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Political Stories
Top stories
New initiative would end California death penalty — Already on life support, California’s death penalty would be abolished entirely under a proposed ballot initiative. The proposal would strike death as a possible punishment from the state’s Penal Code, substituting life imprisonment without parole where state law currently allows for the death penalty. Its proponent, actor Mike Farrell, would have 180 days from when the secretary of state’s office enters the measure into circulation to collect 365,880 signatures. Sacramento Bee article
Voting machine study finds problems, but not ones easily fixed — Finding that many of the nation’s voting machines are “perilously close” to the end of their useful life, a study of voting systems in all 50 states recommended a series of steps that could be undertaken before voters cast their ballots in coming years. McClatchy Newspapers article
Gov. Brown
Gov. Jerry Brown decries ‘political pollution’ on climate change — On Tuesday in Los Angeles, where he attended a summit on climate change with American and Chinese leaders, he was targeting Republicans. Brown described “political pollution” in Washington and said the refusal of the party’s presidential candidates to tackle global warming is “nothing less than a dereliction of duty.” LA Times article
Valley politics
CD 21: Second Valadao challenger may enter race — A new possible candidate — Connie Perez — has surfaced. Perez, who grew up in Tulare County and graduated from California State University, Bakersfield, is a certified public accountant at Bakersfield-based firm Brown Armstrong. She’s currently working out of the firm’s Pasadena office. Hanford Sentinel article
San Joaquin County supervisors: Campaign contributions aren’t code of ethics violations — Supervisor Chuck Winn committed no foul when his campaign committee accepted contributions from former Supervisor Steve Bestolarides and his campaign last year. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-0 to adopt a rule that exempts the receipt of campaign contributions from being perceived as a violation of its recently adopted code of ethics. Stockton Record article
Statewide politics/Ballot Measures
Initiative would overhaul California campaign finance system – Critics of California’s current campaign finance system will submit a ballot initiative Wednesday that they say would offer a much-needed overhaul. They’re hoping to qualify it for the November 2016 ballot. Capital Public Radio report
Joe Mathews: Re-reading the pension measure with the markets in turmoil — The big drops and turmoil in global markets should require another look at the pension issue. With each investment loss, taxpayers like me are on the hook for more. Paying to make up investment losses – and really, the much too-high return that our pension funds guarantee – means less of crucial services. And those services are already too low. Maybe we need that ballot initiative thunderbolt – to change the reality, and protect us if we’re heading into a long bear market. Mathews in Fox & Hounds
Immigration
Homeland Security secretary blasts San Francisco sanctuary policy — Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Tuesday criticized policies such as the one in San Francisco against generally cooperating with immigration officials, calling the stances counterproductive and unacceptable. AP article
From California, a warning to Republicans on anti-immigration rhetoric – California is often considered the nation’s trendsetter. But Republicans running for president better hope that’s not true. Their talk about immigration echoes what Californians heard in the 1990s. NPR report
Trump, taunted by protestors, delivers barbs on immigration in LA Harbor speech — The setting matched the message Tuesday as Donald Trump stood beneath the gun barrels of a 57,000-ton battleship in Los Angeles Harbor and fired rhetorical blasts on immigration, trade and national security. But protesters on shore nearly drowned out Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, as his shipboard rally set the stage for Wednesday’s GOP debate at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. LA Times article
Other areas
If Kim Davis should enforce law she opposes, what about AGs Brown, Harris and Prop 8? – There seems to be a consensus among serious commentators and public officials — again, excluding one party’s presidential contestants — that an elected office-holder who can’t or won’t carry out her sworn duty should resign. So what about Jerry Brown and Kamala Harris, who as state attorneys general both refused to defend Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment approved by California voters in 2008 that banned same-sex marriage? San Francisco Chronicle article
Twitter, Square team up on political donations via tweet – Think of it as tweeting for dollars. The social media service Twitter on Tuesday introduced a feature that enables political candidates and advocacy groups to raise money directly via its mobile application, making it quicker and easier to harvest small donations from followers. AP article; San Francisco Chronicle article
Republican presidential candidates find major donors in Bay Area – The San Francisco Bay Area, one of the nation’s biggest Democratic strongholds, has emerged with an unlikely distinction this year: It is California’s biggest source of campaign money for GOP presidential candidates. LA Times article
Bernie Sanders far behind in California, but some ‘feel the Bern’ – First to the bar with his Bernie Sanders button last week came Tristan Brown, who identified himself as an organizer of Sanders’ faithful, “technically speaking.” The independent senator from Vermont keeps a “loose organization,” Brown said. But with Sanders gaining momentum in the Democratic presidential primary in early nominating states, supporters are attempting to turn his flicker of success into a durable campaign. Sacramento Bee article
News Stories
Top Stories
Madera County’s 2014 crop values hit record-high $2.2 billion — Strong market prices and increased production helped push Madera County’s 2014 crop values to a record-high $2.2 billion. The 2014 gross agriculture values rose 19.5 percent over the previous year, said Stevie McNeill, Madera County agricultural commissioner. Fresno Bee article; The Business Journal article
Deal struck in farm drainage dispute – The nation’s largest irrigation district agreed to clean up contaminated water in California’s fertile Central Valley in a tentative deal announced Tuesday, settling a decades-old dispute with the federal government but angering Delta advocates in the process. Stockton Record article; The Business Journal article; LA Times article
Ordinance will give Stanislaus County supervisors automatic raises based on eight-county survey – Stanislaus County supervisors introduced an ordinance Tuesday that will give them automatic raises if their salaries are more than 20 percent below the average pay in eight other counties. Modesto Bee article
Jobs and the Economy
Fresno supervisors start prioritizing how to spend one-time cash – Fresno County supervisors on Tuesday began prioritizing projects as they look at how to spend more than $17 million in “one-time money” from a list of needs that totals more than $55 million. Fresno Bee article
Feds say Chukchansi Gold won’t reopen in September – An anticipated reopening this month of Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino seems highly unlikely because the National Indian Gaming Commission still is awaiting a significant number of documents from the tribe and an indication that its governance is stable. Fresno Bee article
Tulare County approves $1.163 billion budget – Tulare County’s largest-ever budget was approved on Tuesday, totaling more than $1.163 billion. And county Chief Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau said it’s a healthy budget, with some of the biggest costs for the fiscal year including more than $11 million to buy the “Cigna Building” in Visalia, along with $3 million in additional dollars, most of which will be used to renovate the two West Burrel Avenue buildings that the Tulare County Office of Education will vacate by the end of the year. Visalia Times-Delta article
Valley home prices and sales cooling down – Home sales and prices across California, including the central San Joaquin Valley, cooled down in August after a strong summer run, according to the California Association of Realtors. Fresno Bee article
San Joaquin County home prices, sales rise in August – San Joaquin County’s existing home market remained strong in August, even with the seasonal slowdown with the end of school summer breaks, the California Association of Realtors reported Tuesday. Stockton Record article
Local oil producer CRC offers retirement incentive as alternative to layoffs – Local oil producer California Resources Corp. is looking to trim its staff by offering retirement incentives as a possible alternative to ordering mass layoffs. The voluntary program Los Angeles-based CRC disclosed Tuesday is a response to a plunge in global oil prices since the middle of last year. Bakersfield Californian article
Merced supervisors approve architect firm to head ADA work – The Merced County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $500,000 contract with Vanir Construction Management to assess what work needs to be done to bring county facilities into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Merced Sun-Star article
Caroline Beteta and Patricia Megason: Rural tourism is essential to California’s economic future – Peteta, CEO and President of Visit California, and Megason, executive vice president of Rural County Representatives of California, write, “While we will always see an influx of tourists to the major gateway cities, it is important that we continue our work to bring them deeper into the California experience. If California’s recent economic growth is to continue, we must support industries that can provide benefits in all corners of the state. We should not overlook the power of tourism to create jobs, opportunity and sustain services in rural California.” Beteta/Megason in Fox & Hounds
Stockton Record: Downtown Stockton loses a visionary – Tim Egkan, a native of San Diego, was a visionary. He came to Stockton in 2012 and had the advantage of seeing the city — especially downtown — with fresh eyes, rather than the jadedness of far too many locals. Stockton Record editorial
LA County supervisors defeat attempt to add exemptions to $15 minimum wage – Los Angeles County supervisors rejected a push to exempt nonprofits and job-training programs from a plan to increase the minimum wage for workers in county-controlled areas to $15 an hour by 2021. LA Times article
Health Plan employees hold 15-minute ‘unity break’ – A sizable number of rank-and-file employees at Health Plan of San Joaquin walked outside for 15 minutes during the lunch hour Tuesday to show their dissatisfaction with management, express their concerns about low morale and stop the county agency from outsourcing jobs to Florida. Stockton Record article
HP to lay off up to 33,000 more workers — Hewlett-Packard said Tuesday it will lay off up to 33,000 more employees as the storied Silicon Valley tech giant prepares to split in two. San Jose Mercury News article; AP article
San Francisco property taxes to rise after supervisors’ vote – The Board of Supervisors approved a 0.008 percent rise in property tax rates for San Francisco homeowners on Tuesday. But homeowners will actually see a much higher increase — roughly 3 percent — because of the rising value of San Francisco homes in conjunction with the rate increase approved by the board. San Francisco Chronicle article
Port of Stockton: Recalling 41 years on waterfront — Mark Tollini had been out of work a couple of months — after getting into an altercation with a supervisor at a discount department store that involved the swinging of a shovel — and really needed a job. So when a friend advised him the Port of Stockton had an opening in the mail room, he took a shot and landed a job as clerk messenger. Now he’s the port’s senior deputy director and after nearly 41 years with the port — much of it spent working around or overseeing day-to-day waterfront operations — he plans to retire in January. Stockton Record article
Sacramento restaurants to reign supreme at new Kings arena — The Sacramento Kings on Tuesday named four area restaurant groups that will be featured in the concessions lineup at their new downtown arena. Sacramento Bee article
Contra Costa supervisors won’t rule out 2016 tax hike – A long-anticipated countywide transportation tax being developed by the Transit Authority hit a bump in the road Tuesday when the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors refused to rule out ditching it in favor of a tax measure of its own. Contra Costa Times article
Leap, the bankrupt San Francisco commuter bus, is bankrupt and selling its buses for $5 each — Leap Transit, the startup that served fresh-pressed juice to commuters on its luxury buses, has filed for bankruptcy. The rest of its buses are now up for sale, starting at $5 each. San Francisco Chronicle article
Agriculture/Water/Drought
Lois Henry: Hoping the state sees reason on water conservation – Well, the state came through for West Kern Water District as only the state can, it seems. West Kern had been told to reduce its water consumption by 28 percent from 2013. Small problem: 80 percent of West Kern’s water goes to hardened demand from industrial users — three major power plants, for example. Bakersfield Californian article
Southland rain could be preview of the coming El Nino winter, experts say – It swamped streets, spilled into buildings, sent mud in motion and roiled rivers where rescue crews aided those swept up in the water overflow. Then the downpour that stunned the drought-weary Southland with its intensity slunk off in the sun. But if experts are right, the deluge offered a preview for the wet El Niño winter ahead. LA Times article
Record LA storm won’t help much with water shortage — Southern California awoke to a deluge of rain — a welcome relief in drought country. But how much will the record rain help the water shortage? The short answer is not that much. LA Times article
Atwater High reports 40 percent in water conservation — Atwater High School is meeting its goals for water conservation despite being allowed to water playing surfaces five days per week, a school official told City Council this week. Merced Sun-Star article
Price of conservation: Tri-Valley water rates likely headed higher because customers used less — Drought-conscious residents in some East Bay communities have outdone the rest of the state, slashing their water use even more than they were asked. But their success is causing trouble for a local water provider that has watched its sales dry up — and now plans to charge more for water to make up the difference. Contra Costa Times article
November vote for San Diego water rate hike – The San Diego City Council on Tuesday scheduled a Nov. 17 public hearing to vote on a 17 percent water rate hike for next year. San Diego Union-Tribune article
Oh, nuts! Why California’s pistachio trees are shooting blanks — In California’s blazing hot San Joaquin Valley, millions of pistachio trees are now buried in clusters of small pinkish-green fruits — what would seem like a bumper crop. But for many growers of the popular nut, the season is shaping into a disaster. NPR report
Bill making California toughest in U.S. on livestock antibiotics now up to governor — A bill that would require the most stringent regulations in the country on the use of antibiotics in livestock is on Gov. Brown’s desk. If signed into law, California would ban the common practice of using drugs to fatten animals and would require a prescription from a veterinarian for other uses, such as fighting disease or infection. KQED report
Criminal Justice/Prisons
Sacramento County sheriff unveils new policy on phone surveillance – The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department will now require a judge’s approval before it uses its high-tech Stingray surveillance tool, Sheriff Scott Jones said Tuesday, unveiling a new policy governing the controversial technology. Sacramento Bee article
Ex-NFL player Lawrence Phillips pleads not guilty to murder – Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips pleaded not guilty to murder Tuesday in the death of his cellmate at a Kern County prison. Bakersfield Californian article
Innovative program teaches Bay Area jail inmates farming skills — Reed, 26, is not a farmer, or even a weekend gardener. He’s an inmate in San Francisco County Jail in San Bruno taking a class in aquaponics, a first-of-its-kind program being offered inside the walls of a California jail. San Francisco Chronicle article
ACLU sues Hayward over $2,938 fee for protest video — After a December march in Hayward resulted in injuries to protesters, the city agreed to release police body camera footage to the demonstrators’ supporters for a price: $2,938.58 for the first round of pictures. On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties sued the city, saying the charge far exceeded its legitimate costs. San Francisco Chronicle article
Education
New online tool compares Merced colleges to other schools – A new scoring system unveiled by the White House to help college-seekers and their parents compare schools finds UC Merced ranks as similar to other Central Valley schools in retaining students and keeping them on track to graduate, but falls short when put up against other University of California campuses. Merced Sun-Star article
See the typical earnings of alumni from each of California’s largest 100 colleges – Which California college you attend can make a big difference in how much you earn, new federal data show. The data, released last week, uses tax returns to evaluate earnings of alumni 10 years after they started college classes. (Students usually enter college between the ages of 18 and 20, so the data largely reflects how much they made when in their late 20s.) Sacramento Bee article
Sandra Serrano: Kern Community College District community must set aside anger and be a force for reconciliation – The Kern Community College District chancellor writes, “I ask that each of you reflect on the results of these events, set aside your anger and hurt, and vow to be a force for truth and reconciliation. Only together can we achieve the goals we all seek and the mission of service to which we are committed.” Serrano op-ed in Bakersfield California
Test scores to be only one factor in measuring school progress – For months, California education officials have emphasized one message regarding the role that standardized tests will play in the future: Results from the Smarter Balanced tests, which were released last week, should be viewed as but one star, though a bright one, in a universe of metrics measuring student and school progress. EdSource article
New Physical Therapy-Intercollegiate Athletics building opens at Fresno State — Fresno State unveiled its new Physical Therapy and Intercollegiate Athletics Building on Tuesday. The 22,000-square-foot building, located next to the Aquatics Center on Campus Drive, will house the Department of Physical Therapy as well as offices for the men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and softball teams. Fresno Bee article
Turlock downtown rolls out the red (and gold) carpet for Stanislaus State students — Downtown Turlock will welcome back the university crowd Wednesday evening with “Warriors Explore Downtown.” The city center will be bedecked in red and gold, the colors of California State University, Stanislaus, in an effort to promote town-and-gown bonds and encourage shopping and dining downtown. Modesto Bee article
College achievement among Asians, Pacific Islanders varies widely – Although Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders often are portrayed as higher education success stories, a new report shows there is great disparity in college achievement among California students who belong to that community. LA Times article
Alice Huffman and Andrea Deveau: Bill would deal with ‘math misplacement’ – Huffman, president of the California State Conference of the NAACP, and Deveau, California executive director of TechNet, write, “By signing Senate Bill 359 by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, the governor can stop math misplacement – a disturbing practice that holds back many African American and other minority students from advancing in math.” Huffman/Deveau op-ed in Sacramento Bee
Manteca Unified to fill seat left vacant when embattled trustee resigns — The Manteca Unified School District Board of Education is having some dèjá vu, announcing a plan to appoint an individual to fill the Area 2 trustee position formerly held by Ashley Drain. The district received Drain’s resignation letter on Aug. 25 from the San Joaquin County superintendent of schools. Drain gave no reason for resigning. Stockton Record article
Energy/Environment
Rough fire evacuation orders lifted – There was good news from the Rough fire Tuesday: Fresno County Sheriff’s Office lifted mandatory evacuation orders and warnings in the Dunlap, Miramonte and Pinehurst areas. Fresno Bee article; KQED report
California fire crews gain ground as some residents allowed back home – Backed by an air and land assault, firefighters gained ground against two major Northern California fires Tuesday, and began allowing some evacuated residents back into their neighborhoods. But officials warned the fires that have raged through the Calaveras foothills and swept through Lake County towns remain dangerous and may whip up again as temperatures rise later this week. Sacramento Bee article
Investigators find possible Ground Zero of Valley Fire – Investigators working to pinpoint the cause of the massive Valley Fire narrowed their focus Tuesday to a house in the small community of Cobb. San Francisco Chronicle article
Obama administration directs $250 million toward fighting wildfires – The Obama administration has directed $250 million toward fighting the wildfires raging in California and elsewhere, in addition to $450 million already transferred from different parts of the federal budget earlier this year to go toward fighting such disasters, officials said Tuesday. LA Times article
Sen. Dianne Feinstein calls for changes to the way federal government funds wildfire efforts – With 12 major fires raging throughout the state, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that the way the federal government pays for wildfire suppression exacerbates the problem. LA Times article
Computer models failing to accurately predict path of flames — Wildfires that have raged in California this summer haven’t just overwhelmed firefighters – they’ve also stumped computer models designed to predict the intensity of flames and where they’ll burn. AP article
Oil injections workshop yields limited comments, strong skepticism – It took some doing, but state officials in Bakersfield Tuesday were able to coax members of the local petroleum industry to speak up about a plan to rewrite California’s rules governing important and widely used oil field injection techniques. Bakersfield Californian article
Earth Log: Whiff of ‘wet ash’ – rain helps end soot siege — After the spritzing of rain Monday, Fresnan Tom Bohigian said on Facebook that it smelled like “wet ash” downtown. It really did. Fresno Bee article
Craig Mifflin: Here’s what happened to Tehachapi trees, and what we learned — There has been a great deal of public concern regarding the removal of some of the distinctive carved stumps at the Tehachapi Valley recreational areas of Brite Lake and Philip Marx Central Park. This is quite understandable given the fact that without any notice, the stumps seemed to simply disappear overnight. In retrospect, things could and should have been handled differently by Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District. Mifflin op-ed in Bakersfield Californian
Lemoore to tackle illegal dumping — Lemoore refuse workers are asking the public to stop illegally dumping mounds of trash at the city’s public works yard. Hanford Sentinel article
Merced Irrigation District directors delay action on power line project — After hearing nearly an hour of public comment Tuesday, the Merced Irrigation District’s board of directors unanimously voted to table action on a power line project intended to increase reliability and capacity for the public utility company. Merced Sun-Star article
Sacramento County restricts barbecues, stoves in parks — In response to dozens of wildfires this year on the American River Parkway, Sacramento County supervisors approved an ordinance Tuesday immediately restricting barbecues and other fire devices in regional parks. Sacramento Bee article
Health/Human Services
Fresno County says first case of West Nile virus has been confirmed — Fresno County health officials said Tuesday a local hospital has confirmed a patient had West Nile virus. It is the first human case of the virus in Fresno County this year. Fresno Bee article
Valleri Gammon: The time to encourage next generation of health care professionals is now – The recent Stanislaus State graduate writes, “While I only recently graduated from Stanislaus State, there is no time like the present to repay the support I received during my own health career education. At the beginning is exactly the right time to start encouraging students to not only find ways to be involved within our communities, but also to focus on how much our Central Valley will need and value them during the coming years after they graduate from one of the nation’s finest, most innovative nursing schools.” Gammon op-ed in Modesto Bee
Anxiety taking toll on fire evacuees and exacerbating other health problems – For a lot of other people here, the anxiety of not knowing is getting to them. Dr. Colleen Townsend, a family practice doctor in Napa, is helping to staff the makeshift medical center inside one of the buildings on the fairgrounds. She says anxiety is one of the main complaints. And that is making other health conditions worse. KQED report
Sacramento Bee: FDA tests its power, while there’s time – The feds bans four cigarette brands, worried that they’re marketed toward youths. Sacramento Bee editorial
First West Nile virus death reported in LA County – A San Gabriel Valley man who died this month was confirmed on Tuesday as the first West Nile virus death in Los Angeles County this year, county health officials said. LA Times article
Land Use/Housing
Home purchase for 24th Street widening scrutinized by project opponents – Two months after a judge ordered Bakersfield to stop work on the 24th Street widening project, the group that successfully sued the city nearly took it back to court Wednesday — and may still do so. All over the purchase of a house. Bakersfield Californian article
Modesto’s Dale Road development clear hurdle — Developer Valley Ventures has cleared a hurdle in its plans to develop nearly 20 acres across from Kaiser Modesto Medical Center with a medical complex, assisted-living facility, hotel and restaurant. Modesto Bee article
Other areas
U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera honors his third-grade teacher at first official reading – Juan Felipe Herrera marked his first official reading as the U.S. poet laureate with a strong message of justice and human rights – and a nod to his third-grade teacher in Fresno – Tuesday night at the Library of Congress. Fresno Bee article; KQED report
Clovis periodontist, Hanford dairy owner among 3 killed in Alaska plane crash — Two central San Joaquin Valley men on an Alaskan fishing trip were killed Tuesday when the floatplane they were on crashed shortly after takeoff in remote southwest Alaska, authorities in Alaska said. Fresno Bee article; Hanford Sentinel article
Sacramento City Council approves ethics package — A package of “good governance” measures, including creation of an ethics commission and an independent redistricting commission, was approved by the Sacramento City Council on Tuesday. Sacramento Bee article
Valley Editorial Roundup
Fresno Bee – We hope the GOP presidential debate will spotlight issues, not silliness.
Merced Sun-Star – Many opinion journalists are urging the Republican candidates to calm down, show some class, have a little dignity in Wednesday’s debate. Not us. Never before have we seen a presidential election with so much interest 14 months before the vote.
Modesto Bee – Many opinion journalists are urging the Republican candidates to calm down, show some class, have a little dignity in Wednesday’s debate. Not us. Never before have we seen a presidential election with so much interest 14 months before the vote.
Sacramento Bee – Summer on the campaign trail often is a silly season, but summer is ending. It’s time to move the spotlight beyond silliness; The FDA tests its power, while there’s still time.
Stockton Record – Tim Egkan, a native of San Diego, was a visionary. He came to Stockton in 2012 and had the advantage of seeing the city — especially downtown — with fresh eyes, rather than the jadedness of far too many locals.
Maddy Events
Sunday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m. on Fresno ABC30 – Maddy Report: “Prop 63 and the State’s Mental Health Programs: Promises (Un)Fulfilled?” — — Guests: Darrell Steinberg, former president pro tem of the California Senate and current director of Policy and Advocacy at the UC Davis Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, and Carole D’Elia, executive director of the Little Hoover Commission. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler.
Sunday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m. on KMJ (580AM and 105.9FM Radio/podcast) – Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition: “Prop 63 in Action: Tulare County’s Innovative Mental Health Program” — Guests: Dr. Timothy Durick, the director of the Tulare County Mental Health Department, and John Moreno Gonzales with the California Health Care Foundation’s Center for Health Reporting. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director Mark Keppler.
Sunday, Sept. 20, at 7 a.m. on Univision 21 (KFTV) and UniMas 61 (KTFF) – El Informe Maddy: “Prop 63 and the State’s Mental Health Programs” – Guest: Jose Oseguera (Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission). Host: Maddy Institute Deputy Director Ana Melendez.
The Maddy Report airs throughout California on The Cal Channel. Check http://www.calchannel.com to find the Cal Channel and schedule in your area. You also can view previous Maddy Report programs in their entirety at http://www.maddyinstitute.org/policy-analysis/the-maddy-report-tv.
Community Events
- CA Fwd will hold an event on “Money, Schools, Jobs and You – A Bipartisan Conversation in Clovis” at the Center for Advanced Research Technology on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 6-8 p.m. Speakers are Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin; former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed; Pete Peterson, executive director of Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership; and Marshall Tuck, Educator in Residence, New Teacher Center. Event is free but registration is required. More information: www.CAFWD.org.
- West Hills Community College District will hold an event, “Shifting Ground — Adapting the San Joaquin Valley Economy to a Changing Climate,” on Oct. 8 at Harris Ranch in Coalinga. Senior leaders from business, agriculture, government agencies and nonprofits will gather to launch immediate actions and provide near-term guidance to create next generation jobs in a region battered by drought and struggling with multiple challenges. Visit www.essentialelementsseries.comfor details of this no-fee policy series.
- The fourth annual San Joaquin Valley Affordable Housing Summit will be held at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration and additional information is available here.
- The 2015 California Economic Summit will be held in Ontario on Nov. 12-13. Since its inception in 2012, the Summit has brought together hundreds of private, public and civic leaders from the state’s diverse regions in an effort to advance the triple bottom line: promoting a prosperous economy that respects environment and equity concerns. More information and registration is available here.
Interactive
Next 10: UPDATED California budget challenge – For the first time in a decade, California’s budget is largely in balance. However, the state has outstanding debts of $28 million, not counting long-term pension and retiree health care costs. Budget choices affect us all. Take the Challenge and decide how much should be spent on programs and where the money should come from. Next 10 California Budget Challenge
Next 10: Federal budget challenge — The Federal Budget Challenge is based on The Concord Coalition’s Principles and Priorities budget exercise, which has been used in numerous town hall meetings across the country by members of Congress from both parties, as well as in hundreds of high school and college classrooms. Next 10 Federal Budget challenge at www.federalbudgetchallenge.org.
Next 10: California Water Challenge – As our state faces some of the most severe drought conditions in its history, Next 10 wants to issue a new challenge to Californians: can you create a plan to make sure there’s enough water for everyone? Next 10 California Water Challenge
LEGISLATORS’ VOTING RECORDS: How often has a California legislator broken party ranks, abstained or switched sides? The Sacramento Bee has a database of the voting records of every member of the state Senate and Assembly. Enter a lawmaker’s last and first names to see how he or she voted, or enter a bill number to see how every legislator voted on it. Check it out at this link. http://www.sacbee.com/votingrecord/
More Information
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Maddy Institute Updates List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials – The Maddy Institute has updated its list of San Joaquin Valley elected officials. The list is available here.
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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.
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