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.

Mallard’s gets new nest

Modesto Bee. Nostalgic restaurant is coming back to Modesto, and not just because people miss it.
Synopsis: Entrepreneur Dan Costa is reviving Mallard’s, which once anchored McHenry Village at the corner of McHenry and Briggsmore. “The reason for the new Mallard’s is not to open a restaurant; it’s to prove a point,” said Costa, who sold the two Mallard’s restaurants 20 years ago. He wants to see young people follow his example and start working at an earlier age. “Get your child a job, get them a paycheck, and have them learn through that what work is all about,” he said. Same name, but not the same restaurant. Instead of being at Modesto’s busiest intersection, it will be out at North Pointe Shopping Center, across from Lowe’s and next to Save Mart. The restaurant complex will occupy 13 acres and be part of a “high-end apartment project” called The Orchard. There will be jobs waiting for kids who want to work in the restaurant or the apartment complex.

Is Stockton really that bad?

Stocktonia. Is Stockton worst place in the country to retire? One survey says so. 
Synopsis: Of 182 cities surveyed by WalletHub, Stockton rated as the worst in which to be retired. The high cost of living, taxes, lack of quality healthcare, and poor quality of life were considered. Even Fresno, San Bernardino and Bakersfield rated ahead of Stockton, as did Detroit, Baltimore and Newark, NJ. Wrote the reviewer, there’s not enough to do in Stockton.
MAD Take: Nothing to do? If you’re looking for drama, there’s always the city council meetings.

Farm bill languishes in Senate

Farm.doc. Farm Bill expires again as lawmakers continue negotiations.
Synopsis: The bill that extended the 2018 Farm Bill expired Sept. 30. That means rules governing safety-net programs, conservation, crop insurance and food assistance programs are technically in suspension. “If Congress fails to enact a new farm bill or again extend the 2018 legislation by Dec. 31, the USDA would be forced to revert to permanent law,” writes Farm.doc. That means commodity price supports would be based on figures first set in the 1930s and 1940s.
MAD Take: After Rep. Adam Gray helped forge a compromise, the House passed its version of the Farm Bill. But the Senate came to the legislation too late, and though it passed in committee, the full Senate was not able to consider it before adjourning. If passed by the Senate, the two bills will have to be “reconciled” to iron out differences.

32 Days & counting

Modesto Bee. Fact check: Where do Riverbank candidates stand on 2,400-home annexation to west?
Synopsis: Three candidates for the Riverbank City Council urged the council’s current members not to approve the River Walk project at its Sept. 22 meeting. Their pleas were ignored as the council voted 3-2 in favor of the plan that will allow the city to expand several miles west to McHenry Avenue. Among those voting in favor of the annexation was Luis Uribe, who is facing a challenge for his District 1 seat from Sherry Fenn – who spoke emphatically against the annexation. All three candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant District 3 seat are also against annexation. The annexation still must be approved by LAFCo, and the commission could take into consideration the results of a ballot initiative in November.

Modesto Bee. MID election: Division 4 incumbent challenged by longtime Salida MAC member.
Synopsis: Brad Johnson wants to provide more representation for MID’s electricity customers, so he’s running to replace farmer John Boer on the board. MID supplies water to roughly 2,500 farms covering 66,000 acres and electricity to 135,000 accounts – mostly residential. Boer points out that he voted against a 13% electricity rate increase in 2023. One of the biggest issues confronting the district is whether or not to pursue accusations that director Larry Byrd used district water on property outside district boundaries – which is considered water theft. Boer recused himself from that vote, though Byrd did not, and the investigation died. Johnson said he would continue the investigation. He also wants to see better incentives for solar power.

Merced Focus. How should Merced County’s next superintendent of schools lead? 
Synopsis: In a debate between the two candidates for Merced County Superintendent of Schools, both Ana Boyenga and Richard Lopez pledged to listen to every district and to prioritize the needs of students. What separates them? Boyenga has been assistant superintendent at Atwater Elementary School District for 11 years; Lopez has been superintendent at Merced River for 10 years. They answered 18 questions on the use of artificial intelligence in the classrooms, achievement gaps, classroom equity and community partnerships. The debate appears to have drawn roughly 60 people.

Is Oakdale being ‘extorted’?

Modesto Bee. Oakdale might be sued over lack of Latinos on council; should it have districts?
Synopsis: Under protest, the Oakdale city council has begun the process to switch from five at-large elections to district elections. A law firm in LA has threatened to sue under state law, insisting Oakdale’s Latino residents are not adequately represented. A lawsuit would cost around $1 million to defend. Councilmember Jarod Pitassi called it “legal extortion.” He said it would be difficult to create a Latino-centric district in the city since Latino families are evenly disbursed through the city’s neighborhoods.

It’s going to be a hot weekend

Merced Sun Star. Merced County could see triple-digit temps this weekend.
Synopsis: The National Weather Service warns Valley residents that we could be in for temps in the low 100s this weekend. A heat warning was issued covering the entire Valley – from Redding to Bakersfield -- from Saturday morning through Monday. Sunday will be the hottest day, with temps predicted to be 103 north of Sacramento and around 100 in the San Joaquin Valley.

New water year starts now

ACWA. New water year calls for flexibility, preparedness.
Synopsis: The water year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, meaning the new one just began. “The start of a new water year is an important reminder that CA cannot control when and how water enters the system,” said ACWA executive director Karla Nemeth, who was head of the state’s Dept of Water Resources until three months ago. “That means increasing our ability to capture, move and store water” is essential. “CA needs a water system designed to manage increasingly extreme and variable conditions.”
MAD Take: The Dept of Water Resources posted a map with this story showing reservoirs at about half full. Which is true, technically, but needs some explanation. Half-full in October is normal as reservoir levels are lowered to make more room for winter storms – which this year appear to be packing a punch. If you look at DWR’s more complete status page, we find that Shasta is at 96% of normal; Oroville 85%, McClure 105%, New Hogan 128%, Beardsley 105%, Tulloch 99%, San Luis 169% and New Melones 115%. So, we’re in pretty good shape. Maybe too good.

Friant-Kern improvements begin

Maven. Major federal investment accelerates modernization of Friant Kern Canal.
Synopsis: The Bureau of Reclamation and Friant Water Authority broke ground on Phase 1 of the Friant-Kern Canal Pump Station replacement project aimed at increasing reliability. The $200 million project will install new pumps in Middle Reach. The Friant-Kern Canal provides water for nearly 1 million acres of the world’s most productive farmland.

Ag theft caught on camera

Merced Golden Wire (Facebook). Cameras help detectives catch suspect in pomegranate theft.
Synopsis: After getting an excellent image of a man carrying pomegranates out of an orchard, Fresno County sheriff’s detectives were able to identify the suspect and make an arrest. Leopoldo Leon Zaragoza of Del Rey was arrested after the orchard’s owner turned over a video to detectives. The farmer had mounted the cameras on poles beneath solar batteries. The suspect lives about a mile from the orchard.

GV Wire. Kerman police investigation leads to recovery of $400K in stolen almonds. 
Synopsis: Kerman police traced cargo containers filled with several tons of stolen almonds and arrested “at least four people.” The container was first reported stolen Tuesday in the Kerman area. The CHP and San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest – indicating the nuts were moved north.

Yale honors Orestimba teacher

Westside Connect. ‘I honestly thought it wasn’t real’: Orestimba instructor recognized by Yale.
Synopsis: Ivan Escatel teaches human science at Orestimba High. He was among 50 instructors to be given a Yale University Educator Award on Friday. He said he didn’t at first believe the person who called with the good news. The award recognizes 50 outstanding educators worldwide who “inspire and support their students to achieve at high academic levels.” Of 50 educators selected, 18 are in California.

An unhappy landing

Fresno Bee. Small plane crashes at Madera Airport after mechanical issue.
Synopsis: A small plane flipped on takeoff and was left nose-down, tail-up on the Madera Airport dirt runway Thursday. There were no injuries, other than to the plane, and the pilot walked away. The plane was identified as a Cessna 185.

Yes, that’s an otter in the river

GV Wire. Fresno river otter sighting signals healthier San Joaquin River ecosystem. 
Synopsis: A river otter has been spotted in the San Joaquin River, which is a big deal if you’re conservationist or an otter. Having an otter colonize a river is considered a significant milestone in river restoration. The SJ River Parkway & Conservation Trust posted a photo of the otter, saying its presence indicates a river that is getting healthier. Otters are considered key apex predators who keep the food web in balance. They only live in areas where the water is clean and the river banks healthy.
MAD Note: As fun as they are to watch, otters are not friendly or cuddly. Keep your distance.