Supporters of farmland preservation exulted when Garrad Marsh defeated Brad Hawn and Bill Zoslocki in last year’s race for Mayor of Modesto. Marsh’s victory was doubly sweet because it came after Mike Zagaris and George Petrulakis publicly endorsed Hawn. Zagaris and Petrulakis have long been associated with pro-growth policies that resist attempts to protect farmland by mitigation, urban boundaries, or other means. Given Marsh’s long history of work for farmland […]
Kristin Olsen Ignores Environmental Concerns About Mining Oil, by Bruce Frohman
In a March 22nd opinion piece appearing in the Modesto Bee, State Assembly Member Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, advocated mining for oil on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. Ms. Olsen said that an estimated 15.4 billion barrels of oil are locked in the rocks of the “Monterey Shale Formation,” which extends from Kern County in the south to Stanislaus County in the north. Olsen asserted that large scale mining could add as […]
Modesto Bee Column Establishes New Low in Water Debate
In slightly fewer than six-hundred words that may have set a record for errors per word, last Thursday’s Community Column in the Modesto Bee established a new low in our region’s ongoing debate about water. Written by Turlock’s Mike Romeo, the column contains numerous factual errors and at least one major conceptual error. The conceptual error stems from Romeo’s assumption that those who pay for a dam own the water […]
Marsh and Kieta: First Year Reviews
Roughly a year ago, Garrad Marsh and Joe Kieta took the helms of two of our most cherished institutions, the City itself and the City’s only newspaper. Faced with similar challenges in the form of falling revenue, reduced staffs, and a struggling economy, Marsh and Kieta have had only a year to turn things around. While neither has succeeded, it’s too early to count either man out. Here’s our review […]
Stanislaus Audubon Sues on Willms Parcel Split
In a case of “déjà vu all over again,” the Stanislaus Audubon Society has filed a Writ of Mandate challenging Stanislaus County Supervisors’ approval of the Willms Ranch parcel split on January 29. In 1995, after a long round of litigation, a superior court reversed Stanislaus County’s approval of a proposed golf course on the Willms Ranch after Stanislaus Audubon fought the decision. Though different in substance, this case has […]
Valley Jewelry and Coin Stores Fencing Stolen Goods? By Bruce Frohman
Recently, a burglary took place on the west side of Modesto. The burglars took several pieces of jewelry during a robbery conducted in broad daylight. They entered and exited through the front door of the home. After the burglary, the homeowner did what he could to recover his belongings. He filed a report with the Modesto Police Department, went to local flea markets, and visited jewelry stores and coin shops […]
No End to Protest at Modesto Abortion Clinic, by Bruce Frohman
For a number of years—yes, years—a daily protest has been staged at an abortion clinic on the 2000 block of Coffee Road in Modesto. Protestors often have gruesome signs showing an aborted fetus and shake them at passing motorists. Many folks are weary of the perpetual argument over whether abortion should be legal. Those involved in the discussion exert considerable energy and enthusiasm for the side they represent. Every possible […]
Valley Residents Facing Death by Dogma
Over a decade ago, when newly-elected Mayor Carmen Sabatino proposed a half cent sales tax for road maintenance and repair in Modesto he was met with a storm of protest. Despite the controversy, no one questioned the sorry state of our roads. The road tax has since been championed both by former Stanislaus County Supervisor Jeff Grover and current Supervisor Vito Chiesa. Again, no one questions the sorry state of […]
Valley Emergency Room Care Resembles Third World, by Bruce Frohman
“If this is a medical emergency, dial 911.” Through the use of this one sentence, the medical profession has turned the concept of the hospital emergency room into an oxymoron. If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid San Joaquin Valley emergency rooms, then you’ve missed an absolutely miserable experience. Visit any emergency room, especially on weekends and evenings, and you’ll wait a far longer time than with a routine visit […]
Another Giant Step Forward for Modesto Arts Scene
Modesto’s burgeoning arts scene added another dimension on February 2, when the Chartreuse Muse kicked off its “Art of Tea” exhibit with a reception attended by over two-hundred local art lovers. Sandy Veneman and Ellen Roehne are the driving forces behind the Chartreuse Muse, which has long featured outstanding work by such accomplished local artists as painter Jack Morris and potter Randy Crimmel. Veneman and Roehne are themselves fine […]