May 10, 2021

10May

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Mayor makes plans to fix roads, increase public safety through lighting and cameras

Turlock Journal

In her second State of the City address, Mayor Amy Bublak highlighted Turlock’s accomplishments over the past year, recognized the challenges the City faced during the pandemic and outlined plans she has in the coming months.

 

HEAP funds could be re-distributed to fund Turlock's homeless day center remodel

Turlock Journal

The Turlock City Council will consider a motion on Tuesday to divert $92,000 originally allocated to a remodeling project on the dining room at We Care and transfer it to Turlock Gospel Mission's rehabilitation project of the day center.

See also:

 

Drought update: Stanislaus County reaches driest level since 2017

Turlock Journal

Drought statistics updated this week show that dry conditions continue to worsen throughout California, with the percentage of the state experiencing the second-highest level of drought up 20% from last week.

 

Stanislaus County’s population grew in 2020 as California’s declined. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

Stanislaus County’s population increased marginally last year, in contrast with the state’s first-ever year-over-year decline in population.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Big win for those who want low-income housing in Clovis after judge rules city in violation

Fresno Bee

The City of Clovis has been violating California state housing laws and will be required to zone and plan for more than 4,000 low-income homes, according to a Fresno County Superior Court ruling.

 

As debate over police in Fresno schools nears critical vote, critics slam FUSD surveys

Fresno Bee

Most Fresno Unified parents and staff want police officers on campuses and say they have had positive experiences with armed officers, according to the results of a recent survey on campus policing in the city’s public schools.

 

Editorial: Who should be chosen for the name of Fresno Unified’s newest school? The choice is clear

Fresno Bee

The Fresno Unified School District is planning to build a new campus to house its three alternative education schools and various district departments. But who to name the campus after? That question was put to the community, which had until Friday to submit ideas.

 

Fresno police need more money for staffing, union writes. City budget lobbying begins

Fresno Bee

The president of the Fresno Police Officers Association on Friday sent a letter to the Fresno City Council seeking additional funding for a severely understaffed department to combat the city’s soaring number of shootings and homicides.

 

While California’s population dropped, more people came to Fresno. Here’s the data

Fresno Bee

Fresno stood alone among the five largest cities in California last year as the only one to see its population grow from 2020 to 2021. The California Department of Finance estimated the number of people living in Fresno increased from 543,769 to 546,770 as of Jan. 1, 2021.

 

Warszawski: River? What river? Fresno’s long-stalled San Joaquin parkway finally getting in gear

Fresno Bee

At a press conference overlooking the San Joaquin River at Spano Park near Palm and Nees avenues, Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi admitted he grew up two miles away without knowing California’s second-longest waterway was so nearby.

 

Crews stretched thin as Fresno off to a record-breaking year for fires

abc30

Calls aren't slowing down for the Fresno Fire Department. While the number of calls is increasing, their staffing and resources aren't, making it a challenge to respond quickly to calls.

 

Fresno EOC Seeks Board of Commissioner Nominations

Fresno EOC

Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC) is currently accepting nominations for select seats on the Board of Commissioners.Fresno EOC is governed by a twenty-four-member Board of Commissioners.

 

Frontline, farm-state Democrats push back against Biden tax plan (Cong Costa mentioned)

Roll Call

A group of 13 House Democrats, led by Iowa’s Cindy Axne and California’s Jim Costa, is pressing party leaders to exempt family farms from a tax increase President Joe Biden has proposed on inherited assets to help pay for new child care, education and other spending.

 

Devin Nunes’s Attorney Sanctioned, Ordered to Pay CNN $21,000 For Filing ‘Frivolous’ Defamation Lawsuit

Law & Crime

A federal judge this week followed through on a previous warning to sanction a lawyer best known for representing Rep. Devin Nunes in a series of failed defamation lawsuits against media companies, saying the lawyer’s latest case against CNN was “frivolous” in nature.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Chamber poll: Homelessness, public safety at top of mind for local voters

Bakersfield Californian

A recent poll of 300 registered voters in Kern County shows clear support for increased efforts to address homelessness and public safety.

 

Sheriff's Office Community Advisory Council urges public to participate in upcoming meetings

Bakersfield Californian

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Community-wide Advisory Council is urging the public to share their thoughts about the law enforcement agency in a series of upcoming meetings scheduled to take place throughout the remainder of the year.

 

Downtown lofts project succumbs to inactivity

Bakersfield Californian

Time has run out again for a four-story, 28-unit apartment project on 18th Street that five years ago divided neighbors and the City Council then failed to get off the ground even as similar efforts progressed nearby.

 

Kern farmers make do under drought conditions

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County ag producers are making changes big and small — from redeveloping entire orchards to fine-tuning their irrigation systems — as they try to adjust to worsening drought conditions across the Central Valley.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

 

More Californians would get new $600 stimulus checks from the state under Newsom plan

Fresno Bee

Two-thirds of Californians would get an extra $600 from the state under a new plan unveiled Monday morning by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Families with children would also get additional $500 checks as part of the plan, according to Newsom’s office.

See also:

 

What's Next In The Effort To Recall Gov. Gavin Newsom?

VPR
It is increasingly likely that Gov. Gavin Newsom will face a recall election later this year. What is less clear is when it will happen, how much it will cost, and what it will mean for the political future of the governor and those running to replace him.

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Skelton: Column: California is rolling in surplus cash. But legislators want to raise taxes anyway

Los Angeles Times

It’s income tax time across America, but in the California Legislature it is always tax time. Some Democrats never stop trying to raise taxes. It seems addictive. Never mind that Californians already pay the highest state taxes in the nation.

 

California Lost Population For First Time In History In 2020

Capital Public Radio

California lost population for the first time in its history in 2020, according to figures released by the state Friday.  California's population now stands at 39,466,855, according to the state Department of Finance, a drop of 182,083 from last year.

See also:

 

‘I feel freer.’ How California program helps seniors ‘age at home’ during pandemic

Fresno Bee

The coronavirus pandemic and an infusion of new federal money could accelerate California’s expansion of programs that help people age at home.

 

Cruz Reynoso, first Latino justice on California Supreme Court, dies at 90

Fresno Bee

Cruz Reynoso, the son of migrant farmworkers who became a giant of civil rights law and was the first Latino justice of the California Supreme Court, died on Friday with his members of his large family at his side.

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Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

Cheney or Stefanik? Tradition or Trump? 2 congresswomen personify Republicans’ choice

Los Angeles Times

Liz Cheney and Elise Stefanik, as ambitious young Republicans, both built their careers in the warm embrace of the GOP old guard, advising establishment icons like President George W. Bush, Mitt Romney and Paul D. Ryan.

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Infrastructure Talks Could Set Course of Biden Spending Plans

Wall Street Journal

President Biden faces a crucial test this week of whether he can find any common ground with Republicans as he pushes trillions in spending on infrastructure, child care and education.

See also:

 

Frontline, farm-state Democrats push back against Biden tax plan (Cong Costa mentioned)

Roll Call

A group of 13 House Democrats, led by Iowa’s Cindy Axne and California’s Jim Costa, is pressing party leaders to exempt family farms from a tax increase President Joe Biden has proposed on inherited assets to help pay for new child care, education and other spending.

 

Biden administration looks to triple amount of protected land in the U.S.

Los Angeles Times

Faced with the possible extinction of tens of thousands of species and the growing threat of climate change, the Biden administration on Thursday announced plans to protect 30% of the nation’s land and ocean territory by the end of the decade.

 

Massive turnout, voters of color — new data fill in the details on Biden’s election win

Los Angeles Times

The most striking feature of the election remains the outsize turnout — the largest as a share of the eligible population since the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920 roughly doubled the size of the potential electorate by giving voting rights to women.

See also:

 

The making of a myth

Washington Post

Russell J. Ramsland Jr. sold everything from Tex-Mex food to light-therapy technology. Then he sold the story that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.

 

Massive voting and ethics bill faces first test in divided Senate

Roll Call

As Democrats fume over Republican-crafted state laws putting new limits on voting, a Senate panel will take up a sweeping bill Tuesday that would try to use the federal government’s power to make voting easier nationwide. 

 

Prospects dim for passage of LGBTQ rights bill in Senate

Los Angeles Times

Controlling Congress and the White House for the first time in a decade, Democrats were hopeful that this would be the year they finally secured civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans.

 

Most of Pentagon billions moved to border wall not recoverable

Roll Call

Of the $14 billion Trump diverted to border wall construction, $9.9 billion was from the military. Very little of that will return to Pentagon coffers.

 

Republicans cry big tech bias – on the very platforms they have dominated

The Guardian

When Donald Trump’s ban from Facebook was upheld this week, the howls of bias could be heard from Republicans far and wide. Those shrieks, ironically, came mostly on social media.

 

Mitt Romney: Family Policy Shouldn’t Penalize Married and Stay-at-Home Parents

Wall Street Journal

U.S. birthrate reached its lowest level ever, according to data released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Young people are marrying less and having fewer kids in part because they don’t feel confident about their job prospects and financial security.

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Other:

 

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile Challenge Rule Targeting Robocalls

Wall Street Journal

The nation’s largest wireless carriers are lobbying to delay a new regulation on robocalls aimed at overseas scammers who make them, citing concerns that the rule could end up blocking legitimate calls.

 

New report sheds additional light on US vs. EU broadband policy

AEI

Telecommunications policy has long been influenced by a debate between proponents of the American and European regulatory approaches.

 

Opinion: Can victory over the pandemic bridge the trust gap?

Roll Call

Yes, it is uplifting that almost half of American adults have received at least one injection and roughly one-third are fully vaccinated. But it is also chilling that 26 percent of Americans, according to a recent CNN poll, say they have no intention of ever getting the vaccine.

 

George Will: What my 80 years have taught me

Washington Post

Among the abundant pleasures of turning 80, in addition to being well beyond the danger of dying young, is this: Having become skillful at ignoring the merely recurring things, you have more brain cells to devote to other things worth noticing and trying.

 

Lawrence Krauss: The New Scientific Method: Identity Politics

Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration is considering a laudable major expansion in funding for scientific agencies to shore up America’s research base. The money will help, but it doesn’t obviate the need to scrutinize who will be leading the government’s scientific efforts.

 

Opinion: The Decline of American Manners

National Review

Would I be wrong to say there is incivility in American life? It’s not so much — not in my experience — a lack of cordiality in one’s own neighborhood. There are liberal Democrats in houses on either side of ours, but we get along famously.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, May 16, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "Eliminating Fraud, Waste & Abuse: Who You Gonna Call?" - Guests: Gabriel Petek - CA Legislative Analyst; CA State Auditor Elaine Howle; Pedro Nava, Chairman - Little Hoover Commission; John Myers - LA Times; Dan Walters - CalMatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, May 16, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "Keeping them Honest: The Role of State and Local Watchdogs" - Guests: Jim Boren, Executive Director - Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State; Dympna Ugwu-Oju, Co-Editor - Fresno Bee's Fresnoland. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Kern farmers make do under drought conditions

Bakersfield Californian

Kern County ag producers are making changes big and small — from redeveloping entire orchards to fine-tuning their irrigation systems — as they try to adjust to worsening drought conditions across the Central Valley.

 

How growers had to sidestep county and state programs to vaccinate farmworkers

CalMatters

As harvest season approached, growers begged county officials to vaccinate their workers. But the state and counties didn’t prioritize vaccine doses for farmworkers in February. So the growers and doctors stepped in and set up their own clinics.

See also:

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Fresno police need more money for staffing, union writes. City budget lobbying begins

Fresno Bee

The president of the Fresno Police Officers Association on Friday sent a letter to the Fresno City Council seeking additional funding for a severely understaffed department to combat the city’s soaring number of shootings and homicides.

 

Fresno Police Department releases crime stats, details on internal affairs investigations

abc30

The Fresno Police Department is giving a detailed look at its internal affairs investigations and crime statistics. The department posted a link to its 2020 annual report on Facebook on Saturday.

 

California sees record number of guns confiscated under ‘red flag’ law

Los Angeles Times

Five years ago, California became one of the first states in the nation to enact a so-called red flag gun law, allowing family members and police officers to ask a court to block those believed to be a risk to themselves or others from having firearms.

 

Public Safety:

 

As States Push for Police Accountability, Advocates Focus on Black Trauma

PEW
When a jury convicted former officer Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd, a Black man, by pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds, the Rev. Earle Fisher was unsure how to process the news—an uneasiness felt by many Black Americans.

 

Failure to communicate: The Capitol Police leadership gap on Jan. 6

Roll Call

On the morning of Jan. 6, as a group of Capitol Police officers was being briefed on what to expect before a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, a captain told them to be on the lookout for a handful of people wanted for crimes from previous MAGA protests.

 

Fire:

 

Crews stretched thin as Fresno off to a record-breaking year for fires

abc30

Calls aren't slowing down for the Fresno Fire Department. While the number of calls is increasing, their staffing and resources aren't, making it a challenge to respond quickly to calls.

 

Paradise’s population surges, fueled by new housing construction in wake of Camp Fire

Fresno Bee

California’s latest population estimates show that Paradise — the Northern California town ravaged by the Camp Fire in 2018 — has seen the fastest population growth in the state in the last year.

 

California fire victims see little payout from settlement

Business Journal

A trust approved by a federal judge to help compensate victims of deadly California wildfires sparked by Pacific Gas & Electric equipment paid survivors just $7 million while racking up $51 million in overhead in its first year of operation, KQED News reported.

 

Cal Fire suspends burning below 2,000 feet elevation, reminds about defensible space

Sierra Star

Cal Fire has suspended all burning below the 2,000-foot elevation in Madera and Mariposa counties effective May 1.

 

Cal Fire Urges Homeowners To Prepare For Wildfires

Capital Public Radio

Wildfires burned more than 4 million acres in California last year, setting a new modern record, costing the state more than $12 billion, destroying over 10,00 buildings and claiming 33 lives.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Mothers are being left behind in the economic recovery from COVID-19

Brookings

In the paper “Ten economic facts about how mothers spend their time,” my colleagues and I document some of the ways in which the labor market trajectory of mothers prior to the pandemic has not only been disrupted, but meaningfully turned back.

See also:

 

Pandemic Leaves Hospitals on Shaky Financial Footing

VPR
For many of us, hospitals are pillars of communities, representing safety nets that we hope will always be there. A new report estimates that California’s hospitals have suffered billions of dollars in losses in the last year, and that they could lose billions more before 2021 is through.

 

State Action to Revitalize Regional Economies Inclusively

EdNote

As state leaders take action to help their communities recover from pandemic-induced economic devastation, they can look for new ways to create jobs and spur growth.

 

The Breakout Cities on the Forefront of America’s Economic Recovery

Wall Street Journal

The pandemic is accelerating growth in midsize cities, positioning them to lead the charge in the nation’s economic rebound. Even before Covid-19, these rising stars had been quietly building out vibrant economies in the shadow of bigger metropolises.

 

Higher Prices Leave Consumers Feeling the Pinch

Wall Street Journal

Americans accustomed to years of low inflation are beginning to pay sharply higher prices for goods and services as the economy strains to rev back up and the pandemic wanes.

 

Jobs:

 

Spring Letdown: Hiring Slows In April, Raising New Challenges For Economy

VPR
Hiring unexpectedly slowed last month as businesses struggled to keep pace with booming demand from newly vaccinated customers. U.S. employers added just 266,000 jobs in April, according to a monthly snapshot from the Labor Department.

See also:

 

Job market for new grads: Much hiring but much competition

Fresno Bee

After a painful year of joblessness, the future has finally brightened for Alycia St. Germain, a 22-year-old college senior at the University of Minnesota.

 

Millions Are Unemployed. Why Can’t Companies Find Workers?

Wall Street Journal

In a red-hot economy coming out of a pandemic and lockdowns, with unemployment still far higher than it was pre-Covid, the country is in a striking predicament. Businesses can’t find enough people to hire.

See also:

 

California bullet train isn’t the jobs creator some claim

Los Angeles Times

Atop massive viaducts and bridges under construction for the bullet train in the San Joaquin Valley, the state has hung banners proudly proclaiming “5,000 workers and counting.”

 

Opinion: Why successful Asian Americans are penalized at the workplace

Sacramento Bee

The pandemic has forced people to confront less violent forms of discrimination, such as implicit bias and stereotypes that have long been used to hold Asian Americans back in the workplace.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

As debate over police in Fresno schools nears critical vote, critics slam FUSD surveys

Fresno Bee

Most Fresno Unified parents and staff want police officers on campuses and say they have had positive experiences with armed officers, according to the results of a recent survey on campus policing in the city’s public schools.

 

CUSD Continues to Move Forward with 2021-22 School Year Plans

Clovis Roundup

Preparation for the 2021-22 Clovis Unified School District school year continues as the 2020-21 school year dwindles to its last few weeks. The CUSD governing board discussed commitment forms, masking mandates and vaccinations for the upcoming school year.

 

Three Fairfax School Board members, including board president, served recall notices

Bakersfield Californian

Three Fairfax School District board members, including board president Palmer Moland, were served recall notices during Tuesday night's board meeting. Fellow trustees Alma Rios and Jose Luis Tapic were also served recall notices.

 

Data: Who is returning to high school campuses?

Bakersfield Californian

After a long year in distance learning, the Kern High School District has a new message for its families: Come back to the classroom. "Please send your kids; we're ready for them," said trustee Bryan Batey. "Welcome back," added board president Jeff Flores.

 

South High School chooses new mascot: Spartans it is

Bakersfield Californian

At a news conference held at the school pavilion, South High administrators said the options were boiled down to the Spartans and the Storm, before Spartans was ultimately chosen.

 

Editorial: Who should be chosen for the name of Fresno Unified’s newest school? The choice is clear

Fresno Bee

The Fresno Unified School District is planning to build a new campus to house its three alternative education schools and various district departments. But who to name the campus after? That question was put to the community, which had until Friday to submit ideas.

 

Turlock High School shows off new, $20.8M science building. What’s inside?

Modesto Bee

After a school year mostly spent studying remotely on their learning-device screens, they began learning in person in a new, two-story, six-classroom, $20.8 million science building.

 

California high schoolers are saying no thanks to reopened campuses and are staying home

Los Angeles Times

During the first week of in-person learning at Panorama High School, drama teacher Patricia Francisco stood in the mini-theater talking on Zoom to her acting class. Two stage lights brightened her face as she spoke to her camera.

 

Video: Californians and Education

Public Policy Institute of California

PPIC’s Rachel Lawler and Mark Baldassare discuss new survey findings about Californians’ views on student learning during the pandemic, Governor Newsom’s handling of K–12 education, and other topics.

 

Remote Kindergarten During Covid-19 ‘Could Impact This Generation of Kids for Their Lifetime’

Wall Street Journal

Of all the students who suffered learning loss during the Covid-19 pandemic and remote schooling, one grade level has educators very concerned: the kindergartners.

 

Podcast: Racial achievement gaps and Covid

AEI

Why have fewer Black and Hispanic students returned to their classrooms for full-time in-person learning relative to white students? And what effect will this have on the nation’s stubborn racial achievement gaps?

 

Higher Ed:

 

Editorial: Please pull up a chair and stay awhile, next Modesto Junior College president

Modesto Bee

No other community college among the 115 in California has suffered greater CEO turnover than our beloved MJC, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Since 2000, MJC has had 14 presidents or interim presidents. The statewide average is four.

 

California Bar Exam results using lowered score requirement show improved pass rate

Sacramento Bee

California’s second batch of bar exam results using a lowered passing score standard showed an increased number of passing applicants.

 

As US reopens, campuses tighten restrictions for virus

Fresno Bee

About a year into mask mandates, nasal swabs and remote classes, the atmosphere turned tense at the University of Vermont as the school cracked down on rules for social distancing and face coverings amid a spike in student COVID-19 cases.

 

International students heading to California colleges navigate vaccine, visa hurdles

CalMatters

More California colleges are planning to require students to get COVID-19 vaccinations. For international students, that often means only vaccines approved by the World Health Organization will be accepted, even though not all students have access to those.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

As ‘diesel death zones’ spread, pollution regulators place new rules on warehouse industry

Los Angeles Times

Southern California air quality officials have adopted first-of-their-kind rules on warehouse distribution centers in an effort to cut truck pollution, increase electrification and reduce health risks in communities hit hardest by lung-damaging diesel exhaust.

 

Energy:

 

California proposes to steer new homes from gas appliances

Fresno Bee

The California Energy Commission released a draft building standards code on Thursday that would require new homes to be equipped with circuits and panels that support all-electric appliances for heating, cooking and drying clothes.

See also:

 

U.S. Pipeline Shutdown Exposes Cyber Threat to Energy Sector

Wall Street Journal

The ransomware attack that forced the closure of the largest U.S. fuel pipeline this weekend showed how cybercriminals pose a far-reaching threat to the aging, vulnerable infrastructure that keeps the nation’s energy moving.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Coronavirus weekly-need-to-know: Shot walk-ins, J&J anxiety, unvaccinated advice & more

Fresno Bee

More than 32.6 million people in the United States have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Saturday afternoon, May 8, according to Johns Hopkins University. That includes more than 581,000 people who have died nationwide.

 

Covid-19 Restriction Guidance Could Ease as More Americans Get Vaccinated

Wall Street Journal

Biden administration officials said the U.S. is entering a new phase of the pandemic in which many vaccinated Americans can begin returning to normal activities and signaled the federal government will further relax mask-wearing recommendations as more people get shots.

See also:

 

Do temperature checks really catch COVID infections? Depends on your age, experts say

Fresno Bee

Many businesses, offices and events are still depending on temperature checks to detect coronavirus infections among the seemingly healthy. But fevers aren’t always a part of the COVID-19 package, especially among older adults.

 

‘There’s Always Risk’: Latino Residents Share Fears, Concerns about COVID-19 Vaccine

VPR

Latino residents have come here for decades to browse endless rows of vendors in search of clothing, blankets, produce and much more.

 

Human Services:

 

Pediatricians Can Bypass MyTurn As They Vaccinate Children

Capital Public Radio

State officials will allow pediatricians to bypass their cumbersome vaccine management system in a move intended to speed COVID-19 vaccinations for children, CalMatters has learned.

See also:

 

‘I feel freer.’ How California program helps seniors ‘age at home’ during pandemic

Fresno Bee

The coronavirus pandemic and an infusion of new federal money could accelerate California’s expansion of programs that help people age at home.

 

How big of a vaccine surplus will the US have?

Brookings

Coming at a time of a global vaccine shortage, the White House will need to make important decisions that will determine whether it is seen as making a decisive break with its inward-looking predecessor.

See also:

 

AstraZeneca Weighs Seeking Full U.S. Approval for Covid Shot, Skipping Emergency-Use Application

Wall Street Journal

AstraZeneca could skip asking the Food and Drug Administration for emergency-use authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine, according to people familiar with the matter—and instead pursue the more time-intensive application for a full-fledged license to sell the shot.

 

Biden administration revives anti-bias protections in health care for transgender people

Washington Post

The Biden administration said it would provide protections against discrimination in health care based on gender identity and sexual orientation, reversing a policy of its predecessors that had been a priority for social conservatives and had infuriated civil liberties advocates.

See also:

 

Designing a public option that would reduce health care provider prices

Brookings

As Congress considers policy changes aimed at expanding coverage and reducing overall health care spending, that debate may include proposals to create a public option.

 

Some kids in Fresno go without beds. This group built a solution and you can help, too

Fresno Bee

Sawdust was flying and the loud hum of sanders and the buzz of power saws also filled the air during a “Bunk Bed Build” for children in need Saturday morning in Fresno.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

As Biden Shifts On Immigration, Some Advocates See Him Giving Up Without A Fight

VPR

President Biden rolled out a proposal to overhaul the nation's immigration system on his first day in office. But on Day 100, he shifted to talk about a more targeted, pragmatic approach. It left some advocates feeling abandoned.

 

U.S. drops Trump plan for more biometric data on immigrants

Los Angeles Times

The Biden administration on Friday withdrew a Trump-era proposal to expand the amount and types of biometric data collected by U.S. immigration authorities.

 

As immigrants seek refuge, America struggles to live up to its promise

Los Angeles Times

Some of the world’s most vulnerable people arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border every day. Men and women fleeing violence in Central America, political strife in Haiti and Venezuela. Boys and girls sent alone by their families, in the hope that America will offer them better lives.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Tule River Tribe sponsored legislation to purchase surplus land passes committee

Porterville Recorder

On Wednesday, a bill sponsored by the Tule River Tribe that would make it easier for Tribes to purchase property from other local agencies passed through a key state legislative committee.

See also:

 

As lockdowns shut people in, public flocked to local parks

Bakersfield Californian

Whether it was practicing for an upcoming football game, searching for bugs along the shore of the lake or just sitting in lawn chairs enjoying the sun, The Park at River Walk was buzzing with activity at lunchtime on Friday.

 

Housing:

 

Where is California growing? These 10 cities saw their populations increase in 2020

Fresno Bee

Many of the fastest growing cities are located in California’s Central Valley, while others are located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Inland Empire or Silicon Valley.

See also:

 

Big win for those who want low-income housing in Clovis after judge rules city in violation

Fresno Bee

The City of Clovis has been violating California state housing laws and will be required to zone and plan for more than 4,000 low-income homes, according to a Fresno County Superior Court ruling.

 

Apartment rents keep climbing in Fresno. Are you paying more than the average?

Fresno Bee

The average rent for an apartment in Fresno — and throughout Fresno County — climbed to an all-time high last month, surpassing $1,300 per month for the first time ever.

 

HEAP funds could be re-distributed to fund Turlock's homeless day center remodel

Turlock Journal

The Turlock City Council will consider a motion on Tuesday to divert $92,000 originally allocated to a remodeling project on the dining room at We Care and transfer it to Turlock Gospel Mission's rehabilitation project of the day center.

 

Downtown lofts project succumbs to inactivity

Bakersfield Californian

Time has run out again for a four-story, 28-unit apartment project on 18th Street that five years ago divided neighbors and the City Council then failed to get off the ground even as similar efforts progressed nearby.

 

Housing Insecurity Is a Health Crisis. The Pandemic Has Made It Worse.

ReWire

Ingris Moran experienced housing insecurity firsthand growing up in the Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia. "Moving place to place because we couldn't afford it anymore was always a struggle," Moran said.

See also:

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

More Californians would get new $600 stimulus checks from the state under Newsom plan

Fresno Bee

Two-thirds of Californians would get an extra $600 from the state under a new plan unveiled Monday morning by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Families with children would also get additional $500 checks as part of the plan, according to Newsom’s office.

 

How to file your taxes for free online

Los Angeles Times

Taxes may be one of life’s certainties. But paying to pay them isn’t. In many other countries, the government does the math for you and tells you how much to pay, at no cost to you (beyond the taxes you are paying in the first place).

 

Why a $10,000 Tax Deduction Could Hold Up Trillions in Stimulus Funds

New York Times

In 2017, congressional Republicans capped a tax break that benefits America’s highest-earning households and people with multimillion-dollar homes. Coastal Democrats have been trying to get it back ever since.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

California DMV reverses decision to eliminate most foreign language options for driver tests

Fresno Bee

The California DMV will continue to offer written drivers license tests in 32 languages, reversing a decision from last week to drop 25 of the languages, according to its public affairs office.

 

Caltrans breaks ground on Highway 46 Widening Project

Bakersfield Californian

Caltrans has broken ground on the $37 million Highway 46 Widening Project, according to a news release from the organization on Friday. Caltrans said that the project, which will reduce congestion, increase safety and improve mobility through the highly-traveled corridor.

 

California Develops Proposal to Achieve Clean Vehicle Future

Natural Resources Defense Council

California, a global leader in electric vehicle deployment and policy innovation, presented plans today for the next round of its Advanced Clean Cars program. It will require all new vehicles to be electric-drive by 2035.

 

High-Speed Debate Continues—in Congress

Railway Age

Porcari mentioned the California HSR project and the efforts to secure funding for it, calling for greater federal involvement in funding for rail.

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WATER

 

‘We got unlucky.’ Why melting Sierra snow won’t save California from extreme drought

Fresno Bee

California’s drought conditions have gone from bad to worse in scarcely a month. In the weeks following April 1, the traditional end of the rainy season, warm temperatures have burned off most of the Sierra Nevada snowpack and left the state’s water network gasping.

 

Drought update: Stanislaus County reaches driest level since 2017

Turlock Journal

Drought statistics updated this week show that dry conditions continue to worsen throughout California, with the percentage of the state experiencing the second-highest level of drought up 20% from last week.

 

Bakersfield brewers send suds with a message to State Water Board

SJV Water

Bakersfield raised a brew, literally, to the State Water Resources Control Board on Friday in honor of the Kern River.

 

“Xtra”

 

Yosemite climbers will need permits to sleep on rock walls. Here’s why and how it works

Fresno Bee

Rock climbers in Yosemite National Park planning an overnight trip on any climbing route will need an overnight wilderness climbing permit starting May 21, park officials announced Friday.

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Manteca’s Great Wolf Lodge water park sets opening date after yearlong pandemic delay

Modesto Bee

After almost a year of delays due to the pandemic, Manteca’s new water park resort Great Wolf Lodge has announced its opening date.

 

Bethnay Clough: New store opening in old Fresno Pier 1 something different for area: A deep discounter

Fresno Bee

The Pier 1 on North Blackstone Avenue across the street from River Park will soon be home to a new store: A Dollar Tree. The discounter is taking over the 10,500-square-foot space after the Pier 1 announced it was closing all 540 stores during its bankruptcy last year.

 

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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.

                                                     

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