February 14, 2015

14Feb

Political Briefs

Featured story

Modesto Bee:  Significant investment in Valley’s future — Many bemoan the fact that so many of our brightest students feel compelled to leave the Valley to find opportunity. Few do anything about it. The Maddy Institute, based at Fresno State but dedicated to improving the entire Central Valley, is challenging that dynamic. It’s offering two $56,000 scholarships, funded by Lynda and Stewart Resnick and the Resnick Foundation, to students who want to pursue graduate studies in public policy. Modesto Bee editorial

 

Top stories

California legislators ended election with $18 million in the bank — Members of the Legislature’s Democratic and Republican caucuses ended 2014 with more than $18 million in the bank following a fall campaign season that centered on whether Democrats would retain legislative supermajorities.  Capitol Alert

Obama seeks help from Congress, Silicon Valley to fight cyberattacks — President Obama called on lawmakers Friday to pass tougher cybersecurity laws, but the main pitch of his speech at a cybersecurity summit at Stanford University was aimed at business leaders whose help he needs fighting cyberattacks.  LA Times article; San Francisco Chronicle article; KQED report; Sacramento Bee editorial

 

Valley politics

White says he’s run for San Joaquin County supervisor District 1 seat — The field for an open seat representing central and south Stockton on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors got a little bit wider and a lot more interesting with the addition of Ralph Lee White to the list of candidates. The former Stockton City Council member on Friday said he intends to run next year for the District 1 seat.  Stockton Record article

 

Statewide politics/Ballot Measures

John Myers: 2015, politically speaking: Politics podcast — KQED’s Marisa Lagos and I, joined by longtime political journalist Anthony York, are back chatting about this week’s most talked about stories: the U.S. Senate race that lies ahead, the first candidate for the 2018 governor’s race jumping out to an early start, and the 2015 political and government stories we’re watching.  Myers in KQED

Pot legalization backers discuss next steps in California — Marijuana legalization proponents are gathering in San Francisco this weekend to hear about efforts to add the nation’s most populous — and arguably most pot-infused — state to the four others where it is now legal for adults to buy and use the drug recreationally.  Sacramento Bee article

 

Other areas 

Political impasse threatens funding for Homeland Security agency – It wasn’t supposed to be like this for Republicans. A month into their control of both chambers of Congress, they are confronting the very real possibility of a shutdown of the Homeland Security Department later this month. Instead of advancing a conservative agenda and showing voters they can govern, the GOP has been unable to overcome Senate Democrats’ stalling tactics in a dispute over immigration.  AP article

Obama talks of grand vision at San Francisco fundraiser — President Obama laid out an aggressive agenda for his final two years in office leading to the 2016 election in a speech Friday to a crowd of Bay Area donors, saying the remainder of his second term will be focused on “setting the stage” for U.S. politics for years to come.  San Francisco Chronicle article

Marylee Shrider: Persuade the ‘quivering daisies’ to do their jobs – The executive director of Right to Life of Kern County writes, “To say pro-lifers feel betrayed by the House of Representatives’ failure last month to vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is an understatement. To lay blame at the feet of House leadership, however, is not entirely fair.”  Shrider op-ed in Bakersfield California

 

News Briefs

Top Stories

California lawmakers call on Obama to ‘step up’ in port dispute – California lawmakers want an end to the nine-month slowdown crippling West Coast ports, but they can’t agree on who’s to blame for the labor dispute causing it. At a press conference Friday morning urging President Barack Obama, who is in the state this weekend, to intervene in the conflict between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and their employer, the Pacific Maritime Association, Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen tried to keep things neutral.  Sacramento Bee article; Capital Public Radio report

Scientists go high and low for data on drought-fighting ‘sky rivers’ – The P-3 Orion aircraft was part of an unprecedented research effort that sampled and measured two atmospheric river storms that gave half the state a welcome soaking a week ago. Four planes, a ship, ground equipment and even space satellites collected a mountain of data as the sky rivers rolled in from the Pacific Ocean. LA Times article

 

Jobs and the Economy

U.S. economy faces minimum hit if West Coast ports close, experts say – Despite the enormous volume of goods flowing through the ports in San Pedro Bay, and a long-simmering labor dispute that threatens a shutdown of 29 West Coast ports, economists and trade experts said closures would have very little effect on the broader U.S. economy. That’s because the trade of goods through U.S. ports represents only a fraction of the nation’s total economic output.  LA Times article

Commerce secretary in California to push exports – says port shutdown could cost billions — U. S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker — who addressed Friday’s White House Summit on Cybersecurity at Stanford University — says the West Coast port shutdown could cost the economy billions in lost trade.  San Francisco Chronicle article

State proposes 21 percent gas tax cut – The Board of Equalization released a proposal on Friday to reduce the per-gallon tax Californians pay on regular gas by 7.5 cents per gallon, a 21 percent cut from the current 36-cent excise tax.  U-T San Diego article

100,000 California households get incorrect Obamacare tax forms — California’s Obamacare exchange sent erroneous tax forms to about 100,000 households that received federal premium subsidies last year. LA Times article

Shops enjoy boom for Valentine’s Day – Blooming Affair Floral and Gifts in downtown Merced had a full house on Friday as people dropped in throughout the day to place floral arrangement orders for their significant others. The shop’s phone and online ordering systems were just as busy. Valentine’s Day and the days leading up to it are some of the busiest for Merced flower and gift shops.  Merced Sun-Star article

Del Monte to settle underpayment lawsuit for $7.5 million – Del Monte has agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle claims that workers were underpaid at the Del Monte packing plant south of Hanford, according to court documents.  Hanford Sentinel article

Fresno’s African-American museum, Housing Authority partner on new mixed-use building – Fresno’s African American Historical and Cultural Museum could see a new museum building — and more — rise from the site of its existing facility as part of a collaboration with the Fresno Housing AuthorityFresno Bee article

Developer: Campus Pointe theater should debut in March – The movie theater that will anchor The Square at Campus Pointe could be open for business later next month.  The Business Journal article

Growing voices say gig workers need protections, benefits – Does the gig economy exploit workers? Uber and Lyft drivers, HomeJoy cleaners, TaskRabbit handypeople, Amazon’s Mechanical Turk odd-jobbers, and others who provide on-demand services through new online marketplaces work as independent contractors, without the protections afforded to employees. They lack benefits such as minimum wage, overtime pay, workers’ compensation, Social Security contributions and the right to collective bargaining.  San Francisco Chronicle article

Fourth-quarter loss drops year-end results for Central Valley Community Bank – Central Valley Community Bancorp, the Fresno-based parent company of Central Valley Community Bank, recorded almost $8.4 million in a provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2014, creating a loss of $2.37 million or 22 cents per share for the quarter. The earnings, announced Friday afternoon, are down sharply from a profit of $2.2 million or 19 cents per share reported in the third quarter of 2013.  Fresno Bee article

Sacramento leverages pro teams as allies in MLS bids — Trying to buy a Major League Soccer franchise? It might help to own a football or basketball team first. Many of the top teams in MLS are controlled by owners of other big-league sports franchises, and MLS likes it that way. It’s a big reason why Sacramento Republic FC, pushing its case to gain admission to MLS, lined up the Sacramento Kings and San Francisco 49ers as minority investors.  Sacramento Bee article

Sacramento putting together bid for 2019 NBA All-Star game — Sacramento Kings executives have approached NBA officials about hosting the 2019 NBA All-Star Game at the new downtown arena under construction. The concept under discussion would have the Kings partner with resorts in Napa Valley in a bid for the league’s annual event, Kings president Chris Granger told The Sacramento Bee Friday.  Sacramento Bee article 

Aerojet Rocketdyne president steps down; GenCorp CEO takes job again — Aerojet Rocketdyne President Warren Boley Jr. stepped down Friday, less than four months after an unmanned NASA rocket with Aerojet Rocketdyne-modified engines exploded in Virginia. Scott Seymour, CEO of GenCorp Inc., parent of the Rancho Cordova-based rocket engine manufacturer, will take over Boley’s post.  Sacramento Bee article

Costco near deal with new credit card issuer — Costco Wholesale Corp., acknowledging its split with American Express Co., said Friday that it is close to reaching a deal with a new credit card company for exclusive rights to serve the giant retailer’s customers.  LA Times article

Hart’s Haven Books will close its doors – For almost 20 years, Hart’s Haven Books has been, well, a haven in Fresno’s Tower District for people seeking a quaint place to seek out old and hard-to-find volumes of the printed word. But slowly, word of mouth is getting out about the clearance sale that owner Shirley Hart is having as she prepares — with very mixed emotions — to close the used-book business.  Fresno Bee article

Apple reportedly working on electric car to challenge Tesla — Apple Inc. is working on an Apple-branded electric vehicle, the Wall Street Journal has reported. The project is code-named Titan and the design resembles a minivan, according to the report. The Cupertino company has assigned several hundred employees to the vehicle. While a car may not ultimately result, some Apple executives have flown to Austria to meet with contract manufacturers of high-end cars, the report said.  San Francisco Chronicle article

 

Agriculture/Water/Drought

World Ag Expo impacted by West Coast port slowdown — When they weren’t cutting deals, scoping out the latest nut crowders and drip irrigation systems or munching on barbecue, many exhibitors at this year’s Farm Show were talking about how the West Coast port slowdown had negatively impacted their businesses – and their plans for this year’s World Ag Expo.  The Business Journal article

Three more Asian citrus psyllids found in Tulare County – Three more Asian citrus psyllids, one of the citrus industry’s most dangerous pest, have been discovered in northeast Tulare County, prompting state and county officials to begin treating the area and searching for more bugs.  Fresno Bee article

Proposed water slide event stirs drought concerns – A Utah-based events company planning to bring a giant inflatable water slide to the City of Fresno has had to put its plan on hold until it can come to an agreement with the state of California.  The Business Journal article

Irene De La Cruz: Valley residents must rally against state’s water plan – The Planada resident writes, “Everyone in Merced County and the surround region needs to be an advocate for a more reasonable solution to saving the state’s fisheries than the state Water Resources Control Board proposal to take more water our of area rivers.”   De La Cruz op-ed in Merced Sun-Star

Farm Beat: Hunting mushrooms a fun way to spend a day — We, the people, own the Stanislaus National Forest, mushrooms and all. And we can each gather up to 5 pounds of the wild fungi for personal use, if we follow the rules.  Modesto Bee article

 

Criminal Justice/Prisons

Real or fake? Gun color can be a gray area – Opponents of the new regulations — a group largely composed of police unions, manufacturers and gun-rights advocates — argue the law will do little to prevent mistaken shootings and could actually make things more confusing for an officers who must make split-second decisions whether to fire or not.  LA Times article

10-year-old daughter of Madera County sheriff’s lieutenant shoots sister, 8, with father’s gun in Fresno – Fresno police are investigating an incident in which a Madera County sheriff’s lieutenant’s 10-year-old daughter shot her younger sister Friday morning.  Fresno Bee article

Teen shot in back by LAPD: Don’t blame toy gun makers, activists say – Standing in the alley where a Los Angeles police officer shot at a group of teenagers — wounding one in the back — six local civil rights activists on Friday called on the LAPD to review its policy and training procedures on replica weapons.  LA Times article

Hanford police partner with virtual neighborhood watch site — Neighborhood watch has gone virtual and the Hanford Police Department is tapping into the evolving practice. The department recently announced that it has partnered with a private social networking site known as Nextdoor. The free online site, aimed at building stronger and safer neighborhoods, allows for community members to communicate with one another about neighborhood issues via Internet.  Hanford Sentinel article

Six make it to first Sacramento ‘re-entry’ court graduation — To the cheers of probation officers, a couple of deputy DAs and judges, a scattering of sheriff’s deputies and public defenders, and a roomful of thieves and recovering drug addicts, California saved itself a little money last week.  Sacramento Bee article
Education

Common Core in Kern: Exploring a deeper level of thinking – Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” was the focal point of teacher Diana Greenlee’s college prep English class Thursday. The teacher gave what’s known as a formative assessment, a point-in-time check to gauge student understanding of the reading.  Bakersfield Californian article

California Student Aid Commission halts payments to Heald College students — The California Student Aid Commission has halted reimbursement payments to students at Heald College after the for-profit chain failed to provide required documents demonstrating that it is financially stable. The decision could affect up to 13,279 students at Heald’s 10 campuses in Northern California and the Central Valley who receive Cal Grant scholarship awards, according to commission spokeswoman Patti Colston.  Sacramento Bee article; San Francisco Chronicle article

Jill Stearns: Much has changed since voters approved Measure E – The president of Modesto Junior College writes, “Over the last two years, Modesto Junior College has expanded access to higher education opportunities in Patterson, Turlock and across Modesto. Through partnerships with our local school districts, MJC is offering courses in automotive technology, logistics and mathematics and in more locations convenient for students of all ages.”  Stearns op-ed in Modesto Bee

Fresno State research: Leftover food gets new life as bioplastic — Fresno State researcher Bill Wright pulls bags of frozen, mushy strawberries out of his lab freezer. He’s converting the pink food waste into an unexpected consumer product: plastic.  Fresno Bee article
Energy/Environment

PG&E sues to block water district takeover – Less than 24 hours after local officials rejected its protest, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. filed a lawsuit Friday to block a water district’s proposed takeover of retail electric service in the south county.  Stockton Record article

Delano grape grower adds solar power system — A Delano grape grower, packer and shipper has added a 1.2 megawatt solar power system expected to trim its utility bill by $330,000 a year. Four Star Fruit’s photovoltaic installation is intended to provide more than 60 percent of its energy needs, which include a 170,000-square-foot refrigeration plant.  Bakersfield Californian article

Lemoore solar project nearly done? — Amid months of delays, Lemoore’s $12.8 million solar energy project may finally be nearing completion. The Lemoore City Council approved the Chevron Energy Solutions project in May 2013 to cut the city’s power costs by about $44 million over a 30-year period. Hanford Sentinel article

 

Health/Human Services

No measles – so far – and high vaccination rates may saving Fresno residents from outbreak – Fresno may have escaped a measles outbreak from a visitor last month who potentially exposed babies and mothers at a maternity ward and shoppers at a mall. As of Friday the county had not identified a measles case.  Fresno Bee article

Measles cases in California increase to 113 — California health officials have recorded 113 cases of measles in the state since December. The outbreak began at Disneyland and spread into the community. Almost two-thirds of the infections were from people who visited or worked at the theme park in Orange County or had contact with an infected person.  AP article

Insurer Anthem offers layers of identity theft protection — Anthem is offering several levels of free identity theft protection to current and former customers after hackers broke into a database storing information for about 80 million people.  AP article 

Lindsay Mann: Safety is Kaweah Delta’s mission and top priority – The CEO of Kaweah Delta Health Care District writes, “Safety has long been a priority at Kaweah Delta, and with the support of our Board of Directors it is now a part of our mission.”  Mann op-ed in Visalia Times-Delta

 

Transportation

State board authorizes more land condemnation for high-speed rail — The State Public Works Board on Friday authorized the use of eminent domain, or condemnation, to acquire property in Madera and Fresno needed for construction of California’s high-speed rail system. The properties are scattered along about 33 miles of the high-speed rail line between the northeast fringe of Madera and Floral Avenue south of Fresno. They include farmland, vacant buildings, homes and businesses that sit on land that will either make way for the bullet-train tracks or for associated structures like new road overpasses.  Fresno Bee article

Southwest is latest airline to scale back rewards program — Southwest Airlines is the latest airline to reduce the value of loyalty rewards. Southwest has announced that rewards points earned by fliers will vary in value based on destination, time, day of travel, demand and other factors.  LA Times article

 

Other Areas

One Billion Rising Revolution hits Visalia – Scores of people donning red and pink clothing showed up to Garden Street Plaza Friday to be a part of a movement aimed at ending violence against women and girls. The movement is part of the One Billion Rising Revolution, where people across the nation march every Valentine’s Day to stand up for abused women.  Visalia Times-Delta article

Hanford officials concede to crows – After years of trying to ward off the thousands of crows that descend on downtown Hanford each winter, city officials are finally admitting defeat.  Hanford Sentinel article

McFarland: Town up and running, even before film – Combatting the negativity of the cancer cluster and gang activity McFarland has become infamous for with the pride the town has for its work ethic and cross-country teams, town officials and residents have seen a positive change. Now, with the release Feb. 20 of Disney’s “McFarland, USA,” which tells the story of the McFarland Cougars’ winning 1987 cross-country team, residents believe it’s time to show the world what this small town is all about.  Bakersfield Californian article

VA details plan to eliminate veterans’ homelessness in LA — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs detailed its plan Friday to end veterans’ homelessness in Los Angeles by 2016, pledging to open its West Los Angeles campus to permanent and temporary housing, and to place returning service members and their families in subsidized apartments throughout the county.  LA Times article

Fresno Art Museum names new executive director — After nearly a year of no one in the position, the Fresno Art Museum has a new executive director: Michele Ellis Pracy, who brings 25 years of museum experience to the job. She most recently was director of the Ojai Valley Museum in Ojai, where during a five-year tenure she brought a “small-town” museum up to the level of an accreditation-worthy institution, she said.  Fresno Bee article

2015 Miss Tulare County moves anti-bullying platform forward – Losing the 2013 Miss Tulare County contest with a broken foot didn’t stop 19-year-old Tara Broderick from competing in pageants and following her dreams. She may only hold the 2014 Miss Tulare County title for a few more weeks but it hasn’t halted the college student from moving her anti-bullying platform forward.  Visalia Times-Delta article 

Razor blade sightings a stinging reminder: watch your kids in parks – The idea sounds too grim to be true. But city of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Director Dianne Hoover confirmed that, in the past year, people have attached razor blades and other sharp objects to playground equipment in city parks.  Bakersfield Californian article 

Ken Carlson: Stanislaus County has the recreation outlets, but are people using them? – More than 70 percent of Stanislaus County residents have access to parks or recreation facilities, says a study that compared exercise opportunities in different regions of the U.S.  Carlson in Modesto Bee

Rules for city parks on Hanford agenda – In an effort to make Hanford Civic Park and other facilities safer and cleaner, the Hanford City Council will consider amending regulations for those facilities at its meeting on Tuesday.  Hanford Sentinel article

‘First Look’: Nonprofit that puts veterans – and their cars – back on the road, seeks space to work from – American Warrior Customs continues to restore service members’ and veterans’ classic and new cars to get them on the road again but space is still their main concern. “We need a space, anything at this point,” said Tracy Harrelson of American Warrior Customs, Friday on “First Look with Scott Cox.”  Bakersfield Californian article

Forest Benedict: What one person can do to stand against ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ – The sexual addiction treatment provider writes, “As a therapist specializing in treating sexual addictions, I’m deeply concerned about the release of the book-made-movie ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ this Valentine’s Day weekend. Not only does the ‘Fifty Shades’ series portray pornographic and dehumanizing themes, it also glorifies highly abusive relational dysfunction. It is my hope to inspire citizens to stand against this movie in practical, meaningful ways.”  Benedict op-ed in Fresno Bee 

Uproar grows in Atwater over former official’s controversial comment – With her hands shaking and her voice quivering, a teenage girl took the podium at an Atwater City Council meeting this week to denounce comments a former planning commissioner made online.  Merced Sun-Star article

YMCA of San Joaquin County director to take another post – The YMCA of San Joaquin County is seeking a new executive director after announcing Friday that Rich Good will be leaving in late March for the same position with the branch in Anaheim.  Stockton Record article

Activists work to preserve monument, legacy of Stockton pioneer – Considering he rescued local slaves and cleared the path for the desegregation of California schools, the downtown monument in honor of the Rev. Jeremiah Burke Sanderson isn’t much to look at.  Stockton Record article 

Wrangling over culvert ends in vote for horses – A group of southwest homeowners who own horses are sitting tall in the saddle after a key win at the latest Bakersfield City Council meeting.  Bakersfield Californian article

Bob Marcotte: Hinds Hospice new ‘Wall of Remembrance’ provides a ‘forever’ place for families – The Fresno resident writes, “In the hospice world, the word “death” is often replaced with “transition,” and a popular image is that of the butterfly. It symbolizes how pain and tears are left behind in the making of a whole new life. The Wall of Remembrance contains butterflies, lots of butterflies.”  Marcotte op-ed in Fresno Bee 

Judge Houry Sanderson:  Serve your community on Fresno County grand jury – The chair of the Fresno Superior Court Jury Oversight Committee writes, “When a veteran judge like Robert Oliver retires, it is hard to fill such big shoes. I have been tasked with taking over one of his longtime positions with the courts, chair of the Jury Oversight Committee. I will do my utmost to maintain the high quality of leadership he has shown. This brings me to the reason I am writing this: to solicit and encourage members of our community to volunteer for the annual grand jury roster.”  Sanderson op-ed in Fresno Bee

 

Valley Editorial Roundup

Fresno BeeThumbs up, thumbs down: Ed Ray gets park, the Fresno region’s acceptance into the Brookings Global Cities Initiative Exchange, and other issues.

Merced Sun-Star – Business and government must join forces on cybersecurity.

Modesto Bee – Many bemoan the fact that so many of our brightest students feel compelled to leave the Valley to find opportunity. Few do anything about it.  The Maddy Institute, based at Fresno State but dedicated to improving the entire Central Valley, is challenging that dynamic. It’s offering two $56,000 scholarships funded by Lynda and Stewart Resnick and the Resnick Foundation to students who want to pursue graduate studies in public policy. We call it an incredible investment in our Valley; Visiting editors:  Having mental health is essential, so is having volunteers.

Sacramento Bee – Business and government must join forces on cybersecurity.