January 2009

1-1-09

 1-1-09 Merced Sun-StarMerced to turn to residents for help with ideas for underpassMany want construction to be aesthetically pleasing as well...SCOTT JASONhttp://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/618234.htmlMerced leaders on Monday will hire a firm to design the G Street underpass and form a citizen committee to keep the $18 million project from derailing.Fresno-based Biggs Cardosa Associates is set to draw the final plans for the long-awaited project that wil

Selfishness, greed, hypocrisy and political corruption destroy the Delta

12-22-08Merced Sun-Star editorial ...How can we judge if California is taking more water from the delta and its watershed than they can handle?Consider the evidence: Smelt are at the brink of extinction. Other species, such as salmon, are in serious peril. Federal courts are using the hammer of the Endangered Species Act to deliver a blunt message about the entire ecosystem.Dry years, when cities and farms suck more from the delta than they do during more rainy times, are especially tough for these species.

1-2-09

 1-2-09Merced Sun-StarSan Joaquin Valley blueprint: Urban sprawl limits meet resistanceSome decision-makers fear too much density in rural areas...RUSSELL CLEMINGS, The Fresno Beehttp://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/619268.htmlA move to encourage tight limits on urban sprawl in the Valley is meeting resistance from many of the region's political leaders.As it heads toward a decision that could shape Valley growth over the next four decades, t

1-4-09

 1-4-09Modesto BeeIf you want to make decent pay, don't work in northern valley...J.N.

1-6-09

 1-6-09Merced Sun-StarToxic leak upsets Beachwood homeownersResidents say they didn't know about water pollution from chromium 6 spill...JONAH OWEN LAMBhttp://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/624081.htmlWhen Debra Fenner and her husband bought their Beachwood-area home in the Summit Meadows development in September, there were some things they didn't know.

The University of California: overbuilt, underfunded, and a reckless investor

1-6-09Modesto BeeLowering UC's standards has several costs...Doug Ose. Ose, of Granite Bay, is a developer who served three terms in Congress. http://www.modbee.com/opinion/community/v-print/story/553747.htmlEditor's note: This article was submitted in response to The Bee's editorial "Changes in UC admissions should improve process" (Jan. 2, Page A-1).Recently the University of California Board of Regents considered a proposal to lower admission standards for incoming freshman.

1-8-09

 1-8-09 Merced Sun-StarMerced County Supervisor Pedrozo to host town hall meetingshttp://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/628026.htmlMerced County Supervisor John Pedrozo will host a series of town hall meetings in his district over the next month, beginning today. Pedrozo's district includes the communities of Celeste, Tuttle, El Nido, Le Grand, Planada and parts of Livingston and South Merced.

1-9-09

 1-9-09Merced Sun-StarCommission to probe Merced County CEO land purchaseTatum already faced a grand jury investigation over 24 acres in Planada he bought in 2005...JONAH OWEN LAMBhttp://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/629988.htmlIt's the land deal Dee Tatum can't seem to shake.In 2005 Tatum, Merced County's CEO, bought a 24-acre piece of land in Planada for $245,000.

Jefferson. Jackson and Lincoln on banks

Thos. Jefferson, c. 1814Although all the nations of Europe have tried and trodden every path of force and folly in a fruitless quest of the same object, yet we still expect to find in juggling tricks and banking dreams, that money can be made out of nothing, and in sufficient quantity to meet the expense of heavy war. ...The toleration of banks of paper discount costs the United States one-half of their war taxes; or, in other words, doubles the expenses of every war...The crisis, then, of the abuses of banking is arrived.

1-10-09

 1-10-09Merced Sun-StarOnce San Joaquin River bill passes, work begins...MICHAEL DOYLE, Sun-Star Washington Bureau and MARK GROSSI, The Fresno Beehttp://www.mercedsunstar.com/268/v-print/story/631771.htmlWASHINGTON -- The turbulent life and times of the San Joaquin River will enter a daunting new stretch soon when the Senate passes a huge public lands bill.Then the hard work will really begin, at last.On Sunday afternoon, 20 years after a lawsuit got the ball rolling,

1-11-09

 1-11-09Modesto BeeHard work to start on San Joaquin River...Michael Doyle, Bee Washington Bureau and Mark Grossi, The Fresno Beehttp://www.modbee.com/local/v-print/story/560068.htmlWASHINGTON -- The turbulent life and times of the San Joaquin River will enter a daunting new stretch soon when the Senate passes a huge public lands bill.Then the hard work will really begin, at last.This afternoon, 20 years after a lawsuit got the ball rolling, the San Joaquin River restoratio

Almond bubble

The county's almond orchards, the only orchard crop in the top 12 commodities (it ranks  third below milk and chickens), presents a fascinating agricultural can of worms. First, it can only be called a "classic" position in the perpetual crisis of  overproduction for export-led growth that has characterized San Joaquin Valley  agribusiness for about the last century.

1-12-09

 
1-12-09
Badlands Journal
Almond Bubble...Badlands Journal editorial board
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/
The county's almond orchards, the only orchard crop in the top 12 commodities (it ranks  third below milk and chickens), presents a fascinating agricultural can of worms. First, it can only be called a "classic" position in the perpetual crisis of  overproduction for export-led growth that has characterized San Joaquin Valley

1-14-09

 
1-14-09
Merced Sun-Star
Taxpayers still on the hook for Riverside Motorsports Park bills
The plot of land at track site for sale for $16.5M...CORINNE REILLY
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/637465.html
Riverside Motorsports Park still hasn't paid Merced County more than $300,000 in overdue planning and legal fees -- a sign that county taxpayers may end up stuck with RMP's bills.

1-15-09

 
1-15-09
Merced Sun-Star
Gottschalks files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Venerable Valley retailer has until March 24 to find survival solution...TIM SHEEHAN, Fresno Bee
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/638247.html
FRESNO -- Fresno-based Gottschalks filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday, vowing to remain open as it searches for a buyer and seeks other ways to survive.

1-16-09

 
1-16-09
Merced Sun-Star
49 years in her home -- and now Merced woman may lose it
Merced county was highest in the state last year with 10 percent of residences in foreclosure...SCOTT JASON
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/641788.html
It's another dubious distinction: Merced County led the state last year in foreclosure filings.

Making nice for the inauguration

I am so grateful to Israel for agreeing to a cease fire during Obama's inauguration. It would have been tacky for our nation's client state in the Middle East to be committing acts of genocide once the weekend parties in Washington had commenced. Who knows, perhaps some bumpkin from the 18th Congressional District of California, sipping Gallo's finest vintages at the suburban Annapolis home of Rep. Dennis Cardoza, Shrimp Slayer-Maryland, might utter a question about it, causing consternation amid celebration.

1-19-09

 
1-19-09
Merced Sun-Star
Our View: Merced County CEO hides behind public information officer
Dee Tatum has transformed himself into the man behind the curtain by cutting off press...Editorial
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/181/v-print/story/645886.html
Getting information directly from Merced County CEO Dee Tatum is impossible lately. He likes to hide behind the county's public information officer.

1-23-09

 
1-23-09
Merced-Sun-Star
Governor appoints Merced County judge
Proietti is a longtime Merced attorney in private practice...SCOTT JASON
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/653375.html
Donald J. Proietti, a private-practice civil attorney, was appointed as a Merced County judge Wednesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

1-25-09

 
1-25-09
Modesto Bee
Visiting editor Dwain Zack: Valley must grow less
Editor's note: Each quarter, two or three community members serve as visiting editors, attending weekly editorial board meetings and learning about community issues and how the Opinions pages are assembled. We invite them to share their views. These opinions were written by our first-quarter visiting editors. They chose their topics.

The Ol' Shrimp Slayer's voodoo home mortgage bill

At first, when we received a press release from Rep. Dennis Cardoza, Shrimp Slayer-Maryland, about reducing mortgage payments and, in general, solving the entire recession/depression, we were impressed and willing to applaud the effort. Later, we read the bill, or, more correctly, we tried without success to read and understand the bill, H.R. 230. Our failure derives no doubt from our residence in Merced, in the 18th congressional district of California, rather than in Annapolis, in the 3rd congressional district of Maryland.

1-27-09

 
1-27-09
Badlands Journal
Merced County and Iceland…Badlands Journal editorial board
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/
Badlands Journal, in its remorseless efforts to understand Merced County, has embarked on a series of comparative economic studies. In fact, in the hope of boosting sagging UC Merced enrollment, Badlands plans to endow a chair in comparative econometric modeling, complete with oodles of math and whirring computers, just as soon as it is solvent. Or is it liquid?

Merced County and Iceland

Badlands Journal, in its remorseless efforts to understand Merced County, has embarked on a series of comparative economic studies. In fact, in the hope of boosting sagging UC Merced enrollment, Badlands plans to endow a chair in comparative econometric modeling, complete with oodles of math and whirring computers, just as soon as it is solvent. Or is it liquid?
Imagine, the government of a nation with only 50,000 more people than Merced County is being held responsible for that nation's economic collapse!

1-28-09

 
1-28-09
Merced Sun-Star
Merced County supervisors OK paying firm to help search for new CEO
It will cost $25,000 to $30,000 to find qualified candidates...CORINNE REILLY
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/660831.html
Merced County will seek the help of a headhunter to find a successor to its outgoing CEO, the Board of Supervisors decided Tuesday.

1-29-09

 
1-29-09
Merced Sun-Star
Parkway project to UC Merced campus gets going next month
The first phase, from Highway 99 to Childs Avenue, should be completed in November...CORINNE REILLY
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/662721.html
Construction on Campus Parkway, the long-awaited expressway that will eventually connect Highway 99 to UC Merced, is slated to begin next month.

Blue is the color of this dog

With Democratic Party majorities in both houses of Congress, Rep. Dennis Cardoza, Blue Dog Bubblebrain-Maryland, is praising Senate Republicans for embracing his bill to bail out realtors and mortgage lenders and banks. As we have asked in the past, who knows who owns whose mortgage these days? It is possible that the Blue Dogs will be left twisting in the dusty winds of history, along with the 18th Congressional District of California, sporting the highest per capita foreclosure rate in the nation.