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February 15, 2011 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • Save Our Libraries brings a new suit against the City of Santa Clarita; this time the suit alleges that the City violated a California law that says libraries may only be established by a “duly constituted, independent Board of Library Trustees.” But we have no trustees, do we? I guess if you stretch the meaning of the Committee? SAVE OUR LIBRARIES COMPLAINT, MYERS
  • Speaking of the libraries, the City has rolled out a 16 item questionnaire on the topic, asking respondents for demographic, library use and more. LIBRARY SURVEY
  • Several Newhall buildings and properties, including the Newhall Ice Co., Melody Ranch, and the old Pre-Vatican II Catholic Church on Newhall Ave, may get a historical designation by the City’s planning commission SIGNAL
  • City and Lewis companies to explore Whittaker Bermite development together; no new partners being sought SIGNAL
  • In Part Two of the Signal’s real estate report, we hear why the SCV is still a desirable place to live and ponder the effect of banks dumping foreclosed properties on the market SIGNAL
  • 26 employees to be laid off at Valencia’s MannKind Corporation SIGNAL
  • The SCV Wine Festival, held at the Embassy Suites, was a big success says KHTS
  • What happens if Governor Jerry Brown can’t extend tax increases over the next five years? The Legislative Analyst’s office delivers the nightmare scenario SAC BEE
  • Even though Obama wants to increase the Defense Department’s budget by  to 3%, Buck McKeon says its not enough and predicts “dire consequences” for weapons and troops BLOOMBERG
  • With storms shutting airports around the nation, it’s been a bad year for the airline industry. But rather than force passengers to sit in planes on the tarmac for hours on end, the industry has become aggressive in canceling flights NY TIMES
  • Raymond Chandler, the LA noir detective fiction writer, is finally with his wife again. Fans reunited the pair in a cemetery at a ceremony on Valentine’s Day LA TIMES
  • Times columnist Steve Lopez on the two Bell administrators (one of them a Chief of Police!) who bragged about being “pigs” devouring all of Bell’s money LA TIMES
  • 2010′s World Press Photo award winners are shocking but must-see. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. BIG PICTURE
  • America is back! Boeing unveils the newest version of its 747 jet, the 747-8 Intercontinental, the longest passenger jet in the world. I don’t care what the Euros put out; nothing is so elegant and beautiful as a fat 747 LA TIMES
  • Letter writer says Melissa Brown should get community service, not jail time, for “accidentally” running the red light and killing Matilde Garnica LTE

Comments

30 · as published
  1. EricFebruary 15, 2011 at 6:47 am
    Regarding the library survey… I took the survey yesterday. Had to chuckle at Q.5 asking me if I had access to a computer while I was taking the ONLINE survey. Kind of like conducting a telephone survey and prompting to push 1 if you have a phone; press 2 if you don’t. Next item…the survey does a very poor job of assessing usage of the library online catalogue. It asks how often do you physically OR electronically visit the library, as if there is no distinction. The survey does almost NOTHING to address the quiet little trend of E-BOOKS. It asks if you download audio books or e-books, but does not address preferred media…it does not ask if you own an e-reader, or plan to buy one in the next 12 months. The survey asks which library I visit physically (good question) and which library I visit electronically (bad question since LA County is not on the list). When I visit electronically I am NOT VISITING A SPECIFIC BRANCH. 37 members of the advisory committee have met 3 times and this is the product produced? Come on..
  2. spineflower2February 15, 2011 at 8:32 am
    You fail to grasp the idea that this survey is not done to gather information, but to justify a decision already made. You can bet this data will be heralded to the public as proof of how well this new system is working.
  3. Library Card Carrying BookreaderFebruary 15, 2011 at 8:33 am
    Regarding the survey, it is not the committee’s fault at all. The survey was assembled for the most part by Ron Dubberly, President of LSSI. The CPLAC members were given the whole of about ten minutes to offer suggestions for changes or additions to the survey. They are doing the best they can, given the little they are actually allowed to do. BTW, with a County Library card you can visit only the County Library online. It provides several online resources. One is to reserve and have delivered to the library of your choice, any item available in the County system. Another is online use, from your home computer, a myriad of databases available with only your Library card number. Then there’s the Overdrive site where you can download ebooks and audiobooks. And then there’s the site where you can download Adobe Digital Editions and view them on your computer or other devices. And then there are many library services, and don’t forgot the “librarians” who can help you navigate all these options. All in all, the County Library provides much, that may or may not be in the building that won’t be built for a year, The new library will be managed by a for profit company that doesn’t seem to know what the County currently provides, or how much of it they will provide when they takeover the library. And the City seems to have thought of none of this before the decision was made. So if staying within the law means going back to square one and figuring this all out in the full view of the public,—what’s wrong with that?
  4. Joe KFebruary 15, 2011 at 2:47 pm
    Eric, I agree that the survey was lacking a bit. I was surprised on uses of the library they had browsing magazines and newspapers, but not books. Sometimes I like to go to the library and just peruse books until I find one I enjoy. There were some good questions in there though, such as library times. It will be interesting to see how they analyze that data. It would be great if they made the raw data available.
  5. EricFebruary 15, 2011 at 6:59 pm
    Joe…The reason there was so much emphasis on library hours was because that is the only tangible area that the city can point to as an “improvement”…increased hours. Asking which “branch” I use “electronically” is just plain inept. Asking if I have access to a computer for an online survey is inept. How about Q. 3…Do you have children under 18 living at home?…Yes, No, Not Applicable…Huh? It’s a yes or no question. Frankly, LSSI should be embarrassed if this is product they produce and our city should be DEMANDING more for our money. Someone should have proofed the survey before releasing it because this is also a reflection of the oversight by the city.
  6. NoreasterFebruary 15, 2011 at 6:14 pm
    Too bad the survey had no place for comments or suggestions. And Eric is correct that some extremely important areas were excluded from the questionnaire. Aside from the library-hours poll, this was just part of the dog-and-pony show so that now the city/LSSI can claim to everyone that community input was considered.
  7. 4eyedsueFebruary 15, 2011 at 7:29 am
    ummm… aren’t we supposed to be out voting today? Did I miss that in today’s Signal? (online)
  8. BrianFebruary 15, 2011 at 7:55 am
    I voted. Time to get rid of the Runner dynasty. Why doesn’t someone tell Buck that not buying the extra engine for the F-35 or more C-17s is in line with DoD and the militarys wants. They can lose the amphibious tank for the Corps also. It’s crap! Now let’s get out of A-Stan and we are well on our way. The above unwanted projects are in Boehner and Cantors districts and states. The C-17 assembly line already has an obituary on it. Buck can’t re-site a gravel mine. What makes anyone think he can chair a defense committee? JOBS, Buck! Keep your eye on the ball!
  9. Bill ReynoldsFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:00 am
    Yeah, if only had just one more community organizer running things wouldn’t we all be so much better off (choke). . .
  10. john adamsFebruary 16, 2011 at 7:15 am
    100 years from now historians will be saying we were the dumbest generation in history. Elected a community organizer with zero experience because he read well off a teleprompter. Promised and promised and never fulfilled. Completely bankrupted the country in 4 years. We also argue whether 2 people that love each other should marry? Can you even imagine how stupid we are going to look in 100 years? Then they are going to be reading how we feel for the scam of Man-Made Global Warming. They will be laughingh then like we are laughing now at the scientists of the 1970′s who said the next ice age was 20 years away. Either way history will show that our generation was the dumbest in US history. Inventions? Production? Results? Keynes? Boy we really do suck!
  11. KellyFebruary 15, 2011 at 7:55 am
    Re.LTE writer in Signal- Let the courts, judge, and jury decide the appropriate punishment for Melissa Brown for the death of Mrs.Garnica and maiming of her teen son. The civil case and pyschological sentence that Melissa Brown will endure will follow her for the rest of her life, regardless of this criminal case. My thoughts and prayers continue to the Garnica family.
  12. navigatorFebruary 15, 2011 at 12:38 pm
    MannKind was doing fine until the FDA, once again, pulled the plug on hundreds of thousands of diabetes sufferers making them continue to poke themselves with needles. OUCH! At least my automatic sell order got me out of the stock in a timely manner.
  13. Joe GrandeFebruary 15, 2011 at 1:36 pm
    I am a diabetic who takes a daily insulin shot. If the FDA approved an alternative, I would look on it with skepticism. Without that approval, no way. I wonder if you are as free and easy with your own health as you are with mine..
  14. navigatorFebruary 15, 2011 at 1:49 pm
    Please don’t misunderstand me Joe. I meant no disrespect to your health or anyone else. The problem with the FDA sometimes is the fact that they drag their feet for as long as they can. It’s a govt agency so what do we expect. The product has been tested up one side and down the other. If there is a problem with it then dump it. If it will help you and others then they should get on with it. Thousands of people flock to Mexico and Canada for drugs because they can’t get them here and if they are available here the cost is through the roof. If my Dr says I’ve got 6 months to live and some drug that MAY help me is being held up by the FDA because it may give me a skin rash I think I’ll find it elsewhere.
  15. NateFebruary 15, 2011 at 7:39 pm
    Considering they brought charges based solely on public outcry… I think they should listen. These chargers are a spit in the face to anyone who has lost a friend or love one to a drunk driver. This should be a misdemeanor at the most.
  16. navigatorFebruary 15, 2011 at 12:47 pm
    While perusing the World Photo Awards photos I did enjoy the swordfish and the ducks
  17. NateFebruary 15, 2011 at 7:40 pm
    Swordfish were great
  18. JackieFebruary 15, 2011 at 8:52 pm
    Jerry Brown wants to destroy resources for special needs kids and their families. For those who agree, our taxes can pay now… or later. http://goo.gl/fb/50yKC
  19. 4eyedsueFebruary 15, 2011 at 10:02 pm
    Thank you for posting this, Jackie. I provide residential care to adults with developmental disabilities. These proposed cuts will be devastating to our facilities- I doubt we could stay open. We are already operating with a 4.5% cut. Probably doesn’t sound like much- but these programs were already dreadfully underfunded to begin with. The kicker is- the state still expects us to provide the same standard of service. The standards are state law. Cutting the staff’s already pitiful salaries wouldn’t even get us through this. Our dedicated employees are woefully underpaid- no fancy benefits or pension. Hourly at $10 or less to assist with medications, personal hygiene, meal preparations, housekeeping. They act as friend, teacher, nurse, maid, counselor, and taxi service. Today, for the first time in my life, I voted for a Democrat. I am sick and tired of the republicans childish “no new taxes” mantra. When the budget got tight at my house, I cut spending on luxuries AND got a second job to bring in more income. California politicians seem to think the better answer is forget the painful second job and personal sacrifice- just stop feeding those pesky kids. It is shameful the way our state treats it’s most vulnerable.
  20. Gang FangFebruary 15, 2011 at 10:25 pm
    Shameful indeed. Great comment.
  21. JackieFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:56 pm
    That is horrible how bad it’s gotten. I am going to post your comment on my blog – if that’s ok.
  22. 4eyedsueFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:39 pm
    go for it! I am going to post your blog on my fb- if that’s ok.
  23. Leon WordenFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:03 am
    It should be a fairly simple matter for the City Council to name itself the “Library Trustees Board” or whatever, just as the City Council is also the Redevelopment Agency Board and a few other things.
  24. DonRickettsFebruary 16, 2011 at 8:46 am
    That is likely what it will do. This City Council is not about to let an independent board run the library. But it comes too late. Mr. Pulskamp could not contract with LSSI nor can the City be spending the money it is–only a Board can. The City has to start over and maybe this time it will be an open discussion.
  25. Leon WordenFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:23 am
    Hi Don! I’m curious … I don’t know the answer to this question; it’s fairly moot and I haven’t asked …. but is it even possible for the City Council to back out of its decision? I’m quite familiar with the law that allows for a city in L.A. & Riverside County to break away from a county system. It requires the city to notify the county of its decision by Dec. 2, to take effect the following July 1. The City did this. I don’t recall any language in the law pertaining to re-joining the county system after the Dec. 2 deadline passes. Wouldn’t the city need to start fresh and ask to join the county system, as if it were a new city? If so … and if Mrs. Todd’s assertions that we aren’t a cash cow are true … why would the county let us back in? Is there some aspect of the law that forces the county to allow a city to join its system?
  26. Saugus SteveFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:24 am
    Congrats to Sharon Runner for her decisive victory over her opponent. Shame on The Signal for their endorsement of Darren Parker. STATE SENATE 17TH DIST TERM ENDS 12/02/12 SHARON RUNNER REP 24,237 63.64 DARREN W PARKER DEM 13,846 36.36
  27. JayceFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:00 am
    Two things. 1) Jerry Brown doesn’t want to ‘destroy resources for special needs’ he was elected as gov to get this budget under control. We don’t want to pay more in taxes to support the demands for the things we want/need. Hopefully things like this will wake people up to some realities. 2) http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-columnist-mhiltzik,0,3041600.columnist Outsourcing isn’t always saving money in the long run.
  28. JackieFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:57 pm
    What realities are those?
  29. JayceFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:19 pm
    What I mentioned in the sentence before.
  30. 4eyedsueFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:51 pm
    Jayce- Brown’s budget WILL destroy resources for special needs. Yes, he was elected to get the budget under control- and I applaud some of the steps he has taken against waste. But gutting programs for the exact people that our state government should be protecting is outrageous. Compare 750 million cut to Department of Developmental Services to the 1.6 billion dollars that is being flushed down the toilet to expand San Quentin’s death row. “Hopefully things like this will wake people up to some realities” Unfortunately, Jayce, unless it it their own reality, most people just don’t care. People with developmental disabilities need a big powerful union, like the teachers or prison guards , to fight for them.
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