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July 8
1997 - Santa Clarita City Council adopts initial Newhall Redevelopment Plan [story]
El Trocadero restaurant


With the February deadline passed for California lawmakers to introduce new legislative packages for 2020, elected officials representing the Santa Clarita Valley are highlighting the measures they are pushing for this year.

Many issues that lawmakers faced in 2019 are continuing to receive attention in legislative packages this year, particularly on addressing homelessness and housing, the environment and the controversial Assembly Bill 5 and how it has affected businesses.

At the Senate level, state Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, is mostly centering his focus around homelessness and AB 5, which he voted against and is currently working alongside other lawmakers in authoring a bill to exempt newspapers and freelancers from the law.

Last year he focused on implementing suggestions from a 2018 audit he requested on how to ease the growing homeless crisis in California. This year, with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $222.2 billion budget that sets aside $1.4 billion for affordable housing and preventative care for those experiencing homelessness, “Sen. Wilk will continue his efforts to bring accountability to how we spend money earmarked for addressing homelessness,” said Eileen Ricker, communications director with the senator’s office.

Wilk is also focusing on animal abuse education and treatment, exempting military retirement pay from state income tax for state veterans and budget reform to change the one-year state budget process into one that is performed every other year.

State Sen. Henry Stern, D-Calabasas, hit the ground running with environment-related issues such as California’s wildfires and public safety power shutoffs.

A series of five bills Stern introduced this year include Senate Bill 739, which would require Cal Fire to develop a training program to train individuals to support defensible space and home-hardening assessment and education efforts.

Stern also brought forth SB 1160, which seeks to support local efforts to underground electrical and communication infrastructure in high-fire-threat districts and the wildland-urban interface.

“Alongside our efforts to save our mountain lions from extinction, support the intellectual and developmental disabilities community, reverse our affordability crisis and cut costs for small businesses, I’m confident that we can make real progress on the most urgent questions facing our families, our communities and our environment,” Stern said in a prepared statement.

Assembly
The 2020 legislative packages include five bills from Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, ranging from disaster preparedness to working with teachers and most vulnerable youth.

“I’m excited to build off our incredible momentum from last year with district-minded legislation that directly resulted from conversations with members of the community and key stakeholders,” said Smith.

Her package includes Assembly Bill 1837, which aims to provide schools with resources and support during emergencies and natural disasters; AB 2379, which creates an annual tax exemption holiday for some emergency supplies; and AB 3238, which helps foster youth and non-minor dependents enroll in CalFresh benefits.

Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, who reintroduced Gabriel’s Law in 2019 with Wilk, brought forth a bill for stronger revenge porn penalties (AB 2065) and a measure to eliminate rape kit backlog (AB 2481), which aims to provide law enforcement with advanced data to analyze criminal patterns, identify repeat offenders and ensure victims see justice.

“The current backlog illustrates that we aren’t committed to helping victims of rape,” Lackey said in a prepared statement. “The rape kit backlog has allowed countless predators to go free and continue their attacks. This bill will ensure California goes after these criminals with every tool available and delivers justice to victims of sexual assault.”

He is also continuing to push for AB 1450, or Gabriel’s Law, which he reintroduced in 2019 with Wilk. The bill would require counties to establish an online database for agencies to cross-report child abuse and neglect allegations, such as the fatal case of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez from Palmdale, who was tortured and murdered by his mother and mother’s boyfriend. The case is now featured in a newly released Netflix documentary called “The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez.”

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SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Tuesday, Jul 8, 2025
Board of Supervisors Appoints First Director of Homeless Services and Housing
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved the appointment of Sarah Mahin as the first director of the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing, the county’s consolidated department focused on homelessness solutions.
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The city of Santa Clarita and Green Santa Clarita want you to be aware of Plastic Free July, a global movement that encourages millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution.
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July 11: ‘Splash in the Water’ at Castaic Lake Begins
California State University, Northridge, and Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation will present "Splash in the Water" at Castaic Lake, a free boating and water safety event for children ages 7-14. The program runs on Fridays beginning Friday, July 11 through Aug. 15.
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Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved the appointment of Sarah Mahin as the first director of the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing, the county’s consolidated department focused on homelessness solutions.
Board of Supervisors Appoints First Director of Homeless Services and Housing
The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, July 10 at 6 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
July 10: CUSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
The Small Business Development Center hosted by College of the Canyons is presenting three free webinar workshops on July 10, hosted by PCR Business Finance.
July 10: Small Business Week Workshops
1997 - Santa Clarita City Council adopts initial Newhall Redevelopment Plan [story]
El Trocadero restaurant
Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station will be at Dick’s Sporting Goods 2-4 p.m. Thursday, July 10 for Coffee with a Cop.
July 10: Coffee with a Cop at Dicks Sporting Goods
Santa Clarita Valley BandsCast will host a sneak preview of the SCV BandsCast Pirate Stage 6 p.m. Sunday, July 13 at Eighth & Rail.
July 13: SCV BandsCast Sneak Preview Pirate Stage
ARTree has announced it has three volunteer positions available for its board.
Board Positions Available at ARTree
The city of Santa Clarita and Green Santa Clarita want you to be aware of Plastic Free July, a global movement that encourages millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution.
Plastic Free July Challenge in Santa Clarita
California State University, Northridge, and Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation will present "Splash in the Water" at Castaic Lake, a free boating and water safety event for children ages 7-14. The program runs on Fridays beginning Friday, July 11 through Aug. 15.
July 11: ‘Splash in the Water’ at Castaic Lake Begins
For Fiscal Year 2025-26, the Measure E Low-Income Senior Exemption Form, along with any necessary attachments, must be submitted via U.S. mail and postmarked by Monday, July 14.
July 14: Deadline for Measure E Tax Exemption Form
Each summer, families, friends and neighbors from across Santa Clarita eagerly await the return of a cherished tradition, an evening under the stars filled with live music, laughter and community spirit.
Ken Striplin | A Community-Favorite Tradition Returns to Central Park
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of five productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, July 7 to Saturday, July 12.
July 7-12: Five Productions Filming in SCV
1949 - Incorporation of Castaic Saddle Club; holds rodeos near future Castaic Lake (lower lagoon) [story]
1850 - Town founder Henry Mayo Newhall arrives in California to look for gold [story]
Henry Newhall
Gunsmoke BBQ & Beer in Santa Paula has announced its summer event series, “Backyard Smoke & Sound” will kick off on Saturday, July 26.
July 26: Gunsmoke BBQ & Beer Will Host ‘Backyard Smoke & Sound’ Series
Experience and explore the outdoors with overnight camping, offering an unforgettable adventure in some of Los Angeles County’s most beautiful parks, including Castaic Lake.
Summer Camping Fun at L.A. County Parks
Beginning this past February, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Office of the State Fire Marshal, initiated the roll out of its 2025 Recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas throughout the State of California.
July 22: L.A. County Public Hearing on Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
The Santa Clarita City Council will meet in special session at 5:30 p.m. and in regular open session at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8 at Santa Clarita City Hall. Among the items the council will consider is Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste's request to remove Planning Commissioner Denise Lite.
July 8: City Council Meets to Consider Removal of Planning Commissioner
1914 - Rev. Wolcott H. Evans, the future "pastor of the disaster," named pastor of Newhall's First Presbyterian Church [story]
church
The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade started promptly at 9 a.m. with thousands of spectators lining the parade route which began at the Newhall roundabout and continued down Main Street through Old Town Newhall.
SCV Fourth of July Parade Announces Trophy Winners
1932 - Robert Poore wins the greased pole climbing contest and $2.50 at Newhall's July 4th celebration [story]
4th of July Parade
Looking for when a specific entry in the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade will make its way down the parade route?
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ARTree Community Arts Center still has spots available for its "My Heart is Talking" workshop, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 8.
July 8: ARTree ‘My Heart is Talking’ Workshop
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger has issued a statement reflecting on the upcoming six-month anniversary of the Eaton Fire, which devastated large portions of Altadena and destroyed nearly 7,000 residential and commercial units.
Kathryn Barger | Eaton Fire Recovery Six-Month Anniversary
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