header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Kevin Shenkman

Kevin Shenkman

The lawyer for plaintiffs who have now sued three local entities said his firm is hoping the defendants settle because going to trial “won’t benefit anyone,” said Kevin Shenkman of Shenkman & Hughes, a Malibu law firm that’s suing the city of Santa Clarita and two local school districts.

“You only need to look to Palmdale to see that that doesn’t help — to look at the hole that they’ve dug themselves into,” Shenkman said.

The firm is handling the litigation for three civil rights suits against Santa Clarita Valley public agencies that could cost local taxpayers anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars to millions in legal fees.

The suits, which are very similar to one that Shenkman’s firm is litigating in Palmdale, allege that at-large elections, which take place throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, have denied access to voters.

The Palmdale suit is thought to be decided “any day now,” with the bill to Palmdale “north of $1 million in legal fees,” if the city loses.

Shenkman is trying the cases on a pro bono basis, which means he is only reimbursed for his billable hours and the expert testimony he is pays for out of pocket, if his suit is successful.

R. Rex Parris joined in the suit against Palmdale in late January, and has also signed on to three suits being filed against Santa Clarita Valley entities.

The Palmdale trial concluded May 15, and the court required written closing statements June 6.

The suits claim that the city – as well as the Sulphur Springs and Santa Clarita Community College – hold at-large elections that deny access to Latino voters.

“We only want to fight enough to get to what’s right for the minority interests in the district,” Shenkman said.

However, a Santa Clarita Valley education official likened the suits to an irresponsible cash grab at the expense of local school district funds and taxpayers’ money.

joemessinamug

Joe Messina is president of the Hart School Board, which isn’t a target in the recent spate of lawsuits.

“What a great way for attorneys to make money — to sue the pockets of the districts,” said Joe Messina, board president for the William S. Hart Union High School District, sarcastically. “The numbers showed that districting would make things worse because they would water down the larger groups, so where you normally have an 18 percent Hispanic population in the whole valley then you get those numbers down to single digits in some areas. How does that change anything?”

The Sulphur Springs School District lawsuit alleges that the district comprises a portion of the city of Santa Clarita with 56,256 residents, and 30.6 percent of the registered voters in that district are Latino.

“The Latino population located within the SSSD is geographically concentrated, particularly in the pockets of the Newhall and Canyon Country neighborhoods,” according to the lawsuit.

The Hart district, a valleywide district that governs the schools for the SCV’s approximately 23,000 junior high and high school students, which also has a Hispanic governing board member in Gloria Mercado-Fortine, who’s announced her intention to run for Santa Clarita City Council next year.

More than a half-year of research proved single-member districts would only make the problem worse, Messina said.

The lawsuit calls for single-member districts, or another suitable remedy, Shenkman said, and cited several school districts’ efforts to move the elections as evidence that they have acknowledged a problem.

Moving the elections to even years has proven to improve access, and would be considered a step in the right direction, Shenkman said.

It’s a move that several local school districts tried to do, including COC’s governing body and the Sulphur Springs School District; however the county cited that it didn’t have the resources to handle so many elections during gubernatorial- or presidential-year elections.

A measure to allow the elections to move was basically nullified by a 2-2-1 vote by the county’s Board of Supervisors in May.

Several school officials have argued that their research has shown that single-member district elections, which would divide the Santa Clarita Valley representation, would not solve anything.

“In a town like this, in a city like this, this will not fix the problem,” Messina said. “This will make partisan politics worse.”

Another alternative is what’s known as limited voting, Shenkman said, whereby voters choose one candidate, instead of a top-three ballot, which is currently the system in place.

“The typical remedy has been to go to single-member districts, however there have been many cases where a court has found, ‘Yes, there is a problem, but we think another remedy is appropriate,” Shenkman said.

Calls seeking comment from Sulphur Springs School District officials have not been returned. Officials with the College of the Canyons and the city of Santa Clarita both said they have not yet had a chance to formally brief their governing boards so an official response has not yet been formulated.

In the meantime, if a judge doesn’t throw out the suit, and then a settlement isn’t reached quickly, a huge burden would be passed on to taxpayers, Shenkman said

District officials for Cerritos Community College decided to settle early on, Shenkman said, and their costs were about $55,000.

However, in the case of Sanchez vs. Modesto, which was litigated by a different firm and resulted in a decision that went with the plaintiff — one that the state’s high court and the Supreme Court refused to review — the legal fees went in excess of $3 million.

Shenkman likened Modesto’s demographics to those of Santa Clarita.

“We served the city and the school districts on June 26 and they have 30 days to respond to the complaint,” he said.

“We would certainly invite a conversation or a discussion as far as where we go from here,” Shenkman said. “It’s not in anyone’s interest to go to a scorched earth litigation routine.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

4 Comments

  1. astroak says:

    wow, this is pretty sad. hope the judge throws this out. it’s similar to the case where two guys go out seeking restaurant that don’t display a health sign and takes them to court BUT hoping they settle. If the city would call on its residents to help out I’m sure they would.

  2. Name says:

    Parris and Shenkman are scum of the earth. With apologies to scum.

  3. Adam Thomas says:

    Shenkman sued Chipotle for using lard in their refried beans. Next he’ll sue Olive Garden for using tomatoes in their marinara sauce.

  4. Don Ricketts says:

    The lawsuits would be stayed, if not resolved, if the Council (and districts) would put the matter on the ballot: Should Santa Clarita Council [School District] members be elected by District instead of at-large?

    This is a different city than it was in 1987 and the public should be allowed to reconsider the matter..

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
SCVNews.com