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 6
1772 - Spanish Capt. Pedro Fages arrives; camps at Agua Dulce, Castaic, Lake Elizabeth, Lebec, Tejon [story]
Pedro Fages


Now and Then in the SCV | Commentary by Darryl Manzer
| Sunday, Aug 10, 2014

darrylmanzer_blacktieI really enjoyed my day off from this writing gig. Trains and dumps get a little old. But there is nothing like a good case of misinformation and lies, salted with just a little bit of toxic chemicals and contaminated water. Thank you, VVCAC, CCL, CATC and those who support them.

It looks like there is some actual “pay for votes” going on, too. That can be directly attributed to the fact that the county of Los Angeles does not provide funds to operate the various town councils. They have to get operating funds themselves.

So the Castaic Area Town Council has a 5K run every year, and the two main sponsors are, for about $8,000, Newhall Land and Farming and Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

Oh, Chiquita also donates to the Castaic Lions Club some $1,000 a year. I did see the names of Lions Club officers which are many of the same names one sees on the Castaic Area Town Council.

In spite of what those folks might say, I think it would be best if they didn’t vote on anything to do with the landfill. I’m sure the donations and sponsorship would not sway the votes of those folks, but there is the appearance that it might help them decide in favor of the dump. Can we prove it? No, except that the appearance of a “money for votes” scheme should stop the CATC from even commenting on the Chiquita Canyon Landfill expansion.

As individuals, they can comment all they want. Just leave your title and position on the CATC out of your comments.

I’ve already stated that the Val Verde Community Advocacy Committee gets about $20,000 a year from the landfill company. Does anyone find it strange that the Castaic Area Town Council has to scratch together around $8,000 a year to operate, and the VVCAC gets $20,000 from the very same company it is supposed to keep in check for the citizens of Val Verde? Last I heard, the bank account for that committee had a balance of more than $200,000. Now we’re talking some serious bucks here.

We know the Community Benefits Fund gets upwards of $350,000 each year, and that appears to be the money best spent. There are scholarships and many other community improvement projects. Still, that is a lot of money for folks to look at and desire.

If Los Angeles County would provide the operating funds for the town councils, then the desire for money to support them would diminish. The appearance of being paid to vote would go away. Not saying that they do that, but considering how some are supporting the landfill expansion, one must wonder.

The odds of L.A. County paying for the committees and town councils are someplace between zero and none. Ain’t going to happen for a long time to come. Maybe as the current crop of county supervisors is replaced through term limits. We should start to see changes in 2016.

I’m really tired of hearing about what a good neighbor the Chiquita Canyon Landfill is and will be. Could you explain that to the folks who have to live in the smell that can be so awful, they get sick?

Maybe that same “good neighbor” can explain why dogs and some people have kidney and liver problems at a rate higher than normal. I’ve also been told of families which have had to suffer through multiple miscarriages, and they live close to the dump and smell the place all day, every day.

Digging into this, I cannot help but draw a comparison to the book and movie, “Erin Brokovich.” We hear: “We’re operating at the highest standards” and “public safety is our highest concern.”

Well, public safety may be the highest concern of the landfill … but the large fans designed to lower the stench are gasoline-powered instead of electric. Every night those fans run until they run out of fuel. Nobody is there to fill the tanks and keep them running. Little wonder that the smells get bad in the late evening. Residents have been told it would be too expensive to install electric fans. We’d ask the VVCAC to get us the cost comparison from the landfill, since the VVCAC is the “liaison and advocate for the community.” Instead I’ll ask it here. What is the cost difference? This way, I’ll have a chance of getting the answer.

There is so much going on with this dump that borders on being inexplicable and a whole bunch strange. It spends thousands of dollars on a community fund but can’t afford electric fans. It is tasked with having proper air and water quality monitoring equipment, also being the operators of same.

I guess they figure that since they have given so much – maybe it is time to cash in on the investments in CATC, VVCAC and county elected officials – they shouldn’t have to do so much.

It is time, my friends. They should shut down and cease all operations ASAP. Tomorrow I’ll tell you the legal reasons for that request.

 

Darryl Manzer grew up in the Pico Canyon oil town of Mentryville in the 1960s and attended Hart High School. After a career in the U.S. Navy he returned to live in the Santa Clarita Valley. He can be reached at dmanzer@scvhistory.com and his commentaries are archived at DManzer.com. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].

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.

12 Comments

  1. Cam Noltemeyer says:

    Thank You. It is time to shut it down.

  2. Roger says:

    LOL… it’s amazing that anyone could actually believe anything you write. It’s just all so wrong. Every bit wrong… if not outright lies. You are clearly in the pocket of Val Verde. You don’t even know that the VVCAC is an “ADVISORY” committee. It doesn’t “Advocate.” Where do you get all your misinformation from? The VVCA? Val Verde residents? It’s all nonsense. But I enjoy reading fiction… makes things so much more interesting when facts aren’t involved. #AnxiouslyAwaritingNextFiction

  3. Geese says:

    He is not the pocket of anyone. The VVCAC may state it is an advisory committee, but they don’t listen the community. This is an opinion of his. I actually agree with him. With so much controversy and who knows what else, this request of Chiquita Canyon Landfill should be postponed until there is more clarification on the TRUTH.

  4. Steve Lee says:

    Roger, you should read the original contract. You will see no funds can be used at any time to give a bad name to the land fill. It also states that they will never go over a certain tonnage, which is soon approaching. You will also notice that there is gas equipment. Reading is a wonderful tool. Don’t waste the gifts of the facts. I am attaching the original contract.

    http://www.valverdecac.com/pdf/StatementofAgreements.pdf

    • SCVNews.com says:

      Leon here. Standing back an looking at this issue and reading Darryl’s commentaries and many of the responses from people on the CATC and VVCAC and the rest of the alphabet soup, it appears there is one fundamental fact that has escaped some (but not most) people, and it’s this: This is a dump. It is not an amenity that makes the Santa Clarita Valley prettier, or nicer, or a better place to live, or raises our property values. It is a dump. Yes, I think it’s important to explore the health issues and the management and either prove or disprove various allegations. But that does not change the fact that even if it were the cleanest dump in the world, it is a dump. And more to the point, it is a dump that WE DO NOT NEED, because it primarily DOES NOT SERVICE US. Fully EIGHTY percent of the trash that goes into that dump IS NOT OURS. It comes from other parts of Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties (and elsewhere). And if its maximum allowable daily and weekly capacity is allowed to double, the percentage will only get worse. I’ve heard people say we need to “do our fair share.” Well I’m sorry, but that notion is garbage. Doing our “fair share” would be handling OUR OWN trash – not the rest of Southern California’s. Doing our “fair share” means we dispose of the garbage WE generate rather than making somebody else do it. Period. That is what “fair share” means. Look it up. If this dump ONLY served the Santa Clarita Valley, fine. But it does not, by any stretch of the imagination. Putting a dump next to a residential community in the Santa Clarita Valley is NO DIFFERENT from the many things Los Angeles County (and the state and others) have tried to stick us with over the last four decades. It is NO different, in any way, shape or form, from (working backward) Cemex, the proposed Elsmere dump, the toxic dump that was going to go into the riverbed in Sand Canyon in 1979-80, and a host of other things. It makes absolutely NO SENSE for anyone who lives in this valley to support YET ANOTHER BAD THING that L.A. County wants to foist upon us. We need to rattle every saber in our arsenal to make sure this dump closes in 2019 (because that’s what the collective “we” agreed to, even if it was just a small sub-sector), and on a local political, committee, town council, etc., level, it is high time we remove from office anybody who has either drunk the Kool-Aid or is simply too damn dumb to know that at the end of the day, a mega-regional-dump is a BAD THING for the Santa Clarita Valley.

  5. Roger says:

    Again… I believe it would be great if the management and opinion contributors actually followed their own policies and supported and encouraged facts. Actual facts. Not misinformation and lies reported here. I would think that hired management would be concerned about loosing its biggest financial contributer, the City of Santa Clarita. Yes… Tax payer dollars paying the salaries of those who wildly comitt liable against a local SCV business. You may not like their business, but I don’t like your dirty “news” business either. Landfills are held to a very high standard. This “news” agency funded by the City of Santa Clarita and the school districts of our Valley deserve should learn to hold themselves to a high standard.

  6. Roger says:

    In fact Leon… Perhaps we should piece apart every part of Darryl and your “reporting” and determine just how many of your alleged facts are actually fiction and total lies. Then maybe The City of Santa Clarita will step in and require actual news and facts given they’re the ones signing your paycheck. We deserve honesty and integrity which is clearly lacking with our Public Access News. I’m really surprised someone hasn’t sued you for what you’ve written above. #Justsaying

    • SCVNews.com says:

      Didn’t know I get a paycheck, Roger, much less one signed by the city of Santa Clarita, but OK, I’ll take that into consideration when evaluating your “facts.” But as stated, I couldn’t care less about your opinion. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about the county siting a landfill that we do not need. (Leon)

  7. Cynthia Kimura says:

    Roger & Steve Roter, I am a Val Verde resident. I’ve been following Darryl’s commentary and appreciate his non-corporate funded viewpoint. It is a side we are truly missing. I’ve been to meetings in which we’re told there are no problems. However, when research is done, the opposite is uncovered. How are we supposed to trust a corporation that denies that sludge has been accepted, when in fact it’s documented that it has? Roger & Steve, have you personally done any research into this topic or are you looking at the $$$$$ involved? Do you have a stake in the issue? If so, what is it?

  8. Roger says:

    Leon… You probably shouldn’t tell constituents you don’t care about their opinions. You sound very arrogant as a paid representative of the city of Santa Clarita’s public access news station. I think you and your advisory committee and board should be held accountable for what you’ve allowed to occur on this site which is totally subsidized by taxpayer dollars. SCVTV and scvnews are out of control and need to be reigned in. Libel will land you and everyone involved in court. Check your “facts” before you print them. It’s journalism 101. Thanks for listening.

  9. Greg Kimura says:

    Dear Editor,

    In an effort to be fair and just, I recommend every comment here to have a first and last name of the person posting.

    If they are too scared to post their own name, then they should not be allowed to do so.

    I am a community leader both in Val Verde and Castaic. I include my name and have more at stake than any of the people who won’t follow the rules.

    Thank you.

    Greg

    • Geese says:

      To everyone on this site…..Geese is Susie Evans. I will make the necessary changes for any further posts I make.

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Thursday, Mar 6, 2025
In response to proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs by the federal administration, Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo issued a statement which is available for press interviews after the legislative session today or by phone and video.
Thursday, Mar 6, 2025
Throughout my entire life, I have surrounded myself with animals, whether it is my beloved donkey, cattle dogs or horses, animals truly do have incredible personalities and dynamic feelings.
Monday, Mar 3, 2025
Recent wildfires in Altadena, Pacific Palisades and just north of us in Castaic, have been a stark reminder of the ever-present fire threat in Southern California. As we begin the new year, these devastating events highlight the importance of always being prepared.
Friday, Feb 28, 2025
At the city of Santa Clarita, we are always trying to find new and innovative ways to serve our residents. This is especially true when looking at how we can connect them to the world of resources offered by the Santa Clarita Public Library.
Friday, Feb 28, 2025
Family, heritage and the stories passed down through generations shape who we are. As the proud son of Puerto Rican parents, I’ve always cherished the deep connections, traditions and legacies that bind families together.
Monday, Feb 24, 2025
Did you know that Santa Clarita ranks among the Top 50 cities in the United States on the 2024 ParkScore Index? This recognition highlights our city’s commitment to providing exceptional parks and outdoor spaces for everyone in our community.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
On Sunday, Feb. 16, The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau detectives located and arrested a suspect related to the Feb. 4, murder of Menghan Zhuang which occurred in the city of Newhall.
LASD Arrests Suspect in Murder of CalArts Student
In response to proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs by the federal administration, Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo issued a statement which is available for press interviews after the legislative session today or by phone and video.
Pilar Schiavo | Statement Condemning Proposed Federal Cuts for VA
The Santa Clarita Artists Association will be hosting a Plein Air Outdoor Artmaking and public meet up Friday, March 21, 9 a.m.- noon.
March. 21: SCAA Plein Air Outdoor Artmaking
The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board unanimously approved the appointment of Ramon Zuniga as a new assistant principal at West Ranch High School.
Hart District Appoints New Assistant Principal at West Ranch High School
City of Santa Clarita residents are invited to pre-register for the annual Neighborhood Cleanup in celebration of Earth Day taking place on Saturday, April 19, to join the city in removing litter from local neighborhoods and public spaces.
April 19: Volunteer at 2025 Neighborhood Cleanup for Earth Day
The Master's University men's basketball team came up just a bit short, 75-77, on Tuesday, March 4 at home against the No. 2 Arizona Christian Firestorm in the GASC Championship final.
Mustangs Fall to Firestorm in GSAC Championship
Throughout my entire life, I have surrounded myself with animals, whether it is my beloved donkey, cattle dogs or horses, animals truly do have incredible personalities and dynamic feelings.
Laurene Weste | Changing Lives, One Paw at a Time
Rancho Camulos Museum in Piru will host Californio Fiesta de Rancho Camulos on Friday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m
April 11: Californio Fiesta de Rancho Camulos
The city of Santa Clarita invites families, young artists and the entire community to the ninth Annual Youth Arts Showcase on Saturday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market Street, Newhall, CA 91321.
March 15: Unleash Creativity At Ninth Annual Youth Arts Showcase
The 29th Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival is back in town and the city of Santa Clarita is seeking volunteers to help make it a success by assisting with different activities.
Volunteers Needed for The Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival
Ticket sales for the highly anticipated Santa Clarita Valley Man & Woman of the Year event are now open. Don't miss out on this incredible May 2 evening celebrating exceptional individuals who make a difference in our community.
March 6-April 24: Purchase Tickets for Man, Woman of the Year Gala
1772 - Spanish Capt. Pedro Fages arrives; camps at Agua Dulce, Castaic, Lake Elizabeth, Lebec, Tejon [story]
Pedro Fages
The Nostalgic Radio Show is making its annual return to The MAIN (24266 Main Street) with two rollicking fun evenings on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8.
March 7: ‘The Nostalgic Radio Show’ at The MAIN
When a cyber-attack hit a local elementary school district in 2024, Hsiawen Hull, executive director of infrastructure and information security at College of the Canyons, pitched in to help them recover and guide their decisions to improve their security posture. 
COC Employee Named 2025 CISOA Rising Star
Senator Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 816, the small business tax relief bill, which would exempt small businesses, with 25 or fewer employees and maximum gross receipts of $5 million, from paying the state’s $800 annual franchise tax.
Valladares Introduces Bill to Lower Taxes for California Small Businesses
Los Angeles County filed suit today against Southern California Edison and Edison International to recover costs and damages sustained by the County from the Eaton Fire.   
County Sues Edison Over Eaton Fire
Applications are now available for California Credit Union’s Summer Internship Program for college students.
California Credit Union Offers Summer Internship Program
 Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has issued an advisory to clarify a point of confusion for property owners impacted by the recent fires regarding construction allowances that permit the rebuilding of a larger structure.
Assessor Clarifies Confusion for Property Owners Impacted by Recent Fires
The University Student Union invites Matadors to attend Night Market on Friday, April 18, in the USU from 7 to 11 p.m.
April 18: Spring 2025 Night Market to Celebrate Art and Community at CSUN
Santa Clarita Valley International, a tuition-free TK-12 public charter school, invites families to visit its campus and experience its innovative, student-centered approach to learning.
March 6: SCVi Invites Families to Explore Its Unique TK-12 Learning Community at Four Upcoming Events
California State University, Northridge is working across disciplines to use machine learning to train a new generation of students in how to use existing data to prepare for potential disasters such as wildfires.
CSUN Crosses Disciplines to Train the Next Generation of Wildfire Predictors
1864 - L.A. Star newspaper report: County supervisors have accepted Beale's Cut as complete [story]
Beale's Cut
The Saugus Union School District Measure EE Citizens' Oversight Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 6, at 6 p.m. in the Saugus Union School District Office
March 6: Saugus School District Citizens’ Oversight Committee Meets
Los Angeles County Public Works is closely monitoring a series of storm systems forecasted to bring light to moderate rainfall to the region, including the Santa Clarita Valley, through Friday.
NWS Predicts Light to Moderate Rain, Possible Mountain Snow
SCVNews.com