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September 18
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital


The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ proposed 2020-2021 budget for the county Sheriff’s Department falls $400 million short of the $3.9 billion requested by Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

The Sheriff’s Department released the following statement Wednesday:

Sheriff Alex Villanueva submitted his proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors and Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai for $3.9B, an amount that accurately reflects the true cost of providing public safety to Los Angeles County. They responded yesterday with a recommended budget of $3.5B, a shortfall of $400M which once again fails to address the structural deficits they are aware of and chose to ignore.

By intentionally underfunding the Department by 10%, this belies the Board’s claim their funding levels were “adequate” for public safety.

The CEO has set the budget target at a level that is unreasonable, unrealistic, and thus unachievable via the imposed mechanism to fund and offset the rising cost increases in negotiated employee benefits. The Department will continue to be blamed for mandatory spending costs created by the CEO but not funded properly.

As previously noted, since 2000, the LASD budget has grown on average 0.86% every five years, an almost flat growth rate that does not cover rising labor and operating costs. In addition to the underfunding, over the last five years the LASD budget has decreased in relation to the overall county budget by 1.41%.

The new budget fails to address multiple, on-going mandated structural deficits outside of LASD control, such as worker’s compensation costs ($72.3M) and retirement payments ($22.7M). Other mandated costs not included in the recommended budget are federal lawsuit compliance ($34.9M), trial court security funding ($76.9M), and costs associated with SB 1421 compliance ($3.8M).

Additional costs ignored by the Board and CEO were mobile radio replacements ($27.4M) and helicopter fleet maintenance ($23M).

The Board and the CEO have repeatedly claimed the LASD budget shortfall is due primarily to over-expenditures in overtime and under-realization of revenues. Yet, overtime is down from the previous year, despite cost of living allowance (COLA) increases on overtime, which are also not funded. Unlike most county departments, the LASD runs a 24/7 operation with positions that must be filled without consideration to cost.

As a result of the deliberate underfunding of the LASD by the BOS and CEO, the Department could be forced to make very difficult cuts that will affect the level of public safety provided to the community. The Department will be forced to make cuts to investigative units which incur a net county cost, such as Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Sexual Assaults, Gangs, Homicide, and the Homeless Outreach Services Team.

Additionally, cuts will be made to patrol in unincorporated areas and custody operations, which means less deputies will be on the streets and in the jails. LASD rescue and patrol helicopter services could potentially be curtailed, taking away a vital tool in criminal apprehension and life-saving rescues.

The 2020-2021 budget forces the Department to once again absorb the rising overtime rates. Moreover, the budget amount for Department overtime is not funded at an appropriate level to begin with, because the budget amount has no base. If a vacancy occurs in patrol, there is no other option than to hire overtime to fill that position in order to ensure someone responds when 9-1-1 is called.

Since Sheriff Villanueva was elected crime has dropped, jail violence has dropped, hiring has increased, community engagement has increased, and LASD is more transparent than ever before. We are on the right track and moving in the right direction. The Board should realize there never is a good time to play politics with public safety. Our communities deserve better than just “adequate” law enforcement services. Funding for the LASD should be based on the true cost of providing public safety, period.

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEADLINES
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024
The Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino today announced the opening of multiple joint Local Assistance Centers to assist residents impacted by the Bridge and Line Fires.
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Monday, Sep 16, 2024
The California Highway Patrol is dedicating Sept. 15-21 to promoting child passenger safety across California, focusing on the protection of the state’s youngest road users.
Friday, Sep 13, 2024
The 30th Annual Hart of the West Pow Wow will be held at William S. Hart Regional Park on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6.

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Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino today announced the opening of multiple joint Local Assistance Centers to assist residents impacted by the Bridge and Line Fires.
L.A., San Bernardino Counties to Open Joint Local Assistance Centers for Residents Impacted by Bridge and Line Fires
Valencia Gynecology Associates, owned by longtime Santa Clarita Valley OB-GYN physician Don Nishiguchi, MD, has joined the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital network. 
Valencia Gynecology Assoc. Joins Henry Mayo Network
JCI Santa Clarita is proud to announce the upcoming Veteran’s Resource Fair, scheduled to take place on Sept. 21 at William S. Hart Park. 
Sept. 21: JCI Invites All Veterans to Upcoming Resource Fair
A "friendies" field tournament  is being  hosted by the Saugus Instrumental Music program, with support from Valencia High, later this month. 
Sept. 21: All Valley Showcase Comes to Valencia High
Public, member-supported 88.5 FM The SoCal Sound, Southern California’s leading Triple-A (adult album alternative) format radio station has announced the lineup for its inaugural “Year-End Bash” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Dec. 7: CSUN Owned 88.5-FM The SoCal Sound Announces “Year End Bash” Lineup featuring Ben Gibbard
The Master's University cross-country teams continued their successful 2024 campaigns with strong finishes at the BIOLA Invitational on Friday, Sept. 13 at Craig Regional Park in Fullerton, Calif.
TMU Women Win, Men Place Second at XC Invitational
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
Sheriff’s Department Announces New Law Enforcement Gang Policy
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Take a Virtual Tour of the Santa Clarita Valley
California Institute of the Arts alum and visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Film/Video 1979) was honored with the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CalArts Alum Tim Burton Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Oct. 5: SCV Senior Center Welcomes Jim Curry ‘Take Me Home’
As part of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the SCV Water recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds at Well 205 in Valencia.
SCV Water Begins New Water Treatment Project in Valencia
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
No. 21 College of the Canyons football team knocked off No. 5 Fullerton College 29-13 on Saturday night behind a stifling defensive effort and five field goals from Luis Rodriguez.
No. 21 Canyons Knocks Off No. 5 Fullerton 29-13
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Oct. 4: NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball at Cal Arts
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Public Health Investigating Disease Spread from Animals to Humans
1879 - First official Newhall School building erected near Walnut & Ninth streets [story]
First Newhall School
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Oct. 26: Volunteers Needed for Make a Difference Day
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and PathPoint announced the graduation of Aiden Land and Andrew Mendence from the Project SEARCH internship program.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, PathPoint Celebrate Grad Interns
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced upcoming community information meetings about Learning Post Academy Independent Study School, Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19.
Sept. 18-19: Learning Post Academy Online Information Meetings
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m. in open session to interview and appoint a new trustee for Area 5.
Sept. 18: COC Board to Interview, Appoint Area 5 Trustee
The city of Santa Clarita wants to remind residents that volunteer registration is open for the 29th Annual River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Complex, 23780 Auto Center Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Sept. 20: Last Chance to Register for the River Rally
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