Eric Caine | The Valley Citizen

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Eric Caine formerly taught in the Humanities Department at Merced College. He was an original Community Columnist at the Modesto Bee, and wrote for The Bee for over twelve years.

Manuel and Joyce Dillard, Modesto, CA 2024

History

More Sweeps? Why California Fails on Homelessness

July 26, 2024

Even before Gavin Newsom’s statewide order to clear camps, Modesto’s homeless people were saying Stanislaus County Sheriffs had already started arresting people with no place to go. Whether that’s the case or not, jail time for homeless people is the expected outcome after the Supreme Court ruling on Grants Pass vs Johnson on June 28. […]

Irrigation District files anti-SLAPP suit against Board Member

Eric Caine -

July 17, 2024

Last May, Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Board Member Janice Keating filed a suit against the district and fellow board member Robert Frobose alleging gender harassment. The suit claims, among other things, that Frobose sought to intimidate Keating about her opposition to rehiring attorney Ronda Lucas to assist General Counsel Wes Milliband with the district’s legal […]

What if Homeless People aren’t who we Think they are?

Eric Caine -

July 8, 2024

The name “Larry” below is a pseudonym. He’s still on the streets, last we knew. ed. I walked into the camp thinking I’d done as much as I could to be safe. Still, I felt twinges of fear. A few years ago, before the systematic sweeps of camps throughout the city and county, I’d usually […]

History

About the Valley Citizen

Eric Caine -

June 28, 2024

Over the years, I’ve neglected the business side of The Valley Citizen. Also, there have been seismic changes since I started publishing, so I’ve decided to post a new “About” essay to give readers a better idea of our mission. Let us know what you think. ed The Valley Citizen is an essay in public […]

History

A Defender of Wildlife has Fallen: RIP Robert Gallo

Eric Caine -

June 24, 2024

Robert Gallo, known to everyone as “Bob,” died last Saturday. Like the Gallo family in general, he was very much a private person who preferred his contributions to nature and other public service went unpublicized. Nonetheless, he was a major benefactor to birds and wildlife, especially with his key role in the recovery of the […]

Children at Dos Rios State Park, 12 June, 2024

Environment

Dos Rios State Park: “A new era of water management.”

Eric Caine -

June 13, 2024

Julie Rentner and Patrick Koepele have spent decades of their lives dedicated to healing nature through the restoration of rivers, Rentner with River Partners and Koepele with the Tuolmne River Trust. Wednesday, June 12, the entire state of California celebrated one of the greatest outcomes of their labors with the opening of Dos Rios State […]

Nature

“Birder’s Logic” Leads to a Rare Pair in Stanislaus County

Eric Caine -

June 9, 2024

Jim Gain’s tours through nature can be seen here. So it’s a hot day in the San Joaquin Valley, the chores are done, you’ve got a few hours to yourself and you choose to visit one of the most unlikely places the average person might think of. Maybe only a dedicated birder could figure out […]

Environment

Will Water Districts Fail to Deliver on Historic Contract?

Eric Caine -

May 26, 2024

Earlier this year, Louis Brichetto was having breakfast with a local cattleman who mentioned having seen the Brichetto name on a historical water contract he had been reviewing along with some of his own old contracts. The casual remark got Brichetto’s immediate attention. Brichetto’s roots in Stanislaus County’s Oakdale region go back well over 150 […]

Gender Harassment at MID? You be the Judge

Eric Caine -

May 15, 2024

In a suit filed on May 14, Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Board Member Janice Keating has accused the district and Board Member Robert Frobose of harassment based on her status as a woman. Keating claims that Frobose tried to intimidate her last year, during a January 17 visit to La Grange Dam: “While on the […]

Nick Bavaro at Graceada Park, March 2023

History

Modesto Councilmember Kicks Hornets’ Nest on Homelessness

Eric Caine -

May 9, 2024

Modesto City Councilmember Nick Bavaro raised a lot of hackles during the May 7 meeting of the Modesto City Council. The item in question was what appeared to be a routine funding approval for the Salvation Army to continue operating a day center at the Berberian Shelter, which includes a traditional Salvation Army shelter and […]

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