SANTA CLARITA KEEPS NATIONWIDE RANKING AMONG SAFEST CITIES.Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, again was ranked the fourth-safest city in the nation in an FBI report, good news for those whose job it is to sell the city. ``The statistics re-emphasize that Santa Clarita has a wonderful quality of life, an excellent school system and great recreation,'' said Marlee Lauffer of The Newhall Land and Farming Company The Newhall Land and Farming Company is a land management company based in Valencia, California, United States. The company is responsible for the master community planning of Valencia, as well as the management of farm land elsewhere in the state. . Santa Clarita's status as a low-crime area is drawing businesses as well as home buyers to the region. Developers, the city's economic development department and the chamber of commerce use the figure to draw business and home buyers. ``People want safety and they will pay for it,'' Lauffer said. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. an FBI report released Sunday, the crime index in Santa Clarita fell by 17 percent. The number of homicides dropped by half from four to two. Gail Ortiz, a spokeswoman for the city, said Santa Clarita is proud of its ranking and expects the benefits to be great. ``It does makes us a sought-after place, 12 percent of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County home sales are right here in Valencia,'' she said. The city of Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. ranked first, followed by Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. and Amherst Town, N.Y. Sunnyvale in the Bay Area was fifth. In the 10 years since Santa Clarita became a city, it has ranked in the top five each year, Ortiz said. She gives credit to the relationship the police and the citizens enjoy. ``A lot has to do with the fact that we have a very responsive Sheriff's Department who engages in proactive programs and crime-prevention activities with the community,'' she said. A citywide Neighborhood Watch was established nearly two years ago in which civilians and deputies meet to discuss crime and prevention. And in neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. Castaic, a 14-member Citizens Advisory Group is given beepers by the department so they can be notified of all criminal activities in the neighborhood, said Chief Barry King of the Sheriff's Department's Custody Division. ``We meet and discuss things like jailbreaks and other crimes that may put the residents in jeopardy,'' King said. ``What makes the city safe,'' King said, ``is the eyes and ears of the city itself - the citizens.'' |
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