Valley Solutions

Why this Democrat stepped up

LA Times. Why this CA Democrat broke with his party to end the government shutdown.
Synopsis: In a front-page story, LA Times reporter Ana Ceballos talks to Rep. Adam Gray about his refusal to toe the Democratic Party line in Congress as food bank shelves from Fresno to Manteca were going empty. He voted to end the shutdown and to deprive the Trump administration of the hostages it was starving. The story portrayed his vote in political terms, but Gray explained it best: “I know there are people that are going to be mad at me. But I am not here to win an argument. I am here to actually help fix problems with people in my community. And I know I did the right thing.” The story points out that 48,000 families rely on SNAP in CA 13.

Glow Riders? That’s strike 1

Modesto Focus. Modesto’s new baseball team considers instant replay on Glow Riders name. 
Synopsis: Dave Heller, owner of Modesto’s new Pioneer League baseball team, announced last week that his new team would be called the Glow Riders. Reporter Garth Stapley channels his inner Duane Kuiper and called that “a swing and a miss.” So now Heller has decided to bench the name as he considers other options. Heller says he’s considering the Classics, Roadsters or Graffiti. “I hope the community will give me a few days to reflect on this decision.”
MAD Take: The story notes that some people are taking offense at Heller’s change of heart on behalf of the Low Rider community. While it needed explaining, “Glow Rider” was supposed to be a reference to Modesto’s car culture – and not just those baby scooters that kids power by wiggling their bottoms. So why not just call them “The Low Riders”? Meanwhile, the Golden Goats – which was among `his original finalists – wasn’t mentioned. Too bad. Considering the city’s history with modest goats, it should be on his short list. OK, some might refer to the team as the Butters, or say they’re horny, but chances are they’ll hear worse from the stands (depending on their record). Heller will unveil his new choice Nov. 24 and has apparently reserved the Graffiti USA Museum for that day.

How city’s rock wells work

Modesto Bee. Modesto has 9,000-plus rock wells; what they are, how they contribute to flooding.
Synopsis: Reporter Kathleen Quinn looks at one of the oldest solutions for draining away standing water, rock wells. Also called French wells, they’re gravel-filled pits that drain untreated water directly into the ground. City wastewater superintendent Rob Englent says they’re one reason Modesto’s aquifer is in such good shape. Unfortunately, the wells have to be kept free of debris and leaves; when they aren’t, they clog and cause flooding. Also, they work slowly and the more water they drain into the ground, the slower it flows. The city prefers dry wells now, allowing solids to sink to the bottom of a basin before water is absorbed.
MAD Take: I’m guessing the actual number of rock wells is much higher than 9,000. A lot of homeowners have “installed” them to keep water away from foundations.

Merced River ‘absolutely gushing’

Newsweek. CA river sees highest flow in 52 years.
Synopsis: The Merced River “leapt by roughly 4 feet over the weekend at Happy Isles Bridge” in Yosemite after an atmospheric river dumped torrential rain in the park. It was the highest November reading since 1973, according to Storm Watch. As one observer put it, “The Merced River … is absolutely gushing today.” It was the third-highest November reading since a gauge was first installed in 1915. The National Weather Service in Hanford warned that excessive runoff and flooding could be expected in the Valley.

Political season heating up

Sacramento Bee. Sacramento DA Thien Ho announces bid for open 6^th Congressional seat. 
Synopsis: Thien Ho, the first-term Sacramento County DA, is looking for a new job. The ardent tough-on- crime crusader will run as a Democrat in CA-6. He and his parents escaped war-torn Vietnam in a fishing boat, and he’s sensitive to politics. “We escaped a dictatorship. I never thought I’d see the rise of a dictator here. Frankly, it’s time for us to stand up to wannabe dictators like Donald Trump.” Lauren Bab Tomlinson, a Planned Parenthood official, has also filed for the seat that currently belongs to Dr. Ami Bera, who says he will run for CA3.

Valley Sun. Bernie Sanders bucks DCCC, backs Villegas against Valadao.
Synopsis: The liberal lion of Vermont stepped into a contentious California confrontation Monday, saying he supports Visalia school board member Randy Villegas against David Valadao. First, Villegas would have to beat Dr. Jasmeet Bains, which many see as unlikely. The GOP has declared Villegas a socialist like Sanders, AOC and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
MAD Take: Just asking, but does the GOP believe every Democrat is a socialist?

Ex-TV reporter sues Bredefeld

GV Wire. Former Bredefeld aide claims sexual harassment, workplace violence in county filing. 
Synopsis: Jennifer Ortega is seeking $1 million in damages and lost income after she says she was fired within 90 day of having reported an incident of workplace violence in Supervisor Garry Bredefeld’s office. She worked as Bredefeld’s communications aide from February until being fired in September. She previously worked as a reporter for KSEE / CBS47 and for the Chaffee Zoo. Ortega said an incident in the office left her feeling threatened by her immediate supervisor, which she reported to Bredefeld. Instead of addressing the issue, he fired her without cause. Since her firing, she said finding a new job has been “extremely difficult.”

State Center faculty: Leave now

Fresno Bee. Hundreds of faculty in Fresno gave no-confidence vote to retiring chancellor.  
Synopsis: State Center Community College District chancellor Carole Goldsmith said on Monday that she would retire by next September. On the same day, the Federation of Teachers unanimously approved a no-confidence vote criticizing her leadership and insisting that she should just quit now. The union represents teachers at Fresno City, Clovis, Madera and Reedley colleges. “A team of bullies has enacted a culture of retaliation and fear,” said the union. Over 300 teachers responded to the mail-in ballot, all voting for Goldsmith’s dismissal.

Priest decries mistreatment

Modesto Bee. Letters: Religious freedom begins at home. 
Synopsis: Fr. Misael Avila, who is on special assignment at Catholic Charities in Turlock, says that the clergy must be given access to those being held by ICE and the Border Patrol. He quotes the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Pope Leo in criticizing the treatment of immigrants. To deny communion is a “violation of religious freedom and human dignity,” he writes.

Tumbling tanks make a mess

Merced Sun Star. Big rig carrying propane tanks crashes west of Merced.
Synopsis: No one was hurt, but it was a mess as portable propane tanks – the kind you use for your barbecue – were strewn all along Hwy 165 south of Stevinson. Took about 3 hours to clean it up and get the road open again.

WOTUS proposal released

Ag Daily. Proposed WOTUS rule seen as relief for farmers, ranchers, developers. 
Synopsis: The EPA and Dept of the Army unveiled its Waters of the United States rule on Monday, and it changes the definition of waters covered under the Clean Water Act. It draws distinctions between bodies of water that are “relatively permanent,” wetlands, tributaries, ditches, etc. It limits protections for ponds and small lakes and revises exclusions for waste-treatment systems, converted cropland and ditches. It also adds exclusions for groundwater, the most highly contentious issue. Farming and building groups were delighted while environmental groups were dismayed. The changes are not yet official.

E&E News. Trump plan waives protection at +80% of wetlands.
Synopsis: Scores of wetlands and small streams will be left more vulnerable to pollution under new WOTUS proposals. Just 19% of the wetlands in the contiguous US have been mapped by the government and will be protected, according to the EPA. The Trump administration said its WOTUS proposal conforms to recent Supreme Court rulings, which says only wetlands attached to rivers or lakes need to be protected.

Is this new water tech?  

The Cool Down. Startup develops incredible tech to pull water from plants.
Synopsis: An ag start-up called Botanical Water Technologies is working with tomato-processor Ingomar Packing in Los Banos to pull water from tomatoes as they are processed. Tomatoes are 95% water, and as they are turned into paste or sauce much of that water is lost, says BWT. Through BWT’s Water Harvest Units, the water is retrieved then purified and reused as “the world’s first plant-sourced pure water.” 
MAD Take: This story is interesting, but claiming to be the “world’s first” company to recycle water from tomatoes is, well, BS. Tri-Valley Growers, which once operated the world’s largest packing shed in Modesto, got 95% of all the water used in its operations directly from the tomatoes it was processing. That water – recovered from both the crushing and cooking processes -- was used to wash incoming fruit and other purposes. It’s why the company was forgiven water fees by the city of Modesto – there just wasn’t much water being used by the facility. It also reduced fluid sewage. This was 30 years ago; Tri Valley went bankrupt in 2000.  

Jayne Gibson’s final victory

Stockton Record. Jayne McHugh Gibson, Pacific volleyball legend, dies at 65. 
Synopsis: After a brief battle with an aggressive cancer, former Olympian and volleyball legend Jayne Gibson McHugh died at age 65 this weekend. She led UOP to the national championship finals and was a two-time All-American. She returned to coach the team, leading it to 16 NCAA appearances. McHugh began the year coaching Valor Christian in Colorado. She became ill during the season and had to step down when cancer was discovered. Under her guidance, the team had won three consecutive state championships. Saturday night the team won a fourth under an assistant coach. The match was televised in McHugh’s hospital room. “When we went into the final set, I had the team look down at the reminder they carried of Jayne on their shoes and to play for her,” said the coach. “They found another gear in that game. Jayne would have been so proud of how strong they were.” Members of the team left the arena after the match to take the game ball to McHugh’s room.
MAD Note: Hard to believe, but The Record got her name wrong in the headline. It was Jayne Gibson McHugh, not the other way around. She was a ferocious competitor. The story is linked to the Colorado High School Athletic Assn, which went into great detail about her career and final days.