Why Heidt Was Silenced

On March 13 at a public hearing on thH. Palmer development agreement, Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Jan Heidt remarked about a letter written by an attorney for the developer to the state Fair Political Practices Commission. It questioned her right to vote on anH. Palmer developments, claiming a conflict of interest exists.

It is a well-known fact that due to financing and other constraints, Palmer and the city are trying to push the project through in a very expeditious manner. After Heidt finished addressing the audience, Councilman Carl Boyer said he would wait until hell froze over for a ruling from the FPPC before voting on the Palmer development. This also seemed to be the consensus of the other council members.

On March 27, hell froze over. Councilmen Dennis Koontz, Howard McKeon and Boyer turned on Heidt and voted on the Vista Terrace Project. The reversal of the City Council and especially Boyer should come as no surprise to the public as they’re doing what they want and not what the people of Santa Clarita are asking them to do. We need planned development, not expedited, back-door agreements by builders. I am ashamed of the aforementioned city councilmen for what they did to Heidt. She was asking the proper questions and not accepting inadequate answers from the builder. The only way to silence Heidt was to get her disqualified from voting.

On April 10, Election Day, we must remember what depths the councilmen will go to enforce their will on the people. This not what we elected them to do. We elected them to voice our opinion and concerns. Their loyalty should be to the people, not the developer.

LEON E. FURMAN

Canyon Country