February 2009

 
2-2-09
Merced Sun-Star
Central Valley drought may shift California water politics
Westside farmers could make claims to San Joaquin River...MARK GROSSI, The Fresno Bee
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/668925.html

 
2-4-09
Merced Sun-Star
Survey paints bleak picture of Sierra snowpack...CAROL REITER
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/672507.html
On Tuesday morning, Frank Gehrke was standing at 8,500 feet elevation, looking down on the Tahoe Drainage area, near Lake Lois in the northern Sierra Nevada.

WILLIAMSON ACT
 
GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 51200-51207

51200.  This chapter shall be known as the California Land
Conservation Act of 1965 or as the Williamson Act.

 
CALIFORNIA CODES
GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 6250-6270

 
6250. In enacting this chapter, the Legislature, mindful of the
right of individuals to privacy, finds and declares that access to
information concerning the conduct of the people's business is a
fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state.

I attended a debate on water policy in the San Joaquin Valley last night (more in a later posting). The latest agricultural idea from the irrigated salt flats of the west side of the Valley is to declare the area a National Security Zone, presumably policed by Homeland Security forces. This, the growers seem to believe, would guarantee continuing supplies of water conveyed through the Delta pumps. This pumping, if not the only cause, has been the major cause of catastrophic damage to several species of fish in the Delta and courts have ruled that the pumping must be cut back by law.

 
2-6-09
Merced Sun-Star
Saying it's a bargain, Merced renews lobby deal
Lobbying firm will represent city's interests in Sacramento and Washington...SCOTT JASON
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/676553.html
It may be the best return on investment, or simply evidence of how complicated government, even at the state level, has become.

A Sacramento law firm, Somach, Simmons & Dunn (SSD), on Feb. 4 filed a complaint in Sacramento County Superior Court against Merced County and the Merced County Board of Supervisors concerning unpaid bills arising from the Riverside Motorsports Park (RMP) case.
The complaint alleges that Merced County staff, Assistant Planning Director William Nicholson, committed acts of fraud and intentional misrepresentation, fraud and negligent misrepresentation, violation of state Civil Procedures code for levies and unjust enrichment.

Westamerica Bank, San Rafael, California, Acquires All the Deposits of County Bank, Merced, California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2009  Media Contact:
David Barr (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
E-mail: dbarr@fdic.gov 

 
2-9-09
Badlands Journal
County Bank closed...Badlands Journal editorial board
Westamerica Bank, San Rafael, California, Acquires All the Deposits of County Bank, Merced, California
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/2009-02-08/007086
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2009  Media Contact:
David Barr (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
E-mail: dbarr@fdic.gov 

 
2-10-09
Merced Sun-Star
Budget crisis may quiet Merced County roadway projects
Billion-dollar shortfall could halt construction across state, county...SCOTT JASON
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/682311.html
Merced County's highway projects delicately hang in the balance as state legislators negotiate a deal to solve the budget fiasco.

 
2-12-09
Modesto Bee
Median home prices fell nationwide in 4Q...ALAN ZIBEL, AP Real Estate Writer
http://www.modbee.com/business/v-print/story/597297.html
WASHINGTON -- Home prices fell in nearly nine out of every 10 U.S. cities in the fourth quarter of last year as low-cost foreclosures flooded the market and the housing market's decline spread nationwide.

 
2-13-09
Badlands Journal
Central Valley Safe Environment Network reply to Rominger/Dimock op-ed in SF Chronicle, Feb. 11...Central Valley Safe Environment Network Board of Directors
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/2009-02-12/007093

 
2-15-09
Fresno Bee
Valley land values in free fall
Developers slowly becoming an endangered species...Sanford Nax
http://www.fresnobee.com/business/v-print/story/1200207.html
Bryan Garner thought he had the perfect plan: building six houses on 2 acres he bought in a fast-growing part of Fresno.

2-16-09
CounterPunch.com
Is Delta Pumping Driving Salmon and Orca Decline?
By DAN BACHER
http://www.counterpunch.com/bacher02162009.html
Increases in freshwater exports out of the California Delta, the operation of Shasta Dam and other inland habitat problems have not only led to the collapse of Central Valley salmon populations, but also threaten the southern resident killer whale population.

2-16-09
The Guardian
Saving social security--Here's a cheap and effective form of economic stimulus – tell America's baby boomers that their welfare benefits are safe...Dean Baker
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/feb/16/obama-social-security-economy

 
2-19-09
Modesto Bee
We have prior claim on New Melones...Editorial
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/v-print/story/604512.html

 
2-21-09
Merced Sun-Star
Federal agency cuts off farms' water supply
UC Davis study predicts Valley could lose $2 billion, 75,000 jobs...ROBERT RODRIGUEZ, The Fresno Bee
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/700774.html
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation made it official Friday: Westside Valley farmers will receive no federal water this season.

 
2-22-09
Badlands Journal
Mors immortalis -- Lucretius...Bill Hatch
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/2009-02-21/007105
Death is immortal; real estate values do not rise forever.
2-21-09
Reuters/CommonDreams.org
Soros Sees No Bottom for World Financial "Collapse"...Pedro Nicolaci da Costa and Juan Lagorio

 
2-24-09
Badlands Journal
Reply to McEwan...Badlands Journal Editorial Board
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/2009-02-23/007108
We are going to preface this detailed reply to Bill McEwen’s Fresno Bee Sunday column, “Valley on verge of a catastrophe,” with three remarks:
 

 
2-25-09
Merced Sun-Star
Lender forecloses on Riverside Motorsports Park's track land
1,200 acres adjacent to Castle now in default...CORINNE REILLY
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/706372.html
The property where Riverside Motorsports Park says it plans to build a massive racetrack complex has fallen into foreclosure.

 
2-27-09
Merced Sun-Star
Former Gustine city councilman the focus of state probe
Fair Political Practices looking into possible conflict of interest...JONAH OWEN LAMB
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/710554.html
A state agency charged with investigating political corruption is examining whether Mark Melville, a former Gustine city councilman, took bribes from a developer while he was in office.