SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Kathryn Barger | Keeping Up With Kathryn

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December 26

1873 - Vasquez gang raids Kingston in (now) Kings County; ties up townspeople, makes off with $2,500 in cash and jewels [story]

Kathryn Barger | Keeping Up With Kathryn

Supervisor Kathryn Barger | Monday, Oct 17, 2022

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Dear Friends,

This week, many of us were shocked to hear the recording of four powerful Los Angeles leaders who expressed intolerable, hateful, and racist comments. Nury Martinez’s decision to resign was the right thing to do. As elected officials, it’s our responsibility to lead with integrity. If someone can’t do that, and isn’t able to represent people of every background, it’s time to step down. That includes the two council members who are still in office.

The city of Los Angeles should also confront their redistricting process. Gerrymandering (manipulating district boundaries to favor a particular group of people) is unjust and unfair. We cannot allow the preferences of elected leaders to disenfranchise our communities.

This incident highlighted what so many of us already knew, hate can happen anywhere and at any level. It can create a lot of pain and feelings of helplessness. I want my constituents to know that there are actions you can take and resources available to you.

If you are experiencing negative mental health impacts, reach out to the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to speak to a trained professional. Call their help line at (800) 854-7771 or text “LA” to 741741. Their website also has a list of services, including a dedicated page with anti-racism resources that include mental health support for diverse communities, families, and educators. The website also offers connectivity to iPrevail to match you with a mental health coach or support group, or the Headspace meditation app to bring you some peace of mind.

If you experience hate or prejudice of any kind, or want to step up as an advocate against hate, I encourage you to access the L.A. vs Hate program. The website includes helpful community resources, bystander training, self education, inspirational artwork, and social media assets to share with your network.

While it is a challenging time, I hope we use this as a catalyst to support one another and move toward healing and unity.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger serves the residents of the Fifth Supervisorial District — the county’s largest — spanning 2,785 square miles, which includes 20 cities and 83 unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel, San Fernando, Crescenta, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys.

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1 Comment

David Gartland says:

Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022 at

Ms Barger as a resident close to the Junvenile detention centers in Bouquet Canyon, I was wondering what is going with their closure and relocation. We ( my wife Kathleen ) have lived here for 35 + years so you can imagine how we feel about the proposed use of these centers. Hope to hear from you soon.

David & Kathleen Gartland

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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.

Ken Striplin | Fourth Year of the SC2025 Strategic Plan

Monday, Dec 23, 2024

The new year is just around the corner and with the change of the calendar, we will be in the homestretch of the city’s Strategic Plan, Santa Clarita 2025 (SC2025).

Ondré Seltzer | SCVEDC Celebrates 15 Years in 2025

Friday, Dec 20, 2024

Kathryn Barger | Keeping Up With Kathryn

Friday, Dec 20, 2024

Every year at my Foster Youth Holiday Party, it seems like the presents and kids’ smiles get bigger and bigger!

Laurene Weste | What Are You Thankful For This Holiday Season?

Thursday, Dec 19, 2024

Reflecting on this past year, there are so many things to be thankful for. Whether it is our health, happiness or the ability to live in a community as special as ours, I believe many of our residents would agree that Santa Clarita is a place where wonderful memories have been made and a unique place to call home.

Ken Striplin | Happy 37th Birthday Santa Clarita

Monday, Dec 16, 2024

This Sunday, Dec. 15, the city of Santa Clarita will mark its 37th birthday.

Jason Gibbs | All Aboard the Holiday Light Tour

Monday, Dec 9, 2024

The holiday season is a special time in Santa Clarita. As November comes to a close, you’ll begin to notice more and more dazzling lights illuminated and sprinkled throughout the city, a spectacular sight to see for long-time residents and visitors alike.

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Today in SCV History (Dec. 26) 1873 - Vasquez gang raids Kingston in (now) Kings County; ties up townspeople, makes off with $2,500 in cash and jewels [story]	Roar Foundation Matching Grant Opportunity Marianne Paris Sneider, a beloved long-time friend and patron of the Roar Foundation, died on July 21. Her generous spirit is reflected in her estate plan, which provides for a gift of $100,000 to the Roar Foundation in honor of Tippi Hedren, provided that the Roar Foundation receives $100,000 in matching grants within one year of her death.	Residents Protest Chiquita Canyon at Board of Supes Meeting More than a dozen Val Verde and Castaic residents and community leaders came together on Tuesday, Dec. 17, to decry the “inaction and lack of concern” of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors around the public health emergency in the "diverse" community around the Chiquita Canyon Landfill operated by Waste Connections.	Today in SCV History (Dec. 25) 1852 - Acton gold mine owner & California Gov. Henry Tifft Gage born in New York [story]	Gibbon Conservation Center Offers 2025 Gibbon Calendar The Gibbon Conservation Center in Saugus is offering the 2025 Gibbon Calendar for $15 plus $5 shipping. Purchasing a calendar or other items from the Gibbon Center Gift Shop helps support the care and feeding of the endangered small apes living at the Gibbon Conservation Center in Saugus.	Oversight Panel Probes Sheriff Dept. Handling of Complaints Against Deputies Exercising its mandate to improve transparency and accountability in law enforcement, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission has created a special committee to investigate how the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department handles complaints made by members of the public against its deputies.
CalArts Student Animators Win AEF Scholarships Four students from California Institute of the Arts Character Animation program have been awarded scholarships by ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum for the 2024-25 academic year.	Holiday Joy Filled Santa Clarita Metrolink Express Train On Sunday, Dec. 15, nearly 2,000 people dressed in their favorite holiday outfits attended the Metrolink Holiday Express Train at the city of Santa Clarita’s Vista Canyon Multi-Modal Center in Canyon Country.	Public Health Warns Against Feeding Pets Raw Food The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising residents to not feed their pets raw food following a voluntary recall of Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food due to detection of H5 bird flu virus in product samples.	Beware Holiday Season Scams, Theft, Fraud The joy of the holiday season can quickly be ruined by scams, theft and fraud. Before you make a purchase or a donation it’s important to use caution. To help you navigate safely through the holidays	Jan. 20: MLK Day Unity Walk at Central Park The City of Santa Clarita invites the community to come together for a Unity Walk in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, on Monday, Jan.20 at 8 a.m.	County Resources Available to Help Prepare for Upcoming Storm Season Are you ready for storm season? During heavy rain, Los Angeles County is particularly prone to flooding and erosion because so much of the land is paved over and debris can cause stormwater drains to become clogged or backed up.
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