Valley Headlines

Bird flu emergency: About time

CBS47. Bird flu: CA declares state of emergency.
Synopsis: With a third of the state’s 1,200 dairies already having been stricken with H5N1, the state is finally taking bird flu seriously. A day after a Southern California cow -- the first dairy herd beyond the Central Valley -- was infected, Gov. Newsom declared a state of emergency. Cows in 16 states have been affected, and several other states have already declared emergencies to provide additional government funding. Gov. Newsom says his order will empower a stronger response for testing and data collection and provide more resources to counties. 

Water, tech, crime on the farm

Valley Solutions. Farm Bureau updates Merced members on water, tech, crime
Synopsis: The Merced Farm Bureau expanded its annual “Summit” meeting to a second location, inviting farmers to a meeting in Los Banos. Scott Petersen of the San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority told the audience he wasn’t there to “scare you, but…” His bottom line: the legislature made a full-frontal assault on water rights last year and he expects people like Buffy Wicks and Scott Weiner to continue their efforts to turn over all water-rights and allocation decisions to un-elected and largely invisible Sacramento bureaucrats. The Voluntary Agreements, still supported by Gov. Newsom, are problematic but better than the alternative. BTW, the State Water Project canal has lost 20% of its capacity due to subsidence; it will take $1 billion to fix it. Several excellent questions from the audience.

Ag Alert. Farm Bureau delegates approve policies.
Synopsis: At the 106^th Annual Meeting Farm Bureau, COO Dan Durheim says it is essential that farmers embrace new technologies and adopt new approaches. Chris Reardon, the bureau’s policy VP, stressed efforts to mitigate costs incurred by farmers due to growing wolf predation, the higher cost of insurance, eminent domain and even a rift in the farming community over Williamson Act protections.

A ‘weapon’ destroying the Valley

SJV Water. Punjabi farmers gain few answers at workshop to address confusion over groundwater.
Synopsis: The four-hour workshop sponsored by Punjabi American Growers Group was more of a gripe-session than workshop. “SGMA has good intentions,” said Nick Sahota, “but it has become a weapon to destroy the San Joaquin Valley.” He said impacts go far beyond any farm to the trucking, retail and processing industries. Jasbir Sidhu says if farms are going to be forced to stop pumping, tell the farmers now so they can stop pounding their heads against a wall. Dorene D’Adamo, water board vice chair, attended the meeting but explained there is little the board can do.
MAD Take: Attending such meetings is admirable and even courageous, but the state needs a better message than, “Nothing we can do.”

Sharing tamales with cops

Turlock Journal. ‘Tamales con la Policia’
Synopsis: Joe Cortez writes about the Mariscos Guayabitos restaurant where diners can sit share some lunch with a Turlock police officer. The restaurant owner Horacio Gonzalez came up with the idea, and offers 2 tamales, rice, beans and a cup of atole – a warm, sweet drink that pairs with the tamales – on the house. He hopes folks will join in on the tamale-making that he says also builds community.

Lots of trucks, no parking

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus county delays decision on truck parking facilities; panel will study ‘crisis.’
Synopsis: Two truck facilities have been backburnered after the county planning commission, city of Turlock, Farm Bureau and Keyes MAC all spoke against their plans for truckyards. That means Pattar Trucking’s application for an 80-acre facility off West Taylor Road near Hwy 99 and a smaller lot for 40 commercial trucks on Welty Road near Vernalis were delayed. The county passed strict truck-parking rules in 2012, reducing where trucks could park. Trucking companies say there are too few spaces, and it appears lots of trucks are being parked illegally in lots of places. Vito Chiesa has asked for a moratorium on permit applications until the county figures out a solution. Mani Grewal and Chad Condit wanted to approve the Vernalis project but delay the larger one.

A litmus test in Los Banos

Westside Express. Editorial: New council must deal with Pinheiro.
Synopsis: The Editorial Board writes: “The Westside Express is taking the unprecedented step of publishing a front-page editorial as the Dec. 18 application deadline for two vacant city council seats arrive. We are offering the three current council members a litmus test for any new appointees. They must truly value accountability, transparency and competency. But mainly accountability.” That means getting rid of failed city manager Josh Pinheiro. Four reasons: His bad attitude, bad performance, staff rebellion and voters have demanded it by ousting the mayor and recalling two councilmembers.

Accountability for homelessness

Cal Matters. Billions of dollars later, CA’s homeless crisis persists under Newsom.
Synopsis: Dan Walters trains his always-critical eye on programs that were created to help solve homelessness. He notes the state has spent at least $20 billion and maybe $24 billion and there is precious little to show. The homeless population grew by 5,000 (2%) last year to 186,000. Gov. Newsom says he’s fed up. Meanwhile, the blame game is heading into overtime. If Newsom doesn’t solve this, and soon, expect it to come up during his run for the presidency in 2027.

Merced Sun-Star. Homelessness ebbs, flows in Merced, San Joaquin Valley over past 2 decades.
Synopsis: Tim Sheehan reports on a review of 14 years of data compiled in Merced and Stanislaus counties that shows homelessness is at higher rates now than at any time since 2008. Merced has 837 homeless, a 63% increase from 2018 when there were 514. The pattern is the same across the entire San Joaquin Valley. The Merced PIT report says there are more families – some 20% – living at or below the poverty level and says all are at risk of becoming homeless.

Hands off bullet train, Elon

Modesto / Fresno Bee. Musk thinks high-speed rail is wasteful? Cutting funds would be the crime.
Synopsis: Tad Weber looks at efforts by Sacramento congressman Kevin Kiley to focus Elon Musk’s ex-officio Government Efficiency Committee on high-speed rail project. High-speed rail would reduce pollution by getting people out of cars and off the roads. What does Musk sell? Cars. Tad notes that emissions have made forest fires hotter, droughts longer, tornados more frequent and flooding far more destructive. Who wouldn’t want to get from Merced to Bakersfield in 50 minutes? Oh, and high-speed is providing an enormous number of jobs in Fresno and Merced.

Some trans patients complain

Modesto Bee. Transgender patients report obstacles since Golden Valley takeover of Modesto clinic.
Synopsis: GVHC took over the county’s Paradise Medical Office last summer, including its Rainbow Clinic. MoPride’s Veronica Ambrose says she’s had a tough time speaking to humans when she’s called to make referrals. There are also reports of lost records. The county says its records transfer was “not 100% successful.” Ambrose told a reporter that these problems “are killing people, honestly.” But GVHC says the clinic has actually expanded hours and added a doctor since GVHC’s takeover. GVHC says it acquired 8,500 patients at the Paradise Clinic, and it does not require referrals because anyone can walk in for care. As for “killing people,” Ambrose offered no evidence of an actual death.

No grades, no tests, no problem

Cal Matters. CA wants to give degrees based on skills, not grade; it’s dividing this college.
Synopsis: Adam Echelman writes about Madera College, where faculty is arguing over the “new educational model” called “competency-based education.” Students learn at their own pace, don’t have to attend classes and they don’t get grades. The state gave Madera CC $4 million to expand its competency-based program in 2021, but not everyone bought in and now the program is on hold. Former Mayor Santos Garcia and county supervisor Leticia Gonzalez have defended it along with MCC president Angel Reyna, but MCC faculty has issued a no-confidence letter in Reyna over the issue.

She’s a comic book hero

Merced Sun Star / Fresno Bee. Familiar Valley doctor stars as hero in Covered CA comic book.
Synopsis: Dr. Trinidad Solis is the featured character in a comic book created in Spanish and English to help explain healthcare in California’s Central Valley. Solis grew up in an immigrant family and is now the deputy health officer for Fresno County where she runs the rural-health program. She calls it an honor to be in the comic book. It was unveiled in Mendota, where Dr. Solis once lived.