Mired for years in serial meetings, over analysis, and inaction, Stanislaus County’s “Focus on Prevention” leaders finally came forward with a proposal to establish a transitional living center for homeless people last week. There was an immediate public outcry. The proposed location, on Scenic Drive near downtown Modesto, alarmed residents of the nearby La Loma […]
History
Wall Street Journal Confirms Fears of Almond Glut
Rising concerns about a glut in the almond market were confirmed by the Wall Street Journal in “U.S. Farmers are Reeling from Chinese Tariffs.” The article cites the Almond Board of California, and says the board is expecting a record crop when the harvesting of some varieties begins in about two weeks. Coupled with the supply […]
Almond Glut Coming?
Read more of Steve Ringhoff’s fine work here. A glut is typically defined as the point at which supply exceeds demand. It’s not that simple, of course, since demand may be cyclical even when supply is consistent. And, a glut can result when supply ramps up past consistent or throttled back demand. Storage can smooth […]
“The Future has to be bipartisan,” says UC Davis President
Michael Gofman and Matthew Wigler might seem an unlikely pair in today’s world of tribal politics, but the Republican Student Body President from UC Davis and Democrat student government senator at Stanford are working together to study seven of California’s so-called “purple” districts—congressional districts that voted for Hillary Clinton for president but also voted for […]
The Chase Is On—High Speed Pursuits in Stanislaus County
Read more of Steve Ringhoff’s reporting here. The two largest law enforcement agencies in Stanislaus County allow their officers to chase just about anyone for just about anything. So, they do. Sometimes they chase real bad guys. Other times it’s for trivial vehicle code violation—fix-it ticket kinds of things—at speeds of 100 mph in both […]
Homeless and Mentally Ill: the Families
Sadie Koch was stunned when she learned a few weeks ago that her sister, Mary Baca, is homeless. Though she hadn’t seen her in well over three years, Sadie, who lives in Escalon, thought Mary was still living in Modesto with her friend and partner Linda.* The sisters had never been particularly close, but reunited […]
County Pays Big for “Limp, Lame, and Lazy” Claim
In the sad story of the late Sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Wallace—gunned down by a mentally ill killer at Fox Grove fishing access near Hughson almost two years ago—Stanislaus County may get stuck with a big bill: $1,471,843.95. An order from Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Timothy W. Salter says that’s what Wallace’s attorneys are owed. […]
Is the City of Modesto Our Own Big Brother?
Here’s another of Steve Ringhoff’s deep dives into the otherwise covert operations of our city authorities. Should we be concerned? You decide. For several years now, the MPD has been collecting data on your travels by photographing your license plate and storing the data, first locally then, later, in a central database to which public […]
Faces of the Homeless: Chester “Utah” Hamby
Ask Chester “Utah” Hamby how long he’s been homeless, and he’ll say, “I’m not homeless, I’ve got a house and a home right here,” as he points to his “Hillbilly Hotel,” a rolling shelter of his own design. “My nickname’s, ‘Utah,’ he adds, “because that’s where I’m from.” Hamby says he has two other designs, […]
No Way to Sweep Homelessness under the Rug
Years after the explosion of homelessness in Stanislaus County, authorities are still trying to sweep it under the rug. No better example exists of the futility of the “Sweep them Away” policy than Beard Brook Park. Probably because it’s relatively remote and surrounded by industry rather than residences, Beard Brook has long been a favored […]