August 31, 2021

31Aug

FOR SUBJECT LINE:

Maddy Daily – August 31, 2021 - Chronicle of Policy and Politics in the San Joaquin Valley

 

POLICY & POLITICS

 

Newsom recall basics: How to vote in California’s election

CalMatters

A FAQ on the California election on whether to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. CalMatters plans to launch its Voter Guide on Aug. 16.

See also:

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Turlock executive cleared of ethics complaint, California retirement system reports

Modesto Bee

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System determined an ethics complaint against Gary Hampton was unsubstantiated. A complaint submitted in June alleged Hampton worked more than his allowed hours while employed as Turlock’s acting city manager.

 

As Turlock Fire interim chief retires, is the city considering contract with Modesto?

Modesto Bee

Interim Chief Gary Carlson’s retirement announcement comes after Turlock budgeted a study to evaluate contracting Modesto for fire services.

 

Nosrati, organizers reflect on failed City Council recall attempt

Turlock Journal

As voters throughout the state decide whether or not to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom, Turlock City Councilman Andrew Nosrati is able to breathe a sigh of relief eight months removed from a failed attempt to remove him from the dais.

 

President Junn welcomes students to a delayed start at Stanislaus State

Turlock Journal

Stanislaus State President Ellen Junn shared the university’s plan for managing the fall semester amidst rising cases of COVID-19 in her virtual welcoming address on Aug. 19.

See also:

 

Former student, advocate for people of color is Modesto schools’ new equity specialist

Modesto Bee

A former student has returned to Modesto City Schools in a newly created position to help school leaders advance their equity goals and build relationships with families of color.

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Fresno faces more unhealthy air, triple-digit heat. When to expect cooler weather

Fresno Bee

Fresno and the rest of the central San Joaquin Valley can expect to see at least two more days of triple-digit temperatures, according to the National Weather Service in Hanford.

See also:

 

'God Help You If You Have A Car Crash Today' – Health Officials Warn Of Overflowing Hospitals

VPR

Coronavirus infections are now spreading faster in the San Joaquin Valley than in any other region of the state. And as hospitals reach critical capacity, health officials are warning that patient care is at risk.

The Supreme Court ended the federal eviction moratorium. What does it mean for Fresno?

Fresno Bee

Fresno renters, if you are concerned that the Thursday Supreme Court decision that ended the federal eviction moratorium will get you thrown out of your rental immediately, you have some time.

 

Fresno County registrar sees big return of mail-in recall ballots. What does that tell us?

Fresno Bee

The Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters has received more than 90,000 ballots through Monday morning in the recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

See also:

 

Terry Slatic accuses Fresno school leaders of failing to protect teachers, violating laws

Fresno Bee

In a statement to reporters, Trustee Terry Slatic said he filed a formal complaint with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit, accusing Superintendent Bob Nelson and four trustees of violating California education laws related to student privacy.

See also:

 

Fresno City College’s vaccine vote made one day after drop date. Can students get refunds?

Fresno Bee

When State Center Community College trustees decided Monday to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine at all campuses, they did so one day after the drop date, meaning students could no longer get a full refund if they chose to drop out of school to avoid immunization.

 

Madera County residents and farmers face groundwater challenge of a lifetime

Fresno Bee

Madera County is running out of time as groundwater levels plummet to new depths. Wells are going dry everywhere. Drillers have months-long waitlists. Residents are scrambling for water tanks.

 

Wonderful boosts its grant making to help small communities

The Business Journal

The Wonderful Company has invested in the Central Valley for the past six years through its Community Grants Initiative, giving $4 million to nonprofits and schools.

 

Warszawski: Bill would give public more sway over Fresno river parkway — and that’s a good thing

Fresno Bee

Assembly Bill 559, authored by state Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, helps balance the scales. If signed into law, the bill would give the public more sway over the development of the 22-mile river parkway between Friant Dam and Highway 99.

 

Kings to hold third redistricting hearing 10 a.m. Tuesday

Hanford Sentinel

Kings County will hold the last public hearing before the release of draft redistricting during next Tuesday’s board meeting at 10 a.m., allowing residents to make testimony on communities or interest and learn about mapping tools.

 

Tulare will see federal funding, plans to boost infrastructure and address homelessness

Visalia Times Delta

Federal relief funding, a new Highway 99 interchange to the Ag Show and homelessness were the biggest topics at the State of the City luncheon in Tulare.

See also:

Study: Proposed Biden tax plan would cut taxes for average Tulare County taxpayer

Visalia Times Delta

The average taxpayer in the three Congressional Districts that comprise parts of Tulare County would see a decrease in taxes if President Joe Biden’s tax plan passes, a study by the Tax Foundation has found.

 

Retiring Tulare Fire Chief Luis Nevarez leaves behind 'Inspiration,' 'Legacy' and 'Leadership'

Visalia Times Delta

Luis Nevarez believes the passion he feels for firefighting includes a spirit of community, station pride, family, relationship building, and courage.

 

New owners to breathe life into neglected Fresno shopping center

The Business Journal

A North Valley father-son duo hope to turn around a neglected Fresno shopping center with a significant remodel and visible ownership.

 

‘Hazards’ around site of Mariposa family’s death prompt Sierra forest closure order

Fresno Bee

Sierra National Forest closed numerous hiking trails, picnic areas and campgrounds, citing “unknown hazards found in and near the Savage Lundy Trail,” where a Mariposa family was mysteriously found dead two weeks ago.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

Faulconer stresses experience in government during campaign stop in Bakersfield

Bakersfield Californian

Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Faulconer visited Bakersfield on Friday for a campaign event. As the election enters its final weeks, he stressed his political experience as well as his success in reducing homelessness while mayor of San Diego.

 

Appeals court rules against valley ozone plan

Bakersfield Californian

Federal approval of a 2019 contingency measure for cutting ozone emissions in the Central Valley has been rejected by an appellate court, which called the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's acceptance of the provision "arbitrary and capricious."

 

Editorial: Wake-up call: California’s water is running out

Bakersfield Californian

Mandatory limits on water use are likely to be imposed in the near future on California residents, businesses and farms. Get ready. You can’t change the weather, which has deprived the state of its necessary rain and snowfall. But you can change your response.

 

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s family benefited from U.S. program for minorities based on disputed ancestry

Los Angeles Times

A company owned by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s in-laws won more than $7 million in no-bid and other federal contracts at U.S. military installations and other government properties in California based on a dubious claim of Native American identity by McCarthy’s brother-in-law.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

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Here’s what to know about voting in the California governor recall election

Sacramento Bee

Registered voters should have already received their mail-in ballots. As of this week, about 2.8 million ballots, or 13% of the approximate 22 million ballots sent out to Californians, have been returned, according to tracker by Political Data Inc.

See also:

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How Gavin Newsom went from landslide victory to fighting for his political survival Los Angeles Times

Whether the future belongs to Gavin Newsom, 53, is now an open question. Voters on Sept. 14 will decide whether to cashier the governor before he has even completed his first term, in the second gubernatorial recall election in the state’s history.

See also:

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GOP's Larry Elder looks for shock win in California recall

Bakersfield Californian

California’s next governor could be a Black conservative who would erase state vaccine and mask mandates, is critical of gun control, disputes the notion of systemic racism in America and opposes the minimum wage because he says it tramples the free market.

See also:

 

Longshot recall candidate Kiley may emerge as a GOP leader

Bakersfield Californian

The race to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom has attracted a nationally syndicated radio show host, an ex-Olympic champion turned reality TV star and the former mayor of one of the nation's 10 most populous cities who has deep ties to the Republican Party establishment.

See also:

 

Commentary: State Must Maintain Election Security Momentum

Little Hoover Commission

The Little Hoover Commission, California’s independent government watchdog, is recommending that the state increase its investments in securing election infrastructure.

 

All national forests in California closed to visitors. No Labor Day camping, hiking, biking

Sacramento Bee

With fires raging across the state, the USDA Forest Service is closing all 20 million acres of California’s national forests to public access for two weeks beginning Tuesday.

See also:

 

Skelton: Building a pipeline to the Mississippi? An idea as harebrained as the recall itself

Los Angeles Times

YouTube star and Democratic political novice Kevin Paffrath proposed the Mississippi River pipeline last week during a debate among candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom if he’s recalled Sept. 14.

 

Bills to increase housing density in California head to Newsom

San Francisco Chronicle

Gov. Gavin Newsom will decide whether to loosen zoning rules in California to allow duplexes and lot splitting in residential neighborhoods across the state.

See also:

 

Walters: Will Gavin Newsom release Robert Kennedy’s killer?

CalMatters

As he battles to avoid being recalled, California Gov. Gavin Newsom faces another issue: whether Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated Robert Kennedy, should be paroled.

 

Walters: Who will control sports betting in California?

CalMatters

Legal wagering on sports is coming to California but dueling ballot measures will determine who controls and profits from the potentially huge amounts of money involved.

 

Commission Confirms Appointments to Courts of Appeal

California Courts Newsroom

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed four nominations to the California Courts of Appeal in San Francisco and San Jose.

Event: 2021 Speaker Series on California's Future

PPIC

A panel of top political journalists will talk about the recall process and explore the implications of the election and its outcome.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

DIY Redistricting Allows Public to Draw Maps in More States

Pew Trusts

After every census, redistricting authorities draw new boundaries for state legislative and congressional districts. Most states hold public hearings, even though half the country lacks laws requiring public input. Now, some states are going even further.

See also:

 

House set to tear up Biden's Pentagon budget plans

Politico

The House Armed Services Committee will weigh in on Biden's $715 billion Pentagon budget proposal on Wednesday when it debates annual defense policy legislation.

 

68 House Democrats urge more reconciliation money for Interior

Roll Call

Nearly 70 House Democrats have urged party leaders in both chambers of Congress for more funding in the reconciliation budget to combat climate change through the Interior Department.

 

Hurricane Ida highlights infrastructure priorities

Roll Call

The infrastructure failures caused by Hurricane Ida are already putting a focus on efforts to bolster resiliency even as the response and recovery continues along the Gulf Coast.

 

Biden, Manchin singled out as voting rights rally demands end to filibuster

Roll Call

President Joe Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin III were singled out Saturday by numerous civil rights leaders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus during a rally on the National Mall to demand the Senate pass legislation that could undo state laws that may make it harder for minorities to vote.

 

Biden announces plans to give pay raise to federal employees

Washington Post

President Biden on Friday announced plans to give all federal civilian employees an average 2.7 percent pay raise, consistent with the increases he had proposed in his 2022 budget.

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U.S. regulator tells White House it will step up enforcement of oil and gas conglomerates

Washington Post

The Federal Trade Commission plans to ramp up enforcement of anticompetitive practices by oil and gas companies, as the Biden administration presses for ways to alleviate unusually high fuel prices for motorists.

 

Editorial: Bernie Sanders Runs Out of Billionaires

Wall Street Journal

Bernie Sanders held a rally in Iowa over the weekend to sell his $3.5 trillion budget proposal, and he also had kind words for President Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan. As usual, Mr. Sanders assailed America’s “billionaire class,” which he said is refusing to pay its “fair share” of taxes.

 

Opinion: Let a Biden Reappraisal Include Antitrust

Wall Street Journal

Ms. Khan, now 32, made her name with a 2017 law-student article arguing that Amazon should be broken up because it should be broken up. Now she’s getting to put her urges to work, first with Facebook, and we can already anticipate the results.

 

Other:

 

America’s Racial Wealth Gap Is Enormous and Getting Worse

Capital & Main

America’s racial wealth gap, pushed to the front of the nation’s agenda during the racial justice protests of last summer, has continued to widen and has indeed worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Commentary: How we can close the digital divide in California

CalMatters

Use partnerships to leverage existing broadband internet networks and create scalable and economic “middle mile” services to 463,000 largely rural unserved households.

 

Commentary: Speeders should not set speed limits

CalMatters

Each year, nearly 4,000 Californians die in car crashes. More than three times that number are severely injured. The difference between death and injury is speed — and with every mile per hour, the risk only grows.

 

Conservative trust in media has cratered

Axios

The percentage of Republicans who say they trust national news organizations has been cut in half over the past five years, according to a new study from Pew Research Center.

 

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, September 5, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "State Auditor's Report: Evaluating Affordable Housing Programs" - Guest: California State Auditor Elaine Howle; John Myers - LA Times; Dan Walters - CalMatters. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, September 5, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Building More Affordable Housing: ​​ What Works and What Doesn’t"- Guests: CA State Auditor Elaine Howle; John Myers - LA Times; Dan Walters - CalMatters; Matt Levine - CalMatters; Dan Dunmoyer - California Building Industry Association. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Farmworkers may be able to vote at home in union elections

CalMatters

California lawmakers are looking to pass a bill that would give farmworkers more ways to vote in union elections. Business groups have labeled it a job killer but United Farm Workers, which sponsored the bill, says it’s akin to the state’s new vote-by-mail system.

 

Scorching Heat Is Killing America's Farmworkers

Pew Trusts

Federal regulators have issued no standards to protect workers from heat-related hazards, even as climate change increases the risk of deadly heat waves and extreme weather conditions. Some states are stepping in.

 

California’s ‘Cantaloupe Center’ struggles to reign supreme as drought pummels agriculture across the West

Washington Post

This small town in California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley advertises itself as the “Cantaloupe Center of the World.” But as relentless drought punishes California and the West, the land is drying up and the cantaloupes are disappearing.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE​/​FIRE​/​​PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Hate crimes rise to highest level in 12 years amid increasing attacks on Black and Asian people, FBI says

Washington Post

In all, the federal agency tallied 7,759 hate crimes last year, a tumultuous 12 months marked by a global pandemic, a divisive presidential election and upheaval in the economy.

See also:

Public Safety:

 

Fact-checking a claim about the FDA’s role in approving pesticides in food

Politifact

After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave final approval to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, a health and wellness Facebook group shared a post that seeks to discredit the agency.

 

High Gun Sales And More Time At Home Have Led To More Accidental Shootings By Kids

VPR

Accidental gunshot deaths by children handling a gun jumped 31% during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a year earlier, new data shows.

 

Fire:

 

Interactive map shows where every wildfire is burning in California

Fresno Bee

This interactive map shows where major fires are burning in California and the rest of the nation, including updates on the Caldor Fire burning near Lake Tahoe.

 

Air resources help slow spread of Walkers Fire

Porterville Recorder

Over the weekend, Walkers Fire operations focused on protecting structures and halting the fire's spread with “every tool available,” The Sequoia National Forest stated.

 

UPDATED: Northwest flank of French Fire proves difficult to contain

Bakersfield Californian

The French Fire has grown to 25,411 acres and is 33 percent contained, according to the California incident management team overseeing the fire.

 

Devastating fires could damage Lake Tahoe’s iconic blue waters

CalMatters

Smoke and ash from wildfires near Lake Tahoe — one of the deepest lakes in the world — is already clouding the lake’s famously clear water, researchers say.

See also:

 

Wildfire, drought and chainsaws: California’s iconic trees are casualties in the war on fire

San Diego Union-Tribune

Scientists say California’s imperiled forests need more wildfire, not less. Newsom’s $1.5 billion plan for wildfire prevention will fund logging to mimic the effects of naturally occurring blazes.

 

To Stop Extreme Wildfires, California Is Learning From ... Florida?

NPR

In early May, flames began to spread through a pine forest, consuming a dense carpet of leaves and underbrush. The burn was the definition of a "good fire," intentionally ignited to clear vegetation that could fuel future infernos.

 

Wildfire Terms Defined: What It Means When a Blaze Is 30 Percent Contained

New York Times

When fire officials report that a fire is, say, 30 percent contained, that means that 30 percent of the blaze’s boundary is hemmed in by barriers like rivers, streams, interstate highways or areas that are already scorched

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Opinion: California Business Headquarters Now Leaving Twice As Fast, With No End In Sight

Hoover Institution

When company headquarters migrate out of California, significant economic costs affect not only the state but also communities. Moreover, when advanced technology companies move their headquarters, centers of innovation move with it.

 

Lithium fuels hopes for revival on California’s largest lake

AP News

California’s largest but rapidly shrinking lake is at the forefront of efforts to make the U.S. a major global player in production of the ultralight metal.

 

California Defies Doom With No. 1 U.S. Economy

Bloomberg

When misfortunes multiplied during the coronavirus pandemic, observers seized on a four-letter word signaling end of days for the largest state with one-eighth the U.S. population and 14% of its gross domestic product.

 

Corporate America launches massive lobbying blitz to kill key parts of Democrats’ $3.5 trillion economic plan

Washington Post

Drug makers, big banks, tech giants and others are preparing to fight the party’s reconciliation package, including its plans for raising taxes.

See also:

 

Op-Ed: Fed chair Powell repeats past mistakes

AEI

One can understand Jerome Powell’s Fed repeating one major policy mistake of the recent past. What is difficult to understand, however, is how it can be repeating a series of major policy mistakes in so short a time interval.

 

Hurricane Ida shuts down Gulf oil production. What does that mean for gas prices?

Sacramento Bee

Oil production has been mostly shut down in the Gulf of Mexico in response to Hurricane Ida, which could lead to rising fuel costs in the coming days, experts say.

See also:

 

The consumption, income, and well-being of single-mother-headed families 25 years after welfare reform

AEI

We investigate how material well-being has changed over time for single mother headed families—the primary group affected by welfare reform and other policy changes of the 1990s.

What has happened to the American working class since the Great Recession?

AEI

What did more than a decade of economic expansion following the GR do for the working class and various groups of disadvantaged workers?

 

Jobs:

 

Q&A: Unemployment Insurance, Labor Day Cliff & the Costs of Unemployment

California Budget and Policy Center

Millions of California workers turned to unemployment insurance benefits over the last 18 months after suddenly losing their jobs – a reality that can hit workers, families, and communities, pandemic or not.

See also:

 

Opinion: Californians can’t afford to lose good-paying jobs

CalMatters

Assembly Bill 701 could harm California’s warehouse employers by nudging business owners to move out of state, a trend we already are seeing in other sectors of our economy.

 

Hiltzik: Instead of vaccine mandates, companies turn to ‘wellness’ programs. That’s a problem

Los Angeles Times

Many employers are still shy about imposing vaccine requirements on their employees. And the alternative could be much worse for workers than a vaccination mandate.

 

Opinion: For many workers, work is a threat to well-being

CalMatters

The use of automation technologies to track and monitor safety or productivity is widespread in supply-chain management, and it is now seeping into grocery stores, other retail settings, and even knowledge work. That is bad news for workers.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Terry Slatic accuses Fresno school leaders of failing to protect teachers, violating laws

Fresno Bee

In a statement to reporters, Trustee Terry Slatic said he filed a formal complaint with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit, accusing Superintendent Bob Nelson and four trustees of violating California education laws related to student privacy.

See also:

 

COVID cases continue to climb in Fresno-area schools amid chaotic meetings, uncertainty

Fresno Bee

As of Monday, Fresno Unified has reported 394 cases among staff and students in August; up from 252 a week earlier. Clovis schools have seen 222 cases this month; up from 80 cases a week ago. Central Unified reported 139 cases in August; up fro 80 last week.

 

State mask bans face federal civil rights inquiries

Fresno Bee

The Education Department opened civil rights investigations into five Republican-led states that have banned or limited mask requirements in schools, saying the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions.

See also:

 

As Schools Reopen, Child Psychiatrists Expect To See A Surge Of Kids Who Need Help

VPR

As schools across the country reopen, mental health professionals are anticipating a surge in the number of kids seeking help in the coming weeks. That's not unlike previous years.

See also:

 

As districts mandate vaccines, some teachers push back

Mercury News

Some of the biggest school systems in the U.S. are taking a hard line with teachers and staff members who are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19: Get a jab or lose your job.

See also:

 

Higher Ed:

 

Event: “Fresno State, Stanislaus State and CSU Bakersfield: Increasing Their Role in Local Economic Growth and Inclusion”

The Maddy Institute

On September 13, Robert Maxim, Senior Research Associate in the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, will discuss how regional public universities can have a large role in economic growth.

 

President Junn welcomes students to a delayed start at Stanislaus State

Turlock Journal

Stanislaus State President Ellen Junn shared the university’s plan for managing the fall semester amidst rising cases of COVID-19 in her virtual welcoming address on Aug. 19.

See also:

 

Fresno City College’s vaccine vote made one day after drop date. Can students get refunds?

Fresno Bee

When State Center Community College trustees decided Monday to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine at all campuses, they did so one day after the drop date, meaning students could no longer get a full refund if they chose to drop out of school to avoid immunization.

 

Cal State's incoming freshman Class of 2025 key to meeting system's graduation goals

EdSource

For California State University, this fall’s incoming Class of 2025 is particularly important. That’s because of a 10-year plan — known as Graduation Initiative 2025 — that started in 2015 to increase freshman and transfer students’ graduation rates across all 23 campuses.

 

Fake student bot accounts at California colleges tied to suspected COVID-19 relief scam

Los Angeles Times

The California Community Colleges system is investigating potentially widespread fraud involving fake “bot students” enrolled in active courses in what officials suspect is a scam to obtain financial aid or COVID-19 relief grants.

 

Opinion: Public Colleges Reach Across State Lines for a Tuition Windfall

Wall Street Journal

America’s public universities, designed to offer affordable college education to residents of their states, have been engaged in a “student swap.”

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

US health agency will prod hospitals to cut carbon emissions

The Business Journal

The Biden administration on Monday launched a new health office that will prod hospitals to cut carbon emissions, aiming to provide greener, more environmentally friendly medical care.

 

Federal judge throws out Trump administration rule allowing the draining and filling of streams, marshes and wetlands

Washington Post

A federal judge Monday threw out a major Trump administration rule that scaled back federal protections for streams, marshes and wetlands across the United States, reversing one of the previous administration’s most significant environmental rollbacks.

 

The Air Quality Index Explained: What It Means and How to Stay Safe

New York Times

Having an understanding of the Air Quality Index can help you protect yourself from the harmful effects of air pollution. Here’s a guide to how it works.

 

How Climate Change Is Fueling Hurricanes Like Ida

VPR

Climate change helped Ida rapidly gain strength right before it made landfall. In about 24 hours, it jumped from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm as it moved over abnormally hot water in the Gulf of Mexico.

See also:

 

Appeals court rules against valley ozone plan

Bakersfield Californian

Federal approval of a 2019 contingency measure for cutting ozone emissions in the Central Valley has been rejected by an appellate court, which called the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's acceptance of the provision "arbitrary and capricious."

 

California’s Plan to Make New Buildings Greener Will Also Raise Costs

New York Times

A recent building code change for new construction could reduce emissions by requiring use of solar panels and batteries, raising prices in an already expensive state.

 

Climate Change to Be Treated as Public-Health Issue

Wall Street Journal

The Department of Health and Human Services is preparing to launch an office that will treat climate change as a public health issue.

See also:

 

Energy:

Opinion: The dubious Senate proposal to bail out nuclear power plants

The Hill

Let us reduce rather than increase the distortions created by government economic policies. A failure to keep that principle in mind will yield ongoing economic losses for all of us.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Immunity To COVID-19 Could Last Longer Than You'd Think

VPR
All around the world, there seem to be signs that immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19, doesn't last very long after you're vaccinated.

 

On the front lines, here’s what the seven stages of severe COVID-19 look like

Los Angeles Times

With the fourth wave of the pandemic in full swing, fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant, the trajectory of the patients I see, from admission to critical care, is all too familiar. When they’re vaccinated, their COVID-19 infections most likely end after Stage 1.

 

Covid-19 Booster Shots Get Support From Expert Panel

Wall Street Journal

Health experts advising the U.S. government on vaccines expressed initial support for giving booster shots to people vaccinated against Covid-19, starting with healthcare workers, nursing-home residents and others immunized earliest.

See also:

What's the latest science on all the COVID hygiene measures still used in public spaces?

San Francisco Chronicle

Health officials still consider masking and vaccination key to curbing the pandemic, so much so that the CDC and California health officials still recommend universal indoor masking for everyone, and with the exception of a few Bay Area counties, it’s required nearly everywhere in the region.

See also:

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Delta’s ‘R naught’ contagiousness rate doesn’t mean entire US will get COVID-19

Politifact

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the delta variant is more than twice as contagious as previous variants of the coronavirus and caused nearly 99% of recent coronavirus cases in the U.S.

 

Wildfire Smoke Is Damaging Your Skin

New York Times

The study, published by Dr. Wei, her student, Raj Fadadu, and some of their colleagues in June, was the first to link skin disease (atopic dermatitis, a.k.a. eczema) to wildfire smoke.

 

CVS Wants to Be Your Therapist, Too

Wall Street Journal

The pharmacy company is among several retailers including Walmart Inc. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., that are experimenting with offering counseling services in or near stores.

 

Most Children With Severe Post-Covid-19 Condition in Fine Health Year Later, U.K. Study Finds

Wall Street Journal

Most children admitted to intensive care with a serious inflammatory complication after getting Covid-19 didn’t have serious lingering issues a year later, according to a study of data collected from hospitals across the U.K.

 

Human Services:

 

Nurse shortages in California reaching crisis point

Bakersfield Californian

In the past month, four emergency room nurses — exhausted by the onslaught of patients and emotional turmoil wrought by COVID-19 — have quit at the Eureka hospital where Matt Miele works.

 

Children's Mental Health Gets Millions In Funding From The Biden Administration

Valley Public Radio

As students head back into another pandemic school year, the Biden administration has announced nearly $85 million in funding for mental health awareness, training, and treatment.

See also:

 

Judge approves Sutter Health antitrust deal. What that means for California health care

Sacramento Bee

Sutter Health is $575 million poorer — and now must operate under new rules designed to curb its ability to dictate the price of health care in Sacramento and Northern California.

 

The need for a US national clinical trial infrastructure in a public health crisis

AEI

To prepare for the next pandemic, the US should empower the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health to steer patients into trials that are more likely to yield actionable evidence that can inform clinical practice and improve outcomes.

 

Stop using these N95 masks, FDA says. There are ‘serious concerns’ with their quality

Sacramento Bee

Federal health officials are warning health care professionals about “serious concerns” regarding the quality of certain N95 masks made by Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacturing in China.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Afghan refugees arrive in Stanislaus County as families try to get more people out

Modesto Bee

Resettlement centers in Stanislaus County are inundated with refugees and a local congressman’s office is receiving hundreds of calls as Afghans desperately seek a pathway to get their families to the U.S.

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With Loved Ones Stranded In Afghanistan, Afghan Families In Fresno Face An Excruciating Wait

NPR

An Afghan woman who asks to be called Sana places a spread of dried fruit and nuts on the dinner table in her small apartment. It’s in keeping with Afghan culture.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Warszawski: Bill would give public more sway over Fresno river parkway — and that’s a good thing

Fresno Bee

Assembly Bill 559, authored by state Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, helps balance the scales. If signed into law, the bill would give the public more sway over the development of the 22-mile river parkway between Friant Dam and Highway 99.

 

All national forests in California closed to visitors. No Labor Day camping, hiking, biking

Fresno Bee

With fires raging across the state, the USDA Forest Service is closing all 20 million acres of California’s national forests to public access for two weeks beginning Tuesday.

See also:

 

Federal judge throws out Trump administration rule allowing the draining and filling of streams, marshes and wetlands

Washington Post

A federal judge Monday threw out a major Trump administration rule that scaled back federal protections for streams, marshes and wetlands across the United States, reversing one of the previous administration’s most significant environmental rollbacks.

 

Housing:

 

The Supreme Court ended the federal eviction moratorium. What does it mean for Fresno?

Fresno Bee

Fresno renters, if you are concerned that the Thursday Supreme Court decision that ended the federal eviction moratorium will get you thrown out of your rental immediately, you have some time.

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Bills to increase housing density in California head to Newsom

San Francisco Chronicle

Gov. Gavin Newsom will decide whether to loosen zoning rules in California to allow duplexes and lot splitting in residential neighborhoods across the state.

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California’s Plan to Make New Buildings Greener Will Also Raise Costs

New York Times

A recent building code change for new construction could reduce emissions by requiring use of solar panels and batteries, raising prices in an already expensive state.

 

Senior Housing Industry Faces Higher Costs as It Plays Lead Role in Vaccine Mandates

Wall Street Journal

The senior housing business, which was one of the hardest-hit commercial property sectors early in the pandemic, is now getting hammered by rising labor costs as it takes a lead role in mandating vaccines for employees.

 

House Rents Pop Up as New Investors Pile In

Wall Street Journal

Would-be home buyers priced out of the sales market are finding little consolation when they turn instead to the single-family rental market. Prices are soaring there as well.

 

Where to Stash Your Down Payment if You Didn’t Buy a House This Year

Wall Street Journal

A guide for would-be buyers who are putting off the hunt for their dream home and considering how to gauge risk, evaluate time horizons and cope with low yields

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Tulare will see federal funding, plans to boost infrastructure and address homelessness

Visalia Times Delta

Federal relief funding, a new Highway 99 interchange to the Ag Show and homelessness were the biggest topics at the State of the City luncheon in Tulare.

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Study: Proposed Biden tax plan would cut taxes for average Tulare County taxpayer

Visalia Times Delta

The average taxpayer in the three Congressional Districts that comprise parts of Tulare County would see a decrease in taxes if President Joe Biden’s tax plan passes, a study by the Tax Foundation has found.

 

Biden's true tax priorities

Axios

Biden will outline an array of tax proposals beginning on Wednesday — an opening bid ahead of months-long negotiations mostly within the Democratic Party — but these are his priorities.

Opinion: Guaranteed income is the next great US social experiment. California should lead the way

Sacramento Bee

The pandemic caused a sea change on universal basic income as people across the ideological spectrum realized the power of direct cash payments under federal and state COVID relief bills.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

MapLab: Visualizing the Legacy and Future of Urban Highways

Bloomberg

This past year, the Biden administration’s proposed infrastructure bill brought highways into the national conversation, highlighting the inequity built into the U.S. interstate system with a proposal to “reconnect communities cut off by historic disinvestment.”

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Charging Drivers for Road Use Is Popular With Economists, Less So With Drivers

Wall Street Journal

London started charging drivers a fee to drive on the city center’s narrow streets. Studies have documented reduced traffic congestion, better bus service, fewer accidents and an improved overall quality of life.

 

WATER

 

Madera County residents and farmers face groundwater challenge of a lifetime

Fresno Bee

Madera County is running out of time as groundwater levels plummet to new depths. Wells are going dry everywhere. Drillers have months-long waitlists. Residents are scrambling for water tanks.

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Many California farmers have water cut off, but a lucky few are immune to drought rules

Los Angeles Times

Due to decades-old agreements with the federal government, rice farmers are going relatively unscathed by unprecedented emergency water cuts to farmers this month as others fallow fields, wells go dry and low water levels imperil Chinook salmon.

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Editorial: Wake-up call: California’s water is running out

Bakersfield Californian

Mandatory limits on water use are likely to be imposed in the near future on California residents, businesses and farms. Get ready. You can’t change the weather, which has deprived the state of its necessary rain and snowfall. But you can change your response.

 

California’s Water Market

Public Policy Institute of California

In California’s water market, buyers and sellers trade water through short- and long-term leases as well as permanent sales of their water rights. Trading enhances flexibility in water management.

 

Groundwater Recharge

Public Policy Institute of California

Recharge occurs when water seeps into the ground to replenish underground aquifers. Although some recharge happens incidentally—water flowing into the ground from rivers, unlined canals, or excess irrigation—intentional recharge can restore groundwater levels and store water for later use

 

 

“Xtra”

 

Fresno artists, community members repaint Tower District's crosswalk art

abc30

A group of artists helped bring some fresh new color to Fresno's Tower District. Community members came out to repaint crosswalk art at the corner of Echo and Weldon Avenues on Saturday.

 

 

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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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