• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Nature, Environment, History & Politics

The Valley Citizen

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About
  • RSS Icon

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

April 7, 2021 By Eric Caine 3 Comments

Josh Harder and Sue Zwahlen Modesto 6 April 21
Downtown Modesto, April 6, 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 staff members.

The islands have been a vexing problem for Modesto and Stanislaus County for decades. In 2005, residents claimed the lack of services and infrastructure in unincorporated areas were a form of discrimination; they lost a subsequent lawsuit, but city and county officials have long agreed that infrastructure needs in Crows Landing neighborhoods and nearby rank high among local government’s major challenges.

The sticking point for progress has been money. In the past, city officials blamed Stanislaus County for failing to provide funding enough to bring the unincorporated areas up to city standards. County officials responded by saying the city’s standards were based on unreasonable expectations for older neighborhoods, most of which lack curbs and sidewalks and rely on septic tanks for sewage disposal.

Assuming President Joe Biden is successful in acquiring funding for much-needed infrastructure throughout the nation, Congressman Harder could become a key player in helping Modesto and Stanislaus County resolve their long-standing financial impasse. Harder has already been effective in directing Covid-relief money to his district, and could be equally efficient in securing dollars for infrastructure.

Sue Zwahlen has a special fondness for the Crows Landing neighborhood.

“One of my uncles came to Crows Landing Road from the Dust Bowl,” she said Tuesday. “He only had a third grade education, but he set up a small retail shop and made it work.”

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

Zwahlen was obviously at home in the Crows Landing environment. While the other officials were looking over streets and dirt walkways, she struck up a conversation with a resident about a magnificent grapefruit tree in the front yard. In a gesture typical of the Valley’s country courtesies, she was gifted with a large grapefruit after a leap and grab by the friendly citizen.

Like almost every region in the nation, Modesto and Stanislaus County are emerging from the Covid shutdowns with severe financial challenges. Addressing infrastructure needs would provide a much-needed economic boost.

Sue Zwahlen Modesto
Fresh off the tree

Dwight Eisenhower’s Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 helped spur an economic boom throughout the nation that lasted decades. On a smaller scale, addressing local infrastructure needs could provide jobs and quality of life benefits that would help move us beyond the woes of Covid and into a new era of prosperity.

Stanislaus County and the City of Modesto have struggled for years to address their unincorporated areas, but last Tuesday was the first time Congressman Josh Harder, Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen and Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa ever got on a bus going to the same destination. Maybe their short journey will begin a new era of cooperative government and a long-awaited solution to an intractable problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosalee Guerrero says

    April 7, 2021 at 10:19 am

    So happy that they took that tour. Now if we could get teachers from Downey High to do a tour of where a lot of their students come from . It would be great..

    Reply
  2. Michele McCall says

    April 7, 2021 at 1:53 pm

    I know good things will come of this for the residents and property owners there. Get it done, folks! Sidewalks, sewage, alley maintenance, park space, and services.

    Reply
  3. Stephanie Miller says

    April 9, 2021 at 11:28 am

    This is a wonderful example of how government should work!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Sunday said she views the midterm elections…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
Don Cameron went all in on a trickle-down survival tactic. It could help save America’s agricultural heartland—even if he doesn’t survive the new water war.
www.wired.com
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
This article first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A South Texan?s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
A South Texan’s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
When she began her year-long bird-spotting adventure, Tiffany Kersten was lost and lonely. She ended up achieving a major milestone and finding her way.
www.texasmonthly.com
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
A top aide said the Wisconsin Republican senator wanted to give Pence the list of pro-Trump electors as he prepared to certify the 2020 election.
www.politico.com
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
“I think it would have helped our party heal, given [people] more facts.”
www.axios.com
'Not safe anymore': Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
‘Not safe anymore’: Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
Homeless encampments now spill well beyond Portland’s downtown core, dividing a city that has invested liberally in support services.
www.latimes.com
Republicans Will Do It Again
Republicans Will Do It Again
They have not been chastened by the revelations of the January 6 committee.
nymag.com
Birdman
Birdman
Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife
www.earthisland.org
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Martins were bit players in politics, until they put Doug Mastriano one step away from becoming Pennsylvania’s next governor.
nymag.com
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Prominent Christian leaders accuse Trump allies of spreading misinformation about election and Covid, while distorting Christian teachings at ReAwaken America events
www.theguardian.com
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears 'moment of reckoning'
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears ‘moment of reckoning’
As the Colorado River water shortage worsens, major cutbacks are needed to reduce most perilous risks, a federal official tells senators.
www.latimes.com
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Supporters who thought they were donating to “election integrity” instead saw some of their money funneled to Trump hotels
www.rollingstone.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design