POLICY & POLITICS
Valley:
Valley Air Second Worst in Nation
arb
Annual Ozone Summary (PST).
Nunes makes campaign stop at Clovis diner Amid criticism he spends too much time in DC
Fresno Bee
Rep. Devin Nunes was welcomed by supporters during a brief visit at a diner east of Clovis on Friday morning while protestors held “Janz for Congress” signs outside the restaurant.
Nunes, the Tulare Republican who is head of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, declined to answer questions from a Bee reporter at the Red Caboose Cafe.
See also:
● Judge denies Nunes access to secret depositions on Steele dossier Fresno Bee
Ad blames Denham for Trump’s trade war. That’s a stretch
Modesto Bee
An ad by Democratic candidate Josh Harder against incumbent U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, tries to directly link him to tariff policies enacted by President Donald Trump that have harmed farmers in the district.
See also:
● Real news, fake news and news of dumb tricks on Denham’s behalf Modesto Bee
● PolitiFact California: Who’s Telling The Truth In California’s 10th Congressional District? Capital Public Radio
Price: McCarthy's future hinges on three separate campaigns, all of them his
Bakersfield Californian
Every two years, right around this time, Kevin McCarthy throws himself at the mercy of Central California voters. And every two years, unfailingly since 2002, Central California voters have overwhelmingly endorsed him.
He voted for farm worker overtime. Farm interests try to make him pay
CALmatters
Agricultural interests have poured $420,000 in recent days into a push to unseat Bakersfield Democrat Rudy Salas Jr., over his vote in 2016 for a landmark bill that grants farm workers overtime.
Races of note and voting locations in the upcoming eastern Madera County general election
Sierra Star
With election day about a week away, eastern Madera County residents can skip the lines Nov. 6 and send in their ballots early.
See also:
● Here's How To Keep Up With CapRadio's Election 2018 Coverage Capital Public Radio
Meet the candidates: Lemoore City Council District C
Hanford Sentinel
The midterm election is Nov. 6. In preparation for the election, the Sentinel asked candidates in local races to answer questions so voters can get to know them.
FPPC complaints filed in two Fresno Unified school board races
Fresno Bee
Complaints over finances and fundraising have been filed in two Fresno Unified school board races, one against Sunnyside-area Trustee Valerie Davis and another against the Fresno Teachers Association.
The KMJ Measure P Debate: Both Sides Square Off
GV Wire
No on P advocate and housing developer Darius Assemi squared off with David McDonald, former CEO of Pelco and a Measure P backer. The video above highlights key arguments on both sides of the proposed 30-year tax measure.
See Also:
● Investing in Fresno parks will help police by reducing crime The Fresno Bee
● OPINION Measure P: Here’s why you should vote for Fresno’s park tax The Fresno Bee
With Election Day near, local organizers see big potential for Latino turnout
Bakersfield Californian
Latino voter participation has historically lagged behind white votes, a trend local and national Latino leaders have worked to reverse. This year, the Latino vote could be especially vital for certain local races.
Councilman Oliver admits to 2-year-old DUI arrest
Madera Tribune
Madera City Council Member Will Oliver this week disclosed that he had been arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol in mid November of 2016.
At Modesto synagogue, a stand against hate
Modesto Bee
In the aftermath of a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 people Saturday, a vigil was held Sunday at Congregation Beth Shalom in Modesto.
See also:
● At Modesto synagogue vigil, messages of fighting evil and hate include a call to vote Modesto Bee
● Fake bullets, but real lessons from staged school-shooting training in Ceres Modesto Bee
● Prayer service held in Sacramento for Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims Sacramento Bee
● 'God, why us?': A city mourns as authorities name victims of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting Los Angeles Times
● Trump calls shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead a 'wicked act of mass murder' The Washington Post
● Synagogues Across U.S. Step Up Security in Wake of Pittsburgh Shooting The Wall Street Journal
● Trump, GOP defiant amid allegations that incendiary rhetoric contributed to climate of violence The Washington Post
● Trump’s hate and lies are inciting extremists. Just ask the analyst who warned us. The Washington Post
● OPINION: American anti-Semitism: It’s getting worse The Washington Post
EDITORIAL: He recommends yes on Prop. 6 and reelect incumbents Bigelow and McClintock
Sierra Star
As Election Day draws nearer many are being encouraged to vote early and with that in mind I am making my recommendations or endorsements earlier than usual in the hopes that I may get you to think about the candidates and propositions before casting your ballot.
State:
The California Dream Takes Center Stage In Governor’s Race
Capital Public Radio
The state’s affordability crisis prompts vows from gubernatorial candidates Gavin Newsom and John Cox to revive the California Dream.
See also:
● Newsom's California Business Holdings Could Pose Ethics Bind Capital Public Radio
● Gavin Newsom is a career public servant and multimillionaire businessman. Here's how he has made his wealth San Diego Union-Tribune
● Before he launched a bid for California governor, Republican John Cox made a fortune in real estate San Diego Union-Tribune
● California Politics Are Hella NorCal. Will Voters Shake That Up This Year? Capital Public Radio
What to watch for in the midterms: California leaders assess what’s at stake
Modesto Bee
For months, we have asked the California Influencers, a group of policy and political experts, to identify the most important item on this November’s ballot.
A few mention the campaign for governor between Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox. Others bring up the battle over Proposition 6, which would repeal a portion of the state’s gas tax, or the contest for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
See Also:
● Californians will vote on four bond measures in November to fund billions for housing, water and hospitals Los Angeles Times
● What you need to know before the midterm election Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The termed-out lawmaker whom Poythress and Caballero hope to succeed, Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres), was the only Republican who voted for the transportation tax plan.
Los Angeles Times
The adage coined by one of California’s most powerful politicians of the 1960s and ’70s, the late Jesse Unruh, still defines modern campaigns. “Money,” the colorful Democrat said, “is the mother’s milk of politics.”
See Also:
● 17-day cash deluge boosts House candidates in Democrats' final push to seize control of the House Los Angeles Times
Trumped-up coverage and lackluster state races leave Californians disengaged from state issues
CALmatters
A lot of Californians pay little attention to their state’s politics and policy debates, and making it easier to vote is unlikely to change that, say state political insiders in the latest Target Book Insider Survey.
California Agrees To Delay Enforcing Net-Neutrality Law
Capital Public Radio
California won't enforce its net-neutrality law when it takes effect in January, agreeing Friday with the Trump administration and internet companies who sued that the state law should wait for the outcome of a separate lawsuit pending in Washington.
See Also:
● California will not enforce state net neutrality law pending appeal Reuters
California judges to get $15,000 checks for raises they missed during recession
Sacramento Bee
The state of California owes about $40 million in back wages to judges after Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration lost its last appeal in a long-running lawsuit that centers on how it calculated their raises after the recession.
Is California Turning Even Bluer?
PPIC
Statewide, the Democratic Party has mostly held steady in registration while the Republican Party has lost ground.
My turn: Why California elections are fair
CALmatters
California Citizens Redistricting commissioners drew the fairest lines we could and did not take into consideration incumbency. As a result, we have several highly competitive seats. Reformers across the nation are envious of what Californians have done. We are on the right side of history in this fight. For that, Californians should feel pride.
EDITORIAL: The Fresno Bee recommends Dianne Feinstein for U.S. Senate
Fresno Bee
Now 85, she is the oldest member of the Senate. But she shows the fire to fight for her principles. As an example, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh.
See also:
● EDITORIAL: Xavier Becerra for California attorney general — alas San Diego Union-Tribune
● EDITORIAL: Prop. 7: Vote for time switch, then end daylight-saving San Diego Union-Tribune
● The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board Endorsement Guide 2018 San Diego Union-Tribune
Federal:
The Arrest of Bomber Cesar Sayoc and the False Flag Conservatives
Weekly Standard
Recently, we learned the utterly unsurprising news that the loon who’s—allegedly—been mailing crude bombs to every Democratic politician and TV talking head he could think of is—allegedly—a gentleman named Cesar Sayoc, who seems to be devoted to Donald Trump. And since then a few ordinarily chatty folks on Twitter have gone inexplicably radio silent.
See Also:
● Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and others stick with conspiracy theories after mail-bomb suspect’s arrest The Washington Post
● As Suspect Is Arrested Over Suspicious Packages, Incivility and Toxicity Reign Supreme Weekly Standard
● ‘He felt that somebody was finally talking to him’: How the package-bomb suspect found inspiration in Trump The Washington Post
● Mail bomb suspect made numerous references on Facebook to Russian associates and echoed pro-Kremlin views The Washington Post
● Trump rips top Dem donor as ‘lunatic’ days after attempted bombing TheHill
● OPINION: Defuse America’s Explosive Politics The Wall Street Journal
● EDITORIAL: After mail bomb suspect arrest, Trump should unite nation — or keep quiet San Diego Union-Tribune
● OPINION: What is happening to our country? The Washington Post
● OPINION: The Oldest Hatred The Wall Street Journal
‘I could really tone it up’: Trump shows little interest in uniting the nation during crises
The Washington Post
Ten days before the Nov. 6 elections and facing a host of controversies and crises, Trump has not merely struggled to unify the country — he has shown little interest in trying. Time and again, the former reality television impresario has sought to sow discord, betting that most Americans prefer his pugilistic, divisive style over the sanitized mold of his predecessors.
See Also:
● It’s Trump versus ‘Bay Area values’ in tight Central Valley House race San Francisco Chronicle
● Trump Rolls Out New Pledges to Boost GOP Electoral Odds The Wall Street Journal
● A witches’ brew of over-the-top Trump attacks The Washington Post
It’s almost Election Day. Our Voter Guide will get you up to speed — and save you time
The Sacramento Bee Voter Guide has you covered. You can customize it for your races, read quick summaries of the candidates and issues, and even use it to share your choices on Facebook if you’re so inclined.
2018 midterm elections: Voter suppression, fraud & more issues
McClatchy Washington Bureau
From reports of voter suppression and voter fraud to problems with ID laws and early voting, 2018 voters have to navigate a minefield of different issues, that vary widely from state to state and even county to county. Here’s just an overview of what voters are dealing with.
See Also:
● The Midterm Elections Are a Referendum on Donald Trump The New Yorker
● Pittsburgh Shooting, Pipe-Bomb Arrest Colors Campaigning for Midterm Election The Wall Street Journal
In a highly partisan era, those who dislike both sides could have the deciding votes
Los Angeles Times
In this and every election, both sides devote huge resources to getting their partisans to turn out and vote — “motivating the base,” in the jargon of politics.
See also:
● Politics & Rage -- Rage Makes You Stupid National Review
● In praise of divided government AEI
She's Powerful and Controversial. What's Next for Nancy Pelosi?
KQED News
If Republicans keep the House, it seems unlikely that Pelosi could hold onto power. If Democrats win control by a huge margin, the speakership is likely hers for the taking. But if Democrats take the house by only a small margin, it's a little stickier for Pelosi, Sandalow said.
See Also:
● Trump and Pelosi Dominate Ads Aimed at Rallying and Repelling Voters The Wall Street
● PODCAST: What Will Happen if Democrats Win Roll Call
● Fact Check: A vote for any Democrat is not a vote for socialism, open borders and tax increases PolitiFact
Brookings
In this final stretch leading up to the midterm elections you may find yourselves confused about where the two parties stand on some issues, and for good reason. Data from The Primaries Project here at Brookings indicates that there are three key issue areas—trade, immigration and foreign policy—where the views of voters making up each party’s base challenge conventional wisdom.
See also:
● OPINION: Republicans suppress votes to win because voters don't like their policies USA Today
● A vote for any Democrat is not a vote for socialism, open borders and tax increases PolitiFact
11 donors have plowed $1 billion into super PACs since they were created
The Washington Post
The donors — a bipartisan collection of hedge-fund billionaires, entrepreneurs, media magnates and a casino mogul — together contributed more than one-fifth of the $4.5 billion collected by these types of political action committees since their inception in 2010.
See also:
What the latest campaign finance filings can—and cannot—tell us about the coming election Brookings
How will the 2018 midterm elections affect the courts?
Brookings
On judicial confirmations, impeaching Brett Kavanaugh, and the possible vacancies of two octogenarian Supreme Court justices, Russell Wheeler explains how changes in both House and Senate control could affect the U.S. court system in 2018 and beyond.
See also:
OPINION: A poignant exit for one of the most powerful women in the history of U.S. government The Washington Post
Other:
Fox News and the rest of the right-wing media can’t escape responsibility The Washington Post Terrorist don’t operate in a vacuum. |
See also: ● Trump renews attacks on media as ‘the true Enemy of the People’ The Washington Post
Brookings The survey was an online U.S. national poll undertaken with 2,024 adult internet users between October 14 to 16, 2018. It was overseen by Darrell M. West, vice president of Governance Studies and director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution. See Also: ● Younger Americans are better than older Americans at telling factual news statements from opinions PEW Research Center
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My turn: What we can do to combat political violence
CALmatters
Surely, we will learn the answers soon from the experts, rather than from the rambling rants from the left and right know-nothings. But, meanwhile, shouldn’t our leaders start doing something about the tone of our discourse? And shouldn’t we as citizens, as voters, send them a message?
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
The giant of Santa Clara County
Curbed
Gilroy, a small city about 35 miles south of San Jose, is known as “the garlic capital of the world.” But for all the ways garlic is ubiquitous in Gilroy, little of the bulbous crop is actually grown here—at least not anymore.
Retaliatory tariffs could be a boon for U.S. food banks
Marketplace
About a tenth of that money, up to $1.2 billion, will go to buying crops that probably would have been sold to China. All that food, however, needs a home. Those apples, cranberries, lentils and other goods are getting redirected to food banks and other nutrition programs around the country. These are welcome, but sudden, donation
OPINION: Follow the FDA’s Self-Interest
The Wall Street Journal
Bringing a new drug to market now takes, on average, $2.6 billion and more than 10 years. Those numbers could shrink, and countless patients could benefit, if Food and Drug Administration regulators were less risk-averse. I know that from firsthand experience.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
My turn: Surprising facts of crime and death in California
CALmatters
California’s divisions along racial, generational, political and geographical lines are taking on a dramatic new face. Skyrocketing deaths, drug abuse, crime, and violence afflict older white people, particularly in areas that voted for President Donald Trump. Younger people, nonwhites, and urban dwellers show large declines. California has a new index of danger: political environment. The implications are staggering.
Public Safety:
‘Fire-floods’ are the new threat in California disasters. Where will they strike next?
Fresno Bee
California is entering what experts call the “fire-flood” era: a formidable one-two punch prompted by warmer temperatures, bigger wildland fires, and more intense winter rain dumps, even in drought years.
See also:
● City, helping residents to prepare, says it’s ready should flooding hit Sacramento Sacramento Bee
Trick or treat! You're under arrest: Should trick-or-treating be outlawed for 13-year-olds?
Bakersfield Californian
Too late. Chesapeake, population 230,000, has already done it, passing a city ordinance making it against the law for a 13-year-old to ask for and accept a bag of candy corn at the door of her neighbor's house on Halloween night.
ECONOMY / JOBS
Economy:
World's billionaires became 20% richer in 2017, report reveals
The Guardian
The world’s 2,158 billionaires grew their combined wealth by $1.4tn last year, more than the GDP of Spain or Australia, as booming stock markets helped the already very wealthy to achieve the “greatest absolute growth ever”.
VIDEO: Will the Sinking Stock Market Hurt GOP Candidates?
The Wall Street Journal
Republicans view a strong economy as part of their campaign message. But will the tumultuous stock market affect the party's chances in the midterms? The WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains.
See also:
Strong Earnings Haven’t Cured the Stock Market’s BluesThe Wall Street Journal
Walters: Labor shortage could slow California's economy
CALmatters
Robert Kleinhenz, Beacon’s director of research, says, adding that dealing with the labor shortage “will require addressing California’s high cost of housing and ensuring that the workforce can continue to gain from both domestic and international migration.”
Middle Class Is Disappearing In California As Wealth Gap Grows
The Hill
After factoring for costs of living, California is the poorest state in the union. An average of 14 percent of Americans live below the poverty line by census measures. Compare that with the 19 percent of Californians who live below the poverty line and the situation is clear.
See Also:
● California Investors Fear Return to Deficits as Governor Jerry Brown Departs Bloomberg
OPINION: 3% Growth, If We Can Keep It
The Wall Street Journal
But it’s already clear that areas of the economy sensitive to interest rates are struggling. Housing investment fell 4%, and investment in commercial buildings fell 7.9%. Car and truck sales have declined significantly from the first quarter.
See Also:
● U.S. Economy Grew at 3.5% Rate in Third Quarter The Wall Street Journal
● U.S. Economy Flashes Signs It’s Downhill From Here The Wall Street Journal
Jobs:
Millennials rush to these California cities for high pay, plentiful jobs
Fresno Bee
Turns out, of the top 50 cities in the United States, six of the best for millennials are in California, according to recent studies.
The labor market is booming, why aren’t your wages?
Brookings
Ryan Nunn and Jay Shambaugh share four plausible explanations as to why inflation-adjusted wage growth has drifted toward zero in 2018 despite rising labor force participation, falling unemployment, and Americans’ overall confidence in the U.S. economy.
Low-Tax States Almost Double The Job Growth Of High-Tax States After Trump's Tax Cut
Forbes
States with a lower tax burden, such as Arizona, Florida, Nevada and Texas, created private sector jobs at almost double the rate of their high tax peers in the first nine months of the year, according to new government data.
PAGA Cost Wal-Mart 65 Million Dollars
Fox&Hounds
After a long and drawn out battle it appears Wal-Mart will be settling on a 65 million dollar settlement over not having seats available for their cashiers. This amount is outrageous and is proof positive of how out of sorts this law is.
OPINION: Unions Get an Economics Lesson
The Wall Street Journal
The Supreme Court last summer broke a public-union monopoly, and what do you know? Unions are learning how to compete and operate like a business.
EDUCATION
K-12:
The Year of the School: A Madera Tribune editorial project
Madera Tribune
What do Madera Unified schools do right?
Delano charter school teaches healthy eating habits from the ground up
Bakersfield Californian
The re-education of Arianna Perez's father started one evening when she brought home a chicken dinner she had cooked in nutrition class at the charter school she attends in Delano.
What does a $105 million bond look like in your neck of the woods? Here's a snapshot
Visalia Times Delta
A Visalia homeowner with a $100,000 land assessment would pay a $36 tax if Measure A passes. That payment, which will continue until 2050, would likely go up as much as 2 percent annually based on the increase of assessed value, according to administrators.
Delano charter school teaches healthy eating habits from the ground up
Bakersfield Californian
That healthy approach — a natural theme for a company that makes hundreds of millions of dollars per year selling mandarins, almonds and pistachios — soon spilled over to the academy it opened in Delano in 2009.
Higher Ed:
CSUB gets estate gifts to establish three new endowments
Bakersfield Californian
Two people have donated to Cal State Bakersfield to establish three endowments that will help teaching majors, student-athletes and more.
XR Hackathon teaches CSUB students about virtual reality
Bakersfield Californian
Cal State Bakersfield students have been able to learn more about the virtual reality industry as part of the university’s first-ever XR Hackathon.
'Uncuffed' Teaches Radio Production Behind Bars
Capital Public Radio
KALW has been training incarcerated men to produce radio stories since 2013, beginning with their program “San Quentin Radio.” Now, the station is expanding its training program to California State Prison Solano.
Open Reporting: Answers on for-profit colleges are hard to get, even from the state
CALmatters
With some for-profit colleges coming under scrutiny in recent years for aggressive recruiting and financial mismanagement, we were curious: What kinds of complaints were students filing with state regulators? And how were they responding?
OPINION: Most U.S. College Students Afraid to Disagree with Professors
The Wall Street Journal
A majority—53%—also reported that they often “felt intimidated” in sharing their ideas, opinions or beliefs in class because they were different from those of the professors.
ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY
Environment:
Scientists are exploring the ocean depths off Big Sur — and you can watch live online
Sacramento Bee
A team of explorers is in the midst of a 10-day expedition into a deep-water area of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California near Davidson Seamount, and it’s being streamed online at Nautilus Live.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
California hospital infection rates vary: Merced, Fresno
Fresno Bee
Mercy Medical Center in Merced is among 16 hospitals in California to have achieved 2020 goals for reducing all types of infections, but Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno is among 12 hospitals that have been targeted for having multiple years of high central line associated bloodstream infections.
Analysis: Low number of lung cancer deaths saved California more than half a billion
CALmatters
An anti-smoking crusade dating back decades has resulted in fewer deaths, and more savings. Fresh data reveals a new cigarette tax is also reducing smoking.
When It Comes to Sleep, One Size Fits All
The Wall Street Journal
A new study of the sleep habits of more than 10,000 people around the world suggests that the amount of sleep adults need is universal. The massive survey demonstrates that adults everywhere need 7-8 hours a night—no more and no less—in order to be mentally limber.
Valley Air Second Worst in Nation
arb
Annual Ozone Summary (PST).
Human Services:
More than a thousand tour new Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley hospital
Bakersfield Californian
Eager and joyful expressions were on the faces of more than a thousand Tehachapi residents who took tours Sunday afternoon of the soon-to-open, new Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley hospital.
Need for upgrades means United Way moving to new home
Recordnet
United Way of San Joaquin is moving. The agency recently put its building at 401 E. Main St., Stockton, on the market and is relocating to an office at 777 Pershing Ave., Stockton, planning to be fully operational in its new location by Dec. 1, according to president and CEO Andy Prokop.
Here’s what happened after California got rid of personal belief exemptions for childhood vaccines
Sacramento Bee
Health authorities in California have more power to insist that a dog is vaccinated against rabies than to ensure that a child enrolled in public school is vaccinated against measles.
HHS secretary on Medicare drug pricing, gender definitions
PBS
President Trump has announced several proposed changes to how Medicare buys certain expensive prescription drugs, relying in part upon a benchmark price index of other developed countries, who negotiate lower prices. But critics wonder why the U.S. government doesn't do the negotiating itself. William Brangham speaks to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, who is overseeing the plan.
See also
OPINION: Why Are Drugs Cheaper in Europe? The Wall Street Journal
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
A separate analysis finds that 2019 premiums on the whole are staying relatively flat or dropping in many parts of the country, in large part because insurers are currently overpriced.
These Are the Economies With the Most (and Least) Efficient Health Care
Bloomberg
Want medical care without quickly draining your fortune? Try Singapore or Hong Kong as your healthy havens. The U.S. will cost you the most for treatment, both in absolute terms and relative to average incomes, while life expectancy of Americans -- about 79 years -- was exceeded by more than 25 countries and territories, according to an annual Bloomberg analysis in almost 200 economies.
The health care issues voters care about in the 2018 midterms
Brookings
From pre-existing conditions to “Medicare for All,” Matthew Fiedler discusses the state of health care policy in America, how candidates are talking about these issues on the campaign trail, and how the results of the upcoming election could affect the future of the Affordable Care Act.
See Also:
● These Republicans are misleading voters about our Obamacare fact check The Washington Post
● Pre-Existing Condition Discord Shows Health Care Still a Hot-Button Issue The Wall Street Journal
● Health-Care Politics Hounds Some GOP Candidates The Wall Street Journal
Committed to Improving Health Care Policy: Q&A with Jodi Liu
RAND
Jodi Liu most recent work examined a single-payer health care proposal in New York State; before that, she analyzed whether the health system would have the capacity to deliver a future therapy for Alzheimer's disease, if one becomes available.
Caregivers Do Double Duty to Make Ends Meet
The Wall Street Journal
Yet even with high demand and tight supply, wages remain stubbornly low. Between 2007 and 2017, inflation-adjusted median hourly wages for direct-care workers—including home-health aides, personal-care aides and nursing assistants—fell 2% to $11.83 from $12.08, according toPHI,
COMMUNITY VOICES: A rational way to avoid spiraling insurance costs
Bakersfield Californian
The conservative right needs to stop its attempts to improve health care (“Medicare-for-All,” Oct. 24; “The battle over socialism is joined,” Aug. 2).
See also:
● Shopping for Insurance? Don’t Expect Much Help Navigating Plans The New York Times
IMMIGRATION
PolitiFact Sheet: What we know about the caravan heading to the United States
PolitiFact
President Donald Trump said the United States was under assault by some Central American countries because many of their citizens were trekking north in a caravan and seeking entry into the United States.
See also:
● Trump Warns of ‘Invasion’ is Approaching U.S.-Mexico Border Roll Call
● OPINION: Trump is manufacturing a phony crisis The Washington Post
● OPINION: Trump’s manufactured menace The Washington Post
● Mostly False: Trump says illegal immigration costs $113 billion a year PolitiFact
● Joe Kennedy III: Why the Fear of Immigrants Is Un-American Time
Ronald Reagan was right on amnesty for immigrants. Here’s why.
Sacramento Bee
In 1985, President Reagan asked his domestic policy council: Should I keep pushing legislation offering amnesty to undocumented immigrants?
Jeff Sessions Didn’t Want Alternatives To Census Citizenship Question
Huffington Post
Attorney General Jeff Sessions personally ordered Department of Justice officials not to meet with the Census Bureau to discuss alternatives to adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census, a top DOJ official said in a deposition Friday.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Long-awaited pocket park opens in east Bakersfield
Bakersfield Californian
The park was developed over two years through efforts by the Children First Campaign, a nonprofit started by Gonzales, as well as a group of mothers from Williams Elementary School known as the Pan Dulce Club.
Housing:
A camp mom, a village council: Homeless community takes root at Modesto’s Beard Brook Park
Modesto Bee
Since the city of Modesto sanctioned Beard Brook Park as a campground for the homeless over a month ago, it has taken on a life of its own.
Homelessness: A growing problem
Madera Tribune
Regardless of how you voted or will vote on Proposition 10 (the “rent control” initiative), I think that we can agree that homelessness is a growing social problem locally and statewide. And one cause is the cost of housing, and hence the price of rent. But, that’s only part of the story. However, clear and decisive data on the phenomenon are as elusive as those who walk the streets, use service-station restrooms, and lack permanent shelter.
Want to know why new housing is so expensive?
Madera Tribune
City Council members and their planners should look at regulatory costs, which can add up to 35 to 40 percent of the cost of a new house.
See also:
Housing Crunch Is Discriminatory Fox&Hounds
PUBLIC FINANCES
Last Year’s Federal Tax Law Exacerbates the Racial Wealth Gap
California Budget and Policy Center
Much has been written about how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), pushed by Republican leaders in Congress and signed into law by President Trump in December 2017, mostly benefits wealthy householdswhile driving up the federal deficit by $1.9 trillion over the next 10 years. This growing deficit — already 17% higher in the federal fiscal year that ended on September 30 than in the previous year — threatens federal funding for critical investments and services that provide economic security and opportunity for low- and middle-income households.
CA gas tax hike repeal losing, rent control measure being hammered in new poll
San Francisco Chronicle
State ballot measures to repeal a gas tax increase and allow cities to expand rent control, both of which are opposed by well-funded campaigns, are trailing badly with less than two weeks to go before the Nov. 6 election, according to a new Public Policy Institute of California poll.
See also
Can a Carbon Tax Solve Climate Change? Well, No. NY Magazine
Is A Deal Possible On Split-Roll Property Tax Measure?
CALmatters
Any agreement to replace the split roll initiative would require the blessing of the Democrat-dominated Legislature and the next governor, presumably Democrat Gavin Newsom, so there’s the possibility that it could be folded into a larger tax overhaul.
EdSource
At Brown’s request, the Supreme Court has offered, though not yet set a date, to hear oral arguments before the end of the year in a lawsuit that a local firefighters union for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, filed over a change in benefits under Brown’s bailout legislation.
Ranking Property Taxes On The 2019 State Business Tax Climate Index Tax Foundation |
Today’s map shows states’ rankings on the property tax component of the 2019 State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index’s property tax component evaluates state and local taxes on real and personal property, net worth, and asset transfers. The property tax component accounts for 15.4 percent of each state’s overall Index score See Also: ● State-by-State Guide to Taxes Kiplinger |
TRANSPORTATION
Bad drivers in Fresno drivers | among the worst in nation
Fresno Bee
According to Insurance news site Quote Wizard, Fresno ranks 24th in the nation out of 75 big cities when it comes to having the worst drivers.
CALmatters
Speaking against the backdrop of a busy morning freeway, California officials this morning reaffirmed their opposition to a Trump administration proposal to roll back automobile fuel efficiency standards—noting the state had just filed 415 pages of comment strenuously objecting to the federal plan.
See Also:
● California To Trump Administration: 'Protect Clean Car Rules' Capital Public Radio
● California to Fight 'Unlawful' Trump Fuel Economy Rollback Bloomberg
● GM wants Trump administration to back national electric vehicle program Reuters
Greening the Heart of the Central Valley
Cal Streetsblog
In addition to the electric vehicles, Green Raiteros offers a dispatching service and a way to pay drivers who use their own cars for their expenses, similar to the way many volunteer organizations function.
More money approved from state tax to repair roads
Madera Tribune
The California Transportation Commission has allocated $669 million for more than 100 projects, funded by or at least partly by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Upcoming nighttime closures announced for Highway 58 and 99
Bakersfield Californian
Several road closures on Highways 58 and 99 will take place Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow crews to do paving, roadway striping and electrical work.
WATER
'No magic shortcuts' to fix California's water system, Trump memo could help GOP
Visalia Times-Delta
Water isn’t a liberal or conservative issue – it’s the issue in the Central Valley and in many parts of California.
My turn: The real story behind the Prop 3 water bond
CALmatters
No issue is more important than water. It is our state’s lifeblood. However, the Legislature has refused to place a serious water bond on the ballot for more than four years, even as the Colorado River is drying up, we are draining our underground water supplies, and most of the last 10 years have been dry. That’s why Proposition 3 is so important.
“Xtra”
Second annual Dia de los Muertos next weekend
Hanford Sentinel
“We all have skeletons and we all die,” Silvia Gonzalez Scherer said, adding “We’re all the same in that aspect, we’re all connected.”
Hanford Sentinel
Do you think you know the next Miss Kings County? Officials are looking for young women, aged 13-25 who have never been married or had children, to compete for the title of Miss Kings County and Miss Kings County’s Outstanding Teen 2019.
Opera Modesto to celebrate 35 years, honor late founder at Gallo Center gala
Modesto Bee
Opera Modesto will fly high to celebrate its 35th anniversary as a company, its new name and new general and artistic director. Anniversary Gala Concert will be held Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Gallo Center for the Arts.
Yosemite deaths highlight the danger behind those glorious Instagram posts
Los Angeles Times
The National Park Service is investigating how the pair fell. But the incident has reignited concern about the risk people take in parks such as Yosemite, where the picturesque vistas are perfect for Instagram or Facebook but can hide the dangers.