March 2007
Monthly Archive
Sat 31 Mar 2007
In response to two sexual assaults in the Canyon Country area of the Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich is offering a $10,000 reward motion for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) responsible.
The latest incident occurred in the early morning hours of March 29, 2007, in the 19000 block of Four Oaks Street in Canyon Country. A similar assault took place on Stillmore Street, Canyon Country, at 6:50 a.m. on Saturday January 6th.
Law enforcement officials encourage all residents of the Santa Clarita Valley to pay close attention to their surroundings, secure their houses when they go to bed at night and report any suspicious activity, or persons, to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. Deputies have also increased patrols in the area.
Supervisor Antonovich encourages anyone with information regarding these cases to immediately contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, or Detective Gill at (661)255-1121.
Sat 31 Mar 2007
Posted by admin under
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A tech blogger canceled public appearances after getting violent posts, a hazard of the wild Web. Kathy Sierra’s blog, Creating Passionate Users, is filled with musings on software design. Not the kind of thing you’d expect to draw death threats.
But cyber-bullies posted such vicious remarks about her on the Internet that she canceled her keynote speech at a technology conference in San Diego this week, afraid to leave her home in Boulder, Colo. “I will never be the same,” she wrote, then said she had suspended her blogging.
The threats and vivid sexual taunts aimed at Sierra — and the subsequent uproar — exposed a creepy reality: Cyber-bullies, often emboldened by anonymity, target bloggers who write about even the most innocuous subjects.
Read it here: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-internet31mar31,0,4064392.story?coll=la-home-business
Sat 31 Mar 2007
Two sheriff’s deputies and an Explorer en route to an emergency call were injured Friday afternoon when two squad cars collided in Canyon Country.
Rescuers used the Jaws of Life device to free Deputy Michael Marion, 32, from his car, said sheriff’s Sgt. Darren Harris. Marion suffered bruises to his chest and possibly a fractured rib, but was in fair condition, Harris said.
Deputy Laurie Baylis, 47, and Explorer David Aresca, 17, also suffered injuries, Harris said. Baylis might have broken her arm, Harris said. The trio, initially believed to be more seriously injured, was rushed to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital along intersections cleared of traffic by several deputies worried for their colleagues.
Read it here: http://www.dailynews.com/santaclarita/ci_5559704
Fri 30 Mar 2007
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich issued the following statement on today’s student walkouts:
“Encouraging students to walk out of class on a school day is a reckless act of exploitation that threatens their safety and the stability of our educational system.
During walkouts last year, students were walking on the freeway and in busy intersections creating a very dangerous situation for themselves and others. The District Attorney should investigate whether organizations calling for student boycotts ought to be charged with intentionally placing children and the public in harm’s way.”
Fri 30 Mar 2007
In recent weeks the Beacon has been regularly posting local crime reports from the Sheriff’s department. What I have noticed is that these reports have been an eye opener in regards to the amount of drug and other crimes in the Canyon Country area.
With the recent Sheriff press release regarding the Sexual Assault suspect being sought in Canyon Country it appears that there are areas over there have a fair bit of crime week in and week out. Now, I realize that I am opening myself up to criticism by singling out Canyon Country but it is obvious from the crime reports. Canyon Country jumps out off the crime reports just take a look at some of the excerpts from some recent reports:
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Fri 30 Mar 2007
Congress leaves for Easter recess today, with Democrats congratulating themselves for having endorsed, by the narrowest of margins, “a deadline” for withdrawal from Iraq. The press corps is also praising their “cohesion”. Wonderful, now that MoveOn.org is happy, maybe Congress will finally fund the troops.
Democrats are calling this, in short form, the “Iraq Accountability Act,” but the key word in that construction is the last one. This is all an act. This week the Senate joined the House in passing a “deadline” for Iraq withdrawal that Members know has no chance of becoming law. President Bush has promised a veto, and the eyelash victories in both houses show that his veto will be sustained with ease. Read it Here: http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009871
Fri 30 Mar 2007
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich issued the following statement: “This reckless and irresponsible action gives Al-Qaida a clear victory that will result in a bloodbath for our allies and destabilize the region. “Cut and run” strategies have never won any wars. The United States needs to stay and honor its commitment to the people of Iraq and continue its efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.”
Fri 30 Mar 2007
US prices continued to rise last month at a fast pace, according to fresh government figures that underlined the Federal Reserve’s concerns about inflation.
The measure of inflation most closely watched by the central bank rose for the third consecutive month, as core prices - excluding volatile food and energy costs - rose 0.3 per cent in February, compared to 0.2 per cent the previous month reports the Financial times. The steady acceleration in core inflation is likely to add to add to the central bank’s fears that underlying economic forces, such as the tight labor market, might push up prices. Read it here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/17e27174-debe-11db-b5c9-000b5df10621,dwp_uuid=5aedc804-2f7b-11da-8b51-00000e2511c8.html
Fri 30 Mar 2007
Detectives from the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station are seeking the public’s assistance as they investigate two sexual assault incidents that occurred in the Canyon Country area. The latest incident occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday March 29, 2007, in the 19000 block of 4 Oaks Street. Deputies warn residents to keep windows and doors locked.
The victim, a female in her 40’s, who was asleep in her bed, was awakened by sound. She then saw the suspect, a male Hispanic in his 30’s, 5’08”-5’10”, 160 to 180 lbs., medium build, possible mustache, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, walk toward her bed. The suspect climbed onto the bed, put a knife against the victim’s neck and ordered her to be quiet. She noticed the suspect spoke with a “Hispanic” accent. The suspect sexually assaulted the victim and then walked out of the bedroom and left the location. The entire incident lasted approximately 15 minutes.
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Fri 30 Mar 2007
A new report shows illegal aliens and their families in Los Angeles County collect nearly a half billion dollars annually in welfare and food stamp allocations, announced Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.
“Illegal immigration continues to have a devastating impact on Los Angeles County taxpayers,” said Antonovich. “When the nearly one half billion dollars spent on welfare is added to the costs of public safety and healthcare, this brings the total cost to nearly one billion dollars a year. This does not include the skyrocketing cost of education.”
Illegal’s collected nearly $20 million in CalWORKS assistance each month for the first two months of 2007 and an additional $15 million dollars in monthly food stamp allocations.
Thu 29 Mar 2007
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich issued the following comments on Homeless Shelter legislation Senate Bill 2 (Cedillo):
“To effectively solve the homelessness problem, experience continues to demonstrate that those suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse require mandatory treatment. Without this fundamental reform, the homeless will be forever locked in a broken system of warehousing without healing.”
Thu 29 Mar 2007
Posted by admin under
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The Beacon recently caught up with our California State Assemblyman Cameron Smyth for a brief cyber interview. The interview will be presented here in two parts covering such topics as immigration, local traffic and his current goals in Sacramento.
-Assemblyman Smyth, Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with the West Ranch Beacon. Now that you have been in office for several months, how are things going for you? Do you have your entire staff in place? Have there been any surprises?
It is always a pleasure to speak with you and your readers. The legislature is finally beginning to tackle the thousands of bills introduced this year and I expect it to get very busy shortly. The staff and office are in place and up and running and I am excited about the team we have put together.
I am a little surprised at how long it takes to get things moving. We have been here since Jan 3 and as I said we won’t get started in earnest until April.
-You appear to have hit the ground running. In our last interview you mentioned interest in the following committees; Energy and Utilities, Local Government, Governmental Organizations, Transportation and Health. Did you the committees that you were hoping for?
I was appointed to Utilities and Commerce, Local Government and I am the Vice Chair of Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials am excited for the challenge and opportunity these committees bring.
-Will there be an opportunity to switch committees during this term and if so what committee would you like to serve on?
Not likely. All committees are per the Speaker’s discretion and it is rare that you are reassigned mid term.
-What have been your accomplishments to date? What are most proud of?
Aside from staying out of the smallest office in the Capitol and not having my desk in the back of the Assembly floor, establishing my credibility as a member who is willing to work all with all my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate on solving the many issues facing California.
-Can you talk a little about some of the challenges you face in Assembly up in Sacramento?
As a freshman member of the minority party, the biggest challenge I face is lining up the necessary support from the Democratic majority to support my legislation. It is also challenging trying to obtain a working knowledge of the nearly 2000 bills that will come before the Assembly and understand their full impact. On the personal front, it has been a challenge balancing my time in Sacramento and here at home.
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