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September 23, 2010 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • It’s going to be difficult for Los Angeles County to comply with AB 32, the landmark 2006 climate change bill as the County has no real way to measure greenhouse gas emissions like CO2. As a result, County leaders and UC researchers are asking the state to help fund some research, the Signal says. The City of Santa Clarita must develop its own climate action plan within 18 months of adopting OVOV, a requirement that may cost the City up to $160,000. SIGNAL
  • The City, County and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy are going to jointly purchase Elsmere Canyon for a cool $6 million. The City will pay $3.75 million out of the open space district money voters passed in 2007. Conservancy officials say it is a critical “wildlife habitat and linkage” and Tony Bell, Supe Antonvich’s deputy, says purchasing the property will allow trail networks in the SFV and SCV to connect SIGNAL
  • Federal Drug Enforcement Administration officials raided locations throughout Southern California yesterday, arresting 18 individuals involved in a marijuana and ecstasy ring. One of the suspects sought by the DEA, a certain Nathan Nwobi, escaped arrest however, and the feds want him in part for a house he owned in Saugus in which he grew 920 marijuana plants. Nwobi remains at large MERC NEWS
  • More than 60 percent of Hart District students attend COC. That and more details came out of a joint Hart District Board/COC Board of Trustees meeting last night SIGNAL
  • New LA County Fire Chief for SCV has so much SCV-cred he makes I Heart green with envy: Bill Niccum went to Saugus Elementary School, Hart High, and his dad worked for the DWP way up San Francisquito way. Carol Rock has a great profile of him over at KHTS
  • Congressman Buck McKeon will hold a telephone press conference with 25th District reporters today at 1pm as part of an effort to roll out Contract with America 2.0, this time with Pledge power (it’s actually called Pledge to America.) The “governing plan” says the GOP will cut spending to 2008 levels (except for defense of course), cancel TARP, repeal the new health care law, and stop “job killing tax hikes” by which of course they mean extend the 2001 Bush tax cuts permanently. CBS NEWS, NEWSWEEK
  • Speaking of Buck McKeon, he told a Boy Scouts organization on Saturday that they were “under attack,” adding that “any organization that teaches character building is under attack.” He didn’t identify who is attacking the Boy Scouts (my money is on the nefarious Girl Scouts and their famous weaponized cookies). McKeon and his wife were being honored by the group and coverage of the event comes from Michele Buttleman, society reporter for the Signal, who gives some rare insight into how the McKeons grew up (Buck’s wife, for instance, hated gathering eggs and milking cows as a youth, and Buck regrets to this day the fact that he never became an Eagle Scout) SIGNAL
  • City Manager and League of California Cities official Ken Pulskamp will testify this morning before three committees in Sacramento on subject of local governments, accountability and pay structure. All of this in reaction to the City of Bell scandal. This is the first time Sacramento has gotten involved in local government pay since 1987 says the SACBEE
  • And as long as we’re at it, Marsha McLean gets some ink this morning in LA Weekly as a critic of Mayor Villaraigosa’s proposed Subway to the Sea. A new EIR study says Villaragoisa’s plan to extend the Red Line subway from LA to Santa Monica won’t make much of a difference in traffic on the west side at all; McLean is quoted in the paper as saying the money spent on that project should go to transit and transportation projects throughout Los Angeles County LA WEEKLY
  • The bazillions of dollars Meg Whitman has spent on her campaign for Governor is working: the respected California Field Poll has Whitman and Jerry Brown tied at 41 points with nearly 1/5th of Californians remaining undecided SACBEE
  • And finally, Assemblyman Cameron Smyth will speak tonight before the California Republican Assembly group at -you guessed it- the old IHOP WRB
  • Enough politics: head over to Newhall Land’s Awesometown blog to get a preview of the food trucks that will appear at the October 16 Gourmet Food Truck festival at Bridgeport. Liberal use of the word “delectable” ahead at AWESOMETOWN BLOG
  • SCV Proxart blogger and friends see murder victim in LA and it reminds them why they’re lucky to live in the SCV, even if it’s less, shall we say, culturally vibrant than LA. But he says, why can’t SCV have the great things LA has with none of the bad? BLOG Speaking of Proxart, their new magazine is out. CHECK IT OUT
  • LTE writer from Lancaster pens incoherent letter about same sex marriage and President Bush being an African American. Why don’t you stay up in the Antelope Valley eh? LTE
  • Paul Brotzman directly takes on Lynne Plambeck’s claims about OVOV

Today’s Daily Brief was composed and posted entirely by my new autonomous, self-aware and magical iPad, so blame it for any inaccuracies.

Comments (75)

  1. AlpinerSeptember 23, 2010 at 6:42 am
    Jeff has an iPad? Who’d a thought….
  2. mikecSeptember 23, 2010 at 7:38 am
    it was part of his gift bag for being one of the 40 under 40 folks…:-)
  3. KellySeptember 23, 2010 at 6:54 am
    Great brief, Jeff, thank you, and good for you for getting an Ipad. Gosh, wouldn’t it be great to have an Apple store up here in Awesometown? Also, did you see today’s LA Times article about our vanilla little burg? http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0920-awesometown-20100920,0,7725148.story
  4. lvogelSeptember 23, 2010 at 7:01 am
    Is The Signal that desperate for LTE’s? First of all the Gay Marriage issue has been on the back burner as of late, and (unfortunately) is ‘old’ news. Actually now that I think about it, perhaps it’s a good thing to keep printing letters debating Gay Marriage; keep it in the news, perhaps it will become legal sooner that way. Nevermind Signal, keep printing those letters where people make no sense and come off as idiots…..it can’t hurt proponents for Gay Marriage , it can only help!
  5. Need for Involved CitizenrySeptember 23, 2010 at 7:07 am
    Interesting article from the LA Weekly on mass transit. If you subscribe to what it is saying, people will continue to use their cars unless they are in a city with extreme density (New York is cited) and that less than 2% of the population uses public transit. One of the premises of OVOV is that permitting high density villages that are within walking access to rail lines will significantly reduce vehicle trips. The EIR for the subway to the sea infers that the subway will make less than a 1% difference in vehicle trips. My concern is that higher density will mean more traffic in those core areas and further gridlock through the Newhall Pass. While you can argue that the higher density in the City will allow for lower densities in the outlying areas, we are dependent on the County holding the line on densities. And as Paul Brotzman says in his Signal editorial ” The city and county cannot unilaterally prohibit development on ridgelines or in hillside areas. If we were to do so, we would be subject to inverse condemnation laws and might be liable to compensate the property owner for failing to allow a reasonable use of their land.” So, the City gets higher density and more traffic and we hope property owners of other land in the Valley don’t decide to develop intensively because the City and County can’t prohibit it if you take Brotzman’s quote literally.
  6. spineflower2September 26, 2010 at 7:46 am
    And as Paul Brotzman says in his Signal editorial ” The city and county cannot unilaterally prohibit development on ridgelines or in hillside areas. If we were to do so, we would be subject to inverse condemnation laws and might be liable to compensate the property owner for failing to allow a reasonable use of their land.” This is the classic cop out by politicians who have joined the GOBN. Zoning laws and the General Plan have held up for decades and his gutlessness shows his true leanings. I didn’t see him cowering before this excuse when the City banned LEGAL pot dispensaries. They would have the same argument of reasonable legal use of their land. In fact, it gives new meanings to the legal phrase “HIGHest and best use.”
  7. NickelDimeSeptember 23, 2010 at 7:09 am
    Congrats on the new device, Jeff. Might I suggest adding SCVRSS to your FlipBoard content? From here on out, it’s HTML5 or bust.
  8. Jim FarleySeptember 23, 2010 at 7:35 am
    It’s hard to argue that having Elsmere preserved is not a good thing. It is a very good thing. That doesn’t change that the city acted unethically in promoting an illegal tax upon the property owners of the City of Santa Clarita. The Open Space Preservation District is wrong on many levels. They set up an undemocratic balloting system giving seven developers controling votes for houses that do not yet exist and may never. I’d still like to know which developer Laurene Weste strongarmed into funding the campaign and which ones were coerced into giving their unfairly heavily weighted ‘yes’ votes. There has never been a disclosure on where the campaign funding came from. Just because the city says it is legal and there has not yet been a suit does not make it legal. The Ca Supreme Court has ruled these types of assessments as being illegal. But now the argument will be that the ends justify the means and the hell with property owners rights. Shame on the city for this corruption and on the majority of citizens for not caring.
  9. Berta González-HarperSeptember 23, 2010 at 9:19 am
    @Jim Farley I care and I voted in favor of The Open Space Preservation District. I would prefer some of my tax money go towards purchasing open space property that creates a separation between the Santa Clarita Valley and the San Fernando Valley that we can all hike and enjoy, than to have all of the negative issues readily apparent in the SFV merge into one with our valley. We also need open space environmentally to help cool off our valley at night, especially during the dog days of summer. When you have only built out areas with cement, asphalt, buildings, etc you create heat islands since all of these things hold in the heat so no real cooling can occur after the sun sets. I personally want even more open space!
  10. Need for Involved CitizenrySeptember 23, 2010 at 9:45 am
    Open space is good. Don’t like the way the voting for the open space district was manipulated by the City. Wish some of it could be in the City rather than getting high density infill projects.
  11. Jim FarleySeptember 24, 2010 at 8:19 am
    O-k Berta – you care about open space. My point on citizens not caring is about not caring that this is an illegal tax that was implemented in an unethical way. Are you so enamored by Open Space that you don’t care how the money is collected to get it?
  12. Berta González-HarperSeptember 24, 2010 at 9:21 am
    @Jim Farley says, “Are you so enamored by Open Space that you don’t care how the money is collected to get it?” I do not believe the Open Space tax is assessed illegally but even if it were, I would be happy to donate into a pool of money to buy up open space land in Santa Clarita and contiguous areas so that we can keep it in public ownership in perpetuity.
  13. Jim FarleySeptember 24, 2010 at 9:31 am
    I’ve done hours/days of research and have consulted with an expert attorney. Trust me – it is illegal. If you are happy to contribute you should do just that – contribute. For my part I will do whatever I can to fight the tyranny of unfair taxation.. I’m glad you are o-k with everyone paying for what you would like to contribute to. Your communist streak is comming out.
  14. Berta González-HarperSeptember 24, 2010 at 9:55 am
    @Jim Farley my “communist streak”? WTF are you talking about? Farley, I think you need a vacation or something…
  15. Jim FarleySeptember 24, 2010 at 1:43 pm
    Agreed ‘communist’ is a bit out there. I just can’t believe you are o-k with a government overstepping it’s bounds because the cause is so important to you.
  16. Berta González-HarperSeptember 24, 2010 at 6:28 pm
    @Jim Farley let’s getting something straight, I do not think anyone “took” anything or that government overstepped its bounds. I believe a vote was taken (democracy not communism) and the PEOPLE voted to approve an assessment for the purchase of open space. WE vote to assess ourselves fees and taxes all of the time for schools, libraries, etc. That you disagree is evident. If you feel so strongly that this VOTE was illegal contact California Attorney General Jerry Brown to file a lawsuit against the City of Santa Clarita. He is currently busy with Bell but I am sure IF YOU HAVE A CASE he can find the time. Besides, he can use the free publicity…
  17. Jim FarleySeptember 26, 2010 at 10:36 am
    Space getting too thin. BGH – continued below…
  18. cashSeptember 23, 2010 at 8:37 am
    Jim Farley I hear the name is to be changed from Elsmere Canyon to either McLean or Weste park, once Weste figures out a way to get McLean out of the picture. Legal or not, the way Weste when about pushing the initiative is disgusting. She has a way of gaming the system, right down to the number of trash containers we get, You and I are allowed three and she has as many as she wants.
  19. ToddSeptember 23, 2010 at 9:20 am
    You’d figure with Meg outspending Jerry on the order of like 20:1, that she’d be way ahead in the polls…. Sad. As to the number of Hart Students at COC… I’m torn on the issue. On one hand, its great that they’re getting a head start on their collegiate studies… but on the other hand, from my experience taking a couple undergrad classes there recently, they appeared to get preferential treatment in terms of registration and enrollment. Does this mean with the decreased class availability, other deserving students who have already graduated HS are being denied in deference to the Hart students? I can’t get on board with that.
  20. Street KnowledgeSeptember 23, 2010 at 9:32 am
    Todd, I think you misread the article. That percentage refers to the Hart district graduates who attend COC after high school. As for students that are concurrently enrolled, I believe that as new students, they are at the bottom of the heap. Also, in light of the recent budget crunch and what not, I think there are now restrictions on high school-aged students (new-ish requirement). There is, however, the Academy of the Canyons that is a hybrid sort of high school where the students take some college classes while their regular high school classes are held in classrooms on campus (University Center now).
  21. mikeSeptember 23, 2010 at 9:36 am
    Whoa Street Knowledge. I thought you only did snark.
  22. ToddSeptember 23, 2010 at 9:52 am
    Ah, OK. I didn’t read the article… just Jeff’s synopsis. My bad. In that case… 60% go on to a JC? Isn’t that a little high? Shouldn’t we desire that 60% go on to a 4-year???? Well, I guess its better than them going nowhere…
  23. Street KnowledgeSeptember 23, 2010 at 10:06 am
    Provided they transfer, it all comes out in the wash.
  24. WalkerSeptember 23, 2010 at 10:52 am
    So long as the student wishes to attend a state school, there are multiple programs that ensure the students units will transfer and (provided they are taking college level courses) their 2 year course of study will mirror that of students at the 4 year schools. The student receives a certification from the CC that qualifies them as a 3rd year student at the UC/CSU. In some cases, they may be guaranteed admission in to a state school, assuming they are certified and meet the GPA requirement. The CSU system did away w/their guaranteed admissions program this year, but UC (w/the exception of Berkeley and LA) still have transfer agreements w/COC.
  25. navigatorSeptember 23, 2010 at 11:16 am
    Had to laugh (cry, stomp my feet) during my last semester at CSUN when I was told I had to take an algebra course in order get my degree at the end of the semester. The course I had taken in JC didn’t qualify. So, now, after taking 2 semesters of calculus, statistics and quant, I had to take a stupid algebra class. On the plus side it was a cake walk and finished up my VA benefits.
  26. navigatorSeptember 23, 2010 at 10:18 am
    With today’s (or even yesterday”s) cost to attend a 4 year it’s much cheaper to get all those pesky undergrad classes out of the way at a JC and then transfer to a 4 year. Just have to make sure that all the units are transferable.
  27. mikeSeptember 23, 2010 at 11:35 am
    True story, I had a COC Spanish class with your daughter.
  28. scvtruthsquadSeptember 23, 2010 at 1:49 pm
    you can attend a 4 year out of State University for less monmey than UC or CSU and be done in four years nor 5 or 6
  29. Tim MyersSeptember 23, 2010 at 3:22 pm
    Which out of state University system would that be exactly?
  30. scvtruthsquadSeptember 24, 2010 at 5:23 am
    What I meant was an out of state ….University.. not an State University that is out of state… there are so many great private universities
  31. Tim MyersSeptember 23, 2010 at 10:36 am
    That number appears quite large, but would include students like our daughter who attend a CSU but took an online course at COC during winter interim to fulfill a Gen Ed requirement while they were on term break. That course still had slots available so she did not keep some other student from the class.
  32. WalkerSeptember 23, 2010 at 10:43 am
    Todd is correct. There is a program that gives preferential registration to incoming freshman, if they participate. It’s called FYE, First Year Experience. They are guaranteed placement in a Math, English, and one other course. Honestly, not sure how I feel about it. Classes are SO hard to get. Many are filled up before enrollment is open to the ‘priority A’ students (because students athletes and those w/disabilities register before open enrollment). Yes, it is important to get the incoming freshman off to a good start, but it’s also important to have course availability for ‘adult’ or returning students (the last to register) or those w/few credits.
  33. WalkerSeptember 23, 2010 at 11:04 am
    Oh, sorry, I see that Todd was referring to the Academy of the Canyons students. They also get priority registration.
  34. ToddSeptember 23, 2010 at 12:20 pm
    Nope, wasn’t referring to AOC students. I’m talking about the standard students who take college classes for dual credit at both HS and college. I had to take two Spanish classes, and was on a wait list to get into the evening class, while the room was filled 50% full with high school students (who, coincidentally, made for a rather distracting learning experience). I always got in, but never because the class was available at my registration date…. I had to override.
  35. ScottESeptember 23, 2010 at 12:27 pm
    Academy of The Canyons is a wonderful program and I highly recommend it to anyone who has a child that fits the profile. Saved my middle child from becoming a student in HS who wasn’t “achieving up to her potential.” She graduated from her college of choice and is currently a well paid tax-paying citizen. My oldest went for 2 years to COC then transferred to UCSB where he graduated with honors. Also currently employed and tax-paying. Once again, I highly recommend that course of action. I honestly can’t see why ANYONE would spend the extra money on a 4 year college for the first 2 years of (essentially) GE. My third and last just started at COC. Hard to get classes? Yes. From what I hear, it’s the same at 4 year colleges. She may not have gotten exactly the classes she wanted…but they all qualify for transfer. As someone indicated previously, that’s the key to a successful COC stint. 3 for 3 at COC (so far…). I’m a believer….Ha!
  36. Tim MyersSeptember 23, 2010 at 3:26 pm
    ScottE: The reason is that 60% number. If you are trying to break free of your vanilla suburban life and spread your wings going to a place for two years with 60% of your high school classmates is kind of a bummer.
  37. DamageincSeptember 23, 2010 at 12:33 pm
    Boyscouts is a religious organization highly backed by the mormon church and should not be given any special treatment. The organization openly discriminates against non-religious, secularist and homosexuals. The Girl scouts do none of this.
  38. Whiskey Tango FoxtrotSeptember 23, 2010 at 2:35 pm
    What “special treatment” are they receiving that you are opposed to?
  39. scvtruthsquadSeptember 23, 2010 at 12:35 pm
    Why would anyone want to go to a UC or CSU school , have you seen how many classes are impacted, many students can not take the courses they need to graduate and have to take fill in classes and tuition has gone through the roof, my granduater is attending a private out of state University and with scholarships and grants is paying 20% of what you would end up paying at a UC or even a CSU, she is very smart but did not get a single shcolarship from UC or CSU… go out of state young man or woman
  40. Tim MyersSeptember 23, 2010 at 3:24 pm
    Probably a few loans in that mix that will have to be repaid.
  41. scvtruthsquadSeptember 24, 2010 at 5:23 am
    No none
  42. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 7:41 am
    Name the name of this university so I can mock it!
  43. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 7:41 am
    I went to a highly thought of (regionally) private university in the Midwest, and objectively our children are getting a much better and more rigorous education in the UC and CSU system.
  44. scvtruthsquadSeptember 24, 2010 at 8:28 am
    Oh please, how are they doing in the required Chicano Studies classes, or the required Women in Society classes or African Americans in film classes or the other 12 required politically correct classes students must waste their time and money on that have nothing to do with their major or interest… yeah that sounds like a good deal
  45. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 10:26 am
    Our son is graduating from UC San Diego at the end of winter term with a degree in Economics and he has NONE of those types of courses on his transcript. I think you been watching Glen Beck too much.
  46. scvtruthsquadSeptember 24, 2010 at 11:32 am
    Look again, they are there… they are more prevelant at the CSU system, but at the UC they are disguised as literature courses (women in literature) or film classes (African Americans in film) but it also depends onthe major too. Tim how long did it take him to graduate 5 years?
  47. mikeSeptember 24, 2010 at 11:33 am
    Oh my God! You mean they have classes in African America Cinema? What has this world come to? What’s next? Jazz-music classes?
  48. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 12:13 pm
    mike: Believe it or not our son was REQUIRED to take a whole quarter where he needed to learn enough to articulate the differences between a Shia, Sunni, Wahabbi, Druse, Sufi etc. Now that’s pretty much “useless” information in today’s world!
  49. mikeSeptember 24, 2010 at 12:17 pm
    You mean they aren’t all the same? Tim, I shocked.
  50. scvtruthsquadSeptember 24, 2010 at 12:30 pm
    I am not saying they sould not have those classes…but the students are FORCED to take them to graduate..
  51. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 12:54 pm
    I’m calling BS on that assertion!
  52. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 12:10 pm
    It took him one quarter short of four years, which included a full semester at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Our daughter WILL take five years because you have to work beyond your bachelors to get a teaching credential. (CSUN has an excellent program where one can get their bachelors and a teaching credential in four CALENDAR years, but one has to take a full load during three summer sessions). She should complete her BA in four years; I don’t see any issue. Have not seen these disguised classes but he did have to take six quarters of the Making of the Modern World which included (gasp!) study of Chinese History and a full quarter on Genghis Khan, and other assorted non-white folks. Did you know Jesus was a Palestinian?
  53. BrianSeptember 23, 2010 at 1:08 pm
    Buck should stop bs’ing the BSA!
  54. A ReaderSeptember 23, 2010 at 7:24 pm
    COC is a great local resource. My first choice for my kids would be a UC or good private school and I would pay for the four year education there. I think the kids learn as much in the dorms and outside the classroom as they do in the classroom. But I would choose 2 yrs at COC and 2 yrs at a UC before 4 years at a CSU. CSUs are by and large commuter schools and you don’t really get the campus life you get at a UC or a good private school.
  55. scvtruthsquadSeptember 24, 2010 at 7:12 am
    Why is a UC a good choice? Tuition has been increased every year in last 4 years, last year alone it went up 38% . Classes are impacted, classes have been dropped and it will take a mjority of students 5 years or more to graduate thus making it even more expensive. Many people have been brainwashed to thinkthat a UC education is the only way to go , there are so many private universities out of state that will offer scholarships, grants etc.. that will make it much cheaper than a UC (FYI: UC’s offer very few too only low income students), they will get the classes they need and graduate in 4 years. Lets all open our eyes to what is out ther beyond our California borders and failing UC system.
  56. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 7:39 am
    Oh yes! Much better to go to East Overshoe Bible College than the “failing” campuses of Berkley and UCLA!
  57. scvtruthsquadSeptember 24, 2010 at 8:20 am
    Never said that Tim, there are some great Universities (that offer Masters, PhD. etc..) that are out of state, small private Universities that offer a great education, stop being an elitist and think that the UC’s are God’s gift to California…
  58. AlanSeptember 24, 2010 at 9:10 am
    Tim, I have to concur with SCV truth squad. I have one kid going to a UC (well know one) and one that is going to a small out of state private small Catholic university. What a huge difference in how student and parents are treated and the kind of education they receive. At the small private university he has no class larger than 20 students, every class, lecture, lab, study session, is taught by a professor not a TA (they have not TA’s), the professors at the small schools do not have a publish or perish attitude so the professors are more into teaching than working on their own research and publishing articles. All the professors I have met have taught at other major universities, Stanford, Caltech, USC etc.. , they love teaching and this is their last stop, they just want to teach. At the small school, professors truly care about their students and their well being and development. Students can actually find classes so they can graduate in 4 years, the school makes sure of that, and at the UC’s, many classes have been cut or are full and students are forced to take GE classes such as Chicano studies, etc. I was bit apprehensive about my kid going off to a small school at first, but now I have no doubt in my mind it’s much better than the UC my other kid is going to. FYI, after scholarships the cost of tuition/room/board, the small private university is so much less that what the UC cost us. My final bill was $ 113.00 for the semester.
  59. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 10:32 am
    Alan: I had that small college experience heavily subsidized by scholarships etc. and I stand by the assertion that the education I received (including the ability to build a broad network of colleagues and experiences to provide street smarts) was inferior to the experience of my children in the UC and CSU systems.
  60. AlanSeptember 24, 2010 at 12:46 pm
    Tim, I have seen/experienced both a UC and a small private university in action with both my kids, honestly there is no comparison in the passion, dedication and care of the staff and faculty from the small private university.. email me, I can give you details
  61. Tim MyersSeptember 24, 2010 at 1:05 pm
    Alan I am sure they are extremely passionate but by their very scale they just do not provide the range of experience and ability to build networks that help in so many careers.
  62. A ReaderSeptember 25, 2010 at 5:51 am
    @SCVTS. Tuition still pays just a small portion of what it costs to deliver a UC education. You’re still getting far more than you pay for. And its still much cheaper than a private school education. UCs do offer scholarships based on academic standing. Classes are impacted but most kids going there have taken lots of AP classes at high school so go in with many college credits under their belt. They can graduate easily in four years, sometimes in less than that. Your peers at a UC are generally high performing students, active at their high schools who took lots of AP courses, rec’d almost straight A’s and scored very high on their SATs. It’s an extremely high caliber of student and that’s who you study with and attend class with. You are part of a class of smart motivated students. The alumni network from schools like UCLA and Berkeley is large and loyal. Many companies filter who they look at by what school they attended. Berkeley is always looked at and UCLA usually is. Colleges have local, regional, state, national or international reputations. UCLA and Berkeley have international reputations. You can go anywhere in the world and your degree would be recognized and you would be tagged as someone who probably was very smart and motivated. They aren’t for everyone and there are great small private schools. But go to New York and apply for a job with a degree from Berkeley and a degree from Keyon College and see who gets the interview.
  63. Timothy MyersSeptember 25, 2010 at 8:14 am
    A Reader: Bravo! But we need to be respectful of the place and work of smaller universities. We have one child who attends a top ten internationally ranked UC school and another who attends a CSU, and by every objective measure the CSU student is right now on a stronger and more developed “life” path with a clearer view of their ultimate goals. But what makes my blood boil are these tropes that it is somehow “bad” to attend a UC school. It is like saying it is bad to be good looking!
  64. mikeSeptember 25, 2010 at 8:30 am
    In my extended undergraduate career, I attended both CSU and UC schools. While the grading standards were much higher in the UC school, I’ve found the quality of instruction at CSU to be much higher. A self-motivated student that can get lost in the books will get more out of a UC and the institutions offer many more opportunities across the board. CSUs tend to be run like glorified DMVs, but for those three hours a week in the classroom, you get much more out of a CSU class.
  65. Coastal SageSeptember 23, 2010 at 9:46 pm
    Lest no one forget, Paul Brotzman was fired as City Manager of West Hollywood, after working there for approximately 12 years. Take a look at the incredibly high density apartments and commercial areas in West Hollywood, as well as the ridiculous lack of parking, and you’ll see what Brotzman’s view of a great city is. Wrong vision wrong city.
  66. Need for Involved CitizenrySeptember 24, 2010 at 6:23 am
    A co-worker was a Planning Commissioner in West Hollywood. He was telling me that the density needed for a subway to the sea stop is 15,000 per square mile. West Hollywood has 18,000 residents per square mile. The City Council there is happy to approve high density developments as long as they can shake down the developers for contributions to their pet projects.
  67. Jim FarleySeptember 26, 2010 at 10:47 am
    BGH – Open Space cont. Let me say again. My ‘communist’ comment was not a good one and I apologize for it. I was thinking in terms of corruption in government but see that that was not the best way to approach the issue. Just so you know. My declartation that this type of assessment is illegal is not just a statement made by me because I don’t like the tax. Myself and Sterling King spent a lot of time exploring this issue. The research went all the way to the attorney who won the case in the CA Supreme Court. His view was that there was no legal difference between the Open Space District overturned by the ruling and the local one. That being said taking it to a lawsuit involves a whole lot of other considerations. Don’t think for a minute that hasn’t been under consideration. The way the city brought this about was in a very non-transparent way. I won’t bore with all those details now. My only questions are: Are you one of those who believes the ends justify the means? If you knew for a fact this tax was illegal, and that the city acted unethically toward the citizens in the method it was brought forth, would you still be in favor of it because preserving open space is so important?
  68. Berta González-HarperSeptember 27, 2010 at 10:34 am
    @Jim Farley I have answered you several times regarding the Open Space question. Since you seem to classify any discussion with me as a “fight”, I will oblige you. I attended several community meetings and hearings regarding this issue before I repeat, I VOTED along with many others to approve an Open Space District assessment. Taking a vote is a legal process with consequences. WE voluntarily assess ourselves fees and taxes all of the time. If you feel this assessment is illegal, take it up with the proper authorities. I think you are wrong and being pig headed to boot. Is that clear enough? Now, to your actual question. I generally do not approve of government ignoring the will of the people and enacting laws but there are some notable exceptions. For instance, the requirement that drivers/riders wear helmets when riding a motorcycle. There are many riders who do not like wearing helmets. Usually the taxpayers wind up supporting those disabled by head injuries or whatever other disabling injuries suffered while riding a motorcycle without a helmet and involved in an accident. I am in favor of the law that says they must wear a helmet when riding. Doing so saves lives, reduces serious head injuries and needless suffering, and saves taxpayers money too. Same with seatbelt laws. There are many taxes, fees, laws and ordinances that I personally do not support but are currently the law of the land. Immigration Law is one of the laws that I DO support but the Federal Government does not enforce, so it cuts both ways. To answer your question directly: Yes, there are times when I believe it is the responsibility of government to protect the people and sometimes make unpopular decisions, which benefit us as a whole, even if we the people do not agree with those decisions. I do not however classify the Open Space District assessment as relevant to this conversation as it was voted upon and passed by majority vote. WE made the decision. I believe that makes me a realist not a communist.
  69. Jim FarleySeptember 27, 2010 at 11:38 am
    I guess you did not see my apology to you above about the ‘communist’ quote. Just because a comunity votes something in does not make it legal. This tax violates proposition 218 on several levels most of all that it violates the proportionality standard in that the homes cloers to the open space benefit more than those in the middle of town. I’m not against assessments and taxes that are brought forth with complete opennesss and are legal. This one fails on both counts.
  70. Jim FarleySeptember 27, 2010 at 11:50 am
    And Berta – lighten up a bit. I never said I was ‘fighting’ with you on this. I did say I was ‘arguing’ and indeed we were having a pretty good discussion on both sides of the issue. As my ‘radio mentor’ Dennis Prager says ‘I prefer clarity to agreement’ We both may not agree on this one but we know where we both stand. Over and out………..
  71. Berta González-HarperSeptember 27, 2010 at 1:40 pm
    @Jim Farley yes I saw your apology after which you promptly classified our discussion as “(too busy arguing with BGH on last post).” in your next post. I had not said anything in my response to you up to that point that I consider anything other than a discussion of differing viewpoints. Happy I am not married to you Jim since you have a funny way of trying to make up. A sincere apology is usually not followed by further smart remarks. If I used your methodology then I should not have to pay anything or at least a much reduced rate into High Schools, Elementary Schools, Community Colleges, Mosquito/Vector control, Public Library, County Park District, Trauma/Emergency Services, LA CO Fire, etc. My kids are all grown, out of ANY school, and in the workforce paying taxes. I do not use the libraries or County Parks very much. I am not near any mosquito producing pond, lake, river, etc nor do I have rats. I have used a Trauma/Emergency Center once in my entire life and I paid for it individually. Thank God, I have never had a fire emergency. We assess ourselves all of the time to pay into funds that provide a public benefit and not necessarily to benefit each of us individually. You obviously feel very strongly and differently than I on this topic. You have a right to your opinion and I to mine so I do not have to “lighten up”. Have a nice day…Over and out!
  72. Gang FangSeptember 27, 2010 at 10:06 pm
    Just shut the hell up already, Berta. Seriously. No one actually makes it to the end of your rambling diatribes. Try and make it concise. How does ANYONE live with you?
  73. Berta González-HarperSeptember 28, 2010 at 9:44 am
    @Gang Fang I do not expect someone like you to read my posts and glean anything from them. My comments are intended for those who actually want to share in the discussion. I will not be offended if you skip over my posts. I understand that you cannot possibly find anything an intelligent woman has to say interesting. My name is at the top of each post. Do us both a favor and do not read them. Thanks!
  74. Gang FangSeptember 28, 2010 at 8:25 pm
    If you’re passing yourself off as the cream of the crop intelligent woman, then holy balls your scale is WACKED. My youngest sister has more firebrand intelligence and balls in her little finger than you will ever sniff!! A snappy clipboard does not a smart woman make, Bertle.
  75. Berta González-HarperSeptember 29, 2010 at 9:40 am
    @Gang Fang I do understand why you feel so threatened. If I were you, I would feel like I could not measure up too. I suppose the only tool you have left is trying to belittle women with your insults in order to feel like a man. Do you really think I care what a coward like you thinks of my comments? I would feel sorry for you but as an intelligent woman, I have learned not to waste much time on those who choose to be a$$h%s like you…Crawl back under your rock fool.

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