The West Ranch Beacon

On January 21, 2007, at 6:45 am, a woman coming home from work was robbed of her purse at gun point.  The victim, a 39-year-old female arrived at her home, on Chisolm Lane, in Stevenson Ranch.  She walked toward her front door and was confronted by a male Asian suspect who demanded that she give him her purse.  The suspect then ripped the purse from the victim’s grasp and ran out of sight.  The victim was not injured during the crime.
 
The victim’s gray purse contained several credit cards, an ATM card and a small amount of cash.  During the investigation, detectives were notified that someone had attempted to use the victim’s ATM card at the Washington Mutual Bank, 23910 Summerhill in Valencia.  The bank was able to provide photos of a suspect attempting to use the ATM card. 
 
Anyone recognizing the suspect in the photos or having any information about this crime is asked to call Detective Gill (661-799-5141) at Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station.

Thomas Mauk, who had accepted a job as L.A. County’s chief administrative officer the day before, agreed on Tuesday to stay in Orange County in the same post reports Howard Fine of the Los Angeles Business Journal.

The reversal came after a closed session meeting of the Orange County Board of Supervisors during which the supervisors made Mauk a counteroffer. L.A. County Supervisors had offered Mauk a salary of $270,000.

“The support of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and staff of the county was key to my decision,” Mauk said.

Read it all here: http://www.labusinessjournal.com/article.asp?aID=09197547.9548282.1426360.6857284.1721659.112&aID2=109711

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Antonovich’s motion to build upon the Countywide Energy and Environmental Policy by further supporting incentives that promote the use of sustainable building practices, reduce resource and energy consumption, minimize the release of pollutants and wastes and utilize solar energy and water reclamation wherever possible.

“As energy and construction cost continue to rise, it is apparent that sustainable building practices should be supported and encouraged,” said Supervisor Antonovich.

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings account for 65% of all electricity consumption in the U.S., contribute 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions, and are responsible for 30% of all raw materials used.

Sustainable design is the practice of creating healthier and more resource efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition.  Sustainable or green buildings are good public policy and save taxpayer dollars—they are designed to use resources more efficiently.  Sustainable buildings significantly reduce energy costs compared to traditional buildings, use materials efficiently to achieve lowest lifetime costs, and are more durable and flexible.  In addition, sustainable buildings keep reusable, recyclable, and toxic building materials out of landfills. 

Admiral William Fallon, the White House choice to command US forces in the Middle East, on Tuesday warned that the US was running out of time to improve security in Iraq reported Demetri Sevastopulo and Guy Dinmore in Washington for the Financial Times.

“I believe the situation in Iraq can be turned around, but time is short,” Admiral Fallon told senators. “There are no guarantees.”

Read it here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3d9059fe-b0c4-11db-8a62-0000779e2340.html

A $1,654,800 grant from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services was approved by the Board of Supervisors to support the County’s efforts to target and dismantle methamphetamine manufacturers and traffickers.

“Effectively combating the Meth problem in Los Angeles Countywide requires collaborative efforts of the Sheriff’s Department and local law enforcement throughout the County,” said Supervisor Antonovich.

The funding will support the Sheriff Department’s Multi-jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team comprised of personnel from the Sheriff Department’s Narcotics Bureau and investigators from the Glendale, La Verne, and Glendora police departments. 

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved Supervisor Antonovich’s motion to extend two $10,000 reward motions for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the hate crimes committed in the Santa Clarita Valley on Saturday, November 4th, 2006.

Sheriff’s deputies discovered obscenities spray-painted on a vehicle belonging to a Jewish family, including the word “Jews” and also discovered two swastikas spray-painted on a campus putting green at the Master’s College, a Christian liberal arts college.

Supervisor Antonovich encourages anyone with information to contact Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detective Keeling at the Hate Crime Task Force at (310) 628-2370.

On Monday night Pam Ingram and Adele Macpherson hosted a meeting in Sunset point to “get the temperature” of residents towards annexation. Pam and Adele had circulated a letter several weeks ago informing residents that they would hold a meeting at the ReMax office on The Old Road in West Ranch.

It should be noted that leading up to the meeting that Pam Ingram, incoming President of the SCV Chamber of Commerce, had denied any involvement other than offering up a meeting room. She was clearly equally in charge of the meeting with Santa Clarita City employee Adele Macpherson.

The meeting was attended by a total of approximately 34 people; 4 representatives of the City of Santa Clarita, 2 from Los Angeles County, 3 members of the West Ranch Town Council with the remaining 25 residents of the community. Those attending the meeting appeared to have different expectations than the organizers.

Several residents wanted to ask questions but were initially told by Adele that they should write down questions on a 3X5 index card and that someone would respond to those questions at a later date. Then several questions were asked and the meeting became a little of a tit-for-tat between the City and the County.

It appears that Pam and Adele tried to focus the meeting on getting those attending to sign a petition stating that they were interested in annexing into the City. Several clipboards passed around had one or two names listed but there did not appear to be an overwhelming amount of signatures.

The representatives from the West Ranch Town Council invited residents to attend the monthly Council meeting which takes place on the first Wednesday of every month. Residents were informed that an Initial Feasibility Analysis was to be commissioned and that would provide a key piece of data for all discussions concerning the options available to the community. 

Howard Fine of the Los Angeles Business Journal reports that after a five-month search, current Orange County Administrative Officer Thomas Mauk was appointed Monday by the Board of Supervisors as the new Los Angeles County chief administrative officer.

Mauk, 63, of Whittier, will take over as chief administrative officer on March 12, succeeding the widely respected David Janssen, who announced his retirement last summer. Several other candidates being considered turned down the post, including Sandra Vargas, the administrator for Hennepin County, Minn., which includes Minneapolis.

Read it here: http://www.labusinessjournal.com/article.asp?aID=78134162.1332187.1425957.5724319.2464305.687&aID2=109680

County planners have received dozens of requests, mostly from environmental groups, urging more time to add their comments before this week’s final hearing on the first phase of the huge Newhall Ranch project reports the Daily News.

The Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission was set to close the public hearing Wednesday on Landmark Village, a 293-acre, 1,444-home development within the 22,000-home Newhall Ranch.

Read it all here: http://www.dailynews.com/santaclarita/ci_5115900

Iraq is rapidly sliding into an all-out civil war that is likely to spill over into neighbouring countries, resulting in mass deaths and refugee flows, serious disruption of Gulf oil supplies and a drastic decline in US influence in the region reports Guy Dinmore in Washington for the Financial Times.

This grim forecast is set out in Things Fall Apart, a 130-page report released on Monday by the Brookings Institution’s Saban Center for Middle East Policy that also recommends how the US might contain the disastrous consequences of “spillover”.

Read it here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/7e9ed5e6-af03-11db-a446-0000779e2340.html

At the request of the Briggs Road community in Agua Dulce, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich submitted a motion before the Metrolink Board of Directors directing staff to explore the feasibility of constructing an at-grade or above-grade crossing for Metrolink’s Antelope Valley Line at Briggs Road. The Board’s action directs Metrolink staff to report back to the Board in 30 days.

Over the last several weeks there has been a fair bit of news and commentary regarding the ever burning question of the status of the Castaic, Val Verde and West Ranch communities. The most talked about is the announcement that funding was in place for an Initial Feasibility Analysis (IFA).

The immediate reaction to the news of the IFA was as if there was a decision to form a new city. The Santa Clarita City Council quickly formed an annexation committee. At the same Council meeting, they appointed a Councilman that is at the root of the acrimonious relationship between the City and the unincorporated areas. Hopefully he will be able to contain his rage; but regardless we will talk with whoever the City designates as a committee member.

The IFA is just simply the only way for the West Ranch and Castaic/Val Verde Town Councils to get actual unbiased tax revenue data. Information that is vital to helping educate the communities of the unincorporated west and north side areas of the Santa Clarita Valley. It is data needed for any of the options facing the unincorporated communities; annexation, incorporation, or staying in the County.

Once the Councils have this revenue information it will allow for an intelligent discussion in and for the unincorporated areas regarding the future. It is a discussion that needs to happen in a mutually respectful atmosphere. A discussion that will pose some tough questions that will require honest and straight forward answers.

The IFA will be a public document for all to see, one that will contain facts that will not be refuted. If the City of Santa Clarita wishes to make suggestions prior to the study being commissioned, those comments will be welcomed. There will be ample talks with the City prior to this analysis being commissioned.

Although I have been unfairly painted with a rancorous brush as “combative” and “caustic”, my resolve is still for our communities, and all stakeholders in it, to be treated justly is unwavering. Those in the local City politico that may be bitter that a resident, an individual, has been able to question dishonest tactics and expose the truth with this online publication should know that I will continue to do so regardless of what brush they chose to use.

After all of the depictions, accusations and interpretations are swept aside all that will be left is what we have asked for all along; to be treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity as the community representatives, the Town Councils, that LA County has recognized us to be. We are steadfast and resolute in our willingness to sit down and start seriously discussing the future of our communities and of our valley.

Working in a harmonious and courteous way will ensure that the future of our valley will be one that is bright and productive for all. It will be beneficial to the entire valley regardless of the choice made by the residents of the unincorporated areas. Undeniably, it will be the choice of the residents and stakeholders; not another outside group or body.

Dave Bossert

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