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.

What’s happening in Patterson?

Patterson Irrigator. City statement regarding censure proceedings involving Mayor Mike Clauzel. 
Synopsis: The city of Patterson issued a statement Tuesday, saying that it has “retained an independent third-party investigator to review alleged verbal and written interactions involving Mayor Michael Cluazel, city employees and public officials.” The statement carefully points out that initiation of the censure process “does not constitute a final determination that Mayor Clauzel engaged in misconduct.” The statement also notes that there has been no accusation of misconduct or criminal activity.

Patterson Irrigator. Mayor Mike Clauzel responds to censure statement by city.
Synopsis: At the end of its Tuesday city council meeting, Mayor Mike Clauzel offered a somewhat oblique statement about efforts to censure him. He said he gave investigators a “clear and factual account of the circumstances surrounding the announced censure process.” He chastised the city for not telling him what it is investigating and not sharing any evidence of alleged misdeeds. “The absence of clear procedural communication has created undue confusion within the community, and in that environment, inaccurate information has been circulated publicly.” He added, “I did not deny any material fact that was true, nor did I attempt to minimize or conceal my role in any conversation. I openly acknowledged my mistakes….”

61 Days: Debates are coming

Modesto Focus. Focus on Politics. 
Synopsis: With just 61 days before elections, the Modesto Focus announced it will partner with other community organizations on a series of debates, starting with the League of Women Voters Senate 4 debate on Sept. 10. That will feature Tuolumne Supervisor Jaron Brandon and Alexandra Duarte, the wife of a former Congressman. The debate will be at the 7 am meeting of the Modesto Sunrise Rotary at Greens on Tenth. On Oct. 1, Modesto city council candidates will discuss issues at the Veterans Service Office on Coffee, starting at 6:30 pm. Turlock Mayoral candidates will speak Oct. 7 at Stan State. Yet to be scheduled are debates for Modesto Irrigation Board, Modesto City Schools, the 9^th Assembly District and congressional races. … During Steve Hilton’s recent visit to Modesto, Vice Mayor Jeremiah Williams “officially” welcomed the candidate to the city. That was against the city’s rules. “My bad,” said Williams. … Stapley notes that August is pretty late for delivering a State of the City address, which Mayor Amy Bublak did last week. She said it wasn’t a political ploy, but because she couldn’t put off the chore any longer. … Finally, Stapley notes the recent vote to begin censure proceedings against Patterson Mayor Mike Clauzel and the mystery surrounding it.

Time for MID to stop hiding

Valley Citizen. What is the irrigation district trying to hide?
Synopsis: Publisher Eric Caine checks in with his latest examination of Modesto Irrigation District and where director Larry Byrd got some of his water. Caine recounts the studies that concluded that 96 acres sitting outside the district could not have been watered via pumps, but likely were irrigated with water drawn from MID facilities. He pointed to Byrd’s vote on his own behalf to discontinue the investigation into his activities, a likely violation of laws governing conflict of interest. Since the vote and the announcement of an investigation by the Stanislaus DA, Caine has requested what should be public documents from the district but hasn’t gotten them. “To date, MID has refused to explain why Larry Byrd was billed for far less water than he used in 2022 and, most likely, in many other years.” Bottom line: “MID ratepayers and farmers have the right to know how much income the district lost due to incompetent management and accounting.”

Data center builder: ‘I can explain’

Modesto Bee. Developer wants chance to share proposal for data-center project at Riverbank site. 
Synopsis: Aemetis Inc. wants to bring a data center to the old ammo factory in south Riverbank. Having scaled down its plans, it is asking for an opportunity to share them with the city. The company’s Andy Foster says the center would be 60 megawatts, which does not qualify it as a “hyper-scale” data center. “This is not a loud, water-sucking project that makes utility bills go up and where you have unsightly new buildings.” But the city says it already has one extremely contentious issue on its plate, a plan to expand the city west to McHenry so 2,400 homes can be built in the “River Walk” development. Adding a data center to such a meeting is not feasible. Meanwhile, Aemetis says it has asked SF Public Utilities Commission to provide electricity service for the center, which sits near its transmission lines. Foster pointed out that there are already 250 data centers in CA and more are likely to arrive.

Where data and ag meet

McClatchy Media. When AI and agriculture come together, CA wins. 
Synopsis: Kern County farmer Jason Giannelli explains “just how deeply technology and food production have become intertwined.” It has enabled farmers to deliver more food at lower cost through automated spray rigs that cut chemical use and semi-automated rolling sensors checking orchards and fields for moisture and insects. Some of them, thanks to AI, can launch remedies on their own. At UC Davis, AI tools are developing plants to better withstand drought, heat and deluge. Giannelli wants to make certain that CA’s leaders don’t “forfeit the present and future benefits of AI use” by limiting data centers and other necessary digital infrastructure.
MAD Take: Farmers are right to be concerned. California remains one of the last states not to allow autonomous tractors in its fields. Big companies can send driverless cars whizzing past schools and hospitals, but farmers can’t allow low-speed tractors to cultivate their fields. Why?

Ag Net West. Ag tech hub coming to Merced College as Reservoir expands in CA.
Synopsis: Ag Net interviewers speak to Danny Bernstein of the Reservoir, an organization developing mechanical and technical solutions for farming issues in CA. The Reservoir farm is already the site of 22 startups and plans to launch a partnership with Merced College next year. The key is to develop and implement solutions in places where agriculture is actually happening.

How to find a down payment

Modesto Bee. Big down payments keep Valley families from buying homes. 
Synopsis: The median home price in Stanislaus County is $490,000, requiring a down payment of $98,000 under standard rules. That knocks out most young families. The Affordable Housing Program at Federal Home Loan Banks provides up to $32,837 in grants to first-time buyers who have at least $8,000 of their own. Such programs were highlighted at this week’s frame-raising celebration at McClure Meadows in east Modesto. It will offer 38 homes to lower-income residents with help from the city of Modesto, Stanislaus Equity Partners and Self-Help Enterprises, among others.

12-foot M is glowing on I-5

Patterson Irrigator. The glowing M is now up along Interstate 5.
Synopsis: A giant M – aka, McDonald’s Golden Arches -- is now lighting the night sky along I-5 west of Patterson. The story does not mention the dimensions of the sign, but it’s big. An internet search reveals the sign stands 90 feet top to bottom and the Golden M itself is 12-feet tall. Because the sign sits on a high point along the highway, it “looks taller from the Love’s parking lot than the freeway.”

State to spend $158M on levees

Manteca Bulletin. Delta Caucus secures $158.2 million for Delta levees. 
Synopsis: The legislature approved $90.2 million to protect the Delta by fortifying its aging levees and another $68 million to protect the State Water Project’s California Aqueduct and canals from subsidence. Both canals and levees are being undermined in some places by over-pumping of groundwater. State Sen. Jerry McNerney called the vote “truly historic” and declared “California’s water wars may finally be over.” It is estimated that it will require at least $2 billion to shore up all the levees in the Delta, so this is a “down payment.” Funding will come from Prop 4, a $10 billion bond measure to improve the state’s water infrastructure.
MAD Take: An end to the water wars? Really? Wait until the next dry summer and get back to me on that, Jerry.

Caballero’s bill a trojan horse?

Cal Matters. How Silicon Valley used Main Street’s outrage against CA privacy law. 
Synopsis: A bill authored by termed-out Sen. Anna Caballero purports to combat frivolous lawsuits based on iffy violations of the Californian Invasion of Privacy Act. But privacy advocates say “Big Tech” interests inserted language into the draft of Caballero’s SB 690 that will strip away an individual’s right to sue internet companies for tracking users’ movements. Worse, it’s retroactive, meaning pending lawsuits over such tracking would be rendered moot. “California should be leading on tech regulation,” said Jenna Sherman of women’s advocacy group Ultraviolet. “But SB 690 does the exact opposite; it makes it easier for companies to spy on us.” The original intent of the bill was to stop a wiretapping statute written in the 1960s from being used by vulture lawyers to sue small businesses over minor violations just to force punitive settlements. In the past two years, more than 4,000 lawsuits have been filed under the statute.

Stockton murder numbers drop

Stocktonia. Stockton sees astounding drop in August homicides; yearly tally down nearly 25%. 
Synopsis: After a string of seven homicides rocked the city in June, only one killing was reported in the city for entire month of August. In August 2025, there were six slayings in the same period. Through August 2025, there were 26 homicides in Stockton. So far this year, there have been only 20 – a marked improvement. “The job is not done and the work is not finished,” said police spokesperson David Scott. But, “it is extra motivating to see the progress toward a safer Stockton.” There were 3 killings in the city in July, making 10 for the summer months.

Gun charge for ex-candidate

Stocktonia. Desiree Lynch arraigned on 6 felonies, including new assault-weapon charge.
Synopsis: A week after dropping out of the race for city council, Desiree Lynch was arraigned on six charges – including a new one for possession of an assault weapon. She did not enter a plea to any charge. Lynch filed to run for Council District 5, but the DA’s office says she does not live in the district. By filing, she committed election fraud and perjury, says the DA. Because she did not withdraw until last week, her name will appear on the ballot.

Kids want their phones back

Modesto Bee. All-day phone ban a hot topic as Modesto high schoolers adjust to new policy. 
Synopsis: Three weeks into the school year, the new Modesto City Schools cellphone policy is getting decidedly mixed reviews. It prohibits students from using their phones during the entire school day – including lunch and passing periods. That’s the part many students call unreasonable. Exceptions for medical necessity or emergencies are required by state law. But that’s not enough, say students who are  circulating a petition to allow use of phones at lunch. It has 1,161 signatures. Not all students will sign. Jastej Chahal says he prefers interacting with his fellow students at lunch. “We’re all just talking, you know, we’re just walking around.” Just without phones.