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Politics

Raise Taxes? City Residents are Already Taxed Twice

April 21, 2022 By Bruce Frohman 14 Comments

Tenth Street Place Downtown Modesto

Ever since the Dick Lang administration of the 1990’s, Modesto City Government has been perpetually broke. Subsequent city leaders have had very little discretionary money with which to operate. The present city council is considering whether to ask voters to approve a special sales tax within Modesto to alleviate ongoing budget shortfalls. To decide whether approval of a new sales tax increase is warranted, voters need to understand how Modesto […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Modesto City Budget, Modesto sales tax, Stanislaus County budget, Stanislaus County budget surplus

Esmeralda Soria: Doing More and Doing it Better

April 12, 2022 By Eric Caine 5 Comments

Esmeralda Soria and Anna Caballero 7 April 2022 Merced7

When we heard Fresno City Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria was running for Assembly in the Valley’s District 27, we wanted to know more about her. We were even more intrigued when we looked at her impressive list of endorsements, including those from State Controller Betty Yee, State Senate Member Anna Caballero, and former Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante. With a population of over 500,000 residents, Fresno is the largest city in the […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Anna Caballero, Esmeralda Soria for Assembly, Esmeralda Soria Fresno City Council

Nick Bavaro: An American Story

March 19, 2022 By Eric Caine 3 Comments

Paul Bavaro

Nick Bavaro’s father was already a veteran of the Italian Air Force when he decided he didn’t want to fight for Benito Mussolini’s fascist government. Discharged in 1933, Paul Bavaro was a working farmer who early on had the foresight to anticipate the awful consequences of Italy’s descent into fascism. After Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, Mr. Bavaro feared he’d be called back into military service. He loathed the idea […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Nick Barvaro Modesto City Council, Nick Bavaro

Phil Arballo Has Serious Questions for Adam Gray

March 3, 2022 By Eric Caine 8 Comments

Phil Arballo

Josh Harder did more than upset incumbent Republican Congressman Jeff Denham in 2018, he also upset the conventional wisdom. Prior to Harder’s win, Valley Democrats were barely distinguishable from Republicans. The conventional wisdom said that in one of the reddest regions in the state, Democrats could win only by fending off competition from the right, hence the cloning of the “Blue Dog” Democrat, a political species so adept at mimicry […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Adam Gray donors, Adam Gray for Congress, Phil Arballo, Phil Arballo for Congress

Flash! Harder to Run in 9, Adam Gray in 13

January 18, 2022 By Eric Caine 8 Comments

Josh Harder and Sue Zwahlen Modesto 6 April 21

In a stunning move brought about by the tumult resulting from redistricting in California, Josh Harder just announced he will now be running for Congress in California District 9, a slot previously designated for Representative Jerry McNerney, who is stepping down. Harder had only recently announced for District 13, which includes a large swath of Adam Gray’s current Assembly District. Persistent rumors have circulated that Gray was also thought well-suited […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Adam Gray, Adam Gray for Congress, Assembly Member Adam Gray, Congressman Josh Harder, Josh Harder

City Needs Money? Tax the Poor!

January 18, 2022 By Eric Caine 1 Comment

Downtown Modesto at McDonalds

According the United Way’s Real Cost Measure, 31% of Stanislaus County families struggle to meet costs for food, rent, and clothing. Like most households throughout the state, the cost of housing is the primary factor in their inability to make ends meet. Research by the United Way reveals that, “Struggling households in California use over half of their income on housing, more than twice as high a share as households […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Homelessness and Poverty in Stanislaus County, Homelessness in Modesto, Homelessness in the San Joaquin Valley, Modesto sales tax, Modesto sales tax proposal, Regressive taxation

Was the (not) Adam Gray Tweet a Trial Balloon?

January 6, 2022 By Eric Caine 7 Comments

Josh Harder Del Rio

It’s no secret that Josh Harder’s successful campaign against Republican Congressman Jeff Denham in 2018 was a blow to Adam Gray’s political hopes. Insiders agree that Gray had planned to run against Denham in 2020, before he was termed out by the “lifetime” California term limits rule of 12 years total in office of any kind. Gray was elected to the 21st Assembly District in 2012, winning office with 58.2% […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Adam Gray, Assembly Member Adam Gray, California Congressional District 13, California Congressman Josh Harder, Congressman Josh Harder, Josh Harder for congress

Democracy Threatened in California Congressional District 10

November 21, 2021 By Neil Selover 11 Comments

Josh Harder 2020

All across this nation, GOP-led states are carving up and contorting congressional districts to dilute and suppress the votes of “socialist” Democrats, and, more specifically, people of color. Officially known as “redistricting,” their aim is clear — to take back control of the House of Representatives in 2022 by any means possible, even if illegal, immoral, or unethical. That’s no surprise to those following politics; the surprise is that our […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: California Congressional District 10, Congressman Josh Harder, Redisricting California Congressional District 10, Redistricting California 2021

Valley Politics: (Mis)Reading the Recall

September 28, 2021 By Eric Caine 14 Comments

Gavin Newsom Modesto September 2018

There has never been a way Gavin Newsom could win over voters in the bright red San Joaquin Valley. That’s why post-recall commentary from Valley leaders and pundits has thus far missed the mark. In assuming Newsom ever had a chance with highly partisan Valley voters, most everyone has focused on Newsom’s position on water. Water, however, is exactly the issue Newsom has no chance for winning on in the […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Covid-19 San Joaquin Valley, Stanislaus County Covid-19, Stanislaus County Supervisors Covid-19

On the Bus with Sue Zwahlen, Vito Chiesa, and Josh Harder

April 7, 2021 By Eric Caine 3 Comments

Vito Chiesa, Sue Zwahlen and Josh Harder 6 April, 2021

Just after noon on April 6, Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen, Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa, and Congressman Josh Harder boarded one of Modesto’s zero emission buses at 1010 10th Street for a ride out to one of the city’s unincorporated “islands” near Hanshaw Middle School, just west of Crows Landing Road in Stanislaus County. They were joined by Modesto City Manager Joe Lopez and several Modesto City and Stanislaus County […]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Congressman Josh Harder, Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen, Supervisor Vito Chiesa

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Off The Wire

White House plan to fight antisemitism takes on centuries of hatred in America
White House plan to fight antisemitism takes on centuries of hatred in America
Recommended steps include raising awareness of antisemitism now and in the past, expanding knowledge of Jewish heritage in the US
www.timesofisrael.com
Oath Keepers leader Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy
Oath Keepers leader Rhodes sentenced to 18 years for Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes faces a prison sentence up to 25 years in the first punishments for seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
www.washingtonpost.com
Opinion | America?s Poverty Is Built by Design
Opinion | America’s Poverty Is Built by Design
How did the U.S. become a land of economic extremes with the rich getting richer while the working poor grind it out? Deliberately.
www.politico.com
Republican Jewish Coalition Blasts Gosar Over Staffer's Ties To White Supremacist: Fuentes Has 'No Place' In Congress
Republican Jewish Coalition Blasts Gosar Over Staffer’s Ties To White Supremacist: Fuentes Has ‘No Place’ In Congress
The Republican Jewish Coalition slammed Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) following a  TPM…
talkingpointsmemo.com
Newsom restores floodplain funds, adds $290 million to flood control budget
Newsom restores floodplain funds, adds $290 million to flood control budget
After widespread, bipartisan criticism, the governor revised his budget to include $40 million to restore San Joaquin Valley floodplains.
calmatters.org
New Study Finds a High Minimum Wages Creates Jobs
New Study Finds a High Minimum Wages Creates Jobs
Conventional wisdom had long suggested the opposite.
nymag.com
Spiraling in San Francisco?s Doom Loop
Spiraling in San Francisco’s Doom Loop
What it’s like to live in a city that no longer believes its problems can be fixed.
www.curbed.com
San Diego to open homeless camp sites at two parking lots near Balboa Park
San Diego to open homeless camp sites at two parking lots near Balboa Park
The two lots could accommodate about 500 tents and would be an alternative to congregate shelters
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
K-12 enrollment: Does the increase in homeless students indicate a worsening trend?
K-12 enrollment: Does the increase in homeless students indicate a worsening trend?
California’s overall K-12 enrollment declined, but a lack of affordable housing may be fueling an increase in homeless students.
calmatters.org
Sugar Justice: The Clarence Thomas Story
Sugar Justice: The Clarence Thomas Story
Did you see the latest Clarence Thomas bombshell? To head off any…
talkingpointsmemo.com
California's colossal snowpack has yet to melt: 'Less and less places for that water to go'
California’s colossal snowpack has yet to melt: ‘Less and less places for that water to go’
Only about 12 inches of Caliornia’s snow water equivalent melted in April, leaving most of the Sierra Nevada snowpack poised to flow down downhill.
www.latimes.com
The fastest-growing homeless population? Seniors
The fastest-growing homeless population? Seniors
Included in the increasing number of homeless seniors are those experiencing homelessness for the first time after age 50.
calmatters.org

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