Valley Solutions

Disgraced Gaetz to visit Valley

Merced Focus. Matt Gaetz expected to make Merced appearance with candidate for CA-13. 
Synopsis: Vin Kruttiventi, a Lathrop tech CEO, is hosting former Rep. Matt Gatez at the Merced Senior Community Center. Hosted by the Republican Party of Merced, Gaetz will appear as a guest of Kruttiventi. He called Gatez a “large national figure aligned with the MAGA movement and a great draw.” As the story points out, “Anyone who has taken even a passing interest in politics will know Gaetz is no stranger to controversy, which has included a Justice Dept investigation on accusations of sex trafficking and conflicts with his own party.” His own party in Congress investigated Gaetz and reported that there “was substantial evidence” that he engaged in paid sex and drug use with a minor. He also accepted impermissible gifts. He was nominated to be attorney general by Donald Trump, but could not be confirmed. His friend Kruttiventi is expected to file papers to run against Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez for the Republican nomination to run in CA-13. Also filing papers to run in the district are Alberto Escobedo and Angelina Sigala. The winner will likely face Rep. Adam Gray.

PG&E is asking for more

ABC10. PG&E asks CA for more rate increases as part of a 4-year projection. 
Synopsis: One of the nation’s most profitable utility companies is asking for a 5.2% rate increase for next year. “We want our customers to know this is the smallest percentage increase we’ve asked for in a decade,” said PG&E spokesperson Lynsey Paulo. The company said its “revenue requirements” will increase 8% from 2026 to 2027, apparently more than can be covered by the 61% increases the company secured over the past three years. PG&E admits that what consumers pay will go up every year through 2030, with the “average” customer paying $248.01 per month -- or about $144 more per year than they pay now. Mark Toney, head of TURN, said “customers have already had it up to here with rate increases.”
MAD Take: Two things: 1) Bullfincher says PG&E is the 10^th most profitable utility company in America, having made $2.44 billion for its investors last year. 2) PG&E prefers to talk about “average bills” to obscure the actual impacts of its rate increases. The “average bill” is based on coastal temperatures, where most PG&E customers live. In our Valley, summer days hit triple digits and winter night into the 20s. If the “average” bill goes up $144 ours will go up $300.

Fundraising reports released

Valley Sun. Valadao hits jackpot: Dems in fundraising dead heat against themselves.
Synopsis: Dr. Jasmeet Bains and Randy Villegas both have more than $200,000 to fund their efforts to secure the nomination to run against David Valadao in CA-22. Valadao has raised $633,812 and has $1.8 million on hand. Meanwhile, in CA-13, Rep. Adam Gray raised $505,000 in the quarter and has $1 million on hand. His only declared opponent, Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez, raised $70,600 and has $19,800 to spend. Vin Kruttiventi, who ran for Congress in a Bay Area district last year, has moved to Lathrop and raised $173,000. Rep. Josh Harder has $3.4 million in his accounts. His two declared opponents -- Kevin Lincoln and Jim Shoemaker – have about a tenth of that combined.

Modesto ‘island’ improved

Modesto Bee. This Modesto neighborhood getting sidewalks and gutters, years in the making.
Synopsis: Stanislaus County leaders celebrated the kickoff of a project to improve the Parklawn district of south Modesto. Sidewalks, sewer lines, fire hydrants and streetlights will be among improvements, setting the stage for the neighborhood to be annexed into the city of Modesto which surrounds it. Combined, it will cost $22.4 million – most of which was provided by the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Joe Biden. Supervisor Channce Condit called the improvements “long overdue.” The county has identified more than two dozen such islands and scheduling improvements as funding permits.

Living Well celebrates 23

Modesto Bee. Over $96,500 raised at Modesto graduation for women’s wellness program.
Synopsis: The Living Women’s Education Leadership League (aka, Living WELL) celebrated its 10^th anniversary as 23 women graduated from the five-week course to teach financial literacy and self-sufficiency. Founder Alana Scott Clayton thanked Brad and Nancy Hawn for funding the program. Mayor Sue Zwahlen noted that the graduating class included members of the Downtown Street Team – a program on the verge of closure until the city of Modesto put $1.25 million into keeping it alive. “We are behind you. We admire you,” said the mayor. Others making contributions to the program were Phil Trompetter, Dr. Jaskiran Grewal, Marian Kaanon and Leia Porges among others.

They have a beef with packers

Morning Ag Clips. Op-ed: Why is herd shrinking amid record beef prices?
Synopsis: Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA which represents cattle ranchers, is angry with the beef industry. He urges people not to fall for “beef industry propaganda” as it attempts to increase imports of cheap beef into the US. Bullard says the US beef-cow herd is the smallest it’s been in 70 years even as demand has risen. Prices are at their highest levels ever, but meatpackers have refused to pass profits to ranchers. Instead, they have imported twice as much cheap beef as they did 25 years ago while doubling what Americans pay for beef. Allowing them to import even more cheap beef will not result in lower prices. But it will drive even more ranchers out of business.

Successful Farming. Trump says his administration is working on lowering beef prices. 
Synopsis: During a press opportunity last week, the president said “we did something” about the price of beef. But he didn’t say what that was. Beef prices are at record highs “after cattle ranchers slashed their herds due to a yearslong drought.” The Meat Institute, representing the meatpacking industry, said it needed to learn more about Trump’s plan. Meanwhile, tariffs have slowed imports of Brazilian beef, and screwworm fears have stopped imports from Mexico.

Do protests matter? Yes

SF Chronicle. Do protests like No Kings still matter? Here’s what experts say. 
Synopsis: Columnist Joe Garofoli recalls last summer’s No Kings rally attracted 5 million people into the streets nationwide. Since then, Trump has “sent in military troops to police US citizens … ramped up ICE harassment – efforts that have also ensnared US citizens – transformed the Dept of Justice into a sword to impale his political enemies and stifled free speech.” There have been 3x more protests this year than there were in 2017. Obviously, protests are “not a magic wand that will change the world with one wave.” But they do show strength and often lead to deeper commitment from protesters. To be effective, they must remain non-violent. Bottom line: Leave your pickleball paddles at home but don’t forget your signs. And don’t be afraid to tell people who you are.

Fresno OKs west-of-99 homes

Fresnoland. Westside residents cheer Fresno’s new development plan.
Synopsis: The Fresno city council voted 5-0 to approve the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan to build homes for 40,000 people west of Hwy 99. With those homes will come schools, stores, parks and more. Board chair Annalisa Perea says, “West of the 99 is about to boom.” There are already 40,000 people living west of the highway but within city limits now. First up is a 52-acre regional park that will have Shaw running through the middle of it. That doesn’t suit Mike Karbassi, who calls it unsafe.

SJ County celebrates 175th

Stocktonia. SJ County marks 175^th anniversary with optimistic State of the County address. 
Synopsis: Supervisor Paul Canepa talked about the greatness of San Joaquin County on its anniversary. One of California’s original 27 counties, it remains one of the state’s agricultural powerhouses. The board chair noted the county’s $3 billion budget and ample reserves. Canepa also applauded a drop in fentanyl deaths and the contributions of the Family Justice Center in fighting violence. He noted upgrades at the Stockton airport, which is seeing record cargo and passenger traffic.

New rides for Modesto PD

Modesto Bee. Modesto to spend $2.3 million replacing police dept vehicle fleet. 
Synopsis: For $2.3 million, the Modesto police department will buy 27 pursuit-rated Ford Interceptors and 2 Chevy Tahoe SUVs from dealers in Sacramento County. The vehicles will replace units that are costing the city roughly $1.8 million to repair and maintain. The Fire Dept will get 3 new Tahoes, replacing vehicles that were at least 18 years old.

Health care will cost more

KVPR. CA’s health insurance marketplace braces for chaos as shutdown persists. 
Synopsis: The state will begin notifying those who buy health insurance through Covered California that their costs will rise significantly next year. The Kaiser Family Foundation found the popularity of the Affordable Care Act – which subsidizes insurance costs for low-income families – has grown dramatically over the past decade. More than 75% of adults support it, including 59% of Republicans. While his Big Beautiful (budget) Bill gutted subsidies for the program, Trump has suggested he might be open to a deal that would keep it solvent. The current shutdown is taking place because Democrats have demanded that funding for insurance be restored before Open Enrollment starts in November. Rural residents will get the highest cost increases, according to the state, which expects 400,000 to drop coverage altogether. That will force them into emergency rooms for any treatment. California’s 2.3 million recipients are not at the epicenter of the problem. Florida has 4.7 million people enrolled in the program and Texas has 3.9 million but have yet to notify individuals of cost increases.

Insulin now, Ozempic next?

Cal Matters. Newsom unveils $11 state insulin: ‘We took matters into our own hands.’ 
Synopsis: The state will sell 5-unit insulin packs for $55, making the life-saving treatment more affordable for 3.5 million Californians. A comparable product sells for $92 in pharmacies. “We didn’t wait for the pharmaceutical industry to do the right thing,” said Gov. Newsom. Better news, the company making the insulin, Civica, will open a manufacturing facility in CA next year. Next up: An opioid-overdose reversal med for $22.50 and then vaccines. Then generic Ozempic.
MAD Take: What? No Botox?