Commentary: Modern Dating vs. the Caveman Approach

After speaking with a very well respected local mover and shaker a week or so ago, I wanted to revisit a commentary that I wrote several years ago. This one titled “Modern Dating or the Caveman Approach?” had a great reaction when it was first published in 2004 and again when it was republished in 2006 and 2009. I wanted all our readers, old and new, to be able to read this piece again as it still resonates today. The City of Santa Clarita has been attempting annexations to get a toehold on the Westside of the freeway for years. More recently the City has started to move on a proposed annexation of the Tesoro del Valle development, north of its boundaries, against that communities desired timeline. This is another example in which the City of Santa Clarita is doing everything it can to expand without having to speak with the community leadership.

In 2004 I wrote the following:

Time and time again, the City has tried to circumvent opening up a productive and sustained dialogue with the communities of these unincorporated areas.

The City refuses to deal in good faith with the elected leadership in the unincorporated areas and has been disrespectful to the resident’s right to self-determination. This tactic will not work, does not work and has ultimately had a detrimental effect on the City and the future of the Santa Clarita Valley.

I would like to use the simple analogy of modern day dating to illustrate what the City should be doing in order to expand. Let’s say your single (the City) and are out at a social function. Across the room you spot someone who is attractive (any revenue generating unincorporated area). Your eyes meet. You walk over, introduce yourself and strike up a conversation. Hopefully you have some things in common.

If all goes well you exchange phone numbers and agree to get together again. You wait a few days and then you call to say what a great time you had and arrange to go out on a formal date. Over dinner you both have another great conversation and realize that you have a lot in common.

This of course leads to further dating and the building of a relationship. Over time, sometimes years, you both build a strong relationship that includes sharing, trust, integrity, and love.

Finally, you both decide that to get married (annex into the City) and live happily ever after. You’ve been dating for a while and really like each other so this marriage feels like the right next step.

Instead, the City of Santa Clarita has decided to take the Caveman approach to dating. Spot someone you like (Valencia Commerce Center, Hasley Hills, Tesoro del Valle), walk over to them, bonk them on the head with a club and drag them off by their hair.

That behavior may have worked thousands of years ago but it does not work now.

As we have all witnessed, The City of Santa Clarita has chosen the caveman approach to dealing with its neighbors and once again it is being met with opposition that will ultimately ended in yet another defeat for the City. The City’s behavior has only strengthened and emboldened many community leaders and activists to further question and stand up against the City’s actions, behavior and arrogance.

Whether it is the Valencia Commerce Center Association, the Tesoro del Valle HOA or the Canyon Country Advisory Committee; the common thread is the City of Santa Clarita doing whatever it wants regardless of what the other parties or residents are expressing.   

The City of Santa Clarita has made a mess of what could have been a very amicable and productive relationship with the unincorporated areas north and west of the City. The current stance by the City leadership of only dealing on their own terms regardless of the wishes of others is divisive, duplicitous and arrogant.  

It is time for City leadership to take a more rational approach and actually start building a normal, respectful relationship with its neighboring communities so that there will ultimately be one common valley community. This will require a fundamental shift in how the City of Santa Clarita is managed which will need to be a directive of the City Council.  

The longer the City leadership waits to change their tactics the longer it will be before we have a united Santa Clarita Valley working towards the good of all. This can only happen if all the valley stakeholders are counted as participants and that that participation is on the two way street of fairness, dignity and mutual respect.  

Until then we can continue watch the City get more egg on its’ face!

Dave Bossert- Commentary

Dave Bossert is a community volunteer who serves on a number of boards and councils. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.