March 1, 2021

01Mar

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Stanislaus County sheriff issues plea for more COVID vaccine from the state supply

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse made a plea to the state Thursday for larger allocations of coronavirus vaccine. The county was a COVID-19 hot spot for much of the past year but has suffered from a significant inequity of vaccine distribution from the state, Dirkse wrote in a letter Thursday to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

 

How will $36M help Stanislaus County tenants, landlords struggling in pandemic?

Modesto Bee

Doyle Conway has been supplementing his and his wife’s retirement pension for years by renting out local properties. As he’s gotten older — Conway is in his 80s — he’s gradually sold off houses, and is now left with just one in Turlock.

 

Median home prices in Stanislaus increased last year. Here’s how your city stacks up

Modesto Bee

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, low inventory and high sales have caused prices to skyrocket.

 

Michael Tubbs on disinformation, racism, and news deserts

CJR

In 2017, Michael Tubbs made history as the youngest and first Black mayor of Stockton, California, home to some three hundred thousand people and considered the most diverse city in America.

 

City sales tax revenues exceed expectations

Turlock Journal

Despite an ongoing pandemic, the City of Turlock’s financial health isn’t as dire as expected with new revenue streams and federal disaster assistance bridging the gap, the Turlock City Council learned during its mid-year budget review earlier this month.

 

City Council: Grassroots fundraising, cannabis revenue could fund pool project

Turlock Journal

The Turlock City Council earlier this month agreed on a $1.8 million plan to restore the Columbia Park pool and splash pad, but the project’s exact cost and how it will be funded are still to be determined following Tuesday night’s meeting.

 

Garth Stapley: Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak must remember she’s a team member, not a monarch

Modesto Bee

Now is Amy Bublak’s time to rise and shine — or crash and burn. With two newly elected members of the Turlock City Council in her corner, Mayor Bublak finally has control of a majority vote.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Newsom make Fresno appearance with comedian George Lopez, says COVID vaccines safe

Fresno Bee

The governor said the state is partnering with 337 nonprofit organizations statewide to get word out about vaccine safety.

See also:

 

Hazard pay for grocery workers? Fresno City Councilmember unveils plan for it

Fresno Bee

Fresno City Council President Luis Chavez will propose at the next council meeting an ordinance requiring grocery stores to pay workers hazard pay for the coronavirus pandemic, a move that was met with lawsuits in other cities around the state.

 

Fresno City Councilmember says school district’s reopening plan ‘stale,’ needs revise

Fresno Bee

Fresno Unified’s plan to get its 73,000 students back into classrooms has gone “stale” and must be urgently revised to happen faster, City Councilmember Miguel Arias said during a Friday news conference.

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Backlash in Fresno as evangelical church tries to buy Tower Theatre, a bohemian landmark

Los Angeles Times

In recent weeks, the Tower Theatre’s uncertain fate has escalated tensions in Fresno, bringing to the fore divisions over religion, LGBTQ rights, arts and the pandemic in this hub of the San Joaquin Valley

 

Starting Monday, FAX bus rides in Fresno CA will be free

Fresno Bee

The Fresno City Council voted this month to forgo fees for Fresno Area Express (FAX) bus rides to ease pandemic costs for riders, most of whom don’t make much money, don’t have a car and live in central and south Fresno.

 

American Airlines to start Fresno-Chicago flights this year

Fresno Bee

American Airlines will become the second air carrier to provide nonstop passenger flights between Fresno and Chicago, launching a daily round trip starting in June.

 

Strong showing, minus raffle, at rally for Clovis City Council Member Vong Mouanoutoua

Fresno Bee

A rally to re-elect Clovis City Council Member Vong Mouanoutoua went forward Saturday with a strong showing of support from local politicians – and without a raffle as previously planned.

 

Fresno Tech Company Will Expand ‘Digital New Deal’ Job Training With New Funding

VPR

Bitwise Industries announced it will use $50 million in public and private funding to build facilities and expand job training for tech workers in the Valley.

 

Nathan Ahle to head Tulare EDC

Business Journal

The Tulare County Economic Development Corp. announced Nathan Ahle as president and CEO of the non-profit organization on this week.

 

Patterson calls on DMV to relieve backlog for trucker licenses

Business Journal

Assemblymember Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) held a press conference Friday morning at the Advanced Training Institute campus in Fresno to call on the California Department of Motor Vehicles to provide more commercial driver license tests at its locations statewide.

 

Rep. Devin Nunes attacks BART extension as 'tunnel from Silicon Valley to S.F.'

San Francisco Chronicle

In the wake of the House’s approval of the $1.9 trillion recovery bill, California Rep. Devin Nunes misleadingly characterized the BART extension in San Jose and Santa Clara, which would receive money as part of the bill, as “a tunnel from Silicon Valley to San Francisco” for “tech oligarchs...who sure as hell don’t need anyone’s money.”

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

County unveils plan to transform parks in underserved communities — but there's a hitch

Bakersfield Californian

No one knows the odds for success. No one knows whether state grants will come through, as is hoped, to cover the cost. But everyone knows the odds are long.

 

Bakersfield hotels fare better through pandemic than state, national peers

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield's largest hotel has been quite fortunate despite its awful luck during the pandemic, and the same thing could be said about the entire city's lodging industry

 

CRC lays off 50 Bakersfield engineers, scientists, support staff amid post-bankruptcy restructuring

Bakersfield Californian

Local oil producer California Resources Corp. said it is laying off 50 Bakersfield workers in positions ranging from administrative support positions to engineers, scientists and technicians.

See also:

 

Arvin, Lamont area chosen for program to improve air quality in disadvantaged communities

Bakersfield Californian

After years of grassroots efforts to improve air quality, the communities of Arvin and Lamont now stand to receive tens of millions of dollars to address air pollution in their own neighborhoods.

See also:

 

McCarthy: 'I would bet my house' GOP takes back lower chamber in 2022

The Hill

“This is the first time since 1994 that no incumbent Republican lost. We beat 15 Democrats. You know who the 15 Democrats lost to? Conservative women and conservative minorities,” McCarthy said.

See also:

 

State:

 

California’s new COVID-19 vaccine system to start Today

CalMatters

The new system, operated by Blue Shield, aims to streamline a confusing county-by-county patchwork of vaccination efforts. “Give us a chance to make this work,” Blue Shield’s CEO said.

See also:

 

As recall threat grows, California Gov. Gavin Newsom shifts his governing style, pushing reopenings

Los Angeles Times

Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom has often talked about his desire to reopen schools. It wasn’t until the final days of last year, however, that he introduced a plan to speed up a return to the classroom.

See also:

 

Who has the power to reopen California classrooms?

CalMatters

Amid a confusing tangle of power, it’s hard to figure out who’s responsible for whether California kids will get back in their classrooms. Let’s sort that out.

 

Fact check: Is the French Laundry lobbyist swaying Newsom’s stance on a proposed water plant?

Sacramento Bee

It’s true that Kinney’s firm represents Poseidon. It’s also true that Newsom is a supporter of the project. But opponents have no evidence that the two discussed the issue.

 

Myers: California's next A.G. could oppose executions

Los Angeles Times

Whoever becomes the 34th attorney general of California — with the assumption that a new top cop will be announced soon, given that Becerra has been nominated to a spot in President Biden’s cabinet — could challenge a political maxim that’s lasted for 30 years.

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California law enforcement union misreporting political spending, anti-union group alleges

Sacramento Bee

The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating allegations that a California state law enforcement union improperly funneled dues money to politics.

 

Bay Area's migration is real, but Postal Service data shows California exodus isn't

San Francisco Chronicle

Despite all the talk of people leaving the Bay Area during the pandemic, only a small fraction of residents have left the state, suggesting that reports of an exodus have been exaggerated, according to a Chronicle analysis of United States Postal Service data.

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Who killed the California dream? If you think it was liberals, think again

The Hill

California’s in tough shape. We’ve got our own dangerous virus variant, homelessness appears uncontrollable, and the governor may soon face a recall election.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

California Polling: Early Support and High Hopes for President Joe Biden

PPIC

Strong majorities of Californians approve of how President Biden is handling his job and think he will be able to work with Congress to accomplish a lot in the next year. But views are split along partisan lines.

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Analysis: Most House Republicans voted not to certify some election results. Democrats are still seething

Washington Post

The votes that followed the siege of the Capitol are a red line upon which new House Democrats are basing their decisions on which Republicans to work with.

 

House Passes $1.9 Trillion Covid-Aid Bill

Wall Street Journal

The House passed a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package, sending the legislation to the Senate as Democrats faced intraparty rifts over the future of a worker-pay increase.

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Sen. Alex Padilla introduces bill that would provide citizenship for essential workers

KGET

New California Senator Alex Padilla introduced a bill to streamline the citizenship process for millions of undocumented essential workers. The Citizenship for Essential Workers Act would provide a pathway to citizenship for more than 5 million workers.

See also:

 

Group makes attack on HR 1 over congressional salaries

Politifact

A provision in the bill would allow non-incumbent candidates for federal office to use campaign funds to pay for child care, elder care or health insurance premiums.

 

Lawmakers begin to develop legislative response to Capitol attack

Roll Call

A comprehensive response to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol could take months, if not years, to materialize after thorough investigations, but lawmakers have started offering legislative proposals that could be taken up relatively quickly

 

‘Where am I?’: Black staffers describe hurdles of working on Capitol Hill

Roll Call

Only 14 percent of high-ranking positions in House members’ offices were held by people of color in 2018, when the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies last counted chiefs of staff, legislative directors and communications directors.

 

Opinion: The Equality Act can become law — if Democrats will add religious exemptions

Washington Post

The House of Representatives has passed the Equality Act, a landmark bill that would extend federal anti-discrimination protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. You could be forgiven for yawning.

 

Former Pres Trump tells CPAC crowd 'the incredible journey' is 'far from being over'

abc30

Former President Donald Trump took the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, looking to reclaim his role as the Republican Party's kingmaker as he positions himself to play a major role in the 2022 midterm elections.

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Opinion: The Censorship Party

Wall Street Journal

On Monday Democrats Anna Eshoo and Jerry McNerney sent letters pressing 12 cable and tech CEOs to drop contracts with right-of-center media outlets including Fox News.

See also:

 

Other:

 

Concerned about phony content on the internet? Empower yourself by embracing media literacy and becoming a wise digital consumer.

Fresno State Institute for Media and Public Trust

If anyone thinks misinformation and disinformation challenges will diminish now that the divisive 2020 presidential election has been settled, they aren’t watching the next phase of information manipulation.

 

How Americans Navigated the News in 2020: A Tumultuous Year in Review

Pew Research Center

Americans are divided – that much is obvious after a contentious presidential election and transition, and in the midst of a politicized pandemic that has prompted a wide range of reactions.

 

About a quarter of Republicans, Democrats consistently turned only to news outlets whose audiences aligned with them politically in 2020

Pew Research Center

At the outset of the election year, a Pew Research Center study found Democrats and Republicans increasingly relied on two divergent media ecosystems.

 

Princeton professor predicts second Gilded Age due to heightened partisan divisions

The Hill

Matt Karp, an associate professor of history at Princeton University, said the rise of identity-based partisan politics could be leading to a second Gilded Age, a time in which society was largely defined by culture wars.

 

How to Coup-Proof America

New York Magazine

Pass these two landmark bills, even if it means the deciding votes are cast by Vice-President Kamala Harris. Don’t wait. Do it now. Let that be the response to Trump and his enablers on Capitol Hill.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, March 7, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Federal Response to Looming Crises” - Guests: Congressman David Valadao; Congressman Jim Costa. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, March 7, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Congressional Agenda for 2021” - Guests: Professor Greg Soydemir - Stanislaus State; Professor Nate Monroe - UC Merced; Professor Lisa Bryant - Fresno State. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Farm Workers Show High Interest In Vaccine, But Say They Don’t Know How To Access It

VPR
Armando Celestino walks between rows of grapevines in a Madera County vineyard. He’s handing out small zip lock bags to farm workers filled with hand sanitizer, masks and information on the COVID-19 vaccine.

See also:

 

Air Board Tells San Joaquin Valley Growers To Phase Out Burns By 2025

Capital Public Radio

California’s air quality board voted today to call for a near-complete ban of agricultural burning by 2025 in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most polluted regions in the country.

 

Valley Voices: Where did all the farmland go? Better planning is badly needed in the Valley

Fresno Bee

What happens in California agriculture affects every American. The Central Valley is the bread basket of the nation, and food security is becoming increasingly important. The world population is projected to grow to 10 billion by 2050, but we don’t know how we are going to feed that many people.

 

Sen. Cory Booker is right about legacy of USDA bias against Black farmers

Politifact

Booker’s claim is supported by findings in USDA reports, legal settlements between the department and Black farmers and expert opinion.

 

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Fraud overwhelms pandemic-related unemployment programs

Fresno Bee

With the floodgates set to open on another round of unemployment aid, states are being hammered with a new wave of fraud as they scramble to update security systems and block scammers who already have siphoned billions of dollars from pandemic-related jobless programs.

 

Mass shootings fall in California, but nation faces record high

Visalia Times-Delta

Mass shootings in California fell to 39 in 2020 from 49 the year before, while nationally mass shootings jumped nearly 50% during a pandemic with crippling unemployment, violent protests and idle youth.

 

Public Safety:

 

The Latest On COVID In Valley Prisons

VPR
Ever since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout began, every week has brought news of extremes, with success stories followed by supply problems and other hiccups in access and distribution. This week was no different, and included supply disruptions due to winter storms as well as an unexpected boost from the governor.

See also:

 

Fire:

 

Losses from Fresno County ag fire ‘going to be in the millions,’ plant manager says

Fresno Bee

A massive fire at a west Fresno County almond hull processor could cost the company millions of dollars in losses, the plant manager said Sunday.

See also:

 

Warszawski: Did an illegal pot grow spark Sierra’s Creek Fire? Residents went looking for clues

Fresno Bee

Was California’s largest single-incident wildfire caused by an illegal marijuana garden? That question has hovered over the Creek Fire since Big Creek residents were told as much by a local fire captain on the evening of Sept. 4, 2020 — hours before they were evacuated and half the town’s privately owned homes burned down.

 

Editorial: California must pass emergency wildfire prevention funding

Mercury News

Lawmakers shouldn’t wait another day to approve the emergency wildfire prevention funding. Every day that passes is another day in which the state could be working on projects to save lives, protect homes and keep our skies clear of smoke.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

California revenues soar as rich get richer during pandemic

Fresno Bee

At the end of 2020, California had lost a record 1.6 million jobs during the pandemic. Nearly a half-million people stopped even trying to look for work. Business properties saw their value plummet more than 30%.

 

Biden? Newsom? Vaccine? California consumer confidence soars

Mercury News

California consumer confidence took a stunning, record-breaking surge in February as a new president took office, the state economy further reopened and the hopes grew that the pandemic’s wallop could end soon.

 

Jobs:

 

CRC lays off 50 Bakersfield engineers, scientists, support staff amid post-bankruptcy restructuring

Bakersfield Californian

Local oil producer California Resources Corp. said it is laying off 50 Bakersfield workers in positions ranging from administrative support positions to engineers, scientists and technicians.

 

Hazard pay for grocery workers? Fresno City Councilmember unveils plan for it

Fresno Bee

Fresno City Council President Luis Chavez will propose at the next council meeting an ordinance requiring grocery stores to pay workers hazard pay for the coronavirus pandemic, a move that was met with lawsuits in other cities around the state.

 

California Lost 175,000 ‘Creative Economy’ Jobs, Study Finds

New York Times

Arts advocates and elected officials in California called on Thursday for additional government spending to avert what one organization leader called a “pending cultural depression” brought on by the pandemic.

 

Female McDonald's employees accuse fast-food chain of abuse, harassment in workplace

CBS News

Young women from across the country with remarkably similar accounts of workplace abuse and harassment at one of America's largest, most iconic fast-food restaurant chains: McDonald's.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Gavin Newsom reaches school reopening deal aiming to bring kids to class by April 1

Fresno Bee

The deal will dole out $2 billion in grant funding to schools that have reopened by the end of March for kindergarten through second grades and high needs students of all ages, regardless of the level of coronavirus transmission in their county...

See also:

 

Merced County teachers, childcare workers added to eligibility list for COVID vaccine

Merced Sun-Star

The Merced County Department of Health announced on Friday that educators and childcare workers have been added to the list of essential workers now eligible to receive the COVID vaccine locally.

 

Higher Ed:

 

California colleges slowly begin vaccinating faculty, students — but likely won’t require immunization

CalMatters

In mid-January, science education professor Al Schademan received one of around 2,000 emails sent to faculty, student employees and essential staff at California State University, Chico. The email contained a surprise for Schademan: He would be among the first higher education employees in California to gain coveted access to the coronavirus vaccine.

 

Video: A Conversation with University of California President Michael V. Drake

PPIC

Dr. Michael V. Drake talks with PPIC’s Mark Baldassare about how UC has responded to COVID-19 and discusses the system’s ongoing efforts to increase equity and diversity.

 

Student debt cancellation should consider wealth, not income

Brookings

If wages and wealth were growing at similar rates, this rise in the cost of education might not be a problem. But the rise in the cost of tuition has outpaced the rise in wages and overall inflation.

 

Opinion: Academic Freedom Is Withering

Wall Street Journal

Academic freedom is in crisis on American campuses. Last year, the National Association of Scholars recorded 65 instances of professors being disciplined or fired for protected speech, a fivefold increase from the year before.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Arvin, Lamont area chosen for program to improve air quality in disadvantaged communities

Bakersfield Californian

After years of grassroots efforts to improve air quality, the communities of Arvin and Lamont now stand to receive tens of millions of dollars to address air pollution in their own neighborhoods.

See also:

 

Audit Slams State Air Board For ‘Overstating’ Greenhouse Gas Cuts

Capital Public Radio

An audit of California’s climate change program released today criticizes state officials for overestimating the benefits of its efforts to encourage Californians to drive cleaner vehicles. 

 

Air board tells San Joaquin Valley growers to phase out burns by 2025

CalMatters

Valley residents have waited more than a decade for the end of burns at vineyards and groves that spew smoke. Several board members pushed for quicker action, but the board voted to grant four more years.

 

Opinion: California’s Climate Contradictions

Wall Street Journal

The contradictions of green energy policies are becoming more obvious in the real world, and now comes more evidence in a new study of California’s electricity rates. The policies even contradict green climate goals.

 

Editorial: To save the planet from climate change, gas guzzlers have to die

Los Angeles Times

Climate scientists tell us that we have less than a decade to make meaningful reductions in carbon emissions — including those from internal combustion engines — if we have any hope of staving off the worst effects of global warming.

 

Biden Administration promises focus on environmental justice

Fresno Bee

When President Joe Biden made environmental protection a key element of his campaign, he promised to overhaul the federal office that investigates complaints from people in minority communities who believe they have been unfairly harmed by industrial pollution or waste disposal.

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Energy:

 

Activists see remediation work as key to 'just transition' away from local oil production

Bakersfield Californian

Groups pushing to phase out in-state oil production are increasingly promoting oilfield remediation and well-plugging work they contend, despite industry skepticism, can create jobs that will be part of a "just transition" toward a carbon-neutral California economy by 2045.

 

Lawsuit Reveals New Allegations Against PG&E Contractor Accused of Fraud

ProPublica

Former PG&E employees are accused of taking bribes to funnel business to a waste-hauling company.

 

New Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has advice for Texas — and for the oil industry

Washington Post

In an interview with The Washington Post, the new secretary of energy invites Texas to join the national grid. But her main focus is on the big national energy transition that the Biden administration hopes to promote.

See also:

 

Opinion: How renewable energy jobs can uplift fossil fuel communities and remake climate politics

Brookings

The future of the American economy and our collective well-being require a comprehensive response to the climate crisis, including a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

FDA issues Emergency Use Authorization for Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

abc30

The U.S. is getting a third vaccine to prevent COVID-19, as the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday cleared a Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose instead of two.

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Unpacking The Reasons For Medical Mistrust Among People Of Color

VPR
A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that among Black Americans, only 42% intend to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Many have suggested that the reluctance to get vaccinated among Black Americans and other communities of color is a function of the mistrust that some in those populations have in the health care system.

 

A new class of Covid-19 vaccines using gene-based technology could yield breakthroughs in vaccines against other infectious diseases

Wall Street Journal

Researchers in gene-based technology produced a class of vaccines they believe can protect against all manner of outbreaks in the years to come

 

California health care workers confronting mental health crisis

CBS News

California leads the nation in COVID deaths, now nearing 52,000. And while hospitalizations and infections are down, some health workers on the frontlines of the COVID crisis are now confronting a mental health crisis.

 

Human Services:

 

COVID-19 vaccine appointments in Kern open at MyTurn

Bakersfield Californian

COVID-19 vaccine appointments have opened for the week on My Turn for the Kern County Fairgrounds' Mass Vaccination Clinic and the state’s sites in Arvin, Rosamond and Wasco, the county announced Saturday.

 

Vaccine rollout for farmworkers is fraught with confusion and bad timing

Los Angeles Times

The collision of harvest season with the Blue Shield takeover has left many community organizers and health officials worried that existing plans, though criticized for being inadequate and uneven, will be abandoned for a different set of uncertainties.

See also:

 

New California Law Makes It Easier to Get Care for Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Capital Public Radio

“At a certain point, they would send us a form letter saying: We have determined that she is all better, it’s no longer necessary, so we are not covering it anymore,” says Bailey, 59, who lives in Los Angeles. “And believe me, she was not all better. In one case, she was worse.”

 

California’s new COVID-19 vaccine system to start Monday

CalMatters

The new system, operated by Blue Shield, aims to streamline a confusing county-by-county patchwork of vaccination efforts. “Give us a chance to make this work,” Blue Shield’s CEO said.

See also:

 

CDC recommends Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, enabling inoculations to start this week

Washington Post

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending the nation’s third coronavirus vaccine for people 18 and older, paving the way for the easier-to-use, one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be administered starting this week.

See also:

 

Podcast: Inside The 'Ten Year War' Over Obamacare

Fresh Air

In his new book, 'The Ten Year War,' Jonathan Cohn looks at the intense debate surrounding the Affordable Care Act, the compromises of the law itself, and how it has been functioning during the pandemic.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Valley farm owner supports bill that offers citizenship to essential workers

abc30

Del Bosque Farms covers more than 300 acres of land producing organic melons for people across the U.S. and even Canada. Owner Joe Del Bosque says his employees are all essential and have continued to work throughout the pandemic.

See also:

 

California Forum: President Biden prioritizes immigration reform. Here’s why that’s great for California

Sacramento Bee

After four years of the Trump administration’s hyper-aggressive immigration measures, Joe Biden ran for president promising dramatic change to U.S. immigration law and enforcement. He has quickly moved to change the direction of the nation’s immigration policies. Whether Biden ultimately succeeds will have a big impact on California, which has the largest population of immigrants of any state.

 

‘More people are going to die’: Immigrant detainees wonder when they’ll get vaccinated

Los Angeles Times

Advocates for immigrants say state and federal officials have waffled over who is responsible for vaccinating the roughly 1,500 detainees in the care of ICE.

 

Biden: Undocumented immigrants should get vaccine without ICE targeting them

The Hill

President Biden said Friday that undocumented immigrants should be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine without fear of being targeted by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

 

Biden Pledges That Border Shelter For Teens 'Won't Stay Open Very Long'

NPR

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier that the administration needed additional space because of the social distance requirements of the coronavirus. She said housing them in the Texas facility was the safest option available.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

County unveils plan to transform parks in underserved communities — but there's a hitch

Bakersfield Californian

No one knows the odds for success. No one knows whether state grants will come through, as is hoped, to cover the cost. But everyone knows the odds are long.

 

City Council: Grassroots fundraising, cannabis revenue could fund pool project

Turlock Journal

The Turlock City Council earlier this month agreed on a $1.8 million plan to restore the Columbia Park pool and splash pad, but the project’s exact cost and how it will be funded are still to be determined following Tuesday night’s meeting.

 

Housing:

 

Building on Heritage: Sale of facility could be used to fund youth, homeless programs

Porterville Recorder

On Thursday evening, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Advisory and Housing Committee met over Zoom in order to provide recommendations to the City Council on how the city should use CDBG funds during the next Fiscal Year (FY).

 

How will $36M help Stanislaus County tenants, landlords struggling in pandemic?

Modesto Bee

Doyle Conway has been supplementing his and his wife’s retirement pension for years by renting out local properties. As he’s gotten older — Conway is in his 80s — he’s gradually sold off houses, and is now left with just one in Turlock.

 

Median home prices in Stanislaus increased last year. Here’s how your city stacks up

Modesto Bee

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, low inventory and high sales have caused prices to skyrocket.

 

Pandemic’s homebuying frenzy ignores California’s risky real estate past

Orange County Register

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with California Association of Realtors stats on single-family house pricing dating to 1990, tells us that despite the extended upswing in values over three decades, there are more years of decline than you might imagine.

 

Millions of tenants behind on rent wait for federal assistance to be distributed by states
Wall Street Journal

Many states are still determining how to distribute $25 billion in federal aid that Congress appropriated in December, reflecting the complexities of starting a new system from scratch and getting the money out quickly while also preventing fraud.

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

California is offering stimulus checks to undocumented households. Here’s how to qualify

Sacramento Bee

In order to provide relief to immigrant communities financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic, California is making available stimulus checks to those who file taxes with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, also known as ITINs.

 

City sales tax revenues exceed expectations

Turlock Journal

Despite an ongoing pandemic, the City of Turlock’s financial health isn’t as dire as expected with new revenue streams and federal disaster assistance bridging the gap, the Turlock City Council learned during its mid-year budget review earlier this month.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Another long-distance airline route is coming to Fresno. See who’s flying, and where to

Fresno Bee

American Airlines will become the second air carrier to provide nonstop passenger flights between Fresno and Chicago, launching a daily round trip starting in June. Gianna Urgo, a spokesperson for the airline, confirmed to The Bee on Friday that American’s flights will commence June 3 and operate on a seasonal basis through Sept. 7.

 

Authority Meets Federal Funding Deadline Well Ahead of Schedule

High Speed Rail Authority

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today submitted the final state match to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding grant.

See also:

 

WATER

 

Fact check: Is the French Laundry lobbyist swaying Newsom’s stance on a proposed water plant?

Sacramento Bee

It’s true that Kinney’s firm represents Poseidon. It’s also true that Newsom is a supporter of the project. But opponents have no evidence that the two discussed the issue.

 

'It's a toxic blend': where the kids are warned not to swallow the bath water

The Guardian

An invisible line splits the rural road of Avenue 416 in California’s Tulare county, at the point where the nut trees stretch east toward the towering Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.

 

“Xtra”

 

Shopping: Winners of Fresno Bee’s People’s Choice Awards 2021

Fresno Bee

The voting results are in for The Fresno Bee’s 2021 People’s Choice Awards — and the best of the best are claiming ultimate bragging rights in the Central San Joaquin Valley competition. Below are the winners and finalists as voted on by our readers in the Shopping category.

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Miss live music? Rapper Fashawn, food trucks help launch monthly downtown Fresno gig

Fresno Bee

Barbhop kicks off Thursday, the one-year anniversary of the last ArtHop. The event is free. Masks are required.

 

Bethany Clough: An ale trail for Clovis? A new brewery opens, plus other craft beer spots you can walk to

Fresno Bee

The trails in Clovis are used for a lot of things, like walking, biking – and drinking craft beer? Yes.

 

Yosemite National Park announces end to online reservations needed to enter the park

Fresno Bee

Yosemite National Park will not require day-use reservations to enter the popular park in March. “Starting March 1, reservations will not be required to enter Yosemite,” park officials recently announced.

 

Test yourself with our new free game: PolitiTruth

Think you can tell the difference between True and False?

Do you really know what is fake news?

 

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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 California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.

                                                     

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

 

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