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February 18, 2011· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

February 18, 2011 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • Council Agenda coming at you: Is the city moving money out of the Newhall redevelopment agency before Jerry Brown gets his hands on it? And hows about we purchase 90 acres of land in exclusive Wildwood Canyon for $500k with your open space preservation dollars? Also, parking expansion at the Newhall metrolink, a new traffic light at Golden Valley Road and Newhall Ranch Road (near the Soldier/Marine/Airman/Seaman/Coast Guardsman/National Guardsman bridge) a “use policy” for the Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall, and awarding of a contract for a new radio system in Santa Clarita Transit buses. Get your government reading on HERE
  • Discussion underway on where to build a new COLA Public Library in Stevenson Ranch. The County has $13 million set aside for an SR Public Library and the County Librarian says people in the community support it SIGNAL
  • The Canyon Country library is set to reopen next Tuesday after the City of Santa Clarita agreed to pay $622k to finish its construction. 4189 sq. ft. have been added to the library. Capitol of Canyon Country anyone? SIGNAL
  • Deputies arrested four suspected drug dealers and secured 17 lbs of marijuana, $34,000 worth of hydrocodone, hashish, psychedelic mushrooms and more  in Santa Clarita on Wednesday CBS2, SIGNAL
  • Speaking of drugs and dirtbags, rapper Eminem was in Santa Clarita yesterday filming a new rap video. Perez Hilton has the spy shots and there ought to be enough clues in the photo to tell us where he was at PEREZ HILTON
  • The Amgen Tour of California is asking for volunteers in Santa Clarita KHTS
  • Up to six inches of rain will roll into SoCal this afternoon LA TIMES
  • See, I told you the Tea Party would be excited about that Atlas Shrugged movie SCV TEA PARTY
  • Scott Wilk and Taxpayer Advocate George Runner don’t like Governor Brown’s budget plan SIGNAL, KHTS
  • Like dogs? Then you’ll like BIG PICTURE’S round-up of the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog show (I’m partial to unwanted mutts not pure breeds but these dogs are really awesome)

Comments

43 · as published
  1. Greg GustinFebruary 18, 2011 at 9:11 am
    Contrary to the article about a library in SR, most of the people I have spoken to in Southern Oaks are adamatly against it being in Pico Canyon Park.
  2. gregmFebruary 18, 2011 at 10:01 am
    To me the article wasnt saying residents were supportive of a library at Pico Canyon Park. It clearly stated that there was concerns about it encroaching on oak trees. I think the article was saying that in general residents are supportive of a library in the Stevenson Ranch area and that the County will look at all sites owned by them for potential library as well as leasing at other sites.
  3. cashFebruary 18, 2011 at 10:00 am
    Looks like the city continues to spend taxpayer dollars on stupid projects given these difficult economic times. More bike lanes, come on!
  4. LindaSFebruary 18, 2011 at 10:04 am
    What’s stupid to you might not be stupid to others. Just becuase it doesnt benefit you doesnt mean it benefits others. Just sayin.
  5. NateFebruary 18, 2011 at 11:19 am
    I agree COME ON with more Bike lanes! Forget those fatties who need to drive everywhere.
  6. CCFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:00 pm
    Don’t you need the gas tax to pay for the bike lane?
  7. NickelDimeFebruary 18, 2011 at 9:42 pm
    …and sales tax to pay for parks. Therefore, those who shop more deserve expanded park access.
  8. Mr PerezFebruary 18, 2011 at 4:10 pm
    I’m kinda scared to get in the bike lanes and anywhere near these California drivers on my Schwinn.
  9. ThomasFebruary 20, 2011 at 8:26 am
    What is stupid is the installation of the traffic signal on Newhall Ranch for the fire station. WHy didn’t the city install this during the installation of the bridge or have Lennar pay for it like it was installed on Copperhill with that new fire station. I can’t, however, get the city to install any signals on Copperhill between Seco Canyon and Haskell Canyon.
  10. MirandaFebruary 21, 2011 at 4:59 pm
    I’m not understanding your comment. The agenda report says its federally funded through Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009. Much like the rest of the Cross Valley Connector. City is not paying for the signal. You also know that almost all of Copper Hill Drive between Seco and Haskell is unincorporated. Check the maps. Therefore its the County you should be complaining too.
  11. JessFebruary 18, 2011 at 10:28 am
    I’m not able to pinpoint the location of the Eminem shoot from the pictures provided at the link. Any ideas? Also, I was not familiar with the work of Eminem’s co-star in the video, Sasha Gray, and a quick google video search left me COMPLETELY informed….*ahem*. Goodness.
  12. navigatorFebruary 18, 2011 at 1:20 pm
    I could not figure out where they were either. It didn’t appear to be the Saugus Cafe but we don’t have that many coffee shops that are open 24/7.
  13. KiprockfistFebruary 18, 2011 at 11:10 am
    I know everyone is going to visit the remodeled, still-in-County-control Canyon Country library OFTEN once it reopens and before the City’s evil, corrupt, repugnent and nefarious hands get a hold of it. Right? Riiiiiiight.
  14. Berta González-HarperFebruary 18, 2011 at 12:08 pm
    Stevenson Ranch residents can thank the City of Santa Clarita for the fact that the County of Los Angeles is even asking them what they want in “their” proposed future library. Before the City announced leaving the County Library system, the County simply did not ask area residents what they wanted regarding library services at all. A little competition elevates the game, eh. Also interesting that they now have 13 million for a new library in Stevenson Ranch but were too broke to build new facilities in Canyon Country and Newhall so that the City had to pony up the money instead. Anyone else catch that?
  15. Coastal SageFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:27 pm
    Points well taken.
  16. JaneFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:30 pm
    I thought it was more that the city decided they were taking over the library and the county said, fine, take it, but we’re not finishing the work.
  17. spineflower2February 18, 2011 at 2:37 pm
    Actually, the COLA library people spent quite a bit of time working with the Castaic Town Council in developing the requirments for the now-open Castaic branch. The community was very mich involved. It resulted in good hours and a generous children’s book and reading section.
  18. Berta González-HarperFebruary 18, 2011 at 4:03 pm
    @Spineflower2, thank you for that insight. Both the Castaic and Acton/Agua Dulce libraries are recent and smallish compared to other area libraries. Call me suspicious, but after all these years could it be the County decided on a library and a skatepark for Castaic because areas of Castaic were making noises about incorporating into the City of Santa Clarita? As I said, competition elevates the game. You are welcome.
  19. spineflower2February 18, 2011 at 6:13 pm
    No, the library search had been going on for about two years before (C)Roney got his dander up for annexation. Before that all we had was a Bookmobile (remember those?). The size is just right for young children, the focus of the Castaic library. There were also discussions about combining the Castaic HS library with a public library when it was to be located in Northlake. Such a library would be more adult-oriented, making a nice compliment to the new Castaic library.
  20. Berta González-HarperFebruary 18, 2011 at 8:39 pm
    @Spineflower2: Even if all of that is true, it still does not negate the fact that in the 18 years I have lived and been involved in the Canyon Country community, the County of Los Angeles never asked us what we wanted. In fact, they informed us they would not build us a new library due to “budget constraints”, nor could they afford to help with a new Newhall Library either. Yet here we are and they miraculously have produced $13 million for a proposed new library in the Stevenson Ranch area. They finally recently got around to opening something in Castaic and Acton/Agua Dulce after collecting millions of our dollars for decades but not building any new facilities in our area for all those years.
  21. Alan FerdmanFebruary 18, 2011 at 11:11 pm
    Berta and everyone out there. That is absolute nonsense and Berta knows better. If anyone out there wants the true story here is how to find it. First, go to SCVTV and look at the library interview with Brotzman and Country Library Staff from 2008. It will show you exactly what outreach both the County and the City were involved in related to the new Newhall Library. Next, if you want to follow the money, email me at ferdmana@dslextreme.com . I will send you a copy of last Wednesday’s Library presentation and a file with supporting back up data obtained from the city website. Let’s stop this bad/good BS and start looking at this issue objectively.
  22. Berta González-HarperFebruary 18, 2011 at 11:42 pm
    @Al Ferdman: Before your rush to refute a statement, simply because I made it, you may want to read it a couple of times first. Try again Al. As to the veracity of your “information” presented at the CCAC meeting, I have already said all I need to say about your very biased presentation. Now that I think of it Al, you were not even involved when we all worked with the City to build us a new library in Canyon Country because the County would not so how would you even know what the County told us.
  23. spineflower2February 19, 2011 at 1:54 pm
    No pleasing you, is there? Two new facilities, and you are still complaining. But that’s okay, we have learned to take your library comments with the appropriate amount of salt. Carry on.
  24. Berta González-HarperFebruary 20, 2011 at 11:17 am
    @Spineflower2: I think you missed the entire point. The County did not build the existing Canyon Country Library nor will they build the new Newhall Library, The CITY did/will because the County claimed they did not have the money.
  25. NateFebruary 19, 2011 at 8:15 am
    They are asking because the entire thing is a sham and political ploy… There is no library going to be built in Stevenson Ranch. The COLA LIbrary system is running a 22 million dollar deficit, but magically they have 13 million to build another library. A while back they claimed the money they are taking from taxes isn’t enough to cover the Libraries we have up here, giving the impression we are getting more then we pay for… i.e. Santa Clarita is a drain on their budgets. Funny how they turned around and tried to use the loss of the Santa Clarita libraries as a red herring for their budget woes. COLA talks out of both sides of their mouth and sadly my friend Jeff has been a bit silent about it.
  26. Alan FerdmanFebruary 19, 2011 at 9:07 am
    Nate Interesting point. I suspect that the $32 million shortage is in operating expenses and the new Stevenson Ranch Library will be built by developer fees. Rather than continue to speculate, I will call in to the country next week and find out.
  27. AwesomeSteve.comFebruary 18, 2011 at 12:44 pm
    Petz was prophetic in declaring that the streets of Sacramento would soon look like those in Cairo, just got the capital cities wrong-Madison, WI instead.
  28. NateFebruary 19, 2011 at 8:18 am
    Not a big fan of the people standing up to politicians? I thought this was what the tea party was all about?
  29. spineflower2February 18, 2011 at 12:58 pm
    Don’t you love how the local anti-tax, right-wing, smaller government politicians are singing the “hurry and spend before the money is gone” song they profess to despise in the liberals?
  30. navigatorFebruary 18, 2011 at 1:18 pm
    Not before it’s gone…..before it’s taken away!
  31. spineflower2February 18, 2011 at 2:39 pm
    Same difference. You know, from those “tax and spend conservatives.”
  32. Christine KudijaFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:15 pm
    Thanks for the heads-up on the Wildwood Canyon purchase, Jeff! (although many properties in the canyon aren’t quite as “tony” as you indicate) This is a great acquisition that I hope leads to more publicly-accessible space in the Newhall Triangle. It preserves some lovely oak woodland and chaparral habitat. But what I really want to know about is a property label on the map attached to the agenda report: “Gateway Ranch,” aka “Las Lomas.” What gives here?
  33. Coastal SageFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:29 pm
    It would be interesting to ask who owns this Wildwood Canyon property. I seem to remember a CLWA Director having some oak tree covered lots in the canyon for sale, with no takers.
  34. spineflower2February 18, 2011 at 2:40 pm
    Bingo! Just like our sister city of Bell…
  35. SCV SageFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:47 pm
    Its Santa Bellarita
  36. Need for Involved CitizenryFebruary 18, 2011 at 4:24 pm
    Price seems ok given the City overpaid for the 200 acre Placerita Canyon SDI property at $2 million! And they even found some MAI appraiser to bless the transaction.
  37. WalkerFebruary 18, 2011 at 4:59 pm
    Ah man. I totally would have gone all stalker had I known Eminem was in town last night! I wonder where they were….and if I should stalk there tonight LOL. And *woot* on the library opening. We’re bi-weekly regulars and I’m sick of having to plan out our visits to avoid peak hours (because of parking issues).
  38. Gang FangFebruary 18, 2011 at 6:51 pm
    Marshall Mathers may be appear to be a lot of things, but he’s no dirtbag. I’m not a huge fan of all of his work, but I’ve had the occasion to make his acquaintance over the years through a family member who has worked with him since the beginning of his career. He is a good dude, who has made mistakes and been through the ringer………I know dirtbag, and dirtbag he isn’t. Plus he loves Black Flag almost as much as I do. Bonus points.
  39. Your Web GuruFebruary 19, 2011 at 8:40 am
    Perez Hilton, on the other hand…
  40. Gang FangFebruary 19, 2011 at 9:18 am
    Not so much, I’m guessing.
  41. NateFebruary 20, 2011 at 1:08 pm
    Perez is a no talent ass clown.
  42. Mr PerezFebruary 21, 2011 at 7:40 pm
    HEY!!!
  43. NateFebruary 20, 2011 at 1:08 pm
    Yeah cheap shot with the dirtbag comment. He is a great father.
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