May 11, 2021

11May

POLICY & POLITICS

 

North SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

National group urges Turlock to stop homeless camp sweeps. Here’s what it recommends

Modesto Bee

A national legal group on Thursday urged the Turlock City Council to change its local homeless crisis strategy and comply with COVID-19 guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

See also:

 

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

Modesto Bee

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

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

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

Fresno Bee

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

 

Clovis Must Zone For Low-Income Housing According To Court Ruling

VPR

A recent ruling on a lawsuit filed in 2019 says the city of Clovis must begin the process of building more high-density, affordable housing and has been violating a state law by not doing so.

 

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

Fresno Bee

I believe, over the next several years, we will see significant, tangible progress on the long-envisioned 22-mile San Joaquin River Parkway between Friant Dam and Highway 99.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

COVID Update:

 

Valadao calls for work on immigration, water

Bakersfield Californian

Rep. David Valadao ranked immigration and water as his top two legislative priorities during a brief online chat Monday in which he emphasized the importance of bipartisanship, especially to a "very purple" district like his.

 

Column: The agony and ecstasy of Kevin McCarthy

Los Angeles Times

Being Kevin McCarthy can’t be easy or very much fun these days. He’s in the throes of a bruising congressional leadership fight. He’s being attacked — on Fox News! — for a cush Washington living arrangement.

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State:

 

COVID Update:

 

California expands drought emergency to large swath of state

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday expanded a drought emergency declaration to a large swath of the nation's most populated state amid “acute water supply shortages" in northern and central parts of California.

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Stimulus checks, rent relief: Newsom unveils California economic recovery plan

abc30

Gov. Gavin Newsom and state leaders announced on Monday a $100 billion economic recovery relief plan that will provide one-time stimulus checks, rent and utility relief for more Californians.

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Opposition to Newsom recall grows as Caitlyn Jenner, GOP generate little support, poll finds

Los Angeles Times

The campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom has failed to gain momentum in recent months as significantly more California voters favor keeping him in office, while candidates hoping to take the governor’s place have little backing.

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Federal:

 

COVID Update:

 

Biden Administration to Start Doling Out $350 Billion in Aid to State, Local Governments

Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration will begin distributing $350 billion to state and local governments this month, giving them money to pay for pandemic-related costs, fill revenue shortfalls and pay for water, sewer and broadband projects—but not to cut state taxes.

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Biden administration restores healthcare protections for transgender people

Los Angeles Times

The U.S. will protect gay and transgender people against sex discrimination in healthcare, the Biden administration announced Monday, reversing a Trump-era policy that sought to narrow the scope of legal rights in sensitive situations involving medical treatment.

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McCarthy tells House Republicans to expect a Wednesday vote on removing Liz Cheney from her leadership position

Visalia Times Delta

House Republicans are expected to hold a Wednesday vote to strip Rep. Liz Cheney of her leadership position, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield., told members Monday.

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Congress mulls $500 million in grants to help states upgrade cybersecurity

Roll Call

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is drafting legislation that would provide as much as $500 million in annual grants to states and local governments to boost cybersecurity as financial fraud and ransomware attacks continue to cripple essential citizen services.

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Biden hits 63 percent approval rating in new AP poll

The Hill

Sixty-three percent of American approve of President Biden's job performance thus far, according to an Associated Press-NORC poll released Monday, up 2 percentage points from late March.

 

Booker, Hirono, Padilla to lead DSCC diversity effort

Roll Call

A trio of Democratic senators are leading a new effort in their party’s campaign arm to engage campaign staffers and communities of color ahead of the 2022 midterms, when Democrats will be defending their slim Senate majority.

 

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

Los Angeles Times

High turnout among voters of color, increased support among white voters with college degrees, and a stop — or a least a pause — in declining support for Democrats among white voters without degrees.

 

Other:

 

Axios-Ipsos poll: 'Normal' is in sight

Axios

For the first time since the pandemic began, less than half of Americans (43%) say returning to their "normal" pre-coronavirus lives would pose a large or moderate risk, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

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

 

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

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

As Wildfire Season Nears, Many California Farmers Can’t Get Fire Insurance

Civil Eats

On an October night in 2019, Scott Newman stood on his Sonoma Valley farm and watched the smoke plumes from the Kinkade Fire over the mountains to his north. He texted a friend, the local fire chief, “It looks like we might be in the fire path.” Minutes later, Newman recalled, the chief replied, “Sadly, yes.”

 

Opinion: Let’s make California a state where there is food for all

CalMatters

It’s estimated that 1 in 10 Californians experienced food insecurity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that 2 million undocumented immigrants were not eligible for most food assistance programs. After this pandemic, many families will remain in need.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Is California’s new police deadly force law making a difference?

CalMatters

Cases in San Diego and San Leandro will test the stricter standards on when officers can shoot to kill. Training of officers on the new law is inconsistent.

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Cyberattack that shut down U.S. pipeline linked to criminal gang

Los Angeles Times

The cyber-extortion attempt that has forced the shutdown of a vital U.S. pipeline was carried out by a criminal gang known as DarkSide, which cultivates a Robin Hood image of stealing from corporations and giving a cut to charity.

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Viewpoints: Gavin Newsom’s May budget should address another pandemic: Gun violence

Sacramento Bee

When night falls in Sacramento during the warmer months, you can count on two sounds: the irritable buzzing of pesky mosquitoes, and the sporadic pop of gunfire, destroying the peace and tranquility of what is otherwise a beautiful and promising city.

 

Public Safety:

 

‘We don’t pay you to think.’ Female employee sues California prisons, alleging discrimination

Sacramento Bee

One of the few female maintenance workers at a California prison is suing the corrections department, alleging her former boss repeatedly harassed and undermined her because of her gender.

 

California is the best state in US to be a police officer, report finds. Here’s why

Fresno Bee

While protests over police brutality were rampant in California last summer, it is still the best state to be a cop, a new report found. WalletHub released a report ranking the best and worst states for police officers in 2021, and California was ranked No. 1.

 

Most prison staff refuse COVID vaccine — should California let them?

CalMatters

His answer was crystal clear: “No. Never will.” That’s how a prison guard at California Rehabilitation Center in Norco feels about taking the COVID-19 vaccine, and he’s not alone.

 

Fire:

 

Firefighter shortage poses problem as number of Fresno fires continues to rise

abc30

Fires in Fresno are up 50% compared to this time last year, and with the hottest months still ahead, officials say that percentage is expected to rise. Firefighters are expecting 2021 to be a record-breaking year.

 

ECONOMY/JOBS

 

Economy:

 

Biden says ‘economic plan is working’, despite disappointing April jobs report

The Guardian

Several GOP-led states are opting out of federally-funded pandemic programs that provide additional aid and benefits to the unemployed, citing concerns that they will slow economic recovery.

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A new $350M casino is breaking ground off Highway 99. What will it mean for jobs, economy?

Fresno Bee

The Las Vegas company behind bringing a new Native American casino to Madera County is close to breaking ground, according to a high-ranking official close to the project.

 

Credit-Card Debt Keeps Falling. Banks Are On Edge.

Wall Street Journal

Americans are paying down their credit-card debt at levels not seen in years. That is good news for everyone but credit-card issuers.

 

Paying With Cash? Retailers Must Take Your Dollars in These States

PEW Trusts

Colorado state Rep. Alex Valdez sponsored a bill that would require retailers to accept cash, with a few exceptions. “We really just need to reaffirm that cash is currency,” he said.

 

Opinion: How the Federal Reserve could wreck the US economy

AEI
The Federal Reserve acknowledges that this year the U.S. economy is set to have its strongest economic recovery in the past forty years as a result of massive budget stimulus. Yet it takes no action to reduce the risk of economic overheating.

 

Jobs:

 

California’s Recent Job Gains Are Promising, but Policy Choices Now Will Determine if an Equitable Economy Is Ahead

California Budget & Policy Center

With COVID-19 cases plummeting and vaccine distribution expanding, businesses are picking up hiring. This is bringing hope that California has turned the corner on the pandemic and is setting a path forward for an economic recovery to finally take hold.

 

U.S. Job Openings Reach Record High Despite Hiring Slowdown

Wall Street Journal

Job openings reached a record level of 8.1 million at the end of March, reflecting a widening gap between open positions and workers willing to take those roles.

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EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

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

Fresno Bee

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

 

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

Modesto Bee

Students taking science courses at Turlock High School couldn’t have asked for a more dramatic change when classes resumed April 12 after spring break.

 

California's new math war: Should schools push students to speed through algebra, calculus?

San Francisco Chronicle

A debate over how to teach math in California is heating up as state officials look to redefine success in the subject, with calculus no longer the gold standard of achievement, and a move to push Algebra 1 out of middle schools.

 

Students, community organizations ask judge to order mental health services, internet access

EdSource

Community organizations and parents from Los Angeles and Oakland are asking an Alameda County Superior Court judge to order the state to immediately provide computers and internet access and address the mental health needs of children who have borne the brunt of the pandemic.

 

US schools fight to keep students amid fear of dropout surge

AP News

U.S. educators are doing everything they can to track down high school students who stopped showing up to classes and to help them get the credits needed to graduate, amid an anticipated surge in the country’s dropout rate during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Higher Ed:

 

Madera Community College breaks ground on new academic village

abc30

Madera Community College is expanding its footprint in the community. The school broke ground on a new addition to the campus on Friday. The school is adding what it's calling an 'academic village' to the campus.

 

Warren, Sanders Call For Expanding Food Aid To College Students

VPR

Democrats in the House and Senate are introducing legislation Tuesday that would make pandemic-related food benefits for college students permanent.

 

Opinion: Is free college a good idea? Increasingly, evidence says yes

Brookings

In just a few short years, the idea of free college has moved from a radical idea to mainstream Democratic thinking. President Biden made free college one of his core campaign planks, and one that the first lady has been promoting for years.

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

Modesto Bee

This question might be asked of the final candidate before Modesto Junior College’s next president is announced this week: Do you think you could stick around longer than a year and a half?

 

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Reaching Back To The New Deal, Biden Proposes A Civilian Climate Corps

VPR

To address those concerns and bolster the country's preparedness for a warming world, President Biden wants to retool and relaunch one of the country's most celebrated government programs: the Civilian Conservation Corps.

 

California agency approves warehouse rule for air quality

AP News

Southern California air quality regulators on Friday approved a rule that would curb diesel emissions from thousands of trucks that ferry goods from the growing number of massive warehouses in the region run by Amazon and other companies.

 

Cutting methane gas 'crucial for climate fight'

BBC
Methane is produced when living things decompose; it's also in natural gas. It persists for just a short time in the atmosphere - unlike carbon dioxide - but methane is a much more potent global warming gas than CO2.

 

Air pollution from farms leads to 17,900 U.S. deaths per year, study finds

Washington Post

Animal agriculture is the worst emitter, researchers say, responsible for 80 percent of deaths from pollution related to food production.

 

Energy:

 

Solar-Rich California Hits 95% Renewable Energy On a Recent Day Across 80 Percent of the State

Good News Network

For approximately four seconds on April 29, California got 95% of its power from renewable energy—with the Golden State using about 90% renewables in the afternoon hours during a period of warm, cloudless weather.

 

Opinion: Barriers to achieving US climate goals are more political than technical

Brookings

On Earth Day, April 22, President Joe Biden hosted a global summit on climate change to emphasize that the United States is back in the game on climate policy and to encourage greater climate ambition among other countries.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

It may be time to relax indoor face mask mandates, Fauci says

abc30

Dr. Anthony Fauci says federal guidance on wearing face coverings indoors may change soon. Sunday on ABC News, Fauci was asked whether it's time to start relaxing indoor masks requirements. Fauci replied, "I think so, and I think you're going to probably be seeing that as we go along, and as more people get vaccinated."

See also:

 

Kids and the Covid-19 Vaccine: Is it Safe and When Can They Get It?

Wall Street Journal

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE for use in children 12 to 15 years. The shot is the first cleared for administration in the younger age group.

See also:

 

Worried About Going Out Once California Reopens? Experts Say Take It Slow.

Capital Public Radio

The world around us is changing. As vaccination rates rise businesses are reopening, people are beginning to see more friends and many workplaces are inviting employees back onsite.

See also:

 

Human Services:

 

Confidence grows that COVID-19 vaccines hold their own against variants

Los Angeles Times

Confidence is growing that COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. are holding their own against the coronavirus variants now in circulation.

 

Uber, Lyft to Provide Free Rides to Covid-19 Vaccine Sites Until July 4

Wall Street Journal

The White House will announce a new partnership with ride-sharing companies Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. to make all rides to and from vaccination sites free until July 4, according to administration officials.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Becerra’s cautious border play rankles White House

Politico

Becerra has argued for maintaining the historically low Trump-era cap on refugee admissions to the U.S., according to two people with knowledge of the matter, for fear of stretching the already-thin resources of his department’s refugee office.

 

Foreign Entrepreneurs to Gain More Access to Immigration Program

Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration plans to revive an immigration program that lets foreign entrepreneurs work in the U.S. by withdrawing a Trump administration proposal that aimed to kill the program.

 

Editorial: Declining U.S. birth rate adds urgency to the need for smart immigration reform

Los Angeles Times

The recent announcement that the U.S. birth rate slipped further during the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t come as a surprise, but that didn’t make it any less sobering.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

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

Fresno Bee

I believe, over the next several years, we will see significant, tangible progress on the long-envisioned 22-mile San Joaquin River Parkway between Friant Dam and Highway 99.

 

Housing:

 

Clovis Must Zone For Low-Income Housing According To Court Ruling

VPR

A recent ruling on a lawsuit filed in 2019 says the city of Clovis must begin the process of building more high-density, affordable housing and has been violating a state law by not doing so.

 

National group urges Turlock to stop homeless camp sweeps. Here’s what it recommends

Modesto Bee

A national legal group on Thursday urged the Turlock City Council to change its local homeless crisis strategy and comply with COVID-19 guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

See also:

 

California would pay 100% of missing rent for low-income tenants under Newsom’s budget plan

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to set aside $7.2 billion to help low-income tenants financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic cover all of their outstanding rent and utility payments as part of a $100 billion economic recovery plan he announced Monday.

 

Government Housing Vouchers Are Hard To Get, And Hard To Use

VPR

Even in the best of times, it can be hard to use housing vouchers, which allow recipients to pay one-third of their income on rent, with the government covering the rest.

 

California’s population shrank in 2020, but don’t call it an exodus

CalMatters

The COVID-19 pandemic has done what more than a century of past plagues, recessions, crime waves, droughts and earthquakes couldn’t.

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

California governor proposes tax rebate as virus relief

Bakersfield Californian

Millions of poor and middle-class Californians would get tax rebates of up to $1,100 under a proposal unveiled Monday by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, as part of a broader pandemic recovery plan made possible by an eye-popping $75 billion budget surplus.

See also:

 

California has a staggering $75.7B budget surplus

Politico

California expects a staggering $75.7 billion surplus despite a year of pandemic closures — an amount that surpasses most states' annual spending and prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday to propose sending cash back to residents as he faces a recall election.

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Editorial: Of course California should share its wealth with residents who need it

Los Angeles Times

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the finances of millions of Californians, leaving many of them teetering on the edge of solvency even as the economy rebounds. But the state’s fortunes have never been brighter.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

FAA seeks fines against more misbehaving airline passengers

Bakersfield Californian

Federal officials said Monday they are pursuing civil penalties against two more passengers for interfering with airline crews, the latest in a surge of such cases in recent months.

 

An Extended Pipeline Shutdown Could Affect Gas Prices In Southeast U.S.

VPR

The shutdown of one of the largest refined products pipelines in the United States following a ransomware attack has prompted speculation about what could happen to gas and diesel prices if the shutdown continues.

 

Securing an Equitable Clean Transportation Future in CA

Natural Resources Defense Council

The future of equitable clean transportation is currently on the line in the California Legislature, with an opportunity for the state to show bold leadership and take action on securing billions in public health, climate, and jobs benefits for Californians.

 

Opinion: Zero net carbon transportation will save money and create jobs

CalMatters

A cascade of countries is committing to net zero carbon emissions by mid-century, but there is one inconvenient fact: Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are increasing. That’s problematic because transportation is the largest emitter in the United States and many other countries.

 

WATER

 

California expands drought emergency to large swath of state

Fresno Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday expanded a drought emergency declaration to a large swath of the nation's most populated state amid “acute water supply shortages" in northern and central parts of California.

See also:

 

Running Dry: California's history of droughts

KCRA
This week, KCRA 3 is taking an in-depth look at the state's drought and its impact on the state. On Monday, KCRA 3's chief meteorologist Mark Finan walked viewers through the state's long history with droughts.

 

Hosing down the driveway? Why California has no statewide water wasting rules as it heads into a new drought

Mercury News

You couldn’t water your yard so much that the water ran off into the street or sidewalk. Or hose down a driveway. Hotels had to put up signs telling customers they could choose not to have sheets and towels washed every day.

 

‘The most basic form of PPE’: 1.6 million households face water shutoffs

CalMatters

In April, the governor issued an executive order that barred water shutoffs for customers who don’t pay their water bills. State leaders are looking for ways to bail out struggling residents and smaller water systems alike, both buckling under $1 billion in water debt statewide.

 

Video: Is California Ready for Drought?

PPIC

California is now in its second year of drought, hard on the heels of the last one in 2012-16. But drought is not an equal-opportunity crisis; it can be more or less disruptive depending on geography, storage, how water supplies are managed—and, of course, precipitation.

 

“Xtra”

 

Where can vaccinated Americans travel? Here’s a list of countries as the world reopens

Fresno Bee

As more Americans are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, some travelers are gearing up for new adventures abroad. If you want to visit an international destination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends taking your trip when you’re fully vaccinated.

 

Bethany Clough: This global company is bringing a new dessert shop to Clovis. Here’s what we know

Fresno Bee

Beard Papa’s, an international dessert shop specializing in cream puffs, plans to open its first shop in Clovis. The shop is expected to open in late summer, according to the company.

 

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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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