July 2009

6-29-09
San Francisco Bay Area Indymedia

Salazar Announces Aid to Valley Agribusiness, But Doesn’t Endorse Canal

Before a crowd of over 800 people, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on June 28 announced steps the Obama Administration is taking in response to agribusiness claims of drought impacts on the San Joaquin Valley...Dan Bacher 
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/29/18604617.php

6-30-09
Global Research
California's Empty Wallet: Turning Crisis into Opportunity...Ellen Brown
webofdebt.com 
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=14180

 
7-2-09
Badlands Journal
And once again we approach the topic of leadership...Badlands Journal editorial board
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/2009-07-01/007301
In May, Merced County official unemployment rate fell to 17.3 percent. -- Badlands
Dated
Merced County Economic Development Corporation
The New California      

 
7-4-09
Merced Sun-Star
Calif. bullet train hits criticism on SF Peninsula...STEVE LAWRENCE, Associated Press Writer
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/280/v-print/story/933361.html
MENLO PARK, Calif. Last November, more than 60 percent of voters on the San Francisco Peninsula supported a $9.9 billion bond measure to help pay for a high-speed rail line between San Francisco and the Los Angeles area.

 
7-6-09
Merced Sun-Star
Water officials fear Calif. Aqueduct could sink...TRACIE CONE, Associated Press Writer
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/280/v-print/story/935376.html
FRESNO, Calif. - Fearing the main canal carrying drinking water to millions of Southern Californians is sinking again, water officials are monitoring the effects of incessant agricultural pumping from the aquifer that runs under the aqueduct.

In an aggressive new tack, the National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday began running a 60-second radio ad attacking Reps. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, and Jim Costa, D-Fresno. The ad running throughout the week links the two Democrats to systemic irrigation-water shortages.
"Cardoza and Costa can't persuade Democrat leaders to change radical environmental laws," the ad intones. "So while the congressmen fail ... the Valley goes dry." -- Fresno Bee, July 2, 2009

 
7-8-09
Badlands Journal
Costoza in flames...Badlands Journal editorial board
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/2009-07-07/007309
In an aggressive new tack, the National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday began running a 60-second radio ad attacking Reps. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, and Jim Costa, D-Fresno. The ad running throughout the week links the two Democrats to systemic irrigation-water shortages.

 
7-9-09
Badlands Journal
A state bank for California?...Badlands Journal editorial board
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/
Since 1919 North Dakota has had a state bank, one the state government owns. North Dakota and neighboring Montana are the only two states in the nation this year that don't have budget deficits.

 
7-11-09
Merced Sun-Star
University chief proposes furloughs to cut costs...TERENCE CHEA, Associated Press Writer. Italic...Merced Sun-Star
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/109/v-print/story/944543.html
OAKLAND, Calif. Tens of thousands of University of California employees would be forced to take furloughs and lose pay under a plan proposed Friday to offset deep funding cuts to the 10-campus system.

Every culture has its sacred texts. Chinese, the Sumerians, Indians, Persians, Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Arabs -- and on and on. You name the culture and we'll name the sacred text -- from the I Ching to the Koran and beyond. It is the world's greatest literature,
the true treasury of the deepest human values and highest human visions.
 

 
7-14-09
Merced Sun-Star
Letter: Thanks, Cardoza...JOAQUIN CONTENTE, president California Farmers Union, Hanford
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/180/v-print/story/949400.html
Editor: America's family farmers and ranchers have a unique role to play in combating global climate change.

The situation is desperate. By formally requesting the Obama administration to convene the God Squad, the governor would be following through on his promise to fight on behalf of California farmers, farmworkers, businesses and all water consumers.…”Arnold should call in the God Squad,” By Brandon M. Middleton and Damien M. Schiff, Vacaville Reporter-7/12/09

 
7-17-09
Merced Sun-Star
UC regents committee approves plan that may mean furloughs for employees
The plan is equal to a 4 to 10 percent salary reduction...DANIELLE GAINES
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/953241.html

 
7-18-09
Badlands Journal
Two ideas...Badlands Journal editorial board
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/2009-07-17/007324
In the state Capitol, the conventional wisdom, what is politically possible, has bankrupted the state and put its most vital water resource, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, in so much peril that the only solution this wisdom can imagine is a peripheral canal.

You have to hand it to Rep. Devin Nunes, Tragic Hero-Visalia, he’s a performer. In fact, you have to stand in line to hand it to him, behind national PACs, agribusiness and oil and gas to hand it to him. He’s raised nearly a million dollars for his campaign next year and if some strong Democrat contender lurks in Nunes’ district, that contender lurks below the surface so far.
 

 
7-21-09
Merced Sun-Star
Comment cards a source of contention at City Council
New system for public comment not winning everyone over...SCOTT JASON
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/961042.html
A handful of Merced residents on Monday asked the City Council to reconsider its new system for public comment, which asks that residents fill out a card before meetings.

I agree with the general point of today's Sun-Star editorial: the Delta levees certainly need to be fixed as quickly as possible.
 

7-22-09
Merced Sun-Star
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/177/story/963037.html
Letter: Patience is needed
Editor: Gary Frago made a mistake. He has admitted it and has apologized for it. Like others, I was surprised and disappointed. From serious eye-opening experiences like this, humble people can learn and grow from them.

 
7-25-09
Merced Sun-Star
Groups plan to protest Monday's Atwater City Council meeting...JONAH OWEN LAMB
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/969064.html
ATWATER -- Several activist groups calling for the resignation of repentant Atwater City Councilman Gary Frago -- who sent racist e-mails to city and county officials -- plan to picket Monday's City Council meeting in condemnation of his actions.

 
7-27-09
Fresno Bee
San Joaquin River plan gets hearings this week...Mark Grossi
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/v-print/story/1560384.html
The first major fix in the long-awaited San Joaquin River revival will come before the public this week at meetings about rerouting the river around Mendota Pool -- a barrier to migrating salmon.

 
7-29-09
Merced Sun-Star
Merced sets meetings to discuss Wal-Mart project...SCOTT JASON
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/v-print/story/974835.html
The battle over the proposed Wal-Mart distribution center will begin Aug. 19.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used his line-item veto power Tuesday to kill a legislative compromise that would have cut the state's Williamson Act subvention to counties by 20 percent. The Hun axed it all, leaving a token $1,000 in the fund.
Reports are coming in from rural counties across the state:

 
7-30-09
Badlands Journal
Triumph of dogma over thought...Badlands Journal editorial board...7-29-09
http://www.badlandsjournal.com/2009-07-29/007343
News From…
Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California
Congressman Cardoza hails long-awaited House passage of PAYGO budget requirement 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE