March 10, 2020

10Mar

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Turlock council looks into sales tax increase amid budget troubles

Modesto Bee

Turlock residents may see a city sales tax measure on the November ballot if the city council receives answers to myriad questions surrounding the issue.

 

Turlock council to vote on hiring away Ceres city manager. Mayor criticizes process

Modesto Bee

The Turlock CA City Council on Tuesday will vote whether to hire Toby Wells from Ceres as its new city manager, a position with a high turnover rate. Mayor Amy Bublak has criticized the hiring process.

 

Vote count update: One race for Stanislaus County judge remains unsettled

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County released another update Monday afternoon on votes in the March 3 primary. The new numbers bring no resolution to the only undecided race, a Stanislaus Superior Court judgeship sought by three candidates.

Central SJ Valley:

 

Attorney General Xavier Becerra Urges Fresno Residents To Participate In The Coming Census

KVPR

State Attorney General Xavier Becerra was in Fresno Friday to remind residents to fill out the 2020 Census. Fresno County is one of the hardest-to-count regions, and Becerra urged residents not to ignore their chance to be represented.

See also:

 

As Ballots Continue To Be Counted, Here's Where To Find San Joaquin Valley Election Results

KVPR

California’s Primary Election was on Tuesday, and county election departments are still counting ballots. They have 30 days from the election to certify the results.

 

South SJ Valley:

Supervisors need a little help with donations during disasters, will take up issue on Tuesday

Bakersfield Californian

When the next natural disaster strikes, Kern County government may rely on an outside organization to handle the expected influx of donations.

 

Assemblyman Fong introduces legislation to increase street-racing penalties

Bakersfield Californian

Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, introduced a bill Monday that would bring additional penalties to those who publicly exhibit a propensity for street racing. 

Plummeting prices batter local oil producers

Bakersfield Californian

Brent Crude, the international benchmark many local oil sales are pegged to, fell about 30 percent before recovering ground and ending the day off 24 percent at $34.36 per barrel.

See also:

 

Labor, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta named of Time Magazine’s ‘100 Women of the Year’

KGET 17

American labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta is featured in Time Magazine as one of their “100 Women of the Year.” Time Magazine released the edition on Friday, showcasing Huerta as one of the most influential women of the past century.

State:

California helped turned Congress blue in 2018. Can these Democrats hold on in 2020?

Fresno Bee

California has at least half a dozen races to watch in this year’s battle for control of the House of Representatives, and voters have a little more clarity on who their choices will be following last week’s primary election.

A crowded Democratic field opened a window for Republicans to grab this Assembly seat

Sacramento Bee

California Democrats are poised to maintain a supermajority in the state Capitol come November, but in a Southern California district, they set themselves up to lose a seat. The ballot included five Democrats — one dropped out before the race — and two Republicans to represent Assembly District 38.

 

Can duplexes solve California’s housing crisis? A Democrat’s plan aims for ‘lighter’ reforms

Sacramento Bee

California cities would be encouraged to develop more duplexes and fourplexes under a new bill announced Monday by a housing advocate who has been prodding local governments to build more homes.

See also:

 

New express service to help streamline Real ID process

Stockton Record

The Department of Motor Vehicles has implemented DMV Express at 23 offices – including Manteca in San Joaquin County – that allows people to fill out the online application for Real ID, upload documents at home and receive an “Express Experience” when you go to the​​ DMV office.

Court Requires Record of Threatened Litigation to be Included in Agenda Packet for Closed Session Item

AALRR

The Court addressed the requirements of a local agency’s closed session agenda item in order to sufficiently notify the public of threatened or anticipated litigation.

Opinion: Government for the people, by the people is a work in progress for inland California

Fresno Bee

Many Californians, including residents of California’s Central and eastern Coachella valleys, would be surprised to learn that hundreds of neighborhoods in these regions (urban or rural) have no access to safe drinking water, sewer systems, public transportation and even parks and sidewalks, not to mention the polluted air that is hard to breathe in both valleys and the housing crisis facing lower-income households throughout the state. 

 

Federal:

 

Trump: Payroll Tax Cuts And Hourly Worker Relief Possible In Coronavirus Response

Capital Public Radio

Top administration officials will meet with House and Senate Republicans Tuesday to discuss economic relief for workers and small businesses. Democrats, however, signaled they are not on board.

See also:

Fact check: from coronavirus to Kim Jong Un, Trump makes at least 14 false claims in Fox News town hall

CNN

President Donald Trump made a rapid-fire series of false claims at a televised town hall event hosted by Fox News on Thursday in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The numbers might well rise as we delve deeper, but here's the preliminary list.

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These members are self-quarantining after being exposed to coronavirus patients

Roll Call

At least six members of Congress have said they interacted with individuals who tested positive for coronavirus and many have vowed to stay away from Capitol Hill temporarily.

 

Commentary:​​ Few Americans Express Positive Views of Trump’s Conduct in Office

Pew Research

A new national survey finds that just 15% of U.S. adults say they like the way he conducts himself as president. A far larger share (53%) say they don’t like how he conducts himself, while another 30% say they have mixed feelings.

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Elections 2020:

Missouri primary could help preserve Biden’s recent momentum

Fresno Bee

If presidential candidate Joe Biden is going to continue the momentum he gained by winning 10 states on Super Tuesday, Missouri figures to play an important role.

See also:

 

‘Odd’ quirk raises delegate stakes in Tuesday’s elections

Fresno Bee

A quirk in how delegates are won under Democratic Party rules is raising the stakes for Tuesday's elections, allowing a candidate to make up ground in the race quickly — or fall further behind.

Melania Trump cancels California fundraiser

Politico

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a text message that the first lady would not be holding a previously scheduled March 18 fundraiser in Beverly Hills. She said the decision was due to a “scheduling conflict.” The move comes amid mounting concerns about the coronavirus. 

 

Fact Check: Did Bernie Sanders Win ‘People Of Color’ In California, And Was It ‘Not Even Close’?

Capital Public Radio

Exit polls show Sanders won Latinos and Asian-Americans by large margins, but lost African-Americans to former Vice President Joe Biden by more than 2-to-1.

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Harris endorses Biden for president, Jesse Jackson backs Sanders

San Francisco Chronicle

Sen. Kamala Harris, whose presidential campaign peaked when she criticized Joe Biden on a debate stage for his 1970s opposition to mandatory busing to integrate schools, endorsed the former vice president Sunday for the Democratic presidential nomination.

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Coronavirus isn’t stopping one thing: presidential candidates’ big rallies

San Francisco Chronicle

Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden aren’t heeding calls to cancel rallies and other large events because of coronavirus fears, even when the request comes from a Democrat — Rep. Jackie Speier, who urged them to “lead by example!” to try to limit the virus’ spread.

 

How the Trump Campaign Took Over the GOP

New York Times

The president’s campaign manager and his allies commandeered Republican voter data and fund-raising engines, consolidating power - and profiting - in ways never before profitable.

 

Democrats Eye a Vice-Presidential Consolation Prize for Women

New York Times

A female vice president would make history. But some cringe at settling for silver after spending a year competing hard for the gold.

 

Other:

Commentary:​​ about one-fifth of Democrats and Republicans get political news in a kind of media bubble

Pew Research

As noted in previous Pathways analyses, partisans in these two categories frequently have very different levels of awareness and perceptions of political events in the news.

 

Commentary:​​ Most Americans rely on their own research to make big decisions, and that often means online searches

Pew Research

When it comes to where Americans place their trust as they gather information before making an important decision, a big majority (81%) say they rely a lot on their own research – many more than say they rely a lot on friends and family (43%) or professional experts (31%).

 

Commentary:​​ With religion-related rulings on the horizon, U.S. Christians see Supreme Court favorably

Pew Research

Americans enter this key stretch feeling good about the Supreme Court. While a 62% majority of Americans overall have a favorable opinion of the court, Christians are more likely than religiously unaffiliated Americans to see it favorably (69% vs. 51%). 

Commentary: AI needs more regulation, not less

Brookings

Smart regulation, like the above example, that gets out in front of emerging technology can protect consumers and drive innovation.

 

Commentary:​​ Here’s a cost-effective national service proposal that could bridge our deep divisions

Brookings

What we imagine is a voluntary program, open to all. Today, the United States has some small, underfunded programs of national service, such as AmeriCorps, Volunteers in Service to America and the Peace Corps.

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, March 15, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 –​​ Maddy Report: California Utility-Caused Wildfires: Who Pays?​​ - Guest: Dr. Ross Brown, California Legislative Analyst Office. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

Sunday, March 15, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) –​​ Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: California Wildfires: Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later​​ - Guests: Pedro Nava, Chair of California Little Hoover Commission and Dr. Ross Brown, California Legislative Analyst Office. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, March 15, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) –​​ El Informe Maddy: El Censo y la Redistribución de Distritos Electorales ​​ - Guests: Joe Hayes, Investigator del Instituto de Politicas Publicas de California, Secretario de Estado Alex Padilla y Margarita Fernandez Jefe de Relaciones Publicas de la oficina de la Auditora de California. Host: Maddy Institute Program Coordinator, Maria Jeans.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

As bees fill Stanislaus County almond orchards, buzz continues around their health

Modesto Bee

Rented bees by the billions have been at work in Central Valley almond orchards, tasked with pollinating the 2020 crop. It has happened amid renewed scrutiny over whether this process – crucial to growing 80 percent of the world’s almonds – is sustainable.

New studies boost pistachios' profile as healthy food

Bakersfield Californian

One of Kern's County's top crops just got more appealing — and potentially more marketable — with news that pistachios qualify as a "complete protein" with nutritional benefits superior to those of soybeans, quinoa and chickpeas.

Bee Lawns Generate National Buzz

Pew Trusts

Researchers have found that homeowners who seed their lawns with a special grass mix can feed dozens of species of bees that would otherwise go hungry. So, beginning this spring, Minnesota will pay thousands of residents to plant “bee lawns” under a new state program that has attracted attention from other states. 

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

Police say around 300 people caught having ‘full-blown party’ inside Clovis school gym at 1 a.m.

Fresno Bee

Officers found alcohol bottles inside the gym, “a strong smell of marijuana,” and a DJ for a party that was being held after midnight Sunday, Munro said. Police estimate around 300 people were in attendance. And this was no doing of the school.

See also:

 

Public Safety:

 

Lisa Project raises child abuse awareness

Visalia Times Delta

An effort to raise awareness of child abuse is now in its 10th year in Tulare County. The Lisa Project in 10 is a walkthrough exhibit that gives visitors a view into the realities of child abuse through photos and audio of children themselves.

 

Another round of Community Emergency Response Team training begins

Hanford Sentinel

After taking a hiatus in the fall, Hanford Police Department will once again provide its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.

BPD now accepting applications for Junior Police Academy

Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield Police Department is now accepting applications for their Junior Police Academy. The academy will be split into two sessions. 

Fire: 

Fresno breaks ground for first fire station in over 11 years

Fresno Bee

Fresno Fire Department Station 18 will have a new home at​​ 6605 W. Shaw Ave., the first new station to be built in the city in over 11 years. Dignitaries broke ground in a ceremony Monday, March 9, 2020. 

Supervisors to Consider TOT Hike to Fund Wildfire Mitigation

Sierra News

At their regular meeting this week, the Madera County Board of Supervisors will discuss several potential ways to fund stepped up wildfire prevention efforts within eastern Madera County by hiking the County’s Transient Occupancy Tax rate.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

California economy braces for hit from coronavirus panic. ‘We don’t know how to control it’

Merced Sun-Star

Is it 2008 all over again? From empty cargo containers to shuttered school districts to canceled business conferences, the coronavirus outbreak is starting to eat away at the economy, in California and across the country — and could bring serious problems to the Sacramento area.

See also:

 

Stocks plummet amid coronavirus fears and oil-price crash

Fresno Bee

Stocks took their worst one-day beating on Wall Street since the global financial crisis of 2008 as a collapse in oil prices Monday combined with mounting alarm over what the coronavirus could do to the world economy.

See also:

 

Tubbs: Universal Basic Income must allow recipients to keep benefits

Sacramento Bee

Gutting the existing social safety net to introduce UBI plays into the harmful scarcity mindset that created income inequality in the first place. 

 

As recession fears mount, eyes turn to the American consumer

Los Angeles Times

As the White House, Congress and the Federal Reserve struggle to stem the growing financial and economic crisis, the likelihood of success may ultimately come down to one factor: the American consumer.

Primary Snapshots: The Golden State of Inequality

Capital & Main

California's economy is booming, but the state's poorest residents are falling further and further behind.

 

Recent college grades increasingly working low-wage jobs, NY Fed Reserve data show

CBS

Newly minted grads often struggle to land better-paying jobs because they'tr not paying enough attention to the job market, said Christine Cruzvergara, vice president of higher education and student success at Handshake, a San Francisco company that helps recent grads find their first or second jobs.

 

Companies are putting out hand sanitizer. But for years, many have campaigned against sick pay.

Washington Post

Millions of U.S. workers lack sick pay. Some companies and business groups have pushed legislation that blocked local attempts to make companies provide it.

Weinberg: New California Bills Empower Regional Economic Sustainability

Fox&Hounds

This regional-approach to problem-solving is the foundation of the California Economic Summit, in which California Forward’s (CA Fwd) vast network of public, private and civic leaders work year-round to identify and move forward strategies for inclusive economic development.

 

Opinion: What the Economy Needs From President Trump

New York Times

The economic impact of the coronavirus requires a stronger federal response. Congress needs to be careful about the timing.

Jobs:

 

What coronavirus means for California state workers: Telecommuting, sick time

Sacramento Bee

California state workers may use sick leave to take care of children who are home due to school closures, according to guidance CalHR sent to state departments Sunday night.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission asks D.C. employees to work from home after coronavirus scare

Washington Post

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday asked employees at its D.C. headquarters to stay away from the office because of a potential coronavirus case, becoming the first major federal employer to turn to telework to avoid the spreading virus.

The Gig Economy is Losing Ground In Its Fight With AB%

The ACA Times

While the effect on the Gig Economy is clear, to truly understand the potential impact of AB5 to most employers they will need to look beyond the headlines and at the law itself.

 

Conservatives sue over state law that limits public employers’ anti-union talk

OC Register

Saying their free speech rights are being trampled, seven local leaders from cities in Southern California are challenging a state law that prohibits them from expressing anti-union sentiment to public workers.

Labor unions seek to sway Democratic convention if party is split

Washington Post

Four of the country's biggest unions are seeking to position themselves as kingmakers in the event of a contested presidential nomination battle, maneuvering to get their members elected as delegates who would throw their weight behind labor's preferred candidate at the Democratic National Convention.

Op-Ed: A bad rule lets fast-food chains off the hook for workers’ rights

Los Angeles Times

The big legal debate is not over employees’ rights but over who is actually the employer. Recently, the law has taken a wrong turn on this question.

Opinion: How a California law helps Peruvian sheepherders, dairy workers, janitors and the state itself

CalMatters

The Private Attorneys General Act law was passed to address documented widespread worker exploitation. The California Legislature recognized that the state had, and still has, limited resources to enforce critical labor law protections. 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

What are Fresno-area schools doing to protect students from coronavirus?

Fresno Bee

Districts in Fresno County said they had no plans to cancel classes as of Monday morning. School officials over the weekend shared and updated plans to keep students and staff safe as the spreading virus caused other districts in California to shut down.

See also:

 

Modesto students won’t be switching campuses. Parents were allowed to vote.

Modesto Bee

Modesto City Schools said the concept of relocating the Fremont Open Plan and Garrison Elementary School won’t move forward after an informal vote went against the proposal.

 

Jamison recognized as model continuation high school

Hanford Sentinel

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced recently that 43 schools throughout the state were recognized as Model Continuation High Schools for 2020, including a school in Lemoore.

 

Does Teach for America help California kids? Lawmaker wants data from schools

Sacramento Bee

A former math teacher in the California State Assembly launched a new effort to restrict Teach for America, the national nonprofit organization that helps staff public schools with entry-level educators on short-term contracts.

 

Skelton: Proposition 13 appears headed for a fall. Here’s why voters might have rejected it

Los Angeles Times

California voters flashed a bright red stoplight at Democrats’ taxing and borrowing as they rejected the largest state school bond proposal in history.

See also:

 

Higher Ed:

State Center Trustees Consider PLA for West Fresno Campus

GV Wire

State Center Community College District trustees are considering a project labor agreement for the West Fresno Campus that gives hiring priority for construction trades jobs to State Center-trained apprentices and graduates.

Unstable housing, homelessness affect many college students. Will this help in Fresno?

Fresno Bee

Fresno City College is one of 14 community colleges that will receive part of a $9 million state grant to tackle homelessness, according to a news release from the California Community College system.

 

More Than 20 Colleges Cancel In-Person Classes In Response To Coronavirus

Capital Public Radio

Many schools paused in-person classes after students or staff members tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Others say the cancellations are a precaution.

See also:

 

Elbow bump vs. handshake: CSUB Interim Provost Harper advises caution

Bakersfield Californian

The handshake or the elbow bump, that is the question. Actually, it's just one of many questions being raised at local businesses, churches, schools and health centers regarding the best strategies available to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and the flu.

 

Author postpones visit to CSUB out of concern over travel

KGET

An author has decided to postpone her visit to Cal State Bakersfield this month due to caution over the coronavirus, according to the university. 

 

Changes made to food services at CSUB

The Runner

On the doors of several CSU Bakersfield campus food-spots, new signs have been posted informing customers that until further notice, only single-use and disposable cups will be allowed.

Learn how to become a teacher at CSUB Antelope Valley event

Tehachapi News

California State University Bakersfield Antelope Valley will offer Teacher Credential Information Sessions Friday, March 13, at the campus at 43909 30th St. West, Building 100 in Lancaster. 

Higher ed leaders launch $1.5 million census campaign to engage college students

Capital Public Radio

Educational leaders across the state have launched a campaign aimed at motivating college students to participate in the 2020 census — a critical demographic that has gone under-counted in years past, they say.

Column: UC’s harsh response to a student strike shows it’s a business more than a university

Los Angeles Times

Like many other public universities that have been systematically bled of financial support by their states, the University of California has been behaving less and less like an educational institution and more like a business.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Bee Lawns Generate National Buzz

Pew Trusts

Researchers have found that homeowners who seed their lawns with a special grass mix can feed dozens of species of bees that would otherwise go hungry. So, beginning this spring,​​ Minnesota will pay thousands of residents to plant “bee lawns” under a new state program that has attracted attention from other states. 

 

Energy:

Plummeting prices batter local oil producers

Bakersfield Californian

Brent Crude, the international benchmark many local oil sales are pegged to, fell about 30 percent before recovering ground and ending the day off 24 percent at $34.36 per barrel.

See also:

 

California Blackouts Boost Demand for Power Storage

Claims Journal

Power cuts during California’s devastating wildfire season have boosted demand for combined solar panels and battery storage solutions as businesses look to mitigate economic damage from future blackouts.

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

Hand sanitizer sells out as coronavirus concern spreads in Fresno. One store low on rice, beans

Fresno Bee

Stores were selling out of hand sanitizer – and one was getting low on beans and rice – as Fresnans concerned about coronavirus stocked up on supplies.

See also:

 

Modesto couple face quarantine, optimistic they’ll be off Grand Princess by Tuesday

Fresno Bee

Gina Pallotta and her husband Mike opened their cabin door at midnight to a man dressed head-to-toe in a protective suit, who asked if they were ready for their health assessment. It was just another surreal event for the Modesto couple, who are stranded on the​​ coronavirus-stricken Grand Princess cruise ship that’s now docked in Oakland, with the eyes of the world upon them.

See also:

 

Kids and adults get coronavirus at the same rate, study says. Here’s what to know

Sacramento Bee

Children catch coronavirus at the same rate as adults but experience milder symptoms, according to a new China’s Shenzhen province study.

See also:

Purell pops up on Craigslist for $250 per bottle as prosecutors warn against price gouging

Los Angeles Times

As certain supplies grow scarce on store shelves throughout the region, such chutzpah might inspire others to tune into their inner profiteers. But local prosecutors strongly advise against hocking a portion of that panic-purchased toilet paper stash for a similarly-steep premium.

 

Yes, You CAN Clean Your iPhone With Disinfecting Wipes

Wall Street Journal

After years of telling us not to use Clorox wipes and other cleaning products on our phones, Apple finally admits that some disinfectants are fine.

 

Opinion: Rabies didn’t die with Old Yeller — and the disease is endemic to Merced

Merced Sun-Star

Merced, CA veterinarian Dr. Christine McFadden writes about the problems that rabies poses for pets — and how residents can be proactive about stopping its spread.

 

Human Services:

You won’t see ‘Kids Day’ newspapers on street corners Tuesday. Here’s a way to still donate

Fresno Bee

A scaled-down version of the major fundraising event for Valley Children’s Hospital will still happen Tuesday after a cancellation of original plans last week, hospital officials announced Monday. 

See also:

 

Hospitals gird for coronavirus surge after years of cutbacks

Politico

Hospitals for years have faced economic pressures to cut costs and reduce in-patient treatments as the nation tried to slow down health spending. 

See also:

How To Boost Your Emergency Supply Of Prescription Medicines

Capital Public Radio

Insurers have begun easing restrictions on refills of some prescription drugs, in light of coronavirus. Still, co-pays for stocking up on that bigger supply can be prohibitive, say consumer advocates.

Amid coronavirus outbreak, federal officials announce healthcare tech rules

Los Angeles Times

With the coronavirus topping Americans’ concerns, senior Trump administration officials tried to switch subjects Monday by announcing final rules aimed at delivering on the unfulfilled promise of electronic health records.

 

Public opinion: The ACA at year 10

AEI

In late 2017, the Pew Research Center found that for the first time in their tracking, more people said the Affordable Care Act (ACA) had a mostly positive effect on the country (44 percent) than a mostly negative effect (35 percent).

See also:

IMMIGRATION

 

Reporters Talk About The Challenges Of Covering Immigration In The Valley

KVPR

Immigration is one of the most complex and entrenched issues facing the Valley. To find out more about what it takes to keep the public informed on the topic, FM89's Kathleen Schock spoke with New York Times National Immigration Reporter Miriam Jordan and Fresno Bee Reporter Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado.

 

Opinion: He was shot and killed across the border. The Supreme Court decided his family can’t sue

Sacramento Bee

The Supreme Court’s decision on Feb. 25 in Hernandez v. Mesa was both cruel and wrong. The Court held that the parents of a boy shot and killed without justification by a border agent could not sue.

Most of the 23 million immigrants eligible to vote in 2020 election live in just five states

Pew Research

About one-in-ten people eligible to vote in this year’s U.S. presidential election are immigrants. And most (61%) of these 23 million naturalized citizens live in just five states.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Public will weigh in on Modesto golf course’s future

Modesto Bee

Residents will have two chances to tell city officials how they would like the Modesto Municipal Golf Course to be redeveloped if the city decides to sell the cherished nine-hole course.

Neighbors who rejected student dorms at Coffee and Stockdale unite behind newest proposal

Bakersfield Californian

Around a year after a community outcry blocked a proposed five-story student dormitory from being developed at the corner of Coffee Road and Stockdale Highway, nearby residents appear to have thrown their support behind another project.

Housing:

Who should get homelessness funding? Mayors, state in tug-of-war

San Jose Mercury

In a new twist on the old fight between Sacramento and local officials over housing solutions, the mayors of California’s 13 largest cities Monday called on Gov. Gavin Newsom to give $750 million in homelessness assistance to them — not regional administrators.

Stockton’s Tubbs among big-city mayors talking homelessness with Newsom

Stockton Record

The mayors of California’s biggest cities, including Stockton’s Mayor Michael Tubbs, had a “robust” discussion with Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, highlighting their opposition to his plan on how to spend $750 million to combat the state’s homelessness crisis.

See also:

Can duplexes solve California’s housing crisis? A Democrat’s plan aims for ‘lighter’ reforms

Sacramento Bee

California cities would be encouraged to develop more duplexes and fourplexes under a new bill announced Monday by a housing advocate who has been prodding local governments to build more homes.

See also:

 

Housing in Brief: Wall Street’s Single-Family Rental Strategy Is Squeezing Tenants

Next City

After the mortgage crisis, investors like Invitation Homes, associated with the private-equity firm Blackstone, were able to purchase foreclosed homes at a deep discount, and rather​​ than selling them to new owner-occupants, have instead in many cases rented them to tenants.

 

Opinion: California can stem the tidal wave of senior citizen homelessness

CalMatters

With older adults the fastest-growing segment of California’s homeless population, expanding programs provided by Adult Protective Services that successfully prevent at-risk elder Californians from falling through the cracks must be a key part of state’s homelessness strategy.

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Turlock council looks into sales tax increase amid budget troubles

Modesto Bee

Turlock residents may see a city sales tax measure on the November ballot if the city council receives answers to myriad questions surrounding the issue.

 

Farmers fear property tax changes under split-roll initiative

Business Journal

Last year, when a revised edition of the split roll property tax ballot initiative was filed that would require taxes on commercial and industrial properties to be assessed at market value, it seemed that agricultural land was exempt

Trump: Payroll Tax Cuts And Hourly Worker Relief Possible In Coronavirus Response

Capital Public Radio

Top administration officials will meet with House and Senate Republicans Tuesday to discuss economic relief for workers and small businesses. Democrats, however, signaled they are not on board.

See also:

 

Commentary: Fox: Sending a Message on Taxes

Fox & Hounds

There is something happening here in California on the bread-and-butter issue of taxes, a possible shift in the state’s political orbit for it seems that voter approved tax increases may not be a near sure thing anymore. 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Coronavirus spoiling the party? Fresno State students urged not to travel for spring break

Fresno Bee

Students looking forward to partying out of the country during spring break should be prepared for their plans to be canceled and to have to self-isolate due to the fast-spreading coronavirus, according to Fresno State officials.

See also:

California bullet train officials say they were told to suppress bad news and ‘shut up’

Los Angeles Times

The atmosphere described by Mark Styles has been corroborated by a half dozen current and former senior officials knowledgeable about the project’s Fresno office. 

WATER

Henry: Collaboration is the new game in California water

Bakersfield Californian

If agriculture in the valley is going to survive, water leaders need to get cozy with new ideas and new allies. And, yes, that means environmentalists.

Walters: Climate change and water supply

CalMatters

California, as everyone knows, receives virtually all of its precipitation during a few fall and winter months and in 2019, some early rain and snow storms promised a bountiful water year.

 

“Xtra”

 

Fresno State welcomes Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan

Fresno State

Ms. Brennan will draw on her extensive experience as a journalist and moderator to provide an overview of the most important stories that drive the 24-hour news cycle. During her talk, she will also draw parallels between domestic and foreign stories to bridge the gap between the local and the global. The event with Ms. Brennan is scheduled for​​ 6 p.m. on March 17​​ at the Save Mart Center and will be followed by a question-and-answer session from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. The event is​​ free and open to the public.

 

How Can We Make Farm Work Healthier?

Zócalo Public Square

On​​ Tuesday, April 14th, Organic farmer and artist Nikiko Masumoto, Huron Mayor Rey León, health researcher Chia Thao, and Tania Pacheco-Werner, co-assistant director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute, visit Zócalo to consider how to make farm work healthier.

Happiest state in the union? California dominates list of cheerful cities, report says

Merced Sun-Star

The Golden State has 10 of the Top 20 happiest cities in the United States for 2020, Wallethub reports. The San Francisco Bay Area city of Fremont takes top honors in the report. So what makes a happy city?

 

Courthouse Museum to present ‘Portraits of Merced County Women’ exhibit

Merced Sun-Star

In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Courthouse Museum is presenting a new exhibit, titled “Beyond Appearance: Portraits of Merced County Women.” The exhibit opens Thursday, March 12.

‘Seuss-ational’ Event : Hundreds support Porterville Library and literacy

Porterville Recorder

Read Across America and Dr. Seuss’s birthday on Monday drew hundreds of people to Centennial Park from 4 to 6 p.m. Vendors from community businesses and clubs, as well as radio stations supplied crafts, books, snacks, and other activities to promote literacy and learning. 

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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.

                                                      

This document is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.​​ 



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