At one point during the conflict between the Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) and the Oakdale Groundwater Alliance (OGA), Judge Roger Beauchesne scolded OID attorneys for their use of ad hominem tactics, reminding them that personal attacks are usually attempts to hide weak arguments. But it turns out personal attacks were all OID attorneys could offer when the district’s fallowing program was challenged under the authority of the California Environmental Quality […]
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Pay for 132 and Almonds Too
During the first week of March this year, laborers planted almond trees in the right of way of the future 132 Freeway/Expressway near Morse and Kansas Avenues. The new trees are almost completely hidden by tall weeds. Caltrans announced in January 2017 that the new road would be completed by 2020. The almond trees will have to be removed first—after Caltrans pays top dollar for them. Meanwhile, Caltrans says it doesn’t have […]
Stench Rises over OID Recall
Over the last few years, the Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) has conducted a secret water sale, failed to re-district according to state law, sold water by abandoning its water rights, annexed out-of-the-region buyers into the district at bargain rates while rejecting offers from local farmers to pay more for OID water, lost a water sale because it failed to observe requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, barred newly elected […]
More Claims of Lies on OID Recall
To hear Deanne Dalrymple tell it, Oakdale farmers Louis Brichetto and Bob Frobose are a couple of bullying “frauds” who are opposed to the attempted recall of Linda Santos from the Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) Board of Directors for purely personal reasons—Frobose because he’s Santos’ business partner and friend and Brichetto because he hopes Santos will help him obtain OID surface water for his out-of-district almond orchards. Dalrymple, an Oakdale […]
Jeff Denham’s Voter Avoidance Handbook
Since the November election, Congressman Jeff Denham’s indifference to voters in his own district has become increasingly evident. When his political party was out of power and all that could be done was obstruct, Denham quietly served as a dead weight anchor, accomplishing nothing and stopping others from moving forward to solve problems. Now that Congressman Denham has his preferred president, he’s ducked any leadership role on the issues and […]
Mentally Ill: Modesto’s Tragedy is a Nation’s Tragedy
Modesto lost a piece of its heart last month. News that Hanibal Yadegar’s wife Evin had been shot in Ripon by a Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff drove pangs of anguish deep into the core of a community that years ago learned to love the Yadegars and their downtown restaurant. If the Gallo Theater for the Arts is Modesto’s beating heart, Hanibal and Evin Yadegars’ Barkin’ Dog Grill is its heart’s […]
Highway 132 Update: More Traffic Coming?
Earlier this month, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) unveiled a new design for the 132 West Freeway Project. The project has a new manager, and all new staff. Most of the previous management personnel involved in the project are retired. The latest iteration of the project is basically the same as the original design considered in 2014. According to Grace Magsayo, the new project manager, the primary change is a […]
The Hidden Truth about Valley Water
The recent deluge throughout Northern California has caused equal parts celebration and outrage. Celebration because it would appear to some the drought is over and outrage because those same celebrants are demonizing anyone who says we’re still in a water emergency. As always, the favored targets for righteous indignation are the government and, “those in environmental groups.” “Why would the state water board tell us we’re still in drought?’ asked […]
Why I Don’t Want Milo Yiannopoulos on My Campus.
Merced College Lecturer in Philosophy Keith Law has a long history supporting free speech on campus, and founded “Students for Social Justice” to encourage open discussion of controversial ideas. However, he has strong objections to inviting celebrity provocateurs like Milo Yiannopolous to academic institutions. He explains why below: The wrongful violent protest that broke out on the UC Berkeley campus last week, over the speaking engagement of Breitbart “News” editor and […]
Are the Arguments for Valley Water Full of Holes?
Though there’s no truth to the rumor people have been painting it brown, the water drop on the “Worth your Fight” sign produced by the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts could just as easily be an almond. And if it were so portrayed, it would certainly present a more accurate picture as leaders throughout the San Joaquin Valley protest state proposals to increase flows along valley rivers. Water, of course, […]