👋 Welcome to Northridge Now - Issue #0036
Happy Friday Neighbors 😎
A heavier mix today - some real Valley concerns, a few shifts that hit your wallet, and strong CSUN momentum heading into the weekend. There’s also a local room quietly building serious business connections if you know the right people.
🔥 In this issue:
🤝 Valley Referral Network - Porter Ranch (real referrals, not just networking)
🚨 Break-In Wave Expands Across the West Valley
👮 Pacoima Incident Raises Questions Around Police Response
⚡ SoCal Gas Ruling Blocks Potential Cost Hike
📦 Californians Leaving - And the Money Difference Is Real
🏅 CSUN Matty Awards + Community Impact Moments
🏟️ CSUN Sports Weekend - Baseball, Softball Playoff Push, Tennis Honors
📅 Your Weekend Events - Food, Markets, Theatre & More
Let’s get into it 👇
📰 Valley Spotlight
🤝 Valley Referral Network - LeTip in Porter Ranch
Grow your business through real referrals - not just networking.
🤝 Weekly, structured meetings
🚫 One business per category
📈 Built to generate results
🗓 Thursdays · 7:00 AM
📍 The Vineyards, Porter Ranch
👉 Visit once - or send this to someone who should.
Stop making AI decisions in the dark. Understand AI usage.
Leadership is asking: are we getting value from AI? Where are we exposed? Right now, most teams have no idea.
Harmonic Security automatically maps every AI interaction into the use cases driving real work — so CIOs can rationalize spend, CISOs get risk in context, and AI committees get proof of impact.
📰 Valley News
🚨 Break-In Wave Hits Tarzana, Woodland Hills & Sherman Oaks
The Valley burglary trend isn’t slowing - and it’s getting uncomfortably close to home.
🔥 What’s happening:
🏠 Woodland Hills: 3 masked suspects smashed a window on Calvert St - family (kids asleep) and dog inside
🐕 Intruders never got in - likely scared off by noise + dog
🍕 Sherman Oaks: local pizzeria hit twice in one week - thousands in losses
📍 Clusters reported across Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks
📡 Some crews are cutting Wi-Fi before entry to block cameras
👮 LAPD maintaining increased patrols across the Valley
📍 Why it matters locally:
Same pattern moving through the West Valley - and it’s not random. Homes with visibility, lighting, and noise are still the ones turning crews away.
💡 NNN Take:
Simple still works.
Cameras at entry points, motion lights, and a loud presence (dog, alarm, neighbors) are stopping these before they start.
If something feels off - especially cars circling late - call it in.
👉 Full story: KTLA
🚨 Valley Family Speaks Out After LAPD Incident Involving Autistic Woman in Pacoima
A troubling encounter in Pacoima is raising serious questions about how police respond to individuals with disabilities.
🔥 What’s happening:
👮♂️ LAPD officers responded to a call involving a non-verbal autistic woman in Pacoima
🔗 The woman was handcuffed during the interaction, despite her condition
🗣️ Her sister says officers used excessive force and didn’t properly assess the situation
🧠 Family members say the woman is non-verbal and on the autism spectrum, requiring specialized care and awareness
📹 The incident is drawing attention as advocates push for better training and de-escalation practices
📍 Why it matters locally:
This hits close to home for many Valley families caring for loved ones with special needs
Raises concerns about whether officers are equipped to recognize and handle disability-related situations
Could lead to renewed calls for policy changes and accountability within LAPD
💡 NNN Take:
This is where things can break down fast.
If the situation isn’t recognized correctly from the start, it escalates - and the consequences land on the people least equipped to handle it.
For a lot of families in the Valley, that’s the real concern.
👉 Full story: San Fernando Sun
⚡ SoCal Gas Customers Get a Break - Hydrogen Costs Rejected
Southern California gas customers just dodged a potentially expensive shift toward “green hydrogen.”
🔥 What’s happening:
⚖️ State regulators ruled that Southern California Gas Company cannot pass hydrogen project costs onto ratepayers
🧪 The proposal involved blending green hydrogen into the natural gas system as a cleaner energy alternative
💸 Regulators said the benefits are still too uncertain to justify higher monthly bills
🏛️ Decision came from the California Public Utilities Commission after reviewing the plan
🌱 Environmental groups supported the move, arguing customers shouldn’t fund early-stage experiments
📍 Why it matters locally:
This directly impacts households across the Valley - including Northridge, Porter Ranch, and surrounding areas
Utility bills have already been volatile, so blocking added costs = real relief
It signals that California is slowing down how fast experimental energy tech gets pushed onto consumers
💡 NNN Take:
There’s a bigger shift happening here - not just about energy, but about who pays for innovation.
Regulators are basically saying:
👉 “Prove it works first - then we’ll talk about charging the public.”
That’s a line a lot of residents will appreciate right now.
👉 Full story: LA List
📦 Californians Are Leaving - And Saving Big When They Do
A new study is putting real numbers behind something many already feel: people are leaving California - and their wallets are noticing.
🔥 What’s happening:
📉 California saw continued out-migration as residents relocate to lower-cost states
💰 Households that move are saving thousands per year on housing costs
🏡 Popular destinations include states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada
📊 The biggest driver: housing affordability and overall cost of living
🔄 Many are selling high in California and buying significantly cheaper elsewhere
📍 Why it matters locally:
The San Fernando Valley continues to feel the pressure - high rents and home prices aren’t easing much
Impacts local businesses, schools, and long-term community stability
Also creates opportunity - fewer buyers = potential shifts in pricing and demand over time
💡 NNN Take:
This isn’t just people leaving - it’s people doing the math. And right now, the math outside California is winning for a lot of households. The real question: does California adjust… or just keep exporting its residents?
👉 Full story: FoxLA
🏅 CSUN News
⚾ Matadors Off the Field: Professors Honored & Challengers Sundays
Two feel-good moments out of CSUN this week - one on the field, one in the community.
🔥 What’s happening:
🎓 CSUN wrapped its Faculty MVP program - honoring 90+ professors across all sports
⚾ Professor Arthur Zverev threw the ceremonial first pitch at Hiegert Field
🤝 Players not traveling weekends are volunteering with Northridge Little League’s Challengers Division
🧒 Challengers serves kids with physical and intellectual disabilities
👏 Matadors help coach, support, and show up every Sunday
📍 Why it matters locally:
This is real community connection - not a one-off. College athletes consistently showing up for local families is what builds a strong college-town feel.
💡 NNN Take:
The MVP program is great - but the Sunday volunteer work is the story.
That’s the kind of presence people remember.
👉 Full story: Faculty MVP Day · Northridge Challengers
🏆 CSUN Matty Awards Bring the Energy to Campus
CSUN Athletics hosted its biggest night of the year - and it delivered.
🔥 What’s happening:
🗓️ Held April 27 at the Northridge Center
🏅 Athlete-voted awards like Mr./Ms. Clutch, Iron Matador, Biggest Yapper
🎓 Senior Sash Ceremony honored graduating athletes across 13 sports
🎤 Hosted by student-athletes from multiple teams
🥇 Each team recognized standout players, voted by teammates
📍 Why it matters locally:
A true “for the athletes, by the athletes” night - and a preview of names to watch next season.
💡 NNN Take:
The awards are fun - but it’s the player-voted respect that makes this one matter.
👉 Full story: CSUN Athletics
🏅 CSUN Sports
🏟️ Oregon State Series, Softball Playoff Math, Tennis Honors & the All-Big West Roll Call
The Matadors' weekend is loaded. Baseball heads to No. 6 Oregon State, softball is in Long Beach with a real shot at the Big West tournament, and the awards keep dropping - five tennis Matadors earned All-Big West nods Thursday.
⚾ Baseball - at No. 6 Oregon State (this weekend):
🆚 CSUN (23-20) at Oregon State (34-10) in Corvallis - three-game non-conference series
🕔 Friday May 1, 5:35 PT · Saturday May 2, 3:05 PT · Sunday May 3, 1:05 PT
🩹 Beavers' projected ace Dax Whitney (4-1, 4.10 ERA, 80 K in 48.1 IP) is OUT for the series
🚀 Matadors enter on a Wednesday 7-4 win over Fresno State at Hiegert
🥎 Softball - at Long Beach State, regular season finale:
🗓️ Three-game series: Friday May 1 at 6 PM, Saturday May 2 doubleheader at 1 PM (LBSU Softball Complex)
🎯 Postseason scenario: Matadors must sweep all three AND Cal State Bakersfield must take exactly two from UC San Diego - last spot in the 2026 Big West Championship
📺 All games stream on ESPN+
📊 LBSU leads the all-time series 76-56; CSUN took 2 of 3 last year at Matador Diamond
🎾 Tennis - Five Matadors named All-Big West:
🏅 The conference honored five CSUN women's tennis players on All-Big West teams
🎯 CSUN finished 16-8 overall, 5-4 in conference, with a Big West semifinal run
😤 Cal Poly edged the Matadors 4-3 at the Barnes Tennis Center to end the season
👏 Sandra Isabela Arguelles and Tallia Harper won their singles matches in that semi
🏐 Beach Volleyball & ⛳ Women's Golf - All-Big West honors continue:
🏖️ Beach VB had a quartet of Matadors named to the 2026 All-Big West Beach Volleyball Team
⛳ Senior Gracie Piar earned All-Big West Second Team; senior Kim Turgut took Honorable Mention
📈 Eight Matadors total picked up All-Big West honors across spring sports this week
NNN Take: Softball might steal the show. The math is tight, but if the Beach is going to give CSUN a window, it'll happen this weekend. Stream the doubleheader Saturday - bring snacks.
👉 Recaps & previews: Oregon State Preview · Softball Preview · Tennis Honors · Beach VB · Golf · Fresno State Recap
📅 Events & Things To Do
🍔 Granada Hills Grubfest
When: (Fri, May 1st) · 5 - 10 p.m.
Chatsworth St. between White Oak Ave & Zelzah Ave, Granada Hills
Weekly 30+ food truck night, dog-friendly, super-casual. Your go-to Friday plan. More info →
🎭 The Addams Family Musical @ CSUN Theatre
📅 Saturday, May 2 (run continues into next week)
📍 CSUN Campus Theatre, Nordhoff St
Student-staged musical from the CSUN Department of Theatre. Familiar story, big personality, campus prices. Event details
🍇 Farmers Market at The Vineyards at Porter Ranch
Sun, May 3 · 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The Vineyards at Porter Ranch
Fresh produce, artisan foods, local vendors. Our favorite Sunday-morning routine. More info →
🎲 Cinco de Mayo + Tuesday Trivia at Dave & Buster's
📅 Tuesday, May 5 · ⏰ 7:30 PM · 📍 Dave & Buster's, Northridge
Hosted by Leaderboard Games. Competitive format with rankings. Pair it with a Cinco de Mayo dinner around the corner. More info
🌽 Northridge Farmers Market & Family Festival
Wed, May 6 · 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Northridge Fashion Square - 9301 Tampa Ave, Northridge
Fresh produce, artisan goods, and local vendors come together for a midweek community staple. An easy go-to for grabbing dinner, supporting small businesses, and getting out of the house. More info →
🍻 Thursday Trivia at Paragon Bar & Grill
📅 Thursday, May 7 - 📍 Paragon Bar & Grill, Northridge
Classic pub-style trivia. Easy night out, low-key vibe. More info →
⚾ CSUN Baseball at No. 6 Oregon State (Game 1)
📅 Friday, May 1 (TONIGHT) · ⏰ 5:35 PM PT · 📍 Goss Stadium, Corvallis OR (away)
Top-10 test for the Matadors — Beavers' ace Dax Whitney is out for the weekend. Series preview
🥎 CSUN Softball at Long Beach State (Game 1)
📅 Friday, May 1 (TONIGHT) · ⏰ 6:00 PM · 📍 LBSU Softball Complex, Long Beach (away)
Regular-season finale series with playoff implications — streaming on ESPN+. Preview
⚾ CSUN Baseball at Oregon State (Game 2)
📅 Saturday, May 2 · ⏰ 3:05 PM PT · 📍 Goss Stadium, Corvallis OR (away)
Middle game of the three-game weekend set. Schedule
🥎 CSUN Softball at Long Beach State (Doubleheader)
📅 Saturday, May 2 · ⏰ 1:00 PM (Game 2 ~3:30) · 📍 LBSU Softball Complex (away)
Two games to close the regular season. ESPN+ has it. Schedule
⚾ CSUN Baseball at Oregon State (Series Finale)
📅 Sunday, May 3 · ⏰ 1:05 PM PT · 📍 Goss Stadium, Corvallis OR (away)
Series-clinching shot in Corvallis - getaway day. Schedule
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