Valley Solutions

MID calls for investigation

Modesto Focus. Modesto Irrigation District director accused of water theft; board to investigate. 
Synopsis: MID’s board will look into accusations that one of its longest-serving members arranged to convey irrigation water from a district canal to property he manages that is outside the district. Board chair Bob Frobose authorized the investigation into Larry Byrd, who has not responded to the complaints. Eric Caine, publisher of the Valley Citizen website, has detailed the accusations over the past two months; he has urged Byrd to provide pumping records from the two wells on the property to clear up any questions. Again, no response. During the Sept. 9 board meeting, former board member Bill Lyons called the accusations “a blemish on MID.” Grower Tony Ratto also spoke at the meeting, noting the value of water and Byrd’s insistence for two years that MID should sell water to eastside growers outside the district at far below market rates. For the past decade, growers in the Waterford area have been converting pasture into almond orchards and depleting the aquifers by pumping 70,000-acre feet in 2023 and over 120,000-acre feet in two years to keep their trees alive. That pumping has left the region out of compliance with the state’s strict groundwater sustainability rules; a problem Byrd insists the entire region should help resolve. Others say east side growers caused the problems and are responsible for fixing it. Among the property owners on the east side is former US Rep. John Duarte, who has repeatedly spoken in favor of low-cost water deals for eastside growers.

Stanislaus farm income falls 6%

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus reports $3.15 billion in farm income, lowest since 2011.
Synopsis: Bird flu sent farm income plummeting by 6% in 2024 in Stanislaus County, according to the annual crop report. The value of almonds was up slightly at $824 million followed by milk and poultry, which both dropped significantly. H5N1 required the destruction of millions of birds and then sickened hundreds of cows, forcing quarantines on 80% of all dairy farms in the county. The glassy-winged sharpshooter also was found in county vineyards, prompting another quarantine. The county’s top 10 products were almonds, followed by milk ($754 million, down from $761m); poultry ($291M, down from $399M); cattle ($208M, no change); tree-nursey stock ($110M, down from $146M); silage ($108M, down from $121M); walnuts ($87M, up from $55M); pollination ($78M, down from $85M); tomatoes ($60M, down from $107M), and eggs ($47M, down from $54M). Regardless of the drop, no other industry is even remotely close to the gross income produced by farming. Some products that showed improvements year-over-year included wheat, olives, pistachios, organics and firewood.

Do county districts discriminate?

Modesto Bee. Latino group lawsuit challenges Stanislaus County election map. 
Synopsis: The Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund has sued Stanislaus County, insisting supervisorial districts have been drawn to dilute Latino voting power. The lawsuit says the lines were drawn to protect the seats of sitting supervisors. Latinos make up 48% of the county’s population, yet only one Latino is on the board – Channce Condit, whose mother is Latina. In its response, the county noted that two of the MALDEF plaintiffs – Miguel Donoso and John Mataka – were members of the commission that supported the final district map six years ago.

Seeking protection for Sikhs

Modesto Bee. Central Valley Sikhs live under cloud of ‘transnational repression.’ 
Synopsis: Reporter Khadeejah Khan writes of the threats, stalking and harassment troubling the Sikh community in and around Modesto. “Transnational repression,” aka TNR, is defined as a foreign government crossing international boundaries to silence members of exile communities. Puneet Kaur, who was raised in Modesto, says TNR “is a very alarming, real-life situation that could have killed somebody on US soil.” Three Valley legislators – Anna Caballero, Esmeralda Soria and Jasmeet Bains – have co-sponsored SB 509 to train law enforcement to recognize influence from other countries used against US citizens. It is similar to a bill passed last year but vetoed by Gov. Newsom.

Jerry Dyer for president

Fresno Bee. Too bad more Republican politicians aren’t as healing as Fresno’s mayor. 
Synopsis: Editorial Page Editor Juan Esparza Loera writes about seeing Jerry Dyer at the Mexican Independence Day celebration. The mayor’s short speech at a small event on Tulare Street was powerful. “We live in a divided America. We live in an intolerant America. We live in an America that is filled with hate and, unfortunately, a propensity for violence as we saw last week. … No one, no one deserves to be killed (for their political) views or the words in which they speak openly.” Esparza writes that Dyer was able to put into words what other politicians have failed to conceptualize without criticizing the other side. Bottom line: “Our mayor deserves a bigger platform to help the healing.”

Killing leads to a crackdown

SF Chronicle. Charlie Kirk’s death has ushered in a brutal crackdown on speech.
Synopsis: Columnist Joe Garofoli writes about all the teachers and media personalities who are being fired, suspended or vilified for saying what they believe about the death of provocative podcaster Charlie Kirk. As Trump and his regime threaten liberal organizations with prosecution and violence, nearly three dozen people have been disciplined for expressing their thoughts, according to NPR. Garofoli asks, “If Kirk was a champion of free speech, why the aggressive scramble to stifle criticism?”

Some decline to mourn

Politico. CA Playbook: Why the ‘Governator’ could derail Prop 50.
Synopsis: Deep in this daily compendium of California politics is a story from Stanislaus County, where the Democratic Party declined an invitation to participate in a memorial for Charlie Kirk. Republicans didn’t really expect them to attend, but the Stanislaus County Democrats decided to explain why they wouldn’t, issuing a statement rejecting Kirk’s “fascist ideology.” That went too far for former Congressional staffer Christian Santos, who is asking for a retraction, clarification or apology. … In other political news, Assembly Republican leader Heath Flora of Ripon has picked Juan Alanis of Modesto to chair the Republican caucus with Kate Sanchez and Alexandra Macedo playing important roles. … The headline concerns former Gov. Schwarzenegger’s rejection of Prop 50.

In a different ‘Dog House’

Fresno Bee. How Dog House Grill manager lured ‘investors’ into $30M fraud in Fresno. 
Synopsis: Robert Rodriguez reports on Matthew Billingsley’s scheme that used forged documents and promises of low-risk investment to finesse “millions of dollars from deep-pocketed investors and financial institutions.” His family owns the Dog House Grill, where business has been booming since Billingsly took over in 2004. From 2018-23, he told investors that his cash was tied up in a brokerage account, and he needed a bridge loan. So far, there are three judgments against Billingsley for $5 million but his full restitution is expected to reach $20 million.

Garnet Fire 71% contained

Valley Sun. Garnet Fire reaches 71% containment.
Synopsis: Good weather allowed firefighters to make major gains on the Garnet Fire on Monday as they reached 71% containment. The fire has burned 59,530 acres since being sparked by lightning on Aug. 24. There are 2,863 firefighters on scene.

Don Cameron examines ag

Ag Net West. Don Cameron: CA Ag leadership and challenges.
Synopsis: Interviewer Nick Papagni talks with Don Cameron, the president of the CA State Board of Food & Agriculture and GM of Terranova Ranch. Cameron spoke about the impacts of labor shortages, the need to engage with elected leaders, the challenges around water and solar panels. He spoke of the very real dangers in abandoning orchards and leaving them as the breeding grounds for vermin and insects that destroy the crops of neighbors. The key, he says, is to find solutions that last more than a single generation.

Court OKs irrigation discharge

Western Farm Press. Ninth circuit upholds Clean Water Act exemption for irrigated ag. 
Synopsis: Dan Kneppen reports on the decision, announced early last week, that exempts discharges from irrigated fields from federal permitting requirements as long as the water is not connected to other non-farming discharges. In Pacific Coast Fishermen’s Assn v. Nickels, environmental groups sued to stop water flowing into the Grasslands Bypass Project, a drainage system set up for 100,000 acres of farmland. The environmental groups argued that dust, rain runoff and groundwater seepage combined with irrigation drain water and should be removed. The court said, in short, that dust is a byproduct of life. To argue that any trace of dust negates the farming exemption established by 1977 law ignores the intent of lawmakers. Bottom line, those relying on irrigation will not face stricter rules than farmers dependent on rainfall.

‘It’s all cooked with love’

Merced Sun Star. Merced comfort food restaurant set to open next month. 
Synopsis: Allen and Sheila Brooks, Renee Parker and LaTonya Richardson are opening Cousin’s Corner Powered by Aunties Comfort Cooking at 260 W. 18^th Street. It has already had two unadvertised weekend openings. There’s fried chicken, pork chops, and po’ boy sandwiches on the menu with plenty of fries, soul rice, red beans and candied yams. “It’s all cooked with love,” said Brooks. He called it a dream come true, because “cooking is fun.”

Valley Solutions on vacation

Valley Solutions. Editor taking a break. 
Synopsis: Editor Mike Dunbar will be taking a short break through Friday. Valley Solutions’ daily look at the Valley’s headlines will resume on Monday, Sept. 22. See you then.