December 2, 2021

02Dec

POLICY & POLITICS

 

California appeals court deals a blow to high-speed rail opponents. What the ruling means

Fresno Bee

Judges on California’s 3rd District Court of Appeal dealt another blow to the hopes of high-speed rail opponents in Kings County and elsewhere across the state, issuing a ruling Tuesday that the current use of bond funds for construction in the central San Joaquin Valley does not violate the California Constitution.

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Modesto wants to change when voters pick mayor. But the issue itself has to go to voters

Modesto Bee

The Modesto City Council wants to change the dates for when the city’s voters pick a mayor. The aim is to ensure turnout remains high not just during the election but also during the runoff.

 

Turlock skaters to host event calling for park lighting. Here’s why

Modesto Bee

A group of Turlock friends is calling on the city to add lighting to the Koch Memorial Skate Park so they can safely enjoy a free activity after dark. To bring attention to the need, the group invites the community to a toy drive and BMX jam event Saturday at the skating area within Donnelly Park.

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

State pledges $200 million to Friant-Kern, Central California canal fixes

Visalia Times-Delta

The state Department of Water Resources has created a $200 million program to help restore several Central California canals damaged by groundwater pumping. The program includes $40 million for the Friant-Kern Canal that snakes through eastern Tulare County.

 

Campus Pointe developers request a half-million dollar refund for newest housing fees

Fresno Bee

Campus Pointe — the largest public-private project in the California State University system — unveiled a 142-unit apartment complex for adults 55 and older Wednesday, one day before the Fresno City Council was supposed to vote on whether to refund the project’s developer about half a million dollars.

 

Black Chamber purchases space to relocate headquarters

Business Journal

The chamber announced its relocation from the Downtown Business Hub to 1600 Fulton Street. The chamber says the move is the result of rapid growth over the past year, and the new location will better serve its staff, members, partners and the community at large.

 

Taste of luxury in Lemoore: Tachi Palace unveils first fruits of $90m overhaul

Business Journal

Continued renovations at Lemoore’s Tachi Palace Casino Resort mean the debut of luxury hotel rooms this week for travelers and Central Valley residents. The first 22 rooms of the hotel to be improved reopened to the public Wednesday with revamped bathrooms, beds and fixtures.

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Political Notebook: Brian Smith 'very interested' in running for District 3 seat on Board of Supervisors

Bakersfield Californian

Former California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Brian Smith is “very interested” in running for the District 3 seat on the Kern County Board of Supervisors. In remarks to The Californian, he said he has begun seeking endorsements and support, but is not yet ready to make an official announcement.

 

Environmental group and Tejon Ranch agree on plan to build 19,300 zero-emission homes

Los Angeles Times

An environmental group agreed to the construction of a massive “net-zero” greenhouse gas community of 19,300 homes just off Interstate 5 on the southern flanks of the Tehachapi Mountains.

 

Kern County has the highest homicide rate of any California county. What’s behind it?

Visalia Times-Delta

The homicide rate in Kern County in 2020 was 12.7 per 100,000 residents, the highest of any California county, according to the Department of Justice. That’s about one for every 8,000 people in a county of about 900,000. ​​ 

 

Bakersfield agrees to pay $250K to settle 2014 deadly police shooting

KGET

Mick Marderosian, outside counsel for the city, confirmed the settlement was reached with the mother of Michael Dozer, shot and killed by a Bakersfield police officer during a confrontation at a gas station in 2014.

Bakersfield Homeless Center named Bank of America's 2021 Neighborhood Champion

Bakersfield Californian

The Bakersfield Homeless Center was announced Wednesday as Bank of America’s 2021 Neighborhood Champion for its work addressing homelessness and food insecurity in Kern County.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

COVID vaccinations Sacramento Bee

​​ 

State Agencies Recommend Indoor Residential Water Use Standard to Legislature

CA Department of Water Resources

Two state agencies have submitted a report to the Legislature recommending that urban water suppliers achieve an indoor water use efficiency standard of 55 gallons per capita per day by 2023, declining to 47 gallons per day by 2025, and 42 gallons by 2030 and beyond.

​​ 

As drought worsens, officials say mandatory water cuts likely coming for urban Californians

Sacramento Bee

With the drought showing no signs of abating, California officials announced Wednesday they plan to deliver almost no water from the State Water Project to begin next year — and suggested that mandatory cutbacks in urban usage could come if conditions stay dry.

See also:

●  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Zero sum game: State initial water allocation — zero percent Porterville Recorder

●  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California water districts to get 0% of requested supplies Bakersfield Californian

●  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California Dept. of Water Resources announces 0% water allocation except for health and safety needs abc30

●  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California drought: State Water Project will deliver no water to most communities next year Mercury News

●  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ California water districts to get 0% of requested supplies Sacramento Bee

●  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Walters: Drought has big impacts on California agriculture CalMatters

​​ 

Why isn’t California’s economy adding jobs faster?

CalMatters

At a CalMatters/Milken Institute event, experts discuss how the pandemic has changed the California economy, but why there’s reason for hope. Here are three key takeaways.

​​ 

California Judge weighs legality of women board member law

Business Journal

Three years after California Law, a judge will begin hearing evidence Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court that could undo the law credited with giving more women seats in boardrooms traditionally dominated by men.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

Roe v. Wade's future is in doubt after historic arguments at Supreme Court

VPR
The right to an abortion in the United States appeared to be on shaky ground as a divided Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on the fate of Roe v. Wade, the court's 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the United States.

See also:

 

Tick, tick: House ends day with no shutdown deal

Politico

Democrats are scrambling to avoid a possible government shutdown in less than 72 hours as they desperately seek an agreement with the GOP during a day of frantic cross-aisle talks.

See also:

 

Bill would create database to address supply chain crisis

Roll Call

A group of bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers is hoping to push a supply chain bill through Congress during the final days of the year.

See also:

 

Thousands of California farmworkers to get pay raises after lawsuit halts Trump-era freeze

Sacramento Bee

Tens of thousands of California’s guest farmworkers and U.S. farmworkers will see pay increases in 2022, which advocates say comes thanks to their lawsuit to stop a Trump-era wage freeze.

​​ 

How Much Are Latinos Shifting Right?

New York Times

So far, the data remains mixed. And the defection of Ryan Guillen, a Texas state lawmaker, to the G.O.P. may not have been driven solely by ideology.

​​ 

Opinion: Republicans battle over ‘socialism-lite’

AEI

Luminaries like Marco Rubio are repudiating free markets and big business. Defenders like Nikki Haley are retaliating, in a clash that looks back at Trump and forward to 2024.

​​ 

‘Not-so-secret weapon’: Critics warn Trump, GOP planning 2024 Electoral College heist

Roll Call

'It was the progressive left that was the first to put together something like this,' one conservative says

​​ 

Opinion: Wanted this holiday season – More wise men and women on the Hill

Roll Call

Where are the wise men and women bearing gifts? All we’ve got are Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar and Marjorie Taylor Greene, pumped up with power in a Republican Party they rule, with support from the Ghost of an Administration Past, holed up in Mar-a-Lago.

​​ 

Other:

 

Young Americans are raising alarms about the state of U.S. democracy in a new poll

VPR
A majority of young Americans are worried about the state of democracy in the U.S., according to a new poll released this week by the Harvard University Kennedy School's Institute of Politics.

 

Pandemic Spurs Technology Revolution in State Civil Courts

Pew Trusts

New report examines the dramatic changes and their impacts, and recommends strategies to build on the progress

Twitter and Facebook hit back at Chinese propaganda campaigns.

New York Times

Twitter and Facebook said they have removed thousands of accounts connected to Chinese information campaigns, in the latest sign of Beijing’s ambitions to shape the global narrative around the country.

 

Opinion: Could the Facebook papers close the deal on privacy legislation?

Brookings

The single most effective step Congress can take is to enact comprehensive privacy legislation to address the explosion of digital information not covered by existing, narrower privacy laws.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, December 5, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: ​​ "California’s Changing Electorate" - Guest: Mindy Romero, Director - Center for Inclusive Democracy, Price School of Public Policy at USC; Dean Bonner, Associate Survey Director and Research Fellow - PPIC. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, December 5, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: ​​ "California Changing Electorate: ​​ Is the Valley’s Electorate More or Less So?"- Guests: Thomas Holyoke, Professor of Political Science - Fresno State; Jessica Trounstine, Professor of Political Science - UC Merced; Ivy Cargile, Asst. Professor of Political Science - CSU Bakersfield. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Thousands of California farmworkers to get pay raises after lawsuit halts Trump-era freeze

Sacramento Bee

Tens of thousands of California’s guest farmworkers and U.S. farmworkers will see pay increases in 2022, which advocates say comes thanks to their lawsuit to stop a Trump-era wage freeze.

 

Walters: Drought has big impacts on California agriculture

CalMatters

California’s serious and prolonged drought is having serious and prolonged impacts on California’s agricultural industry, the nation’s largest.

 

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

 

Crime:

 

Kern County has the highest homicide rate of any California county. What’s behind it?

Visalia Times-Delta

The homicide rate in Kern County in 2020 was 12.7 per 100,000 residents, the highest of any California county, according to the Department of Justice. That’s about one for every 8,000 people in a county of about 900,000. ​​ 

 

Prosecute shoplifters under existing laws, governor says

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday in no uncertain terms that he thinks shoplifters should be prosecuted under existing California laws, as he called out local officials whom he said have been reluctant to do so.

 

Public Safety:

 

Opinion: Meaningful police reform in California starts with training

CalMatters

New Little Hoover Commission report focuses on five ways to improve law enforcement training in California.

Opinion: How to address California’s gun violence problem

CalMatters

Here are four things we can do to achieve dramatic reductions in gun violence and firearm suicides in the next five years.

 

EDITORIAL: California’s efforts to protect citizens from wanton gun violence are still in danger

Los Angeles Times

The 12-judge 9th Circuit en banc ruling was not unanimous. Four members would have upheld a lower court judge who struck down the ban and in the process compared the type of semi automatic weapon used to kill 12 moviegoers in Aurora, Colo., in 2012.

 

Fire:

 

Strategies to Improve Long-Term Forest Management

Little Hoover Commission

To prevent destructive wildfires and limit their impacts when they do occur, the Institute’s report recommends that California take several steps to better prepare and address these disasters.

 

'We're one cigarette away': Illegal marijuana farms pose wildfire risk in California's parched national forests

NBC

Law enforcement can’t keep up with drug traffickers who grow marijuana in national forests, poisoning wildlife, siphoning water and risking wildfires.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Asian shares mixed after omicron worries rattle Wall Street

Fresno Bee

Asian shares were mixed Wednesday amid nervous trading due to worries over the newest coronavirus variant.

 

Opinion: The ‘real’ economic advantage of investing in families this holiday season

Brookings

A recent Economic Policy Forum projection shows a gain of nearly 2.3 million jobs on average, per year, for the first five years of the BBBA—including jobs directly in the child care and education sectors and among support industries, like child nutrition and public housing.

 

Jobs:

 

Press Release: American Time Use Survey – May to December 2019 and 2020 Results

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The percent of employed persons working at home on days they worked nearly doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, rising to 42 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Average travel time, commuting, decreased for all demographic groups.

 

U.S. faces urgent anti-hacker crisis

Axios

The Biden administration is accelerating efforts to fill nearly 600,000 vacant cybersecurity positions in the public and private sectors bogging down efforts to protect digital infrastructure.

 

EDUCATION

K-12:

 

Modesto, Turlock schools report COVID-19 cases over weeks leading up to Thanksgiving break

Modesto Bee

Modesto and Turlock school districts reported a combined 40 COVID-19 cases in the days leading up to their Thanksgiving breaks. Countywide data was not available.

 

Opinion: Why I’m Backing Charter Schools

Wall Street Journal

Michael Bloomberg argues that the public school system is failing. His philanthropy will give $750 million to a proven alternative.

 

Opinion: Social-emotional learning and the perils of teaching as therapy

AEI

I’ve long been apprehensive about what gets promoted in the name of SEL. I’ve cautioned that SEL must not “become an excuse to displace content instruction, burden teachers, or justify dubious pedagogy.”

 

Higher Ed:

 

Fresno State seeing improved graduation rates as part of Graduation Initiative 2025

abc30

A statewide initiative among the CSUs is causing graduation rates to climb for Fresno State college students. Graduation Initiative 2025 is an effort by the CSUs to increase degree completion rates and they're seeing success.

 

Fresno State coaching search close to hitting next phase, and could move quickly from there

Fresno Bee

Fresno State is not using a search firm to assist in the identification or vetting of candidates as it hires its next football coach, after Kalen DeBoer bolted after two seasons for a Power Five conference opportunity at Washington.

 

Fresno Pacific returning to in-person graduation ceremonies

abc30

Fresno Pacific is resuming in-person graduation ceremonies. The university is also giving previous graduates the chance to walk. FPU has held all of its commencements virtually the last two years.

 

Geography of College Aid in California

Public Policy Institute of California

Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is vital to improving college access and affordability. Yet many California high school graduates do not complete the form, with wide variation across districts.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Environmental group and Tejon Ranch agree on plan to build 19,300 zero-emission homes

Los Angeles Times

An environmental group agreed to the construction of a massive “net-zero” greenhouse gas community of 19,300 homes just off Interstate 5 on the southern flanks of the Tehachapi Mountains.

 

Science report: US should make less plastic to save oceans

Sacramento Bee

America needs to rethink and reduce the way it generates plastics because so much of the material is littering the oceans and other waters, the National Academy of Sciences says in a new report.

 

Energy:

 

Oil demand, climate change clash in California pipeline plan

Associated Press

A proposal to replace an oil pipeline that was shut down in 2015 after causing California’s worst coastal spill in 25 years is inching though a government review, even as the state moves toward banning gas-powered vehicles and oil drilling.

 

U.S. energy chief hints California may grant reprieve to its last nuclear plant

KFGO

California may reconsider whether to close its last nuclear power plant as public support has grown for the low-carbon energy source, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told Reuters on Tuesday. She added she was willing to eventually talk with state officials about keeping the Diablo Canyon plant open.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters

VPR
The discovery of omicron — the new variant of coronavirus with a high number of concerning mutations — has kicked off a frenzy of research. Scientists are racing to figure out how transmissible this variant is and how resistant to vaccines.

See also:

 

A different kind of COVID vaccine is about ready to roll

VPR

A new kind of COVID-19 vaccine is about to roll out around the world. Although it won't replace the highly successful vaccines currently available, it could make a difference in the course of the pandemic, especially in lower resourced countries.

See also:

 

Human Services:

 

For Many Rural and Lower-Income Californians, Abortion Access Remains Limited

KQED

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in a case challenging Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision guaranteeing the right to an abortion.

 

Opinion: A solution to attract and retain nurse graduates

CalMatters

Here is one solution to the problem of attracting and retaining nurse graduates to a specific hospitals that is a win-win.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Democrats make last effort to keep immigration reforms in social spending bill

Los Angeles Times

House Democrats last month passed legislation that would offer protection from deportation for millions of immigrants for the first time in more than 35 years. This is the Democrats’ last chance to achieve reforms to the nation’s immigration system before the 2022 midterm election.

See also:

 

U.S. Reaches Deal to Restart ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program for Asylum Seekers

Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration’s agreement with Mexico allows the U.S. to resume a controversial Trump-era policy, but with some changes.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

New Infrastructure Law Funds Dam and Culvert Removal

Pew Trusts

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 establishes the National Culvert Replacement Program, which will provide $1 billion over five years to states, tribal nations, and local governments to repair or remove culverts to ease passage for endangered and threatened fish.

 

Housing:

 

Campus Pointe developers request a half-million dollar refund for newest housing fees

Fresno Bee

Campus Pointe — the largest public-private project in the CSU system — unveiled a 142-unit apartment complex for adults 55 and older Wed., one day before the Fresno City Council was supposed to vote on whether to refund the project’s developer about half a million dollars.

 

Who Can Afford to Rent in California’s Many Regions?

California Housing Partnership

The Housing Partnership updated an analysis —first conducted two years ago—of the

income required to afford average asking rents in each county across California, asking to what extent renters of different income groups are struggling with housing affordability.

 

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Parents could get a lot of help with Biden child care plan. How long will it last?

Sacramento Bee

There’s a lot for many California parents to gain in the Biden administration’s Build Back Better plan: big tax breaks for each child, free pre-kindergarten programs and a limit on how much families pay for child care. But much of the change would be temporary.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

California appeals court deals a blow to high-speed rail opponents. What the ruling means

Fresno Bee

Judges on California’s 3rd District Court of Appeal dealt another blow to the hopes of high-speed rail opponents in Kings County and elsewhere across the state, issuing a ruling Tuesday that the current use of bond funds for construction in the central San Joaquin Valley does not violate the California Constitution.

 

Biden to Toughen Testing for International Travelers to Slow Omicron

Wall Street Journal

President Biden plans to tighten up Covid-19 testing timelines for travelers entering the U.S. and extend a mask mandate on airplanes and other public transportation as part of a broad administration effort to combat the Omicron variant.

See also:

 

WATER

 

Zero sum game: State initial water allocation — zero percent

Porterville Recorder

The State Department of Water Resources has made history and obviously not the kind of history anybody wanted — but also figured could happen. For the first time the DWR's initial allocation of water is zero percent of what water agencies requested for 2022.

See also:

 

No watering today: Winter guidelines go into effect

Porterville Recorder

Those with even addresses who are used to watering their lawns every Wed. need to be reminded they're not supposed to do that today. Porterville is switching from the summer Phase III water conservation restrictions to the winter Phase IV water restrictions, beginning today.

 

State pledges $200 million to Friant-Kern, Central California canal fixes

Visalia Times-Delta

The state Department of Water Resources has created a $200 million program to help restore several Central California canals damaged by groundwater pumping. The program includes $40 million for the Friant-Kern Canal that snakes through eastern Tulare County.

 

As drought worsens, officials say mandatory water cuts likely coming for urban Californians

Sacramento Bee

With the drought showing no signs of abating, California officials announced Wednesday they plan to deliver almost no water from the State Water Project to begin next year — and suggested that mandatory cutbacks in urban usage could come if conditions stay dry.

 

Walters: Drought has big impacts on California agriculture

CalMatters

California’s serious and prolonged drought is having serious and prolonged impacts on California’s agricultural industry, the nation’s largest.

 

“Xtra”

 

Enjoy la vie 'Boheme' with CSUB's 'Evening of Opera Scenes'

Bakersfield Californian

Prepare for a night at the opera by way of Cal State Bakersfield with "An Evening of Opera Scenes" on Thursday.

 

Don't put Ovation's 'Elf' on a shelf

Bakersfield Californian

Load up on the candy and maple syrup-topped spaghetti: "Elf" is coming to town by way of Ovation Theatre.

Children’s Electric Christmas Parade Returns

Clovis Roundup

The annual Children’s Electric Christmas Parade hosted by the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis Club will make its return on Saturday December 4th.

 

Busy hands, busy feet prepare for 'Nutcracker'

Bakersfield Californian

Staff and other volunteers who make sure the costumes are performance-ready through the run of the show, which this year will be Dec. 10-12.

 

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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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