If you cannot view this newsletter, please click here June 7, 2010
Newsletter from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich “Representing and informing Los Angeles County’s 5th District which includes all or part of the Crescenta, San Gabriel, Pomona, San Fernando, Santa Clarita & Antelope Valleys”
THE-SIGNAL: ANTONOVICH RIPS STATE SPENDING
By Jonathan Randles Signal Staff Writer Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich compared California’s handling of its $20-billion deficit to “riding a dead horse” at the second annual State of the County luncheon on Wednesday. “When you discover you’re riding a dead horse the best advice is to dismount,” Antonovich said. “But in government, in corporate America, they use other strategies. They buy a stronger whip. ... They appoint a committee to study the horse.” Antonovich, who represents the Santa Clarita Valley, said the state should consider going to a part-time legislature, eliminating some government agencies, cutting taxes and easing regulations on private businesses as ways to bridge the multibillion-dollar shortfall. He and Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley addressed hundreds of community leaders at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. The two described the county’s successes and challenges in the upcoming year at the event, hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley and Castaic chambers of commerce. Cooley said the Santa Clarita Valley’s current courthouse is insufficient to meet the needs of its current population — much less support the valley’s expected growth. He said a new courthouse must be built in a timely manner — a task state officials are in the process of approving. During his speech, Antonovich said the William S. Hart Union High School District is “obligated” to choose a site to build a new Castaic high school as quickly as possible. “We all know (Castaic) residents want and deserve their own high school, and it’s well past time for the Hart school board to make that decision,” Antonovich said. “Hart board members have an obligation to make a decision as soon as possible.” District board members late last year narrowed down the list of potential sites for a high school to the Hasley Sloan and Romero Canyon properties in Castaic, according to past Signal reports. Board members have already hired consultants to study the two sites and hope to open a high school 2013. Antonovich said he would expedite issuing construction permits after a site is picked. Meanwhile, thanks to the sluggish economy and cuts in state funding, county officials will have almost a billion dollars less in the next fiscal year to pay for county services.   “Los Angeles County’s budget will decrease by about $885 million in fiscal year 2010-2011 due to decreased sales and property tax revenue,” Antonovich said. “But compared to the city of Los Angeles and the state, which are facing larger budget deficits, the county and the Santa Clarita Valley is in relatively good shape,” he said. “And despite the dire fiscal situation, there have been no cuts of sheriff’s patrols in unincorporated county areas,” Antonovich said. But if the state continues to give less funding to the county in the future, more cuts would likely have to be made, he said. “Through the county’s fiscal prudence we were able to save for a rainy day,” Antonovich said. “But we were not able to save for a tsunami.”
ANTONOVICH JOINS POIZNER IN CONDEMNING COUNTY’S DECISION TO BOYCOTT ARIZONA
cLICK HERE TO VIEW video FROM PRESS CONFERENCE
L.A. WEEKLY -- Steve Poizner Joins L.A. Supervisor Antonovich To Express Support For Arizona Immigration Law By Dennis Romero, Wednesday, Jun. 2 2010 @ 5:36P Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner joined Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich at a press conference Wednesday to support Arizona's controversial immigration law and to decry the county's recent vote to boycott the state. Antonovich argued that the boycott will restrict revenue streams between L.A. and Arizona and end up costing some Angelenos their jobs. Poizer continued to blast opponent Meg Whitman on immigration, a tactic that has previously gained him some traction against the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. "Antonovich thinks we need solutions not boycotts, and that this [boycott] will hurt our economic health by telling our trade partners we don't want to do business with them," the supervisor's communications deputy, Tony Bell, told the Weekly. "It kills jobs." He said Antonovich also supports redoubling federal enforcement against illegal immigration because undocumented workers are largely an exploited, unprotected class of people. "The supervisor also thinks this is a human rights issue -- that we're creating a class of people routinely exploited and victimized under the radar," Bell said. "It's really become a nightmare for those folks and something has to be done to stop it. It starts with enforcement at the border."
APRIL WELFARE COSTS FOR CHILDREN OF ILLEGAL ALIENS EXCEEDS $52 MILLION
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich released figures from the Department of Public Social Services showing that in April 2010, $52 million in welfare benefits ($22 million CalWORKs + $30 million in Food Stamps) were issued to parents who reside in the United States illegally and collect benefits for their native-born children in Los Angeles County.  This amounts to approximately 23% of all CalWORKs and Food Stamp issuances in the County. In 2009, CalWORKs and Food Stamp issuances to illegals totaled nearly $570 million. The total costs for CalWORKs and Food Stamps for children of illegal aliens has risen steadily by an additional $1 million cost to the taxpayers each month since January 2009. “When added to the $540 million cost for illegal aliens to the justice system, and the hundreds of millions of dollars to our health care and education systems, illegal immigration costs County taxpayers billions of dollars a year,” said Antonovich.
ANTONOVICH SPONSORS SUMMER BEACH BUS TO SANTA MONICA
Offering fifth district residents a convenient, low-cost way to spend the day at the beach in the summer months, Supervisor Antonovich will once again sponsor the Summer Beach Bus service to Santa Monica. For times and pick-up locations, please click on the following links: -- Altadena -- Antelope Valley -- Charter Oak -- Crescenta Valley -- Santa Clarita Valley
Upcoming Events
GLEN CAMPBELL, THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND AND LARRY GATLIN AND THE GATLIN BROTHERS HEADLINE 20^TH ANNUAL FAMILY MUSIC FESTIVAL Los Angeles County’s 20th Annual Family Music Festival on Sunday, June 27 at Bonelli Park will feature legendary performer Glen Campbell with special guest Debby Campbell along with music greats, the Marshall Tucker Band and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. Sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Family Music Festival features top musical acts as well as family activities, food booths, vendors, craft booths, carnival rides and a children’s play area. General admission tickets are $20.00 in advance -- and $30.00 at the gate. Military and Senior tickets are available at a discount price of $15.00. For advanced ticket sales call (909) 599-8411 or visit  www.bonellipark.org Children under the age of 12 are free with a paid adult ticket (general admission only). For ticket reservations and more information, call (909) 599-8411 or visit our website at: www.bonellipark.org.  Proceeds will support the County’s Junior Lifeguard Program.  Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park is located at 120 Via Verde Road, San Dimas, CA   (next to Raging Waters off the Santa Ana (57) Freeway between Interstate 10 Freeway and the Foothill Freeway. Click here to view the flyer
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