Valley Solutions

Poll: Half of Modesto ‘satisfied’

Modesto Bee. Survey says these are the issues Modesto cares about. 
Synopsis: A wide-ranging survey of 400 Modesto residents from Sept. 30-Oct. 7 found that 30% believe homelessness is the city’s most important issue. Interestingly, 31% rated their trust in city government as “low,” while 22.8% said it is “high.” More importantly, some 51% said they are satisfied with the services the city of Modesto is offering -- though 60% said they aren’t getting their tax money’s worth. The top four issues: Homelessness (31.5%), Public Safety (13.8%), Traffic (11.5%) and Housing Affordability (10%). No other issue – jobs, inflation, environment, immigration -- cracked 6%. On the same day the poll findings were announced, the Modesto Police Dept reported that crimes are down across all categories. Most significantly, and remarkably, there hasn’t been a single murder reported in the city for all of 2025. Rape, robbery and auto theft are all down at least 25%, but domestic violence is down only 0.2%.
MAD Take: Polls are lagging indicators. People stay scared a long time, especially when their fears are reinforced through lack of context or media and political inflammation. Many people believe our cities are “hellholes” though crime is down everywhere. The fact that half of Modesto is satisfied is remarkable. It is a reflection of the choices made and priorities set by the city’s elected leaders.

State opens with 10%

Merced Sun Star. CA announces 10% water supply to start the new water year. 
Synopsis: The Dept of Water Resources said water districts serving 24 million people and irrigating 750,000 acres of farmland can expect 10% of their “normal” allocations this year. If that sounds low, it is. December estimates are always low, but it’s better than last year’s 5%. Allocation is adjusted month-to-month and watched closely as planting decisions are made and financed. So, it’s a little disappointing that only 10% is predicted when virtually every reservoir in CA is sitting at 100% of normal.

Domestic violence up in Merced

Merced Focus. Merced sees increase in domestic violence cases. 
Synopsis: Domestic violence attacks have led to an increase in assault cases investigated by the Merced Police Dept so far this year. Merced saw a 1.0% increase in assaults so far in 2025, with 20 DV cases pushing up the numbers. Chief Steven Stanfield said victims can get help from the Valley Crisis Center, UC Merced’s CARE Office and the Merced County District Attorney. He also notes that CA law requires an arrest be made in all DV reports. “We don’t have any discretion here. Whoever the primary aggressor is, is getting arrested.”

Modesto’s best pizza? Wait for it

Modesto Bee. Best pizza in Stanislaus County is ‘proportioned perfectly’ with ‘the best crust.’ 
Synopsis: In a readers-choice poll, Luigi’s Pizza came out on top. If you don’t know Luigi’s, that might be because you don’t venture south to Yosemite Boulevard. The shop belongs to Jennifer Warda and her son Anthony. Said one respondent: “Luigi’s doesn’t just make pizza, they make happiness in a box.” But don’t expect a restaurant experience; it’s strictly take-out.

Is Stockton that violent? Yes

SF Chronicle. How Stockton’s murder rate compares with other CA cities. 
Synopsis: Stockton is one of the most murderous cities in the state. The city has a murder rate of 13.3 per 100,000 residents, according to the Real Time Crime Index. That’s the second highest in the state, trailing only Vallejo (17.2). Oakland is usually higher, too, but has not turned in any data this year. By comparison, Fresno (which is roughly 2x Stockton’s population) has a murder rate of 4.4 per 100,000, while Sacramento is at 8.5. The story notes that “Central Valley counties like San Joaquin … have historically had higher homicide rates than the rest of the state.” From 2022-24, five of the six highest per-capita murder rates were in Kern, San Joaquin, Merced, Kings and Tulare counties. The other member of the Deadly Half Dozen, Alameda, touches the Valley.
MAD Note: Missing from this sad list is Stanislaus County, which had only 3.6 murders per 100,000 overall. That’s about half of LA’s 6.9 and the same as Contra Costa – both coastal counties. Also missing from are some startling success stories, such as Modesto’s zero murders this year. Madera County also had a low murder rate.

Reactions to mass shooting

Sacramento Bee. Site of Stockton mass shooting may never re-open, owner says: ‘It’s a memorial.’
Synopsis: Willie Colins tried to create a rental party venue that families could afford. To show that it was a good place for kids, he called it Monkey Space. “There’s no way to think that a 2-year-old’s birthday party would ever turn into a massacre,” said Colins, who said he has been crying since Saturday night. He worries that anything he says might spark retaliation from gang members. “I just pray that we don’t get tied up in some gang politics.”

ABC10. Burna Boy offers to cover funeral costs for victims of mass shooting.
Synopsis: Nigerian singer Burna Boy has offered to pay for the funerals of the three children and adult killed at the mass shooting at Monkey Space in Stockton. Burna Boy, who is responsible for popularizing Afro-Fusion music worldwide, said he heard of the shootings on The Breakfast Club and reached out to one of his business associates “because no family should ever face this kind of pain alone.”

Stockton Record. Newsom orders Capitol flags at half-staff for children killed in Stockton.
Synopsis: Saying his “heart is with the families of the victims,” Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags on state buildings to half-staff Monday. County officials have not released identities of the victims, but family members confirmed that Amari Peterson, 14, of Modesto was killed. The San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with help from Stockton and Manteca PDs, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the CA Dept of Justice. Sheriff Pat Withrow said they are searching for multiple shooters, but no arrests have been made.

CBS13. Stockton mayor requests federal resources after mass shooting at birthday party. 
Synopsis: Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi is asking for a larger federal presence – “We need more, we need more. We want to be their pilot site for the United States of America. Come to Stockton.” The mayor pointed out that the city has an estimated 5,000 gang members in 100 gangs. She said she does not want the National Guard, but some kind of police presence. Already this year, the PD has seized 752 guns. 

Where is Firebaugh’s shelter?

Fox26. Firebaugh volunteer says city manager’s delays caused donor to withdraw shelter funding.
Synopsis: Janet Yergat, a longtime volunteer, wants Firebaugh city manager Ben Gallegos to answer why it has taken more than two years to start work on a new animal shelter. She said a well-known donor had promised to put $300,000 into a new shelter but has withdrawn the promise due to delays. Mayor Freddy Valdez said he hopes the relationship with the donor can be repaired. The council conducted a closed-door session to evaluate the city manager’s performance last week.

Right place at a bad time

KSEE . CBS47. Captain’s cam shows flames bursting from Merced backyard.
Synopsis: As Merced firefighters arrived to investigate a fire that started in a barbecue, flames erupted in the backyard of the home on Seventh Avenue. Crews went into fast-attack positions, dropping a hose and pouring on water. In all, 22 firefighters responded. The cause is still under investigation.

Bad-to-Wonderful news

Valley Sun. CA appeals court dismisses Wonderful Co’s lawsuit contesting nursery unionization.
Synopsis: The Wonderful Company, one of California’s largest farming enterprises, was dealt a setback last week when the CA Fifth District Appeals Court threw out its appeal of a lower court’s decision to allow a union election in Wasco to stand. The company argued that the United Farm Workers misled workers, enticing them to sign a union-membership card. The union countered that the company tried to intimidate workers to get them to rescind their support. The UFW remains the bargaining agent for workers, though it’s an empty victory. Wonderful is owned by the Resnick family, which gifted the Wasco facility to UC Davis after losing the union election.

Comstock’s. New UC Davis research center will help Central Valley provide food sustainably. 
Synopsis: Agricultural research at UC Davis is about “to be supercharged” after a $50 million donation from Lynda and Stewart Resnick, owners of the Wonderful Co. It will pay for construction of the Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation and fund annual research grants. The focus will be on ag byproducts, water, energy and crop resiliency. The dean of the College of Agriculture, Ashley Stokes, says the center will be at the forefront of answering tough questions about “how California can continue to feed the world and be stewards of the land.”

Farmers a little happier

Morning Ag Clips. Better outlook for the future pushes farmer sentiment higher. 
Synopsis: Strengthening crop prices have helped lift the Purdue University “farmer sentiment” index off the floor by 10 points from October. At 139, that’s the highest number since June. The companion “expectations” index reached 144, or 15 points higher than a month ago. When asked how they were doing “right now,” the Current Condition Index fell to 128. Polling took place Nov. 10-14. Interestingly, most farmers say they are counting on help from the USDA to help them reach their bottom lines. Over 76% say they believe a federal bailout is likely. And 59% believe the tariffs will eventually strengthen the US economy with 67% saying the US is on the right track.
MAD Note: Dig deeper and find that Purdue surveys 400 producers every month, each with a market value of at least $500,000. All are involved in major crop production – corn/soybeans (53% of respondents), wheat (14%), cotton (3%), beef cattle (19%), pigs (6%), dairy (5%). Purdue is happy with this mix, but it has very little significance for California, whose farmers concentrate on “specialty” crops such as almonds, tomatoes, grapes and 300 other high-value products. Few of them, I suspect, have much confidence that the federal government will bail them out of the current malaise or that tariffs will make them stronger.

Look for ‘new’ talking heads

Modesto Bee. Former KCRA reporter moves to KXTV anchor post: ‘So excited.’
Synopsis: Reporter Carolina Estrada has departed KCRA and will next appear on Fox40 as the morning anchor. She formerly worked for Univision.

Fox26. Fox26 welcomes 10 pm news anchor Madison Macay.
Synopsis: Madison Macay is moving from the Reno market to Fresno. She’s getting closer to home, the Bay Area.

Living in ‘a trunk’ at 2,500 feet

SF Chronicle. After 23 days living on El Capitan, Sasha Digiulian finishes epic Yosemite ascent. 
Synopsis: Sasha Digiulian, a world-renowned climber from Colorado, has completed the Platinum Wall route up El Capitan in Yosemite. It took her 23 days during which she endured wind, rain and ice storms. At one point, Digiulian spent several consecutive days camped in a Portaledge tent suspended from the rock face. She doctored her split fingertips with Super Glue to complete the final of 39 pitches. Elliot Faber, who pioneered the Platinum Wall route 8 years ago and provided support, said camping in a portaledge is like “living in the trunk of your car for 23 days. That’s hard living.”