The only flaw in Thomas Friedman’s recent column in the New York Times is he didn’t include advice all down the ballot. The message is clear enough: If you want to save the traditions and institutions that constitute American values, vote for a Democrat. Still, there are cases where multiple Democrats are running and other cases where we must choose between two Republicans. So for those who are still mulling […]
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Local Politics: The Republican Double Standard
Valley Democrats need to follow the Republican example and put party over person Especially since Donald Trump prevailed in the 2016 presidential election, Democrats have been urged to develop better understanding and sympathy for Trump supporters. The idea is that Trump supporters have good reasons to support Trump and Democrats need to understand and address those reasons so that they can develop a winning platform next election. We call BS. […]
Donor Review for Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors
When Dick Monteith announced his retirement from the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, both Democrat Frank Damrell and Republican Tom Berryhill announced they would run for the vacant seat in Stanislaus County’s District Four. Former Modesto City Councilmember Janice Keating jumped into the race much later. Read more from Steve Ringhoff at Modestoexplained. Frank Damrell III had the most donors through April 21. Tom Berryhill got the most money during that […]
Keating and Berryhill No Shows at Forum
Apparently, Janice Keating and Tom Berryhill had good reasons for missing Wednesday night’s League of Women’s Voters forum for Stanislaus County Supervisors’ campaigns; Keating sent word she was observing her thirtieth wedding anniversary and Berryhill cited a conflict. That left Frank Damrell as the only District 4 candidate present for the sparsely attended question and answer session in Modesto City Council Chambers. If they view the video of the forum, […]
Modesto: A City under Siege
“They all ran on the premise that government is the problem, and every one of them has managed to help prove it.” Whenever Modesto appears on those, “Worst Places to Live,” lists—which is often—city leaders object vociferously. “Modesto is a great place to live,” they say, “the people are great people, they’re wonderful.” Visitors get a different impression, especially those who enter the city via I Street and the famed […]
Damrell Finds Diverse Field of Supporters
On a night when Doug Jones upended history in Alabama, Modesto’s Frank Damrell kicked off a campaign for Stanislaus County Supervisor that could reverse our own long trend of ultra-right conservatives occupying the county’s highest offices. Like Doug Jones, Damrell is a moderate but firm Democrat, comfortable with values that include a belief in helping the less fortunate while emphasizing family, community, and work. Damrell is running for Dick Monteith’s […]
November 7: The Valley Citizen Recommends Candidates and Measures
MODESTO CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO: We like Tony Madrigal, but really think the city needs to be energized by a true grassroots progressive with a strong record for pursuing social justice. Jon Rodriguez is already on the Yosemite Community College District Board of Trustees. That’s enough to keep him busy, assuming he takes the position seriously and realizes all the problems in the community college system. That leaves Homero Mejia, […]
Condemned Building Burns
In a case of timing that pretty much defines words like convenient, provocative and suspicious, 624 9th Street, downtown Modesto’s condemned and boarded-up monument to civic neglect, went up in flames tonight. The fire must have started around 8:30 last night, because by the time I got there around 9:30, firefighters had knocked down the worst of the blaze. None of the police or firefighters would say a word to me, […]
Exodus at 624 Ninth Street Shows Government at Its Best
“We were ready for them to come in and start pushing people around, but it didn’t happen. People here would have gone to jail if they had come in and tried to force us out, but they didn’t. They just came in and tried to help.” There was genuine wonder in Jeremy Buchelew’s voice and eyes as he described the evacuation of Modesto’s now-notorious apartment building at 624 Ninth Street. […]
Despite Problems, 624 Is Still Home for Some
Jim “Jimbo” Garrison was fighting back tears as he explained why he didn’t want to leave the 624 Ninth Street apartments where he’s formed a tight band of friends. “These are my friends, these are my family,” he said. “What right do they have to make us leave? What right do they have to move us to a motel and put us through a program?” According to Garrison, the City […]