For years now, San Joaquin Valley residents have known the state would be providing more water for fish and the San Joaquin Delta ecosystem. Now that the time for increased flows on the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Rivers is near, the protests of Valley leaders can hardly make up for years of cavalier abuse of a public resource. Consider that even during the worst drought in memory, Valley farmers continued […]
Politics
Measure L Will Not Fix Altamont Pass Congestion
Proponents of Measure L have promised just about everything to everyone. Supposedly, it will be a boon to economic growth because it will enable the construction of expressways throughout Stanislaus County. Unfortunately, the biggest transportation barrier to economic growth is congestion on the Altamont Pass. For over ten years, Caltrans has been working on widening the Interstate 580 Corridor. The work has been completed. Chronic congestion previously existed from Santa […]
Backed up Traffic? Why Wait for Measure L?
One of the promises of the proponents of Measure L is to synchronize traffic signals. While the cost to set the signals is minuscule compared to the revenue that would be raised by the measure, failure to synchronize the signals now is the height of government irresponsibility. The cost is so low and the benefit so great that before any roadwork is done, signals should be in sync. When traffic signals are […]
Oakdale Irrigation District: “All about Politics?”
U.S. Department of Reclamation: “Reclamation does not backstop transfers.” Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) General Manager Steve Knell likes to say that lawsuits against the district are “all about politics” and “have nothing to do with substance.” Knell is right about the politics and wrong about the substance. And even when he’s right, Steve Knell is also wrong. When he says OID’s current lawsuits are political, his intention is to dismiss […]
Bee to Denham: Dump Trump
When Donald Trump held up a mirror to the Republican Party, many proud conservatives fled in denial, thinking, “That can’t be me.” But ugly as it was, the image reflected the horror the party has become after years of scapegoating immigrants, demonizing moderates, and defending the rights of crazed gunmen. Among the most high-profile people who departed was George Will, who said on Fox News Sunday, “After Trump went after […]
Measure L: A Tax Republicans Favor?
When Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold ran for office in 2015, he opposed Measure X, which would have increased sales taxes to fund police services. Mayor Brandvold does support Measure L, a one half percent sales tax to fund transportation. A vast majority of the one billion dollars that will be raised over the twenty five year life of the tax increase will go to fund roads. No money will go […]
Measure L: Welcome Bay Area Commuters
Early on, Bruce Frohman realized Measure L was part of a much larger urban development strategy. He authored two arguments against Measure L in the 2016 Stanislaus County voter handbook. We’ve published the first argument here. Below is the rebuttal to arguments in favor of Measure L that will also appear in the 2016 voter handbook (in italics). The rebuttal is followed by a discussion of the ambitious development plan […]
Frohman: “No on L”
The following is the argument against Measure L submitted to the Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters for the November 8, 2016 Voter Handbook. The measure is a half percent sales tax increase to fund transportation projects. Following the argument in the handbook is background information that could not be included in the handbook due to space limitations. I don’t mind paying my fair share of taxes. However, I resent being […]
Homeless: Why We Need Laura’s Law
Rumor has it that when Modesto City Councilmember Kristi Ah You made a public plea for Laura’s Law earlier this month, it ruffled a lot of feathers. Apparently some of our elected officials still believe that there’s no point in trying to help people who don’t want help, even when they’re severely mentally ill. But when it comes to those who are mentally ill, the whole issue of “wanting help” […]
Modesto’s 100 Day Budget Report
When Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold took office earlier this year, he appointed a committee to review the City of Modesto’s budget. In 100 days, the committee was tasked with finding money to fund the police department and provide ideas for improving funding of various city departments. This week, a nine page booklet, “not paid for at taxpayer expense,” was distributed to select individuals throughout the community. The booklet summarizes recommendations […]