- In a special meeting of the City Council held yesterday afternoon (publicly noticed 24 hours before hand, see agenda), the City Council voted 4-1 to hire Ken Striplin as the City's next City Manager effective January 1, 2013. TimBen Boydston dissented, telling KHTSSCVNEWS later that "There was only one candidate interviewed, and I believe there should have been a process for a nationwide search so that we could make sure we were getting the best person for the job." Striplin says he's honored "to step and serve as the next city manager." Striplin is a 17 year veteran of many City departments KHTS, SIGNAL
- I Heart SCV says the hasty Striplin decision is reminiscent of the library takeover decision, a method of decision-making he calls "Enderic" in nature. I Heart also sat through half hour interview of Striplin on Leon Worden's Newsmaker program and found that Striplin can "confirm and recite key economic figures without hesitation" and concludes that Striplin "is probably not a sociopath." Well I suppose there's always that. I HEART SCV
- And over at Ray's SC LTE group, debate begins about Striplin and the City Council's unexpected meeting FACEBOOK
- City Briefs has some amazing shots of the UCLA Film & Television Archive structure, currently being built underneath the shadow of two enormous cranes atop Rockwell Canyon Road. The vault/archive features Graeco-Roman columns, immense, reinforced concrete walls, and a floor structure that "is designed to support a massive 545 lb per sq. ft." according to the site. Just looking at the pics I'm thinking this could be the most impressive and well-built (not to mention expensive on a per sq. ft. basis) building in the SCV. CITY BRIEFS
- Apparently the only thing keeping Acton & Agua Dulce from changing Country Living into Suburban Living is an obscure County law that "prohibits the use of hauled water for new construction." Well Supervisor Antonovich is looking to change that rule, and SCVNews says that hauling water in trucks up the 14 to Acton/Agua Dulce could enable 36,000 homes to be built there. SCVNEWS
- At the City's Heroin Kills even Wednesday, a 20-something man stood up in the middle of Cary Quashen's presentation and announced he was addicted to heroin and needed help "right now." Quashen shook his hand, the audience clapped, and the man was whisked away to a physican and then a rehab facility in Bakersfield. Also, some 500 parents have enrolled their junior high students in a random drug testing program according to an official at the Hart District SCVNEWS
- Santa Clarita transit riders would like more late night services, more transit to low-income areas, and bike racks on commuter buses SIGNAL
- It looks like a Princess Cruise ship did not ignore a vessel in distress earlier this year off the coast of Central America. The company is highlighting new video footage that proves their case SCVNEWS
- LA County is leasing two Super Scoopers and one of those giant sky crane helicopters for the fire season SIGNAL
- Rachelle Dardeau, exec director of the Senior Center, thanks the community via LTE for the $100,000 'gift' from the City of Santa Clarita. She says the money will help deliver meals to 61 home-bound seniors SIGNAL
- SCVTalk/NFN readers, along with other members of the SCV commentariat, are planning a meetup next Saturday, September 8 at Brick's in Newhall (the old Taco Bell Space, 23820 Lyons Avenue) at noon.
Several emails came in over night about the Striplin appointment. Look for a post later this morning, but it's not too late to get your comment in, email me at jeff@scvtalk.com