Valley Solutions

Be wary of soccer stadiums

GV Wire / NY Times. Can soccer stadiums revitalize American cities like Fresno?
Synopsis: In a note preceding this story, GV Wire’s editor reminds readers that there have been “several proposals to build a soccer stadium in downtown Fresno.” What follows is an investigation by the NY Times into whether such public expenditures ever pay off. They don’t, seldom living up to the promises of “revenue and economic activity.” The focus is on a stadium built in Pawtucket, RI, for the Rhode Island FC. Like many similar projects, the housing that was supposed to accompany the stadium nearby has been delayed. And commercial activity is lagging. “Suggesting that these things revivify local downtowns or attract new investment to the economy … the evidence is that it doesn’t happen,” said stadium-finance expert Andrew Zimbalist, PhD. There are 19 new stadiums at some stage in the process. As the number of stadiums rises, so does the price for building them. Sacramento Republic built an 11,000-seat soccer stadium in 2014 for $3 million. Now the city is spending $175 million to build a 12,000-seat stadium in the Railyards District. Often the ownership groups of soccer teams include developers who directly benefit from having the stadium. 
MAD Note: Modesto appears to have delayed its plans for a new downtown stadium.

Why the sky turned green

KCRA. Northern Lights images shared by viewers in Northern California.
Synopsis: Across the north state and much of North America, people were treated to the amazing aurora borealis on Tuesday night. Caused by severe geomagnetic sun storms said to be the largest on record, the lights were visible as far south as Alabama. It is supposed to continue tonight, if clouds don’t obscure the view.

Gassing up? Go to Modesto

Modesto Bee. Modesto gas prices among lowest in CA, says AAA. 
Synopsis: AAA’s weekly price survey says the average in Modesto is around $4.36 a gallon, which compares well to $4.70 across the state. That’s cheaper than last week’s price of $4.41, which was the lowest in the entire Central Valley. Last year, gas was selling for $4.29. Story points out that these prices are averages and you can find gas considerably cheaper on Yosemite Blvd ($3.83 at both Platinum Gas and Kwik Serve) or for $3.85 at the Diamond Gas & Mart on Sixth.

Not just ‘service,’ but ‘freedom’

Turlock Journal. ‘Thank you for my freedom.’
Synopsis: Joe Cortez writes about the celebration and commemoration of the service of veterans in Turlock on Tuesday. Mayor Amy Bublak told Cortez that instead of thanking veterans for their service, “I say, ‘Thank you for my freedom.’” Among others on the podium was a spokesman for Rep. Adam Gray, who told the crowd of roughly 100: “Our veterans live every day with the sacrifices they have made to defend and secure this nation. We live every day with the benefits of those sacrifices.”

Green Gavin isn’t perfect

Sacramento Bee. While Brazil cheers Newsom as a climate hero, we know better in CA. 
Synopsis: Columnist Tom Philp tees off on Gavin Newsom (again). Philp admits it’s important to have someone – almost anyone – representing the US at the UN-sponsored COP30 Conference in Brazil. And he admits that Newsom is absolutely correct that Donald Trump is awful for the planet. “Yet when it comes to true deeds … rather than words, our governor is getting a big pass in Brazil.” He criticizes the Governor because CA is not on track to meet its ambitious emissions goals by 2045. Nor have we put enough money into mass transit compared to other nations. In Brazil, they’re building high-speed line between Rio and Sao Paulo – 220 miles – at half the cost of what a 130-mile line is costing in our Valley. Instead of bragging, Newsom should “eat some humble pie to prepare for the tough choices that lie ahead.”
MAD Take: The writer forgot to mention Newsom’s water policy. Or that EV sales in CA are backsliding. In fact, there’s a lot to nitpick about Newsom’s policies. But when “perfect” becomes the enemy of “good,” then “bad” gets the upper hand. Bad actors will slap you with their bad upper hand every time they get the chance. Did Tom Philp notice that Trump is suggesting more oil drilling off California’s coast?

Who will pay for water data?

PPIC. Water research amid changing state-federal partnerships. 
Synopsis: The PPIC Water Policy Center explains why water is critical to every endeavor by every Californian. But without a willing and able partner in the federal government, those endeavors will flounder. This year, the federal entities that do research and develop water data and policy have been decimated by layoffs. The Dept of Interior has suffered a 16% reduction in staff, NASA 27%, USDA 24%, NOAA 20%. USGS monitoring and NASA’s Earth Sciences Division are on the chopping block for 2026. In this era of uncertainty, the state must stand ready to take up the slack. Last Spring, the PPIC and UC Merced assembled a group of experts in applied water resources and tasked them with recommending priorities. Their suggestions: 1) Better accounting of water flows and use. 2) Paying for water “to shore up water supplies and build resilient water system services.” 3) Build climate resistance through management systems.
MAD Take: “Paying for water” is PPIC code for inviting speculative water markets to supplant California’s system of water rights. The PPIC suggests that environmental uses are a public good, so the public should pay for them. But what about food production? What about investments already made by residents of the Valley in dams and canals and the development of the most productive farming system in the history of mankind? The PPIC admits “Mistrust and misunderstanding further complicate the adoption of markets.” The PPIC insists that if we only understood the many “safeguards” to be provided, we untrusting Valley residents would embrace “markets” as part of a liquid salvation. Safeguards similar to those that stopped Enron? Safeguards like the ones that kept Mammoth Oil out of the Oval Office during the Teapot Dome scandal? Ever hear of ABSCAM? Bernie Madoff? WorldCom? No financial system anywhere has ever been completely protected from being rigged by speculators – especially when the country is run by a speculator-in-chief.

Jag’s great first impression

GV Wire. CHP K-9 makes $272,000 drug bust on first day in Merced County.
Synopsis: Jag and his human partner started a new job Tuesday and immediately made a big splash. Jag found 20 pounds of crystal meth in the trunk of a car that had been pulled over in Merced County on I-5. Arrests were made, drugs confiscated. Good boy!

Tale of two Californias

Valley Sun. Gallagher continues push to split CA into two states.
Synopsis: Assemblymember James Gallagher went to the conservative Shasta County board of supervisors to ask its support in breaking apart the state of California. He is angry that Prop 50 passed. Gallagher’s proposal would shove 34 of California’s counties – basically, any county not touching the ocean – into a separate state.  Even the highly conservative Shasta board of supervisors split 3-2 in favor of his plan.

Optimism in a nutshell

Ag Net West. Michael Jameson reports a rebound for CA walnuts.
Synopsis: Interviewer Nick Papagni talked to the director of sales for Morada Nut Co., Michael Jameson, to get an optimistic take on walnut sales this year. After years of tough markets, Jameson continues his upbeat prediction, saying this year’s harvest is the highest quality ever seen. Meanwhile, demand from Turkey, Italy and India is rising. In China, growers endured an early freeze and a hot August, cutting yields. The 100% tariff on nuts in India is hurting sales, but he thinks there are other customers.
podcast: https://www.podbean.com/ep/pb-45h9w-19bde70

Who needs a treasurer?

Ceres Courier. Does Ceres really need a city treasurer?
Synopsis: Columnist Jeff Benziger writes about a “snippy” Ceres city council meeting in which James Casey called for a clarification of the city’s elected treasurer’s duties. That irritated vice mayor Daniel Martinez, whose wife happens to be the city’s elected treasurer. Casey noted that the city has both a treasurer and a finance director, and their duties seem duplicative. Benziger considers elected treasurers “an outmoded and unnecessary layer of government.” He quotes a previous city treasurer saying the job “wasn’t worth his time.”

Mark Twain coming to Gallo

Merced Sun Star. Iconic actor will perform one-may show at Modesto’s Gallo Center.
Synopsis: Richard “John Boy” Thomas will recreate the role of Mark Twain in a one-man show made famous by Hal Holbrook on Nov. 16 at the Gallo. Other upcoming Gallo shows include Jim Brickman’s “The Gift of Christmas,” Nov. 20; bluesman Robert Cray at the Turlock Community Theater on Nov. 15, and Prospect Theater Project’s production of Rancho Mirage Nov. 14-30. 

Barbecue-sauced cupcakes

Modesto Bee. BBQ sauce on cake? Modesto man’s unlikely flavors help win World Food title. 
Synopsis: George Morasci was an ag land appraiser when he started making his Five Monkeys BBQ Sauce. Now, he’s a full-time BBQ guy, having won lots of cookoffs and trophies. Last year he teamed with arch-competitor Mike Johnson of Missouri and Andy Nguyen to compete in the World Food Championships. They put together an entire meal, and the icing on the meal were BBQ-sauce-frosted cupcakes. Throw in wagyu ribeye, bone-marrow butter and quail eggs, and you’ve got a feast. Their victory over 400 teams was worth $10,000 and bragging rights. They earned a spot in the Final Table competition in Bentonville, Ark., next year. A win there is worth $150,000.