Valley Headlines

Basics of redistricting

GV Wire. Revised Congressional maps target Valadao, boost Gray in the Valley.
Synopsis: Bill McEwen draws some conclusions about the congressional maps being proposed by Gavin Newsom. 1) Dems are desperate to knock out David Valadao. 2) Dems want to protect Josh Harder and Adam Gray. 3) Jim Costa is so well-liked that few believe he can be beaten. 4) Republicans Tom McClintock and Vince Fong are locks. There’s more.

CalMatters. 5 things to know about Newsom’s plan to redraw CA’s election maps. 
Synopsis: The five things: 1) This is being done to counter Texas’s effort to secure Congress for Trump despite his falling popularity. 2) Unlike in Texas, this move requires a vote of the people. 3) It is urgent now; if it isn’t on the November ballot it’s moot point. 4) It will cost around $200 million. 5) It could work if people dislike the thought of Trump’s unchecked more than they like the citizen’s commission. It should be noted, the only “election maps” being redrawn are for California’s congressional districts, not those for the state senate, assembly or any other jurisdiction.

The politics of redistricting

LA Times. Newsom’s redistricting plan is a power grab, but GOP objections are rubbish. 
Synopsis: Eminent columnist George Skelton writes about Gavin Newsom’s effort to balance the gerrymandering in Texas with gerrymandering in California. As he writes: “Power grab? Sure. Overturning the voters’ will? Hardly.” That’s because voters have the final say. And don’t forget, the PPIC has reported that partisanship is now more important to people, shaping even migration from one state to another – conservatives refuse to live among libs in CA or Massachusetts, and liberals avoid even visiting places like Tennessee, Texas and Florida. Skelton quotes political strategist Garry South: “The messaging here is clear: ‘Screw Trump.’ If the object is to stick it to Trump, turnout won’t be a problem.”

LA Times. Newsom’s redistricting move isn’t pretty; CA GOP leaders are uglier. 
Synopsis: Columnist Gustavo Arellano writes about the efforts of “King Gavin” to cancel the efforts of Texas to make Donald Trump America’s Emperor. Newsom is quoted, saying, “It’s not good enough to just hold hands, have a candlelight vigil and talk about the way the world should be.” But the whining of CA’s Republicans is disingenuous: “Pot, meet black hole.” Gustavo is not convinced it will work. He prefers Republican Kevin Kiley’s idea, banning all congressional redistricting nationwide prior to the 2026 elections. Alas, Kiley’s bill has exactly zero co-sponsors and an equal chance of passing.

Managing emotions for deputies

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus deputies trained on managing emotions after series of criminal cases. 
Synopsis: Some 200 Sheriff’s Office employees, including deputies, went through an “emotional intelligence” course last week to improve decision making and community relations. The RITE Academy taught de-escalation techniques over four 8-hour sessions. Bottom line: “When you control your emotions, you control every situation whether it’s at home or at work.” To help, recognize the “ladder of 18 emotions” and use breathing and focus techniques to manage the climb. Taking time to reset after stressful encounters is important, too, as is gratitude. The story finished by detailing six incidents involving deputies, from domestic violence to sexual assault.  

Sheriff makes case for system  

Modesto Focus. Stanislaus sheriff stands alone in ‘stubborn’ 911 dispatch dispute.
Synopsis: Reporter Garth Stapley helps Modesto Focus make its debut with a look at the “high-level” rift between Sheriff Jeff Dirkse and other Stanislaus County leaders over the computer systems used by the emergency responders. The sheriff said he will go live with his new Oracle software system to dispatch deputies. The county’s other emergency responders will be activating their upgraded Center Square system at roughly the same time. Basically, it means deputies covering the unincorporated parts of the county along with Patterson, Hughson, Riverbank and Waterford will be on one system and the 24 agencies that provide EMT, fire and police services in Modesto, Turlock, Newman, Ceres and Oakdale will be on another. The Stanislaus Civil Grand Jury didn’t like the idea, and blamed Dirkse for a “divisive controversy resulting in public safety vulnerability.”

Ag land or truck lots?

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus County to consider 2 truck parking facilities; what are new regs?
Synopsis: Supervisors will look at two proposals that have been postponed for 9 months as an ad hoc committee worked on new regulations for parking big-rig trucks in areas not designated for them. Pattar Trucking wants to put 80 spaces on 10 acres on West Taylor Road, between Hwy 99 and North Washington. Near Vernalis on Hwy 33, Atwal Properties wants to create 40 spaces. Both proposals require planning commission permission. This is a growing problem. Some 23 different entities have applied to build big-rig parking facilities since 2021. With trucks come noise, fumes, crumbling blacktop and jagged potholes. The Taylor Road site near Turlock has caused the most controversy. Some fear it will lead to piecemeal development of prime ag land. The ad hoc committee is insisting on fencing and no stacking of tires or parts. Washing, loading, repairs and oil changes would be prohibited.

Teaspoons to centum feet

Maven’s Notebook. Edward Ring: Tips to understanding our convoluted yet obligatory units of water.
Synopsis: Columnist Edward Ring of the CA Policy Center writes about how we measure water. There are liters, acre feet, cubic meters, cubic kilometers, centum cubic feet and cubic-feet per second. CA gets about 200 million acre feet (MAF) each year, give or take 50 MAF. Farming uses about 30 MAF of that, cities about 9 MAF. How that water is delivered is measured via flow, so translations are necessary.
MAD Take: If you can get to the end of this wonkish story, you’ll find a link to download a handy spreadsheet for all sorts of water conversions.

Reversing Valley’s subsidence

LA Times. Letter to the editor: Subsidence isn’t just an environmental crisis.
Synopsis: Westlands Water District GM Allison Febbo writes about the Valley’s sinking land, much of it either irrigated or owned by Westlands. The good news: Subsidence can be slowed and potentially reversed by injecting water into aquifers. Since 2023, Westlands farmers recharged 470,000 acre feet of groundwater through injection wells. In some places that resulted in the land rising 6 inches. Bottom line: “California should advance Proposition 4 investments to restore aquifers, safeguard the California Aqueduct and secure the food and water millions depend on.”

Car crash frees kitties

Modesto Bee. Car crashes into Oakdale animal shelter; no injuries, but a few cats slipped away.
Synopsis: No people or animals were hurt when a sedan crashed through the wall of the ASTRO Foundation shelter on Stearns Road. But the crash wrecked a wall, and there will be no public access until repairs are made. “A small handful of cats … escaped during the incident,” said the incident report.

Flag led to firing in Yosemite

Fresno Bee. Yosemite scientist fired for flying a Trans Pride flag: RIP free speech?
Synopsis: Columnist Tad Weber writes about biologist SJ Joslin, who hung a trans-pride flag on the lower portion of El Capitan on May 20. On Aug. 12, Joslin was fired because that counted as a “a demonstration outside of Yosemite’s designated area.” Joslin lacked a permit for such a display. Interestingly, the regulations governing free speech in the park did not exist at the time the banner was displayed. Tad writes Yosemite “should reinstate Joslin to the biologist job and apologize” for the trampling of First Amendment rights.

From Modesto to 49ers?

SF Chronicle. Is a reunion between 49ers and former would-be backup QB Sudfeld in the offing? 
Synopsis: In 2022, the 49ers made the dreams of Modesto native Nate Sudfeld come true by signing him to a 6-year contract. Then, a few months later, they released him in favor of backup Brock Purdy. Now, the man who became “a footnote in franchise history” could be making a return. The former Modesto Christian star worked out with the team Monday, throwing to Colton Dowell, Jalen Guyton and JJ Jones. He might once again become the No. 1 backup.
MAD Note: Sometimes, dreams are delayed … not dashed.

Ag’s real-life horror movies

National Milk Producers. Protect your dairy from New World Screwworm.
Synopsis: The NMP Federation’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Jamie Jonker, writes vividly about how cattle are literally “eaten alive” by screwworm maggots. An umbilical cord left untreated can become a host for flies who lay eggs in it. Dehorning, branding, even tick bites can provide entry for maggots. Once a single calf or cow is infected, it becomes much more likely others will as well. The only good news is that back in 1966 we rid the southwest of the screwworm, and now we have even better tools to do the same. The key: “Stay vigilant. … Early detection and quick reporting protects individual herds and the entire industry.” A quick reference is here.
MAD Note: The New World Screwworm is the stuff of horror movies, except they’re real. Why is that important to anyone other than dairy farmers? The presence of the screwworms can cost a dairy operation thousands to remove and thousands more in lost production. A large part of our Valley’s economy is fueled by milk. Dairy farms generated $1.13 billion in Stanislaus County in 2023; $626 million in San Joaquin; $1.5 billion in Merced and another $800 million in Madera and Fresno. That comes to more than $4 billion based on California cows. Now, think of that $4 billion industry being eaten alive.

Western Farm Press. Tiny parasites can pose serious health risk for livestock.
Synopsis: Something else for us to worry about: Liver flukes. They spend their early life in freshwater creeks as snails. If consumed, they get into the livers of cattle, sheep, elk and deer. They can also infest plants along the edge of the water and get into the blood when the plants are eaten. They can live in sheep “for years” and about a year in cattle. After seeing few cases for 20 years, veterinarians are reporting they’re now showing up in Canada, Washington, Oregon and Northern CA. Vaccines can keep them at bay.