Voters Stay Home
I don't normally comment on local events, but it seems that there was low voter turn out for the West Ranch Town Council elections (as reported at The West Ranch Beacon) yesterday. In my opinion, holding the elections on the Fourth of July was not a wise option. Many families go out of town for the holiday. Or they spend the day away from home attending parties at friends homes (as was our case). And many Stevenson Ranch residents, who can see the fireworks display from their own backyard, avoid the 5,000+ crowd at the park (as we've done every year since 1999). And judging by the heavy traffic (we noted upon our return) leaving Stevenson Ranch last night, I would imagine that many spectators weren't even West Ranch residents, making many of those who attended the festivities ineligible to vote. Our opportunity to review the candidates was available at the park before the election. I think the residents of West Ranch were significantly short changed by this decision.
posted by Tootsie Farklepants at 1:12 PM
15 Comments:
T.F. There is no money available in West reanch for any kind of normal election. IN santa clarita a local election costs about $150,000 each time we run one. Over there they have no money for a real election so the town council has to devise a way and place to do it that will have a chance at a better turn out.
Thank said, You can be sure that they look at any ideas for the future so they will do it better. I agree with you totally on the low voter turn out. It is kind of sad that folks just dont go out and vote. And over there like over here, no matter where it was held, they notified the entire community of the time and place.
People complain and then dont do anything about it. I just wish people voted more often.
I liked you essay!!!!!!
Murph
I am oh-so-good at complainin'. I understand that they are limited in their options. Even though people knew the time and place, I doubt it is something they'd cancel their prior plans for.
One idea, not necessarily a better one, would be to mail out a letter with all of the candidates and a brief statement from them, so that we know what our choices are. I don't have a grand idea for the time and place for the actual election though. Is it something that could be done by mail? I don't know. This is why I don't do these things. Can't please everyone.
Do you think the people of West Ranch are happy with their current leadership, or merely apathetic? I am wondering if the views espoused by at least one of the town council members is indicative of how the residents feel.
I would wager that they are apathetic considering the 20% or less voter turn out and the small number of people who show up for town council meetings. And, as with any elected official, they don't necessarily represent the majority views, just the majority of those that went out and voted.
People also tend to vote on name recognition. Don't incumbents all the way up to Congress have something like a 95% re-election rate?
I guess to try to answer your question accurately, I would have to know which issue it is that you want to know represents the views of the community.
Tootsie, I am wondering if the views espoused by Mr. Bossert on his blog are representative of the majority of residents, especially when it comes to annexation.
Mr. Bossert has clearly stated that he thinks that in order for the city to annex the West Ranch, the city should assume their Mello-Roos debt. (I have posted an extensive rebuttal to this on scvtalk.com.) I am a resident of the city, and I say no way!
I believe that this is the issue that is preventing the city getting talks going regarding any possible annexation, and it seems to me that if the majority of residents of the West Ranch do want to annex, they are going to have to change out a few positions on that town council.
If they are apathetic, then they will continue to remain in the unincorporated county. But maybe they are happy with that. I don't know. Just wondering. I don't know anyone who lives on that side of town.
In all honesty Chrisa, outside of forums like these, I have never heard the topic of annexation come up from other residents. I'm one that is in no rush to annex to the city. I just don't see the benefits to us.
I believe that the Southern Oaks do not have mello-roos, I don't have a problem with them absorbing some of mine. ;-)
I imagine that there are also quite a few residents who aren't even aware that they arent't part of the city of Santa Clarita. I was one of those people up until about 6 years ago. Especially those in Westridge who's address says "Valencia".
mello roos were for the building out of the roads and parks etc in all of the West Ranch area.
Most of the council over there would like to explore annexation, but the city of santa clarita is not willing to take over the debt as well which in all honestly in what they should do. I mean they SHOULD assume the liabilities of the annexed area. The market place and indust centers there more then make up for the short term loss in tax rev.
TF, did you see that Dave read your comments yesterday and it was brought up at the meeting last night!! Great job TF. THATS WHAT IM TALKING BOUT GIRL!!! You made a difference and next time they will ge the word out better and maybe change locations.
You did your community and friends a great service by bringing the issue up on your site. IN politics, voting is important. To you, To Dave at the Beacon and to everyone. This is a no brainer. We need to get more folks involved in this valley locally and of course naionally too! Dem or Repub.
Murph
Coolness! Just imagine all of the good I could do if I were trying!
I completely disagree with you, jack, that the city should take over anyons's Mello-Roos.
Yes it is for streets and infrastructure. Normally, these costs are paid for by the developer and built into the cost of the house. However, in a Mello-Roos district, the developer shunts this part to your property tax bill and lowers the purchase price of your home.
So, as I see it, if the city were to assume anyone's Mello-Roos, it is the same as subsidizing the purchase of their home, and that isn't fair to me.
I completely agree with the city and I would actively oppose any annexation that involves assuming anyone's Mello-Roos debt.
However, it seems that annexation is the last thing people are concerned about, and with Mr. Bossert now as pres, surely it won't happen on his watch. That said, everyone seems to be happy with the status quo, so then they should just stay in the county.
Annexation is about who provides your local services, and about local representation. It's about your tax dollars staying in your community and benefitting you with projects that directly benefit you and your neighbors.
The west side gets plenty of attention from Mr. Antonovich. Different story for an area, like say Plum Canyon. Plum Canyon is an island sandwiched between the city limits. Plum Canyon Road from Rodgers to White's Canyon Rd is patrolled by the CHP since it is county. If you drive through there often, how many times have you seen a patrol car? As compared to the bottom of the hill on White's Canyon? If you live in Plum Canyon, your tax dollars are going to support projects all over the county instead of staying right here, being spent within the city limits on programs and projects, such as the Aquatic Center and bike trails.
Lowering the price of the home to offset the mello-roos was a selling point before the housing market skyrocketed. Now the prices of homes on the west side often times exceed those of their equivelents in the city of Santa Clarita.
For example, on Realtor.com there are 35 listings in the 91355 zip code between $750K and $1M. In the 91381 zip there are 70 homes listed for the same price range.
The lower selling cost of our home was a positive choice for us when we bought in 1997, but if we were to sell today, there is no incentive for the buyer who would be paying nearly 3x what we did AND mello roos to boot.
I'm not saying the city of SC should absorb the mello roos, I'm just saying that the whole lower cost/mello roos isn't the attractive offer that it once was.
Just as a bit of info, the voter turnout was actually far far less than 20%.
More like 0.72%. Three-quarters of one percent.
Which doesn't do a lot for claims that SR is engaged in the civic debate about annexation, frankly. I'm a big Stevenson Ranch booster for a lot of reasons (mostly narrow-minded and partisan, to be honest), but this makes Santa Clarita look good by comparison.
By the way, does CHP really patrol Plum Canyon? That would be pretty bizarre.
Actually, I do believe it is true. It is not on any regular patrol, that is for sure. I have only seen a CHP on there about two times in the 11 years I have lived here. I drive it all the time, and can't remember the last time I saw any traffic enforcement, especially as compared to White's Canyon, which is patrolled often - just last week I saw someone getting a ticket.
Plum Canyon is unincorporated LA County from Rodgers to White's Canyon. While West Ranch may be just fine staying in the county - Plum Canyon should really annex, as it is an island surrounded by the city. The only county amenity there is one small park. Other than that, their property taxes are going to fund projects anywhere in the county.
Chrisa, the rest of the time, do you see Sheriffs, or do you see no-one?
0.72%...that is really...embarrassing.
I don't ever see any traffic enforcement on that road. I live at the top of White's Canyon and I have a friend who lives in Plum Canyon, the unincorporated part. I am always telling her I get to the top of White's Canyon and step on it all the way down to her house!
Since that portion of Plum Canyon is unincorp. LA county, the county is responsible for traffic enforcement. I believe that means it is usually CHP, but I have lived here 11 years and I can only remember once (or twice) of seeing any traffic enforcement on that part of the road. (Anyone else recall ever seeing traffic enforcement on Plum Canyon?) Compare this to White's Canyon, where there is traffic enforcement at least a couple times a month.
While the West Ranch can have it's arguments for why they don't want to annex, and they seem to get plenty of attention from the county, this area of Plum Canyon is literally an island and really should annex to get the better services. The only attention Plum Canyon gets from the county is more houses, which they are grading for right now!
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