June 27, 2019

27Jun

POLICY & POLITICS

North SJ Valley:

Homelessness a top priority as SJ supervisors OK $1.8B county budget

Stockton Record

If there was any doubt homelessness is now viewed as San Joaquin County’s most urgent issue, it probably disappeared after two days of hearings that culminated Wednesday with the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous approval of the $1.8 billion budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

Central SJ Valley:

City council to consider 2 properties for historic designation

abc30

The Fresno City Council will consider two city locations, a house in the Tower District and an industrial building in downtown, as possible historic designations.

South SJ Valley:

Kings County Board of Supervisors adopt hemp ordinance

Hanford Sentinel

At its meeting Tuesday morning, The Kings County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt an interim urgency ordinance regarding the cultivation of hemp in Kings County.

State:

California governor faces deadline to act on budget

Sacramento Bee

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has until midnight Thursday to act on the state’s nearly $215 billion operating budget. This is Newsom’s first budget since he took office in January. It includes a $21.5 billion surplus, the largest in at least two decades following years of budget cuts because of shrinking revenues.

Santa Anita racehorse deaths prompt urgency CA law

Sacramento Bee

In response to dozens of racehorse deaths at a California track, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law Wednesday allowing the state Horse Racing Board to temporarily suspend racing licenses due to rider and animal safety concerns.

Gavin Newsom dodges taking a stand on California’s gig-worker bill

San Francisco Chronicle

Don’t look for the typically loquacious Gov. Gavin Newsom to take a position yet on AB5, the state legislation would turn Uber and Lyft drivers and other gig workers into employees. But he offered a few hints during his recent appearance on The Chronicle’s “It’s All Political” podcast. 

California lawmaker denies allegations of sex misconduct

Bakersfield Californian

A Republican assemblyman is the latest California lawmaker to be accused of inappropriate behavior toward women, prompting GOP leaders to call for an investigation into the allegations.

Undocumented Immigrants Could Run For California Democratic Party County Committees Under New Bill

Capital Public Radio

Undocumented immigrants could wind up on the ballot for membership on a Democratic Party county committee — even if they can’t legally vote.

Federal:

In mixed ruling, Supreme Court blocks census citizenship question for now, calling Trump administration’s explanation ‘contrived’

Washington Post

The administration had argued that asking the citizenship question of all households would provide more accurate information and that it is needed for the Justice Department to protect minority voting rights.

See also:

Trump attacks Mueller after he agrees to testify to Congress

abc30

President Donald Trump on Wednesday attacked special counsel Robert Mueller hours after word that he will obey Democratic subpoena to testify in open session July 17.

See also:

House panel votes to subpoena Kellyanne Conway over ethics law allegations

Los Angeles Times

The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday approved a subpoena to force White House counselor Kellyanne Conway to appear before the panel as it looks into allegations that she repeatedly violated a federal law that limits political activity by government workers.

Elections 2020:

Absent Biden, Beto takes the heat during the curtain raiser for the Democratic primary

Fresno Bee

Beto O’Rourke came to Miami on Wednesday night looking for a moment to help his struggling presidential campaign but may have done more — at least early on — to help his competitors.

See also:

Protesters outside debate want wages to go up and camp for migrant children to close

Fresno Bee

As far as protests go, the groups gathered outside the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts prior to Wednesday night’s Democratic presidential debate weren’t exactly registering on the Richter scale, or even shaking the walls of the downtown Miami concert hall. 

Kamala Harris is good at making opponents ‘nervous.’ Are Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders next?

Fresno Bee

Kamala Harris won’t have a lot of time to make her mark in Thursday’s Democratic primary debate, where the California senator will be jostling with nine other candidates on stage. But Harris has a proven knack for creating viral moments, drawing off her skills as a former prosecutor and ability to coolly skewer opponents. 

A Million Independent Voters Risk Being Irrelevant In California’s Presidential Primary

Capital Public Radio

Presidential challengers hoping to glide to victory through California’s newly relevant primary, a heads-up: Your electoral fate may hinge on convincing enough left-leaning millennials to send postcards over the winter holiday season.

Trump Campaign Counterprograms Democratic Debate With Pricey YouTube Ad Buy

Capital Public Radio

President Trump’s campaign bought the masthead ad on YouTube, an expensive ad buy that could reach many more voters than the debate.

2020: Democratic Primaries and key dates on the presidential election calendar

Los Angeles Times

The first Democratic Party primary debates, scheduled for late June, might serve as the official 2020 election kickoff for the more than 20 candidates seeking the party’s nomination for president.

Mark Zuckerberg to regulators: We need your help to protect elections

Los Angeles Times

As public trust in Facebook’s ability to wield its power responsibly has fractured in the face of a series of privacy breaches and other scandals, the company has been facing fresh calls for regulation from numerous quarters of the federal government.

See also:

Meet the candidates: Eric Swalwell and John Hickenlooper

Politifact

All candidate bios will eventually be findable on this page. 

Other:

Fresno State professor, psychologist, Robert “Bob” Levine dies

Fresno Bee

The renowned social psychologist and longtime Fresno Stateprofessor’s travels were part of his research, fueled by curiosity and a desire to help others. Much of his work focused on studying perceptions of time and paces of life in numerous countries. He wrote about what he learned in the international best-seller, “A Geography of Time: The Temporal Misadventures of a Social Psychologist.”

Chukchansi tribe kicking out dozens of new members it enrolled just two years ago

Fresno Bee

After about two years of relative stability, the tribal council of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians in Coarsegold voted this week to suspend the memberships of 60 people who were granted tribal status during an enrollment less than two years ago.

Partisans divided on whether they associate news media or Trump with ‘made-up’ news

Pew Research Center

While most Americans are concerned about the negative impact made-up news and information has on the country, Republicans and Democrats are particularly divided on how closely they connect it to the news media or to President Trump, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Feb. 19 to March 4, 2019.

How conservatives in California — and nationally — could turn America around

The Hill

Recently, California Gov. Gavin Newsom — who makes former Gov. Jerry Brown look like a conservative — declared that the national Republican Party is headed for the “waste bin of history” because of its policies. This from one who wants universal (taxpayer-supported) health care for undocumented migrants in California and taxpayer-supported preschool for all 3-year-olds by the same public school system that is failing elementary and high school students, with no solution for the many homeless in cities of the Golden State.

See also:

After this political era, can Americans forgive each other?

Washington Post

In our politics as in our daily lives, we live on a spectrum of forgiveness so wide that it’s hard to stretch the meaning of the word to cover it all.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

Sunday, June 30, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Veterans Programs and Services” – Guests: Carole D’Elia, Executive Director of Little Hoover Commission and Jacqueline Barocio from LAO. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, June 30, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition:  “Valley Vets: Challenges and Opportunities” – Guests: Carole D’Elia, Executive Director of Little Hoover Commission; Jacqueline Barocio from LAO; Julie Cusator with Fresno Veterans Home; and Lorenzo Rios with Clovis Veterans Memorial District. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, June 30, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Senior Citizen Boom” – Guest: Marisol Cuellar, PPIC Analyst. Host: Ana Melendez.

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

Purdue To Meet With Dems In Central Valley

Politico

A trio of Democratic House members will host Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue Friday at a special town hall focusing on “the state of agriculture in the Central Valley. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime:

Wrongfully convicted California death row inmate files lawsuit

abc30

False testimony sent farmworker Vicente Benevides to death row for 26 years and now he’s filing a federal lawsuit against officials who imprisoned him.

See also:

Why ‘technical’ violations are still sending ex-cons back to California lockups

Sacramento Bee

Missed appointments, failed drug screens and unpaid fines are still sending a large number of former convicts back behind bars for probation.

See also:

Public Safety:

Are California cops abusing privacy rights with license plate readers? Lawmakers open inquiry

Fresno Bee

Lawmakers want to find out whether police departments are abusing Californians’ privacy rights and gathering information about undocumented immigrants with license plate readers.

NRA splits with PR firm, lobbyist and TV amid infighting

Fresno Bee

Infighting at the National Rifle Association exploded Wednesday, when the powerful association severed ties with its longtime public relations firm, suspended operations of its fiery online TV station and lost its top lobbyist.

Sheriff’s commander graduates FBI Academy

Madera Tribune

Commander Tyson Pogue of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office was among four Valley law enforcement professionals who graduated from an FBI National Academy Class on June 7 in Quantico, Virginia.

See also:

Main Street Progress

Porterville Recorder

The new multipurpose DA building coming to the corner of Main and Olive shows progress and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.

Loaner life vests: Another possible answer to Kern River drownings

Bakersfield Californian

As of this writing, six people are still in the Kern River, missing and presumed drowned. An 11-year-old local girl is among them. Shocked to learn so many are missing at once? Of course you’re not — this happens every year.

Pro-Trump message board ‘quarantined’ by Reddit following violent threats

Washington Post

The biggest forum for supporters of President Trump on Reddit has been “quarantined” following months of incitements to violence and other offensive behavior, the tech giant said Wednesday, in a move that could further inflame conservatives’ claims of social-media bias.

Fire: 

Hanford celebrates new fire station, ladder truck

abc30

A growing South Valley city is expanding its firefighting capabilities. Wednesday, the Hanford Fire Department celebrated the grand opening of station three, located on 12th Avenue south of State Route 198. It’s the city’s first new fire station in 30 years.

Wildfires are giving utilities new powers

Madera Tribune

From the ashes of last year’s huge fires in Butte, Shasta, Lake and Los Angeles counties, this state’s utilities have suddenly acquired vast new powers to control and influence the lives of millions of Californians.

Mt. Bullion Crew Clears ‘Fire Fuel’ Around Oakhurst Community Center

Sierra News

The Mt. Bullion Fire Crew is conducting a weed abatement and fire-safety operation this week around the Oakhurst Community Center and Oakhurst Little League fields.

Reigniting safety precautions for aerial firefighting

Porterville Recorder

Crews, pilots and representatives from Cal Fire, Kern County Fire, Tulare County Fire, Visalia Fire Department, Dinuba Fire Department, Kings County Fire, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Porterville City, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management all came together to review and learn air safety techniques for use in future flights.

PG&E power line linked to 2,500-acre wildfire in Monterey County, Cal Fire official says

Sacramento Bee

A small fire that broke out this week in eastern Monterey County may be linked to a PG&E Corp. power line, state fire officials said Wednesday.

Wildfire victims must file claims against PG&E by Oct. 21

San Francisco Chronicle

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will soon kick off a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign letting wildfire victims know they have less than four months to ask the utility for payment as part of its bankruptcy case.

ECONOMY / JOBS

Economy:

Inland California represents the state’s future and state must invest in it 

Fresno Bee

Where is innovation happening in California? If you ask someone to place pins on a map for areas of innovation, many will likely point to the Bay Area, with its decades-long strengths in computing and information technology. Others who are knowledgeable about Southern California may point to “biotech beach” in San Diego, high tech in Irvine, or entertainment tech in Los Angeles.

Manufacturer leaving Fresno for Madera

Business Journal

A groundbreaking ceremony will be put on Monday by a Fresno maker of plastic pallets and containers at its future home in Madera.

Fresno’s Bitwise Raises $27 Million: Now Founder Wants To Change The Face Of Tech In Bakersfield Too

VPR

The female, Latinx co-founder of Bitwise Industries says the company’s recent $27 million funding milestone means it can train more people in underserved communities, and expand south. But amidst the optimism in Bakersfield, there’s also some ambivalence.

Effort to end triple-digit interest rates on small loans in California clears major hurdle

Los Angeles Times

Legislation to cap interest rates on high-cost small loans in California cleared a major hurdle Wednesday in the state Senate despite strong opposition from deep-pocketed lenders.

Stocks end mostly lower after early rally fades

Los Angeles Times

Stocks on Wall Street closed slightly lower Wednesday after an early rally — fueled by optimism over the next round of U.S.-China trade talks — lost momentum toward the end of the day.

Tough day for payday lenders

CALmatters

Legislation to cap the interest rates that lenders can charge cash-strapped borrowers cleared what likely will be its toughest legislative hurdle Wednesday.

See also:

As more Californians borrow at shockingly high interest rates, will state crack down on 

6 facts about wealth in the United States

Brookings

As candidates discuss the economy and inequality in the first Democratic primary debates, Isabel Sawhill and Christopher Pulliam share facts and trends to know about wealth in America.

Jobs:

Robots could replace 20 million manufacturing jobs worldwide by 2030: Report

ABC News

Robots are estimated to replace about 20 million manufacturing jobs by 2030, according to a new report.

Modesto Bee seeks visiting editor applicants

Modesto Bee

If you like news, politics or just serving your community, here’s a fun and exciting way to get involved.

Check your paycheck – Nearly 1,000 state workers didn’t get raises after their last contract

Sacramento Bee

California is struggling to give raises to state workers who were supposed to get them last year even as a new contract year begins.

How to put the long-term unemployed back to work

The Washington Post

The current U.S. job market is, by most measures, in great shape. Unemployment, at 3.6 percent, stands at a 50-year low. Underemployment, which includes 4.4 million (about 3 percent of the employed) part-timers who want full-time jobs, is 7.1 percent, its lowest since late 2000. Any way you cut it, that’s a tight national labor market.

Black workers are being left behind by America’s full employment

Brookings

Although the U.S. unemployment rate is the lowest in 50 years, many black Americans are experiencing unemployment at Great Recession-era levels. Andre Perry calls on policymakers to look beyond the aggregate national rate and embrace policies that seek to eliminate racial disparities.

EDUCATION

K-12:

VUSD to begin planning new high school

Visalia Times Delta

VUSD trustees agreed to hire Visalia-based Mangini Associates Inc. to begin drawing up plans for the new northwest Visalia school.

See Central Unified’s new high school

Fresno Bee

After a long wait, Central Unified is finally breaking ground on a new high school west of Highway 99.

BCSD appoints new board member after Michael Horne’s resignation

Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield City School District board appointed a new member Tuesday to replace Area 4 Trustee Michael Horne, who resigned in May.

Lodi Unified extends superintendent’s term for another three years

Stockton Record

The Lodi Unified School District and Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer have agreed to a three-year contract extension.

High School Students Do Better In Science, Math And English If They Also Take Music Lessons

Forbes

Schools are under constant pressure to make budget cuts, and music programs are often first on the chopping block. Now, an extensive study from the University of British Columbia in Canada shows that students who took music lessons in high school performed better in subjects such as English, science, and math. 

Target teacher discount: Teacher Prep Event returns July 13

USA Today

Target wants to help teachers stretch their back-to-school dollars on more than just supplies for their classrooms.

Higher Ed:

UC Merced ranked one of the nation’s top young universities, new ranking reports

Merced Sun-Star

The University of California, Merced landed on a list of the top five “young universities” in the country. This is UC Merced’s first year of eligibility for the ranking, which evaluates research, teaching, citations, industry income and international outlook of the qualifying universities.

Several Measure J construction projects taking off at BC

Bakersfield Californian

Even though it is summer Bakersfield College has plenty of commotion on campus with several construction projects currently taking place.

Summer Summit gives college-bound SJ students a crash course in navigating first year

Stockton Record

With money seemingly being spent wildly and in different directions, setting a reasonable budget to follow is an important — yet often overlooked — step. Just ask Rosie Huerta, a financial aid specialist at San Joaquin Delta College.

Cal State says hoarding more than a billion dollars was ‘nothing nefarious.’ Yeah, right

Los Angeles Times

About the last person any government bureaucrat wants to see knocking at the door is veteran State Auditor Elaine M. Howle. Her latest protesting target is California State University. Howle has been auditing anguished, embarrassed state agencies for nearly 36 years, skillfully rooting through their books and uncovering dark secrets.

Community colleges deserve more credit for transforming lives

Los Angeles Times

I graduated from a vocational-technical high school based on advice from a counselor who realized that my parents could not afford to pay for college, as we were recently arrived refugees from Nazi Germany. I served in the Navy as an electrician, married and had four children, who are all community college and California State University graduates.

Ethnic studies put off

CALmatters

The California State University System won’t require ethnic studies as a graduation requirement for the time being.

State Financial Aid in California

PPIC

California’s financial aid programs help large numbers of middle- and low-income students attend college—but many are excluded by complex eligibility requirements, and most non-tuition costs are not covered.

Apprenticeships:

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ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

Environment:

Coastal Commission eyes possible closure of Oceano Dunes

abc30

Residents on the Central Coast are raising concerns about the impact the Oceano Dunes has on the community and environment. The California Coastal Commission announced they will be meeting next month to discuss if the beach state park should completely close down by the end of the year.

Living In The Foothills — A Unique Environmental Workshop

Sierra News

On Saturday, June 29, Jeannie Habben will present a workshop at the Oakhurst Branch Library that addresses the challenges to living more safely in the foothills of Eastern Madera County, with a focus on water, fire, weeds, building options and wells.

California Inches Closer To Banning Sale And Manufacture Of Single-Use Plastics

Capital Public Radio

Efforts to reduce plastic waste across the United States have been piecemeal. Some cities and counties have banned things like plastic bags, and states like California have prohibited the use of plastic straws at sit-down restaurants.

Should Coastal And Southern California Mountain Lions Be Listed As Endangered? Animal Activists Say Yes.

Capital Public Radio

Mountain lions aren’t listed as an endangered species in California, but environmental groups want to change.

See also:

Beach pollution surges after massive wildfires and heavy rains, report finds

Los Angeles Times

Ocean pollution has surged once again at some Southern California beaches because of an unusually wet winter and the effects of the massive Woolsey fire, which added pollutants and worsened runoff.

Walters: A cross-continental game of political chicken 

CALmatters

There are dozens of cross-continental disputes between the Trump administration in Washington and California’s Democrat-dominated state government, most manifesting themselves in lawsuits. However, few if any surpass in importance their conflict over how much greenhouse gases cars will be allowed to emit in the future.

Top EPA official resigns amid congressional probe

PBS

A top Environment Protection Agency official who helped lead the Trump administration’s rollback of Obama-era restrictions of carbon emissions is resigning amid a congressional probe into whether he improperly aided former industry clients.

See also:

White House tells agencies they no longer have to weigh a project’s long-term climate impacts

Washington Post

The reversal may not be enough to satisfy the courts, which have repeatedly faulted agencies for not calculating their actions’ carbon footprint.

Energy:

BizFed joins push for greater use of renewable gas

Bakersfield Californian

Countering efforts in Sacramento to scale back petroleum use in the Golden State, business advocacy group BizFed Central Valley Business Federation is joining with Southern California Gas Co. and others to promote residential and commercial use of renewable natural gas as a way to cut carbon emissions.

Oil Leaps as U.S. Sees Biggest Crude Stockpile Drop Since 2016

Bloomberg

Oil rose to a five-week high as a huge drop in U.S. crude inventories bolstered the outlook for demand.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

Health:

Another 32 lots of heart and blood pressure medication recalled for possible carcinogen

Fresno Bee

MacLeods Pharmaceuticals Limited, which recalled one lot of heart and blood pressure medication losartan in February, recalled another 32 lots of losartan Tuesday for the same reason: an impurity that might be a carcinogen.

Drug-overdose deaths on the precipice of declining for first time in decades

abc30

Drug-overdose deaths may be declining in the U.S. for the first time in decades, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.

Thursday is National HIV Testing Day, with free services offered throughout Sacramento area

Sacramento Bee

Thursday is National HIV Testing Day, with free testing, care and treatment offered throughout the Sacramento region.

There’s no magic bullet for Alzheimer’s, but there are ways to keep your brain healthy

Los Angeles Times

In recent years, one promising Alzheimer’s drug after another has failed to produce results in clinical trials. At the same time, the growing number of older adults with cognitive problems is reaching a crisis point.

Latest Suicide Data Show the Depth of U.S. Mental Health Crisis

Bloomberg

While material well-being has improved, America’s emotional distress has climbed to crisis levels.

Human Services:

Valley Adult Day Services awarded grant

Porterville Recorder

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) announced that it has awarded a $5,000 grant to Valley Adult Day Services, in Porterville, to provide respite care services for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses.

One State’s Effort to Publicize Hospital Prices Brings Mixed Results

WSJ

New Hampshire’s experience suggests what the Trump administration move may—and may not—accomplish.

See also:

Senate panel approves health cost bill but plans changes

Roll Call

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday approved, 20-3, legislation meant to lower health care costs, although senators suggested that more changes are likely before the floor debate next month.

IMMIGRATION

Dems to propose changes to Senate border bill

Bakersfield Californian

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats will propose changes to a $4.6 billion Senate-approved border bill to add new requirements for care of migrants.

See also:

Court case seeks inspections of child border facilities

Bakersfield Californian

Migrant children being housed at a Border Patrol facility near El Paso appeared mostly clean and were being watched by hallway monitors on Wednesday, less than a week since they reported living there in squalid conditions with little care and inadequate food, water and sanitation.

The Argument For — And Against — Publishing The Traumatic Photo From Mexican Border

Capital Public Radio

While the graphic image has news value, news organizations are concerned that its overuse will lessen its impact and unnecessarily upset the intended audience.

People Are Trying To Donate To Detained Migrants. Border Patrol Won’t Accept It

Capital Public Radio

After hearing claims that detention centers are housing migrant children in unsanitary conditions, people are attempting to provide them with supplies.

L.A. leaders say Trump proposal would boot thousands of immigrants from public housing

Los Angeles Times

Calling the plan “torture” and “state-sponsored terrorism,” Los Angeles City Council members on Wednesday blasted a proposed rule that would deny federal housing aid to households that include anyone living in the country illegally, even when other members are eligible for such aid as lawful residents or U.S. citizens.

How political instability is making U.S. immigration situation worse

PBS NewsHour

The U.S.-Mexico border continues to drive political turmoil.

How many migrants show up for immigration court hearings?

Washington Post

As the Trump administration calls for tighter immigration laws, officials from the president on down claim almost all migrants are gaming the system because they fail to show up for court.

Lawsuit Alleges Government Mistreatment of Migrant Children

WSJ

Complaint accuses Trump administration of holding minors without clean water or adequate medical care, violating legal settlement.

Asylum officers union opposes sending migrants back to Mexico

CNNPolitics

The union representing US asylum officers asked a federal court to end the Trump administration’s policy of returning some asylum seekers to Mexico for the duration of their immigration hearing. 

Some Republicans snubbed the many Dreamers in their districts

Roll Call

Most Republican representatives with a lot of beneficiaries of President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program lost their seats in November, among them Texas’ Pete Sessions and John Culberson and California’s David Valadao and Jeff Denham.

LAND USE/HOUSING

Land Use:

Residents forge ahead to fix Fresno parks despite city’s cash-strapped situation. Here’s how

Fresno Bee

While the city of Fresno remains cash-strapped to improve conditions at its parks, neighborhoods and community organizations are setting out on their own to build new parks.

See also:

These Fresno businesses are closing. But look who’s opening (one is a new Dutch Bros)

Fresno Bee

From independent mom-and-pops to big chains, the Fresno area has seen its fair share of closures lately. The upside? New restaurants and stores are still gearing up to open here, some in the empty spaces the closures left behind.

Big changes coming to the Merced mall – at least 5 stores including this newest one

Merced Sun-Star

The massive empty former Sears building at the Merced Mall will be transformed into eight separate spaces, city staffers said on Wednesday.

Striding Toward Walkability? 5 Insights About Walkable Urban Places

Strong Towns

In the years immediately after the last housing market crash, a narrative took hold in mainstream media that there had been an inexorable, immediate, and permanent change in how we build our cities. Some writers went so far as to proclaim The End™ of suburbia, gravely or gleefully depending on the audience. The auto-oriented development pattern had been exposed as a Ponzi Scheme, and now we were forever done building Taco John’s and Walmarts at interstate off-ramps.

Converting a shopping mall to a downtown

CNU

Downtown Westminster, Colorado, is designed as a ‘place’ that grows organically with affordable housing included.

Housing:

We need to break down root causes of California’s homeless crisis to find solutions

Fresno Bee

California’s homeless crisis is more apparent than ever. We need to break down this immense catastrophe into discrete and more manageable parts, tackling issues like rent control, affordable housing and mental health.

Families receive keys to homes

Madera Tribune

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Kim Dolbow Vann joined with Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) Monday to celebrate National Homeownership Month and honor 10 families who have completed building each other’s homes.

Up 19%, homelessness in Sacramento County hits 5,570. Officials ‘frustrated’ but hopeful

Sacramento Bee

Sacramento County, California, has spent millions of dollars to end homelessness, but a 2019 count found that 1,900 more people are living without housing. It’s the highest number recorded in the county.

See also:

Want More Affordable Homes? Make Politicians Sleep in Their Own Plans

Zocalo Public Square

Who better to experience the disruptions of housing policies than the californians who made them?

Fewer Renters Believe They Are Likely to Ever Own a Home 

WSJ

Freddie Mac survey indicates renters see themselves shut out of home market.

PUBLIC FINANCES

Bakersfield 3 mothers begin efforts to qualify county sales tax measure for 2020 ballot

Bakersfield Californian

A new effort to bring a sales tax increase before Kern County voters has begun. The mothers of the Bakersfield 3 are working to get a voter initiative off the ground.

Newsom doubled down on a tax credit for the working poor. Why does he think it will work?

CALmatters

Newsom’s expansion is the largest to date, extending the credit to an estimated 3 million Californians, up from 2 million currently. The cost of the program, which piggybacks a larger federal tax credit, will grow from $400 million per year to $1 billion.

Newsom’s biggest budget win? Lawmakers didn’t break his heart

CALmatters

Love was in the air early this year when the newly-inaugurated Gov. Gavin Newsom first proposed his first-ever state budget. Pacing the stage of a packed auditorium, he unveiled his ambitious, $209 billion plan with the studiousness of a policy wonk and the charm of an eager politician. He praised lawmakers by name, tossing verbal valentines at fellow Democrats whose majority party support he needed to approve the budget.

TRANSPORTATION

Caltrans Upgrades Highway Drainage In Ferguson Fire Scar

Sierra News

Caltrans is repairing two culverts on State Route 140 in Mariposa County with funds from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

Gas tax goes up July 1, but leaders say road repairs need more money

Porterville Recorder

California is poised to charge the highest taxes and fees on gas in the country when an increase kicks in July 1, but officials say the state is still billions of dollars short of what’s needed to properly fix the roads and are considering additional charges.

California DMV won’t face independent review over handling of Real ID, Motor Voter

Sacramento Bee

For the second time in the past 12 months, California Democrats declined to open an independent investigation into the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. 

Study finds the best and worst states for car expenses

San Francisco Gate

Owning a car in California means you’ll be nickel-and-dimed to death.

Bringing high-speed rail to California, one building block at a time

CALmatters

California has long been the leader in innovation, bold action and tackling projects that others wouldn’t dream of. The state highway system, BART, and the Golden Gate Bridge stand out as prime examples of challenging projects that were seen through, and today benefit millions. The vision for high-speed rail is no different.

Canada Signals a Willingness to Challenge Trump on His Clean-Car Rollback

New York Times

Canada has signaled a willingness to buck one of President Trump’s most significant environmental rollbacks — a major weakening of auto pollution standards — by signing a clean-car deal with California, the state leading the fight against the rollback.

See also:

Listen to Mineta Transportation Summit

Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

The intersection between transportation and housing.

WATER

Lake Kaweah at highest level since 2012

Visalia Times Delta

Locals looking to beat the heat at Lake Kaweah and foreigners eager to glimpse General Sherman for the first time flood the small foothill community when the water gushes down from the Sierra.

State water regulators see role for Kern’s oil industry in groundwater sustainability planning

Bakersfield Californian

Contrary to what you may have heard, oil and water apparently mix just fine, especially with regard to California’s landmark efforts to bring Central Valley groundwater pumping under control.

Fire-ravaged Paradise water agency faces state ultimatum: Fix your cracked dam spillway

Sacramento Bee

Just months after California’s deadliest wildfire laid waste to the town of Paradise, hillside residents face yet another costly and potentially dangerous problem.

“Xtra”

‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ is coming back to Fresno area – this time to Clovis

Fresno Bee

The reboot of the television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is coming to Clovis in July, the city and De Young Properties announced Wednesday.

See also:

Taco Truck Throwdown 9 returning to Chukchansi Park in August

abc30

It may be a little more than a month away but it’s never too early to get your appetites ready for tacos. On Wednesday, the 9th Annual Taco Truck Throwdown was announced for August 17th at Chukchansi Park.

All of downtown is a canvas

Hanford Sentinel

Sometimes making a big difference starts with the little things. Saturday marked the kick off of the community-drive Public Art Program, a collaboration between Main Street Hanford and Hanford Parks and Recreation.

4th of July fireworks, parades, more. Modesto-area, Mother Lode guide to celebrations

Modesto Bee

Summer’s annual celebration of America, independence and community spirit starts early and continues late, giving patriots plenty of opportunities to party.

City Gearing up for Freedom Fest

Porterville Recorder

The iconic statue at the corner of Main Street and Henderson Avenue is displaying a banner for Freedom Fest this Saturday. This event will be out at the Sports Complex and will feature a dazzling array of fireworks that bring sparkles of color to the evening sky.