KHTS AM-1220 radio station co-owner Carl Goldman is in Washington DC as part of Hometown Station’s annual lobbying trip to share local concerns with our national leadership.

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 On Tuesday, there was a meeting with a representative from the House Committee of Education and Workforce, a discussion of housing and job creation and a meeting with officials on the National Council for Community Behavioral Health.

 There was also a stop by Congressman Brad Sherman’s office, as well as a meeting with representative from the Veteran’s Affairs Committee.

Veterans’ issues are particularly critical to the Santa Clarita Valley, which is home to the largest per-capita veteran population in California.

One of the biggest issues for the Santa Clarita Valley delegation is the high-speed rail project, which has been supported by billions of dollars in federal subsidies.

“Definitely, the biggest issue is the high-speed rail and the Santa Clarita Valley,” Goldman said. “And no one out here has a clue that there’s talk that eminent domain could be used in Santa Clarita.”

If the high-speed rail plan were to go through as discussed today, eminent domain would be used on approximately 100 homes on the east side of the Santa Clarita Valley, said Bob Khalsa, president of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors.

“They’ve got two options — the south loop and the north loop,” Khalsa said. “And right now, they haven’t decided which one to take — the one closer to the Fair Oaks Ranch or the one closer to the 14 freeway. But I think in either case, it would involve eminent domain.”

While mortgage specialist Fred Arnold was certainly interested in delivering local concerns to our national representatives, the chairman of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce said the talk from legislators was “eye-opening,” as well.

“I think the thing that’s particularly interesting is that there’s a lot of people that know they don’t know,” Arnold said.

“They don’t know exactly how Obamacare is going to be implemented,” he said. “They don’t know exactly how they’re going to resolve the issue with the deficit — so there are a lot of things that are uncertain.”

Another takeaway that’s noticeable every time KHTS AM-1220 takes a Santa Clarita Valley coalition anywhere — whether it’s Sacramento or Washington D.C. — is the reaction of the representatives, Goldman said.

“Everyone says, ‘Wow, we don’t see any other communities do this,’” Goldman said. “So I think it’s a powerful experience. It’s been a very productive trip.”

The trip wraps up Wednesday after visits to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a trip to Sen. Barbara Boxer’s office, a trip to Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office and a meeting with Department of Justice representatives.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

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