October 24, 2019

24Oct

POLICY & POLITICS

 

California State Auditor Releases Top 18 Fiscally Challenged Cities (Includes Valley Cities of Atwater, Lindsey & Del Rey Oaks)

California State Auditor

This online dashboard is part of our high-risk local government agency audit program to identify cities that could be facing fiscal challenges by assessing their levels of risk using various financial indicators.

 

EDITORIAL: For once, a major win for San Joaquin Valley farmers when it comes to water

Fresno Bee

Chalk one up for the Valley’s farmers in the latest round of California’s ongoing water wars.

Federal officials on Tuesday announced that they were implementing a new plan to move more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta south to Valley farmers. The move fulfills a promise President Trump made to growers a year ago.

 

North SJ Valley:

 

Warnings sounded as Modesto considers spending $380K in downtown hotel project

Modesto Bee

At least three of Modesto’s elected officials want to spend roughly $380,000 to cover the city’s costs of exploring the potential development of a 200-room, high-end hotel in downtown.

 

Trump team reassigns Yosemite National Park superintendent; timing raises questions

Los Angeles Times

In a move that is raising questions about the future of Yosemite National Park, the National Park Service announced Wednesday that it was reassigning park Supt. Mike Reynolds, a 34-year park service veteran who grew up in Yosemite.

 

Central SJ Valley:

 

Nunes protégé fed Ukraine info to Trump

Politico

A protégé of Republican Rep. Devin Nunes was among those passing negative information about Ukraine to President Donald Trump earlier this year, fueling the president’s belief that Ukraine was brimming with corruption and interfered in the 2016 election on behalf of Democrats.

 

Fresno chief, police union stand by cop who fatally shot teen as outrage builds

Fresno Bee

Community activists are expressing outrage after seeing video footage that shows a Fresno police sergeant fatally shooting an unarmed 16-year-old boy as he fled during a foot pursuit. Meanwhile, the local police union and supporters of law enforcement have stepped up in support of the sergeant, saying he acted within guidelines while pursuing a murder suspect.

See also:

 

Fresno city leaders want more say on who can open weed shops

abc30

Commercial cannabis and retail stores are coming to Fresno. But now councilmembers are stepping up efforts to have more of a say when it comes to authority and regulations surrounding the industry.

 

Fresno County approves another board on homelessness. Here’s what makes it unique

Fresno Bee

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a new board that they said would provide greater flexibility for dealing with the area’s homeless problems — saying issues like domestic violence and human trafficking are too complex to be handled by one committee

 

Clovis Unified to ask district voters for a $408 million bond. Will voters go for it?

Fresno Bee

The Clovis Unified School District on Wednesday night unanimously approved a resolution to put a $408 million bond on the March 2020 ballot to upgrade classrooms and buildings. No community members commented on the issue Wednesday night.

 

Clovis is mostly white and that’s no accident, says group suing the city over housing

Fresno Bee

Desiree Martinez wants to live in Clovis, but she can’t afford it on a fixed income. “It kind of sucks that I was good enough to be there when I had two jobs, but because of a domestic violence injury and being on permanent low income, I’m not accepted there,” Martinez said.

 

Woman suspected of committing voter registration fraud in Madera

Madera Tribune

Madera County Registrar of Voters Rebecca Martinez says that 12 felony counts alleging fraudulent voter registration have been filed against April Atilano of Monterey County, who worked for an organization called EVP 2018.

 

Tulare City Council continues to hash out weed debate

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare City Council is on the road to allowing recreational cannabis storefronts in Tulare, but still figuring out the exact way to get there. The place to start, according to city staff, is scrapping the existing city ordinance related to cannabis and replacing it.

 

Tulare mayor drafts letter asking Gov. Newsom to reinstate Highway 99 widening funds

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare mayor Jose Sigala has something to say to Gov. Gavin Newsom — that is if fellow city councilmembers greenlight his letter at their next meeting. Sigala's draft letter calls on Newsom to reinstate the funding for the Highway 99 widening project through Tulare and parts of Madera County.

 

South SJ Valley:

 

Asm. Salas to BizFed Members: Mobilize

Central Valley Business Federation

Last week, 32nd District Assemblyman Rudy Salas joined BizFed members at a Legislative event hosted by the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce.

 

Bakersfield City Council votes to loosen restrictions on secondary units and downtown parking

Bakersfield Californian

Over the objections of concerned property owners, the Bakersfield City Council voted on Wednesday to loosen restrictions on accessory dwelling units, going beyond the changes mandated by the state.

 

Bakersfield goes on hiring spree to fill positions made possible by sales tax

Bakersfield Californian

Nobody ever said it would be easy, but after several months of furious hiring, the city of Bakersfield says it’s well on its way to meeting its staffing goals following the passage of the 1 percent sales tax increase last November.

 

Victory in the form of a proclamation: Porterville City Council passes first proclamation supporting LGBTQ+ community

Porterville Recorder

It was a historical night for the LGBTQ+ community in Porterville as the City Council passed the first ever proclamation that directly ties to the gay community. National Coming Out Day was commemorated on paper with the National Coming Out Day proclamation.

 

Abbasi's attempt to have judge disqualified rejected; hearing to continue

Bakersfield Californian

Local political activist and cannabis advocate David Abbasi’s fight to get his guns back resumed Wednesday after a two-month break, with Abbasi setting his figurative sights on the most powerful person in the courtroom — the judge.

 

State:

 

Approval Ratings in a Hyper-Partisan Era

Public Policy Institute of California

One of the most surprising findings in our PPIC Statewide Surveys this year has been the consistency of the approval ratings of the California governor and US president during a very eventful year.

 

Newsom says he’s done a good job fixing California’s housing crisis. Facts say otherwise

Los Angeles Times

On the campaign trail and during his first months in office, Gov. Gavin Newsom called for an unprecedented response to California’s housing crisis. He pledged that his administration would help spur the biggest wave of homebuilding in modern history.

 

Newsom fumbles on transportation

CALmatters

As governor, Newsom travels in an entourage with a personal driver and lots of security. However, he shares the road with millions of Californians who must cope with ever-increasing congestion, poorly maintained pavement and sky-high fuel prices.

 

Skelton: California’s most liberal governor ever, Newsom took on more than he could handle in his first year

Los Angeles Times

California state government just became even more leftist, as hard as that might be for some to envision. But it’s indisputable after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s action on 1,042 legislative bills.

 

Gavin Newsom raked in campaign money amid Trump feud, legislative deadlines

Sacramento Bee

Gov. Gavin Newsom likely won’t be on the ballot again until 2022, but since August, his reelection campaign has seen a significant boost. The timing coincides with high profile fights between Newsom and President Donald Trump over everything from homelessness to fuel emissions standards, which Newsom’s campaign has touted in fundraising emails.

 

Daylight Saving Time is coming to an end again – will California ever stop the clock-changing?

Sacramento Bee

In less than two weeks, Daylight Saving Time once again comes to an end, prompting Californians to once again set their clocks back an hour. That “fall back” comes despite the fact that voters last year strongly supported Proposition 7, which empowered the Legislature to vote to adopt year-round Daylight Saving Time with congressional approval.

 

California backs down from threat to fight VA for GI Bill oversight

Sacramento Bee

California backed down from a fight with the Department of Veterans Affairs over a decision that restricts the state’s power to regulate for-profit colleges enrolling students with GI Bill benefits.

 

For California schools, 2020 could prove historic

Capitol Weekly

California public schools will be getting a big infusion of cash — a very, very big infusion —  if voters approve an unprecedented trifecta of  multibillion-dollar measures aimed at next year’s statewide ballots.

 

Prop. 13 overhaul gets friendly summary from California Attorney General

San Francisco Chronicle

A new effort to revise California’s landmark Proposition 13 would boost taxes on large corporations and businesses, but opponents are complaining that’s almost an afterthought in the state attorney general’s new title and summary of the proposed initiative.

 

Opinion: California’s Tax-the-Rich Boomerang

Wall Street Journal

Democrats in California have raised taxes on the rich again and again, and liberals claim it has no effect on taxpayer migration and does no harm to state tax revenue. A new study finds the opposite.

 

Federal:

 

Trump's Justice Department Targets California's Cap-And-Trade Program

Capital Public Radio

The Trump administration is opening a new front in its battle over climate change policy with California, charging in a federal lawsuit that the state exceeded its constitutional authority by joining with a Canadian province in a program to cut climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions.

See also:

 

House passes bill to protect elections from foreign interference

Politico

The bill, passed on a 227-181 vote, would require campaigns to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments and restrict campaign-related communication between candidates and foreign governments.

 

Elections 2020:

 

As Trump seeks reelection, immigrant voters stand in his path

Los Angeles Times

Naturalized citizens — who share the full legal rights of natural-born citizens — cast more than 8% of the ballots in the 2018 midterm elections, almost double their share in the 1996 presidential contest, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

 

What Elizabeth Warren’s K-12 plan reveals about education politics today

Brookings

On Monday, Elizabeth Warren released her plan for K-12 education. It’s a striking set of proposals, remarkable in their breadth, that would dramatically reshape the federal role in education.

 

Harris Loses Ground in California to Front-Runners Warren and Sanders

KQED

Less than five months before Californians vote in the 2020 presidential primary, a new Change Research poll for KQED shows U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris losing ground to the front-runners, Sens. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Vermont's Bernie Sanders.

 

Back in Hometown, Biden Makes Economic Case Against Trump

Wall Street Journal

In a bid to appeal to the working class voters who helped propel President Trump to the White House, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden returned to his hometown of Scranton Wednesday to deliver a rebuke of Mr. Trump’s economic policies and values.

See also:

 

Sanders Campaign Says Winning Democratic Nomination Requires New Voters

Wall Street Journal

Bernie Sanders’s campaign manager says the Vermont senator will have a difficult time winning the Democratic nomination for president if the same people who typically vote in primaries show up at the polls.

 

Presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke falsely claims he hasn't talked about confiscating guns

PolitiFact

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke is not talking about confiscating Americans’ guns  — except for when he is. At least two times previously, O’Rourke was asked whether he would support confiscation of guns he calls weapons of war. He said yes.

 

Why Zuckerberg’s Embrace of Mayor Pete Should Worry You

Wired

We recently learned that Elizabeth Warren is the kind of presidential candidate Mark Zuckerberg considers an existential threat to Facebook. She is, after all, determined to break up the sprawling social-networking empire. But what about the others?

See also:

 

Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan Drops Out of 2020 Democratic Presidential Race

Wall Street Journal

Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio Announces in Video on Twitter That He Is Dropping Out of 2020 Democratic Presidential Campaign. Ryan Says He Will be Running for Re-election to His Congressional Seat in Ohio.

See also:

 

Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO quietly tests presidential bid

Politico

Ed Stack, the CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods and a longtime Republican donor, is testing the waters for a possible third-party presidential bid that could scramble the dynamics of the 2020 general election.

 

Other:

 

The Student Vote Is Surging. So Are Efforts to Suppress It.

New York Times

The share of college students casting ballots doubled from 2014 to 2018, a potential boon to Democrats. But in Texas and elsewhere, Republicans are erecting roadblocks to the polls.

 

 

 

MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING

 

Sunday, October 27, at 10 a.m. on ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Federal Courts with Judge O’Neill?” – Guest: Lawrence O'Neil, Chief U.S. District Judge; McGregor Scott, U.S. Attorney General for the Eastern District; Daniel Jamison, Dowling Aaron and Richard Watters with Miles, Sears & Eanni. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, October 27, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “More Issues, Fewer Federal Judges: What Will it Mean for the Valley?” – Guests: Lawrence O'Neil, Chief U.S. District Judge; McGregor Scott, U.S. Attorney General for the Easter District; Daniel Jamison, Dowling Aaron, Richard Watters with Miles, Sears & Eanni; and California's Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.

 

Sunday, October 27, at 7:30 a.m. on UniMas 61 (KTTF) – El Informe Maddy: “Indices de Reincidencia y Programas de Apoyo” – Invitado: Joe Hayes, Investigator del Instituto de Politicas Publicas de California, Esther Olmos and Anita Flores con Project Rebound de Fresno State. Presentado Por: Coordinadora del Programa del Maddy Institute, Maria Jeans.

 

AGRICULTURE/FOOD

 

Potential E-Verify Deal Would Give Legal Status to Farmworkers

Pew Trust

Congressional Democrats hope to broker a deal with Republicans that would grant legal status to farmworkers currently in the country illegally but would require employers to verify the immigration status of all future hires.

 

Strathmore High School Farmers Market: Pumpkins, Green Leafy Vegetables, Squash

Porterville Recorder

The Emerging Agricultural Technology Pathways Program students and instructors at Strathmore High School had a sale of the organic produce they’ve grown recently in conventional fields and hydroponically at a Farmer’s Market, that is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m., through October 22.

 

China says it will buy $20 billion of US farm products in year one of a partial trade deal

Markets Insider

China is willing to buy as much as $20 billion of US farm goods in the first year if a phase-one trade deal is signed with the US, Bloomberg reported.

 

Tulare City Council continues to hash out weed debate

Visalia Times Delta

Tulare City Council is on the road to allowing recreational cannabis storefronts in Tulare, but still figuring out the exact way to get there. The place to start, according to city staff, is scrapping the existing city ordinance related to cannabis and replacing it.

 

Fresno city leaders want more say on who can open weed shops

abc30

Commercial cannabis and retail stores are coming to Fresno. But now councilmembers are stepping up efforts to have more of a say when it comes to authority and regulations surrounding the industry.

 

Hemp industry growth hints at potential field of dreams

Roll Call

Sen. Mitch McConnell got provisions into a farm bill allowing states to license and monitor hemp production. The Kentucky Republican, now as majority leader, followed through in 2018, using another farm bill to take hemp off the controlled substances list.

See also:

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE / FIRE / PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Crime:

 

Fresno chief, police union stand by cop who fatally shot teen as outrage builds

Fresno Bee

Community activists are expressing outrage after seeing video footage that shows a Fresno police sergeant fatally shooting an unarmed 16-year-old boy as he fled during a foot pursuit. Meanwhile, the local police union and supporters of law enforcement have stepped up in support of the sergeant, saying he acted within guidelines while pursuing a murder suspect.

See also:

 

Public Safety:

 

Civil liberties group asks local law enforcement to stop using facial recognition technology

San Diego Union-Tribune

A civil rights watchdog on Wednesday asked local law enforcement officials to quit using facial recognition technology, citing an impending change to state law that will temporarily bar officers from collecting and using biometric data.

 

Women’s Center holding annual Night of Remembrance candlelight vigil

Stockton Record

Women’s Center-Youth and Family Services will host its annual Night of Remembrance to remember and honor victims who have died as a result of domestic violence. The candlelight vigil will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at 620 N. San Joaquin St. in Stockton and is free and open to the public.

 

Fire:

 

California utility begins another blackout amid fire fears

Fresno Bee

The state's largest utility began another widespread blackout Wednesday that could affect hundreds of thousands of people as dangerous fire weather returns to California.

See also:

 

California pursues a holy grail: high-tech data to predict how wildfire will spread

CALmatters

On a recent day at an expansive National Guard airfield in Los Alamitos, local fire officials put on display what $4.5 million can buy: planes crammed with high-definition cameras, radar and infrared equipment that peers through smoke.

 

ECONOMY / JOBS

 

Economy:

 

More than half of Latinos in California struggle to stay afloat, report finds

PublicCEO

Latino households are struggling to pay for basic expenses like food, housing and electricity, despite California’s strong economy and labor market. On average, they earn only 58% of what white households earn.

 

Coalition wants to reduce economic inequality. A new grant may help that effort

Fresno Bee

An ambitious 10-year effort to increase economic and racial equity in the central San Joaquin Valley received a significant boost Tuesday with a $50,000 grant from Bank of America. The grant awarded to the Central Valley Community Foundation is part of the bank’s nationwide Neighborhood Champions award program.

 

Companies still need more women leaders a year after California diversity law, study says

Sacramento Bee

A year after California lawmakers passed a bill requiring gender diversity on corporate boards, researchers say some companies are lagging behind. The study also found that publicly traded companies took a stock hit after the law passed.

 

Annual report on US consumption poverty: 2018

AEI

This report presents estimates of consumption and income based poverty in the United States derived from information collected in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey and the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey.

 

Capitalism vs. Socialism is the Wrong Way to Frame Today's Economic Debate

The Catalyst

A striking number of young Americans and young Democrats say they are more in favor of socialism than capitalism and that tells us a few things. One, they have no idea what socialism actually is. But two, there is a discontent with capitalism.

 

Jobs:

 

Bakersfield goes on hiring spree to fill positions made possible by sales tax

Bakersfield Californian

Nobody ever said it would be easy, but after several months of furious hiring, the city of Bakersfield says it’s well on its way to meeting its staffing goals following the passage of the 1 percent sales tax increase last November.

 

4,000 mental health clinicians planning to strike at 100 Kaiser facilities

Modesto Bee

The union representing roughly 4,000 wiser behavioral health specialists – psychologists, social workers, therapists and other professionals – announced Wednesday they will hold a five-day strike in November at Kaiser Permanente facilities around California.

 

What Works for Job Training Programs for Disadvantaged Workers

Rand Corporation

The economic growth that followed the 2008 recession has increased the demand for qualified workers in health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and other growing industries. While many employers are finding it difficult to fill key positions, workers without the right skills face a shrinking pool of rewarding job opportunities.

 

The 5-Hour Workday Gets Put to the Test

Wall Street Journal

So when he acquired a small tech consulting firm here in late 2017, he introduced a radical idea: Reduce the workday to five hours, from the standard eight, while leaving worker salaries and vacation time at the same levels.

 

EDUCATION

 

K-12:

 

Merced High students, staff may have been exposed to tuberculosis, health officials say

Merced Sun-Star

A person associated with Merced High School has been identified with suspected active tuberculosis, Merced County Department of Public Health officials confirmed on Wednesday. The school sent out a notification last week to parents.

See also:

 

Downtown Elementary parents tell BCSD board members changes to school would affect students

Bakersfield Californian

A sea of teal-colored dragons — Downtown Elementary Dragons, that is — filled the Bakersfield City School District board room Tuesday night to let trustees know any potential changes to their school would be detrimental to student success.

 

For California schools, 2020 could prove historic

Capitol Weekly

California public schools will be getting a big infusion of cash — a very, very big infusion —  if voters approve an unprecedented trifecta of  multibillion-dollar measures aimed at next year’s statewide ballots.

 

A Landmark Lawsuit Aimed to Fix Special Ed for California's Black Students. It Didn’t.

KQED
At 40, Darryl Lester was destitute, in pain and out of work. The letter delivered good news: Lester would be getting disability benefits after blowing out his back in a sheet metal accident. But he crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.

 

Education Data at Your Fingertips

Education Data

The best policy decisions are those based on evidence and fact. The Education Data Explorer makes it easier than ever to access and analyze the data that can generate rigorous, accurate, and actionable insights to improve student outcomes.

 

Higher Ed:

 

California State University chancellor announces he will retire in 2020

Fresno Bee

California State University Chancellor Timothy White announced Tuesday that he will retire in 2020. White has served as chancellor since 2012, and the CSU Board of Trustees announced that a replacement search will begin immediately “with the goal of appointing the next chancellor by the end of the current academic year.”

See also:

 

Big donation helps San Joaquin College of Law open free clinic to help children with disabilities

abc30

The BREN Special Education Legal Clinic is now open and the free clinic will provide legal help to parents and families in securing the special education services and support their child with a disability is entitled to.

 

If You Can Think It, We Can Make It: CSUB Fab Lab Catching On With Community

CSU Bakersfield

Making something yourself is its own reward but for staff members of the Kern County Department of Child Support Services, the creations they are making at CSUB’s Fab Lab are also awards. Literally.

 

Community Voices: Bridge being built between two higher education leaders

Bakersfield Californian

In February 2019, the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve a new Bakersfield College southwest location on the Cal State Bakersfield campus. As a student, the announcement about expanding facilities was not only exciting but impactful.

 

MJC hopes to do its part on climate change, starting Friday with a noted speaker

Modesto Bee

Modesto Junior College is exploring ways to better educate people about climate change, and to make its two campuses more sustainable. It starts with a Friday evening talk by Shahir Masri of the University of California, Irvine.

 

Trump Education Official to Resign and Call for Mass Student-Loan Forgiveness

Wall Street Journal

A senior student-loan official in the Trump administration said he would resign Thursday and endorse canceling most of the nation’s outstanding student debt, calling the student-loan system “fundamentally broken.”

 

ENVIRONMENT/ ENERGY

 

Environment:

 

Air Quality in U.S. – Especially in California – Is Getting Worse

StreetsBlog Cal

Researchers found evidence that increased use of natural gas and vehicle fuels are contributing to worsening air quality. Wildfires are a factor, but don't fully explain the increase.

 

Trump's Justice Department Targets California's Cap-And-Trade Program

Capital Public Radio

The Trump administration is opening a new front in its battle over climate change policy with California, charging in a federal lawsuit that the state exceeded its constitutional authority by joining with a Canadian province in a program to cut climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions.

See also:

 

Trump team reassigns Yosemite National Park superintendent; timing raises questions

Los Angeles Times

In a move that is raising questions about the future of Yosemite National Park, the National Park Service announced Wednesday that it was reassigning park Supt. Mike Reynolds, a 34-year park service veteran who grew up in Yosemite.

 

Don’t be fooled by the great biomass incineration scam

CALmatters

The flagging biomass incineration industry has joined forces with the logging industry to keep California’s few remaining, highly polluting biomass incinerators open.

 

HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES

 

Health:

 

Taking blood pressure medications at night leads to better control, study says

abc30

A new study finds that people with high blood pressure who take their anti-hypertensive medication at bedtime have better-controlled blood pressure. The study also found those people had a significantly lower risk of death or illness caused by heart or blood vessel problems compared to people who took their medication in the morning.

 

The recent vaping deaths are bad. The long term toll will be even worse

Los Angeles Times

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked vaping to 1,479 cases of a mysterious lung disease over the last six months. At least 33 people have died since the outbreak began.

See also:

 

In Opioid Settlements, Suboxone Plays a Leading Role

Pew Trusts

In this week’s $260 million settlement between drug companies and two Ohio counties hit hard by the opioid crisis, $25 million worth of the addiction medication known as Suboxone is a big part of the deal.

 

Human Services:

 

EDITORIAL: An Alzheimer’s Drug Surprise

Wall Street Journal

Cambridge-based biotech company Biogen revived hope on Tuesday with its announcement that it would seek Food and Drug Administration approval for a drug it abandoned earlier this year.

 

IMMIGRATION

 

Most states not giving driver’s license data to Washington

AP News

An effort by the U.S. Census Bureau to collect state driver’s license records as part of President Donald Trump’s order to gather citizenship information has been a bust so far.

 

Potential E-Verify Deal Would Give Legal Status to Farmworkers

Pew Trust

Congressional Democrats hope to broker a deal with Republicans that would grant legal status to farmworkers currently in the country illegally but would require employers to verify the immigration status of all future hires.

 

What Can Life On The U.S.-Mexico Border Teach America?

Zocalo

Earlier in this century, President George W. Bush’s administration sought to celebrate the U.S.-Mexico border as America’s front door. But in the years since, the border has been widely portrayed by politicians as a source of problems.

 

LAND USE/HOUSING

 

Land Use:

 

Warnings sounded as Modesto considers spending $380K in downtown hotel project

Modesto Bee

At least three of Modesto’s elected officials want to spend roughly $380,000 to cover the city’s costs of exploring the potential development of a 200-room, high-end hotel in downtown.

 

Housing:

 

Clovis is mostly white and that’s no accident, says group suing the city over housing

Fresno Bee

Desiree Martinez wants to live in Clovis, but she can’t afford it on a fixed income. “It kind of sucks that I was good enough to be there when I had two jobs, but because of a domestic violence injury and being on permanent low income, I’m not accepted there,” Martinez said.

 

Fresno County approves another board on homelessness. Here’s what makes it unique

Fresno Bee

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a new board that they said would provide greater flexibility for dealing with the area’s homeless problems — saying issues like domestic violence and human trafficking are too complex to be handled by one committee.

 

Newsom says he’s done a good job fixing California’s housing crisis. Facts say otherwise

Los Angeles Times

On the campaign trail and during his first months in office, Gov. Gavin Newsom called for an unprecedented response to California’s housing crisis. He pledged that his administration would help spur the biggest wave of homebuilding in modern history.

 

Housing The Homeless Cuts State's Health Care Burden

Capital Public Radio

The reality of California’s homeless crisis is that there is little social safety net to catch the very poorest residents before they fall to the streets. As more than 100,000 people find homes on California’s sidewalks, roadways and parks, the costs mount for local and state governments.

 

Don’t Look Away. Homeless People Are Your Neighbors

Zocalo

Establish a relationship with a homeless services provider in your area. Don’t be afraid to engage homeless people, and be sure to listen to them. If you give money or your time, make sure your donation reflects what homeless people say they need, not what you think they need.

See also:

 

PUBLIC FINANCES

 

California State Auditor Releases Top 18 Fiscally Challenged Cities (Includes Valley Cities of Atwater, Lindsey & Del Rey Oaks)

California State Auditor

This online dashboard is part of our high-risk local government agency audit program to identify cities that could be facing fiscal challenges by assessing their levels of risk using various financial indicators.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

Closure scheduled for Highway 99 to start next week

Bakersfield Californian

A full freeway closure in the southbound direction of Highway 99 is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, according to the Thomas Roads Improvement Program.

 

State bank approves $3.25B bond request for section of high-speed rail heading to Las Vegas

KGET
The state has approved a $3.25 billion bond request on Wednesday for high-speed rail. The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank’s board approved a bond request for the construction of about 135 miles of rail lines.

 

Newsom fumbles on transportation

CALmatters

As governor, Newsom travels in an entourage with a personal driver and lots of security. However, he shares the road with millions of Californians who must cope with ever-increasing congestion, poorly maintained pavement and sky-high fuel prices.

 

Rising California Gasoline Prices Highlight Growing Divide in U.S.

Wall Street Journal

Prices have surged this fall in California and other West Coast states following outages at several refineries in the region. Analysts said the coast is generally vulnerable because of its limited pipelines and refineries that turn oil into fuel products such as gasoline.

 

WATER

 

California finds widespread water contamination of ‘forever chemicals’

Los Angeles Times

Testing conducted this year of more than 600 wells across the state revealed pockets of contamination, where chemicals widely used for decades in manufacturing and household goods have seeped into the public’s water supply.

 

EDITORIAL: For once, a major win for San Joaquin Valley farmers when it comes to water

Fresno Bee

Chalk one up for the Valley’s farmers in the latest round of California’s ongoing water wars.

Federal officials on Tuesday announced that they were implementing a new plan to move more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta south to Valley farmers. The move fulfills a promise President Trump made to growers a year ago.

 

“Xtra”

 

Off the beaten path: October is a perfect time to visit giant sequoias’ namesake park

Fresno Bee

Grand as they are, it’s easy to overlook giant sequoias, even for those who visit the Sierra Nevada range often. Tahoe skiers and Yosemite climbers don’t even pass close to the biggest clusters of the world’s largest trees in Sequoia National Park.

 

The Art of Breaking and Its Place in Hip-hop Culture

abc30

Breaking is well on its way to becoming an Olympic sport in 2024, and it's been a part of the hip hop culture of Fresno for decades. "There are people that are involved with this community that want to see it go further," said Charles Montgomery, also known as B-boy Goku. The Fresno native has been breaking for 26 years and has won numerous awards, traveling to every continent except Antarctica and Australia to compete.

 

Halloween Events across Central California

abc30

Here is a list of Halloween events and pumpkin patches in counties in the Central Valley.

 

Que Concha brings sweet Mexican tradition to Tulare County streets

Visalia Times Delta

Maira Romo and Noe Maldonado are living their version of the American Dream. That dream is topped with a warm, sugary churro or sandwiched between sweet concha. The Visalia couple is the "brains and brawn" behind the popular food truck, Que Concha.

 

Gandhi to be honored with music at BC choirs' concert

Bakersfield Californian

Bakersfield College singers will add their voices to the college’s monthlong recognition of one of the towering figures of the 20th century. The entire month of October has been dedicated to celebrating the 150th birthday of Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi.

 

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Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.

 

The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno 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.

                                                     

This document is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.

 

 

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