February 27, 2018

27Feb

TOP POLITICAL STORIES​​​​​​​

 

Local/Regional Politics:

 

Warszawski: What have you done for us, Devin Nunes?

The Fresno Bee

Don’t feel bad for me, Devin Nunes. I’m doing just fine. But maybe, just maybe, you ought to extend a little sympathy toward the residents of California’s 22nd congressional district, i.e. your constituents. We deserve better than your absent brand of leadership. This isn’t about Russia, the infamous memo or how you’ve become, in the words of Bloomberg News, “the face of Republican capitulation to a corrupt presidency.” I’ll leave that stuff to the pundits in D.C. and the angry Twitter mobs.

See also:

·       Protesters Hold Vigil For “Missing” California Congressman NBC News

 

School Shooting Threats in the Valley:

·       Avenal teen arrested for school shooting threat on SnapchatABC30

·       Mistaken Threat Sets Off Shooter Alert At Stockton High Schoolcapradio.org

·       Merced College student arrested for terroristic threats ABC30

·       8 Tulare County students arrested after school shooting threatsVisalia Times-Delta

 

Kern County advocates urge governor to sign bill eliminating ‘willful defiance’ suspensions in schools

Bakersfield Californian

Ernesto Vaquero was suspended in fifth grade when he turned around in his seat to chat with another student at his Inglewood elementary school. His teacher said he was being “willfully defiant.” That single interaction, Vaquero said, set him on an educational career path dotted with disciplinary infractions. Teachers began seeing him as a troublemaker — and the only way to deal with a troublemaker was through suspension, said Vaquero, now 18.

 

Fresno Unified working to increase bilingual education for its students

ABC30

“Obviously getting into the workforce, if you speak two languages and fluent in two cultures you have so much a better opportunity, particularly in the Valley. We want to provide our students with that opportunity,” said FUSD Superintendent Bob Nelson.

 

Former prosecutors say Merced DA made lewd comments to female employees

Modesto Bee

Former Merced County prosecutor Ilia McKinney has accused Merced County DA Larry Morse II of kissing her on the lips without consent and making inappropriate comments. Three former Merced County prosecutors say longtime District Attorney Larry Morse II made lewd comments to female subordinates dating back several years and inappropriately kissed one of his married employees about five years ago.

 

Union members hold rally for jobs at Liberty Bell

Bakersfield Californian

SEIU members, child care workers and others held a noontime rally and news conference on Monday at the Liberty Bell on Truxtun Avenue in downtown Bakersfield. They were demonstrating in support of #WeRise actions at workplaces, calling for more union jobs, including for those in the child care field. It was to be one of about 600 similar gatherings across the country, according to an SEIU news release.

MALDEF plans to push for immediate changes to Supervisors , roiling this year’s elections

Bakersfield Californian

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund will push for new supervisorial district boundaries in Kern County in 2018. Denise Hulett, the lead attorney on MALDEF’s case against the County of Kern, said an immediate remedy is required.

 

California Today: Some Central Valley Crops Imperiled by Cold

The New York Times

It’s the prettiest time of year in California’s Central Valley. Along country roads, fragrant trees burst with white, pink and red flowers that normally bear a bounty of fruit in the summer. But a cold snap that gripped the state last week may have harmed the blossoms and undermined this year’s almond, peach, plum and nectarine crops. Now growers are busy assessing the fallout.

 

Prepare for the upcoming storm with these safety tips from PG & E

Bakersfield Californian

Rain, thunderstorms and even some snow are in the forecast for this week, with thunderstorms starting as early as Monday evening and PG&E is working diligently to avoid all possible power outages. With enhanced technology, PG&E has pinpointed locations that are susceptible to power outages and has power restoration plans underway.

 

Meeting emphasizes public involvement is key to SJ County Fair’s future

Hanford Sentinel

Three ideas bubbled to the surface during a public meeting Monday night billed as a brainstorming session for generating ideas to turn around the financial future of the San Joaquin County Fair. Take individual initiative. Change the perception. Soccer.

 

Chicken King restaurant headed to Fulton Street in downtown Fresno

The Fresno Bee

A restaurant called Chicken King is headed for Fulton Street – and it’s not the only fried chicken joint headed to the newly reopened street. A sign on the papered-over windows says Chicken King is “coming soon” to 1234 Fulton Street, between Fresno and Merced streets. It’s a few doors down from Take 3 Burgers.

 

State Politics:

 

Republican Doug Ose leaves race for California governor

The Fresno Bee

Republican Doug Ose dropped out of the race for California governor Monday, citing a crowded field of candidates and lack of fundraising needed to defeat Democrats, who are leading in the polls. “There’s no money, and if you don’t have enough money, you can’t communicate a message,” Ose said in an interview. Ose said he made the decision after realizing traditional Republican donors would not support him.

See also:

·       Republican Ose quits governor’s race, GOP chair wishes 1 more would  San Francisco Chronicle

·       Republican Doug Ose Drops Out Of California Governor’s Race

capradio.org

 

Far-right radio host Michael Savage weighing US Senate bid in California

Los Angeles Times

Far-right radio host and author Michael Savage says that “very important people” have asked him to run for U.S. Senate in California.  “Some very important people have come to me and said ‘Savage, would you like to run as an independent for the U.S. Senate in the state of California against the esteemed Dianne Feinstein?’” Savage said on his show, “The Savage Nation,” Friday. “I’m asking you should I run or not run?”

 

Registered ‘independents’ may soon outnumber Republicans on California’s voter rolls

Los Angeles Times

As the June 5 primary election approaches, Democrats still dominate California’s voting rolls and the percentage of “independent” voters continues to rise, according to new figures provided by the secretary of state’s office.

 

California Democratic Party’s unifying principle: tack left and boo Trump

Calmatters

As California’s Democrats wrapped up their party’s annual convention Sunday, they left San Diego as they arrived: a party still fraying at the seams after the 2016 election, held together by one strong bond—a unifying dislike of President Donald Trump.

See also:

·       California Today: 4 Takeaways From the State’s Democratic Convention  The New York Times

·       Maviglio: Winners and Losers at California Democratic Party Convention Fox & Hounds

 

California lawmakers push 10 new gun control bills

The Fresno Bee

California lawmakers on Monday proposed 10 new gun control bills to the state’s nation-leading gun restrictions in the wake of the latest mass shooting in Florida. The proposals to be considered later this spring include expanding the definition of assault rifles; expanding gun violence restraining orders; letting individuals block themselves from buying guns; and cracking down on homemade “ghost guns.”

See also:

·       California lawmakers push new gun restrictions after the Parkland shooting The Mercury News

·       California lawmakers consider new gun control laws in wake of Florida mass shooting Los Angeles Times

·       Florida lawmaker repeats dodgy claim about crimes by cops vs. concealed permit holders PolitiFact Florida

 

California court nixes long terms for minors who didn’t kill

AP

A divided California Supreme Court on Monday struck down sentences that fail to give juveniles a chance at parole for 50 years or more for crimes other than homicide, saying such punishments are unconstitutional because they don’t recognize the defendant’s youth and ability to change. The 4-3 ruling came amid heightened scrutiny of sentences for juveniles nationwide. A 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling ended sentences of life without parole for juveniles who commit crimes other than homicide. The justices said juveniles lack maturity, don’t have well-developed characters and are vulnerable to peer pressure.

 

1st black leader of California Highway Patrol sworn in

Sacramento Bee

The nation’s largest state law enforcement agency has its first black leader. Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday delivered the oath of office to 56-year-old Warren Stanley as the new commissioner of the California Highway Patrol.

 

Garcetti pushes for state bill to fund homeless housing

Los Angeles Times

A group of Los Angeles-area politicians appeared at a skid row community center Monday to support a new state bill that would fund homeless efforts throughout California. Homelessness is “the issue defining our state,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was joined by Assembly members Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and Laura Friedman (D-Glendale).

 

Twitter is Sacramento’s ‘Fourth House’

Capitol Weekly

It is a colossal mistake for those who desire to influence state policy to ignore Twitter, brushing it off as a playground for pop stars, professional athletes and the President. As demonstrated in Randle Communications’ inaugural Digital Influencer Report, digital advocacy, and specifically Twitter, remains a growing and potent tool for those who seek to shape outcomes in California’s Capitol.

 

More California students graduate from high school, but far fewer graduate from college

EdSource

California’s high school graduation rates have increased significantly in recent years, but the percentage of those students who complete their college education continues to lag, with long-term implications for the state’s future.

 

Federal Politics:

 

Supreme Court Turns Down Trump’s Appeal in ‘Dreamers’ Case

The New York Times

The Supreme Court on Monday declined an unusual White House request that it immediately decide whether the Trump administration can shut down a program that shields some 700,000 young undocumented immigrants from deportation. The move meant that the immigrants, often called “Dreamers,” could remain in legal limbo for many months unless Congress acts to make their status permanent.

 

Supreme Court Hears Fiery Arguments In Case That Could Gut Public Sector Unions

NPR

The Supreme Court heard fiery arguments Monday in a case that could remove a key revenue stream for public sector unions. A sharply divided court could be poised to overturn a 40-year-old Supreme Court decision that would further undermine an already shrinking union movement.

See also:

·       What the Janus vs. AFSCME case means for teachers unions  AEI

·       Key Voice Is Silent in Supreme Court Case on Unions The New York Times

·       Opinion: Supreme Court Janus case is bigger than unions. Upward mobility is at stake. USA Today

·       Fox: Unions Must Stick to Basics if Janus Decision Goes Against Them Fox & Hounds

 

Americans say Congress is listening to all the wrong people

The Fresno Bee

Looking for common ground with your neighbor these days? Try switching subjects from the weather to Congress. Chances are, you both agree it’s terrible. In red, blue or purple states, in middle America or on the coasts, most Americans loathe the nation’s legislature. One big reason: Most think lawmakers are listening to all the wrong people, suggests a new study by researchers at Stanford University and the University of California-Santa Barbara with the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

 

Wealth of Congress: Richer Than Ever, but Mostly at the Very Top

Roll Call

The people’s representatives just keep getting richer, and doing so faster than the people represented. The cumulative net worth of senators and House membersjumped by one-fifth in the two years before the start of this Congress, outperforming the typical American’s improved fortunes as well as the solid performance of investment markets during that time.

 

Kamala Harris positions herself for White House run

The Hill

The former California attorney general, who is just at the beginning of her second year in the Senate, is taking positions that could endear herself with the Democratic base while allowing her to stand out from a group of Democrats who might seek the progressive mantle.

 

Is a wave rolling in for House Democrats? Potentially competitive districts and candidates build strength

Brookings

This is the third of a series on the 2018 midterm congressional elections. In the first, we noted the historically unprecedented number of Democratic House challengers who had filed early reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), along with the paucity of Republican challengers. The second report noted the unprecedented number of incumbents who were facing challengers with at least $50,000.

 

Other:

 

14 reports of school threats ended with 12 students, 2 adults arrested in Southern California last week

OCRegister

During the week of Feb. 18-23, law enforcement officials responded to numerous reports of school threats in Southern California, ultimately resulting in the arrest of 14 people. The incidents occurred one week after 17 people were killed in a Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla.

See also:

·       We have all the data we need: Stronger gun laws would save lives Los Angeles Times

·       Can schools bust students for protesting gun laws? Fresno Bee

·       Gun owners don’t store their guns safely, even if children have risk of self-harm, study in journal Pediatrics finds The Fresno Bee

·       Gerson: Apocalyptic thinking paralyzes gun debate Modesto Bee

·       Our Childish Gun Debate WSJ

·       Florida passes new gun legislation, votes down assault weapons ban UPI.com

 

William F. Buckley Jr.: National Review Symposium on the Tenth Anniversary of His Passing

National Review

One hundred years hence, or for as long a “this last best hope on earth” endures, William F. Buckley Jr. will be remembered as the father of postwar American conservatism, the founder of National Review, and — as Ronald Reagan observed — the person who did more than any other to make the Reagan administration (and all that came to mean) possible.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING  

 

Sunday, March 4, at 10 a.m. on ABC 30 – Maddy Report: Charter Schools​ –Pre-empted for Oscar programming.

 

Sunday, March 4, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report: “California’s Future” – Guests: PPIC Experts: Eric McGee, Shannon McConville, Caroline Danielson, Alvar Escriva-Bou, Sarah Bohn, Paul Warren, Magnus Lofstrom and Brandon Martin. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler. 

 

Sunday, March 4, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy:State Auditor Report on Charter Schools​  Guest: Margarita Fernandez, PIO State Auditor’s Office. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

Support the Maddy Daily HERE.

Thank you!

 

 

Topics in More Detail…

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

California Today: Some Central Valley Crops Imperiled by Cold

New York Times

It’s the prettiest time of year in California’s Central Valley. Along country roads, fragrant trees burst with white, pink and red flowers that normally bear a bounty of fruit in the summer. But a cold snap that gripped the state last week may have harmed the blossoms and undermined this year’s almond, peach, plum and nectarine crops. Now growers are busy assessing the fallout.

 

After latest pricing plea, destiny of Valley dairies continues to dim

The Business Journal

Matt Evangelho wasn’t looking to become a dairyman when he emigrated from his native Brazil to California in 1975. “I never milked a cow in my life,” he said. That changed with an opportunity to invest in a small dairy east of Hanford in 1977, along with a partner. The two men started with about 400 cows, building their business into a larger one that until recently numbered more than 2,400 head. That’s why the last couple of weeks have been so hard for Evangelho.

 

Conference for black farmers planned for Fresno

The Business Journal

The first of what could be an annual series of Growing Together Black Farmers with Urban Farmers Conferences will be held Feb. 28 in Fresno.The West Fresno Family Resource Center — a nonprofit working primarily to improve lives in west Fresno, among the poorest Valley communities — is sponsoring the event with the U.S Department of Agriculture that will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Maxi Parks Community Center, 1802 E. California Ave.

 

Merced Co. introduces SmartWater CSI technology in hopes of preventing Ag crimes

ABC30

It is invisible to the naked eye but shine a light, and it is the key to stopping criminals. “If someone steals your equipment you have a personal coded identification that will help us identify who the property belongs to, get it back to the person, and hold the thief responsible,” said Merced County DA Larry Morse.

 

Judge orders California agricultural officials to cease pesticide use

Los Angeles Times

A judge has ordered California agricultural officials to stop spraying pesticides on public and private property to control insects that threaten the state’s $45-billion agriculture industry. The injunction by a Sacramento County Superior Court judge, issued late last week, could throw a substantial hurdle in front of efforts by the state Department of Food and Agriculture to control dozens of crop-damaging pests such as the Asian citrus psyllid, which carries bacteria that have decimated the citrus industry in Brazil and Florida.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE​ ​/​ ​FIRE​ ​/​ ​PUBLIC SAFETY

 

For stories on  ”mass shootings at schools and gun control,” See: “Top Stories – Local, State and Other Politics,” above

 

Crime:

 

Faster, safer, sheriff’s helicopter comes to Fresno County

Fresno Bee

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims on Monday unveiled a new, $3.8 million helicopter that is faster, able to climb higher and is safer than one of two aging helicopters it replaces. The MD 530F was largely paid for with federal asset forfeiture funds, Mims said. “Drug traffickers paid for it and I’m OK with that,” she added. The new helicopter will be dubbed EAGLE One. The department’s two existing helicopters are model MD 500Es that were built in 1990 and 1991, respectively, and have a combined total of 30,000 operational hours.

 

Why bail reform will make California communities safer

The Mercury News

Many California courts operate under the assumption that requiring offenders to pay bail keeps us safe and ensures they return for trial. With over 30 years of policing experience, including as chief in East Palo Alto, I have learned firsthand that our bail system does not prioritize public safety.

 

California court nixes long terms for minors who didn’t kill

AP

A divided California Supreme Court on Monday struck down sentences that fail to give juveniles a chance at parole for 50 years or more for crimes other than homicide, saying such punishments are unconstitutional because they don’t recognize the defendant’s youth and ability to change. The 4-3 ruling came amid heightened scrutiny of sentences for juveniles nationwide. A 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling ended sentences of life without parole for juveniles who commit crimes other than homicide. The justices said juveniles lack maturity, don’t have well-developed characters and are vulnerable to peer pressure.

 

Fire:

 

Are California agencies prepared to fight year-round wildfires?

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Jerry Brown has described wildfires as a nearly “year-long” reality in California. Now lawmakers are scrutinizing the state’s mutual aid system to ensure that fire departments are prepared to help each other fight the new normal.

 

Report: California officials lacked solid fire alert plan

Washington Post / AP

Officials in a Northern California county were ill-prepared, disorganized and lacked sufficient training when deadly, fast-moving wildfires broke out last October endangering about 100,000 people, according to a report from California emergency managers.

 

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Two red flags that California’s economy isn’t as healthy as we think

Sacramento Bee

Two recent financial tremors should caution California and its municipalities that they had better get their financial houses in order. The first came from Controller Betty Yee in her update on the state’s retiree health care liabilities.

 

Economists: US fiscal policy too aggressive

Fresno Bee

A majority of business economists now view the government’s tax and spending policy as moving too aggressively to stimulate economic growth, setting up a potential increase in the deficit in the coming years, a new survey shows. That view emerged from the latest economic policy survey by the National Association for Business Economics, polling 211 members at companies and industry groups. The survey by NABE, a professional association for business economists, academics and others who use economics in the workplace, was released Monday.

 

Jobs:

 

Union members hold rally for jobs at Liberty Bell

Bakersfield Californian

SEIU members, child care workers and others held a noontime rally and news conference on Monday at the Liberty Bell on Truxtun Avenue in downtown Bakersfield. They were demonstrating in support of #WeRise actions at workplaces, calling for more union jobs, including for those in the child care field. It was to be one of about 600 similar gatherings across the country, according to an SEIU news release.

 

EDUCATION

 

What the Janus vs. AFSCME case means for teachers unions

AEI

Agency fees are the portion of union dues that non-members have to pay public sector unions for representation in 21 states and DC. Unions call them “fair share” fees because they prevent teachers from “free riding,” or getting representation for nothing. Some state employees, such as plaintiff Mark Janus, argue mandatory agency fees violate their first amendment rights of speech and association.

 

More California students graduate from high school, but far fewer graduate from college

EdSource

California’s high school graduation rates have increased significantly in recent years, but the percentage of those students who complete their college education continues to lag, with long-term implications for the state’s future.

 

K-12:

 

Fresno Unified working to increase bilingual education for its students

ABC30

Learning the ABC’s are about to look and sound very different in Fresno Unified. Beginning this fall the district will roll out a Hmong language immersion program at Vang Pao Elementary School. “Obviously getting into the workforce, if you speak two languages and fluent in two cultures you have so much a better opportunity, particularly in the Valley. We want to provide our students with that opportunity,” said FUSD Superintendent Bob Nelson.

 

Connecting What Teachers Know About State English Language Arts Standards for Reading and What They Do in Their Classrooms: Findings from the American Teacher Panel

RAND

In a 2016 report, RAND researchers explored English language arts (ELA) teachers’ implementation of their state standards, with a specific focus on three key aspects: teachers’ instructional materials, their knowledge about their standards, and their instructional practices. This report provides an update based on data from a spring 2016 survey of the RAND American Teacher Panel (ATP). In particular, the authors connect teachers’ approaches to reading instruction with their understanding of two ideas aligned with most state standards related to reading: use of complex texts and close reading of texts.

 

Key justice is silent as Supreme Court re-argues case critical to CTA, other public employee unions

EdSource

Many eyes were on the U.S. Supreme Court’s newest member, Neil Gorsuch, on Monday as they looked for signs of how he will vote on a closely watched case that may determine whether unions like the California Teachers Association will continue to amass the members and the money that are the source of their power and influence.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Financial aid application rates now public to motivate more students to apply

89.3 KPCC

It used to be that only high school counselors and school administrators could see data about how many students had completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

 

Former UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks: The American university is ‘under growing attack’

Los Angeles Times

Four years ago, Nicholas Dirks left a top job at Columbia University for the chancellorship of UC Berkeley, the nation’s top public research university. It was not a smooth ride. He faced crisis after crisis: a critical budget deficit, sexual harassment scandals, a free-speech riot, personal controversy and declining faculty confidence in his leadership. He stepped down in 2017.

 

What professional female engineers want young girls to know

The Collegian

Early in her career, when Tinnah Medina was on a construction site, she would look around to count how many women were in the same room as her. She was usually the only one. “But you know that’s what you don’t want to do,” Medina, associate vice-president of Facilities Management at Fresno State, said to an audience of young girls last week. “You don’t want to think of yourself as a female in an industry. You want to think of yourself as an engineer as part of that team.”

 

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

This is how California can save monarch butterflies

Sacramento Bee

It’s almost certain that California’s monarch butterfly population will continue to fall, an estimated 95 percent since the 1980s.

 

8 District Attorneys Settle Environmental Suit With Autonation

SFGate

A $3.38 million settlement has been reached between dozens of AutoNation subsidiaries and eight California counties including Alameda and Santa Clara for alleged violations of environmental and customer record laws, prosecutors said today.

 

Energy:

 

Ryan Zinke wrong that gas prices are down 40% under Trump

PolitiFact

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke touted the Trump administration’s efforts on reducing gasoline prices and, in the process, beefing up Americans’ disposable income. “As good as the tax bill is, when America pulls up to a pump, and they fill their car up, under the previous administration it was 2 bucks, 4 bucks, 6 bucks, $100 to fill a car,” Zinke said at the conservative CPAC conference on Feb. 23. “American energy has delivered. Now it’s $60. That’s $40 you have in your pocket — every American that would fill up at a pump station — that you wouldn’t have.” (The comment is around the 7:20 mark in this C-SPAN video.)

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Any potential long-term risks of cellphone use remain unknown

Hanford Sentinel

The conversation regarding mobile phones and potential health hazards has been going on for decades. Ever since the first public cellular phone call was placed in 1973 (!) on a Motorola prototype the size of a meatloaf, it seemed inevitable that questions about the safety of the technology would follow.

 

LA County isn’t doing enough to protect people living near oil wells, study says

89.3 KPCC

Los Angeles County is not doing enough to keep people who live alongside oil wells from getting sick. That’s the finding of a new study by the county’s Department of Public Health, which recommends increasing the distance between oil wells and places where people live, work and play.

 

Obamacare insurance premiums to rise 18 percent next year, analysis finds

San Francisco Chronicle

Health insurance premiums in California are expected to rise nearly 18 percent in 2019 as a result of federal policy changes enacted by Congress and the Trump administration, according to an analysis released Monday by the Urban Institute left-leaning think tank.

 

Hiltzik: The stupidity of Trumpcare: Government will spend $33 billion more to cover 8.9 million fewer Americans, as premiums soar

Los Angeles Times

Those fiscal geniuses in the White House and Republican-controlled Congress have managed to do the impossible: Their sabotage of the Affordable Care Act will lead to 6.4 million fewer Americans with health insurance, while the federal bill for coverage rises by some $33 billion per year. Also, by the way, premiums in the individual market will rise by an average of more than 18%.

 

PPIC co-hosting free forum on medi-cal in Fresno, Thu. March 1st

Public Policy Institute of California

The purpose of this event is to highlight the Medi-Cal program and to discuss the social and economic impact of potential reform. The Public Policy Institute of California will present reports on the Medi-Cal program and its current funding structure. A panel consisting of local leaders and service providers will discuss the Medi-Cal program in Fresno and reflect upon the economic and social impact of reform.

 

‘Dreamers’ have yet another worry: Losing their health coverage

Washington Post

Young immigrants known as “dreamers” may have gotten a respite from the Supreme Court yesterday as it refused to take up their case, pushed by President Trump after a lower court ruled the administration couldn’t terminate their legal status in the United States. But those protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, implemented by then-President Obama, still have plenty to worry about, including a lack of congressional will on the issue. And there’s one more thing: dreamers risk losing health coverage if they’re protected status isn’t renewed along with their work permits.

 

Human Services:

 

The CalFresh Food Assistance Program

Public Policy Institute of California

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—called CalFresh in California and sometimes known as food stamps—is the largest food assistance program in the nation. Together with the school meals and WIC programs, CalFresh provides a nutrition safety net for low-income Californians. An average of 4.1 million Californians living in 2.0 million households received CalFresh benefits each month in federal fiscal year 2017.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

ICE activity dims celebrations of Supreme Court ruling in favor of DACA

Fresno Bee

Despite an encouraging Supreme Court decision that means young undocumented immigrants known as “dreamers” will remain protected from deportation for now, people like America Hernandez are still skeptical.

See also:

·       High court’s DACA decision changes dynamics of Congress’ immigration debate Politico

·       What the Supreme Court ruling means for DACA recipients KPCC

 

Californians and DACA

Public Policy Institute of California

In September, the Trump administration announced an end to the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program, which includes protections for some undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. Under DACA, those who qualify and pass a background check can receive protection from deportation and a work permit. California is home to about 223,000 DACA recipients—more than one-fourth of the national total.

See also:

·       The mind-boggling cost of DACA repeal Brookings

 

San Francisco-Area Residents Warned of Immigrant Raids by US

Bloomberg

Oakland and Berkeley are warning residents of escalating raids by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents searching for undocumented immigrants in their northern California communities, especially so-called criminal aliens.

 

Trump expected to visit California to view border wall prototypes

Los Angeles Times

President Trump is finally expected to go to California. The president, who has rarely crossed the Mississippi River during his first 13 months in office, is scheduled to visit California in mid-March to see prototypes for a potential border wall and learn more about the construction, according to administration officials involved in the planning.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

What Does $1,100 Rent You In Fresno, Today?

KFSN-TV

Curious just how far your dollar goes in Fresno? We’ve rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental site ApartmentList to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down an apartment in Fresno if you’ve got $1,100 / month earmarked for your rent.

 

California Could Upend City Building Rules in Bid to Make Housing Cheaper

Governing

Housing prices in California continue to soar, in part because many cities have discouraged dense development. That’s led to a big fight in Sacramento over whether the state should force cities to allow apartment and condo buildings near transit stations. Frustrated with cities that repeatedly block dense development, one California state senator has set off a huge debate by proposing that the state should sweep aside local restrictions to allow more concentrated housing near major transit stations.

See also:

·       NIMBYism no response to Weiner’s bold California housing planThe San Diego Union-Tribune

 

Wow, California Housing Is Expensive

Bloomberg

Which U.S. city has the highest rents? San Francisco, right? Maybe New York? Ummm, no. San Ramon is an affluent (median household income: $151,327) San Francisco suburb of 75,639 that’s probably best known outside the Bay Area as the headquarters of oil and gas giant Chevron Corp. I grew up a few miles away, in Lafayette, which is too small for the Census Bureau to provide single-year estimates but had a median gross rent of $1,816 from 2012 through 2016.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Pension Funds Under Pressure To Sell Off Investments In Gun-Makers

NPR

Since the mass killing at a Parkland, Fla., high school earlier this month, many teachers have called on their state pension funds to sell their stakes in gun-makers. Private investment firms including BlackRock and Blackstone are reviewing their firearms investments in response to clients’ demands.

 

A California city (Stockton) is planning on giving money to some residents, no strings attached

Marketplace

Wage stagnation. Rising housing prices. Loss of middle-class jobs. The looming threat of automation. These are some of the problems facing Stockton’s residents. Stockton’s mayor, Michael Tubbs, said the city’s problems are far from unique. “I think Stockton is absolutely ground zero for a lot of the issues we are facing as a nation,” Tubbs said.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Driverless cars are expected on California streets in April. What does it mean for you?

Sacramento Bee

A moment that once belonged only in sci-fi novels is now a month away in California. Starting in early April, auto manufacturers and technology companies will be free to put cars onto California city streets for testing with no one at the wheel – and in fact no one even in the car.

See also:

·       Self-driving cars get OK for California public… The Mercury News

·       DMV Greenlights Testing of Driverless Cars on California RoadsKQED

·       California Scraps Safety Driver Rules for Self-Driving Cars New York Times

·       California to allow self-driving cars without human backup by April  UPI.com

 

Transport safety rules for trucks and trains have been sidelined under President Trump

USA Today

President Donald Trump is putting the brakes on attempts to address dangerous safety problems from speeding tractor-trailers to sleepy railroad engineers as part of his quest to roll back regulations across the government, according to a review by The Associated Press of Transportation Department rule-making activities.

 

Electric vehicles in the fast lane

Capitol Weekly

By the time today’s infants are in their early 30s, gasoline-powered cars that aren’t hybrids could be a rarity in California. That’s the goal of California policy makers who are doing their best to phase those cars out by 2050 and replace them with zero-emissions vehicles like electric cars, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell.

 

WATER

 

A little more rain, a lot more snow in forecast this week

Modesto Bee

Two cold storm systems are expected to add a bit to Modesto’s slim rainfall total this winter. The system that moved into the area Sunday night continued through Monday. By 3 p.m. Monday, 0.16 inches was recorded by the Modesto Irrigation District downtown. Tuesday and most of Wednesday are expected to be mostly clear before clouds gather to bring a 10 percent chance of rain after 4 p.m. Wednesday. The chance of rain Wednesday night is 50 percent, increasing to 90 percent for Thursday.

See also:

·       Rain, snow and hail pound Northern California after bone-dry February  Sacramento Bee

·       Rain returns, and February won’t be the driest on record in Bay Area The Mercury News

 

Study finds ‘rock moisture’ spared California forest from drought San Francisco Chronicle

The recent drought left record numbers of trees dead and dying and vulnerable to fire in virtually every corner of California, but a dense tract of evergreen forest in northern Mendocino County remained wet and healthy.

 

Gov. Brown signs dam-safety bill

The Mercury News

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Monday that seeks to beef up dam inspections following a near disaster that caused the evacuation of almost 200,000 people living downstream from the tallest one in the United States. The measure implements several recommendations from experts who reviewed the crisis at Oroville Dam last year.

See also:

·       In Wake of Oroville Crisis, Brown Signs Bill Requiring Tougher Dam Inspections KQED

 

Why ‘Cloud Seeding’ is Increasingly Attractive to the Thirsty West

Pew Charitable Trust | Stateline

Machines that prod clouds to make snow may sound like something out of an old science fiction movie. But worsening water scarcity, combined with new proof that “cloud seeding” actually works, is spurring more states, counties, water districts and power companies across the thirsty West to use the strategy.

 

“Xtra”

 

County officials unveil colorful new artwork on Fulton Street

ABC30

The newest additions to Fulton Street are colorful and eye-catching. The artwork of Gordon Huether are the first pieces to be introduced to Fulton since 1964. “Well you know as an artist you always want to be there first so here I am. I’m just very excited for the community that we can bring some life and color and vibrancy to the downtown,” said Huether. The steel pieces capture the beat of Fulton Street. They also pay tribute to valley agriculture.

 

They’re going to Disneyland: Park gives free tickets to firefighters for 2017 efforts

Fresno Bee

The Walt Disney Co. sent 618 one-day “park hopper” tickets good at its adjoining Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks to Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis earlier this month – one for each of the city’s 309 firefighters and another for each to bring a guest to visit the parks before May 10. It’s a token of thanks for the department providing help during last year’s hectic wildfire season across California.

 

Pi Beta Phi book giveway set for Saturday

Bakersfield Californian

This Saturday, at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ maintenance yard, volunteers from the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women will distribute 20,000 new books to children from underserved Bakersfield communities. Their motivation: Literacy rates have a direct correlation to further success in academia and in life.

 

The Mammoth Orange, artifact of an era, to get new life at fossil museum

Modesto Bee

A large, round and still-orange reminder of America’s fabled love of the open road sits outside a fossil museum in Central California where the community is making plans to restore it. The Mammoth Orange hamburger stand – shaped like a giant orange – was a fixture on Highway 99 near Highway 152 at a place called Fairmead. It closed about 10 years ago.

 

PPIC co-hosting free forum on medi-cal in Fresno, Thu. March 1st

Public Policy Institute of California

The purpose of this event is to highlight the Medi-Cal program and to discuss the social and economic impact of potential reform. The Public Policy Institute of California will present reports on the Medi-Cal program and its current funding structure. A panel consisting of local leaders and service providers will discuss the Medi-Cal program in Fresno and reflect upon the economic and social impact of reform.

 

EDITORIALS

 

Gutting unions will be a blow to middle class

Modesto Bee

For good and not-so-good, public employee unions are a force in California. They deserve credit for backing Gov. Jerry Brown’s program to lift the state out of a deep deficit; for forcing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, for the fact that farmworkers get overtime, for marshaling support for public schools during the recession. They also deserve blame for negotiating pensions that are driving some cities to the brink of bankruptcy.

 

A bogus free-speech argument at the Supreme Court is union-busting in the name of the 1st Amendment

Los Angeles Times

On Monday the Supreme Court was asked — again — to engage in some union-busting in the name of the 1st Amendment. Specifically, the justices were asked to rule that public employee unions may not require non-members to pay a fee to defray the cost of collective bargaining and other services from which they benefit. Ominously, several justices indicated in their comments at oral argument that they’re willing to do just that, overruling a 41-year-old precedent.

 

Supreme Court refuses to step in to fix problem Trump created

San Francisco Chronicle

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined the Trump administration’s request for it to immediately review lower court decisions about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Federal district judges in California and New York have issued nationwide injunctions against the administration’s rescission of DACA, blocking the White House from ending the program on March 5.

 

Could teenagers be America’s last, best hope for California-style gun control?

Fresno Bee

Less than a week after Nikolas Cruz stormed his old Florida high school with an AR-15 assault rifle, Sonjhia Lowery found herself in the entryway of C.K. McClatchy High School listening to her daughter’s classmates discuss how to survive a mass shooting. “Kids,” she fumed to The Bee, “shouldn’t have to come to school and have those kind of conversations.” She’s right. They shouldn’t. If anything has been made clear over the past few days, it’s that we have acquiesced to the firearms industry to a degree that is both insane and lethal.

 

Kern County advocates urge governor to sign bill eliminating ‘willful defiance’ suspensions in schools

Bakersfield Californian

Ernesto Vaquero was suspended in fifth grade when he turned around in his seat to chat with another student at his Inglewood elementary school. His teacher said he was being “willfully defiant.” That single interaction, Vaquero said, set him on an educational career path dotted with disciplinary infractions. Teachers began seeing him as a troublemaker — and the only way to deal with a troublemaker was through suspension, said Vaquero, now 18.

 

Shake up Trump budget; restore earthquake early warning system funding

Mercury News

Talk about misplaced budget priorities. President Trump proposes $3 billion next fiscal year for his precious border wall. But he has rejected a $10 million request to help complete the nation’s earthquake early-warning system.

 

Don’t let NIMBYs — or weak-kneed politicians — stand in the way of homeless housing

Los Angeles Times

“Homes end homelessness.” That was the simple and ultimately persuasive slogan of the Proposition HHH campaign in 2016. In November of that year, an overwhelming 77% of Los Angeles city voters opted to raise their own property taxes to pay for $1.2 billion in homeless housing — 10,000 units to be built over a decade. Politicians exulted in the win and vowed that after years of short-lived strategies and half-hearted measures, they would finally address the crisis with the resolve and the resources needed to bring it under control.

 

 

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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.

 

The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.

                                                     

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