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Chapter 14

FIRST TERM AS MAYOR

I was sworn in as mayor on December 11, 1990. Four days later we
celebrated the third birthday of the city. Growth and the threat of a regional dump
in Elsmere Canyon were still big issues. We had completed Canyon Country
Park, done much on our first general plan, organized our government, opened
Decoro Drive and begun to make our presence felt throughout the county.
However, Anthony Skirlick, one of the leaders of Citizens Against Cityhood in
1987, was not satisfied. He said our city was too big, and should be divided into
councilmanic districts. My own feeling was that districts would balkanize the
city, and that each councilmember should be concerned about the feelings of
people throughout the entire city. 1
A few days later we were invaded by the Soviets.
Barbara Haire had called me some weeks before, asking if the City of Santa
Clarita could make a grant to help her bring ten students and two teachers from
Leningrad. I said we could not, that such a grant would have to go through the
budget process and there was no time. However, Chris and I would be glad to
host one of the kids. Jan Heidt joined the ranks of sponsors when I mentioned the
students to her.
One day I came home from school to find a very tired “Jane” Lindgardt, 16,
talking with Chris. Her group had missed a TWA flight out of New York, and
had arrived hours late. Zhenya, as “Jane” really preferred to be called, was
determined to fight sleep so she could adjust to the jet lag. Chris and I spent that
first evening attending a session at The Master’s College, where the students
entertained us.
I was on vacation from teaching most of the time the Soviet group was in
town, so I did some driving and took a more active part than I would have
otherwise. On their second day in Santa Clarita, I drove Zhenya to the college,
but had to stop at Vons Market to pick up something on the way. Zhenya waited
in the car. She did not want to see Vons. A few days later she was a little more
used to the United States, and went in with me on another stop. She was surprised
at the number of people in the lines, going through the registers and actually
buying a lot of food. “We have been told that the reason our stores are empty is
that we have plenty of money, and the reason your stores are full is that you don’t
have enough money to buy anything.” When I took her to Target the goods on
the shelves overwhelmed her. “You have so much wealth in this country.” A few
days later Zhenya told Kimberly Heinrichs, “Everybody told me when you go to
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the United States, you will go to a fairy tale, but I think it’s real life.”
The kids got a taste of our life. They went to Beverly Hills and Disneyland,
but also went to Main Street in Los Angeles. They hit the television news several
times. Natalia Babushkino said that one lesson she was learning in America was
to smile more.