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     I remember my youth dutifully marching through the checkout line at the supermarket with my mother, and during those pre-scanner days with mechanical cash registers I possessed plenty of time to read the front sheets of the weekly tabloid newspapers.  I particularly enjoyed this time of year when the tabloids, particularly the edgier ones, revealed the annual predictions of “noted” psychics and other prognosticators.  I particularly enjoyed one psychic in the late 70’s who predicted both the end of the world and the appointment of Frank Sinatra to serve in the role of first ambassador to the Vatican in the coming year (Never mind that the restoration of full diplomatic relations with the city-state would need to await the Reagan administration nearly ten years on.).

The tabloids gleefully reviewed their psychic’s bona fides, citing the predictions they nailed in the prior year’s issue.  Even at a young age I recognized the gaming of statistics:  The tabloids never revealed where the psychics blew it!

Now last year I did not produce a column of predictions, so I cannot honestly review them.  Instead, I will present my predictions for the big local stories of 2008, and how they resolve; some serious and some playful.

Writer’s Strike-The debilitating strike ends piecemeal with the Writer’s Guild striking separate deals with various production companies and no further common negotiations.  All impacted workers return to work by the end of January.

Henry Mayo Hospital Expansion-After several more public meetings, more posturing and accusations, and at least three more letters to the editor from Dr. Gene Dorio, the City Council will approve a scaled down compromise expansion plan in multiple phases that will require fresh approval for each phase of the project.  The hospital expansion will NOT constitute an issue in the City Council election. 

City Council Election- TimBen Boydston upsets the applecart of local politics when he submits his application for City Council election on the deadline when all incumbents must decide to run for reelection.  This freezes out two announced candidates from the election since they assumed they could file by the later deadline when at least one incumbent decides not to run for reelection.  After the extended due date passes, TimBen Boydston decides to abandon the race.

City Council Election Part II- 2008 elections “boast” the lowest percentage turnout in City history, despite record spending by candidates, primarily on ad buys on KHTS radio.  80% of the reduced ballot count shows up in vote by mail and poll workers see about ten voters per precinct on Election Day.

Annexation- County will continue to delay issuance of annexation study for the Westside for the entire year while City ponders going forward with annexation of certain areas already interested in joining.  The reason for the delay?  The County does not wish consultants to reveal the Westside’s only options include annexation to the City of Santa Clarita or remaining part of the County.

Stevenson Ranch Homicide- Signal reporters will finally crack the motive for the vicious Stevenson Ranch murder and attempted murder:  A long-standing grudge developed from interaction of the victims and the perpetrators in an underground “fight club” in the Santa Clarita Valley.  Michael Dean Stephens will assert a self-defense argument but will plead guilty to second degree murder charges under an arrangement where he implicates and testifies against five other individuals involved in the homicide.

Other Local Politics- After Democratic sweep of the White House, an increased majority in the House of Representatives, and a filibuster proof 60 seat majority in the Senate, Buck McKeon, who won reelection with 75% of the vote in the 25th District, announces he will not seek another term in 2010.

Local Development- Sierra Club, Friends of the Santa Clara River, the Oak Conservancy, and SCOPE go on a semi-permanent hiatus while developers suspend most permitting and development activity due to continued residential housing slump and inability to raise capital in the credit markets.  Lennar finally merges Newhall Land completely into its operations and by the end of the year the historical name only appears in John Boston Time Ranger columns.

High School Football- West Ranch High School will shock the high school sports world by winning the Foothill League outright in only their second year of varsity league play and third year of varsity play.  West Ranch will set another record as the only team to reach a CIF final during only their third year of full varsity play, but will lose in the Northern Division finals to Hart High School, avenging an earlier loss in league play and fresh from a 50 point shellacking of St. Bonaventure in the semi-finals.

Now wait twelve months and I will certainly share the predictions that I got right!   Have a safe, happy and prosperous New Year!

Tim Myers                                                                                                                         Commentary

Tim Myers is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Landscape Development, Inc.  He has been writing on a wide variety of local topics for more than 11 years. 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.