Now that the Santa Clarita City Council candidate filing period has passed, the people of Santa Clarita have a choice between four politicians and someone new. That someone is me. I’m not beholden to donors or special interests. I do bring fresh, new ideas to the table. I don’t have a personal agenda, an ax to grind, a personal vendetta, or a motive to win at all costs, no matter how much money it will cost. I have a lot to talk about regarding what is going on in our City. And, it is such a great City. That is why I live here and plan on raising a family here. However, I believe that our City Council must constantly stay proactive to keep this City so great.

I have been asked so many times why am I running. I’m running because I believe in Santa Clarita and its citizens. I know that for our community to remain the safe and thriving city we all know and love, we must meet the challenges of the changing times that we live in. However, there are some in positions of power who have told me that, basically, I’m not a politician and I’ve never been elected to a school or water board, so what do I know. I have been told that a citizen can’t just run for City Council before they’ve run and been elected for something else. My answer: Why?

I’m an American, a citizen, a husband, a veteran, a homeowner, a prosecutor, and a tax-payer, so don’t I have a right to voice my opinion? Don’t I have a right to run for office? Maybe this is the problem. You have these career politicians who have become so beholden to special interests, that the ordinary person just gets pushed to the side. Well, I’m pushing back.

I have also been told that I should stop talking about crime and gangs because I’m scarring people in “Awesome Town.” Informing our community, our parents, and our neighbors, about crime is not scarring people, it’s empowering our community! Many times, politicians want the power. Think about that. They don’t want you to have it. Why? Because then they really will not be that important. Me … I don’t need to be important. I just want to make our community a better place for my family and for your family, too. And, I’m just not going to sit back and let every decision that affects this City be “rubber-stamped.”

I may not know as much about city politics as the four politicians I’m running against, but I do have some common sense. For example, our current city council has spent almost $50 million in Newhall. This is at a time when our State is going bankrupt and we are adopting austerity measures. Just last week, our current City Council agreed unanimously to join forces with “liberal” State Senator Alex Padilla to attempt to get more tax-payer dollars from us to complete “their” project in Newhall. In addition, as a condition of using tax-payer money in Newhall, our City Council has also agreed to build low-income housing in Newhall. And, they have said that they want to make Old Town Newhall a place to bring our children – a family place.

Okay. I have absolutely no problem with making Old Town Newhall great and a family place. I think the entire community can benefit from improving Newhall. However, not at the cost of the taxpayer! I am 100% for bringing in private business (free enterprise) to build up and improve Old Town Newhall. As President Ronald Reagan said, “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!” This is exactly what happened with “redevelopment agencies.” The idea was great. But, now it’s big government gone awry. I’m for less government and free enterprise. Let’s have businesses come into Newhall and improve this part of our City. Not use tax-payer dollars, especially during these tough economic times.

And to top it all off, during the last week and a half, three “alleged” gang members robbed a store in Newhall. Further, another “alleged” gang member was shot in the head in Newhall. And, criminals are now stealing cooper from the partially-finished library. So, we have spent $50 million coming from hard-working Americans, and the City Council wants us to bring our children down to Old Town Newhall? Hmm … before we spent all that money, shouldn’t we have addressed the crime issue? The gang issue? And, what happens to certain areas of Newhall when we build the low-income housing at the tax-payer’s expense?

Many politicians are so quick to spend the taxpayer’s dollars, without carefully analyzing all of the important issues and subsequent consequences. If redevelopment funds were not taken from the tax payers to go to Old Town Newhall, most of that money would have gone to our schools, our police, our fire department, and our health services. Did you know that?

Please, think before you vote. Our community does not want its City Council rubber-stamping important decisions that come before them. You have a choice. Don’t cast another “rubber-stamp” vote in April.

If you’d like to learn more about me and why I’m running for Santa Clarita City Council please visit my website at www.ElectJonHatami.com.

Jon Hatami- Guest Commentary

Jon Hatami is a candidate for Santa Clarita City Council. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.