On June 21, Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit assured members of the Modesto Citizens Action Group (MoCag) that he was fully supportive of proposals for safe sleeping sites for the most vulnerable members of Modesto’s and Stanislaus County’s homeless population. MoCag is a citizens’ action group dedicated to finding immediate shelter and safe ground for homeless people in Modesto and Stanislaus County. “You have an ally,” said Condit. MoGag members […]
Politics
Derek Castle: Is Citizenship the Answer for Homelessness?
When Derek Castle and his wife moved across the street from Modesto’s Graceada Park four years ago, the prime attraction was their two granddaughters. Their son and his family lived nearby. Along with the Gallo Theatre for the Arts, Graceada Park has long been considered one of Modesto’s crown jewels. As Castle got to know his new neighbors, he heard story after story about the problems they were having with […]
Modesto City Manager Errs on Homelessness
Modesto City Manager Joe Lopez might have second thoughts after citing Chico as an example of cities that have tried safe sleeping sites for homeless people and then found they “didn’t work.” Lopez made the remark in a May 24 meeting with members of the Modesto Citizens Action Group (MoCag). He may not have realized that MoCag members are well versed in matters of homelessness throughout California. Consisting of a […]
Modesto City Councilmember Favors Safe Sleeping Sites
In a Thursday morning meeting with members of MOCAG, a local citizens’ activist group, Modesto City Councilmember Jeremiah Williams said he favored safe sleeping sites for homeless people as long as supervision of the site was contracted out to service providers. The meeting was held on May 18 in a city council conference room in downtown Modesto. “We (the City of Modesto) don’t have the people to staff and supervise […]
Still no Homeless Management Plan for City of Modesto
As homeless numbers continue to grow throughout California, the disconnect between people on the ground and state and local leaders also continues to grow. That widening gap between those who work almost daily with homeless people and those who set policy was starkly evident during a meeting of the Modesto City Council on May 9. With a progress report on the city’s efforts to abate homelessness on the agenda, the […]
Homeless? Gavin Newsom Passes the Buck
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s presidential ambitions hinge as much on appearances as they do realities, and the unsightly presence of homeless people throughout California is a reality he can’t make disappear. Born of desperation fostered by the futility of his own efforts to eliminate homelessness, Newsom has decided to blame California’s mayors for his own failure to understand the fundamental nature of a humanitarian emergency that grows worse by the […]
Valley Voters Could Decide House Majority
Republicans are still favored to become the majority in the House of Representatives, but Democrats nationwide have performed better than expected, leaving a narrow possibility they could maintain their current House advantage. Three Valley races could tip the balance. With half the total votes left to count in the race for newly drawn California Congressional District 13, Republican John Duarte leads Adam Gray by 203 votes. In District 9, Josh […]
Three Rules of Thumb for Late Valley Voters
Rule #1: Choose democracy. When America’s founding fathers put the power of last resort in the hands of the people, they knew democracy is a flawed and often clumsy form of government. They also realized that among all options, it’s the most likely to achieve the critical balance between freedom and equality that empowers the best qualities of human nature. At this point in history, only one of our two […]
Did Candidate Keating’s Biggest Donor Sell MID Water?
It was probably only a coincidence that Frank Damrell and Robert Frobose were chatting in front of an outdoor bulletin board that read “Modesto Irrigation District Public Information” on Tuesday, October 11. Damrell and Frobose had just come out of a meeting of the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) Board of Directors. Both are running for seats on the Board, Damrell in District 2 and Frobose in District 3. They attended […]
MID Board: Damrell and Frobose for Your Water
For decades, ratepayers and farmers within the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) have benefitted from low water and power rates while enjoying exceptionally good service. Today, after costly legal battles, lack of transparency, and mounting employee turnover and discontent, the embattled Board of Directors is certain to have at least two new members after the November 8 election, perhaps three if incumbent Stu Gilman is ousted by farmer John Boer. Whether […]