The Santa Clarita City Council sent a letter to Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger on Thursday opposing any extension of the county’s “Safer-at-Home” order, originally set to expire Friday.
Here’s the text of the letter from Mayor Cameron Smyth, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Miranda, and Councilmembers Bob Kellar, Marcha McLean and Laurene Weste:
On behalf of the 225,000 residents of the City of Santa Clarita (City), we want to thank you for the leadership you have displayed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Your daily updates and accessibility have provided the residents of Los Angeles County (County) with both timely and accurate information that has been invaluable.
The purpose of this correspondence is to formally oppose any extension to the current Safer at Home Order and petition the Board of Supervisors to allow flexibility for the City of Santa Clarita in complying with guidelines provided by the State or County — whichever is most appropriate for our community — to prevent the further degradation of our local economy. In addition, the City Council is requesting a more fragmented, regional reopening plan for the North County region — all cities which have very low rates of infection. As you are aware, recently, the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale have requested similar actions by the County.
After two months of adhering to the guidelines and directories issues by both State and County Public Health officials, the City of Santa Clarita can continue the progress against the virus, while allowing our economy to slowly and responsibility initiate the recovery process. We are proud of the efforts (and results) of our residents; however, it is not without cost.
Santa Clarita was recently named the 17th hardest-hit U.S. city (3rd in California) for COVID-19 unemployment growth by WalletHub. The city of Santa Clarita economy relies heavily on entertainment, film, aerospace production retail and food services–sectors that have been completely shut down under the current orders. The economic impact to this community has been and will be devastating, yet the rate of infection remains very low. In the last 12 hours, the city has received more than 800 correspondences from concerned residents and businesses in jeopardy of closing their doors permanently.
As of May 13, 2020, Santa Clarita accounted for only 529 cases of the County’s 34,428 COVID-19 cases, or just 1.5%. In fact, hospital visits have been so low that our local hospital, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital (HMNH) announced the beginning fo staff reduction last week.
Looking at the data available for the three cities in the North County region, total cases have reached 1,494 or only 4.3% of the County’s total. The North County is also geographically larger and separated from the other areas of the County with a combined population of just o0ver 525,000 residents. The combined population is greater than 74% of the 58 counties in the entire state of California.
With this information provided and the active efforts to slow the spread and flatten the curve, the City Council believes this request for flexibility is justified for the cities in the North County region to begin the recovery process. A committee of the City Council eagerly awaits a meeting with you to discuss these requests and develop a more clear path forward.
Again, we want to thank yo0u for your leadership and support of our community, not only during this nationwide crisis, but also on a day to day basis. We greatly appreciate your consideration of this request.
With a projected $10 million revenue loss for Santa Clarita, the City Council is sending a letter to Los Angeles County expressing opposition to any additional extensions of its safer-at-home order that expires Friday, which has kept people in quarantine and temporarily closed multiple businesses since March.
At a special meeting of the Santa Clarita City Council Tuesday, Councilmembers will consider rescinding the city's evictions moratorium and adopting Los Angeles County's policy.
There’s never been a time when information was changing so quickly, when restrictions were being updated on a daily basis and news updates were everywhere.
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Thank you for the information. Unfortunately, you do not state how many tests have been done to see what the rate of covid-19 really is in our city. Without consistent testing how do we know the true rate of infection? I will be staying home as much as possible and wearing a mask when I am out. What angers me are all the people who are not abiding by the L.A. County order to wear a face covering when out in public. I had a run-in with 2 young moms yesterday at Placerita Canyon Park who refused to wear face coverings.
I also agree. There are families where one person has tested positive and when others came up sick and went to get tested by their Dr. they were refused. No free testing sites and many sick who are NOT accounted for. Health and safety first!!!
Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment has announced the start of its grant funded watershed education program at McGrath Elementary School.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has adopted a sweeping plan to accelerate recovery efforts and ensure equitable support for thousands of residents and small businesses affected by the unprecedented Eaton and Palisades Wildfires this month.
The College of the Canyons Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will be offering free tax preparation services to individuals who made less than $67,000 in 2024, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking skills.
In the wake of the devastating fires in Southern California and as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s proclaimed State of Emergency and Executive Order, the California Department of Public Health is taking steps to support and make things easier for Californians as recovery continues across the region.
Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment has announced the start of its grant funded watershed education program at McGrath Elementary School.
From Feb. 22 through March 2, the Aratani Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, will present a new opera by California State University, Northridge emeritus music professor Daniel Kessner. The opera shines light on the lives of members of a Japanese American family and their friends while imprisoned in a US internment camp during World War II.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has adopted a sweeping plan to accelerate recovery efforts and ensure equitable support for thousands of residents and small businesses affected by the unprecedented Eaton and Palisades Wildfires this month.
The College of the Canyons Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will be offering free tax preparation services to individuals who made less than $67,000 in 2024, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking skills.
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons unit are seeking assistance in locating at-risk missing person, Steven Szczerbaty. He is a 74-year-old male White who was last seen on Jan. 27, at 4 p.m., on the 26800 block of Sierra Highway, in the city of Santa Clarita.
College of the Canyons men's golf claimed its first tournament victory of the season after seeing four players finish top four in the individual standings in a dominant outing at the 2025 Pt. Conception Invitational played at La Purisima Golf Course on Monday, Jan. 27.
The city of Santa Clarita is inviting artists to submit artwork for consideration for the upcoming “Saddle Up Santa Clarita” juried exhibition, which will be on view at City Hall.
On Friday, Jan. 24 College of the Canyons women's tennis started its 2025 campaign with a road trip to Mt. San Antonio College, eventually falling 7-2 to the host Mounties.
The College of the Canyons football program will host its third annual Super Saturday Skills & Drills Clinic on Saturday, Feb. 8, as part the annual "Big Game" weekend.
Nominations for the 2025 Santa Clarita Valley Man and Woman of the Year awards will be accepted until Jan. 31. The awards dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2, at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
The College of the Canyons Foundation in response to the Los Angeles wildfires have created the Cougars Care Emergency Fund to help COC students who have lost everything.
Deputies from the Palmdale Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to a welfare check at a local residence on the 2400 block of Soledad Canyon Road in Acton at 5:35 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. Two females were found dead at the scene.
The MAIN and Front Row Center presents the original play by Lee Clarke, "Disconnect", Friday Feb. 21 thru Sunday, Feb. 23 at 24266 Main St, Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency will be holding a special board meeting Monday, Feb. 3. with a special dinner for the board and staff at 5:15 p.m.
The track teams at The Master's University started their season at the 2025 OIDFE meet on Friday, Jan. 24 at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College in Claremont. Multiple athletes hit the NAIA Indoor standards and set personal bests.
Freshman Quincy Phillips dropped a career-high 31 points and picked up his first collegiate double-double to lead The Master's University men's basketball team to an 83-71 win over the Embry-Riddle Eagles Saturday, Jan. 25 in The MacArthur Center.
Boy Scout of America Troop 583 will host a "Get Outside Day" event, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at Valley Trails Camp, 30910 Sloan Canyon Road, Castaic, CA 91384.
Kelly Mathiesen had a career-high 21 points and Bella Forker a career-high six blocks to help lift The Master's University women's basketball team to a 74-51 win over the Embry-Riddle Eagles Saturday, Jan. 25 in The MacArthur Center.
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2 Comments
Thank you for the information. Unfortunately, you do not state how many tests have been done to see what the rate of covid-19 really is in our city. Without consistent testing how do we know the true rate of infection? I will be staying home as much as possible and wearing a mask when I am out. What angers me are all the people who are not abiding by the L.A. County order to wear a face covering when out in public. I had a run-in with 2 young moms yesterday at Placerita Canyon Park who refused to wear face coverings.
I also agree. There are families where one person has tested positive and when others came up sick and went to get tested by their Dr. they were refused. No free testing sites and many sick who are NOT accounted for. Health and safety first!!!