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February 22, 2011· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

February 22, 2011 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • A Los Angeles City Fireman and Santa Clarita resident died last week while fighting a fire in Hollywood Hills. Glenn Allen, a 38-year veteran of the LAFD approaching retirement, died after a ceiling collapsed on him. KHTS
  • Homeless man in his 50s found dead near Canyon Country library, may have died from exposure, hypothermia or alcohol poisoning according to authorities KHTS
  • Wacky real estate market: The median price for a single family home fell in the SCV in January 13 percent compared to January 2010 to $346,000. So you might think sales increased, right? Wrong- over the same period sales decreased 15% to just 117 homes sold. It’s happening in the SFV as well DAILY NEWS
  • The Service Employees Union International has formally launched a campaign targeting government privatization efforts. And its first target is the City of Santa Clarita, which is in the process of privatizing its libraries. BLOG
  • Newhall County Water District a “model” for pension and public sector employee benefits reform, according to CBS’ MARKETWATCH
  • Placerita home owners don’t like One Valley One Vision and they’ve hired a lawyer to fight the city’s plans for the area. The rural equestrian lifestyle community has also fought some aspects of redevelopment of the Old Town Newhall area SIGNAL
  • Congress has passed many land-swap deals of the kind we’re hoping they’ll pass to save us from the Soledad Cemex mine, according to the SIGNAL
  • Denied twice by both the Newhall School District and the Hart District, the Albert Einstein charter school will try to get its K-6 school plan approved by Saugus School district next. SIGNAL
  • Sad: Four Americans on board a yacht in the Indian Ocean have been shot and killed by Somali pirates. Two of the victims were from Marina del Rey and had spent nearly a decade sailing around the world and distributing bibles. LA TIMES
  • Ken Pulskamp admits the City is moving Newhall Redevelopment money around before Jerry Brown gets his hands on it. The $2.85 million will go towards developing an “affordable housing” development in Newhall SIGNAL
  • The Newhall Water District and CLWA continue to clash over supplying water for 500+ homes in the Tesoro Del Valle area. Currently the area isn’t part of CLWA SIGNAL
  • Over 1,000 young and old job-seekers line up at seasonal job fair at Magic Mountain. One 64 year old man told the Signal he’s retired by needs the income. Others were looking for their first job SIGNAL
  • The local Tea Party group has been providing running commentary and analysis of the Wisconsin protests TEA PARTY SCV
  • Oh, right, now the City wants our input on the library system. They have such contempt for us, don’t they? Like we’re just expected to forget what happened last year. SIGNAL
  • Dave Bossert is worried the city hasn’t done due dilligence on the toxic mess that is Whittaker-Bermite. All this ahead of an open house the City is holding with the Lewis Company over the future of the property WRB
  • Myers says the City’s new political sign ordinance is obviously unconstitutional. Do you agree? SIGNAL
  • Oooh-lala, behind the scenes of New York’s Fashion Week BIG PICTURE

Comments (63)

  1. CCFebruary 22, 2011 at 8:38 am
    The City has sure mangled the whole Library issue. Their handling has been an embarrassment no matter how it turns out. My guess is that the survey will be used only to serve the Councils interests that they had “community involvement” and nothing more. Clearly, they don’t care about the opinions of citizens or they would have asked when it mattered.
  2. CastaicClayFebruary 22, 2011 at 8:43 am
    Home sales are slow because a 3/2 is not or has never been worth $346,000, EVAR.
  3. CCFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:05 am
    …well, not in Castaic
  4. PetzFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:36 am
    The median sales price for a 3/2 in Castaic was $310,000 in January 2011- down from $355,000 in January 2010. Homes in this area are quite affordable and this is the time to buy. Nice inventory and low interest rates.
  5. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 12:32 pm
    When is it not a time to buy Mr. Realtor? LOL
  6. CastaicClayFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:42 pm
    Still way to much
  7. Bill ReynoldsFebruary 22, 2011 at 8:59 am
    Looks like Mr. City Manager is not concerned about California’s massive debt problem. As typical, he prefers pursuing his objective to convert Santa Clarita into an urban center with more high density construction. Just what we need!?
  8. MikeFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:29 am
    So dense!
  9. Bill ReynoldsFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:32 am
    Yes you are!
  10. PetzFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:38 am
    One wonders why it would make sense to put more low/mod in this area, seems like that is part of the problem.
  11. navigatorFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:35 am
    Although the folks on the boat off the Somalia Coast knew that the waters were dangerous at best it’s a tragedy that they were all killed. What I really don’t understand is why we took prisoners.
  12. john adamsFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:38 am
    I am so sick of these F’n Amish terrorist/pirates
  13. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 12:25 pm
    amish?
  14. MikeFebruary 22, 2011 at 12:27 pm
    Fish-drawn pirate ships, and what not.
  15. Mr PerezFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:12 pm
    Between them and the Amish Bloods and Crips….sheeeshkebobs!
  16. NateFebruary 23, 2011 at 8:30 am
    So who is paying the bill for the 3 battleships full of saliors? Because these religious zealot just had to ignore warnings and bring books to illiterate,sick, starving people!
  17. ThomasFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:42 am
    They were already out to sea. Did it cost more to send them that direction?
  18. NateFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:34 pm
    Oh good point. We only have two wars and a few countries that are on the brink of revolution in the area. I am sure it is just no big deal that we had to shift focus to help some religious morons with a big expensive boat that thought it was a good idea go enter a region that currently has 700 hostages being held on various boats by these pirates. Now one of these boats has to come all the way across the globe to drop these martyrs off. I say send a bill to the family.
  19. navigatorFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:42 pm
    Yeh. Maybe they could sell a boatload of bibles to some motel chain to pay for the fare.
  20. Josh PremakoFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:37 am
    Fun fact regarding the Big Picture blog from Fashion Week: It includes several great images from former Signal reporter Eric Thayer.
  21. AlpinerFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:43 am
    There is a better story from the faith perspective on http://www.christianpost.com . One was a gradutate of Fuller Seminary in Pasadena. These people were living out their faith. God Bless them.
  22. Mr PerezFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:13 pm
    Very sad
  23. Petz2 - Saugus SteveFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:21 am
    Petz has run the real estate numbers through Clarus Marketmetrics and here are my numbers. In January 2010 115 properties sold with a median sales price of $385,000. In January 2011 116 properties sold with a median sales price of $364,500. The number of properties sold was essentially the same and the decline in price was 5%. Perhaps more importantly, in January 2010 132 properties went under contract and January 2011 186 properties went under contract-this was a dramatic increase of 41%. Additionally, remember that last year (2010) first time homebuyers could qualify for an $8,000 tax credit which brought sales forward. Homes are very affordable on a historic basis and now is the time to buy !
  24. Joe GrandeFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:22 am
    I have just returned from the Newhall library, where a new sign has been posted. As of March 14 2011 (less then 3 weeks form today) the county will no longer except holds on material to be picked up at the Valencia, Newhall or Canyon Country libraries unless those materials are already housed at one of these 3 libraries.
  25. EricFebruary 22, 2011 at 12:09 pm
    Time to amend pick-up location to Castaic…or Plan B: I bought a Nook and am now borrowing e-books from both LA County and LA City. Frankly, when it comes to e-media, not much that Santa Clarita can really add that is not available from the LA City and County Library systems.
  26. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 12:31 pm
    All libraries pretty much use the same systems.
  27. Joe GrandeFebruary 22, 2011 at 2:04 pm
    Most of the materials I need for my research are not available on e-books or from the V, N or CC libraries. But thanks for reminding me about the City of Los Angeles library. If I must travel, Sylmar is easier the Castaic, and CSC and COLA can be as childish as they want.
  28. FrankFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:42 am
    The closed Power House Gym behind IHOP in Canyon Country is reopening as Fitness Compound http://fitcompound.com/ Apparently, the infamous Jose Canseco has a role in this gym http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Canseco
  29. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 12:29 pm
    That place has changed hands so many times.
  30. ToddFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:56 pm
    Awful location. That whole center is just horrid.
  31. SamFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:06 pm
    How come our local paper doesn’t provided the same level of information as The Fillmore Gazette? http://www.fillmoregazette.com/front-page/4-arrested-piru-cactus-mart-armed-robbery-kidnapping
  32. AlpinerFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:10 pm
    Good question.
  33. Need for Involved CitizenryFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:45 pm
    Because the City doesn’t want detailed crime reporting. It makes us look “unsafe” even though we have plenty of unsolved murders to go around. Ask Frank Ferry why he squelched it! Any comments Gail Ortiz?
  34. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 3:37 pm
    Shut up.
  35. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 3:36 pm
    Hey Knobs… this robbery didn’t happen in Santa Clarita. As you can see their is a Venture County Sheriff’s logo very prominent. Maybe the Signal should start reporting on crime in Palmdale and Sylmar. How far should they go? Burbank? Pasadena? Irvine? And Alpiner you of all people should know that.
  36. MikeFebruary 22, 2011 at 3:50 pm
    The man asked about “level of information”, not why we didn’t hear about the crime in question. As as far as that goes, I point the finger at the cops. Stingy with the info. Keeping the media – and by extension, the public – in the dark. Running fluff pieces through Bossert. And yes, juking the stats.
  37. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 3:57 pm
    What are you talking about? This case didn’t happen and doesn’t involve Santa Clarita. People in Santa Clarita can not complain about” juking the stats” since you can go on crimereports.com and see every police report usually within 48 hours. And if anyone is that concerned they can take their lazy butt down to the station and get police reports… but everyone wants to be spoon fed.
  38. MikeFebruary 22, 2011 at 4:08 pm
    I thought Ning would be great for crime information, as promised, but it’s all about spam these days…it’s like Screamin’ Coupons.
  39. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:51 pm
    Ugh screaming coupons!
  40. CCFebruary 22, 2011 at 1:28 pm
    Nothing on the Wisconsin budget fight? That one is worth popcorn at the very least.
  41. john AdamsFebruary 23, 2011 at 9:23 am
    I though for sure I would come on here and see all the consistent liberals yelling how the government unions were trying to overturn an election? Voter disenfranchised voters and so on…… Come on fellas be consistent
  42. JayceFebruary 23, 2011 at 9:47 am
    CC I found a good link re: this :-p http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7e4bj5rrd8&feature=player_embedded
  43. MoneyFebruary 22, 2011 at 2:09 pm
    Rumor has it…Apple Store opening in AwesomeTown by September.
  44. David GaunyFebruary 22, 2011 at 2:40 pm
    Geez, somehow the doctor issue at HMNMH was missed again by SCVtalk? And even the LTE from one of Dr. Coco’s patients over the weekend? Here’s the WRB article: http://westranchbeacon.com/blog/2011/02/guest-commentary-hmnmh-doctor-vote-of-no-confidence-what-it-means/ And here’s the LTE suggesting that the community back the doctors: http://www.the-signal.com/section/35/article/40789/
  45. CCFebruary 22, 2011 at 2:58 pm
    Yeah, that’s crazy. I don’t know why Jeff has avoided this issue, but I’m glad you are bringing it. I don’t know where to start with the holes this City Council has dug for us.
  46. Coastal SageFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:42 am
    CC, some people have been looking at issues about questionable management practices at the hospital since the early 2000′s. At one point, the hospital filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and rather than allow the hospital to be sold to some charitable or for profit hospital chain, the Board of Directors decided to pursue a Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization which burdened the hospital’s operations with a huge debt which would have not existed if the hospital had been sold to a third party. At the time, many people thought that decision by the hospital’s Board of Directors was more geared towards keeping the existing management employees in office than towards giving the community a hospital in the best economic health as possible. In light of the story on West Ranch Beacon and the letter in The Signal, both of which SCVTalk links to today, it’s important to note that the non-profit corporation which owns the hospital is run by a “self-perpetuating Board of Directors”, meaning that the existing Directors appoint or elect new Directors. As far as I have known since the early 2000′s, the Santa Clarita City Council has nothing to do with electing, appointing or controlling the hospital’s Board of Directors or the decision making of the hospital’s managment. So at least as to this issue, Santa Clarita’s City Council is not at fault, and they have no power to remove hospital Board of Directors or management.
  47. MikeFebruary 22, 2011 at 3:55 pm
    The LTE was pointless. Why link to it?
  48. Gang FangFebruary 23, 2011 at 7:49 am
    Quick reminder that this is a blog, not a self proclaimed news source for every last issue under the sun. Create your own Gauny Blog perhaps? Could help pick up the “slack”, as well as offer advice on wearing bad suits and such.
  49. David GaunyFebruary 23, 2011 at 9:21 am
    Hmmm. A Gauny blog? Maybe I will consider that! I guess I always thought this was a blog about news and events and other ramblings pertaining to the SCV. Important things like food trucks, libraries… and even our health care. Here are my thoughts: a) I’ve seen numerous rants here about bad city process on the library takeover and other issues – and I agree with most of them. It’s just odd to find total silence on this very important issue where the same problem seems evident. b) News sites and blogs alike lose credibility when such process failures are not ocnsistently called out; a problem that oftentimes occurs when the results of such failures benefit the site owner’s opinions, views, or personal relationships. So, I have very respectfully inserted these items into the discussion here (twice) because they fit into the scope of SCVtalk’s stated purpose. And certainly within the realm of respectful dialog – something you ignore without moderation. Jeff doesn’t have to cover all the news and I didn’t demand that he did. But as you said, this is a blog. This is where relevant local topics should be put for discussion, right?
  50. Mr PerezFebruary 22, 2011 at 4:40 pm
    I wonder what the heck just happened in the crime world because 10-15 squad cars just zoomed out of the Sheriff’s parking lot.
  51. Mr PerezFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:09 pm
    Apparently it was this http://hometownstation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23574:police-surround-greyhound-bus-on-corner-of-valencia-boulevard&catid=26:local-news&Itemid=97
  52. NateFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:56 pm
    That wasn’t it. From what we could pick up from the scanners. It was something at the hospital details are cloudy but guns were drawn and someone was trying to climb a fence.
  53. Mr PerezFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:39 pm
    What an eventful day, hopefully someone got tasered.
  54. NateFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:33 am
    Hahaha don’t taze me bro!
  55. Mr PerezFebruary 23, 2011 at 2:32 pm
    Holy crap! I just had like 20 squad cars fly by me again. Does the police department roll in force normally like this?? For all those cars responding, I hope some criminal is getting the beat down right now.
  56. NateFebruary 23, 2011 at 3:44 pm
    I believe it was a foot pursuit guy ducked into a walgreens or something. You are always in the middle of the action.
  57. Mr PerezFebruary 23, 2011 at 4:05 pm
    That’s alot of police for a foot chase. And if they would only rescind the Posse Comitatus briefly, I could subdue the suspect with a beanbag shot from my 40MM…or just taser em lol
  58. navigatorFebruary 23, 2011 at 4:09 pm
    Which Walgreens?
  59. Mr PerezFebruary 23, 2011 at 5:25 pm
    The one pock marked with bullet holes lol
  60. Mr PerezFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:40 pm
    And the only fences I can think of at the hospital are around the construction area, hmmmmmmm.
  61. homeremediesFebruary 23, 2011 at 4:00 am
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  62. ScottEFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:02 am
    Next time maybe get Brad too types it response. -scottBot
  63. MikeFebruary 23, 2011 at 7:53 am
    That is most excellent. I have many opportunities for you.

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