Archive By Section - Columnists
The ethics of water ownership
In 2003 a Superior Court judge ruled for Newhall Land, now Lennar Corporation, thus allowing the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan. He made this ruling based on the assertion that the developer had purchased water from elsewhere in the state to supply these housing units and that together with the ground water used for farming, there would be a sufficient supply to serve this 21,000-unit proposal.
In Iraq, it's all about oil
Many believe we have had a successful surge in Iraq. But few if any troops are coming home to stay. Instead, rotation from home to Iraq has been bounced from 12 months to 15 months, depending on whether you like Gen. Petraeus or the president. Could it be that we don't plan, for covert reasons, to have our armed forces permanently leave Iraq in numbers any time soon? And it may have nothing to do ...
Kudos in Canyon Country
Once a year, I write an op-ed piece about the area of Canyon Country. Specifically, I provide a "to-do" list, and I applaud the city for making improvements and taking action.
Springtime for politicos
Is this a great year, or what? It is only April and I have already voted in two elections, the presidential primary in February and local City Council race last week. And because this is the best election year ever, we get to vote two more times before it is over.
Who pays for litigation?
Rarely will you ever hear an attorney complain about the increasing number of frivolous lawsuits being filed by plaintiffs across this state. After all, as a defense attorney, these lawsuits help to pay my mortgage, my car payments and eventually will finance college for my three girls and hopefully a comfortable retirement.
Disaster doesn't wait — in Santa Clarita, prepare for 2008
Finding yourself in the center of either a natural disaster or an emergency of some sort can be a trying experience. These disasters and emergencies never call us to schedule a visit, or send an e-invite to let us know ahead of time what is planned, but instead they happen without warning. This can lead to much more chaos than necessary if we are unprepared for the unexpected emergency.
Crunch affects more than schools
hen my family moved from Tennessee to California, more than loved ones were left behind. My uncle, a Vanderbilt alum, parted with his corporate expense account and corner-office salary. My aunt, a master's-degree graduate from the National Institutes of Health, left behind the leverage of a upwardly mobile medical career.
Why does city have so much on its plate?
Some weeks ago, while I was moderating a forum for the finest field of City Council candidates who have ever offered themselves for election, I asked the question that the sponsors had told the candidates I was bound to ask: "How do you feel about major county reform, which might mean splitting up the county?"
SCV scene
Picture-perfect day hosts Vine to Wine The annual Vine to Wine fundraiser for the Betty Ferguson Foundation was a delightful affair with wonderful food and wine. The Bridgeport Clubhouse is a spectacular location and it was a perfect day for the event. This year's weather more than made up for last year's blustery conditions. Seen at the event were: Michael and Denise Hause, Pam Ingram, Tora Brown, Dora Zavala, Bob Kellar and Kathy Keysor Smith, ...
Could we all just swear off profanity?
Earlier this week I was in front of a Signal news rack, picking up an extra copy of the newspaper. There was a young man standing nearby with a toddler whom I believe was his son.
Yes, Ms. Simon, these are the good old days
(Editor's note: This memorable column originally ran in 1999.) Once upon a time, chanteuse Carly Simon told me, and millions of other impassioned young listeners, "These are the good old days" - that line being a catchy trailer on her hit song, "Anticipation." Throughout my earlier years I briefly contemplated the meaning of that simple message on numerous occasions. It wasn't until my 30s, however, that her words affected me in a most profound way. ...
To hit or not to hit
My wife and I are parents of a 4-year-old boy, and we're faced with the duty to discipline him.
1,000-pound gorilla is immigration
The Secure Fence Act was passed in October 2006, but Congress adjourned without appropriating funds to implement building it. The act included mandated deadlines, such as an interlocking surveillance camera system to be installed by May 2007 and a portion of the fence to be completed by the end of 2008.
Polluted water still counts
Recently, a Sacramento Assemblyman introduced a bill to stop counting polluted water in Urban Water Management Plans and Water Service Assessments.
Right is 'Right about never'
Friday's Signal Op/Ed page seemed an extension of the hilarious April Fools' edition. That Signal front page was over-the-top riotous, not just for its elaborately contrived tales, but also for the knowledge that despite obvious cues, so many readers would look past the warnings and actually believe the farcical fiction.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Terri Crain: Don’t misuse environmental protection law
In 2008, Santa Clarita was named the most business- friendly city in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.
Joe Gandelman: Watch the credibility games
Forget the political "blame game." The biggest game in town now is the credibility game - a high-stakes exercise that will end with America's political middle deciding who is trustworthy and who isn't. Some key players:
The scandal of scandal in Washington, D.C.
If you listen loud enough you can almost hear the siren song of the Republican Party spread its dulcet tones across Washington. It's scandal season boys and girls, and for the GOP it's Mardi Gras, Christmas and The Spanish Inquisition all in one!
Steve and Cokie Roberts: Astonishing attack on our core values
Finally, an issue Republicans and Democrats can agree on:
The Village Idiot: Please, invade my privacy
A world-famous entertainer announced that she and her boyfriend were splitting up in one of the saddest tweets I've ever read: "We have decided to go our separate ways. Please respect our privacy."
Charlie Vignola: A scandal is only a scandal when it happens to Democrats
Imagine for a moment a President of the United States who ignored warnings about an imminent terrorist threat that resulted in an attack that killed American citizens, then argued that we didn't need an investigation to figure out what went wrong.
Tom Purcell: Advice from the master
ill Clinton, wearing a white toga and a crown of gold, sat in a garden while attractive women fed him grapes. President Obama, having just suffered the most devastating week of his presidency, sat nearby, seeking advice in the art of telling whoppers. Using the Socratic method of teaching, Clinton began to tutor his new student.
Frank Ferry: Live from City Hall
May is Building Safety Month and the ideal time to tackle all of those home-improvement projects on your "to do" list before summer is in full swing.
David Hegg: Of progress and purpose
There is no debate that time marches on. The sun rises, shines, and sets, and then does it all over again, day after day. And each day we encounter the unknown components of a whole new 24-hour set of life experience.
Tim Myers: Where respect for private property ends
As a Midwesterner and a Lutheran, I must admit to a great love of irony, and there is nothing more entertaining and ironic than the practical behavior of an elected official, particularly a locally elected official, when their ideology runs straight into the practicalities of the moment.
Phil Kerpen: Government can't be trusted with our health
"We have a large government," political consultant David Axelrod offered as a plea of ignorance to all of the scandals swirling around his boss. "Part of being president is there's so much beneath you that you can't know because the government is so vast."
The Village Idiot: Why I hate my Facebook friends
When I first signed up for Facebook, I was thrilled to get back in touch with old friends, distant relatives, high school classmates and old co-workers. I'd check in to find out that they had new children, new spouses, new lives, new hobbies, new kitchens, new news.
Gary Horton" Why can't California be more like Texas?
I just returned from a three-day business trip to Austin, Texas. This was my third visit to Austin in 18 months. Each time, my visit has focused on business opportunities stemming from Austin's robust population growth.
Jonathan Kraut: Domestic violence advocates needed
My firm was contacted last year to support a domestic case involving a young woman and her year-old baby. She needed help keeping legal custody of her child. The baby's father, a volunteer counselor with a drug rehab program, had claimed the mother of his child was unfit and a drug user.
Tom Purcell: Speech to the best graduating class ever
Students, faculty, family members and friends, it is my great honor to deliver your commencement speech today.
