February 29, 2012 – Daily Brief (Once every four years Edition)

Brave New World : OVOV is one final step away from being approved by the County as Supes vote 4-0 to send it to its next reading. They modified home density in Tesoro Del Valle and said Sloan Canyon Road in Castaic would become more highway like with speed limits of 65 (yes 65!) mph. An LA City water engineer surprised everyone when he said a change in zoning at the southern end of the valley could threaten William Mulholland's original LA Aqueduct. Antonovich, sharp as a tack,"Weve been working on this project for 11 years. Where have you been?SIGNAL, SCVNEWS

Also the County gave a final stamp of approval last night to the new LA County Bike Plan, which identifies but doesn't fund 832 miles of bikeways throughout the County. 158 miles of that will be in the SCV where we'll get much-needed lanes on places like the Old Road. Most bikeways will be Class III bike routes, which offer no lanes only signage. SCVNEWS, DAILY NEWS

Councilman Bob Kellar was warned by the state's Fair Political Practicies Commission Tuesday for that $10k-$100k personal loan he received from Mr. Larry Rasmussen. The FPPC said Kellar "violated the Political reform act," but would only issue a "written warning" this time. Kellar says he's never voted on "anything having to do with my good friend Mr. Rasmussen." Violating the act again could result in a $5,000 penalty according to the FPPC SIGNAL

City Council notes: "At tonight's meeting[1], a very small arts grant received more discussion than a two-million dollar purchase for local libraries, a five-million dollar contract for new buses, and a new planning commission appointment combined. Mayor Pro Tem Frank Ferry announced that he is engaged, and we can all look forward to welcoming the quaint sounding Phantom Terrace Associates to the community. In short, the City Council was decisive about the big stuff and indecisive when it came to the details." I HEART SCVThe Signal goes into depth on what the $2 million will buy for the new Newhall library SIGNAL

Catherine Wright, the Simi Valley Republican woman who has announced a run against Buck McKeon, says she's partly motivated by Buck McKeon's alleged Friends of Angelo loan from Countrywide. Wright also doesn't like that Buck employs his wife Patricia as campaign manager. Wright is 47, divorced and has a daughter. SIGNAL

Take that complainers! LA County approves regulation allowing dogs to dine with humans at outdoor patios under certain conditions. This is what Lazy Dog Cafe was built for until some ninny complained and the restaurant stopped allowing dogs to eat with their human companions. KHTS, DAILY NEWS

And wrapping up the copious news today from elected boards is this report from COUGAR NEWS on the progress of COC's library expansion, TLC lab, and the interesting tidbit that half of respondents to a COC faculty survey say they fear reprimand if they speak out on issues at the campus.

Democratic Assembly Candidate Ed Headington picks up two endorsements from brave board members at Newhall and Saugus school districts SCVNEWS

City Briefs takes a look at how pollution enters the water system via storm water drains CITY BRIEFS

New federal law would require all new vehicles to have back-up cameras by 2014 LA TIMES

Awesome: Wendy Langhans, SCV nautralist, is back with her SCV Outdoor Report on KHTS. This week she tells us a bit about veins in local flowers KHTS

Letter writer scolds Laurie Ender and Ed Colley for their boneheaded suggestion that the residents of Jakes Way be forcefully moved to Palmdale, which has resulted in a powerful AV developer saying it's time for Palmdale and Lancaster to unify against the SCV menace. LTE

Great Gary Horton column this week on lessons he thinks Americans are learning in the wake of the Great Recession. SIGNAL

MoDo's column on the GOP Greek Tragedy is good reading in the wake of Romney's win in Arizona and Michigan NY TIMES