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

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice

The Valley Citizen

Pursuing truth toward justice
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About

Withrow vs Calkins, by Bruce Frohman

March 9, 2014 By Bruce Frohman 3 Comments

Scott Calkins
Scott Calkins

Stanislaus County Supervisor Terry Withrow will be running with opposition in his bid for a second term in District 3. Citizen advocate Scott Calkins is dissatisfied with the representation provided by the incumbent and will raise several issues during the campaign, including expansion of the 132 Freeway, the future of Wood Colony, and toxic waste sites in the District.

Supervisor Withrow strongly supports construction of the 132 Freeway between Highway 99 and Interstate 5. Scott Calkins is concerned about the disruption road construction would cause to agriculture and consequent urban development along the route after a freeway is built. Mr. Calkins prefers that Route 132 maintain the present level of service.

Wood Colony

Supervisor Withrow has said that he favors conservation of farm land, including Wood Colony, but has not introduced any legislation during his term of office to protect agriculture. His economic policies appear to be urban growth inducing.

Scott Calkins wants to strengthen protection of prime farm land. He has strongly opposed Modesto’s proposal to add Wood Colony to its general plan. If the 132 Freeway is built before Wood Colony is permanently protected from urban development, the area could eventually be converted to an industrial park when developers have their way. Stanislaus County’s track record has been that urban developers usually have their way.

132 Freeway Toxic Waste Sites

Supervisor Withrow has had a low profile regarding the monitoring and disposition of toxic waste sites currently located within the future 132 Freeway right of way. A perception of those monitoring the Caltrans decision process is that the Supervisor wants the freeway built so much that he is willing to accept Caltrans’ promises at face value. Whereas project opponents want the toxic waste removed to an appropriate toxic waste dump before the freeway is built, the Supervisor appears willing to allow Caltrans to install a cement cap over the dump.

As far as Mr. Calkins is concerned, Caltrans’ record in monitoring its toxic waste sites has not been satisfactory. While a cement cap is a possible solution, a cap can crack and leak. Given the agency’s historic disregard for the condition of the toxic waste sites in the 132 freeway right of way, a legitimate concern is Caltrans will not maintain the cement cap and the threat of ground water contamination will exist for future generations to deal with. Mr. Calkins wants a permanent fix before a freeway is built.

Caltrans’ History of Questionable Practices

As a member of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee of the Stanislaus Council of Governments, Scott Calkins has mentioned concerns that Caltrans never completely addressed. In a meeting in March 2013 with Nathan Schumacher of the California Department of Toxic Substance Control and Debra “Sam” Haack of Caltrans, Mr. Calkins reported in an email to this writer:

“I asked both Sam and Nathan questions about why the contaminated soil from stockpile #3 had been taken to the Forward Inc-Waste Disposal in Manteca and not the Stanislaus County landfill. Both had trouble answering the question and claimed not to be the experts. Sam finally said that Steven Meeks at the water board had made the final decision about where to take the soil, but both were uncertain why it ended up in Manteca.”

Writer’s Note: Contaminated soil should NOT be disposed of in a public land fill.

Mr. Calkins continued:

“I also asked about Caltrans practices and policies regarding the gate/valve in the storm water retention basin next to stockpile #3 and the regrading of that retention basin during the Kansas ramp project. Sam claimed that the current maintenance supervisor has not opened the valve in four years that he has been there. When asked more questions about the use of the valve it became clear that Caltrans has no policy regarding when it could be opened and does not inform anyone when the events occur, even though this would put contaminated water into the Tuolumne River. When I asked if the permit filed for the Kansas ramp project included regrading the retention basin, again Sam was uncertain. I pointed out that the soil and silt at the bottom of the retention basin should have been tested prior to regrading because it could have held high levels of constituents of concern (metals) if storm water from piles #2 and #3 had been allowed to evaporate or percolate there for decades.”

Mr. Calkins also observed that on Emerald Avenue, west of a mound containing toxic waste, Caltrans practices may have violated the Clean Water Act in regard to the way it managed storm water runoff. During a rain storm this past winter, Mr. Calkins observed water running off of a mound containing toxic waste into a nearby storm drain.

In sum, Mr. Calkins indicates that a County Supervisor needs to be more proactive in protecting the public interest and would do so in the management of the 132 freeway project.

Sales Tax Proposal

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors favors a half cent sales tax increase to pay for road construction. Mr. Calkins characterized the proposal as “unbalanced”:

“Terry Withrow and others are pushing a regressive tax that is 94% roadway. StanCOG’s policy board should be more serious about supporting an efficient and frequent passenger rail service between Modesto and the bay area. The best way to improve  safety and ease congestion on 132 West is to take cars off of it, not put more cars on it.”

Voters Have a Clear Choice

The voters of Stanislaus County District 3 will have two very different candidates to choose from in the upcoming election. Their approaches to economic development and public safety are quite different. Both are honorable men with different ideas about what is best for the community.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Politics Tagged With: Scott Calkins for Supervisor, Stanislaus County Supervisor's Race District 3, Terry Withrow for Supervisor, Withrow vs Calkins District 3

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. brad says

    March 9, 2014 at 5:33 pm

    are both republicans?
    and i hope you cover the race for sheriff

    Reply
  2. Elizabeth says

    March 10, 2014 at 1:25 am

    Go Scott! I hope the voters will review the record of Withrow and vote for Scott Calkins. He will work for what is best for citizens and farms.

    Reply
  3. Bruce Frohman says

    March 30, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    At a neighborhood meeting of the Woodland West Neighborhood Association on March 27th, Supervisor Withrow was asked whether he supported a cement cap on the toxic waste piles or whether he preferred that the toxic waste be moved to a land fill specifically designed for toxic waste. He replied that he favored whichever method would result in a totally safe project. He said that the project would not be built until he is satisfied that Cal Trans mediation is entirely safe. The neighborhood prefers that the toxic waste be removed, but no commitment was made toward either choice by the Supervisor. He indicated that a decision would be made later in year 2014.

    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

Gimme Shelter: Mayor Karen Bass on homelessness and the California housing crisis
Gimme Shelter: Mayor Karen Bass on homelessness and the California housing crisis
Liam Dillon and Ben Oreskes of the L.A. Times interview Mayor Karen Bass about homelessness and housing problems in California.
calmatters.org
Judge Luttig Has a Warning for America
Judge Luttig Has a Warning for America
Our democracy is “under vicious, unsustainable, and unendurable attack” from within…
morningshots.thebulwark.com
Rupert Murdoch has fuelled polarisation of society, Barack Obama says
Rupert Murdoch has fuelled polarisation of society, Barack Obama says
Former US president tells Sydney audience that media coverage has helped exacerbate divisions and that we no longer have a “shared story”
www.theguardian.com
California faces catastrophic flood dangers ? and a need to invest billions in protection
California faces catastrophic flood dangers and a need to invest billions in protection
A new state plan for the Central Valley calls for spending as much as $30 billion over 30 years to prepare for the dangers.
www.latimes.com
Oakland will get millions for the ?inhumane? crisis at one huge homeless encampment. Officials say it?s not enough
Oakland will get millions for the “inhumane” crisis at one huge homeless encampment. Officials say it’s not enough
Gavin Newsom’s administration has awarded Oakland a $4.7 million grant to come up with…
www.sfchronicle.com
Alaska?s Fisheries Are Collapsing. This Congresswoman Is Taking on the Industry She Says Is to Blame.
Alaska’s Fisheries Are Collapsing. This Congresswoman Is Taking on the Industry She Says Is to Blame.
Mary Peltola won her election by campaigning on a platform to save the state’s prized fisheries. A powerful fishing lobby is standing in her way.
www.politico.com
Jimmy Carter's final foe: A parasitic worm that preyed on millions in Africa and Asia
Jimmy Carter’s final foe: A parasitic worm that preyed on millions in Africa and Asia
One of former President Carter’s biggest hopes is wiping out an infectious parasitic disease that’s plagued humans for millennia. How close is he?
www.latimes.com
Climate Extremes Threaten California?s Central Valley Songbirds - Eos
Climate Extremes Threaten California’s Central Valley Songbirds – Eos
A “nestbox highway” in California’s Central Valley is guiding songbirds to safe nesting sites and giving scientists a peek at fledgling success in a changing climate.
eos.org
Alaska Republican touts benefits of children being abused to death
Alaska Republican touts benefits of children being abused to death
Republican David Eastman suggested the death of child abuse victims could be a “cost savings” to wider society.
www.newsweek.com
Editorial: Newsom's drought order amid wet winter threatens iconic California species
Editorial: Newsom’s drought order amid wet winter threatens iconic California species
Gov. Gavin Newsom has effectively ended environmental regulations protecting California rivers and migratory fish by extending drought-year waivers.
www.latimes.com
Two-thirds of McPherson Square homeless remain on street, D.C. says
Two-thirds of McPherson Square homeless remain on street, D.C. says
As of Thursday, just two of the more than 70 residents of McPherson Square had been placed in permanent D.C. housing.
www.washingtonpost.com
More Building Won?t Make Housing Affordable
More Building Won’t Make Housing Affordable
America’s housing crisis has reached unfathomable proportions. But new construction isn’t enough to solve it.
newrepublic.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 © 2023 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