Valley Solutions

McClatchy backs Gray plan

McClatchy Editorial Board. CA Democrat wants to fix the looming health crisis; GOP is quiet. 
Synopsis: About 4 million Californians are about to lose their Medicaid coverage and another 1.7 million will see premiums rise by up to 66% all thanks to the One Big Beautiful (budget) Bill. Democrat Adam Gray has offered a plan to avoid the awful consequences through HR 4849. Gray’s bill would extend federal tax credits to 19.3 million Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act, among other things. But it’s extremely unlikely his bill will get a hearing much less a vote. The GOP passed the budget bill without a single Democratic vote and is unlikely to meet again before the changes begin to arrive. This isn’t just politics. The CA Hospital Association says half of all its 400 facilities are in the red. The CA Primary Care Assn says 850,000 patients will lose insurance coverage. Planned Parenthood says 80% of its clients will lose birth control and prenatal treatment. The CA Medical Assn says elimination of Medicaid payments will push more doctors out of the profession. “Since my arrival in Washington, the constant nonsense that comes out of my Republican colleagues’ mouths is ‘Look over here, look at that shiny object. Let’s try to come up with some divisive, culture-war talking point to avoid dealing with reality,” said Gray. “The reality is (Republicans are) decimating health care for the American people.” As usual, impacts will be worse in our Valley. “Rural communities were last in line before. We’re going to be last in line tomorrow,” said Gray, who has worked to improve the Valley’s healthcare opportunities and education.

New ambulances in Merced?

ABC30. Merced County pursues new ambulance service.
Synopsis: Merced County’s contract with Riggs Ambulance expires on Jan. 1 and the county is serious about finding a new provider. Riggs has operated in Merced County for 77 years, but the company was sold to a Nevada non-profit in 2015 and service has suffered. At times, only two ambulances are on duty across the entire county. Among those invited to bid is American Medical Response. Mike Swenson said Riggs’ experienced problems during COVID, but since March has been able to meet all of its contractual obligations for response times. Supervisors vote on Oct. 7. 

Professors: Trump damaged ag

Farmdoc. History & tough reality: When payments do more harm than good, consider other options.
Synopsis: Successful Farming made this important piece its top story. Farm bill experts and professors Jon Coppess and Otto Doering looked at the history of farming, aid programs and how policies connect to pocketbooks. They say point out the obvious: “Some of the crops being (harvested) now lack the market demand expected at planting because the Trump administration’s tariff policies and trade conflicts have damaged commodity exports.” This not the first time that government policies have landed hard on the farm: “We have seen this play out before and should avoid repeating past mistakes that make matters worse,” they write. What could make matters worse? Government aid payments in place of actual commodity markets. Such payments are bad on multiple levels in that they’re never enough. They also benefit corporations at the expense of family farms and incentivize consolidation as entry-level farmers are pushed aside. “Payments can also entrench existing production systems and punish or stifle innovation.” They add: “The direction of farm policy in this perilous moment tends to treat the farmer as a pass-through entity.” Then this: “Like it or not, supply-side police responses always arise at some point after demand-side problems rip through the farm economy.” That’s a problem: “History has not been kind to supply-side policies. … Considering options other than more payments to farmers should begin sooner rather than later to avoid more drastic responses down the road.” They conclude: “Ultimately, federal taxpayer-funded payments are no match for the tough reality of lost demand and damaged markets.”

Morning Ag Clips. Ohio soybean farmers need China trade, not aid for competitors.
Synopsis: On the heels of announcements that China is buying its soybeans from Argentina – which is waiving taxes on exports to facilitate the deal – the Ohio Soybean Assn is asking why the US government is sending $20 billion in aid to Argentina and investing in the nation’s bonds. “It’s hard for soybean farmers to swallow just a day after Argentina maneuvered to supplant our market share in China and the Trump administration announced it will send taxpayer money to Argentina to prop up its failing economy. Our own farm economy is in a dire position because of tariffs and lack of a deal with our largest trading partner.”

State of YCCD: Strong

Modesto Focus. YCCD chancellor praises partnerships, innovation at first State of District address.  
Synopsis: Interim chancellor Lena Tran gave the first-ever “State of the District” address to about 200 people at MJC’s east campus Wednesday. Gov. Newsom sent his congratulations, calling the Central Valley “the backbone of our economy.” While the UC and CSU systems are both facing cuts, funding for the state’s 116 community colleges has held steady. Tran said health care and agriculture will remain a focus for both MJC and Columbia College as they offer dual-enrollment programs with area high schools.

Bidding for Willie’s legacy

SF Chronicle. Have money to spend? Willie Mays auction includes rings, gold gloves, custom car.
Synopsis: Willie Mays’ Stutz Blackhawk VI – the epitome of luxury in 1977 – is one 530 items you can bid on through the internet (huntauctions.com). Another 450 items will be sold in person Saturday morning. All proceeds will go to the Say Hey Foundation, which Willie created 25 years ago to support poor kids. Mays’ son Michael is upset and would have preferred that a few of the items remain with the family. But David Hunt, who owns Hunt Auctions, said Willie was very clear – everything was for the kids. Hunt has auctioned off stuff from Bill Russell, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio but said this lot is the “most expansive” he’s ever seen. Even the Presidential Medal of Freedom, given by President Obama in 2015, will be sold. The Blackhawk, BTW, has only 16,709 miles. The ’75 Rolls might fetch more.

In time for Halloween

Modesto Bee. Flesh-eating parasite may soon threaten CA; what is the New World screwworm?
Synopsis: Confined to the southern-most reaches of Mexico for decades, awareness of this parasite has finally hit the mainstream. The fly lays eggs in open wounds on a warm-blooded animal – cows, cats, dogs, humans. Those eggs become larvae with two sharp teeth, and they feed on living flesh. Scary. In the past two weeks, the flies have been found about 70 miles from the Mexican border with Texas. “People have to be aware of it,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, UCSF’s top infectious disease expert.

ICE tries to take revenge

LA Times. US veteran spoke out against wrongful arrest by ICE, now he’s accused of assault. 
Synopsis: George Retes Jr. is a US citizen and served in Baghdad in the Army in 2020. He was working as a security guard at Glass House Farms in Camarillo last month when ICE showed up. As he pulled up to work, they surrounded his car then smashed his window, pulled him out, threw him to the ground, knelt on his neck then sent him to jail where he stayed for three days without charges or access to an attorney. He was never charged. He wrote an op-ed that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle detailing his experiences and now is being charged with assault. “I wore the uniform. I stood watch and I believe in the values we say make us different. And yet here, on our own soil, I was … stripped of my rights, treated like I didn’t belong and locked away.” After his story appeared, the agency accused Retes of refusing to comply with law enforcement. But there’s video (his and from the ICE drone), and it shows what Retes recounted.

ICE arrived, cameras came on

Modesto Bee. A Modesto man saw ICE at a neighbor’s house; here’s why he started filming.
Synopsis: Stephen Gerringer was out for a walk when he saw the unmarked vans and men in vests at the home of a neighbor at Merle and Walnut Crest Way. Anyone who sees such an action is entitled to observe in a neutral way and cannot be stopped from filming. Such “neutral observers” are being trained and instructed to keep filming if approached. While he filmed, a woman stopped her car and began to take video. The agents said they were looking for someone on probation, but a man on the property said they were looking for his mother who is not on probation and has no criminal record. When asked for his badge number, the agent refused. They soon left.

Modesto: Motor & mural town

Modesto Bee. Modesto is celebrating lowrider culture.
Synopsis: The fourth Saturday of September is officially Lowrider History Day in Modesto, and will be every year henceforth. “Car culture is at the core of Modesto’s identity,” said Mayor Sue Zwahlen, in making it official. “It continues to transcend boundaries and generations.” Francisco Mireles of the NorCal Lowrider Community called the city’s recognition “monumental.” You can attend free events Saturday coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month. The State will screen “Lowriders” at 2 pm with an afterparty at The Doghouse Taproom in Ceres.

Modesto Bee. Downtown Modesto’s about to get even more colorful.
Synopsis: The DoMo Walls Festival is back, Sept. 29-Oct. 3. Visitors are encouraged to watch artists create murals on downtown walls. Among them will be local artist Aaron Vickery, aka Fasm. This year’s festival will have a first-ever Community Mural painted by MJC students. It is the 16^th edition of “this beloved, art-seeker’s destination.” San Diego-based Illuminaries, Sam Dominguez, Cameron Moberg of Chicago and Kyle Sanders of Eureka will be working with spray paint to create art on brick.

Another meeting disruption

Merced Focus. Parents, teachers call for trustee’s resignation after Playhouse Merced meeting.
Synopsis: Dozens of Playhouse Merced supporters came to the Merced City School District’s board meeting Tuesday to request trustee Allen Brooks resign. They were unhappy with his appearance at the Sept. 10 meeting of the Playhouse Merced board where he argued on behalf of his wife, Sheilah, a board member. That meeting became so contentious police were called to disperse it. At the school board meeting, people spoke for and against Brooks. Board chair Priya Lakireddy said the board had a rule limiting public comment on a single subject to 20 minutes, but later told Merced Focus she had been in error.

Make this the State Muffin

SF Chronicle. Have a sweet start to fall with Pluot Streusel muffins.
Synopsis: Chronicle contributor Amisha Gurbani, a chef, teaches us how to make a pluot muffin with candied almond topping. There’s some sour cream involved. “I love the almonds in the streusel; they add a lovely crunch and taste that goes well with the flavors of the almond flour,” she writes.  
MAD Take: Someone should make this muffin mandatory eating, at least in our Valley. We don’t just grow pluots here, we invented them (at Zaiger Genetics). The pluots, almond flour, almond slivers, eggs, yogurt, buttermilk and even the sugar all can be found in our Valley. Other than the cupcake pan, what don’t we produce? OK: Salt, vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom -- but they’re not the stars.