The stark reality of the Coronavirus Pandemic has brought new hardships to one of our community’s most vulnerable populations—our fellow residents who are homeless. But while the pandemic presents a fresh set of terrifying challenges to those living on the street, the staff at Modesto’s Salvation Army Berberian Shelter, on the corner of 9th and D streets, is vigorously responding to the health crisis in this time of “all hands […]
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Coronavirus? Just Chase it Around Town
Imagine some of the most vulnerable residents in your town being chased from place to place during a pandemic. Imagine that their only access to hygiene is public restrooms, back alleys, and the great outdoors. Fanciful as it may sound, that’s exactly the case with members of Modesto’s homeless population who didn’t make it into the county’s new 182 bed shelter on 9th and D Streets in Modesto. When the […]
Frank Ploof: Martin Luther King Legacy Award
Last Saturday, at the conclusion of his remarks after receiving the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award, Frank Ploof offered a quotation from Congressman John Lewis that urged people to, “speak up, speak out, and get in good trouble.” Ploof’s own version of “good trouble” includes consorting with derelicts, drug addicts, drifters and ne’er do wells, people who are alternately scorned, shunned, and demonized by the general public. Naturally, Ploof […]
Our Primary Picks for the March 3 Election
The easiest choice by far in this year’s Primary Election is Josh Harder. During the 2018 Primary, we described Harder as the, “kid from Turlock.” This year, he’s the Congressman from Turlock. It was clear early on that Harder was a once-in-a-generation candidate, but even given his exceptional drive and determination, the odds against him clearing the last primary were steep. Pitted against Democrat Michael Eggman, Republican Jeff Denham and […]
California Congressional District 10: A Trump Referendum
There may be five challengers for Josh Harder’s seat in congress, but judging by audience responses Wednesday night at Modesto’s State Theatre, the general election will be between Harder and Ted Howze. Howze has a couple of Republican rivals in the primary, but neither Bob Eliot nor Marla Livengood generated much excitement during a debate where the clear favorites were men who had already faced each other during the 2018 […]
Newsom faces facts: Time to set up the tents
Within a few short weeks of establishment of Modesto’s new low-barrier shelter in the Salvation Army Berberian building, tents began appearing along the street opposite the building, mostly occupied by former residents of MOES, the Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter. At first there were only a few. Now, the number of tents is growing almost daily, but not as fast as the number of homeless people in our parks, along our […]
RIP Mayor Carmen Sabatino
One of Carmen Sabatino’s most ardent supporters once said, without a trace of irony, “He’s right a third of the time.” At another time, a hardened journalist who had covered Sabatino and Modesto for decades said, but not for attribution, “When Carmen’s right, he’s really right.” Sabatino himself believed he was always right, and even though he wasn’t, he might have been more accurate about others than others were about […]
Hidalgo to Run for Modesto City Council
“The Council needs to change and start working together” Currently a field representative for state Senator Anna Caballero, Modesto resident Jennifer Hidalgo will run for a seat on the Modesto City Council, District 1, next election. Mani Grewal, the current councilmember for District 1, is running against Susan Eggman for termed-out state Senator Kathleen Galgiani’s seat. Hidalgo has broad local experience both as a job holder and volunteer. She’s been […]
Good Samaritan Locates Alan Davis, Gets Help
Back in May and June, when he was working near the county courthouse in downtown Modesto, Tony Montalbo used to keep tabs on Alan Davis, the disabled homeless man who just recently wandered away from the new shelter in the Salvation Army’s Berberian building on 9th and D Streets. “We’re buds, really,” said Montalbo Saturday. “I used to check on him and bring him some food just to make sure […]
Wheelchair-bound Amputee Back on the Streets of Modesto
Alan Davis, the homeless man who was taken to the Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter (MOES) in late September is back on the streets. Davis had spent a little over two months at MOES and seemed to be doing well when he was moved to the new shelter in the Salvation Army’s Berberian building on 9th and D Streets. Prior to arriving at MOES, Davis had spent many months haunting the […]