March 11, 2021

11Mar

POLICY & POLITICS

 

Maddy Associate Speaker Series: “California's State Auditor Elaine Howle: The State Watchdog Reports” March 22 (noon to 1 pm)

Join us for a discussion about some of the latest State Auditor's reports, including critical analysis of the State's efforts regarding COVID-related unemployment compensation benefits, affordable housing, and climate change. Click here to register with code MA0322.

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

'We are San Joaquin County strong': Patti highlights positives over the last year in State of the County speech

Stockton Record

While the COVID-19 pandemic loomed large in his "State of the County" address Tuesday, San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chair Tom Patti focused primarily on the good things that have happened in the past year and what is in store for the county's future.

 

Michael Tubbs, who championed guaranteed income in Stockton, to join Newsom administration

Sacramento Bee

Former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, who was among the first elected officials in the nation to champion guaranteed income, will become the special adviser for economic mobility and opportunity for Gov. Gavin Newsom.

 

Editorial: Modesto has fallen embarrassingly short of housing target. That has to change.

Modesto Bee

As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to wane, local leaders must turn their attention to housing. The superheated real estate market has left too many of our people scrambling, unable to afford inflated housing and rental costs. Too many end up on the street or in shelters, with little hope for improved living conditions.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Fresno CA area leaders say Valley getting millions in relief

Fresno Bee

The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package passed Wednesday has benefits and hundreds of millions of dollars for the Central California San Joaquin Valley.

See also:

 

Are rogue dine-in restaurants hampering Fresno’s COVID progress? Here’s what top doctor thinks

Fresno Bee

Fresno County’s progress toward escaping the most stringent tier of COVID-19 business restrictions has slowed in recent weeks, leaving the county lingering at the cusp of progress within California’s color-coded Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

 

Fresno Unified students from all grades who want in-person learning to return by April 13

abc30

Fresno Unified students from all grades that want to return to in-person learning should be able to come back to campus by April 13, the school district announced on Wednesday.

See also:

 

Fight over police in Fresno schools heats up as political momentum swings against critics

Fresno Bee

Most students and parents want to keep armed police officers on Fresno Unified campuses, according to recent surveys conducted by FUSD and Fresno State, as part of the nearly year-long debate over the use of law enforcement in city schools.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Lawmakers react to Newsom's State of the State address

Bakersfield Californian

State lawmakers representing Kern County reacted to Gov. Gavin Newsom's State of the State speech delivered Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, instead of before lawmakers in a joint session of the Legislature in Sacramento as is usual.

 

The M.S. in Counseling Psychology at CSUB ranked No. 8

CSUB Newsroom

The counseling psychology program at California State University, Bakersfield received the No.8 ranking on the Best Counseling Psychology (CPSY) 2021 Master’s Degree Programs list on psychologydegreeguide.org.

 

Biofuel project proposed in McFarland would bury carbon from ag waste, produce alternative to diesel

Bakersfield Californian

An Iowa technology company has proposed a first-of-its-kind bioenergy project in McFarland that's expected to help cut a significant source of local air pollution while also reducing diesel emissions, burying carbon and employing about 50 local residents.

 

Kern County Votes To Greenlight More Than 40,000 Oil And Gas Wells Over Next 15 Years

VPR
The Kern County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a controversial ordinance Monday evening allowing the addition of more than 40,000 oil and gas wells over the next 15 years. The vote took place after supervisors heard 8 hours of public comments.

 

Bakersfield ranks second in nation for most deadly metropolitan areas for pedestrians

Bakersfield Californian

Our busiest streets and traffic arteries are designed primarily for the convenience of drivers, not the safety of pedestrians. This, according to a nationwide study released Tuesday, is one of the reasons Bakersfield is the second most dangerous metro area in the nation to be a pedestrian.

 

State:

 

COVID Update:

 

‘Look, we’ve made mistakes.’ As recall looms, Gavin Newsom defends his coronavirus record

Fresno Bee

With a potential recall election on the horizon, Gov. Gavin Newsom gave a full-throated defense of his coronavirus policies during his State of the State speech Tuesday, touting the fact that California has fewer deaths per capita than Texas, New York and the United States as a whole.

See also:

 

Who will California Republicans back in a Gavin Newsom recall campaign?

Fresno Bee

For the past year, Orinn Heatlie has been leading hundreds of Californians in an effort to unseat Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

See also:

 

California will recover from the pandemic faster than the U.S., forecast says

Los Angeles Times

The U.S. and California economies will experience near-record growth this year thanks to widespread vaccinations for COVID-19 and massive federal relief for struggling workers and businesses, UCLA forecasters predict.

See also:

 

Why California Republicans all voted against the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package

Fresno Bee

The COVID relief bill is a slush fund that’s little more than a liberal Democratic wish list. Too much is going to help cash-rich state and local governments. And the whole $1.9 trillion package costs much too much.

 

$6 billion in bonuses proposed for CA health care workers

abc30

California's health care workers could be in line for big bonuses under a new bill that would make the extra pay mandatory, but delay payments into 2022 to help with retention.

 

Will Biden give California more judges? Trials are backlogged for years

Sacramento Bee

Accused criminals are sitting in local jails for upwards of three years before they can get a trial. Judges have had caseloads at “emergency” levels for 20 years. Civil cases aren’t even getting hearings.

 

In the Capitol, new push to unionize staff members

Capitol Weekly

The first time, she had just one co-author; the second time, a dozen. Now, on her third attempt, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez has convinced nearly half of the California Assembly to co-author her bill to grant collective bargaining rights to rank-and-file Capitol staffers.

 

Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

What’s next for $1,400 checks? House passes stimulus plan, clearing way to send funds

Fresno Bee

The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan with $1,400 stimulus checks on Wednesday, clearing the way for the legislation to become law.

See also:

 

Biden’s first 50 days: Where he stands on key promises

Los Angeles Times

President Biden laid out an ambitious agenda for his first 100 days in office, promising swift action on climate change, immigration reform and the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Senate confirms Merrick Garland to be U.S. attorney general

Los Angeles Times

The Senate confirmed Merrick Garland on Wednesday to be the next U.S. attorney general with a strong bipartisan vote, placing the widely respected, veteran judge in the post as President Biden has vowed to restore the Justice Department’s reputation for independence.

See also:

 

Senate confirms Michael Regan as EPA chief

Los Angeles Times

The Senate confirmed Michael Regan on Wednesday to run the Environmental Protection Agency, putting an environmental regulator known for consensus-building at the helm of the agency that will lead President Biden’s efforts to combat climate change through tougher rules on power plants, car emissions and pollution from the fossil fuel industry.

See also:

 

Marcia Fudge confirmed as first Black woman to lead HUD in more than 40 years

Washington Post

The Senate voted 66-34 on Wednesday to confirm President Biden’s nomination of Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio) as secretary of housing and urban development, making her the first Black woman to lead the agency in more than four decades.

 

Editorial: Xavier Becerra’s Culture War

Wall Street Journal

The Senate Finance Committee split 14-14 last week on Xavier Becerra’s nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer must now force it to the floor for a confirmation vote, and this is one Cabinet choice who deserves a ticket back to California.

 

Opinion: Dear Senate: Want to Help the Economy? Pass These Conservation Bills

Pew Trusts

With the new Congress two months into its term, lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have found agreement on legislation to help conserve our public landscapes and aid our nation’s economic recovery.

 

Other:

 

What is Happening to the Republicans?

The New Yorker

One of the oldest imperatives of American electoral politics is to define your opponent before they can define themselves.

See also:

 

The Fight Against Vaccine Misinformation

The New Yorker

One morning in early December, Al Baker, the managing editor at Logically, a fact-checking startup in the United Kingdom, met with his team on Zoom. It was the first week of Britain’s covid-19-vaccination drive, and Baker was a little on edge.

 

Facebook Seeks to Dismiss Antitrust Suits, Saying It Hasn’t Harmed Consumers

Wall Street Journal

Facebook Inc. on Wednesday asked a federal judge to dismiss antitrust lawsuits by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, arguing that government enforcers have no valid basis for alleging the social media giant is suppressing competition.

See also:

 

Editorial: Will 2021 be the year women are finally declared equal under the U.S. Constitution?

Los Angeles Times

It’s been nearly 100 years since the amendment explicitly outlawing sex discrimination was drafted, and 49 years since a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress voted to send it to the states for ratification.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, March 14, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "State Legislative Agenda for 2021" - Guests: Asm. Devon Mathis; CA State Sen. Anna Caballero; Asm. Rudy Salas; Asm. Heath Flora. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, March 14, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: "State Legislative Response to the Pandemic" - Guests: CA State Sen. Andreas Borgeas; CA State Sen. Anna Caballero; Asm. Rudy Salas. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Clinics wait to vaccinate farmworkers: 'Our hands are tied'

Bakersfield Californian

With Georgia's sweet onion harvest approaching and COVID-19 vaccine arriving in increasing quantities from the federal government, migrant health centers around the state want to start vaccinating farmworkers. But there's a catch.

See also:

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Two postal workers charged with COVID-19 unemployment fraud

Los Angeles Times

Two U.S. Postal Service window clerks were arrested Wednesday on charges that they misused their positions to secure about $200,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits in a scam using debit cards obtained from the state with stolen identities.

 

Public Safety:

 

Fight over police in Fresno schools heats up as political momentum swings against critics

Fresno Bee

Most students and parents want to keep armed police officers on Fresno Unified campuses, according to recent surveys conducted by FUSD and Fresno State, as part of the nearly year-long debate over the use of law enforcement in city schools.

 

Bakersfield ranks second in nation for most deadly metropolitan areas for pedestrians

Bakersfield Californian

Our busiest streets and traffic arteries are designed primarily for the convenience of drivers, not the safety of pedestrians. This, according to a nationwide study released Tuesday, is one of the reasons Bakersfield is the second most dangerous metro area in the nation to be a pedestrian.

 

House Passes Gun-Control Measure Expanding Background Checks on Sales

Wall Street Journal

The House passed the first of a pair of gun-control bills, a priority for Democratic leaders impatient over years of little success on the issue amid broad Republican opposition. The vote was 227 to 203 on a measure to expand background checks to nearly all gun sales.

 

Fire:

 

Living With Fire: What California Can Learn From Native Burns

HuffPost

Rain falls on the 300-year-old oaks on a cold midwinter morning as a group of nearly 60 gathers here on what was once southern Sierra Miwok land.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

California will recover from the pandemic faster than the U.S., forecast says

Los Angeles Times

The U.S. and California economies will experience near-record growth this year thanks to widespread vaccinations for COVID-19 and massive federal relief for struggling workers and businesses, UCLA forecasters predict.

See also:

 

A Year Into the Pandemic, Long-Term Financial Impact Weighs Heavily on Many Americans

PEW Research Center

Roughly half of non-retired adults say the economic consequences of the coronavirus outbreak will make it harder for them to achieve their financial goals.

See also:

 

Small Businesses Seek More Time to Apply for PPP Loans

Wall Street Journal

Small-business advocates are calling on the federal government to extend the March 31 deadline to apply for a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program, citing recent changes made to the program and delays in processing applications.

 

Jobs:

 

U.S. Jobless Claims Ease as Hiring Picks Up

Wall Street Journal

Worker filings for unemployment benefits dropped to 712,000 last week, nearing their lowest level since the pandemic fueled a surge in layoffs last March.

 

Opinion: Labor protections needed for independent contractors

CalMatters

Providing independent contractors access to labor protections and benefits would help businesses comply with labor laws and spread costs more evenly.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Tutoring, meals and more: What California’s school reopening plan has for families

Fresno Bee

When Megan Bacigalupi’s sons went to distance learning last March, she knew it wouldn’t be easy. Now, the two boys who attend kindergarten and second grade in Oakland Unified School District, have been learning through Zoom for more than a year. What was a challenge in 2020 has the potential to impact her sons for years to come.

See also:

 

Nearly a dozen teachers laid off in Fresno’s Central schools following graduation changes

Fresno Bee

Ten full-time teachers in Fresno’s Central Unified School District will be out of a job by the end of the school year.

 

Fresno Unified students from all grades who want in-person learning to return by April 13

abc30

Fresno Unified students from all grades that want to return to in-person learning should be able to come back to campus by April 13, the school district announced on Wednesday.

 

How Did California Schools Assess Student Learning in Fall 2020?

PPIC

One of the key challenges is to figure out how to provide resources and support to students, especially those who did not thrive during distance learning. Assessment data is critical to identify learning gaps, develop intervention strategies, and mitigate learning loss.

 

Higher Ed:

 

The M.S. in Counseling Psychology at CSUB ranked No. 8

CSUB Newsroom

The counseling psychology program at California State University, Bakersfield received the No.8 ranking on the Best Counseling Psychology (CPSY) 2021 Master’s Degree Programs list on psychologydegreeguide.org.

 

UC, Cal State police much less diverse than the students they serve

CalMatters

California’s public universities are among the most racially diverse in the nation, but campus police departments don’t reflect that diversity. At 32 of 33 public university campuses, police officers are whiter than the students they serve, a CalMatters review shows.

 

American Rescue Plan Could Help Prevent State Public Higher Education Cuts

Center for American Progress

Over the past year, 22 states have cut a combined $1.9 billion in funding for higher education for the fiscal year that ends in June—translating to roughly 3.8 percent of what those states were spending on higher education before the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Senate confirms Michael Regan as EPA chief

Los Angeles Times

The Senate confirmed Michael Regan on Wednesday to run the Environmental Protection Agency, putting an environmental regulator known for consensus-building at the helm of the agency that will lead President Biden’s efforts to combat climate change through tougher rules on power plants, car emissions and pollution from the fossil fuel industry.

See also:

 

Opinion: Republicans are still sticking their heads in the tar sands on climate change

Los Angeles Times

A dozen Republican attorneys general have filed a legal challenge over President Biden’s executive order restoring an Obama administration directive that federal agencies estimate the social costs of carbon emissions when devising policies.

 

Opinion: Dear Senate: Want to Help the Economy? Pass These Conservation Bills

Pew Trusts

With the new Congress two months into its term, lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have found agreement on legislation to help conserve our public landscapes and aid our nation’s economic recovery.

 

Energy:

 

PG&E power outages affecting some customers as storm moves through Central CA

abc30

PG&E says hundreds of its customers have lost power as a winter storm moves through Central California, bringing rain, wind and snow. The utility company reported 1,700 customers without power in the foothills, affecting parts of Coarsegold, Oakhurst and Mariposa.

 

Biofuel project proposed in McFarland would bury carbon from ag waste, produce alternative to diesel

Bakersfield Californian

An Iowa technology company has proposed a first-of-its-kind bioenergy project in McFarland that's expected to help cut a significant source of local air pollution while also reducing diesel emissions, burying carbon and employing about 50 local residents.

 

Kern County Votes To Greenlight More Than 40,000 Oil And Gas Wells Over Next 15 Years

VPR
The Kern County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a controversial ordinance Monday evening allowing the addition of more than 40,000 oil and gas wells over the next 15 years. The vote took place after supervisors heard 8 hours of public comments.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

In The '24th Mile' Of A Marathon, Fauci And Collins Reflect On Their Pandemic Year

VPR
Two scientists, longtime friends and colleagues became two of the most public faces of the U.S. efforts to fight what ultimately became the coronavirus pandemic: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of former President Trump's White House coronavirus task force, and his boss, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health.

 

Fact Check: COVID-19 vaccines don’t use experimental technology, don’t track humans

PolitiFact

An image shared on Facebook claims COVID-19 vaccines use "new experimental technology never before used on humans" and that some "contain nanochips which can electronically track recipients."

 

Human Services:

 

Is your Fresno-area neighborhood getting extra COVID-19 vaccines? Here’s the map

Fresno Bee

More than half of residents in Fresno County and neighboring Valley counties live in some of the most socially and economically disadvantaged areas of California – neighborhoods that are getting special attention from the state to provide people with greater access to vaccinations against COVID-19.

See also:

 

Convalescent Plasma Strikes Out As COVID-19 Treatment

VPR
More than half a million Americans have received an experimental treatment for COVID-19 called convalescent plasma. But a year into the pandemic, it's not clear who, if anyone, benefits from it.

 

COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens are coming, experts say

Los Angeles Times

As adults in the United States continue to line up for their COVID-19 vaccines, children and teens have largely been kept out of the queue. That could soon change.

 

Federal officials relax guidance on nursing home visits, citing vaccines and slowing infections

Washington Post

Federal health officials on Wednesday substantially relaxed the government’s guidelines for family and friends to see nursing home residents in person, saying that vaccinations and a slowing of coronavirus infections in the facilities warrant restoring indoor visits in most situations.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

US reports surge of kids at SW border, a challenge for Biden

Bakersfield Californian

The number of migrant children and families seeking to cross the U.S. southwest border has surged to levels not seen since before the pandemic, a challenge for President Joe Biden as he works to undo the restrictive immigration policies of his predecessor.

See also:

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Renewable advocates bristle at Biden's move to preserve California desert land use plan

Utility Dive

The Bureau of Land Management's decision to scrap proposed Trump-era amendments to the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan is dividing conservationists and the industry.

 

Housing:

 

Editorial: Modesto has fallen embarrassingly short of housing target. That has to change.

Modesto Bee

As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to wane, local leaders must turn their attention to housing. The superheated real estate market has left too many of our people scrambling, unable to afford inflated housing and rental costs. Too many end up on the street or in shelters, with little hope for improved living conditions.

 

Bidding wars and overblown fears: Is there really a California exodus?

Los Angeles Daily News

When a strange and deadly virus shut down Hollywood last March, Alexander Shea knew he had to move fast. But to where? The 24-year-old actor and usher at Beverly Hills’ Wallis Annenberg theater was out of work overnight. Soon, the whole economy shut down.

 

Marcia Fudge confirmed as first Black woman to lead HUD in more than 40 years

Washington Post

The Senate voted 66-34 on Wednesday to confirm President Biden’s nomination of Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio) as secretary of housing and urban development, making her the first Black woman to lead the agency in more than four decades.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

Third stimulus check calculator: How much could you get from $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package?

abc30

The House of Representatives voted to approve the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk. Part of this package includes stimulus checks up to $1,400 for individuals and $2,800 for married couples, including an additional $1,400 per dependent.

See also:

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Bakersfield ranks second in nation for most deadly metropolitan areas for pedestrians

Bakersfield Californian

Our busiest streets and traffic arteries are designed primarily for the convenience of drivers, not the safety of pedestrians. This, according to a nationwide study released Tuesday, is one of the reasons Bakersfield is the second most dangerous metro area in the nation to be a pedestrian.

 

Airlines, public transit agencies say $1.9 trillion relief plan would prevent deep cuts, job losses

Washington Post

President Biden’s sweeping $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package would give airlines, airports and public transit agencies more breathing room to adjust to a new normal as the nation emerges from the global pandemic, transportation officials say.

 

Opinion: The Silver Linings of Pandemic-Era Air Travel

Wall Street Journal

Can any good come from this? In travel, yes, there actually are some silver linings to the pandemic. Some technologies are rolling out faster. Some key airport projects have been sped up to take advantage of the absence of passengers and airplanes. Some airline policies have changed for the benefit of fliers.

 

WATER

 

Western states chart diverging paths as water shortages loom

Fresno Bee

As persistent drought and climate change threaten the Colorado River, several states that rely on the water acknowledge they likely won't get what they were promised a century ago. But not Utah.

 

“Xtra”

 

Merced County Fair canceled for 2nd year due to pandemic

abc30

The Merced County Fair has been canceled for the second year in a row. The 2021 event would have marked the 130th year for the longstanding tradition. It was scheduled to run from June 9 through June 13.

 

Blessing Corner to hold food distribution Sunday

Bakersfield Californian

The Blessing Corner Outreach will hold a drive-up and walk-up food distribution event from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at 101 Union Ave. at the corner of 1st Street.

 

Congress ready to play ball again, after pandemic canceled 2020 season

Roll Call

When the NBA and NHL abruptly shut down last March, the severity of the coronavirus began to hit home for many Americans. Losing sports was a turning point.

 

Bethany Clough: Six new food trucks open in Fresno. Where to find them and why the culture is booming

Fresno Bee

One industry that’s weathering the pandemic? Food trucks. With no indoor dining to worry about, food trucks are continuing to sell their street food around Fresno. And a slew of new food trucks and trailers are joining their ranks.

 

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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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