POLICY & POLITICS
North SJ Valley:
Merced mayor, council hopefuls tackle topics like rent control, defunding police at debate
Merced Sun-Star
With two weeks until the Nov. 3 election, the four candidates vying to be the City of Merced’s next mayor — plus two City Council District 1 hopefuls — masked up Tuesday night for an in-person debate hosted by the Merced County Association of Realtors.
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus announces 394th death. Cases reach 17,403
Modesto Bee
Recent statistics.
Central SJ Valley:
Fresno, nearby counties push past 70K COVID-19 cases. What the region’s curve looks like
Fresno Bee
A day after Fresno County accumulated its 30,000th confirmed coronavirus infection, the central San Joaquin Valley on Tuesday passed 70,000 cases since the first local instances of COVID-19 were identified in early March.
See also:
Coronavirus update: Death toll tops 1,000 in central San Joaquin Valley Fresno Bee
Coronavirus hospitalizations creep higher in Fresno County. Here’s the latest case data Fresno Bee
Clovis schools set date to reopen campus classrooms. Here’s what parents need to know
Fresno Bee
A small number of Clovis elementary students returned to campuses Wednesday to test the experimental hybrid model that combines online and in-person learning each day.
Fresno council adds $5 million to parks budget. Here are some other late additions
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council added $5 million on Tuesday to the city’s parks-related budget in a round of its latest additions to the spending plan.
Fresno To Consider $5.75m Purchase Of Former Bee Building
Business Journal
The Fresno City Council will decide the fate of the former Fresno Bee building Thursday. Fresno’s city manager sponsored the action item that puts the 14.83 acre property that once housed both reporters as well as printing presses on the agenda.
Cox, Valadao clash over honesty, political allegiances
Bakersfield Califn
The bitter fight for CA's 21st Congressional District seat only got more so as the 2 candidates — incumbent Rep. T.J. Cox, D-Selma, and challenger David Valadao, R-Hanford — clashed over questions of honesty and how closely their opponent obeys his own party's leadership.
See also:
Attack ads and coronavirus: What happened at debate for Calif’s closest House race Modesto Bee
Opinion: Fresno Bee Editorial Board interviews Rep. TJ Cox and challenger David Valadao Fresno Bee
EDITORIAL: Voters should elect a Valley native as their next 21st District representative Fresno Bee
EDITORIAL: Fresno Bee Editorial Board’s local and state recommendations Fresno Bee
Despite 'purple tier' designation, more personal care businesses open in Tulare County
abc30
It's the story of so many Calif businesses in 2020. COVID-19 forced Maven Skin & Beauty, which specializes in facials and other skin care services, to close this spring.
South SJ Valley:
Kern supervisors said no to COVID-19 help from group with deep community roots
Bakersfield Califn
The billboard signs were designed and ready to go. One features a young Latino boy and his mom. They both wear masks and she helps him apply hand sanitizer.
Despite Red Tier Status, Kern County Deems Some Gyms ‘Essential Businesses’
VPR
Depending on a county’s status in Calif’s reopening blueprint, most of the state’s gyms are allowed to operate either exclusively outdoors or indoors with tight restrictions on capacity.
Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force announces three free testing sites this weekend
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force has announced three new free testing sites this weekend in east Bakersfield, Arvin and Lamont. Walk-ins are welcomed, and there is no pre-registration required.
Chevron puts off frack jobs until Kern can complete blanket review
Bakersfield Califn
Chevron Corp. has opted to postpone six hydraulic fracturing jobs in the Lost Hills area rather than have state regulators perform an environmental assessment the company would prefer be done as part of a blanket review by Kern County.
State:
Calif has escaped the national surge in coronavirus cases. But new dangers lie ahead
LA Times
Calif has largely avoided a new wave of coronavirus cases that has sparked alarm elsewhere in the country, but the state faces new dangers in the coming weeks as key businesses reopen and the holidays arrive.
See also:
Coronavirus updates: Calif reaches 17,000 COVID-19 deaths Sac Bee
Calif has escaped the national surge in coronavirus cases. But new dangers lie ahead LA Times
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
PPIC
In the presidential race, Biden maintains a wide lead over Trump, and Califns are more enthusiastic about voting than usual. On ballot measures, likely voters are divided on Proposition 15, the “split roll” property tax.
Judge denies AG request to expedite lawsuit against GOP
Fresno Bee
A Calif judge has denied Attorney General Xavier Becerra's request to expedite his lawsuit against the state Republican Party.
See also:
A Black woman will lead CHP for first time as Newsom appoints Amanda Ray to lead agency
Sac Bee
A woman will lead the Calif Highway Patrol for the first time in the department’s history following the retirement of Commissioner Warren Stanley, according to a Tuesday news release.
Federal:
abc30
Negotiations on a huge COVID-19 relief bill have taken a modest step forward, though time is running out and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, President Donald Trump's most powerful Senate ally, is pressing the White House not to move ahead.
See also:
Pelosi suggests coronavirus relief deal could slip past November elections Politico
U.S. adds almost 63K COVID-19 cases, more than 1,100 deaths UPI
As Covid-19 Cases Rise Across Europe, Hospitals Are Rushing to Prepare for Winter WSJ
LA Times
Senate Democrats plan to boycott Thursday’s vote in the Judiciary Committee on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court, according to a source familiar with the plans. It will serve as a sign of protest, but will not ultimately slow down Barrett’s confirmation.
See also:
Senate Judiciary Committee advances Barrett nomination over Democratic boycott LA Times
Supreme Court vote tears at Judiciary Committee relationships Roll Call
Senate Democrats keep focus on Supreme Court case on Obamacare Roll Call
Amy Coney Barrett’s Nomination Advanced by Senate Judiciary Committee WSJ
Democrats to Boycott Committee Vote on Amy Coney Barrett WSJ
Senate Democrats to boycott Barrett’s Judiciary Committee vote Thursday Politico
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead guilty to 3 criminal charges
LA Times
Drugmaker Purdue Pharma, the company behind the powerful prescription painkiller OxyContin, which experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic, will plead guilty to federal criminal charges as part of a settlement of more than $8 billion.
See also:
Purdue Pharma Reaches $8.34 Billion Settlement Over Opioid Probes WSJ
EDITORIAL: OxyContin settlement doesn’t begin to make up for the harm Purdue Pharma has caused LA Times
Google, U.S. Government Each Face Challenges in Court Fight
WSJ
The fierceness of the battle ahead came into focus Wednesday when Mr. Schmidt offered a full-throated defense of Google. “There’s a difference between dominance and excellence,” Mr. Schmidt said.
See also:
Former Google CEO Fires Back at Justice Department’s Antitrust Suit WSJ
The Businesses Where Google Is Biggest (and the Ones Where It Isn’t) WSJ
Big Tech’s Professional Opponents Strike at Google New York Times
CalMatters
The 2020 Census count ended prematurely this week. The U.S. Census Bureau stopped counting Americans after 2:59 a.m. Pacific Time on Oct. 16, even though it had previously declared that it would need until Oct. 31 to ensure an accurate and complete count.
Iran and Russia have attempted to influence the U.S. election, officials say
LA Times
Iran and Russia have obtained voter registration information and are sending disinformation to Americans ahead of election day, the leaders of U.S. intelligence agencies including the FBI warned on Wednesday night.
See also:
Voter Websites In Calif And Florida Could Be Vulnerable To Hacks, Report Finds NPR
Iran Seeking to Intimidate U.S. Voters With Spoofed Emails, Intelligence Official Says WSJ
Chris Christie: I Should Have Worn a Mask
WSJ
For seven months I was very careful about mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing. As someone with asthma, I knew I faced heightened risk
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:
John Hopkins University & Medicine John Hopkins University
Tracking coronavirus in Calif Los Angeles Times
Coronavirus Tracker San Francisco Chronicle
Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count New York Times
How many coronavirus cases have been reported in each U.S. state? Politico
Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as the pandemic spreads Fin Times
Coronavirus in Calif by the numbers CalMatters
Elections 2020:
How to watch the final presidential debate between Trump and Biden
LA Times
Well, it’s almost over. Thursday’s matchup between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will mark the end of a presidential debate season that has spanned 16 months.
See also:
Trying for a comeback in final debate with Biden, Trump is a captive of his own information bubble LA Times
What Time Is the Final Presidential Debate? A Look at Key Issues WSJ
Five things to watch in the final presidential debate The Hill
Early voter turnout smashing Calif election records
CalMatters
More than 4.5 million Californians have already cast ballots in the 2020 general election — and there’re still 12 days to go. Roughly one-fifth of the 21.5 million ballots mailed to registered voters had been processed as of Tuesday evening, blowing away previous election totals.
See also:
Surging coronavirus endangers Trump plan to counter Biden edge with Election Day vote
Fresno Bee
A surge in coronavirus cases in counties critical to President Donald Trump’s victory may disrupt his plans to drive up in-person voting on Nov. 3, potentially reducing Republican turnout in areas the president can least afford it.
See also:
Here’s how Trump and Biden stack up in polling in six key battleground states McClatchy
These voters sat out in 2016. Now they could determine the next U.S. president Reuters
Trump is averaging more than 50 false or misleading claims a day
Wash Post
As President Trump entered the final stretch of the election season, he began making more than 50 false or misleading claims a day. It’s only gotten worse — so much so that the Fact Checker team cannot keep up.
See also:
Trump on the Stump FactCheck.org
Fact-checking Trump’s overblown statement about ballots missing his name PolitiFact
Donald Trump’s claims about Dr. Anthony Fauci, fact-checked PolitiFact
Meet the Mexican Americans in Calif who are voting for Donald Trump
Sac Bee
Linda Martinez-Hanna gets called a traitor. When she walked into a room at family gatherings last year, her presence prompted relatives to say, “Alli viene la Republicana” – “There comes the Republican” – as they trickled out of the room.
See also:
Support for Trump grows slightly among Calif Latinos, new poll shows Sac Bee
Trump, stirring up more chaos in final stretch, may be exhausting the voters he needs LA Times
Asked About Court Packing, Biden Says He Will Convene Commission To Study Reforms
NPR
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says that if elected, he will convene a national commission to study the court system, his latest answer to questions about whether he would seek to add justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Affirmative action has tons of endorsements — so why is Prop. 16 trailing?
CalMatters
Endorsements from the Democratic party, high-ranking state officials, and several media outlets hasn’t translated to a commanding lead for the Yes side in the polls. How voters feel about affirmative action in a vacuum versus in practice is part of the reason why.
See also:
Affirmative action unlikely to pass CalMatters
Good policy or ballot blackmail? Union keeps taking its fights with health industry to voters
CalMatters
The practice has earned SEIU-UHW president Dave Regan a reputation as an aggressive labor leader who uses ballot initiatives to needle corporate adversaries and seek to expand union membership.
How Calif’s Prop. 21 is different from the rent control initiative two years ago
LA Times
Just two years ago, Califns resoundingly rejected a ballot initiative that would have expanded rent control in the state.
Why do we keep voting on this? Exploring Prop. 13’s ‘Tax Revolt Family Tree’
CalMatters
The tax revolt started in Calif in 1978, but it never really ended. Four decades ago mad-as-hell voters banded together to pass Proposition 13, capping property taxes, slapping a constitutional muzzle on state government and wringing local budgets like a washcloth.
See also:
Other:
Commentary: Section 230 reform: Can the FCC regulate the internet?
AEI
Last week was a bad week for Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. On Tuesday, Justice Clarence Thomas called into question whether courts have interpreted the core law governing internet companies too broadly.
Facebook Manipulated the News You See to Appease Republicans, Insiders Say
Mother Jones
We have now learned that executives were even shown a slide presentation that highlighted the impact of the second iteration on about a dozen specific publishers.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, October 25, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “The November 2020 Propositions” - Guest: Ben Christopher, CalMatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, October 25, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Election Propositions: Valley Implications” - Guests: Jessica Trounstine, UC Merced; Greg Soydemir, Stanislaus State; Lisa Bryant, Fresno State; Ivy Cargile, CSU Bakersfield; Mary Roaf, Stanislaus State; Sebastian Sclofsky, Stanislaus State. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Urban agriculture growing strong at San Jose’s Veggielution
Mercury News
Salinas Valley Assemblyman Robert Rivas visited Veggielution Community Farm in San Jose on Wednesday morning on a tour of agriculture sites throughout the state and praised the 6-acre farm in East San Jose as a “model” for others.
PPIC
In the course of the pandemic-induced economic downturn, large numbers of Calif households have not had enough to eat. Consequently, CalFresh, the state’s largest nutrition safety net program for low-income Califns, has seen a substantial rise in caseloads.
Calif’s marijuana legalization law, Prop 64, is broken and needs reform
Marijuana Business Daily
I’ve been outspoken about the need to amend Calif’s Proposition 64, which legalized recreational cannabis in the state, since it became clear that the framework had failed and our community was suffering. Here are the three ways to fix it.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Fresno homicides and shootings are growing. Here’s what law enforcement is doing about it
Fresno Bee
A rise in violent crime in Fresno was addressed by local and federal law enforcement leaders during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Calif labor traffickers dodge convictions after state crackdown, report says
Fresno Bee
More than 3,000 Calif survivors of labor trafficking sought help from a state-funded program between 2016 and 2019, according to a new report from the Little Hoover Commission.
Changes to Fresno Co's 'zero-dollar bail' policy with goal of reducing gun violence
abc30
It's now been exactly two weeks since Fresno Police launched a violence suppression operation to address a rash of gun violence in the city. Authorities said there were 10 shootings on the Monday and Tuesday before the new effort began, and one so far this week.
Replacing cash bail: Fairer justice or robopocalypse?
CalMatters
Calif is either about to right decades of inequality between rich and poor defendants by eliminating cash bail, or it’s about to turn over its justice system to robots.
Juvenile justice overhaul: How the Governor’s plan shifts care of serious offenders to counties
CalMatters
For decades, Calif teens who committed the most serious crimes – robbery, assault, murder – were sent to state juvenile prisons to serve their sentences. Now that is about to change.
Public Safety:
Court orders Calif to cut San Quentin inmates by half
Fresno Bee
A Calif appeals court has ordered state corrections officials to cut the population of one of the world's most famous prisons to less than half of its designed capacity, citing officials' “deliberate indifference” to the plight of inmates during the coronavirus pandemic.
See also:
Court orders San Quentin prison to sharply cut inmate population after COVID outbreak LA Times
San Quentin Ordered to Reduce Prison Population by Half Over Virus Fears NY Times
Far-Right Groups Cited in Domestic Terrorist Attacks
WSJ
White supremacists and other right-wing extremists accounted for two-thirds of domestic terrorist attacks and plots so far in 2020, but those by antifascist and other leftist groups are rising, according to a new report on U.S. political violence.
Fire:
Creek Fire update: Firefighters inch closer to full containment
Fresno Bee
The Creek Fire did not grow overnight, and containment remained the same from Tuesday. The Sierra National Forest’s fire incident information website listed the fire at 352,339 acres and 61% contained.
See also:
As wildfires explode in the West, Forest Service can’t afford prevention efforts
LA Times
Residents of the densely wooded hillsides near Bend, Ore., are serious about fire. They gather up fallen branches, prune trees and clear their gutters of pine needles.
How to vote when you’ve lost your home in a wildfire
CalMatters
Replacement ballots can be mailed outside of voters’ registered counties, and even out of state, as long as they are requested by October 27.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Calif theme park closures hit jobs, shops, budget
Bakersfield Califn
Calif's amusement parks have been pining to reopen for months, hoping to bring back thousands of workers sent home in March when the coronavirus pandemic forced them to close their gates.
Massage, tattoo parlors can reopen indoors as Calif relaxes some coronavirus restrictions
LA Times
Calif cleared the way for additional businesses to resume some indoor operations this week, though officials continue to urge caution and stress that patrons and proprietors alike must remain vigilant amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Stocks slip on Wall Street over coronavirus stimulus delays
LA Times
U.S. stocks capped another wobbly day of trading with modest losses Wednesday as Wall Street waited for any signs of progress as lawmakers in Washington negotiate over how to deliver more aid for the economy.
Jobs:
Big Fresno Fair lays off more than two-thirds of its full-time employees
abc30
The Big Fresno Fair has laid off 18 of its 26 full-time employees after being hit by financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those 18 employees will be out of jobs starting December 16.
Calif Employment Report for September 2020
Calif Center for Jobs & the Economy
While Calif's Blueprint For A Safer Economy takes into account health equity, economic disparity issues still exist as lower-wage workers continue to make up a high amount of unemployed workers.
Weekly jobless claims fall to 787K
The Hill
The seasonally adjusted number of Americans who filed their first claims for unemployment insurance fell to 787,000 in the week that ended on Oct. 17, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
See also:
Walters: A double whammy for jobless workers
CalMatters
The good news is that Calif’s economy seems to be inching its way out of the very severe recession triggered by business shutdowns Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Clovis schools set date to reopen campus classrooms. Here’s what parents need to know
Fresno Bee
A small number of Clovis elementary students returned to campuses Wednesday to test the experimental hybrid model that combines online and in-person learning each day.
Camp KEEP makes its virtual debut: it's not the same but educators call it the next best thing
Bakersfield Califn
One of the best parts of growing up in Kern County might be the opportunity to leave home for a week and explore the breathtaking coastal ecosystem of Camp KEEP with classmates.
Modesto City Schools board OKs waiver application for TK-6. See what’s changed
Modesto Bee
With a few revisions, the Modesto City Schools Board of Education on Monday night approved submitting an updated waiver application to reopen elementary schools for in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Walters: When will Calif schools reopen?
CalMatters
District-by-district and school-by-school, some of Calif’s 6.1 million K-12 students are re-entering classrooms that have been shuttered for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Higher Ed:
Interview: CSU System Chancellor-Select Joseph Castro and The Future Of The Education System
Capital Public Radio
The Calif State University system is the most extensive public university system in the country with 23 campuses, and on Jan. 4, 2021, the current Chancellor-Select Joseph Castro will be the first Mexican American and Calif native to lead the system.
CSUB breaks ground on Hall Family Plaza Project
Bakersfield Califn
Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday broke ground on the Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza project outside of the Icardo Center.
8 Leading Student Loan Forgiveness Proposals If Democrats Win In November
Forbes
While recent polling shows that student loan forgiveness generally enjoys widespread, bipartisan support (even a majority of Republicans support some form of student loan forgiveness), the issue remains polarizing in Congress.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
Sharks linger off Calif coast in record numbers, lab finds. ‘The question is why’
Fresno Bee
Sharks are lingering off the Calif coast in record numbers, with a university shark lab tagging three times as many as in 2019.
Trump administration pushes a rule to limit green investing
LA Times
People who choose to invest retirement money in environment-friendly funds could find themselves with fewer options if a proposed rule from the Trump administration takes effect.
Inside Gen Z's fight for climate change action
CBSNews
A generation that grew up witnessing a world with a rapidly changing climate is coming of age. Now, young climate activists are bringing a sense of urgency to mobilizing social and political movements across the nation. They say we're running out of time.
Commentary: Additional measures, enforcement needed in San Joaquin Valley plan for clean air
CalMatters
Calif’s wildfires have resulted in tragic loss of life, iconic landscapes and property, with tens of millions of people exposed to hazardous air conditions for several weeks.
Energy:
Chevron puts off frack jobs until Kern can complete blanket review
Bakersfield Califn
Chevron Corp. has opted to postpone six hydraulic fracturing jobs in the Lost Hills area rather than have state regulators perform an environmental assessment the company would prefer be done as part of a blanket review by Kern County.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
Fresno, nearby counties push past 70K COVID-19 cases. What the region’s curve looks like
Fresno Bee
A day after Fresno County accumulated its 30,000th confirmed coronavirus infection, the central San Joaquin Valley on Tuesday passed 70,000 cases since the first local instances of COVID-19 were identified in early March.
See also:
Coronavirus update: Death toll tops 1,000 in central San Joaquin Valley Fresno Bee
Coronavirus update: Stanislaus announces 394th death. Cases reach 17,403 Modesto Bee
Coronavirus hospitalizations creep higher in Fresno County. Here’s the latest case data Fresno Bee
Coronavirus updates: Calif reaches 17,000 COVID-19 deaths Sac Bee
Calif has escaped the national surge in coronavirus cases. But new dangers lie ahead LA Times
U.S. adds almost 63K COVID-19 cases, more than 1,100 deaths UPI
As Covid-19 Cases Rise Across Europe, Hospitals Are Rushing to Prepare for Winter WSJ
African American, Latinx Communities In “Survival Mode” As Pandemic Enters Seventh Month
Capital Public Radio
African Americans and Latinx people continue to bear the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, the two groups have been more likely to test positive for the virus, die from the virus, and become unemployed due to the economic shutdowns.
Stat
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday expanded how it defines a “close contact” of someone with Covid-19 as it released new evidence showing the coronavirus can be passed during relatively brief interactions.
See also:
Federal Health Authorities Update Covid-19 Close-Contact Definition WSJ
CDC expands definition of who is a ‘close contact’ of an individual with covid-19 Washington Post
Human Services:
Two-in-five Californians have doubts about safety of COVID-19 vaccine, survey says
Sacramento Bee
Even as the world anxiously awaits a vaccine to end the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of Califns remain unconvinced they would get immunized if a shot was available today, a new survey released Wednesday found.
See also:
Rural hospitals are being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients across the US
Fresno Bee
Coronavirus cases have surged across the United States in recent days, overwhelming hospitals that serve rural communities.
Blood donations urgently needed as Valley supply reaches 'extreme low'
abc30
The Central Valley's blood supply has reached an "extreme low," and officials from the Central Calif Blood Center are urging residents to donate soon.
Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force announces three free testing sites this weekend
Bakersfield Califn
The Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force has announced three new free testing sites this weekend in east Bakersfield, Arvin and Lamont. Walk-ins are welcomed, and there is no pre-registration required.
Local nonprofits receive over 100,000 masks, other PPE from Bank of America
Bakersfield Califn
Bank of America announced it has made donations of personal protective equipment to The Mission at Kern County, The Bakersfield Homeless Center, Bakersfield Senior Center and Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault.
IMMIGRATION
Parents of 545 children separated at the U.S.-Mexico border can’t be found
LA Times
Court-appointed lawyers said Tuesday that they have been unable to find parents of 545 children who were separated at the U.S. border with Mexico early in the Trump administration.
Second court blocks Trump's order to exclude undocumented immigrants from census
The Hill
A panel of three judges for the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Calif ruled that the memo was unconstitutional and violated laws governing the census.
ICE moves to quickly deport more immigrants without court hearings
CBS
The Trump administration said Wednesday it is making more undocumented immigrants eligible to be quickly deported without a court hearing, instructing federal immigration agents to oversee the nationwide expansion of a policy that had long been limited to border areas.
Google AI Tech will be used for virtual border wall, CBP contract shows
The Intercept
INVNT is working on technologies for a new “virtual” wall along the southern border that combines surveillance towers and drones, blanketing an area with sensors to detect unauthorized entry into the country.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Fresno council adds $5 million to parks budget. Here are some other late additions
Fresno Bee
The Fresno City Council added $5 million on Tuesday to the city’s parks-related budget in a round of its latest additions to the spending plan.
City Council Approves Development at Clovis and Dakota Intersection
Clovis RoundUp
The Clovis city council held their last meeting of the month on Monday, Oct. 19. One of the items discussed was the proposed rezoning of approximately 30 acres located near Clovis Avenue and Dakota Avenue.
Housing:
City Council Passes Ordinance for Regional Housing Needs
Clovis RoundUp
The ordinance aims to amend the Clovis Municipal Code to subdivide parcels for the Regional Housing Needs (RHN). In the past, the city had not met their RHN and in 2018 there was an overlay that now has to be met.
Caltrans homeless settlement money could be stretched thin by hundreds of claims
Sac Bee
A court has given attorneys two more months to keep cataloging all the items homeless people say Caltrans trashed while clearing camps in Alameda County.
How Calif’s Prop. 21 is different from the rent control initiative two years ago
LA Times
Just two years ago, Califns resoundingly rejected a ballot initiative that would have expanded rent control in the state.
Commentary: Government needs to act fast to help affordable housing
CalMatters
As if Calif did not have enough of an affordable housing crisis, the wolf has begun to howl at the door of the people who are lucky enough to live in the high-quality homes provided by the state’s nonprofit affordable housing developers and managers.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Calif tax revenue billions higher than expected, thanks in part to federal help
Sacramento Bee
From July through September, Calif collected $8.7 billion more in tax revenue than anticipated, according to the state’s Department of Finance, a bright sign amid a year of devastating economic news.
See also:
Report: State Revenue Comes in $4 billion above Projections CA Department of Finance
Why do we keep voting on this? Exploring Prop. 13’s ‘Tax Revolt Family Tree’
CalMatters
The tax revolt started in Calif in 1978, but it never really ended. Four decades ago mad-as-hell voters banded together to pass Proposition 13, capping property taxes, slapping a constitutional muzzle on state government and wringing local budgets like a washcloth.
See also:
EDITORIAL: This is the wrong time to overhaul Calif’s property tax law. Vote no on Prop. 15 Fresno Bee
Religious Calif state job applicant lost offer over ‘loyalty oath,’ lawsuit says
Modesto Bee
To keep your state job, do you owe more loyalty to your employer than your God? That’s a question Brianna Bolden-Hardge wants a federal court to decide in a lawsuit filed that claims the State Controller’s Office rescinded a job offer to her because of her religious beliefs.
Commentary: We could abolish child poverty in the U.S. with Social Security benefits for poor kids
Brookings
The COVID pandemic of 2020 has made abundantly, tragically clear how we as a nation fail to prioritize the protection of our nation’s most vulnerable children. Our neglect of these children has been on display for years, but perhaps never more glaringly so than now.
TRANSPORTATION
Do you want to improve Fresno streets and transit system? This agency wants your ideas
Fresno Bee
Tired of dangerous intersections, missing sidewalks and potholes? Want faster bus service and safer bike routes? Then share your ideas in this survey by Thursday, Oct. 22. There are also Spanish and Punjabi versions of the form.
See also:
2020 Transportation Needs Survey Fresno Council of Governments
Tesla is putting ‘self-driving’ in the hands of drivers amid criticism the tech is not ready
Washington Post
This week, a group of drivers was selected to receive a software update that downloaded automatically into their cars, enabling the vehicles to better steer and accelerate without human hands and feet.
WATER
West side dam project approved. New Diablo Grande owner plans thousands of homes
Modesto Bee
Del Puerto Water District directors approved a final environment study Wednesday on a 800-acre storage reservoir near Patterson.
“Xtra”
Watch: How do you prepare for a pandemic Halloween? Answers in Live Q&A
Fresno Bee
Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos are fast approaching, and we know there are questions about what is safe for celebrating. Are there ways to trick-or-treat safely? Is a costume mask protective against COVID? Is it OK to have a party since the virus rates are lower?
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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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