POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus rules finally ease; 11 new cases, 1 death
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County got some welcome news from the state Tuesday: Its positive test rate has improved enough to relax rules on business and other activities.
See also:
· Stanislaus County moves into Red Tier Turlock Journal
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus ballot box warning. Latest on Great Wolf
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County has now gone 30 straight days with at least one report of a COVID-19 death. The total stands at 388 residents with the death announced Wednesday by the Health Services Agency.
Modesto cancels appeal hearing over fines after Velvet Grill supporters pack room
Modesto Bee
Modesto could not hold the Velvet Grill & Creamery’s Tuesday appeal of the city fining it for not following the new coronavirus restrictions after the restaurant’s supporters packed the hearing, exceeding its physically distanced seating capacity.
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno Co keeps red-tier COVID-19 status. What’s that mean for restaurants, businesses?
Fresno Bee
Fresno County dodged a bullet Tuesday, managing to remain in the state’s second tier for economic reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic for a third straight week.
See Also:
● Coronavirus update: Fresno County still in red tier, despite rise in deaths Fresno Bee
● COVID-19 cases inch upward in Fresno County. Could more hospitalizations follow? Fresno Bee
● Tulare County coronavirus case rate still too high to reopen further abc30
Fresno voters strongly favor coronavirus protections and police reforms, survey shows
abc30
Fresno voters sent clear messages in support of coronavirus public health protection and police reform in a new survey conducted by a policy center at UC Merced.
Community and Labor Center
This brief presentes results from the largest random sample survey conducted in the City of Fresno since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: the Fresno Speaks 2020 Survey.
More Fresno-area schools cleared to reopen during COVID-19 pandemic. But will they?
Fresno Bee
While Fresno County has locked itself into the red tier by lowering coronavirus cases, some local schools are taking precautions to ensure campuses can remain open even if cases rise again.
See also:
· Most students in Fresno’s Central schools won’t return to campus before the New Year Fresno Bee
· Clovis schools win COVID-19 waiver to reopen elementary schools for in-person classes Fresno Bee
· Is your student struggling with online learning? Fresno schools add helpful new feature Fresno Bee
How will Prop 21 rent control measure impact Fresno-area residents? It’s complicated
Fresno Bee
Will the passage of Proposition 21 lead to lower rents for Fresno and central San Joaquin Valley residents? It depends on whom you ask. The “Local Rent Control Initiative” is fracturing old alliances and pitting friends against each other.
See Also:
● Fresno City Concilmember Miguel Arias: vote yes on Prop 21 Fresno Bee
● Fresno Mayor Lee Brand: vote no on Prop 21 Fresno Bee
● Prop. 21: Does expanding rent control make sense in a COVID recession? LA Times
South SJ Valley:
Two free COVID-19 test sites will be open Thursday, Friday in Bakersfield
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force is hosting two free coronavirus testing sites this week.
See Also:
● Grim stats on COVID-19 continue to climb in Kern as deaths exceed 400 Bakersfield Califn
What the county’s ‘red tier’ status means for Kern County schools
Bakersfield Califn
The news that Kern County has shifted from the purple tier to the less restrictive red tier is big for local schools. If the county stays in this tier for two consecutive weeks, every school in the county would be able to open for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.
See Also:
● Kern County moving into red tier abc23
State:
Calif GOP defends illegal ballot boxes, plans to expand program
abc30
After Calif Secretary of State Alex Padilla sent a cease and desist letter to the Calif Republican Party regarding their illegal ballot drop boxes, the state GOP isn’t backing down and says they plan to expand the program.
See Also:
● Unofficial ballot boxes are legal and they’ll keep using them, Calif Republicans tell state officials Fresno Bee
● Trump encourages GOP to ‘fight hard’ for ballot boxes Calif deemed illegal Modesto Bee
● Calif GOP pushes back against state election officials on unofficial ballot boxes LA Times
● Standoff over GOP ballot drop boxes hits House races in Calif Roll Call
Coronavirus updates: Calif death rate slowing; outbreak at faith-healing school
Sac Bee
As Calif continues with gradual, county-based economic reopening, the state’s coronavirus infection and hospitalization figures have remained steady at relatively low rates for the past few weeks, while deaths continue to decline.
Virtual hearing held on EDD’s efforts to address COVID-19 crisis
abc30
State Senator Jerry Hill hosted a virtual hearing on the Employment Development Department’s efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis.
Federal:
How to fill out your 2020 census before the deadline ends October 15
abc30
If you haven’t filled out your 2020 census, you have until Thursday, October 15 to send in your questionnaire.
See Also:
● Census whiplashed by changing deadlines, accuracy concerns Bakersfield Califn
● Thursday is the final day to respond to the 2020 Census. Here’s how to do it McClatchy
● The Census, the Supreme Court and Why the Count Is Stopping Early NY Times
● Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration To End Census Counting On Oct. 15 NPR
● Opinion: The Supreme Court’s Census Reprieve WSJ
On final day of senators’ questions, Barrett again avoids taking positions on abortion, healthcare
LA Times
The conservative judge has batted away questions in long and lively exchanges, insisting she would bring no personal agenda to the court.
See Also:
● WATCH LIVE: Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing VPR
● Outside Witnesses Testifying In Final Day Of Amy Coney Barrett’s Confirmation Hearing VPR
● Calm and controlled, Barrett shows in hearing why conservatives bet she’ll reshape Supreme Court LA Times
● Newsletter: Today: Calm, controlled and conservative LA Times
● NBC faces backlash over scheduling its Trump town hall against ABC’s Biden event LA Times
● Amy Coney Barrett sidesteps Dianne Feinstein’s questions on Affordable Care Act SF Chronicle
● Amy Coney Barrett evades answers on hot-button political issues at Supreme Court hearing Roll Call
● Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearing live updates: Committee to vote next week on nomination Wash Post
● Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing, Day Three — As It Happened WSJ
● Amy Coney Barrett Closes Out Testimony, on Track for Senate Approval WSJ
● Amy Coney Barrett’s Character, Qualifications to Be Discussed by Witnesses WSJ
● Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation Hearings: Highlights From Day 3 NY Times
● Opinion: Amy Coney Barrett’s Christian Religiosity WSJ
Senate to vote on another ‘skinny’ stimulus bill next week. Here’s what’s in it
Fresno Bee
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate will vote on another coronavirus relief bill after lawmakers have struggled for months to pass a follow-up to the CARES Act.
See Also:
● Pelosi, Mnuchin Disagree on Coronavirus Testing, Continue Stimulus Talks WSJ
Repeal Obamacare? Once GOP dogma, it’s now the party’s albatross
LA Times
Contempt for the Affordable Care Act — Obamacare — was so central to Sen. Joni Ernst’s 2014 election campaign that the Iowa Republican, in a TV ad promising she’d “unload” on the law, pulled out a handgun and fired repeatedly. “Give me a shot,” she asked voters.
See Also:
● GOP suggests Supreme Court, on brink of 6-3 majority, may not strike down Obamacare after all LA Times
● As Supreme Court Case on Affordable Care Act Looms, GOP Divided on How—and Whether—to Replace It WSJ
States seek more federal funds as Medicaid enrollment grows
Roll Call
The number of Americans on Medicaid continues to rise as people lose their insurance during the economic downturn, but policy experts disagree on how much additional funding states facing higher costs may need.
Wash Post
As the presidential campaign entered its final stages, a fresh-faced Republican activist named Charlie Kirk stepped into the spotlight at a closed-door gathering of leading conservatives and shared his delight about an impact of the coronavirus pandemic: disruption of America’s universities.
Coronavirus Trackers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Calif
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus.
See also:
● Calif Department of Public Health
● Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic – WHO
● John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
● Tracking coronavirus in Calif LA Times
● Coronavirus Tracker SF Chronicle
● Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count NY Times
● How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
● Coronavirus Daily NPR
● Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Fin Times
● Coronavirus in Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
● Check voter registration status
● Online Voter Guide and Printable Voter Guide
● List of county elections offices
Califns voting in ‘historic’ numbers, more than 1.5M mail-in ballots already cast, state says
abc30
More than 1.5 million Califns have already returned their vote-by-mail ballots for the 2020 general election as of Wednesday morning, according to Secretary of State’s Office.
See Also:
● More than 1 million Calif ballots already cast, shattering records LA Times
● Town-hall time arrives as early turnout smashes record abcNews
● Voter Turnout for 2020 National Review
Your Calif mail ballot is coming. 5 things to do to make sure it gets counted
Sac Bee
Calif has hit a record number of registered voters this year, and thanks to an executive order issued this year from Gov. Gavin Newsom, all 21 million of them will be receiving a ballot in the mail starting Oct. 5.
What Role Would Calif Play if the Election Outcome Gets Complicated?
KQED
The presidential election is just weeks away, and it’s been a wild ride as COVID-19 has upended the traditional forms of campaigning.
See Also:
● Why Americans must be patient while votes are counted in this year’s election USAToday
CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom has just three days left to sign or veto some of the most high-profile and controversial bills of the legislative session — including a spate of proposals to police the police, a bill that would establish a state reparations committee, and a bill that would mandate the racial makeup of corporate boards.
See Also:
● If voters raise taxes on corporate landlords, will small biz foot the bill? CalMatters
● Creating a Homelessness Czar CalMatters
● Creating a Student Loan Bill of Rights CalMatters
● Expanding Mental Health Parity CalMatters
● SB-132 Corrections. Calif Legislative Information
At a glance: See the biggest spenders in Calif’s prop battles
CalMatters
Califns are voting on 12 propositions, but not all are funded equally. Just take a look at that fat slab of lilac in the graphic below.
Dueling town halls for Trump, Biden after debate plan nixed
abc3340
President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden will compete for TV audiences in dueling town halls instead of meeting face-to-face for their second debate as originally planned.
See Also:
● Trump to face voters’ questions in NBC town hall LA Times
● Trump, Biden in Dueling Town Halls as Coronavirus Rattles Campaign WSJ
● The debate is canceled. Town halls are on. Here’s how PolitiFact is covering them: PolitiFact
Race For The White House Is ‘Far Closer’ Than Some People Think, Biden Campaign Manager Warns
Forbes
Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s campaign manager, warned on Twitter Wednesday evening that the race between Biden and President Trump is “far closer” than some people may believe, even as polls show Biden in a much stronger position than Hillary Clinton was four years ago.
See Also:
● Biden Has 11-Point Lead Over Trump Less Than Three Weeks to Election Day WSJ
● Opinion: Trump Has No Time Left to Spare WSJ
Commentary: Biden would smother the economy by raising taxes
AEI
A high priority for a Biden White House would be to raise taxes on high-income Americans, and to push the corporate rate up to 28% from 21%. This would satisfy many progressives who want to see higher taxes at the top, but it would be a wrong-headed policy for a new administration, creating a headwind in a weak economy.
Editorial: Election 2020: The Fresno Bee Editorial Board’s local and state recommendations
Fresno Bee
The Fresno Bee Editorial Board recommends the following candidates and choices for local measures and Calif state propositions. This list will be updated as editorials are published.
Editorial: Prop. 19 closes a tax loophole and helps fund more firefighters. That’s a win-win
Fresno Bee
Proposition 19 would be good for seniors who want to downsize, for local government coffers ravaged by COVID-19 and for anyone worried about wildfires. That’s plenty of reasons to vote yes.
Other:
Calif Budget & Policy Center
Despite decades of progress in job opportunities, earnings, and political leadership, women still face persistent barriers to accessing economic security, physical and mental health care, and representation in elected positions that greatly improve their lives and the well-being of their families and communities.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, October 18, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz: Valley Roots” – Guests: UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, October 18, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “The Valley’s Public Universities: An Update” – Guests: Fresno State President Joseph Castro; Stanislaus State President Ellen Junn; CSU Bakersfield President Lynnette Zelezny. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Local growers debut carrot hot dogs, pasta, chips
Bakersfield Califn
From the land of tri-tip sandwich fundraisers and 24-hour biscuits-and-gravy sales now comes this: hot dogs made from whole carrots.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Fresno voters overwhelmingly support police reform, new survey results show
Fresno Bee
Registered voters in Fresno overwhelmingly support police reform, according to a new survey conducted by the Fresno County Civic Engagement Voter Table and UC Merced Community and Labor Center.
Public Safety:
Fresno advocate reacts after police chief asks for $10M
Fresno Bee
Fresno Police Department is asking for a $10 million increase to its operating budget after months of a public outcry to defund police.
Newsom advisers urge changes in policing at Calif protests
SF Chronicle
Calif should restrict the use of rubber bullets and tear gas at protests, clarify when police can declare an unlawful assembly to disperse crowds and require officers to intervene when their colleagues are using excessive force, advisers to Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday.
Fire:
Creek Fire updates: Fire active near Cassidy Meadows; assistance services move online
Fresno Bee
The Creek Fire continues to burn and was active in the northeast on Tuesday, near Cassidy Meadows and south of the San Joaquin River.
See Also:
● Creek Fire: 337,655 acres burned, 55% contained, latest evacuations orders abc30
PG&E resumes tree cutting in Calif town that fought back. Activists aren’t giving up
Fresno Bee
Preservationists in Nevada City thought they’d won a landmark victory last month against PG&E Corp., securing a court ruling preventing Calif’s largest utility from chopping down hundreds of trees in their community to reduce wildfire risks.
See Also:
● Power shut-offs coming tonight in Northern Calif as winds pick up LA Times
SQF Complex Fire: 167,479 acres burned, 70% contained, latest evacuation orders
abc30
Fire crews are continuing to make progress on the SQF Complex Fire, which is now the largest wildfire in Tulare County’s modern history.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
These Fresno businesses were hit with fines for breaking COVID-19 orders
Fresno Bee
Six Fresno businesses have gotten the most recent $1,000 fines for operating against state coronavirus orders, according to records.
See Also:
● Fresno-area business owners pledge to stay open regardless of county’s tier abc30
8 Million Have Slipped Into Poverty Since May as Federal Aid Has Dried Up
NY Times
After an ambitious expansion of the safety net in the spring saved millions of people from poverty, the aid is now largely exhausted and poverty has returned to levels higher than before the coronavirus crisis, two new studies have found.
Jobs:
If gig economy initiative fails, will you pay more for Uber and Lyft? What studies say
Fresno Bee
Gig companies present a black-and-white message to their users: If Proposition 22 fails, they will have to pay more and wait longer for a ride or a delivery order.
See Also:
● Caravan of Uber and Lyft drivers against Prop 22 stops in Fresno Fresno Bee
● Editorial: Calif’s Prop. 22 only helps companies like Uber, Lyft. Why we recommend a no vote Fresno Bee
Questions about unemployment benefits or EDD? Submit now to get answers live from an expert
abc30
Hundreds of you have told us about your struggles to get unemployment benefits through Calif’s EDD. That’s why we will be hosting a livestream Thursday, October 15 at 1 p.m. with an expert from the National Employment Law Project, Michele Evermore.
If CalPERS beats earnings targets, its next investment chief could take home $2.4 million
Sac Bee
The maximum possible compensation for Calif state government’s highest-paid employee could increase significantly under a proposal CalPERS is considering.
‘Stressed is an understatement.’ Calif unemployment workers testify about troubled agency
Sac Bee
The Calif state Senate took the unusual step Wednesday of calling front-line state workers to talk about a historic backlog of unemployment claims that accumulated at the Employment Development Department during the coronavirus outbreak.
Millions of workers face jobless benefits cliff with lifeline set to expire
Politico
A failure by Congress to enact a new economic relief package would prolong the pain of the coronavirus crisis for many Americans, but those without jobs face a special threat — millions could run out of unemployment benefits altogether by the end of the year.
Power Of The Petition: Nonprofit Helps Front-Line Workers Fight For Their Rights
NPR
The tools of the Internet, and a bit of public embarrassment, can go a long way in drawing attention to a cause.
How Calif’s ‘woman quota’ is already changing corporate boards
CalMatters
Public companies headquartered in Calif have until Jan. 1 to name at least one female director. The new law has prompted some widely anticipated lawsuits — and some surprising boardroom diversity.
Commentary: Women are advancing in the workplace, but women of color still lag behind
Brookings
A little over 100 years ago, the U.S. Congress ratified the 19th amendment, which ruled that women could not be denied the right to vote because of their sex.
EDUCATION
K-12:
More Fresno-area schools cleared to reopen during COVID-19 pandemic. But will they?
Fresno Bee
While Fresno County has locked itself into the red tier by lowering coronavirus cases, some local schools are taking precautions to ensure campuses can remain open even if cases rise again.
Most students in Fresno’s Central schools won’t return to campus before the New Year
Fresno Bee
Fresno students in the Central Unified School District won’t be returning to campuses until after the New Year, despite the county receiving a green light for all grades to reopen schools this week.
Clovis schools win COVID-19 waiver to reopen elementary schools for in-person classes
Fresno Bee
Clovis Unified schools won a waiver late Wednesday to reopen elementary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, the district announced in a news release.
Is your student struggling with online learning? Fresno schools add helpful new feature
Fresno Bee
Fresno schools recently unveiled a new tool that will help students with their academics. The district partnered with the Princeton Review to make available Tutor.com, a 24-hour tutoring service Fresno Unified’s 73,000 students can use for free.
Rally pleads for an end to distance learning
Madera Tribune
“We want our kids to go back to school — as soon as possible,” said Gail Markarian on Saturday, speaking from the front steps of the Courthouse Museum to a rally of some 30 parents, teachers and students.
How the 2020 State Elections Could Shape Education Systems
EdNote
With national attention on the presidential race this election year, it can be easy to forget the important leadership positions and ballot measures that voters will be deciding on this November.
Commentary: Should we be sending K–12 students back to school in person?
AEI
This event aims to bring light to a complicated and politically charged conversation that affects all of America’s students: whether K–12 schools should reopen in person given COVID-19.
Higher Ed:
Bay Valley Tech, VOLT Institute offering funding, tech education for local residents
Modesto Bee
Modesto residents can look to two local schools for training in coding and mechanics, as regional institutions seek to teach more workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pandemic’s Effect on Community College Enrollment
PPIC
As early as April, students at Calif community colleges cited increased anxiety, mental distress, and income loss as factors affecting their ability to enroll in and complete planned courses.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Earth breaks September heat record, may reach warmest year
Bakersfield Califn
Earth sweltered to a record hot September last month, with U.S. climate officials saying there’s nearly a two-to-one chance that 2020 will end up as the globe’s hottest year on record.
See Also:
● Earth breaks Sept heat record, 2020 may end up being its hottest year ever LA Times
● Essential Calif: The hottest year on Earth? LA Times
How climate change is fueling record-breaking Calif wildfires, heat and smog
LA Times
In 2001, a team of international scientists projected that during the next 100 years, the planet’s inhabitants would witness higher maximum temperatures, more hot days and heat waves, an increase in the risk of forest fires and “substantially degraded air quality” in large metropolitan areas as a result of climate change.
Building long-term resilience to climate change in Calif
CalMatters
In the past decade, Calif has experienced its most severe drought in over a millennium, devastating floods, the hottest summer on record and eight of the 10 largest wildfires ever recorded in the state.
Energy:
The End Of Oil? Battle Lines Drawn As Industry Grapples With Energy’s Future
VPR
Oil is facing an existential crisis. There has never been so much uncertainty about the future of a commodity that keeps the global economic engine running.
Solving Calif’s energy puzzle: Vanadium, artificial intelligence and everything in-between
Energy Storage News
Calif has long been held up as a gold standard for the US in adopting renewable energy, especially solar PV, and high-tech solutions to climate crisis questions, including of course, battery storage: both distributed and utility-scale.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Invisible saliva bursting from lips may explain asymptomatic COVID-19 spread, study says
Fresno Bee
At a revealing 5,000 frames per second, a camera captured how talking produces tiny droplets of saliva that rupture and disperse into the air in the blink of an eye, according to a new study from Princeton University.
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus rules finally ease; 11 new cases, 1 death
Modesto Bee
Stanislaus County got some welcome news from the state Tuesday: Its positive test rate has improved enough to relax rules on business and other activities.
See Also:
● COVID-19 cases inch upward in Fresno County. Could more hospitalizations follow? Fresno Bee
● Grim stats on COVID-19 continue to climb in Kern as deaths exceed 400 Bakersfield Califn
● New U.S. Coronavirus Cases Near 60,000 WSJ
● U.S. Virus Cases Climb Toward a Third Peak NY Times
Oxford scientists develop rapid test to detect COVID-19 virus
UPI
Scientists at the University of Oxford in Britain announced Thursday they have developed a rapid diagnostic test that can detect COVID-19 in under five minutes.
Human Services:
Calif suggests outdoor holiday gatherings with people from 3 households or less
abc30
As the holiday season looms near, getting together with family may look a little different as Calif health officials released new guidelines for holding private gatherings on Friday.
Two free COVID-19 test sites will be open Thursday, Friday in Bakersfield
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force is hosting two free coronavirus testing sites this week.
A heavy burden: Should dialysis rules be up to voters (Prop 23)?
CalMatters
For many CA voters, Proposition 23 is a head-scratcher. In a state of 40 million, about 80,000 people rely on dialysis centers for treatment of kidney failure. The vast majority of Califns have never been inside one of these clinics, let alone understand how they operate.
Ahead of Covid-19 Vaccine, Half of Americans Indicate Reluctance, WSJ/NBC Poll Finds
WSJ
While 70% of those surveyed expressed willingness to get vaccinated, about half preferred to wait to make sure the shots are safe and 27% said they wouldn’t want to get vaccinated.
IMMIGRATION
L.A. County to pay out $14 million over unlawful immigration holds
LA Times
LA County on Tuesday agreed to pay out $14 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that the Sheriff’s Department routinely held people in jail beyond their release dates solely because of pending immigration investigations.
Illegal Border Crossings Rise Since Hitting Three-Year Low in April
WSJ
The number of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexican border illegally rose for the fifth straight month in Sept, after the Trump administration earlier this year launched a pandemic policy allowing border agents to immediately expel anyone caught making such an attempt.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Manteca’s Great Wolf Lodge delays reservations again, COVID-19 keeps opening unknown
Modesto Bee
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas-time might be the earliest you’ll be able to stay and splash at one of the Central Valley’s most anticipated new business openings of 2020.
Housing:
How will Prop 21 rent control measure impact Fresno-area residents? It’s complicated
Fresno Bee
Will the passage of Proposition 21 lead to lower rents for Fresno and central San Joaquin Valley residents? It depends on whom you ask. The “Local Rent Control Initiative” is fracturing old alliances and pitting friends against each other.
See Also:
● Fresno City Concilmember Miguel Arias: vote yes on Prop 21 Fresno Bee
● Fresno Mayor Lee Brand: vote no on Prop 21 Fresno Bee
● Prop. 21: Does expanding rent control make sense in a COVID recession? LA Times
Calif home prices to grow more slowly next year, Realtors forecast, but sales may be stronger
SF Chronicle
Ultra-low mortgage rates and pent-up demand for single-family homes will offset continued economic uncertainty and a supply shortage in 2021, with the net result being a 3.3% increase in Calif home sales and a modest 1.3% increase in the median price next year versus 2020, according to a Calif Association of Realtors forecast published Tuesday.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Trump taxes: A ‘fundamentally unfair’ system?
BBC
For years, US President Donald Trump has shrugged off criticism of his low tax bills, famously boasting that not paying taxes made him “smart”.
Opinion: Calif’s Next Big Tax Gulp
WSJ
Sooner or later Calif’s public unions had to hit up the hoi polloi to pay for their pensions after soaking what’s left of the state’s millionaire class, and here they come.
TRANSPORTATION
2020 Transportation Needs Survey
Fresno Council of Governments
Have a say in how future transportation dollars are spent. The Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) is looking for transportation project suggestions that could become part of its 20-year Regional Transportation Plan or RTP.
Bike Basics Infrastructure Bike To School Upcoming Events
Bike Safe Fresno
Biking is fun, healthy and good for our air. Safety can be increased by following simple guidelines and investing in safe bicycle infrastructure.
A new era of clean transportation requires new leadership on the Assembly’s Transportation Committee
CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that Calif will eliminate the sale of gas powered cars by 2035 is finally jumpstarting the big transportation changes necessary to fight against the climate crisis.
The Covid-19 Era Sheds Light On Transportation’s Climate Change Impact
Forbes
Many months into the Covid-19 pandemic, and there is no clear end yet in sight. While several vaccine trials have entered advanced stages, there have also been disappointing setbacks.
Commentary: Connecting people and places: Exploring new measures of travel behavior
Brookings
The physical design of neighborhoods—from the density of their buildings to how they dedicate space for transportation—has far-reaching impacts on how people choose to travel.
WATER
Reclamation selects three Calif projects to receive Water Use Efficiency grants
Calif Water News Daily
The Bureau of Reclamation has announced the selection of three Calif projects to receive $1.3 million total in CALFED Water Use Efficiency grants near the cities of Pittsburg, Shafter and Biggs.
Building a Water-Resilient Calif
PPIC
Water issues that were high priorities pre-pandemic are now competing with many urgent priorities. Yet these disruptions also bring opportunities to reduce the water system’s vulnerability to economic shocks and other surprises.
“Xtra”
Beverly Hills bans trick-or-treating on Halloween due to COVID-19 pandemic
abc30
Beverly Hills has approved an urgency ordinance banning trick-or-treating on Halloween due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ordinance approved by the city council Tuesday prohibits house-to-house and car-to-car trick-or-treating from taking place on Halloween.
See Also:
● Halloween is still happening. These Fresno-area events may get you through the spooky season Fresno Bee
● Calif health officials urging public to avoid trick or treating on Halloween abc30
● Bethany Clough: How to have a safe Halloween in Fresno. Is trick-or-treating OK? Here’s what experts say Fresno Bee
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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of Calif’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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