There are some who are wondering what the heck is happening in the Santa Clarita Valley lately. First, Darryl Manzer writes a descent column, in the local fish wrap, that actually had some great ideas and suggestions. Next, Chris Austin posts a piece on SCVTalk.com that picks up on Darryl’s ideas and embellishes on them in an intelligent way. She does this without espousing her usual communist doctrine that everyone and everything must be equal. What’s next, tangerine trees and marmalade skies, alien abductions or possibly Elvis sightings at the Town Center?
Maybe so, but I think that we are heading into autumn with the possibility of a very different atmosphere than has been experienced over the past year or so. It seems as though there is going to be more productive dialogue about the future of our valley and less death threats! This may go against the grain of the City politico whose tongues are already wagging about this week’s local columns and postings.
The fact is that many of us have much more in common than not. We are all interested in a better valley; we all care about our community. Whether that means the unincorporated areas annex into the City of Santa Clarita, a new city gets formed or the valley stays the way it is. What is important is that there is a thorough dialogue that is inclusive and respectful of the communities that will be most affected.
That discussion should have started a few years ago and would have been near a decisions point by now. Although, the local goon squad running the fish wrap would have you believe that it started 18 years ago. Unfortunately the West Ranch area was nothing more than cattle grazing on rolling hills way back then. Now there seems to be enough of a population that the community can have an active role in determining at least the future status of the west side.
One way that the city could actually start to gain some traction in regards to annexation would be to reflect on where they are now and how they got there. As I mentioned in yesterdays column, the city may want to look at bringing in a consultant that can evaluate whether or not some structural changes need to be undertaken as the city continues to grow. It is quite valid to ask such questions especially given the growth of the valley over the past 20 years.
It is obvious, based on local writings, that we have found some common ground. Now the questions is, can we get a ground swell going that will help be a catalyst for change valley wide. Is it possible for a group of residents to get the local political machine to change the way they do business? Is it possible for the City to shift the tactics currently being employed to grow itself?
In this topsy turvy world any thing is possible. Who knows maybe Darryl Manzer or Chris Austin will write a guest commentary for the West Ranch Beacon. That would truly turn heads here in the Santa Clarita Valley…….and rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies!
Dave Bossert