Valley Solutions

Two ways to report on PFAs

Fresno Bee. These ‘forever chemicals’ pollute Fresno more than any other county in CA. 
Synopsis: Reporter Lilliana Fannin writes a story saying that more pesticides containing PFAs are used in Fresno County than any other county in the nation. She takes this as fact after reading a report from the Environmental Working Group, which got its figures from the CA Dept of Pesticides. The activists at EWG said 2.1 million pounds of PFAs have been used in Fresno County since 2018. Once sprayed, the chemicals can expose residents to increased chances of contracting cancer and a host of other maladies.
MAD Take: This story is interesting and perhaps important, but it lacks context, basic facts and any comments from the county ag commissioner, the state, farmers or health professionals who might provide anything other than alarmist propaganda. Only two people are quoted, and both work for EWG. The reporter doesn’t mention that EWG is considered an “alarmist” organization that uses “fearmongering” to drive fundraising. Or that their study lists chemicals that “may contain” PFAs, not the actual amount of PFAs in use. The group has been criticized in the past for not adhering to scientific standards. Media Bias Fact Check rates EWG “strong” in “pseudo-science,” which is not good. The group once insisted that cell phones cause brain cancer. Did anyone ask the reporter to explain what PFAs are? (It stands for polyfluoroalkyl substances, which have been around since the 1940s and basically never break down in the environment.) An editor at the Fresno Bee, if they have editors anymore, should have insisted this story provide better information and balance.

KCRA. Toxic PFAs chemicals found in San Joaquin County pesticides.
Synopsis: Reporter Anahita Jafary got the same report from Environmental Working Group but did a very, very different story. Jafary did what reporters are supposed to do, reporting the news for her region then checking in with those who might have a different take. “I think we have a boogeyman, and we have the people trying to make hay off that,” said San Joaquin Farm Bureau CEO Andrew Genasci. “It’s important to differentiate between pounds of PFAs and pounds of chemicals used that may contain PFAs.” The county used 923,776 pounds of pesticides that could contain PFAs, confirmed from state data. “I rely on Cal EPA, Cal Dept of Regulation and the US EPA to look at these chemicals and decide if there’s a problem or not,” said Genasci.

Who will buy the peaches?

Ag Alert. Peach growers await pivotal cannery sale. 
Synopsis: About $500 million in long-term contracts between peach growers and Del Monte Foods were voided by the company after it filed for bankruptcy in July. That leaves “several dozen” growers without a buyer. “We have lots of anxious peach growers not sure what the future holds for them,” said Rich Hughes, CEO of the CA Canning Peach Association. Del Monte buys about 35% of all the peaches grown in CA; Lodi-based Pacific Coast Producers buys around 60%. During the pandemic, demand for canned food soared but has dropped since it ended. Del Monte was left with too many peaches under contract. Del Monte’s peaches are processed in Modesto, and growers are hoping a sale of the plant will provide a home for their fruit. 

Friant’s Phillips out as CEO

SJV Water. Friant Water Authority chief Jason Phillips announces resignation. 
Synopsis: Having moved to Arizona, Jason Phillips resigned after 10 years leading the Friant Water Authority. He will be replaced for now by Chief Operating Officer Johnny Amaral. Apparently, Phillips had signaled his plan to exit the organization that represents several water districts who rely on the Friant-Kern Canal. Board members say they want a CEO who will promote greater unity among various factions in and out of the organization. The group is involved in at least four lawsuits over the cost of repairs to the canal and groundwater use.

Stanislaus curbs rural parking

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus approves truck-parking restrictions; composting project withdrawn.
Synopsis: Regulations limiting the number of trucks and the scope of trucking-related activities in rural areas were approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning. Truckers who want to park on rural property will need a permit and will not be allowed to park more than 12 tractors or 24 trailers; all must be registered in CA. Christine Gemperle, who farms next to a lot being used by a trucking firm, said the rules are necessary. Meanwhile, Machado & Sons withdrew its plan to create a 24-acre composting facility between Crows Landing and Carpenter roads capable of receiving 160 tons of waste each day.

Yosemite gets new super

SF Chronicle. Yosemite National Park names new superintendent.
Synopsis: Yosemite National Park has a new boss: Ray McPadden. The 13-year Park Service veteran has already begun outreach to gateway towns and businesses. He replaces Cicely Muldoon, who retired in February. McPadden most recently was superintendent of Mojave National Preserve and before that Western Arctic National Parklands. He has been a park ranger and a US Army ranger, winning two Bronze Stars for bravery.

Deeper look into rate hike

Turlock Journal. Ex-GM says big Keyes sewer rate hike unnecessary. 
Synopsis: Ernie Garza, who once was GM of Keyes Community Services District, says the proposed water-rate increase of $38.16 – working out to 60% -- is unnecessary and unfair. Keyes contracts with Turlock to process wastewater, and the city is raising rates. In Keyes, it will amount to $102.39 a month, up from $64.23. Garza is still stunned by his dismissal as GM of the community services district a couple of months ago. He says the real reason is to increase the district’s reserves from $500,000 to $3 million – 6x more than is required. A more reasonable rate increase, he says, would be $12 a month.

‘Salmon everywhere’

Maven / CDFW. ‘Salmon everywhere’ one year after Klamath Dam removal.
Synopsis: Just a year after the historic removal of four dams on the Klamath River, the CA Dept of Fish & Wildlife are seeing salmon reoccupying “just about every corner of their historic habitat.” And they’re doing it much more quickly than had been predicted. Program manager Michael Harris called it “both remarkable and thrilling.” Farmers in Oregon are reporting that some of the salmon have made wrong turns and are “out in the fields flopping around.”
MAD Note: All of the salmon found on the Klamath are coming up the river from the ocean, some 350 miles away.

Active NorCal. Over 330,000 chinook salmon released into Sacramento River as storms boost flows.
Synopsis: Biologists at Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Battle Creek released 263,000 juvenile late-fall Chinook two weeks ago and another 75,000 last week. “The timing couldn’t be better,” as a series of winter storms pushed flows high enough to boost their trip to the ocean.

Homeboy founder in Fresno

GV Wire. Father Boyle to speak in Fresno on gang intervention and hope.
Synopsis: Fr. Greg Boyle, who helped steer some of the most violent gang members in Southern CA away from crime, will speak at a San Joaquin Valley Town Hall on Wednesday at 10:30 am at the Saroyan Theatre. The priest created Homeboy Industries in 1988 as an alternative to gang life. It now has 10,000 people involved in its programs, which include 14 social enterprises, therapy, education and even tattoo removal. How does he do it? “You listen and you love, that’s the formula,” he said.

Stockton hires a familiar face

Stocktonia. Stockton city council unanimously approves Johnny Ford as city manager. 
Synopsis: For the first time 10 months, Stockton has a city manager – not an interim, temporary or acting. Johnny Ford, who was fired as deputy city manager in 2009 for allegedly accepting free tickets to events, has been rehired. He was cleared of all charges in 2009, and the city paid a $250,000 settlement. He will be paid $325,000 and earn 30 vacation days. Bobby Bivens, president of the county NAACP, applauded the choice: “He was crazy enough … to come and work with you all. I would not do that.”

That blimp is an experiment

SF Chronicle. Massive white blimp floating over SF has ties to Google.
Synopsis: That 400-foot blimp cruising high above San Francisco Bay has a name – Pathfinder 1. It was built by LTA Research, backed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin. It is an effort to reinvent lighter-than-air travel with modern materials and zero-emission tech. Its first use will be to deliver humanitarian aid to disaster zones. It has 12 electric motors and a titanium frame and is the largest aircraft currently flying anywhere in the world. It hangs out at Moffett Field in Mountain View when not in the air.

5 inches of rain in 6 weeks

Turlock Journal. Turlock records rainiest three-day period in decades.
Synopsis: Joe Cortez reports that the water year is off to a great start with Turlock getting 5.2 inches of rain since Oct. 1. That’s 428% of normal. No one-day records have been broken, says Stan State instructor Ryan Hollister, but the three-day total set a record. At 3.8 inches for November, we already have the fifth-wettest November ever with 10 days left. More important than Turlock, Don Pedro Reservoir is holding 1.54-million-acre feet – which is well above average. 

CA is No. 4 (should be higher)

Merced Sun Star. CA named one of the friendliest states in the nation. 
Synopsis: Tour operator Journeyscape has put together a list for travelers, ranking Hawaii as the No. 1 destination in the United States. It has good food, beautiful beaches and friendly folks. In second was New Jersey, whose Pine Barrens and Brigatine Beach are considered too good to miss. CA came in No. 4, behind New York, because we are the friendliest state for international travelers.
MAD Take. Friendliest people I get. But on a list of beautiful scenery, we’re supposed to believe Jersey’s Pine Barrens outshine Yosemite. Or Big Trees. How Joshua Trees? Even Muir Woods? Really?