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January 31, 2011· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

January 31, 2011 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • Two years of investigation, including trips to Vegas and Orange County, and even consultations with “psychic detectives” have brought detectives no closer to solving the murder of Anthony Lombardi, the Valencia man who was shot to death in his car off Tournament road. Yes, you read that right. They’ve consulted with a psychic, who gave them GPS coordinates to a clue. One detective lamented, “We were skeptical,” Loman recalled. “We got these GPS coordinates, but you think it would be easier to get the name (of a suspect).” SIGNAL
  • Re: the above. Maybe Sheriff’s Detectives would have more luck if they hired Paul the Octopus to solve murders
  • Great profile of Paul Novak, Supe Mike Antonovich’s former deputy and the new head of LAFCO, the agency charged with organizing and approving (or denying) annexations throughout the County of LA SIGNAL
  • Read through Tammy Marashlian’s article about the way charter school systems are set up and how they pool resources and staff and tell me I’m not crazy for thinking some of these charter school systems are a tad suspicious. This, of course, is in relation to Hart Board member Joe Messina’s charge that fellow Board member Gloria Mercado-Fortine -also employed by a charter school- has/had a conflict of interest SIGNAL
  • If the Enterprise Zone program is ended by Governor Brown, an entire boutique industry of specialist CPAs and Tax professionals might have to find new work, according to the SFVBJ. The accountants and tax professionals work to help their clients take advantage of EZ tax credits. So I guess the EZ program at least creates jobs for accountants. SFVBJ (subscription)
  • Speaking of taxes, newly-minted state tax board member George Runner says the Enterprise Zone system ought to be expanded state wide and that under no circumstances should the state of California raise taxes on its residents as Brown tries to balance the budget. SIGNAL
  • Runner also wrote an editorial for KHTS saying it’s hard for California to attract quality jobs when the only good thing about California’s business climate is weather.
  • And then there’s the redevelopment agencies: great article in the New York Times about redevelopment agencies, California cities and the budget NY TIMES
  • Buck McKeon gets inked in the New York Times over the emerging split between the Tea Party and old-school Republicans like McKeon over defense cuts. The Times article says McKeon has been meeting privately with new Tea Party-backed GOP members to try and convince them that the defense budget shouldn’t be cut. The paper also notes that defense companies are McKeon’s biggest contributors and that the Fightin’ 25th District has many military installations NY TIMES
  • Did you know the final scene in one of Hollywood’s last great silent films (Starring Charlie Chaplin no less) was filmed on Sierra Highway right here in the SCV? Well it was; check out this news report (and the Youtube footage of old Sierra Highway) then read about a Chaplin festival next week here in Santa Clarita. NEWS, CHAPLIN FESTIVAL
  • SCV Wine Festival coming to Embassy Suites on February 12 SIGNAL
  • Five basketball players on the West Ranch High and Valencia High teams were ejected from playing during a recent game between the schools. The boys got into a big fight during the 4th quarter of the game, says the SIGNAL
  • The new cupcake bakery in the Barnes & Noble shopping center got lots of attention this weekend when it opened LADY DUCAYNE
  • LTE writer complains that driving on Lyons Avenue is like driving a road from the 1950s in a car from the 1920s due to uneven surfaces. LTE
  • LTE writer defends Gloria Mercado-Fortine LTE. But Steve Lunetta urges her to be more open about her income sources SIGNAL
  • Great Myers column on how the City Council courts disaster, mistrust and trouble when it meddles in federal issues SIGNAL
  • Dave Bossert likens City’s forthcoming deal with developers over the Whittaker Bermite to Love Canal, the infamous New York toxic waste site that caused residents and children to get sick in the 70s. But his best line is this: “The City is not a land developer; that is not their core competency. The City should be facilitating permits and making it easy to do business within City limits not trying to be land developer. Becoming a business partner on a development in the City smacks of conflict of interests; what is right for city residents vs. what the business partnership wants.” WRB

Comments

32 · as published
  1. MikeJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:53 am
    Whoever hired a psychic ought to be fired. No question.
  2. NickelDimeJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:58 am
    In these cost-constrained times, why not garner the GPS coordinates using a ouija board? No 1099 needed!
  3. ScottEJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:34 am
    Says the family hired the psychos who then turned info over to the investigation. So the question becomes, what kind of resources were expended following the “lead.” Now, if they would have consulted an Astrology “expert,” that would be an entirely different story. #saidtheFormerSagittariusCurrentlyOphiuchus
  4. CCFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:21 am
    OMG, we are astrologically related and both in the Accounting field. Don’t tell me there is nothing to this!
  5. New York SisterFebruary 3, 2011 at 2:12 pm
    Tell me, if the police and the public couldn’t help find your brothers murderer would you try a psychic Mike.? By the way, the family hired one not the police. So how should be fired now?
  6. JeffFebruary 3, 2011 at 2:55 pm
    I think I can speak for Mike and say he meant no offense. Here on this blog we were shocked when your brother was murdered. And we’ve all been frustrated with the pace of the investigation. There’s an entire list of unresolved murders in the Santa Clarita Valley that has no resolution, no leads, and no closure for the victim’s families. We want justice for your brother too and for the many others who have been murdered here in recent years. I apologize for the offense and I hope you find peace and eventually the killer is put behind bars. Jeff
  7. New York SisterFebruary 3, 2011 at 9:35 pm
    Thank You for your reply. Did you know my brother?
  8. Timothy Myers SRJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:51 am
    Must grudgingly say that DB is 100% correct. Current market conditions mean that the Bermite property cannot attract sufficient private capital for clean up and development. “Public-private” partnership is conservative code for the “public” (i.e. taxpayer) will take all the risk while the private folks will take most of the upside. The reverse socialism of socialized losses and privatizing gains.
  9. spineflower2January 31, 2011 at 11:28 am
    Yeah, where are the TeaBaggers when you really need them?
  10. john adamsJanuary 31, 2011 at 2:01 pm
    Pretty sure the Tea Baggers are all partying after hearing the federal judge sided with them
  11. Need for Involved CitizenryJanuary 31, 2011 at 12:55 pm
    DB is correct. The City is supposed to be providing services to its residents, not acting as a developer. And how does the City walk the line between independently evaluating the merits and compliance with a development that they have a direct financial interest in? I used to be in the Real Estate group of a major corporation. Whenever folks at the corporation thought they could make money developing or using ownership in a property to control it, they lost their shorts! The selection of a “partner” to run the process won’t help that – it is like hiring a wolf to guard the sheep – especially if your not astute as the City seems to demonstrate over and over (just look at the payment they had to make for the road and Metrolink station).
  12. ReaderMamaJanuary 31, 2011 at 3:56 pm
    Paul the Octopus died last year, so you’d need a psychic to contact him about solving that murder. My first line of investigation in that case would be bank employees. People at that bank knew Lombardi was taking money out and they knew where he lived. A coincidence that on that particular day he was carrying a large sum? I think not.
  13. CCFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:22 am
    I saw an elephant crush a Steelers watermelon today.
  14. CCFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:23 am
    Oh, and by the way, tomorrow is Groundhog day.
  15. Gang FangJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:06 pm
    SCV Whine Festival coming to Bill Reynolds’ front lawn on February 13th.
  16. Bill ReynoldsJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:17 pm
    Are you personally bringin’ it, Gung Fungus?
  17. MikeJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:26 pm
    Seems the Reynolds challenge was declined. Bill, I’ll make it easy for you. I’ll produce both Nate and a man of color. Nate will read to you, in person any message he’s directed at you on SCVtalk. You will read, to the person to be named later, your racist joke. Do we have a deal?
  18. Bill ReynoldsFebruary 1, 2011 at 4:11 am
    So Nate needs a body guard, eh Mike?
  19. Gang FangFebruary 1, 2011 at 7:26 am
    Enough with the “tough guy” internet persona, Billy. Getting a little ridiculous. The internet is filled with people who say things someone else takes offense to. Man up. No one wants to meet up with you. Not (hahaha) out of fear. It’s because you come across as a dick. Pretty simple. Any point anyone has made about you doesn’t diminish if someone avoids the “real life” Billy Reynolds. We’ve all seen you in person, and you aren’t exactly physically threatening. So what is you want to accomplish here? Be specific.
  20. Bill ReynoldsFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:02 am
    Who’s talkin’ physically threatening? I’m just sayin’ that anonymous dweebs such as yourself easily lob personal insults & you probably wouldn’t do it if you actually knew the person targeted. Man up, Gung Fungus…
  21. Gang FangFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:16 am
    I myself am not a great public speaker. When it comes to politics and such, I fare a bit better if given the chance to choose my words. Some people fare better in face to face debate. But the internet variety seems to be a bit more aggressive, as no one can interrupt you when you type. This phenomenon is internet wide. Look around. You chest puffing at it all is like yelling at a billboard. So are you wanting to debate things face to face with folks here? Hosting a round table at your home? WHY would you like to meet up with anyone (aka Nate, myself, etc, etc)? Be specific. Define your use of “man up”. As for your “you wouldn’t say those says to my face” stuff……if you acted as you do here, and made jokes like your infamous “monkey” one – I would definitely speak up.
  22. Phil EllisFebruary 1, 2011 at 10:41 am
    Unfortunately, the internet is also filled with obnoxious simpletons who love to dish out hatred and filth behind phony names. It would be nice if these folks would “man up” and either shut up or use their real name and stand behind their comments.
  23. Gang FangFebruary 1, 2011 at 2:43 pm
    For the last time…… No one should be required to use their real name, regardless of any situation. The incidents of people taking internet forums WAY too seriously and wrecking folk’s lives is on the rise. Someone like Bill has exhibited almost textbook behavior for someone who would wind up sitting in his car outside your house masturbating, or slashing tires, or stalking family members. I have a little girl, and want someone who has shown himself to have little self control and a pair of glasses tinted permanently paranoid as far away from her as possible. Is this being cowardly? I don’t think so. If the comments enrage him so much, let him “man up”, and turn his computer off. Problem solved.
  24. NickelDimeFebruary 1, 2011 at 3:05 pm
    Phil: Haven’t you read enough letters from whackos who tried to get Jeff fired from his job because of comments on this blog? It is this sort of behavior that prevents folks from using their names. That plus google searches for names (quite common) would link the individual to this blog without any context. I’ve put my phone number up (had a nice conversation with Al Ferdman as a result) along with links to my identity via stories in TMS, LA Times and KHTS. I’ve enjoyed in-person dialog with Petz, Berta, ScottE, MikeC, Mike, Nate, Jim Farley and many others in face-to-face meetings. If that’s not enough, then too damn bad. My job and safety are far more important than pleasing individuals like you and Leon who constantly whine about folks using their real names.
  25. Phil EllisFebruary 1, 2011 at 11:24 pm
    GF, Where did I say that people should be required to use their real name? Maybe one of the reasons you hide behind a phony name is that you don’t want people to know that you can’t read.
  26. Gang FangFebruary 2, 2011 at 12:02 am
    I’m not gonna shut up or use my real name. You lose, Phil.
  27. Gang FangFebruary 1, 2011 at 7:38 am
    Thanks for the Chaplin tip, Jeff. I have a family member who’s a massive fan and will dig this!
  28. john adamsFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:19 am
    Watch out for John Huntsman. I remember mike pulling his name a couple of years ago
  29. john adamsFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:21 am
    Meant to say putting his name up!
  30. MikeFebruary 1, 2011 at 10:00 am
    Yeah, and if you remember, I thought his appointment was to take him *out* of the running for 2012. Not so fast, it seems. He’s certainly one to watch, but I think he’ll struggle without the notoriety or the natural base of support. His likely opponents are either very wealthy or currently employed by Fox News. It’s going to be hard to get an audience. This is a tough race to handicap. I want to say Romney is odds-on, but his success in 2008 was largely artificial – he spent gobs of money in places and did so-so, but was a non-factor where he wasn’t hiring massive organizations. Still, if there’s something that can be said about GOP primary voters, it’s that they prefer the “safe” candidate.
  31. Theresa MolletFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:00 pm
    I am The murder victims sister. Reading what people have written saddens me.My family has been hoping someone with information would finally come forward and help my family to see justice . I only hope none of you feel the pain we have had to experience.
  32. New York SisterFebruary 3, 2011 at 2:06 pm
    My family has been through enough grief over the last 2 yrs. The above comments have nothing to do with my brothers murder. After reading your comments I feel you have too much time on your hands. My brothers murderer (s) will be brought to justice, it’s just a matter of time. He was stolen from his family and I will never give up. He was a good brother and family man and yes, one day I,ll get to look you in the eyes and know “you were the one”, so enjoy yourself now. Your motive will catch up to you and you’ll pay for the murder of my brother.
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