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June 2, 2011· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

June 2, 2011 – Daily Brief

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

  • Local man alleges incompetence, grift, and possibly theft by the previous incumbent office-holders of the SCV Republican Assembly, the group that meets at the old IHOP which the local Tea Party and Dave Gauny took over last winter. In particular, Dana Schlumpberger alleges that $2,000 in cash is missing, bank statements show that club money was spent at “record stores, comic book shops and cash withdrawals,” and the club’s financial books are incomplete and unsatisfactory. Previous office holders allegedly closed out the bank account for the club before the new office holders could access it. Further he alleges that previous board members still attend current meetings, so there’s a Fifth Column element too. Hot Republican-on-Republican infighting yours for the gawking at the WRB
  • A third mobile home fire in a month has destroyed a man’s home in the Vasquez Canyon mobile home park according to KHTS. Authorities think it was electrical related. The man whose home was destroyed found out after his night shift ended. SIGNAL
  • A provision of the federal government’s Voting Rights Act could force redistricting officials to split Ventura County into two Assembly Districts, which might have the side benefit of making it more likely that Santa Clarita will be joined to the Simi Valley, according to the VC STAR
  • The Assembly Bill that would allow community colleges like COC to charge at-cost rates for extension courses will be voted on today in the state Assembly. Supreme Chancellor Van Hook told lawmakers in a letter the bill would allow COC and community colleges to put more butts in seats, and even free up space for more traditional college courses. The Signal says an extension-type course would cost $87/unit versus the $36/unit for traditional college courses. SIGNAL
  • Speaking of schools, do you recall Tammy Marahashlian’s great reporting on how the formulas that fund SCV school districts date back to the 1970s and were created for an earlier, more rural time? Well the State Assembly is taking a look at that issue too. AB18 passed the assembly unanimously this week and would extensively change how schools are funded. .EDU BLOG
  • CLWA joins with obscure central California water district to issue bonds for water/energy projects. SIGNAL
  • Sheriff Lee Baca may welcome an influx of state prisoners into County jails if the state makes some $90 million available to reopen shuttered jails according to a report. The same report says Pitchess Detention Center is all but closed, housing only two inmates at the moment and that’s only because if the County were to close the jail, it would face huge costs in reopening it. REPORT
  • Senator Barbara Boxer apparently spoke with KHTS about the federal debt ceiling yesterday. Boxer said Republicans are playing games with the critical issue and threatening to make the US default on its obligations. She said members of Congress shouldn’t be paid until they increase the debt ceiling, and she’s co-authored a bill that would do as much, but it’s been shelved by House Republicans. What’s Buck McKeon think? No direct quote in the piece but he contends there’s a law that would forbid delaying pay to members of Congress KHTS
  • More pictures of the steel skeleton of the new Newhall Library CITY BRIEFS
  • The Space Shuttle Endeavour, which just returned from its last mission earlier this week, will move to Los Angeles’ California Science Center by the end of 2012 according to the Times
  • Cam Noltemeyer looks at who is paying for what when it comes to water, chloride, and sewage treatment for Newhall Ranch SIGNAL
  • Did you know that the tiny Newhall Airport, located where Granary Square is today, was deemed a good site for a regional Los Angeles airport in the 1930s? John Boston has that story and more in this week’s TIME RANGER

Comments (23)

  1. spineflower2June 2, 2011 at 8:46 am
    Cam is dead on with the subsidy of Newhall Ranch by current residents. This is typical of the sly deals foisted upon the unsuspecting public. The plain fact is that new development should pay its own way, and not be subsidized by current residents. The County General Plan policies state this explicitly. But through a shell game and distraction, the magicians with the money play us for fools (which in our ignorance we are). The only way to stop this is to write and show up at the Sups hearing. Just tell them we don’t want to subsidize new development like this. Mention “shades of Bell” and you will get their attention as the media looks a little closer at the deal.
  2. PetzJune 2, 2011 at 11:05 am
    Quite distressed this afternoon that the editors of SCVTALK have chosen not to report on the Gloria Fortine – Mercado blockbuster story . Could it be because Messina/Sturgeon have been vindicated ? It is time for this community to demand accountability from it’s elected officials and fourth branch of government.
  3. Gang FangJune 2, 2011 at 11:52 am
    Lamestream media! OMG!
  4. JeffJune 2, 2011 at 11:55 am
    I’m human and imperfect. Don’t assign malevolence when incompetence will suffice. What’s the story in other words? What did I miss?
  5. PetzJune 2, 2011 at 12:38 pm
    “Mission View and Desert Sands charter schools are economically connected, meaning Hart district board member Gloria Mercado-Fortine could have a conflict of interest, according to an independent report ordered by the Hart district board and obtained by The Signal.” From The Signal May, 29, 2011-Petz may take his game over to “South Beach”
  6. Timothy Myers SR.June 2, 2011 at 12:15 pm
    In defense of the prior CRA Board: In a lot of these cases someone without a financial background volunteers to “keep the books” thinking it is no more complicated than a personal checkbook, and when they start struggling they are too embarrassed to resign or ask for help, and then throw up their hands and things don’t get done properly. But it is very rare that money is actually stolen or there was something venal going on.
  7. PetzJune 2, 2011 at 12:40 pm
    It was their version of a local stimulus package, just spreading the wealth around.
  8. AleksJune 2, 2011 at 1:15 pm
    Hey Petz, what’s the scoop on you running for city council? Curious minds want to know.
  9. PetzJune 2, 2011 at 2:46 pm
    Petz has a secret exploratory committee which should report back about mid June. Fnances are being lined up and some very influential community leaders have pledged their Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor. While The Signal did contact him yesterday, Petz did not show his cards and we limited our conversation to stories about the bearded liberal who recently departed. Petz is considering bringing him back as a spokesperson.
  10. RepublicanMomJune 2, 2011 at 2:22 pm
    To Timothy Myers SR, Your question lead me to do some digging which took a while because I had his name wrong. Michael Hildebrand was the former treasurer at the SCVCRA and he works as a financial analyst. He also serves on Measure M committee for our local college: http://www.canyons.edu/offices/pio/mfiscal.html He also serves on the Measure SA committee as Vice Chair: http://www.hart.k12.ca.us/oversight/MeasureSA/members.htm and the last sentence in his bio there would be humorous if it werent so sad! “Michael Hildebrand, Jr. – Santa Clarita Finance Mr. Hildebrand holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from California State University, Northridge, where he served eight years as a board member of the University Student Union. As such, he was responsible for a $16 million operations budget, renovation and recently a 100,000 sq. ft. fitness center at the university. He also served on the Measure M Citizens’ Oversight Committee for College of the Canyons. He currently works for Medtronic-MiniMed in Northridge. In his Measure SA Oversight Committee position, he will be “looking for responsible handling of assets.” ” As the writer at West Ranch Beacon said, this man has no business running books. I was at the meeting and an abuse of funds was obvious and allowed to the continue because of gross negligence by the prior board of directors. Im not sure what the “38th ADCC” does or how it operates but he shouldnt be in the treasurers role for that organization! The annual dues for our club are only $25-30. To see hundreds and thousands of dollars wasted or stolen makes me very angry and very sad. There isn’t much money to begin with in our group and many (like me) who volunteer don’t have extra to give away to so-called conservative leadership. Especially those who are working for congressman Mckeown. The whole thing is shameful but the whole group cheered when the new board revealed them.
  11. MikeJune 2, 2011 at 8:33 pm
    Damn, that’s a lot of pancakes. Was that on Vakay’s watch?
  12. Timothy Myers SR.June 3, 2011 at 8:01 am
    A couple of things. Sounds like Mr. Hildebrand took 8 years to get a Bachelor’s degree. It looks like he approached his volunteer work with the organization with the same verve.
  13. JerryJune 2, 2011 at 2:25 pm
    Oh Tim, get real dude. Which one of your friends are your making excuses for. The presentation included the bank statements. Money not accounted for, deposits not made and money spent of personal items were plainly visible. Plus the outgoing Treasurer was not new to his responsibilities. He is the Treasurer of several other organizations and on the measure S Financial Accountability Committee. This sure looks and smells like one of the rare situations you spoke of.
  14. Timothy Myers SR.June 2, 2011 at 2:54 pm
    Jerry I was just speaking in generalities, but if there is specific evidence of wrongdoing, but all means, hoist them up by their thumbs.
  15. LindaJune 2, 2011 at 7:36 pm
    Not one word about the SCVCRA controversy on the new “RIGHTonSCV” blog. Latest post is still the one about whale hunting. They’ve got their work cut out for them if they hope to beat Obama….. hands in the cookie jar and heads at sea!
  16. TaTonkaJune 3, 2011 at 5:02 am
    Yeah I can see Obama’s campaign comercials now. I brought you the STIMULUS! I got you OBAMACARE. Without ME unemployment would be south of 9%. And those are just the start. 4 more years and I will finish us off!!!!
  17. SCVconstituentJune 2, 2011 at 10:50 pm
    First of all it would be nice if this web blog was going to post anything, they might want to do their research. The link to the SCV Republican Assembly is WRONG! It would be best if this blog could do something and update their records with the proper location for people to get to. Allow me to help you since I do actually get facts right, the correct link for the SCV Republican Assembly is: http://scvrepublicanassembly.org/ Doesn’t seem like rocket science based on the naming convention but there ya go. Another fact so that everyone can get this right. The SCV Republican Assembly has the initials SCVRA, not SCV CRA. The CRA is the State Californian Republican Assembly. All local charters use their local name plus Republican Assembly, this allows everyone to decipher between their own. Might seem small but its actually important when discussing the right “parent or child” I appreciate anyone’s concerns when it comes to the Republican side of the isle. I agree with most conservatives(not RINO’s) that the Republican party will always lose if they do not change their ways and listen to the people. As we all know, if they would just listen to those of us that are constantly telling them what we need to survive in this great country, they wouldn’t have to hear from any of us anymore because we would be happy and not angry. It seems to me that if the last board of the SCVRA would have just listened to what their club needed and wanted in support, things could have gone very differently for them. However, it looks like all things must come to an end when you push people in a corner….because they will fight back. Look at what we did in the state of California when Villines and Maldonado signed a pledge for no new taxes and then stabbed us all in the back and voted for new taxes. You can only take advantage of the people for so long and then its your turn to be thrown out. It sounds to me like the local club has spoken and the old board should just take their lumps and move on. Everyone can not win forever and that is just life; so take the ego out of it and try to focus on what needs to be done already! I’m disappointed also with this original blog post that the idea some how local patriots, otherwise known as Tea Party folks are some how a bad thing being added to any organization because if they are a true group of patriots than it is more than a plus. They fight the good fight when most people just sit at home on their butts and just complain or make posts in blogs. They are all volunteers so that means they care enough about their country, state, city/town to get out there and help to make a difference to get this great country back to rights . Also want to add in the mix, I am not a member of the Tea Party so no need to sling any spin because it wont be relevant. Just a very unhappy SCV constituent with all that goes on in our local politics from the 38th Central Committee to our City Council. Shame on them all. My praise and peace go out to anyone that gets in their to be crime fighters. I just wish more people would do it, speak out and contribute to game changing so that it keeps all in power, honest. Without that….this is what you get. To think I moved to SCV to get away from corruption in the greater Los Angeles area. Just blows the mind that in smaller places, its even worse and apparently extremely Incestuous. Thanks Republican Mom for all of your facts. I had no idea but do now and will be investigating more to take action.
  18. JeffJune 3, 2011 at 5:33 am
    “The link to the SCV Republican Assembly is WRONG! It would be best if this blog could do something and update their records with the proper location for people to get to. Allow me to help you since I do actually get facts right, the correct link for the SCV Republican Assembly is: http://scvrepublicanassembly.org/ ” Thanks for the correction. All I have to say for myself is that there’s a lot of Republican groups in this valley. Believe it or not I googled it before posting the link, and that’s the first link that came up. Next time I’ll develop a flow chart or Venn Diagram to ensure accuracy.
  19. MikeJune 3, 2011 at 8:13 am
    The page Jeff linked to leads, in big red letters (literally) with: Welcome to the Santa Clarita Republican Assembly! On the left hand side, it lists the same board members as the site you’ve linked to. It’s not his fault that your group has two websites.
  20. SCVconstituentJune 2, 2011 at 11:14 pm
    Allow this correction since I was so hard on this blog. Fact, the use of “their” is wrong and it should be “there” in the line: “My praise and peace go out to anyone that gets in their to be crime fighters”
  21. LindaJune 3, 2011 at 7:53 am
    Oh there were more. As long as you’re in a correcting mood: 1. “its” should have been “it’s” in 2nd, 4th, & 7th paragraphs 2. you omitted a period at the end of the 2nd paragraph 3. “isle” should have been “aisle” in 3rd paragraph 4. “than” should be “then” in 5th paragraph (if they are a true group of patriots than it is more than a plus.) 5. “wont” should be “won’t” in the 5th paragraph
  22. TaTonkaJune 3, 2011 at 1:51 pm
    Oh and lets not forget “GM the 6 billion dollar fail” but hell the rich people are paying for it so who cares.
  23. SCVconstituentJune 3, 2011 at 11:22 pm
    Thanks Linda and touche. Whew. Its good to know there were no comments about the facts laid out. Woot Woot… made up words and misspellings a given, seems to be very fashionable these days. Grammatically everyone sucks now with text shorthand, blogging AND a grammar checker/dictionary that has missing everything. But hey, if that is all that is there, I’ve made my point. Jeff, I’m sure its not your fault that you just “googled” it instead of doing the research. I understand it’s what all the kids and oldie’s do today to keep and get jobs. Actually it would be a good idea if those that post did a flow chart of some sort just for accuracy, that’s a great idea! We did that back in my day when we had to cover the news. Way to count me wrong, I give back. Mike, from what I have been told when I contacted the state CRA, it’s a misnomer about two websites as there is only one real one. If there is another out there pretending to be the SCVRA or alluding to act on behalf of the SCVRA as to deflect from the real deal, someone should get to the bottom of it. I have sent something to the membership that needs to know this. Maybe they will concern themselves with your action of notification as I have no power in a local group. Thanks for that bit of information and in writing too; that helps seriously because I’m all about the facts. I’ve got your back too so this is much appreciated.

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