The West Ranch Beacon - News & Commentary for the Santa Clarita Valley

Jack Murphy has been submitting occasional opinion pieces to the West Ranch Beacon for several months. Starting last week, Jack will have regular Friday opinion piece on our blog site titled “My view from the bleacher seats in SCV”. As a reminder, Jack’s opinions are his and do not necessarily reflect those of the West Ranch Beacon or its other contributors.

In my continuing effort to find out what a true moderate is I routinely visit my new friends at their local SCV blog sites. Tootsie Farklepants at http://liberalkudoscorner.blogspot.com/ and over at Matt’s site, http://www.bluesantaclarita.blogspot.com/. These are two liberal Democrat sites that reflect not only the feelings of the writers but their audience as well. There are other sites here locally, but they do not reflect the local flavor as these folks do. As for the other sites round town, their authors and writers are interested in their own opinions and no one else’s. They don’t read the other blogs and disparage the writers of other sites as nuts or wackos. Yet their sites offer no conflicting points of view and often tend to be harsher towards the opposition. Imagine Sean Hanidity with-out Combs but instead with Rush Limbaugh. Fun for a while but what’s the point? Debate is more fun and actually accomplishes things. But to be sure the “other” sites are not interested or invested, they mostly cut and paste from National News wires. Visit the two named sites above for a great taste of the Democrat points here in the Valley, they don’t cut and paste. They write like we do here in The Beacon.

I note these sites for you because I feel it is very important for you all to go there and explore and read. Both are very well written and the writers are very passionate. As with me you may not agree with all that they write, but I hope you find it an important part of your political maturation on a daily basis. You see, in order to actually be a moderate you have to be able to appreciate how others feel. You may not agree with them but you have to accept the fact that other people have opinions and that their opinions are important too. And recognize that many others offer the same opinion as them and one day those opinions may prevail in local and National politics. You have to be able to accept and move on. Dot org.

I go back to my original statement. A moderate is someone who places the good of the people before the good of the party. Period. I can think of a few politicians on the National stage that are moderates to me. Joe Lieberman is one for sure. Joe votes and speaks his mind and what he believes. It will never win him a presidential election as a result but he cares more about the policy then the position. Mark Warner is another. When he speaks you can see he is talking about policy and not politics. I may not agree with them, but It is so clear with these two men what they feel deeply. On the other side of the isle is Tom Tancredo. Yes, everyone’s favorite Republican to hate. Why? Because he talks policy over politics. Always has. The Republicans are mad at him and so are the Democrats. That’s the mark of a policy man not a politician. Not my kind of Republican however.

Locally here in SCV, lets look at the person everyone likes. Maria Guitziet. I have never personally met Maria, but I know her husband well enough. I respect her. I respect her opinion and I respect her philosophy. She is smart and dedicated and everyone knows that. She places policy above politics and it shows in her professionalism and skill. Have you ever met someone that said Maria is bias or out of the main stream? Nope. Not I either. That’s what we need more of here in the Valley. People Like Maria. I don’t care what Maria thinks about the Iraq wart or abortion or tax’s at this point. What I see is a smart lady who is open to new ideas and suggestions and puts forth policy based facts not fiction.

I am waiting for the person in my party to step forward and be “that” person. The person that everyone respects. Whether they agree with the base political foundation of that person or not, they respect her/him. There is nothing wrong with debate as it is healthy and usually leads to better well thought-out decisions. Is it Mark Hershey or Dwight McDonald in the GOP? Or is it Bill Kennedy? I don’t know.

Let’s find that person before the next election.

Jack Murphy
Political Commentator

The other day we received a call from a very nice woman at the Santa Clarita Guide inquiring about the details for the Stevenson Ranch Fireworks show this year. With the exception of major holidays, the Santa Clarita Guide focuses on recurring annual events or regular activities offered in the valley.
The Santa Clarita Guide is a result of five years of research and has become a useful resource to local businesses when trying to hire from outside of the area.

The Guide is the only online, photo-rich resource to the Santa Clarita Valley, including city, county, and state, federal and private organizations. While they include complimentary links to organizations such as The West Ranch Beacon, they do appreciate their advertisers–without whom they could not provide these services.

The Santa Clarita Guide does not intend to ever display traditional advertising, but rather provides viewers with photos of the places and businesses throughout the valley. Visitors to the Santa Clarita Guide will find out everything from the cheapest gas in the valley to whom to call when the neighbor’s dog doesn’t cease barking. They’ll learn where to go for treatment if bit by a rattler (only Henry Mayo has anti-venin in the valley), and they’ll find a comprehensive list of activities. Click on the headline above to link to their site or use this address: http://www.santaclaritaguide.com/IndependenceDayCelebrationsSCV.html

For many years the trash collection in the Stevenson Ranch community was picked up on Monday mornings like clockwork. That all changed this year when back in mid-April Waste Management decided, without community input, to switch the trash collection day to Fridays. This switch apparently was necessitated due to the new route specific contract that went into effect in the City of Santa Clarita according to Waste Management officials.
This switch was upsetting too many in the community who were very use to getting rid of their trash after the weekend. Now they were faced with garbage from the weekend sitting in the trash containers all week long and, to add insult to injury, the service became problematic. Residents have been voicing their dissatisfaction about the new trash collection day and the decline in service since the switch over several months ago.
In the past three weeks, there have been a number of conversations between members of the West Ranch Town Council, The Stevenson Ranch Community Association and Waste Management regarding these problems. Kevin Burke, the new territory manager for Waste Management, has been very responsive to the communities concerns and has taken this matter seriously.
At last nights Stevenson Ranch Community Association meeting, Kevin announced that the trash pickup in Stevenson Ranch will now revert back to the original Monday collection. He went on to say that Waste Management was committed to working with the community and that they will be looking at the reallocation of assets in the next week or so in order to bring back the Monday collection day. As soon as they are able to rework the routes a letter will be set out to the entire community notifying residents of the change from the current Friday collection back to Monday trash pickup.

Dear Darryl,
A friend of mine passed on a link to your column titled “Stooge of the City Council Gives up His Title” in which you partly give a critique of what it must be like to be on the local town councils. I realize that much of your veiws are from the “wayback machine” you like to ride. You did make several statements that I do agree with whole heartedly and other statements I don’t agree with at all.

Being on a local Town Council is a thankless job! It is also thankless volunteering in an area where there are many armchair quarterbacks (local and out of town critics) constantly throwing stones at everything you do. Most of those folks don’t participate in the betterment of the community. In fact, most of them don’t attend the local community meetings like the Town Councils or the community association meetings that usually happen on a monthly basis. Instead they just cause problems after the fact with misinformation, false accusations, and generally attempting to better them selves at the expense of the community as a whole.

Why do these Council volunteers endure? It’s simple, because all of the members care deeply for their families and for the betterment of the community, for creating a safe community, and for working towards a better tomorrow. Most people don’t want to get involved though because of the time commitments and the potential ridicule, harassment, and possible liability.

You are dead wrong though, on the assertion in your column, that some how “It has to hurt those town council members emotionally when they hear the annexation offers from Santa Clarita.”Won’t we get a say in the future?” “How do we know the City Council will care as much about West Ranch, Castaic, Agua Dulce, Acton — fill in the blank — as we do?”

Trust me; it will not hurt “emotionally” or otherwise one bit to see the governing issues of the West Ranch Communities get resolved as long as they do get resolved fairly. I would be happy to see the West Ranch Communities annex into the City of Santa Clarita or a new city formed or stay in the county! In fact, I would happy to no longer be involved in the political aspect of the community. Frankly, I would much rather continue being a community volunteer with the Stevenson Ranch Civic Committee doing events like the 4th of July fireworks show.

If you had attended the local West Ranch Town Council meetings you would have heard, on a monthly basis, that an elected group of volunteers has tried to investigate properly all the options available in regards to the communities self-determination. As recently as last summer a group of West Ranch Town Council members, myself included, embarked on a series of meetings with the City of Santa Clarita to investigate annexation. We had several meetings and the City was supposed to propose a second series of meetings that would have taken place in the fall. Our town council has not heard back from the City, they have not followed up. By the way, gathering all this information was intended to educate ourselves, our community and to be able to open up meaningful negotiations about a possible annexation into the City of Santa Clarita.

Darryl, you have to realize, there have been no “offers” from the City of Santa Clarita to annex! The City has taken the stance that we (the West Ranch area) would be lucky to annex into the City. In fact, a red faced and yelling Frank Ferry made that perfectly clear to me during his child-like outburst at a City Council meeting. By the way, City Councilman Ferry has done an enormous amount of damage with the rhetoric that has spewed from his pie hole.

I don’t, however, think that it would be fair for the community to just give ourselves away for free. If an annexation were to happen it must happen through a thoughtful and intelligent negotiation. If the City doesn’t want to participate in such a dialogue than an annexation of the West Ranch area isn’t going to happen anytime soon, if ever. You should know that if the City of Santa Clarita had been respectful of the West Ranch Town Council and taken us seriously a deal on annexation could have been done 5 or 6 years ago. It would be much tougher to forge a deal now, although not impossible. It is the Santa Clarita City Council and City management that have faltered on this issue due to the tactics and bad advice they are following.

Currently, the City has embarked on yet another bad tactic of once again circumventing the community and West Ranch Town Council by recruiting a person or two to run in this July’s West Ranch Town Council election. The City is trying to get an individual on the West Ranch Town Council that will happily push for an annexation with out any negotiation. That would be a disservice to the entire community. But hey, that’s politics right? Wrong! It is just another example of the complete disrespect and arrogance the City of Santa Clarita seems to have for the outlying unincorporated communities.

You are right when you said, “Santa Clarita must recognize the value of the town councils. It won’t work any other way.” Trying to circumvent the council by cherry picking a community or an area has not worked and will not work. Trying to stack the Town Council with stooges won’t work either! I am, however, all in favor of your suggestion that we “clear everything on the table right now and start fresh” which has been done now several times over the years. Unfortunately, I am not sure that the City folks are willing to do that based on their current activities.

The “One Valley, One Vision” is a great concept but the City clearly has viewed it as a “One City, Our Vision” program. That attitude speaks volumes of how the City operates and for the complete disregard the City has for the unincorporated communities in the Valley. Don’t worry, no one is planning on burning you at the stake as it would be a waste of some fine firewood.

-Dave Bossert

On Tuesday July 4th the Stevenson Ranch Civic Committee will present the 8th Annual Fireworks Spectacular at the Dr. Richard Rioux Memorial Park in Stevenson Ranch. This years show is set to be the biggest and best show to date with over 600 aerial displays and more than a 1000 ground effects being set off by our professional pyrotechnics crew.
Once again, for the 8th straight year, the event is free to the public. The show is generously funded through donations from local organizations and businesses including: Newhall Land/Lennar, The Stevenson Ranch Community Association, Waste Management, Advantage Disposal, Galpin Motors, Tim Reed/ Realty Executives, The Stevenson Ranch Community Church, and The West Ranch Beacon.
More updates coming over the next two weeks including special guest speakers.

Castaic (CA) - Weather, air quality, and fuel conditions permitting, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department will conduct annual wildland live fire training burns on the property of the Pitchess Detention Center/Wayside Honor Ranch. This is a Los Angeles County Sheriff facility located in Santa Clarita. This live-fire training is an integral part of the Departments preparation for the upcoming wildland fire season. These small training burns will be in a very controlled setting and will not involve more than an acre of light fuels at a time.

Residents in the area may experience some temporary noise pollution from water dropping helicopters, fire engines and work crews during the training burns. There may also be some temporary inconvenience from smoke odors, particularly to smoke-sensitive persons.

WHO:County of Los Angeles Fire Department

WHAT:Live-Fire training burns - less than 10 acres per day

WHERE:On the property of Pitchess Detention Center/Wayside Honor Ranch, LA County Sheriff facility

WHEN:Monday through Friday June 19 - 23, 2006
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Live-Fire training burns may be cancelled if conditions are not favorable and rescheduled at a later date.

The Castaic Town Council sent a letter, a few weeks ago, to the City of Santa Clarita inquiring about annexation. The Castaic Town Council was asking if the City of Santa Clarita would be interested into annexing the entire area including Val Verde. Of course, the City is jumping at the opportunity and communicated with a “yes, we’ll take you all” response.
I spoke with a few folks in Castiac recently and commented positively on the fact that their community was shopping around. It is healthy and appropriate to be looking at the various governing options that are available to the community. The one suggestion that I did make was that the Castaic leadership needs to do a line by line comparison between the County and the City services. This is something that will require a number of meetings to accomplish.
The West Ranch Town Council started this process last year and did have several meetings. Each meeting focused on various services; i.e. Parks, Tree Trimming, Street maintenance, Fees, Trash, etc. We asked a lot of questions! Unfortunately the process was never completed because the City did not follow up with dates for the remainder of the meetings.
The one pattern that has emerged in dealing with the City is that they do not like being asked a lot of questions. But this is part of any comparison shopping! In order for a community to be able to decide on their own self-determination they need to ask an awful lot of questions and compare every service, fee, tax and anything else they deem important.
The City has taken the stance of smearing any individual that raises questions or suggests that a negotiation take place in regards to an annexation. Just look at what has been happen in the Stonecrest community. Several members of the community have been asking questions in regards to the proposed annexation and the City has been slamming these people. The local advertising circular has been right there to help support the City regardless of the questions being raised.
The following is a reprint of piece I wrote in early 2005 on comparison shopping in regards to the annexation question. This is not just for the Castaic Town Council to ponder, but for any community that is looking at annexation.

When I go shopping for anything, big or small, I tend to be a comparison shopper. If I’m in the supermarket it usually entails comparing ingredients or nutritional information from two different brands of the same product. For instance, are the Vons Pop Tarts really the same as the Kellogg’s brand but just less expensive?
Generally the amount of time spent doing comparisons is in direct relation to cost of the particular product. For example, I don’t spend a lot of time comparing milk but I will spend an awful lot of time researching and comparing cars. Part of that research involves asking lots and lots of questions and sometimes questioning the answers to make sure that I understand all the information that is being disseminated. Basically I am educating myself on whatever topic or product that I am interested in learning about.
For the past several years I have been doing just that in regards to annexation or the other options that may be available for the west-side communities. I’ve read government documents, visited our elected officials, question members of LAFCO, and yes, even gleaned an occasional fact out of the local newspapers.
The one thing that I learned when I was a teen is that if you ask the right questions you’ll eventually ferret out the truth. If during the course of asking questions the person your questioning starts to get agitated and doesn’t want to give or validate their answers there is a good chance that they are hiding something. That becomes a red flag and usually makes me quite suspicious.
In my opinion, that’s exactly what is happening right now with the issue of annexation in the Santa Clarita Valley. Members of the community, myself included, are asking questions, sometimes very tough questions, of the City. These are legitimate questions as they involve comparing the unincorporated areas of the valley with those of the City. Question about parks, recreation, taxes, road maintenance, etc. These are questions that need to be asked so that the community can make an intelligent and informed decision at some point in the future as to the governmental status of our neighborhoods on the west-side.
This is why I have been writing these commentaries so that some of those questions can be asked publicly and also to point out when the questions are not being fully answered. It is clear from the response to my last commentary that I am asking hard questions that are making some people squirm because they seem not to want to talk about the whole truth. We should all be suspicious of this type of behavior.
Recently my suspicions were validated in several articles that appeared in the local papers. Both articles pointed out the that the City of Santa Clarita in fact is trying to circumvent the Castaic Town Council on the question of annexation. The proof is in the pudding as they say!
So there we are, we are doing some comparison-shopping and asking lots of tough questions that some in the City don’t want to answer. Instead the City has chosen to try and bypass the elected town councils, or not give a complete answer to questions. Further, they have gotten a former Mayor of Santa Clarita, a “use-to-be”, to try and defend the City and it’s bizarre behavior.
It begs the question, why doesn’t the City want to be forthright with all the information being asked for? Why have they attempted to dodge the Town Councils so many times? Why is the City giving vague and misleading answers?
It’s time that the City starts to show transparency in its quest to annex neighboring communities. Trying to cherry pick the Valencia Commerce Center or other areas is inappropriate and is a divide and conquer tactic that will short change the residents of the Castaic and west side communities.
Most people in this valley can think for themselves and can make intelligent decisions. If they are presented with all the information that is being asked for, they can then make clear well thought out comparisons.
Don’t be “bamboozled” by people who don’t want give you the entire answer to your questions. And certainly don’t be bamboozled by a former City of Santa Clarita Mayor, a use-to-be, that tries to brand any questioning as “anti-city rhetoric” as that person doesn’t have the best interests of the unincorporated communities in mind.
It will pay dividends to be an informed and smart comparison shopper!

The Stevenson Ranch Softball League, part of the Stevenson Ranch Civic Committee, will be having its final championship game of the season on Saturday June 17th at the Dr. Richard Rioux Memorial Park. The game begins at 1:00 PM sharp on the ball diamond in the center of the park. Trophy presentation will be immediately following the game.
It’s always a fun time watching 30 and 40 something friends and neighbors reliving their the glory days of youth running, hitting and catching as if they were back in high school again. The entertainment factor is always bumped up a notch or two! Its an the perfect way to spend a little time mid-day on a lazy summer afternoon.
Dr. Richard Rioux Memorial Park is located on Faulkner in the heart of the Stevenson Ranch community.

We’ve all seen it over and over again a motorist driving along, completely clueless to their surroundings, chatting away on their cell phone. Either they are driving to slow, not able to use their directionals due to both hands being occupied, or doing something completely ridiculous while not paying attention because they are talking on the cell phone.
The Daily News has an article on a horrific crash that happened on the 14 Freeway because some guy was apparently reaching for his cell phone. You can click on the headline to link to the full Daily News article.
Is it that important to be chatting away on the phone all the time? It’s absolutely insane to see some of these people cruising along the freeways talking endlessly about who knows what. They do it, not out of some urgent need usually, but because they can. It only demonstrates that these individuals have complete and utter contempt for the other drivers sharing the road around them.
I truly hope that Los Angeles or California follow what has been done elsewhere in enacting a hands free cell phone law while driving. We really need it!

The signs go up every weekend, at strategic corner location throughout the community, saying “For Sale”, “Open House”, and “Price Reduced”. These areas are becoming more and more crowded with a hodgepodge of real estate signs all vying for the attention of passersby’s.
Real Estate has hit the brakes in the Santa Clarita Valley and that’s fine for some of the more seasoned real estate agents in the area. It is a chance for a pause in a market that has been on a torrid pace of double digit price growth for the last several years. It’s also a chance for a shake out of the number of agents, people who jumped into the real estate market to make a quick buck when real estate basically sold itself.
More telling are the recent rash of articles on the local and national housing market. Barron’s recently published a special report titled “Second-Home Glut” (May 29, 2006) sighting that “vacation homes are flooding the market, sellers are cutting asking prices by up to 40%.” That article, like others, has pointed out that many areas of the country are experiencing a fast deceleration in home sales both new and previously owned. This is especially true in over heated markets like Las Vegas, south Florida, Scottsdale and Palm Springs.
As a recent issue of the Economist pointed out, “Perhaps most telling, builders have recently become a lot glummer. With Wells Fargo, a big bank, the National Association of Homebuilders publishes a monthly index of builders’ perceptions of the housing market. This index fell by six points in May to 45.
(A score below 50 suggests that more builders reckon the market is poor than think it good)” The article went on to say “Economists at Goldman Sacks estimate, from the fall in the homebuilders’ index, that construction will fall at an annual rate of 10-15% in the next four quarters.”
Today’s Los Angeles Times has a good article on the plunge in new home orders at KB Homes. The builder also issued a statement slashing forecasts. Bruce Karatz, KB Chief Executive, stated that “After experiencing several years of accelerating demand for new homes, we are now operating in amore difficult market environment.” Click on the headline above to read the entire article.
Recently, we had an opportunity to speak with a local banker regarding the mortgage real estate market in the greater West Ranch area. He told us that his phone has been ringing off the hook with people concerned with the rising interest rates. Many of these homeowners were only able to buy homes in the West Ranch communities by using interest only or adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). Some of these homeowners are starting to squirm as their mortgage payments are adjusting upwards.
With the quick drop off in the market it may be too late for many to sell their homes quickly. It appears that the rush for the exit is already in full swing based on the inventory figures for the Santa Clarita Valley. The number of homes on the market in the valley is five times the number this time last year with over 2100 homes for sale. Just click through to one of our advertisers in the banner above to check out the inventory listings. As the glut in homes on the market grows it only looks obvious that prices will start softening soon.
Our suspicion is that it is going to get a lot tougher for the real estate market in the coming year or so before it starts getting any better. It may be a repeat of the previous downturns in Southern California like that of the early 1990’s.

Jack Murphy has been submitting occasional opinion pieces to the West Ranch Beacon for several months. Starting this week, Jack will have regular Friday opinion piece on our blog site titled “My view from the bleacher seats in SCV”. As a reminder, Jack’s opinions are his and do not necessarily reflect those of the West Ranch Beacon or its other contributors.

what’s a moderate?

What is a moderate? In my crazy messed up mind, a moderate is someone who believes in what’s good for the people and country FIRST and the party second. I happen to think that about 75% of what the Republican party believes in is good for the country and 25% of what the Democrat ( they are the Democrat party, not the Democratic party incidentally ) is good for the good ole USA.

So, are you a moderate or are you a mindless robot for your party? Do you do what ever your party leadership tells you to do? Do you think they way they tell you to think? Or do you take everything in and make up your own mind?

I have posed a few questions for you to peruse and score. This is your chance to see what box you belong in. If your like me, its a small box on a small bus and your wearing hockey equipment to school. Get it? Small bus, hockey equipment…….Ok, forget it. Just take the quiz.

Question #1. The Iraq war was,,,, a). George Bush finishing his fathers war. B). An oil grab. C). An administration truly concerned about future terrorism and where terrorists might get weapons to use against the world.

Question #2. True or False. Only Republicans use power for their own personal benefit, such as is a alleged with Tom Delay.

Question #3. True or False. Any candidate is fine to replace Cameron Smyth for City Council as long as that candidate is a Republican.

Question #4. True or false. The Cross Valley Connector will improve traffic flow in Santa Clarita and was well worth the 300 million price tag ( not completed ).

Question #5. True or false. Hillary Clinton is a strong and determined woman who has held fast in her beliefs and would make a truly great president if given a chance.

Question #6. True of False. John McCain is a great leader and a war hero. His religious beliefs and the fact that he is a republican in good standing make him my ideal choice for president.

Question #7. True or False. Annexation of any area out-side SCV city limits is a good thing for that unincorporated area. The city would be doing that area a favor by taking them under their wings.

Question #8. True or false. You feel that if someone poses’s a different opinion than you they can NOT be your friend.

Question #9. True or False. Lynn Plambeck is your ONLY choice from the Democrat party. Period.

Question #10. The following would be considered a great City Council. Bob Keller, Marsha Mclean, Michael Cruz, Dwight Mcdonald and Loraine Weste.

A moderate would answer C, F, F, F, T, F, F, F, F, T. If you did NOT answer it this way then you are out of whack one way or another. You need to sit back and think about the person you are. Do you only talk to Republicans or Democrat’s? Expand your horizons. Meet mew people and listen to new ideas. Free speech is good for others too ya know.

My best friends are ALL Democrat’s. Strange as it sounds. I don’t agree with 90% of what they believe in but I would rather talk to them then people who agree with me. I have never agreed with Gary Horton in the local “newspaper” but I NEVER miss his column. I don’t wish him ill in the least bit and as a matter of a fact I met him and he seems like a hell of a guy. I think he is wrong and that’s that. Life goes on. One day he may prove me wrong but until that day, I just read and have fun and move on.

You should all do the same. Life would be so much more enjoyable for the rest of us in the bleacher seats herein SCV.

Jack Murphy
Political Commentator

SANTA CLARITA – The California Department of Transportation will close the Antelope Valley Freeway (Route 14) in both directions at Escondido Canyon Road near the city of Santa Clarita on Sunday, June 18.

Southbound Route 14 will be closed from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. Northbound Route
14 will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Closures and detours will be posted on electronic message signs. The California Highway Patrol will assist with traffic management at the site.

The closure is in relation to a slope stabilization project above Route 14 between Soledad Canyon Road and Escondido Canyon Road. The $12.6 million project involves cutting back the slope and installing retention systems using cable net or wire mesh.

This closure will recur every Sunday for approximately three months. Estimated to complete in spring 2008, the project will increase hillside stability, protect the roadway and improve safety.