Valley Solutions

Valley Solutions offers a daily look at the top headlines appearing on media websites affecting the San Joaquin Valley. It is compiled by Mike Dunbar, who worked in Stockton, Modesto, Merced and Los Banos media for 40 years and later served as Adam Gray’s press secretary when he was in the Assembly. Valley Solutions is brought to readers by Rep. Adam Gray.

Kerman mayor confronts ICE

Fresno Bee. Kerman mayor confronts ICE agents detaining immigrants near local bakery: ‘Heartbroken.’
Synopsis: Mayor Maria Pacheco rushed to La Princesa Bakery at 6:30 Thursday morning, arriving in time to see ICE agents detaining four customers. She began yelling at them as she took video with her phone. Pacheco said she cannot remain “silent while my neighbors are being terrorized.” She posted it on social media, including a threat from one of the agents. “I support peace officers. But ICE, they are not peace officers,” said Pacheco. “They are agents of chaos.” Pacheco is running against Mike Karbassi for a seat on the Fresno Board of Supervisors; he, too, demanded ICE suspend its Valley operations.

Merced Sun Star. Valley restaurants, grocery stores delivering to families who fear ICE patrols. 
Synopsis: Only a few customers have come into Carnicera y Taqueria Mexico in Madera after ICE agents were seen nearby. That doesn’t mean business is slow. The store’s owner has set up deliveries of hot food and groceries, advertising on social media. Garcia’s Supermarket in Kerman is also offering free delivery within 20 miles. “Estamos con nuestra comunidad,” said the owner – “We’re here for our community.” Said the owner of WetMato, “I can’t do much … (but) if I can help with a free meal, that’s taking a little stress off families.” Other stores, like Fresno’s “Judging Books by the Cover” are donating 10% of sales to Faith in the Valley.

Neighbor: Agent was really drunk

Fresno Bee. Neighbor of Fresno man who police say shot ‘belligerently drunk’ ICE agent speaks out. 
Synopsis: The man who shot the drunk ICE agent who was attacking his daughter is a “hero for defending himself and his daughter,” said Frederick Lisitsa, who lives across the street. Lisitsa said ICE agent David Gonzalez was “belligerently drunk” after spending hours at a nearby bar. He said Gonzalez had been trying to open the doors of parked cars before passing out. When confronted by the homeowner, “he attacked them. He attacked them to the point where there are dents on my car because the fight extended all the way out into the street,” said Lisitsa. 

Closing rail boss’s checkbook

Cal Matters. High-speed rail board limits CEO contract authority after $600,000 travel scandal. 
Synopsis: The CA High-Speed Rail Authority board voted Friday to curtail CEO Ian Choudri’s contracting authority after a state investigation found his agency had approved $600,000 of unallowed travel expenditures by consultants – such as late-night Uber Blacks to the gym and nightclubs, first-class flights, fancy hotels and cigar lounges. Board member Lynn Schenk is “outraged” by the expenditures. Henry Perea of Fresno wants to fire the consultants but worries it will further delay the long-delayed project. Visalia Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo wants Choudri fired.

21 Days left to vote

Cal Matters. How would Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton manage CA’s most precious resource?
Synopsis: Rachel Becker lays out the differences in water policy between Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra. The problems are deep and difficult – from poisonous tap water to supply issues to environmental demands, to collapsing canals. Climate change makes them all worse. Hilton would “clear cut” environmental regulations to build more canals and dams. He’s worked with strategist Edward Ring to come up with plans to provide more water. Becerra is less specific. Becker quotes “independent water consultant” Max Gomberg then finishes up citing “East of Eden” and Peter Gleick.
MAD Take: A couple of points. First, Max Gomberg is the former water board employee and extremist who was doing everything in his power to undermine water board policies. His thinking has been proved wrong in many areas, including the resurgence of salmon over the past two years. Quoting this half-baked radical makes any story suspect. Second, some of Hilton’s ideas sound pretty good. But at least one was omitted – his plan to build a canal to send Tuolumne River water directly to the South Valley. The Tuolumne is already “over-subscribed” with 70% to 80% of its water diverted for Modesto, Turlock and San Francisco and thousands of acres of food production. It has no more water available.

Merced Focus. Three Merced College board seats up for election. 
Synopsis: Merced College Board areas 4, 7 and 5 have elections. In 5, Joe Gutierrez is facing recent transplant Sarai Jimenez-Robertson. He’s held the seat since 2012. Jimenez-Robertson was put on leave by a school district in Watsonville for posting pro-ICE comments, and then she moved to Los Banos. In Area 4, Mary Camper and Rich Randall are running to represent the area that borders the main MC campus. Camper is a lifelong Merced resident, involved in Rotary and has helped raise money for Mercy Medical Center. Randall has been teaching poli sci at Merced College for 20 years and has been endorsed by the Faculty Association. In Area 7, Bob Geyer is challenging John Pedrozo, who has been in the seat since 2018. Geyer has four degrees from MC and teaches crop science. Pedrozo wants to see more opportunities like dual enrollment, the Dreamscape Lab and AgTEC – all of which he’s had a hand in developing.

Merced Focus. When cities rely primarily on sales tax for funding. 
Synopsis: As Merced voters consider the half-cent Measure B sales tax, Jerry Perezchica of Strong Towns Merced writes in an op-ed that most CA cities rely on sales taxes to fund city services. But money raised through sales taxes can create a disconnect between how money is raised and how it is spent. Sales taxes leave it up to the “instincts” of elected officials to determine how money should be allocated and to what. He concludes without a recommendation.

‘Vice squad’ losing member?

Stocktonia. Could Jason Lee lose his vice mayor title? Stockton council to revisit appointment. 
Synopsis: The Stockton city council will consider a motion tonight to rescind Jason Lee’s appointment to the Audit Committee. While that would not necessarily end his term as Vice Mayor, it would make it more difficult. Regardless, his term expires Dec. 31. Lee and Mayor Christine Fugasi, once allies, have battled publicly and ferociously.
MAD Note: To answer the question posed in the headline, no, he won’t lose his Vice Mayor title – unless he resigns it.

Trump’s beef plan not working

Farmdoc. Trump import plan bringing in less ‘affordable’ beef than allowed.
Synopsis: President Trump promised beef prices would fall by 25% when he dropped tariffs and import duties on 6 million pounds of South American beef. But RFD-TV reports that the amount of imported beef fell “well short of the first monthly allocation.” Meatingplace and the Univ of Arkansas reported that the beef simply isn’t available. Meanwhile, consumers are still waiting for cheaper beef. “Prices have barely budged, ranchers remain incensed, and vulnerable Republicans in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas are fighting to convince rural voters to turn out in November as farmers confront economic headwinds fueled by the president’s policies,” wrote Politico.
MAD Take: As is often the case, details get left out – like who is providing all the South American beef. Most is coming from Brazil-based JBS Foods – whose owner, Josely Batista, is a major Trump donor.

Ignore RFK Jr., vaccinate birds

Politico. ‘It’s time to get a vaccine in place’: RFK Jr.’s views helped stall bird-flu plan. 
Synopsis: Ag Sec Brooke Rollins is rolling out a $1 billion, five-point plan to tackle the spread of bird flu – which has killed at least 200 million birds, spiked the price of eggs and even moved into dairy barns across America. The plan to vaccinate birds was ready months ago. But Health Sec Robert Kennedy Jr. – the world’s foremost anti-vaxxer -- urged Rollins to delay implementation. With egg prices falling, she agreed. Now, Republican senators are pushing her to act. “We are being caught flat-footed, and we’re losing millions of birds a year right now,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-SD. Industry leaders are angry that Rollins gave in to Kennedy. “We firmly believe vaccination is a necessary tool to address the ongoing HPAI outbreak,” said Chad Gregory of United Egg Producers. “We could have possibly eliminated that danger of it striking again by completing the research and completing the vaccine,” said Sen. Jim Justice, R-WVa.
MAD Take: According to the USDA, roughly 20 million birds raised in San Joaquin Valley henhouses have been destroyed due to bird flu. Each bird – whether raised for egg production or meat – was valued from $4 to $7.50. That’s a minimum of $80,000,000 in losses to our Valley.

Stay out of the water

Maven / DWR. San Luis Reservoir algal bloom at danger level, public urged to avoid water contact.
Synopsis: The Dept of Water Resources urged people to avoid any contact with water in the San Luis Reservoir in Merced County due to the presence of blue-green algae. The algae blooms every year, sometimes in enough volume to require restrictions. Boating is allowed, but no swimming. Fishing is discouraged. O’Neill Forebay remains algae-free.

Stocktonia. New CA law cuts red tape to stop golden mussel invasion; next, action shifts to Congress. 
Synopsis: The golden mussel is a tiny bivalve that reproduces in numbers large enough to clog pipes and destroys pumps and water-based machines. Damages have already run into the billions. Native to Asia, the mussel was first discovered at the Port of Stockton. Rhodesia Ranson’s bill to reduce red tape around treatment was signed this year. In Congress, Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff have jointly offered a bill to provide funding for treatment. Josh Harder, whose district includes the Port of Stockton, has a similar House bill.

Fires still burning

Modesto Bee. 100-acre vegetation fire burning at north tip of Stanislaus County.
Synopsis: The Fine Fire has burned 100 acres in the area where Stanislaus and Calaveras counties meet east of Milton Road. It’s 50% contained but spreading at a moderate speed.

KVPR. Dome Fire in Yosemite reaches 73% containment; Glacier Point Road back open.
Synopsis: After three weeks the slow-moving Dome Fire is 73% controlled. It has burned 6,700 acres. Crews, who were carried in by helicopter or mule train, are being flown out of the backcountry in anticipation of rain and snow.

Allen’s MVP performance

Wall Street Journal. How Josh Allen and the Bills survived the NFL’s Game of the Year. 
Synopsis: Josh Allen – the pride of Firebaugh – lived up to his billing as the NFL’s best player Monday night. With the game tied at 34 in OT, he ran 19 yards, then 10 yards, then trotted off the field as his kicker won the game. “He made plays when we needed him to at the end,” said coach Joe Brady. Allen ran for 121 yards on 10 carries and got his league-leading eighth rushing TD. “When it’s there, it’s there,” said Allen.

A look inside new sacred space

Modesto Bee. Short window for public to see inside Modesto LDS temple. What to do, and not do. 
Synopsis: The new LDS Modesto Temple will be open for tours – with reservations – from Oct. 16-31. After that, it will be closed to the public. The 45-minute walking tours will have members of the church available to answer questions. Officials ask that no photos or video be taken inside, and no smoking is allowed on Temple property. The 30,000 square foot building sits on 17 acres. It is California’s 10^th temple.

Beloved zoo bear passes

Fox26. Beloved black bear dies after more than 20 years at Merced Applegate Zoo.
Synopsis: Windfall, a 23-year-old black bear who spent more than two decades at the zoo, has died. Rescued in 2005 from people who had apparently kept her as a pet, Windfall had been malnourished and was near death. She recovered to become a favorite of visitors, often playing with another rescued bear, Missy. Mobility issues and other health problems convinced veterinarians that Windfall should not suffer. The zoo says Missy will receive special attention as she adjusts to Windfall’s loss. Bears live 18 to 20 years in the wild.