Steve Ringhoff is a retired attorney and investigative journalist who formerly wrote for the Modesto Bee. Read more of Steve’s fine work here. THIS TIME: We begin a three part report which examines the investigation into the crash which took the lives of Stanislaus Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Garner and Community Service Officer Raschel Johnson last year. We look into what was found, not found and, perhaps, hidden in the nearly […]
History
Sunday, October 28, a Vigil
Inside Modesto’s Beth Shalom Temple there was standing room only; another dozen people stood in the foyer. At the podium, a guest spokesman for the Islam religion said, “Why are we so afraid of difference when our Creator created us different?” The Imam spoke also of the close bonds between his church and the synagogue. In the audience, Christian, Jew, Muslim—all the colors of the American religious rainbow—listened silently. Some […]
Homeless: Do We Really Have Enough Money?
Spokespeople for Stanislaus County’s “Focus on Prevention” program for the homeless have been saying for months that, “Money’s not the problem.” For people who’ve been on the ground dealing with the burgeoning homeless population, the claim just doesn’t make sense. Especially since the City of Modesto opened Beard Brook Park to campers, the extent of the homelessness has become more and more evident. Within a couple of weeks, almost 200 […]
Homeless in Beard Brook Park: “The rent just got too high.”
The Morris brothers, Harvey, aged 71, and Daniel, 69, say their landlord raised the rent and kicked them out when they complained about the roaches, rats, and black mold in their apartments. The landlord—an absentee owner—would most likely say the brothers trashed their units and ignored warnings to take better care of them. It’s a routine argument whenever affordable housing issues are raised in California. The bottom line: No matter […]
Homeless: Is Camping the Answer?
Daniel Shockley says he’s been homeless , “About four months, this time.” Shockley had been living with his girlfriend near Modesto’s Fourth Street when a breakup left him with nowhere to go but the park. “The police were real nice,” he said Thursday. “They helped me move all my stuff here. Otherwise, it would have meant too many trips.” Shockley still doesn’t have a tent. Like other new arrivals, he […]
City Finally Listens to Kristi Ah You on Homeless—Maybe
After the tents popped up in Modesto’s Graceada Park last Tuesday, the news traveled like lightning through neighborhood group email lists: “They’re allowing camping in the parks.” Whether, “they,” meaning the City of Modesto, are really allowing camping in all the city’s parks remains to be seen. The confusion is the result of a ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The court wrote, “a municipality cannot […]
Homeless: A Scenic Alternative
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 neighborhood. La Loma is just south of the former hospital where the county would temporarily […]
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 increase is the throttling back of demand in China because of steep tariffs, triggering a […]
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 out a cycle but that means the producer isn’t paid until well after the time […]
“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 a Republican congressional representative. Though they might differ on issues and answers, both Gofman and […]