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“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”- John Wooden. We wanted to re-run this commentary as there appears to be a shift happening in the way the City interacts with its neighbors. With that it was worth pointing out that actions speak louder than words. The City needs to start being more truthful as this commentary from April pointed out. According to most definitions, character is the “aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature” of a person, group or entity. It is the collection of those qualities that define a person or group of individuals as being honorable; “of ethical repute.” The kind of person who is guided by a moral compass and for whom their word is their bond; you can shake hands and know that what was agreed upon will be honored.

You will not find those attributes, for the most part, with the leadership at the City of Santa Clarita. Unfortunately the moral compass is broken or apparently nonexistent for the “crew” that is running the City. It was evidenced once again by their actions and by their words this past week as they doled out yet another example of how they do business.

On Wednesday, April 20, 2011, a press release was issued stating that “The City of Santa Clarita recently received recognition from fDi, an international Finance Magazine in their 2011/2012 American Cities of the Future Awards. The City was one of the top three communities recognized in the Small Cities of the Future category and earned a Top 10 ranking in the Small Cities, fDi Strategy category.” The press release was generally a fluff piece tooting the City’s horn, which is fine if you are being truthful and forthright.

As I read the press release I came upon a section that was cleverly worded to mislead the readers. It stated the following:

“Home to four targeted industry clusters, which include aerospace, manufacturing, biomedical, and entertainment, the City also recently welcomed ABC Studios and Disney when they announced a $500 million dollar project titled ABC Studios/Disney at the Ranch, set to break ground in the next 18 months.”

What’s wrong with that statement is that the ABC Studios/Disney at the Ranch project is not in the City of Santa Clarita but rather it is in the unincorporated Los Angeles County area south of the City. Further, it is thanks to L.A. County Supervisor Antonovich and Los Angeles County staff involved for their tireless efforts at working to facilitate that studio project which will bring tremendous economic benefit to the entire Santa Clarita Valley. According to a County official, the City of Santa Clarita had nothing to do with the project and was only briefed on it a month or so prior to the public announcement! (We modified the press release to reflect the truth before it was published in The Beacon.)

Yet in the press release they purposely worded it to give the impression, to willfully mislead, that the studio project is somehow part of their “four targeted industry clusters” at the City. What is even more egregious is that they didn’t even have the common decency to acknowledge the work by the County in bringing this tremendously beneficial project for our valley to fruition but instead attempt to deceive individuals and businesses alike by claiming it as their own.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”- Abraham Lincoln

This is par for the course and just one more example of the amoral behavior by some of the individuals that are currently in power at the City. Releasing misleading information like the example sighted above is not a mistake or an oversight but rather this is an ongoing pattern of behavior by the current City leadership. It is dishonest, deceitful, and it is duplicitous behavior that is a direct reflection on the character of those that are engaging in it.

Whether it is an elected official doing wrong in Sacramento or Washington DC or a local Councilman giving his word on a handshake one minute and then doing the opposite the next, it all points to character. When it is all said and done, regardless of wealth or power, character is all you have; it’s what ultimately defines you.

Knowing the types of unscrupulous leaders running the city, who in their right mind would want to do business with the City of Santa Clarita? If these people will put out blatant misleading information in a press release, then what other dishonorable behavior are they engaging in; what other unethical deeds are they perpetrating on the trusting or unsuspecting?

It has become near common knowledge locally that some of those that are in leadership positions at the City of Santa Clarita are apparently not trustworthy; that they are short on good character traits. These are individuals that will do anything or say anything to get their way; there are countless examples of regularly misleading, spinning information, and being less than truthful in public and private dealings.

Reputation is built on character and the City of Santa Clarita has a tarnished reputation due to the less than stellar character of some of those that are running the city. Unfortunately that tarnished city reputation will be around a lot longer than some of the current leadership and will take much more effort to rebuild when they are gone.

“Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.”-Theodore Roosevelt

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.