Columbus
The Valley Citizen
Gray Duarte Rematch for 24
Former California Assemblyman Adam Gray announced Wednesday, August 9, that he will run again for Congress against Hughson nurseryman and farmer John Duarte. In 2022, Gray lost to Duarte by fewer than 600 votes. It was the second closest race in the nation. 2022 was a non-presidential election year. Such...
The Perverse Arithmetic of Water Sales
Ever since Modesto Irrigation District (MID) proposed selling water to San Francisco more than ten years ago, the topic of sales has been fraught with political peril. The prospect of selling local water to San Francisco brought about changes on the MID Board of Directors and served as a warning notice that peddling MID water to outsiders was political suicide.
Stanislaus Supervisors to Study Sleeping Plan for Homeless
“Christy Chavez would be alive today if we had safe sleeping for homeless people,” said Lynelle Solomon last Monday, July 31. “All she was looking for was a place to lay her head.”. Solomon was referring to the death of 27-year- old Christine Chavez on July 8 in...
Homelessness and Work: A Few Hard Facts
Despite voluminous facts to the contrary, the conventional wisdom still holds that homelessness is a choice. The popular view is that people choose homelessness to avoid the burdens of rent, car payments and honest work in favor of drugs, sloth and moral turpitude. No one has suggested that work itself might be part of the problem, but a growing list of facts about wages and homelessness suggest work may be a major factor in California’s intractable homeless problems.
Modesto Irrigation District Sales Proposal Roils the Waters
For years, Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) water sales seldom caused more than a flicker of public interest. Let nearby Modesto Irrigation District (MID) even think about a sale, however, and the hue and cry are heard for miles around. That was the case in 2011, when MID proposed selling water to the City of San Francisco. Angry protests followed and the public uproar ended with a resounding defeat for those who would sell “our water” to San Francisco.
Gruesome Death of Unhoused Woman may have Saved a Life
Even though she was at a public meeting, Lynelle Solomon couldn’t hold back tears. Solomon was listening to public comments at a meeting of the Modesto City Council on July 11 when she heard a homeless advocate describe a grisly death by mowing machine at a park near Modesto’s Airport District, where Solomon has done homeless outreach for almost four years. The deceased woman’s name was Christy Chavez.
Family Members Demand Answers in Gruesome Death of Unhoused Woman
“There was no yellow tape, there was no yellow tape,” said a family member of a homeless woman who was reported to have died Saturday, July 8 at Beard Brook Park in Modesto. The speaker was the brother-in-law of Christy Chavez. He was with family members visiting the site...
Homeless Crisis Deepens with Summer Heat
As I waited for a downtown Modesto bus one day in late April I saw a woman pushing a shopping cart jammed with her belongings. The woman was still young and athletic-looking, but weather-worn from living on the streets. Nonetheless, she carried herself with a weary gracefulness as she wheeled her cart up off the intersection of Coffee and Floyd.
Illegal Fireworks are Out of Control says Former Councilmember
In an ordinary year, the Modesto Police Department issues between 10 and 20 citations for fireworks violations. This year, 45 citations were issued on the night of July 4 alone. Firefighters and police responded to 274 calls in the twenty-four hour period between 7am July 4 and 7am July 5, including 65 fires. Below, former Modesto City Councilmember Bruce Frohman argues that we need stricter regulations or an outright ban due to increasingly dangerous and disturbing fireworks violations. ed.
“We need to do more,” said Supervisor Grewal to Homeless Advocates
Wednesday, June 28, Stanislaus County Supervisor Mani Grewal said he is supportive of safe sleeping sites for homeless people during a meeting with the Modesto Citizens Action Group (MoCag), a rapidly growing coalition of local citizens promoting Tier One housing and shelter options for people with nowhere to go. The meeting took place at Stanislaus County Supervisors’ offices at 1010 10th Street in Modesto.
Josh Harder’s Amendment to Stop the Delta Tunnel
Last week, during an Appropriations Committee write up, California Congressman Josh Harder proposed an amendment to stop the Delta Tunnel, a supposedly preferable alternative to the “Twin Tunnels,” a project that morphed out of Jerry Brown’s 1980s plan for the “Peripheral Canal.” Both the Peripheral Canal and Twin Tunnels proposals perished under heavy resistance from farmers, environmentalist, businesses and other Valley residents who all agreed the projects were nothing more than taxpayer-subsidized giveaways for the enrichment of southern San Joaquin Valley Agri-Giants and perpetually thirsty residents of Los Angeles and San Diego.
Homeless Advocates Lobby for Safe Ground
“They walk on the sidewalk next to us, not behind us or under us. They are our community.” — Lynelle Loeb Solomon. They meet every two weeks on a leafy street dappled in sunlight, at the offices of the Modesto Peace/Life Center. Some of them are retired, although you would never guess that by looking at their current resumes. Others are younger, still in the midst of busy, demanding careers. But every member of the Modesto Citizens Action Group (or MoCag) understands time is of the essence – that it’s not an exaggeration to say that a humanitarian crisis is happening now in Modesto’s parks and alleyways, by our rivers, and along the long, hard sidewalks of many of our streets and strip centers.
“You have an ally,” says Condit to Homeless Advocates
On June 21, Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit assured members of the Modesto Citizens Action Group (MoCag) that he was fully supportive of proposals for safe sleeping sites for the most vulnerable members of Modesto’s and Stanislaus County’s homeless population. MoCag is a citizens’ action group dedicated to finding immediate shelter and safe ground for homeless people in Modesto and Stanislaus County.
Derek Castle: Is Citizenship the Answer for Homelessness?
When Derek Castle and his wife moved across the street from Modesto’s Graceada Park four years ago, the prime attraction was their two granddaughters. Their son and his family lived nearby. Along with the Gallo Theatre for the Arts, Graceada Park has long been considered one of Modesto’s crown jewels.
Valley Blackbirds: #29 in “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds” (49, 50, & 51 + 1)
For nature lovers, Jim Gain’s Reflections of the Natural World is like a field trip into exotic regions where birds are revealed in all their glorious splendor. We’re proud to publish his series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” See more of Jim’s fine work here. ed.
Homeless: The Drug Fallacy Rises (Again)
The state of Hawaii ranks sixth in the nation in homelessness per capita and dead last in drug use and addiction per capita. Ordinarily, such data would be of minor interest. Within the context of a recent widely published OP/ED by Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig and several other purported authorities, however, it’s highly pertinent. Hawaii’s statistics are part of a fact pattern that presents conclusive rebuttals to Reisig’s group’s main claim that, “We can end our [California’s] homeless crisis in one year” by charging, “hard drug possession as a new class of crime called a ‘treatment mandated felony.’”
Naturalized Immigrants: #28 in Learn 100 Common Valley Birds by Jim Gain
Jim Gain’s Reflections of the Natural World, isn’t just educational, it also offers spectacular photography and natural history, with the focus on birds. We’re proud to publish his series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” Visit Reflections of the Natural World for more of Jim’s insightful essays and superb photos. ed.
Homeless: Angels on the Mean Streets
Two or three times a week — sometimes more often — Lynelle Solomon jumps into her 2008 Ford Expedition and leaves the serenity and comfort of her home in one of Modesto’s more secure neighborhoods. Her destination is just minutes away — the badlands of Modesto’s Airport District, where the governing authorities are just as likely to be youthful gangsters as uniformed cops.
Double Feature: Jim Gain’s “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds #26 and 27
We’re proud to publish Jim Gain’s series, “Learn 100 Common Valley Birds.” An educator, naturalist and superb photographer, there is more of Jim’s superb work at Reflections of the Natural World. It’s always worth a visit to see Jim’s most recent posts. Here, we have a double feature: Numbers 26 and 27 with species 42 through 46 of 100 total common Valley birds. ed.
Modesto City Manager Errs on Homelessness
Modesto City Manager Joe Lopez might have second thoughts after citing Chico as an example of cities that have tried safe sleeping sites for homeless people and then found they “didn’t work.” Lopez made the remark in a May 24 meeting with members of the Modesto Citizens Action Group (MoCag). He may not have realized that MoCag members are well versed in matters of homelessness throughout California.
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