A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

Mother Surrenders Newborn At Woodland Hills Hospital

I’m not exactly sure I get the all the high-fiving in this article.  The child was delivered at the hospital.  I think the law is more geared towards the teens who give birth at the prom then toss the baby into a dumpster instead of turning it in to the authorities.  But, either way I suppose this is good.

NBC Los Angeles writes:

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe to announced Tuesday the County’s Safe Surrender Program “celebrated success for the fourth time this year with the report of another safely surrendered newborn.

“This most recent safe surrender occurred at a hospital in Woodland Hills.

“The mother delivered the baby girl at the hospital on Thursday, August 5 and told hospital staff that she would like to surrender the infant. The baby is reported to be in good health.

“As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“This case could have ended in tragedy, but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a long life ahead of him,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.”

A news release issued from Knabe’s office noted “this is the fourth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2010, and the 80th since the program began nine years ago.  The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001.  It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.”

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Local Blogger Forces LA Councilmember Zine To End Week Backpedaling

From the Valley Vantage:

It seems that many people’s mastery of the English language has been called into question by Zine.  Apparently, “it’s a done deal,” actually means “don’t worry, it hasn’t been fully decided yet and there will be plenty of time for public comment.”  I am quite pleased that I called out Mr. Zine publicly on his comments to Karen Koe, and he has been forced to engage his constituency.

I find it interesting that in the article Zine remarks that the Costco may not even end up at the The Village site at Owensmouth & Victory.  (As a side note, I wonder if Zine picked up a backwards pedaling bicycle at the new Performance Bicycles store?) However, since that is the only proposal anyone is putting forward, you can pretty much be assured that’s where it will be going.  Zine is clearly working closely with Costco, as he has said repeatedly, and obviously also Westfield, since they have put forth a proposal for it.

So, Mr. Zine, where is the alternate proposal that doesn’t involve The Village?  Unfortunately, for everyone, this proposal is going to be put forward as, “If you want a Costco, if you want these jobs and development in Woodland Hills, it has to be at this site.”  You can already tell where that’s going.  Unless alternatives, and “plan Bs” are developed, this will come to a simple “yes” and “no” decision, which as Zine decrees, “the decision comes out of my office.”  We already know what that decision will be if it comes down to Costco at The Village or no Costco at all.

This article is also quite interesting that it reveals that Costco plans to abandon it’s Canoga Park Costco location that has been a cancer on that community for a number of years.  No matter how much you love Costco, you must admit that is true.  They are not a very good corporate neigbhor for that community.  I don’t personally think that would be the case for a higher end store in Woodland Hills, but no one should ignore the obvious fact that even the parking lot at the Canoga Park location is a sewer, last I looked.

Thanks to Tanya Peel for the heads up on the Valley Vantage article.

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Mayor Sam Picks Up On Dennis Zine Post

Mayor Sam’s Sister City writes on Friday’s Hotsheet:

Councilman Dennis Zine has earned the ire of some of his constituents who are opposed to the opening of a new Costco store in his District in Woodland Hills. At a community meeting, Zine said to a Neighborhood Council member speaking up against the big-box retailer ““Let me stop you right there. Costco is a done deal. There’s no way I am going to refuse a huge tax base like that for the city.”

For a lively conversation and interesting comments on both sides of the issue visit their site.

With regard to Zine’s comment to Karen Koe, this commenter make a point which closely resembles my own:

Words matter. They are the means we use to communicate. If Zine meant something else, he should have said something else. We have to assume he meant what he said and said what he meant.

Goals matter, too. If a politician’s state goal is to maximize tax revenues, he may create or destroy jobs. He may, for example, decide to raise taxes to raise revenues, and thereby drive employers out of town.

I think it’s fair and reasonable to expect elected officials to whom we pay six-figure salaries to listen to people’s concerns, and to explain the reasons for their decisions.

Zine could have said, for example, that, while he understoond and sympathized with the increased traffic the project would create, he believes that the jobs the project would create make it good for the city as a whole, especially in a recession.

That’s a far cry from “mo money, case closed.”

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