“Petitioner has bestowed an important public benefit,” says Judge. Imagine tossing 2130 hundred dollar bills into the Stanislaus River to see how long they will float. Sounds crazy, but the Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) did something almost as foolish when it decided to contest a suit brought forward by the Oakdale Groundwater Alliance (OGA). The suit was in response to OID’s failure to provide an Environmental Impact Review (EIR) for […]
Politics
Homeless: Denial Still Dominates
One year ago, Modesto City Councilmember Kristi Ah You suggested we should allow homeless people to camp in designated areas, including places like Beard Brook Park. Today, Beard Brook Park is surrounded by a chain link fence and hundreds of Valley citizens are facing yet another winter with nowhere to go. Virtually paralyzed by the problem, the City of Modesto has been unable to offer solutions other than futile anti-camping […]
Reefer Madness: Remembering the Late, Great, John Michael Flint
Way back in 2005, the late, great, John Michael Flint derived considerable amusement from Modesto’s horror at medical marijuana sales on McHenry Avenue. “Omigod, hide the women and the children! Lock the doors, draw the shades and head for the storm cellar,” wrote Flint, in his Community Column for the Modesto Bee. He added, “Suddenly, here it is – the answer to a politician’s prayer, a white horse to mount and a […]
Only One Question for Democrats after Debate
After six superb candidates demonstrated competence, compassion and command of issues dear to the hearts of Valley Democrats during Wednesday night’s candidate forum in Turlock, there’s really only one question: Which of them can defeat Jeff Denham in the 2018 race for California’s District 10? Early front-runners Dottie Nygard and Virginia Madueno didn’t appear to lose any luster, Mateo Bedolla impressed everyone as an up-and-comer with a bright political future, […]
Republicans in the Valley: The Red Menace
“Yet, hear me, people, we have now to deal with another race – small and feeble when our fathers first met them but now great and overbearing. Strangely enough they have a mind to till the soil and the love of possession is a disease with them. These people have made many rules that the rich may break but the poor may not. They take their tithes from the poor […]
Taxes, Card Tricks, and Black Magic
Though it seemed out of character, Republican support for last year’s Stanislaus County road tax, Measure L, was actually a natural evolutionary stage in a tax revolt that began in California forty years ago and has wreaked social and environmental havoc ever since. Launched by Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann in 1977 through the initiative process, Proposition 13 heralded the anti-tax revolt and Reagan Revolution that still dominate federal, state, […]
Republican Bill? A lot more than $68,461 for Ann Coulter
Modesto gadfly Emerson Drake’s gifts for political theater were never more apparent than when he presented a bill for $68,461 to Jim DeMartini at the June 13 meeting of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors. Drake was protesting using tax dollars to pay for security when the Republican Central Committee (DeMartini is committee chairman) sponsored a fundraiser featuring Ann Coulter. Lost in the whirlwind of debate and controversy over the […]
Will Denham Challengers Learn from Eggman’s Mistakes?
Ever since taking office years ago, Congressman Jeff Denham has done a poor job of representing his district. Yet, he was able to win reelection over challenger Michael Eggman in the last two elections, mostly because Eggman made critical mistakes. Will the next Democratic Party candidate make the same mistakes? The biggest mistake Michael Eggman made in running for Congress was his strict adherence to the Democratic Party platform. The platform works […]
Ann Coulter: Freedom is not about Hate
One of the lesser-known events of America’s dark past is the lynching of eleven Italians in New Orleans in 1891. It’s the largest mass lynching in American history. The victims of the lynching had just been acquitted of murder charges when the local citizenry took it upon themselves to administer their own brand of justice. One of the principal organizers of the event was John Parker, who later became governor […]
Open Letter to Jeff Denham
Dear Congressman Denham: I received your questionnaire. Thank you for the opportunity to share my views on issues critical to our quality of life here in the San Joaquin Valley. As you know, we are one of the most multicultural regions in the United States and immigration is a key local issue. I’m glad you’ve inquired about it. I favor a pathway to citizenship for working immigrants. Like many others, […]