Sphere Of Influence

Santa Clarita officials came away from a countywide planning agency empty-handed and angry Wednesday after their attempts to extend the young municipality's influence far beyond its borders were thwarted, largely because of developer opposition. For the second time in less than three years, the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission turned down the city's bid to expand its sphere of influence over 160 square miles of the unincorporated Santa Clarita Valley.

Amy Poehler landed a joke about slavery, Bono paid moving tribute to Nelson Mandela, Leonardo DiCaprio launched the term "Philomania," and Jacqueline Bisset, well, one doesn't like to conjecture but, in the end, she did leave the stage under her own steam. After 71 years, the intrinsic value of an award bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. - 85 foreign entertainment journalists with wildly differing credentials - is still the subject of much debate. But there is no denying that lately the Golden Globes has become the gold standard of awards shows.

A bid to extend Newport Beach's "sphere of influence" may become part of the city's effort to preserve an agreement with the county that limits the number and type of flights leaving from John Wayne Airport. The city is preparing proposals about the airport and three other unincorporated areas for review by the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission. A sphere of influence, often a precursor to annexation, is used for unincorporated areas that receive services from the city.

Russia appears to be rolling back its military incursion into neighboring Georgia. But that's probably because what Russia wanted wasn't territory at all. Instead, experts say, by sending in its troops Russia seized the upper hand strategically in dealing with countries around its periphery. "They don't want to rebuild the Soviet Union, but they do want a sphere of influence," said Steven Pifer, a former deputy assistant secretary of State and ambassador to Ukraine. Russia has itched to strike at southern neighbor Georgia's brash, Western-oriented leader, President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Residents of outlying communities in the Santa Clarita Valley want to be included in the city of Santa Clarita's sphere of influence, according to poll results released Tuesday that contradict those of an earlier survey. City officials will use the latest poll results to bolster their bid to extend their influence over a 160-square-mile area that includes Castaic, Val Verde and Stevenson Ranch, city spokeswoman Gail Foy said.

Hoping they've learned a lesson from two prior tries, officials here will soon reappear before Los Angeles County's boundary-setting agency in a bid to extend Santa Clarita's influence over several square miles of unincorporated land in the surrounding valley. City officials last week began talks with staff from the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, about expanding Santa Clarita's "sphere of influence."

As Santa Clarita hopes to have a say in the development of the 160-square-mile area surrounding its borders, major developers contend that the four-year-old municipality needs to grow up before expanding its influence beyond the city limits.

Opponents verbally carved away section after section of the territory that the city of Santa Clarita covets during a public hearing Wednesday before the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission. Santa Clarita officials have asked LAFCO to approve a 160-square-mile sphere of influence--a chunk of land the size of San Jose--around the 43-square-mile city.

The builders of the giant Stevenson Ranch housing project have sued Santa Clarita, claiming that the city's newly adopted blueprint for development is invalid. The suit, filed late Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court by Dale Poe Development Corp., is the latest episode in an ongoing battle between the firm and the city over development-related issues. The suit seeks to overturn the city's state-mandated General Plan, which was adopted July 25.

Santa Clarita just won't take no for an answer. Six weeks ago, the young city failed in an attempt to extend its influence far beyond its borders. The bid was rejected by the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission, largely because of developer opposition.

Splurge: Bertjan Pot's ethereal Random Pendant Lamp for Moooi, above right, is a cleverly constructed light source made of resin-coated yarn wrapped around a balloon. With its lightbulb starkly visible from inside the delicate webbing, the Random offers just the right amount of illumination for work or home. In small and medium sizes, ranging from $660 to $860 at www.dwr.com.

The report issued last week by the blue-ribbon Iraq Study Group provides fresh proof of Iran's strengthened hand in the Middle East since the U.S.-led invasion: It mentions the Islamic Republic more than 50 times and makes clear that the U.S. will have to seek Iran's help for any resolution. "The report told the Iranians, You are mighty now in the region and in Iraq.

Santa Paula voters will decide today whether to expand the boundary of land that can be developed in the city's environs to include a 32.5-acre parcel on the west side of town. The Ventura County registrar of voters estimates a turnout of 16% to 18% on Measure A, the latest growth-related issue to hit the ballot in a county with some of the most restrictive development laws in the nation.

Santa Clarita's attempt to gain greater influence over development erupting all around its borders, the city's third try since it incorporated in 1987, is expected to be rejected Wednesday by the Local Agency Formation Commission. Developers, as well as some adjoining communities and residents of outlying rural areas, oppose expansion of the so-called sphere of influence, which paves the way for annexation of new neighborhoods into the city.

There is great sadness in NASCAR circles at the death of Dale Earnhardt, and it extends to the baseball world as well. Earnhardt was part-owner of a minor league team in the North Carolina town where he grew up. In a tip of the hat to Earnhardt, the team's name was changed to the Kannapolis Intimidators in November when he bought a piece of the team, previously known as the Piedmont Boll Weevils.

Tom Donaghy learned early in his playwriting career that telling the truth about family life could have serious consequences. His father, Tom Sr., went to his son's first play, "The Dadshuttle," recognized himself in it, and wouldn't speak to him for months. Eventually, Donaghy's mother interceded to break the freeze. "I thought it was a very genuine and loving portrait of him," said Donaghy, whose latest look at family life, "The Beginning of August," opens Friday at South Coast Repertory.

The Santa Clarita City Council remains determined to extend its influence over communities in the northern Santa Clarita Valley and will conduct another survey to measure residents' opinions of the idea. To give the city time to conduct the survey, the council voted 4 to 0 Tuesday to ask the Local Agency Formation Commission to postpone a Nov. 13 public hearing on the city's request to establish a 160-square-mile sphere of influence.

Until the state resolves its budget problems, the communities of the Ojai Valley should curtail plans to merge into a single city and focus instead on less-costly ways of creating a unified area, according to a study scheduled to be made public this week.

It's been 12 years since four Santa Clarita Valley communities joined to form a city government that would allow more control over growth, development and tax revenue. To date, one of the biggest goals to elude the city of Santa Clarita is a formal role in influencing development adjacent to its boundaries. The state Cortese-Knox Local Government Reorganization Act provides a way for local governments to achieve orderly growth and development.

After years of stalled efforts, Santa Paula got the green light Wednesday to proceed with plans to more than triple its size, which could trigger significant residential development in one of the last predominantly agricultural valleys of Ventura County.