• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Nature, Environment, History & Politics

The Valley Citizen

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About
  • RSS Icon

Eric Caine

Homeless: RIP Alan Davis

February 15, 2021 By Eric Caine 5 Comments

Alan Davis and dog Modesto 2020

Alan Davis, the wheelchair-bound amputee who became a familiar presence in downtown  Modesto over the last two years,  died February 1. We may never know the cause. It took some accomplished sleuthing by homeless volunteer Frank Ploof just to discover Davis’s whereabouts after he disappeared earlier this year from an assisted living home in Empire. Shortly thereafter, Ploof learned that Davis had passed away at Memorial Hospital. Ploof had first […]

Filed Under: History

Our New Letters Page: “Let There be Light”

February 10, 2021 By Eric Caine 19 Comments

Coincident with launching our new “Letters” page, we’re announcing here key parts of our policy for publication. As with our “Comments” sections, we’re committed to publishing a wide range of viewpoints as long as the focus is on people and issues in the San Joaquin Valley. Like other media platforms, we’ve made a conscious decision to reject the kinds of lies, disinformation, misinformation, falsehoods and conspiracy theories that have characterized […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: The Valley Citizen Letters Policy, The Valley Citizen Policy

Rainbow over Modesto Greets New Mayor Zwahlen

February 3, 2021 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

Modesto rainbow Feb 2, 2021

Some said the rainbow that arced over Modesto early Tuesday morning touched down at Sue Zwahlen’s residence in the city’s college district, but they must have been looking from an odd perspective. To most observers, the rainbow looked like it had one end just outside the city to the southwest, with the other end touching down in the northeast. February 2 — Tuesday — was the official Election Day for […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Councilman Doug Ridenour, Doug Ridenour, Sue Zwahlen, Sue Zwahlen for Mayor, Sue Zwahlen for Mayor of Modesto

Homeless: Sacramento picks up Modesto’s Fumble

January 31, 2021 By Eric Caine 14 Comments

It wasn’t long ago that Modesto and Stanislaus County had managed to get more than 400 people off the streets, out of the parks, doorways and alleys, away from the banks of our rivers and into a controlled environment where outreach workers, volunteers, and law enforcement officers could provide supervision and services at an estimated cost of $13 per day per person. One of the immediate results of permitting homeless […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Is David Valadao the Valley’s only Honorable Republican?

January 21, 2021 By Eric Caine 6 Comments

Congressman David Valadao

There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution. Liz Cheney Cynics are saying that when David Valadao voted to impeach Donald Trump — he was one of only ten House Republicans to do so — he was acting on a political calculation. Valadao’s 21st Congressional District is purple — its voting demographic is almost equally […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Congressman David Valadao

Homeless: The Harsh Realities of Help

January 17, 2021 By Eric Caine 17 Comments

Salvation Army Berberian Shelter

“We have a disconnect with our citizens about what services are available for homeless people and how easy it is to access them,” said Modesto businessman Steven Finch recently. “People are comforted when they see large buildings and lots of staff workers dealing with homelessness, poverty, and mental illness.  They read about $22,000,000 coming to Stanislaus County for homelessness and they think, ‘That should do it; all fixed.’” In fact, […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in the San Joaquin Valley, Modesto Homelessness

Sue Zwahlen Will Put Modesto Back in Business

January 7, 2021 By Eric Caine 6 Comments

Sue Zwhalen

There was little to learn from Wednesday’s debate between Sue Zwahlen and Modesto City Councilmember Doug Ridenour. Sponsored by the Modesto Bee, the debate stumbled through technical problems and distraction from the tumult in Washington DC. Neither Ridenour nor Zwahlen could muster much passion; they clearly like and respect one another. Ridenour was most animated when questioned about his failures to wear a mask during the earlier stages of the […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Sue Zwahlen, Sue Zwahlen for Mayor, Sue Zwahlen for Mayor of Modesto

Homeless: Coming Soon to a Park Near You

January 5, 2021 By Eric Caine 8 Comments

South 7th Street, Modesto, 4 Jan 2021

It took a couple dozen specialists in hazardous waste removal, several Caltrans officials and workers, and three or four Highway Patrol Officers to remove a homeless camp along Highway 99 on Monday, January 4. That’s in addition to the 18-wheel trucking rig that was needed to haul off the tents, lean-tos, and accumulated trash. Most of the campers along the strip had moved across south Seventh Street in Modesto from […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in the San Joaquin Valley

No, Mr. DeMartini, Homeless People are not Bums

December 30, 2020 By Eric Caine 10 Comments

At Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter

There’s a lot to unpack in Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini’s recent comments about homeless people, but let’s start with his claim that they’re “bums.” Not too long ago, most any high school senior could have recognized such an assertion as a hasty generalization, but after decades of talk show bombast and free market propaganda, too many people agree with DeMartini, no matter how much evidence to the contrary. Included […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in the San Joaquin Valley, San Joaquin Valley homeless

Forget Affordable — it’s Time for Tiered Housing Options

December 20, 2020 By Eric Caine 3 Comments

Well over six years after Stanislaus County launched its “Focus on Prevention” program to reduce homelessness, local streets, parks, riversides, freeway margins and the undersides of bridges are full of people with nowhere to go. The situation is the same throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Statewide, efforts to place homeless people in shelters, hotels, and repurposed motels have been met with resistance from nearby businesses and residents who complain of […]

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in the San Joaquin Valley, Modesto homeless

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 60
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

California's coronavirus strain looks increasingly dangerous: 'The devil is already here'
California’s coronavirus strain looks increasingly dangerous: ‘The devil is already here’
California’s coronavirus strain is more transmissible than its predecessors, is more resistant to vaccines and may cause more severe cases of COVID-19.
www.latimes.com
More Than 150 Biz Leaders Endorse Biden's Sweeping COVID Package
More Than 150 Biz Leaders Endorse Biden’s Sweeping COVID Package
More than 150 business leaders from various industries have signed a letter backing President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief…
talkingpointsmemo.com
Exclusive: Defeated and impeached, Trump still commands the loyalty of the GOP's voters
Exclusive: Defeated and impeached, Trump still commands the loyalty of the GOP’s voters
www.usatoday.com
The Christian Prophets Who Say Trump Is Coming Again
The Christian Prophets Who Say Trump Is Coming Again
In the growing community of charismatic Christian prophecy, faith in Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House is a new dividing line.
www.politico.com
AOC raises $1 million in Texas relief, heading to Houston as Ted Cruz douses Cancun flames
AOC raises $1 million in Texas relief, heading to Houston as Ted Cruz douses Cancun flames
The New York congresswoman said she would travel to Houston to highlight the problems faced by Texans hit by power outages and freezing weather.
www.newsweek.com
Rush Limbaugh Did His Best to Ruin America
Rush Limbaugh Did His Best to Ruin America
How the right-wing talk radio icon corrupted the Republican Party, spread hate, racism, and lies, and laid the groundwork for Trumpism
www.rollingstone.com
?I Don?t Trust the People Above Me?: Riot Squad Cops Open Up About Disastrous Response to Capitol Insurrection
“I Don’t Trust the People Above Me”: Riot Squad Cops Open Up About Disastrous Response to Capitol Insurrection
Interviews with 19 current and former officers show how failures of leadership and communication put hundreds of Capitol cops at risk and allowed rioters to get dangerously close to members of Congress.
www.propublica.org
Opinion | Trump’s Non-Vindication
Opinion | Trump’s Non-Vindication
He may run again, but he won’t win another national election.
www.wsj.com
Convicted or not, Trump is history – it's Biden who's changing America | Robert Reich
Convicted or not, Trump is history – it’s Biden who’s changing America | Robert Reich
Republican infighting has created a political void into which Democrats are stepping with far-reaching reforms
www.theguardian.com
Lancet: Trump Policies Responsible for at least 200,000 COVID Deaths (vital/detailed/devastating/referenced) ? Veterans Today | Military Foreign Affairs Policy Journal for Clandestine Services
Lancet: Trump Policies Responsible for at least 200,000 COVID Deaths (vital/detailed/devastating/referenced) Veterans Today | Military Foreign Affairs Policy Journal for Clandestine Services
www.veteranstoday.com
Trump?s Lawyers Mocked Democracy and Reasoned Debate
Trump’s Lawyers Mocked Democracy and Reasoned Debate
Rationality and demagoguery fought it out on Senate floor, but the better arguments won’t convince most Republicans.
www.thenation.com
Biden Halts Trump Rule That Gutted a Landmark Bird Protection Law
Biden Halts Trump Rule That Gutted a Landmark Bird Protection Law
The rollback of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was set to take effect February 8, but now the new rule is in trouble.
www.audubon.org

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design