Dan enjoyed a nice two day vacation in Monterey. When he came home, he turned on his tap for a cool drink of water. To his dismay, a foul odor ruined his anticipated drink. When he called the City of Modesto water department to report the problem, someone came out the next day. Dan suspected that something was up because the City had never responded so quickly to a request […]
When Water and Politics Don’t Mix
Before the current drought, the water in the Valley was not discussed much beyond the need for residential customers to conserve. Now, all sorts of political interests are entering the discussion with many selfish and hare-brained ideas. The danger is that some of the hare-brained ideas might actually be implemented. Local water districts are under increasing pressure to do something for special interests, and what they may do could have […]
Our Road(s) to the Future
Looking at the Valley today provides insights into what Stanislaus County may look like in 30 years. New technology and unpredictable events may drastically alter the future of the community. However, absent major changes in direction, the future is easy to predict. In Stanislaus County, the 2015 mantra of politicians and business leaders is to build roads that slice through farm land. Road builders and urban developers make money when […]
Route 43: Railroad to Prosperity?
The first leg of the California High Speed Rail project will be located close to a long segment of California State Route 43. A look at the area reveals an interesting history with an uncertain future. Route 43’s north end originates at its junction with State Route 99 in the farm town of Selma, about a dozen miles south of Fresno. Parallel to the Santa Fe Railroad right of way, […]
“Fallow” Me to the Dust Bowl?
California is entering a fourth year of drought. Water tables and storage are near historic lows. Serving northeast Stanislaus County, the Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) is about the only water provider in the state claiming to have surplus supplies. Thinking that more money can be made selling water outside the district than locally, OID management and Board of Directors are anxious to sell water. Proposition 218 On November 5th, 1996, […]
Hidden Costs of Lower Gas Prices
Many Valley citizens are rejoicing because gasoline prices have plummeted. When gas prices are low, the local economy picks up. If prices go back up, a bust may follow. The Boom A regular commuter from Manteca to San Jose told me that his travel time has varied by up to an hour depending on whether the economy is slow or booming. The better the economy, the longer the commute time. […]
Do MID Rates Affect Jobs and Revenue?
Immediately upon proposing an increase in power rates, the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) reignited an ongoing debate about inequities in power and water rates for its customers. A closer look at the rate structures suggests that the alleged inequities have actually benefitted the entire area. Critics of the electric rates complain that fifteen area companies pay lower rates than other customers. The big question is whether any of those companies […]
The Great Valley Gate Keeper
In the 1990’s, a study presented to the Stanislaus Council of Governments (STANCOG) predicted that by 2050, the Altamont Pass would need a freeway with 17 lanes to serve the connection between the San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area. The study concluded that Alameda County would be the gatekeeper of San Joaquin Valley economic growth, in part because the Coast Range provides a natural barrier between the sprawling Bay Area […]
Can the MID Justify Water Subsidies for Farmers?
The Modesto Irrigation District (MID) is contemplating rate increases for water and electricity customers. The proposal has raised ire about below market water rates for local farmers. City dwellers argue that they should not have to pay higher rates as long as farmers receive water at subsidized rates. Any time a government entity provides a subsidy, three possible reasons explain it. First, the subsidy may exist to promote an activity […]
SOS: Our Last Resort
Denny Jackman has tried for many years to get the leaders of Stanislaus County to use comprehensive planning to build a community where growth is orderly, affordable and livable, and where agriculture would be protected in perpetuity. I worked with him up until I left the Modesto City Council in 2003. After disappointment in regional leaders’ ongoing failure to protect farmland, Mr. Jackman, Jake Wenger, and Vance Kennedy created the […]