February 26, 2020

26Feb

POLICY & POLITICS

 

Valley water districts want more water. Federal agency says that can’t happen. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

The federal agency that serves as the nation’s largest supplier of water announced Tuesday that there will be reduced water shipments for the central San Joaquin Valley in 2020 – a decision the Bureau of Reclamation said was informed by extra-dry conditions.

See​​ also:

 

Where are the cheapest apartments in California? Valley cities lead the way

Fresno Bee

Nine of the 10 California cities with the lowest average rental prices for apartments last month are in the San Joaquin Valley, as the interior of the state continues to boast the most affordable rents compared to coastal and urban regions.

 

$56,000 Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowships

Deadline Fast Approaching!  (Feb. 28)

The Maddy Institute

Through the generosity of The Wonderful Company, San Joaquin Valley students will have the opportunity to become the next generation of Valley leaders through The Wonderful Public Service Graduate Fellowship. This program helps students obtain an advanced degree from a top graduate program, return home, and apply what they have learned to help make the Valley a better place.

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Modesto mayor to give his second State of the City Address in March

Modesto Bee

Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold is scheduled to give his State of the City Address next month at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in downtown.

 

Stapley: Whether you care for his politics, Bill Lyons’ resignation hurts Modesto interests

Modesto Bee

A burly rancher with cowboy hat and boots in a conservative corner of California confronted Modesto’s Bill Lyons, letting him know in no uncertain terms what the rancher thought about Lyons’ boss, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.

 

State criticizes how Modesto school district is spending federal money. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

State audits found that Modesto City Schools is out of compliance with the expectations and rules for millions of dollars of federal program funding the district receives. The routine audits are done every four years, but Superintendent Sara Noguchi said at Monday’s school board meeting she had never seen such detailed findings in audit reports.

 

Children’s splash pad in Veterans Park gets thumbs up from Atwater City Council

Merced Sun-Star

Plans for a splash pad water playground in Veterans Park were unanimously approved Monday by City Council — and cool fountains of water may be jetting in time for the hot days ahead, according to city officials.

 

EDITORIAL: Don’t be fooled, Modesto farmers — Trump’s California water plan doesn’t help you

Modesto Bee

President Donald Trump promised in a Central Valley visit on Wednesday that his new water edict would benefit farmers, drawing applause and adulation from a Kern County crowd. But the brash move is more likely to hurt than to help growers, whether in Bakersfield or Modesto.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Fresno County duplicate ballots sent in the mail, clerk says. Here’s what’s being done

Fresno Bee

A few thousand voters in Fresno County have received duplicate ballots, but the county clerk said she has controls in place to fix the problem.

 

Supervisor would add Trump slogan ‘America First’ to Fresno County’s official platform

Fresno Bee

Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau proposed new language Tuesday to go into the county’s official platform on federal advocacy — and the proposal is full of buzzwords often used by President Donald Trump.

 

Two men vying to be the fresh face on Fresno City Council

yourcentralvalley.com

The only contested city council race in Fresno for the upcoming primary sits in District 4. The seat — which oversees parts of northeast, southeast, and central Fresno — is currently held by Paul Caprioglio, who is terming out.

 

Warszawski: These misleading Fresno political mailers deserve a quick trip to the recycling bin

Fresno Bee

Is it safe to check the mail again? In Fresno politics, some of the nastiest battles are waged inside your mailbox. As next week’s primary approaches — and don’t forget some of us are already voting — the tone tends to get nastier and more desperate while the facts become more specious.

 

This Fresno park will receive a major face lift thanks to California Prop. 68 funding

Fresno Bee

Calwa Park in southeast Fresno will receive $6.6 million in California Proposition 68 money to renovate the park. The grant comes after city leaders campaigned against Measure P, a local parks tax proposal.

See​​ also:

 

Former Costco to House Fresno Child Welfare Services

Clovis RoundUp

The empty building that was once Costco will now house Fresno County’s Child Welfare Services. Fresno County has already approved the lease for the 138,000 square foot building and plans to use the space for almost 550 Child Welfare Service staff members, according to The Business Journal.

 

Councilman Nunley drops $16M suit against Tulare, city to 'focus on what matters'

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare's legal rollercoaster appears to be over — for now — giving city leaders a fresh opportunity to "focus on what matters." Embattled councilman and developer Greg Nunley has voluntarily dismissed his $16 million lawsuit against the city he was elected to represent, bringing an end to a protracted legal battle that had threatened to bring Tulare "to its knees."

 

Congressional Candidates Jim Costa and Esmeralda Soria Talk Homelessness, Water And TV Ads

VPR
As the race to represent the 16th congressional district heats up between incumbent Jim Costa and fellow democrat Esmeralda Soria, both candidates stopped by the KVPR studio to talk with FM89's Kathleen Schock about the key issues facing the district, and the attention grabbing television ads from the Costa campaign. 

See​​ also:

 

EDITORIAL: Hanford dairyman David Valadao wants to return to Congress. Voters should let him

Fresno Bee

Two years ago, Democrat TJ Cox defeated Republican David Valadao to win the 21st Congressional District in the nation’s closest race. A mere 862 votes separated the pair.

 

Group asks Congress to investigate how Devin Nunes is paying for his lawsuits

Fresno Bee

A nonpartisan watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Devin Nunes Wednesday, calling for a congressional investigation into how the California Republican is paying for his lawsuits against media companies and critics.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

CSUB President: Chevron's 'transformational gift' to bring new opportunities to students

Bakersfield Californian

Chevron continued to show its commitment to supporting higher education and future engineers in the community with a $1 million gift to Cal State Bakersfield Tuesday.

 

Kern County faces 'slow death' in new report on county finances

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County government has figuratively jumped from a financial frying pan into a fryer, according to a recent report released by the County Administrative Office.

 

Appeals court rejects Kern's oil permitting system

Bakersfield Californian

In a major legal defeat for Kern's oil industry, an appeals court on Tuesday struck down the county's landmark zoning ordinance that in 2015 turned local oil permitting into a streamlined process all but immune from environmental challenges.

See​​ also:

 

Long-awaited park coming to southeast Bakersfield

Bakersfield Californian

A southeast Bakersfield neighborhood will receive a long-awaited park thanks to a $4 billion state bond measure passed by voters in 2018. Announced Tuesday for a five-acre empty lot at the corner of Linnell Way and Brahma Street, the new park will address a citywide shortage of green space noted in a recent study.

 

State:

 

California’s Political Geography 2020

PPIC
With the 2020 presidential election fast approaching, attention turns to how public views may shape the outcome. California is often considered quite liberal, with strong support for the Democratic Party—but the state encompasses many people with differing political views. In this report, we examine California’s political geography to inform discussion for this election season and beyond.

 

Commentary: Quick Look at 2020 Bill Introductions

Fox & Hounds

Friday, February 21, was the last day to introduce bills for the 2020 Legislative Session. We saw 735 new bills introduced between the two houses (512 ABs and 223 SBs) on the final day. That means the total number of bills introduced this Session is 2,203. The total number of bill introductions by the deadline of 2,203 includes 1,527 ABs and 676 SBs.

 

California lottery shortchanged schools by $36 million as revenues soared, audit finds

Sacramento Bee

The Calif State Lottery should pay the state $36 million to make up for not putting enough money toward education, according to a State Auditor’s report published Tuesday. Calif voters created the lottery in 1984 to provide money for education. The lottery’s revenue has increased in recent years, but the amount it has put toward education hasn’t kept pace, auditors found.

See​​ also:

 

Commentary: Governor’s Budget Recognizes the Importance of Starting a Business

Fox & Hounds

California’s business community has felt like a punching bag over the years, with rankings like CNBC’s showing the state placed last in the cost of doing business and business friendliness categories.

 

California bosses can’t trash government unions. A new lawsuit wants to undo ‘gag clause’

Fresno Bee

Two libertarian think tanks have filed a lawsuit challenging a California law that says public employers shall not “deter or discourage” workers from joining unions.

 

California lottery is still under investigation by Justice Department, workers say

Sacramento Bee

An investigation into the California State Lottery launched by Gov. Jerry Brown’s office 18 months ago remains open, according to people who spoke with attorneys from the Department of Justice.

 

‘Gender neutral’ plan for toys would get rid of boys’ and girls’ aisles in California stores

Sacramento Bee

California department stores that sell children’s products such as toys and clothes would be prohibited from segregating them by gender, under a bill now being considered by lawmakers.

 

California bill would fund rewards for meth addicts who stop using drugs

San Francisco Chronicle

Facing a growing methamphetamine epidemic with few known treatments, a San Francisco state legislator wants to make public funding available for programs that provide financial incentives to participants to stop using drugs.

 

Federal:

 

White House considers appointing coronavirus czar

Politico

The White House is weighing whether to appoint a coronavirus czar to coordinate the response to the spreading epidemic, according to two people familiar with the matter.

See​​ also:

 

Elections 2020:

 

Official March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election Information

California Secretary of State

Tuesday, March 3, 2020, is the Presidential Primary Election in California. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. This email includes important and official voter resources from the California Secretary of State to prepare you to cast your ballot this election.

 

Delayed and Confused: Will California’s election rules lead to an Iowa-style snafu?

CalMatters

A spectre is haunting the county elections offices and campaign headquarters of California: Iowa. Last month, Iowa’s Democratic presidential caucuses were beset with reporting errors, app malfunction and other organizational mishaps.

 

Most California Democrats have made a presidential pick. Gov. Gavin Newsom hasn’t

Los Angeles Times

With the closely watched Calif presidential primary just days away, Gov. Gavin Newsom remains cagey about which of the remaining Democratic contenders will earn his vote.

See also:

 

Column: Will Super Tuesday see a super turnout of young, Latino and Asian American voters?

Los Angeles Times

At last, at long last, California is a player in choosing a political party’s presidential candidate. But what voters will be joining the game in next week’s primary, and which ones will be sitting it out? USC’s California Civic Engagement Project does exactly this kind of assessment.

 

Commentary: Irony—Voter Approved Debt vs. Non-Voter Approved Obligations

Fox & Hounds

One week from today, Californians will finish voting on a $15 billion General Obligation Bond to be issued by the state if approved by voters. Currently, the state has $73 billion of voter-approved General Obligation Bond obligations outstanding that cost the General Fund $5 billion a year.

 

Democrats square off in fiery debate as South Carolina and Super Tuesday loom

Fresno Bee

The 10th Democratic presidential primary debate in South Carolina was a predictable sequel to last week’s fiery fracas in Las Vegas. It was gloves off, bitter and, at times, personal.

See​​ also:

 

Rivals rip ‘socialist’ Bernie Sanders. Do Democrats share their fear?

San Francisco Chronicle

Now that Sen. Bernie Sanders has the inside track for the Democratic presidential nomination, his rivals are attacking him for being a democratic socialist — warning that he wouldn’t just lose to President Trump, but could destroy Democrats’ campaigns up and down the ballot.

See​​ also:

 

What Nonvoters Want

The Atlantic

Senator​​ Bernie​​ Sanders​​ is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency. As he has risen in the polls, so has a theory about elections: The key to a progressive victory is motivating previous nonvoters to show up at the polls.

 

Other:

 

Application period now open for Golden 1 Credit Union's community grant program

Bakersfield Californian

Golden 1 Credit Union's community grant application period is now open. Selected nonprofits that promote literacy or serve transition-aged foster youth will receive up to $50,000.

 

Who Gets 5G — And Who Gets Left Behind — Has Some Worried About Digital Inequality

Capital Public Radio

As wireless companies continue to roll out 5G — the next generation of wireless technology — advocates worry this latest high-speed update will widen the digital divide.

 

Striving to change the historic Black undercount in the census

Fresno EOC

Since 2002, Fresno EOC Streets Saints has worked to restore Fresno to a safe and healthy community by empowering and supporting leadership opportunities for youth. With their work of improving and rebuilding community, Street Saints took on the task of reaching hard-to-count Black communities with grassroots outreach.

 

Commentary: ‘Facebook: The Inside Story’ review: The path to domination

AEI

There are 7.8 billion people on planet Earth. Over a third of them use the Facebook platform each month and around 2.3 billion use at least one of Facebook’s services each day, according to the company’s most recent earnings call.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, March 1, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: California Latinos: An Economic Analysis - Guests: Mindy Romero, Director of California Civic Engagement Project, Price School of Public Policy at USC. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, March 1, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: Poverty and the Economic Situation of California Latinos? - Guests: Sarah Bohn, Public Policy Institute of California and Mindy Romero, Director of USC Price School of Public School. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, March 1, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: Immigration: Opportunities for New Businesses in the Valley - Guests: Dora Westerlund, CEO - The Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation; Yeru Olivares, CFO -  The Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation, Yolanda Garcia, Owner - YO'MAMMAS!; Robert Zapata, Opportunity Fund. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Trump promised more water to California farmers. But dry weather gets in the way

Fresno Bee

Turns out President Donald Trump is no match for another California drought. Less than a week after Trump told San Joaquin Valley farmers in Bakersfield that he was taking bold steps to increase their water supply, his administration announced Tuesday farmers on the​​ west side of the San Joaquin Valley may only receive about 15 percent of their contracted water supply for the upcoming growing season.

See also:

 

Dry conditions prompt early start to irrigation season in North Valley

abc30

The Merced Irrigation has announced it plans to start making water available to its 2,200 growers on March 1, which is the earliest possible option.

See​​ also:

 

Plant to temporarily close. Fresno County declares ‘emergency’ as cow carcasses pile up

Fresno Bee

A large rendering plant in Fresno County — known to dispose of cattle and other carcasses — has a problem with some of its equipment, leading to what county officials described as a “local emergency” Tuesday.

 

Seen the new food nutrition labels? Here is what’s changed

Fresno Bee

Have you noticed the new nutrition labels on food packages? Flip over a new food item and you'll see some changes designed to give us a better idea of what and how much we're eating, whether it's fats, vitamins, sugars or serving size.

 

Food Distributions

Fresno EOC
Provides food to families residing in rural communities and inner city areas impacted by weather issues and economic downturn. No documentation is required to receive food.

 

Dry conditions prompt early start to irrigation season in North Valley

abc30

The Merced Irrigation has announced it plans to start making water available to its 2,200 growers on March 1, which is the earliest possible option.

See​​ also:

 

Cal/OSHA Standards Board Approves Nighttime Outdoor Agricultural Regulations

Ogletree Deakins

On February 20, 2020, at its monthly public meeting, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted unanimously to approve the proposed “Outdoor Agricultural Operations During Hours of Darkness” regulation that amends Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Sections 3441 and 3449.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Supreme Court’s conservatives shield border agent in killing of unarmed teen in Mexico

Los Angeles Times

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Tuesday shielded a U.S. border agent from being sued for shooting and killing an unarmed teenager standing on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande.

 

SF legislation requires police to report victim demographics

San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco police will be required to report crime victim demographics under new legislation that supporters say will equip officials with crucial data to help identify crime trends, guide prevention strategies and better direct public safety resources.

 

Public Safety:

 

Family of murdered Tulare man officially files lawsuit against Walmart

abc30

The family has filed several negligence charges against the retailer, claiming their ammunition was stored improperly the day their brother, Rocky Jones, was shot.

 

Dating violence is common. Turlock teens teach legislators, peers about prevention

Modesto Bee

Despite her fear of public speaking, Turlock teenager Brooklyn Jaen stood on the north steps of the Capitol in Sacramento this month and talked about surviving an emotionally abusive boyfriend.

 

Fire:

 

'My men, the mission, then me': Fallen Porterville Fire Capt. honored in Delano

Visalia Times Delta

Porterville City Fire Capt. Ramon "Ray" Figueroa often said, "My men, the mission, then me." He lived and died by those words, according to those who knew and loved him. Figueroa, 35, and Porterville firefighter Patrick Jones, 25, died last week battling a blaze that consumed the Porterville Public Library.

See​​ also:

 

California wildfire victims fear they'll be last in payout

Porterville Recorder

A $13.5 billion settlement between victims of California's catastrophic wildfires and the utility blamed for causing them was supposed to bring some peace and hope to people still reeling from the devastation.

 

PG&E CEO blames past management for problems, promises fixes

Porterville Recorder

PG&E Corp. CEO Bill Johnson blamed negligence by the company's past management for a cascade of catastrophes that killed nearly 140 people as he tried to persuade California regulators Tuesday that he is steering the utility to make safety its top priority.

See​​ also:

 

PG&E fires Camp fire debris cleanup contractor over money issues

Los Angeles Times

Pacific Gas & Electric has fired a contractor hired to haul debris from the site of the deadly Camp fire in 2018, saying the company was overbilling the utility and paying “large sums of money and gifts” to two utility supervisors.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Dow Drops 1900 Points In 2 Days As Markets Sell Off On Fears Of Coronavirus Spread

Capital Public Radio

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 879 points. That's on top of Monday's drop, when the Dow tumbled more than 1,000 points.

 

Taxing Internet Ads Could Raise Lots of Money, but Doubts Persist

PEW
Leading Maryland lawmakers seeking a way to help pay for a $4 billion, 10-year education plan came up with what they consider an innovative idea of where to get the cash: deep-pocketed internet companies.

 

Commentary: 3 ways cities can redefine their economic trajectories

Brookings

Every city in America possesses a unique economy and culture. Their values and priorities cannot be captured in a one-size-fits-all prescriptive agenda for regional economic development. Broadly speaking, a high concentration of advanced or complex industries can generate positive spillovers, allowing cities to push the frontier and accelerate growth.

 

Jobs:

 

California bosses can’t trash government unions. A new lawsuit wants to undo ‘gag clause’

Sacramento Bee

Two libertarian think tanks have filed a lawsuit challenging a California law that says public employers shall not “deter or discourage” workers from joining unions. Orange County-based California Policy Center and the Washington-based Center for Individual Rights filed the lawsuit last week on behalf of seven local elected officials who say the law has come to function as a broad blanket on discussing unions at all.

 

Fees are going up for California state workers’ 401(k) plans — State Worker Inbox
Sacramento Bee

California state workers soon will face higher fees and have fewer investment options in the retirement savings plans many use to supplement their pensions. We heard from several workers about the changes.

 

Court: Instacart likely to flunk AB5, so shoppers would become employees

San Francisco Chronicle

A San Diego Superior Court judge said Instacart will probably fail the strict test under AB5 for when companies can treat workers as independent contractors.

 

Commentary: Californians are free-spirited by nature. So why does the Legislature want them all to work for corporations?

CalMatters

California has a history of cutting-edge innovation and creativity. We produce new technology, movies, music, food, and energy.  But unfortunately, the California Legislature is pushing policies that will stifle the entrepreneurial spirit that California is known for.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

California lottery shortchanged schools by $36 million as revenues soared, audit finds

Sacramento Bee

The Calif State Lottery should pay the state $36 million to make up for not putting enough money toward education, according to a State Auditor’s report published Tuesday. Calif voters created the lottery in 1984 to provide money for education. The lottery’s revenue has increased in recent years, but the amount it has put toward education hasn’t kept pace, auditors found.

See​​ also:

 

State criticizes how Modesto school district is spending federal money. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

State audits found that Modesto City Schools is out of compliance with the expectations and rules for millions of dollars of federal program funding the district receives. The routine audits are done every four years, but Superintendent Sara Noguchi said at Monday’s school board meeting she had never seen such detailed findings in audit reports.

 

The developer bonus tucked into the school bond on your ballot

CalMatters

California voters are being asked to approve a controversial measure making it easier for developers to build apartment buildings within a half-mile of public transit. Most will think they’re only voting on whether the state should borrow more money to fix broken air conditioners in schools.

 

High school offers trade courses so students can position themselves for jobs

The Denver Channel

The city of Fresno doesn’t fit the California stereotype; it can be a tough city that raises tough kids. Kids like Jose Flores. “A lot of the violence around here, the drugs,” Flores says.

Flores attends Duncan Polytechnical High School, and he’s on the welding track.

 

Higher Ed:

 

CSUB President: Chevron's 'transformational gift' to bring new opportunities to students

Bakersfield Californian

Chevron continued to show its commitment to supporting higher education and future engineers in the community with a $1 million gift to Cal State Bakersfield Tuesday.

 

With $5.49 billion haul, UCLA rivals private colleges in fundraising — it’s part of a trend

Los Angeles Times

UCLA has raised $5.49 billion in one of the nation’s most successful public university fundraising campaigns, as an “arms race” heats up throughout the country for private philanthropy to offset state funding shortfalls.

 

As UC and Cal State seek new chiefs, here are their wish lists

CalMatters

California’s four-year university systems are both choosing new leaders  whose decisions will shape not only their institutions but the future of public higher education in the state and nationally.

 

West Hills College Lemoore Earns Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction Honor

Hanford Sentinel

West Hills College Lemoore has earned the prestigious Leader College of Distinction honor from Achieving the Dream, a targeted reform movement geared toward student success.

 

Testimony: California Is on Track to Close the Degree Gap

PPIC
At the PPIC Higher Education Policy Center, we have long been concerned about the future of California’s workforce. Would the state have enough college graduates to meet evolving economic demands? We have produced a series of reports addressing the dynamics of this issue.

 

Apprenticeships:

 

Commentary: Trump’s vocational ed plan leaves many ‘forgotten’ students behind

AEI

When it comes to education policy, presidents have a tendency to make big promises that often fail to materialize. So when Donald Trump challenged Congress in the State of the Union message to “support our students and back my plan to offer vocational and technical education in every single high school in America” it was easy to wave off as mere rhetoric.

 

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Ambitious Air Improvement Program Brought Community To The Table - Here's How It's Working So Far

VPR
The San Joaquin Valley lies underneath one of the two most polluted air basins in the country. That’s why, in 2018, two communities here – one in Shafter and one in south-central Fresno – were selected among the first to participate in Assembly Bill 617, an ambitious state law that enables local involvement in air protection.

 

Back to the earth: Human composting could become legal in California

Sacramento Bee

In California, death could soon get a little greener. California lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow for human remains to be composted into soil, a process called “natural organic reduction,” with the end result being a nutrient-dense soil “that can be returned to families or donated to conservation land,” according to a statement from bill sponsor Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens.

See​​ also:

 

Could free transit for kids help California beat climate change?

CalMatters

It’s mid-afternoon at the 4th Avenue/Wayne Hultgren light rail station on Sacramento’s blue line. Alexandra Curtis, a senior at nearby C.K. McClatchy High School, glances up the tracks, awaiting a south-bound train. But the ride’s not going to cost her anything.

 

Climate change has stolen more than a billion tons of water from the West’s most vital river

Washington Post

The Colorado River’s average annual flow has declined by nearly 20 percent compared to the last century, and researchers have identified one of the main culprits: climate change is causing mountain snowpack to disappear, leading to increased evaporation.

 

Op-Ed: California’s a climate leader? These six proposals show how much more we have to do

Los Angeles Times

In an op-ed last month, I explained why California’s market-based approach to climate change isn’t working. Since the 2013 onset of the cap-and-trade program, the centerpiece of the state’s policies, greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas sources have actually increased — by 3.5%, according to a ProPublica investigation.

 

Commentary: California faces massive costs related to climate change. Oil industry must pay its fair share

CalMatters

California is confronting massive challenges due to climate change. One of the most pressing questions is who will foot the bill for the huge investments we must make in climate resiliency infrastructure so that we can survive and thrive.

 

Energy:

 

Appeals court rejects Kern's oil permitting system

Bakersfield Californian

In a major legal defeat for Kern's oil industry, an appeals court on Tuesday struck down the county's landmark zoning ordinance that in 2015 turned local oil permitting into a streamlined process all but immune from environmental challenges.

See​​ also:

 

Interior states sue to force California cities and other West Coast ports to ship coal exports

Los Angeles Times

Buffeted by falling domestic demand, America’s ailing coal industry set its sights a decade ago on the promise of reaching Asian markets. But that meant shipping from West Coast ports, and politicians there had other ideas.

 

California prepares to shift away from natural gas, while keeping power reliable and affordable

CalMatters

California’s energy system is undergoing a period of profound change. Our state has committed to the goals of 100% clean electricity, a doubling of energy efficiency, widespread transportation electrification, and a carbon-neutral economy by 2045.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Fresno County continues monitoring for coronavirus and feds warn of spreading illness

Fresno Bee

A day after local authorities confirmed dozens of Fresno County residents have been monitored for coronavirus symptoms, federal health officials warned Americans to prepare for a prolonged battle with the novel virus.

See​​ also:

 

America's Mental Health Crisis Hidden Behind Bars

VPR
It's recreation time at a Los Angeles County jail known as the Twin Towers. Nearly a dozen disheveled young men stand docilely as they munch on sandwiches out of brown paper bags. They're half-naked except for sleeveless, thick, blanket-like restraints wrapped around them like medieval garments.

 

Childhood trauma linked to poor health. Can parents find help in Stanislaus County?

Modesto Bee

Aguilar is tall with the lean, athletic physique of a soccer player, casually confident and with a magnetic smile. It’s hard to imagine that a little more than a year ago, the 14-year-old was suffering with ticks that caused his head and neck to jerk to the side, incapacitating headaches and sometimes, body twitches.

 

New California school vaccine rules have left nurses, doctors and parents confused

Los Angeles Times

A pair of hotly debated new California laws limiting which schoolchildren can skip vaccines appears stuck in bureaucratic limbo, the result of uncertainty over how to interpret last-minute changes made before the legislation was signed last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

 

Human Services:

 

New California school vaccine rules have left nurses, doctors and parents confused

Los Angeles Times

A pair of hotly debated new California laws limiting which schoolchildren can skip vaccines appears stuck in bureaucratic limbo, the result of uncertainty over how to interpret last-minute changes made before the legislation was signed last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

 

This State Has Figured Out How to Treat Drug-Addicted Inmates

PEW
On a gray, bone-chilling morning earlier this month, 18 men in a medium-security prison walked into an empty lunchroom and sat at stainless steel topped tables, placing both hands palms down, as if they were about to receive a manicure.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Supreme Court Rules Border Patrol Agents Who Shoot Foreign Nationals Can't Be Sued

Capital Public Radio

In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled Tuesday that families of noncitizens shot by federal agents on foreign territory have no constitutional right to sue for damages in U.S. courts.

 

Crackdown on immigrants who use public benefits takes effect

Associated Press

Pastor Antonio Velasquez says that before the Trump administration announced a crackdown on immigrants using government social services, people lined up before sunrise outside a state office in a largely Latino Phoenix neighborhood to sign up for food stamps and Medicaid.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

This Fresno park will receive a major face lift thanks to California Prop. 68 funding

Fresno Bee

Calwa Park in southeast Fresno will receive $6.6 million in California Proposition 68 money to renovate the park. The grant comes after city leaders campaigned against Measure P, a local parks tax proposal.

See​​ also:

 

Former Costco to House Fresno Child Welfare Services

Clovis RoundUp

The empty building that was once Costco will now house Fresno County’s Child Welfare Services. Fresno County has already approved the lease for the 138,000 square foot building and plans to use the space for almost 550 Child Welfare Service staff members, according to The Business Journal.

 

Long-awaited park coming to southeast Bakersfield

Bakersfield Californian

A southeast Bakersfield neighborhood will receive a long-awaited park thanks to a $4 billion state bond measure passed by voters in 2018. Announced Tuesday for a five-acre empty lot at the corner of Linnell Way and Brahma Street, the new park will address a citywide shortage of green space noted in a recent study.

 

Children’s splash pad in Veterans Park gets thumbs up from Atwater City Council

Merced Sun-Star

Plans for a splash pad water playground in Veterans Park were unanimously approved Monday by City Council — and cool fountains of water may be jetting in time for the hot days ahead, according to city officials.

 

Housing:

 

Where are the cheapest apartments in California? Valley cities lead the way

Fresno Bee

Nine of the 10 California cities with the lowest average rental prices for apartments last month are in the San Joaquin Valley, as the interior of the state continues to boast the most affordable rents compared to coastal and urban regions.

 

US new-home sales climbed 7.9% in January

Fresno Bee

U.S. sales of new homes jumped 7.9% in January to the fastest pace in more than 12 years, a positive sign for economic growth.

 

Underground tunnel near Fresno railroad tracks was apparent homeless shelter

Fresno Bee

A man who built an underground tunnel next to railroad tracks in east central Fresno, apparently as a homeless camp, left the structure Tuesday at the urging of authorities. The wooden structure and tunnel is located near North Clovis and East Mckinley avenues, on a right-of-way under the control of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad.

 

California’s housing crisis sickens families

CalMatters

Tanya Harris and her three daughters struggle to breathe in the converted motel room in Salinas they now rent as a studio. Just large enough for a bunkbed and a desk, the room holds all four of them. Harris sleeps on a silver inflatable mattress on the floor.

 

Commentary: California getting tough on homeless?

CalMatters

Gov. Gavin Newsom devoted most of his State of the State address this month to California’s ever-growing crisis of homelessness, outlining a broad new approach and pledging that he will make it work.

 

Opinion: To help end homelessness, governments must set housing markets free

Washington Post

America’s Dreamland, California, Has More Recently Acquired An Association In The Public Mind With The Social Nightmare Known As Homelessness. In 2019, California’s Homeless Population Grew By 21,306 People — More Than The Combined Increase In All 49 Other States — According To The U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

CalPERS’ top money man is targeted in fears of Chinese espionage

Los Angeles Times

Last week, a Republican lawmaker took to Carlson’s prime-time TV show and accused the man who oversees California’s $400-billion state pension fund of being a tool for the Chinese government and funneling American money into Chinese hands.

 

The SSI/SSP Grant: A Critical Support for Older Women and People of Color in California

California Budget & Policy Center

It has been over a decade since the Great Recession devastated our state’s economy, caused massive state budget shortfalls, and undercut the short- and long-term economic and social prospects for millions of Californians.

 

State and Local Individual Income Tax Collections per Capita

Tax Foundation

The individual income tax is one of the most significant sources of revenue for state and local governments. In fiscal year 2017, the most recent year for which data are available, individual income taxes generated 23.3 percent of state and local tax collections, right behind general sales taxes (23.6 percent).

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Telecommuting could create huge benefits for California workers and the environment

Sacramento Bee

With California’s freeways squeezed ever tighter and the need to reduce our carbon footprint more pressing than ever, it’s hard to imagine why the state has not made telecommuting a cornerstone of its transportation and environmental policies.

 

Regulators Issue Another Safety Fix For Boeing's Troubled 737 Max Plane

Capital Public Radio

The Federal Aviation Administration issued an airworthiness directive for the jetliner that stems from a faulty component that could make the aircraft vulnerable to lightening strikes.

 

‘Not worth it’: Travelers cancel flights as coronavirus spreads

San Francisco Chronicle

The coronavirus, with its ever-changing patchwork of travel restrictions, is causing people to cancel flights. That spells trouble for SFO and United, its biggest carrier.

 

Self-driving vehicle makers say California is looking at the wrong data to measure their progress

San Francisco Business Times

Companies say that using disengagements — the number of times a human driver must take control from a self-driving system — to measure progress is neither accurate nor relevant.

 

WATER

 

Valley water districts want more water. Federal agency says that can’t happen. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

The federal agency that serves as the nation’s largest supplier of water announced Tuesday that there will be reduced water shipments for the central San Joaquin Valley in 2020 – a decision the Bureau of Reclamation said was informed by extra-dry conditions.

See​​ also:

 

Westlands receives 15% initial water allocation

Hanford Sentinel

The Bureau of Reclamation announced Wednesday the initial 2020 water supply allocation for Central Valley Project water service contractors, and the relatively dry year so far isn’t leaving much to work with.

 

Earthquake risk prompts order to drain California dam

Hanford Sentinel

Worried that an earthquake could collapse a big dam south of San Francisco, officials have ordered its reservoir to be completely drained by October to reduce the risk of floodwaters spilling into Silicon Valley.

See​​ also:

 

Visalia just had its driest February on record. Forecasters, growers hope for 'March Miracle'

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare County is set to conclude its driest February on record, with drought conditions that officially returned to much of the San Joaquin Valley earlier this month expected to worsen.

 

Drought or dangerous flooding? Research aims to tame atmospheric river risks — and save California’s rain

CalMatters

We were flying about 200 nautical miles off the coast of California when a voice over the headset reported a strong smell of fuel in the back of the plane. I was in the cockpit with the U.S. Air Force’s “Hurricane Hunters,” who spend the summer and fall flying into the eyes of hurricanes.

 

“Xtra”

 

New adoptable pets in Hanford. Pick your new dog or cat!

Hanford Sentinel

Browse through these adorable local shelter pets available for adoption.

 

Comedian and podcast personality Joe Rogan bringing Sacred Clown tour to Fresno

Fresno Bee

Joe Rogan is coming back Fresno — a city he once referred to as “sketchy” on his popular podcast. But he did like the food.

 

Korn and Breaking Benjamin to rock Fresno on final night of their winter tour

Fresno Bee

Korn’s performance at the Save Mart Center on Sunday could be seen as a sequel to the band’s Fresno stop in 2004.

 

Sierra Repertory’s version of musical “Camelot” in Sonora is different. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

A different take on a musical classic opens Sierra Repertory Theatre’s 2020 season. A new small-cast version of “Camelot,” adapted by David Lee, will play March 1-April 12 at the company’s East Sonora Theatre.

 

Opinion: Another colorful character from Sacramento’s past is gone. Go with God, Pat Melarkey

Sacramento Bee

When I first moved to Sacramento in November of 1989, Pat Melarkey was a big deal. He owned a bar on Broadway called Melarkey’s Place. It was directly across the street from the Tower Theatre. It’s a Japanese restaurant now, but then? It was right in the heart of an avenue housing Sacramento’s classic theater and the still thriving Sacramento business empire of Tower Records and Tower Books.

 

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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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