Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Antonovich Praised and Pressed by City Council

The Santa Clarita City Council recognized Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich for his efforts after the Northridge earthquake, then pressed him during a Wednesday meeting on issues ranging from future funding for local libraries to the possible closure of the Castaic animal shelter.

City Manager George Caravalho began the city’s annual breakfast event with the county supervisor, held this year at a Valencia hotel, by thanking Antonovich and the sheriff’s and fire departments for working closely with the city after the quake.

“Without that kind of support and assistance, it would have been very difficult for us to do our jobs,” Caravalho said. “We operated as one unit.”

Antonovich thanked the council and said he is continuing to seek state and federal legislation to aid owners of businesses that have been dealt a severe economic blow as a result of The Old Road detour, which in some cases has cut off access to businesses. Traffic was diverted from the Golden State Freeway to The Old Road after the collapse of freeways in the Northridge quake.

“Many of them are facing bankruptcy,” Antonovich said.

The supervisor then addressed the issue of funding for local libraries, which he described as “critical” after a shift in property tax revenues to schools.

Antonovich proposed seeking library funds for the 1994-95 fiscal year by searching for a way to tap into state school funds. He also encouraged cooperation between private companies and county and city governments to ensure the survival of Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley libraries.

*

Operating hours at Newhall and Canyon Country libraries have been cut back to three days a week. Meanwhile, the Valencia library is closed because of earthquake damage and for asbestos removal.

Another concern raised at the meeting is the possible closure of the county-run animal shelter in Castaic, which serves the entire Santa Clarita Valley.

Sam Azhderian, president of the Castaic Town Council, urged Antonovich and the City Council to fight to keep the shelter open, noting that the two closest facilities are in Lancaster and Agoura Hills.

City Councilwoman Joanne Darcy, who also is Antonovich’s field deputy for Santa Clarita, said that after the Northridge quake the shelter placed 300 animals with new owners.

Darcy warned Antonovich that should the shelter close, the supervisor and the county would face “an avalanche of opposition you never thought possible.”