anyone. The City is moving forward on all fronts to enshrine the status quo and to stifle all dissent. Moving public comment to the end of the Council meeting, increasing campaign donation limits to $1,000, changing the campaign rules (signs) in the middle of an election to favor the incumbents; all of these things are being enacted to to give the Council Members jobs for life. Councilman Kellar is the only one to have stood up against this movement. He seems to understand that although these moves may be good for Him as an incumbent, they are not good for the future of our local Democracy. Al Ferdman is an incredible asset to our community, because he works long hours for free to make the City a better place to live. He has a lot in common with Jeff Wilson in that regard.
  11. Berta González-HarperAugust 17, 2010 at 10:10 am
    WARNING LONG RESPONSE! @TBB, you are one of the reasons that the CCAC became as political as it is. The CCAC was founded as a Canyon Country community group, not a Valencia, Saugus or Newhall community group. We created the CCAC in partnership with the City as an advisory group so that we had direct communication with City Staff to discuss issues of concern to Canyon Country residents. There is a vast difference between an inclusive community ADVISORY group, and a group that has become in the last few years a roosting spot for any ADVERSARY of City policies or decisions as it has become under Al’s leadership. That fact alone makes it political in nature. Emmy’s testimonial on your behalf and Ray passing out flyers at meetings did nothing to change that perception either. The only other community group like the CCAC is the Saugus Action Committee, still together, which did not become involved in the Saugus Benz, Bonelli, etc issues because they remained faithful to their founding principles to include all viewpoints and work with their partners collaboratively. They also presumably did not want to advocate for one specific group of neighbors without concern for the differing opinions of other neighbors, as has been the pattern recently with Mr. Ferdman and yourself. The CCAC has become Al’s group and anyone who disagrees with his positions or tactics is demonized and pushed out of the group. I could give you dozens of examples but I do not think you want to let the facts get in the way of your discussion. Those advocating for Al’s leadership are not advocating for the CCAC. They seem to be completely unaware of the PURPOSE of the CCAC. Ms. Shaw who wrote an article in today’s Signal has attended a few recent meetings has no clue of the purpose, Vision, Mission, or Policies the committee created, and has obviously not done any research on the matter either. Just what we need another clueless political candidate. Kevin Korenthal compares the CCAC to the Newhall Redevelopment Committee but fails to mention that the committee is under the direct oversight of Council and City Manager. City, or other sponsoring agency oversight, ensures a democratic meeting process is adhered to and the participation of interested parties is encouraged such as with Neighborhood Councils. Something Mr. Ferdman has steadfastly refused to allow. It is easier to blame the City than accept personal responsibility for unethical behavior. Al Ferdman conducts CCAC meetings, takes positions on behalf of the CCAC, and excludes participants as HE SEES FIT without accountability to anyone or following any approved CCAC policies. He has drawn into the group supporters and like-minded individuals, to the exclusion of those of us who do not support HIS tactics or YOURS TBB. As to Public Participation, I believe it was moved to the end of Council meetings, as a direct result of you and your grandstanding at Council meetings. You bring dozens of people to complain loudly at Council meetings all the while knowing that the issue is on hold pending neighborhood meetings and will be resolved without the need to storm the citadel. You delay the proceedings for those items on the agenda and those persons there to speak directly to those agenda items sometimes costing the property owner or whomever thousands in attorney or consultant fees while they wait for you and your band of complainers to have your three minutes to speak. All for your personal notoriety TBB, former Councilman, and some potential future votes. Some of us are on to both you and Al. I don’t particularly like to wait until the end of the meetings to speak but understand that it is patently unfair to make people who want to address an agendized item, sit through hours of testimony on your complaint du jour until the agendized and publicly noticed item is finally called. To sum it up TBB, you and Al are responsible for many of the negative changes that have occurred and which make those of us who want to participate either wait longer or simply give up. To that point, nearly all of the original CCAC members have simply given up since their participation is unwelcome and discouraged if their views differ from Al’s. I should know! You, Al, and friends can go form another group whose mission is to complain about everything, not advise on anything particularly Canyon Country concerns, and call it something else because Al and you do not represent me or many other residents of Canyon Country or for that matter residents of the City of Santa Clarita. That is probably why you did not even come close and were not elected, TBB.
  12. DamageincAugust 17, 2010 at 11:12 am
    T.B.B + B.G.H = L.O.V.E
  13. Tim MyersAugust 17, 2010 at 9:36 am
    On Simi Valley: The most interesting post was the lengthy comment from a Simi Valley real estate agent that talked about how buyers prefer the SCV over Simi Valley, believing it has a better quality of life. I think this has to do with promotion and also the fact that there are newer buildings in the SCV so it looks “shinier.”
  14. Alan FerdmanAugust 17, 2010 at 11:16 am
    Jeff It appears to me that you took Ms. Shaw’s comments a little too literally. Her quote when used metaphorically, is absolutely accurate. It certainly represents the concept, if you do not speak up when an injustice has been perpetrated, you as an individual increase the likelihood that you could suffer the same fate. While you might want to have a philosophical debate as to wither the City’s ending it’s relationship with the CCAC, is not a “real act of political suppression”, there is no drought it is a case of a public official using public resources to forward an agenda of suppressing public feedback. It appears that elected officials and public servants tend to forget they work for their constituents and should provide a venue for public comment whenever possible if they want to keep the public’s trust.
  15. Need for Involved CitizenryAugust 17, 2010 at 12:06 pm
    Berta: Is there anything you don’t know everything about. Re: your point on public participation, please reflect upon the fact that the Council members can sit up there for as long as they like at the beginning of each meeting and talk about whatever they please. Additionally, keep in mind that those presenting topics get to take as long as they like and answer or rebut any and all questions and comments while the community participants have their three minutes and that’s it. Then they can get accused by Frank Ferry of being stooges and not have the abilty to respond. I’ve sat through plenty of meetings where the VIA, Bia, Hospital or the Chamber has all sorts of folks lined up to talk about something they personally know little about and only care about because that is the party line. At least the other folks speaking at the meetings speak of their own convictions and to believe otherwise is foolhardy. Do you think people like Cam Noltemeyer, Lynne Plambeck, Tony Newhall, Alan Cameron et.al. never spoke before TBB? Sometimes I wonder if your really Frank Ferry posing as Berta.
  16. Tim MyersAugust 17, 2010 at 1:24 pm
    When our children were small we used Cam Noltemeyer as a bedtime aid. We told them if they got out of bed Cam would come out of their closet and speak for three minutes about Porta Bella!
  17. Need for Involved CitizenryAugust 17, 2010 at 1:35 pm
    She’s been blasting whoever is on the council for almost as long as I’ve followed City politics.
  18. Berta González-HarperAugust 17, 2010 at 1:39 pm
    @NFIC, all of the people you reference above have certainly spoken before Council but do not ROUTINELY bring 30-40 people along to continue the harangue. If they also purport to speak for others when those people have not given them authorization to do so, shame on them, although I do not think that has been the case. Public Participation became a real issue during this past campaign season when you abused the process in order to position yourself as “the people’s candidate”. Some of us do not acknowledge you or Ferdman as our “saviors”. I do not know everything but I know enough to understand when someone is grandstanding. I also easily recognize most “anonymous” contributors, ahem. If you believe I am Frank Ferry that just shows you are missing some critical analytical skills. The fact that I understand Frank’s and others frustrations due to the same few people grinding the Council over and over on one sided issues, indicates I can see both sides and have no problem recognizing that some people just want to have a platform to push their causes without concern for how their issues impacts others. Many speakers ask pertinent questions and present rational arguments in a respectful way. I have criticized Frank for lumping us all in with you. I am nothing like you. I can disagree on an issue without asserting conspiracies everywhere or orchestrating drama to gain more converts for my cause. Many folks do not choose to attend meetings. Do their interests not count too? I at least understand that sometimes the Council and staff will agree with me and sometimes they will agree with you. Their job is to make decisions based on what is best for the residents of the entire City, not just what you or I want. How often they succeed or fail in my opinion is the topic for another discussion. Council members speak as our elected representatives. Enough residents voted for them to win reelection and had confidence they would consider all sides of the issue while representing them, whether you agree with that assessment or not. I did not vote for you or your friends and I have not authorized you to speak for me. You get your three minutes and I get mine. That is more than I can get at CCAC meetings. Al took several minutes of his presentation at the last CCAC meeting to slam me. Do I also get several minutes to rebut his lies? Sure…
  19. Need for Involved CitizenryAugust 17, 2010 at 7:36 pm
    Berta: If your not Frank Ferry, I’m not TBB.
  20. Berta González-HarperAugust 17, 2010 at 9:16 pm
    @NFIC, well I guess that settles it. I must be Frank Ferry. I always did want to be taller and really have my own pair. Thanks genie you made my wish come true!
  21. Ahem, another anonymous (your old new friend BertaAugust 17, 2010 at 4:43 pm
    I thought this was interesting, AHEM, • Berta González-Harper says: • September 29, 2009 at 11:22 pm • I’m happy TimBen is running and I hope he wins a seat. At least he has a passion for the job and the guts to stir things up. The current Council members up for reelection have become arrogant and complacent. They aren’t interested in what we the people have to say. They have made it less and less convenient for people to express their opinions at Council meetings by moving Public Participation to the end of the meeting. That sure makes me think they want just want to get out of there as fast as possible. That is not what I want from elected officials who are supposed to represent me. I want someone willing to respectfully listen to all sides and have the courage to make the tough decisions and protect our neighborhoods. Go TimBen! WILL THE REAL BERTA SHADY PLEASE STAND UP!!! PLEASE STAND UP!!
  22. Tim MyersAugust 18, 2010 at 7:58 am
    That was before they got into it over the Bonelli Tract kerfuffle.
  23. Berta González-HarperAugust 18, 2010 at 9:04 am
    @ Ahem, another anonymous (neither anonymous nor friend but I will play along), I made that comment before I attempted to have an actual conversation with TBB regarding a contentious issue. I did say the current Council members were arrogant and at times, I believe they still are. Just look at the recent $1000 campaign contribution issue. However, whether I agree or disagree with any decisions made by the current Council does not change my views regarding TBB. In my estimation, he does not represent an improvement. I believed at the time I made those comments, right after TBB announced he was running, that Council was discouraging all of us from addressing them. Only later after observing TBB and friends in action, over a period of months, did I understand what I believe is the real catalyst for the change regarding Public Participation. The very first time I attempted to have a discussion with TBB and it happened to be about the Bonelli Tract issue he kept yelling at me, would not let me speak, talked over me, and told me repeatedly I did not know what I was talking about even though he refused to hear me out. Time has proven I was correct and he was ill informed but you will never hear him admit that. I realized during the course of that “discussion” that none of the current Council members had ever treated me so disrespectfully. I also realized that I had not ever before had a meaningful discussion with TBB. Funny thing is up until that “conversation”, I thought he was interested in listening to varied opinions since he insisted he was looking out for us residents. After that revealing and unpleasant interaction I started thinking about the limited information I had about him, asked people a lot of different questions, listened to what he said and how he said it and realized I had been precipitous in concluding he was somehow different. Some of his associates are people I do not trust or respect either and that also made me take a closer look. I reflected back on the issues I encountered with code enforcement and how stunningly silent both TBB and Ferdman were at the time. But then again neither was running for anything, and there was nothing in it for either of them. What I soon realized is that in my opinion TBB is not an improvement on anyone currently serving on the Council. I was ready for change but I wanted change for the better. Subsequent further revelations concerning TBB and some of his associates only confirmed my revised opinion. I admit I was very disappointed to realize that he was not who I initially thought he was. TBB is what he accuses the other Council members of being. He is rude, loud, and egotistical, he adopts a position and makes decisions without first listening to all of the facts, is arrogant, and disrespectful to others. He is particularly nasty to anyone not in agreement with his views. It just goes to show that TBB is a better actor than I originally realized.
  24. Ahem, another anonymous (your old new friend BertaAugust 18, 2010 at 5:40 pm
    Oh Berta, I am amazed at how well you deflect and twist your own words. a perfect bitter politician..you know why you were commenting on the Bonelli tract, you know why you are really bitter about the CCAC…guess what, we all know too…the last post was in your words, if you were not informed maybe you should have refrained from making a statement, what are the chances that you would ever be ill-informed again and make inappropriate comments….;o)
  25. Berta González-HarperAugust 18, 2010 at 9:59 pm
    @Ahem, etc…Deflect and Twist? You have got to be kidding? I could not have provided a more direct and honest answer, as is my usual custom. As to being a “bitter politician”, I am neither bitter nor a politician. While I make every effort to be informed, I do not recall ever saying that I am infallible. I readily admit that I like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and did so with TBB. I also have a very forgiving nature as has been pointed out to me on multiple occasions. Only after I personally had a very negative experience with TBB did I reevaluate my opinion of his character. I accept the fact that I continue to analyze and learn. Would you like me to explain how that works? I think EVERYONE that reads this blog knows why I commented on the Bonelli Tract issue and the Canyon Country Advisory Committee as well. No mystery there! When you assert that my comments are “inappropriate”, in what way? You are entitled to your opinion. However, they are MY comments not yours and as such I get to decide if MY comments are the appropriate response or not. Unless of course you are God, in that case I defer to your infinite wisdom. You do not sound like God to me though. Actually, you sound grumpy. Are you upset because you cannot convince me your opinion is the only valid one? Cheer up, lots have tried and failed before you…
  26. TimBen BoydstonAugust 17, 2010 at 7:35 pm
    Berta, You seem to know who NFIC is. Could you please tell me cause I am curious.
  27. Berta González-HarperAugust 17, 2010 at 9:17 pm
    @TBB, we both know who NFIC is. Nice trick sending both messages at almost the same time. A laptop & a desktop or is it a cell phone? I’m impressed.
  28. Need for Involved CitizenryAugust 18, 2010 at 2:28 pm
    Berta: Some day when I am motivated enough by an issue (perhaps the next OVOV meeting) I’ll introduce myself.
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