Reza Assemi, along with Granville and Pyramid Homes, starts construction Monday on the $20 million three-story, 80-unit Fulton Plaza apartment/office project that will encompass 2.5 acres bordered by Fulton, Divisadero, Sacramento and Broadway streets.
It will feature 16,000 square feet of commercial space and a combination of flats, townhomes and lofts in seven buildings arrayed around a central courtyard. Assemi said this is the most distinctly urban of his downtown projects, with much glass, steel and art work - an Assemi staple.
The apartments are called Iron Bird Lofts, and here's why: Architect Warren Thompson included iron bird sculptures designed by local artist Brandon Greer on portions of the exterior.
He also esigned a couple platforms for gargoyle statues on each side of the main entrance and iron balconies that resemble catwalks. And, as usual, the apartment complex features murals.
An added benefit: the project eliminates Fulton Lane, that funky connector road that ends up at a five-pronged intersection.
Career coach offers strategies to avoid the pink slip
the officeInterested in climbing the corporate ladder without falling off? How about some simple insight into the workplace culture?
There are ways to avoid the banality and drama of "The Office."
Author and career coach John M. McKee says: "Office politics will occur anytime there are three or more people in a conversation, which is a very common occurrence in the workplace.
"It's imperative to use these opportunities to get yourself, your point of view, and your ideas into play."
Here he offers seven methods sure to help anyone succeed and avoid the pitfalls of office politics.
1. Over-Communicate. Keep others apprised of what you are planning or currently working on. Organizations hate to be surprised and often, when they are, it creates a blueprint for failure - personal or for the project, itself. In many companies this can mean taking meetings with people you may not like or respect, but chalk that up to life in the fast lane. If you think withholding information will allow you to surreptitiously gain professional yardage, think twice. Your concealment can be easily sabotaged based on the plight for secrecy, alone.
2. Mentors. These individuals are still the best way to get an objective handle on what's really going on in an organization as they can better see the forest through the trees. "Company insider" mentors can give you a fast understanding of the company's culture. But, a mentor need not be within the organization, as outside mentors can provide a new, fresh and completely unbiased perspective on both your personal style - what it is and what it "should" be - and how your company's politics are working in general. A mentor is also a confidant with whom you can not only strategize your career, but also vent about a nasty boss and/or co-worker and otherwise get frustrations off your chest without feeding into the office political game. And, it doesn't matter if your mentor is not the same gender, as a different perspective than your own can actually be better for you in the long run.
3. Open-ended Questions. Ask a lot of questions to different people in different sides of the company. And then shut up. When you hear the perspectives of people in departments or operations other than yours, it helps you to see the world as they see it and understand what they deem important. It may be different than what the boss has told you. Ask peers, "old timers" at all levels, and superiors. Take notes. Don't interrupt, you don't need to show how smart or experienced you are - just learn.
4. Review Constantly. Seek constant feedback from others. Talk about what just took place in that meeting you just attended, what the last message from the corporate office 'really' said, how you did in a recent presentation, what is driving decisions and directives. This could mean after-hours socializing, but the effort can pay off greatly. Many great managers fail because they believe that what's right is what is going to succeed, which all too often is not the case.
5. Get 'Buy In.' It's important to ensure that everyone who may be influenced by your programs or initiatives is aware of what's going to happen and feels like they've been involved - or, at least, were able to weigh in with their opinions or recommendations. Ideally they'll be supportive of what you are doing, but at the very least it may reduce friction that could derail your ultimate, longer-term success. Best case scenario is that you learn something that will ensure the success of the activity and your upward mobility, but even in the worst case where others won't support you, you'll have learned who's for or against you and/or the program. Knowledge is power.
6. Give - and Take - Due Credit. OK, it's true: guys are credit hogs, which gets old and can come back to bite them over time. Yesterday's stars often trip and fall, and are then surprised that there's no one around to help them get back on their feet. On the other hand, gals can go too far the other way - giving the rest of the team so much credit that they don't get the respect from upper management they deserve for their ideas, work and contributions. These women end up watching others, who are less deserving, get promoted past them. Credit those on your team who deserve it, but don't miss an opportunity to take credit for your work as well.
7. Style: It still Counts. How you present yourself to others - your external façade - can make a big difference in how you are perceived. While this is seemingly common sense advice, all too often we mistakenly think our presentation - our outward appearance, our use of PowerPoint, our buzzwords and jargon - will be universally accepted. It might, but sometimes those in other departments or companies have preconceived opinions about you or your 'kind', however stereotypical or politically incorrect. Also, in every situation make an effort in advance get to know the 'audience' you are dealing with, and present yourself in l a light that will better ensure acceptance and, accordingly, a better the chance of success.
The Dow dropped 205 points, oil remains north of $120 a barrel despite slipping a few bucks and filings for unemployment benefits hit a five-year high.
But there are measures businesses can take to ease the pain.
Brian Carlson, president and CEO of Beverly Hills-based Excel National Bank, offered this in a statement: "Historically, those taking advantage of market conditions during challenging times eventually prosper." Excel has a Fresno branch.
What to do?
Among Carlson's most common recommendations:
RENEGOIATE OFFICE LEASE - Landlords will oftentimes renegotiate a lease in order to keep you as a tenant even though you may be locked into a long-term agreement. It's not uncommon for them to lower the rent rather than risk losing a reliable tenant and source of revenue. If they won't budge on the rent, perhaps they will consider other perks such as added parking, a break on utilities, etc.
CONSIDER PURCHASING COMMERCIAL SPACE - Owning your own office may prove more financially advantageous than leasing it. With real estate prices plunging, there are deals to be had in the commercial market. Not only may you benefit in the long run as this asset appreciates, but there are tax benefits associated with such a purchase. Also, if the space is large enough, you may even consider having tenants so you can generate added revenue.
PURCHASE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT - Instead of leasing major equipment, consider purchasing it. Whether it's a commercial printer, manufacturing tool, forklift or state-of-the-art production equipment, reexamine your lease and see if purchasing might prove more prudent. Also, the market is growing for previously owned equipment so explore that cost-savings alternative.
REFINANCE DEBT - If you've made a significant purchase in recent years and find that the monthly payments are becoming increasingly more difficult to handle, explore other financing options that will lengthen the term of the loan thus lowering those payments.
REEVALUATE COMPANY'S BENEFITS PROGRAM - When was the last time you examined your company's health benefits package? How about the 401K or pension program? This may be the time to sit down with your accountant, insurance agent, etc. to explore cost-savings measures.
CONSTRUCTION TIME? - Many of those in the building industry (e.g., architects, contractors, etc.) are hurting right now, so this is an ideal time to get a long-awaited construction project off the ground. Loans, particularly SBA loans, are available to push through such projects.
PARTNER OR MERGE WITH ANOTHER BUSINESS - Now may be the time to join forces with a competitor or even purchase another company that is similar to yours. If you're starting from scratch, begin scouring publications read by your industry and/or attend trade shows to explore opportunities and develop companies to target. If a merger makes sense, make sure that you are "on the same page" as far as future plans and methods of doing business are concerned. When considering purchasing another company, do your due diligence and know what you're getting into.
LOOK FOR BARGAINS - Scan your trade publications or the online services that pertain to your industry to determine if any of your competitors are going out of business. If so, you may be able to help them liquidate while helping your company acquire some much-needed equipment. Items like color copiers, manufacturing equipment, etc. are increasingly being sold for pennies on the dollar.
Thanks for checking in on my blog, which has a new format.
You'll find something here most weekday mornings by 10 a.m.
Post comments and questions below.
Item: John Welty's wife is a finalist to become the dean of education at Cal Poly, Pomona. Could this be a signal that Welty will step down as Fresno State president and take a high-ranking job with the California State University system in Long Beach?
Analysis: It's too early to determine what's going on behind the scenes. It could be that Sharon Brown-Welty, a professor and administrator at Fresno State, is simply interested in advancing her career -- and the couple is willing to maintain dual households until John Welty retires after the university's centennial in 2011.
But one scenario has John Welty leaving Fresno State before 2011 and accepting a system position in Long Beach. If this is what Chancellor Charles B. Reed has in mind, Cal Poly, Pomona President Michael Ortiz could sweeten the offer by hiring Sharon Brown-Welty, who is 6 years younger than her husband.
Another thing to consider: Ortiz, a former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fresno State, might have designs on succeeding John Welty. If Ortiz does have such ambitions, his hiring of Brown-Welty could be the kind of favor to Reed and John Welty that gives him a leg up on the competition for the Fresno State presidency.
On the net: John McCain's latest campaign commercial paints Barack Obama as a mere celebrity ala Britney Spears and suggests that Obama is unqualified to lead the United States through tough times. You can see the ad here. ABC's analysis of McCain's negative ads is available here.
Quote of the Day: "Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten."
-- B. F. Skinner (1904-90), celebrated American psychologist
Tucked in the southeast corner of the San Joaquin Valley, Arvin has the most ozone violations in the region so far this year -- exceeding the state threshold 67 times and the federal 33 times.
It has violated at least one of the standards every day this month, except July 3 and 4. That's pretty typical for this town of 16,000.
It's a hot spot for poor air quality because prevailing breezes take pollution from bigger cities into the area. To fix Arvin, air regulators must clean up the rest of the Valley.
Here's what has happened over the last several years:
Pollution rules -- many of them involving engine and fuel standards -- have focused on metropolitan-area ozone, eliminating a lot of fast-reacting gases that form ozone. The slower-reacting gases are drifting downwind and becoming ozone out in the farm country of Kern County.
More than half the Central Valley residents polled in an ongoing survey say air pollution is a big problem. Last year, the study showed 42% residents saw it as a big problem.
The poll looks at public opinion on a lot of other air quality and environmental issues.
It shows people in the combined San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys are still tuned into air quality.
One other interesting issue in the poll was air regulation. Almost 80% of Californians favor stricter restrictions on commercial and industrial activities or diesel-fueled vehicles, such as trucks or buses.
Thanks for checking in on my blog, which debuts a new format today.
You'll find something here most every weekday by 10 a.m.
Post comments and questions below.
Item: Fresno Mayor Alan Autry's latest attempt to create the position of independent police auditor goes down in flames when the City Council fails to muster a quorum for Wednesday's special meeting.
Analysis: Autry's last-ditch effort to let voters decide up or down on the independent police auditor had no chance of succeeding. Autry is a lame-duck mayor with little or no leverage over council members, some of whom are gleefully paying him back for past slights.
Autry's failure to get the independent police auditor, despite nearly eight years of trying, speaks to his inability to marshal the power of the strong-mayor form of government. You'd think that somewhere along the line, he would've traded enough favors to sway council members and win the showdown with the Fresno Police Officers Association, which opposes additional oversight of the department.
Autry said that the council's failure to muster a quorum to vote on putting the issue on the November ballot was "unconscionable" and that Wednesday was "one of the saddest days in the history of our city."
We've come to expect such hyperbole from the mayor, who during his second term has shown little interest in building the teamwork at City Hall needed to get things done.
In the media spotlight: Oliver Stone's latest movie is "W" -- a controversial look at the life of President George W. Bush.
You can see the movie trailer here and read excerpts from an early draft of the script here.
Quote of the Day: "Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote." -- George Jean Nathan (1882-1958), founder and editor of "The American Spectator."
Normally I leave blogging about pop tartlet Britney Spears to my colleagues in the features department over at the Beehive. (See here and here and everywhere else on that blog.)
We business reporters are stuck with more serious fare, but this story in the Los Angeles Times piqued my interest. Britney is responsible for a mini recession of sorts.
Apparently she's been behaving herself lately -- no head shaving, no misplaced panties, no nights on the town -- and that's had an effect on the paparazzi industry. Fewer photos are selling for big bucks and fewer stalkers photographers are needed to camp out at the troubled starlet's home.
Portfolio magazine took it a step further. They estimate that the "Britney Industrial Complex" as they call it -- all the record companies, perfume companies carrying a Britney line and media that benefit from her -- pumps at least $110 million into the economy each year.
After 17 months under construction, the new Picayune Tower -- an 11-story, 230-room hotel at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino -- will open for business this Friday.
The new tower will more than double the casino's current intentory of 192 rooms, and includes a pool, restaurant, and 13,000-square-foot spa, according to a press release sent out Wednesday.
Along with a gala unveiling event planned Friday for the media and elected officials, the Picayune Rancheria of the Chikchansi Indians, which owns the casino, has also unveiled a $100 million price tag for the project.
Remember my mention of Country Crock shrinking their spreads, but not the price?
Well, our food writer, Joan Obra, has delved deeper into this practice. She points out in today's story that everything from peanut butter to ice cream to orange juice have smaller packages now as companies deal with rising expenses.
A jar of 15-ounce Skippy Natural peanut butter, for example, sells for $2.29. But Skippy Natural is slightly smaller than other types of Skippy peanut butter, which are in 16.3 ounce jars for the same price. My point? Less bang for your buck.
The consumer-crusading Web site Consumerist.com has plenty of examples of what it calls the "grocery shrink ray," along with Mouseprint.org. A search on each site will reveal multiple examples.
The practice is frustrating for shoppers, who are already paying more for gas, groceries and power bills. If you've noticed any of these changes, drop us a line and share your thoughts.
Ann Veneman's putative vice presidential candidacy went away quickly.
Two anonymous Democratic lawmakers had told the Politico newspaper that the Modesto native and former agriculture secretary was being mentioned as a potential running mate for Democrat Barack Obama.
But today, Veneman's spokesman said she was paying attention only to her work as executive director of the United Nations Children Fund, better known as UNICEF. By itself, that's not precisely a denial. In context, though, the word out of Veneman's office appears to squelch the gossip.
"She has not been contacted by the [Obama] campaign and is solely focused on her current travels and the important mission of UNICEF," the agency's media chief, Christopher de Bono, said by e-mail.
Medical researchers with the UCSF Fresno Medical Education Program have collaborated with Fresno legal scholars on an article on childhood sexual abuse that appears in The American Journal of Forensic Psychiatry.
The article's primary author, Howard Terrell, a forensic psychiatrist, said the article is "landmark."
"What makes this paper unique is that it is the first peer-reviewed article in a scientific journal on how to differentiate genuine from false allegations of child molestation," said Terrell, who has taught psychiatry and law for the UCSF-Fresno Medical Education Program over the past 20 years.
"Our primary goal was to produce a new assessment instrument for professionals to try and ferret out the 95% of cases that have merit and should be prosecuted from the 5% that are fabricated."
Terrell, in a statement, said the article reviews literature on the subject and combines it with the professional observations of medical and legal experts who "combined have had over two centuries of experience in dealing with child molestation cases."
The article is published in The American Journal of Forensic Psychiatry Volume 29, Issue 3, 2008.
The authors include primary research assistant Brian Terrell, Anthony Capozzi, Esq. Hon. Victor Papadakis, Ret., Hon. H.N. Papadakis, Ret., Kathy Sullivan, Ph.D., Mark Hodges, A.A. Howsepian, M.D., Ph.D., Timothy Donovan, Esq., Karen Kraus, M.D. and David Fox, M.D. The team included two forensic psychiatrists, two child psychiatrists, one child psychologist, two retired Fresno Superior Court judges, one criminal prosecutor, one criminal defense attorney and one retired peace officer.
This paper will be presented at the UCSF - Fresno Grand Rounds in September 2008.
But the agencies offered a serious message to go along with all of the fun.
Alexandra Picavet, a ranger at Sequoia National Park, had a display showing kids and their parents the damage illegal marijuana gardens cause inside the park and on other public lands. Photos showed piles of trash, bags of chemical fertilizers and acres of torn-up landscape from the clandestine operations that desecrate the natural environment.
Sgt. Chris Douglass, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department, and other deputies showed off equipment they use in their work and let children try on some of the body armor deputies wear to protect themselves dealing with problem inmates in the county jail.
Colin Sutherland, 10, of Tulare was jazzed as he started putting on the heavy gear -- a stab-resistant vest, gloves and gauntlets, knee pads, a helmet with face mask and a hand-held Plexiglas shield -- but within minutes the extra 30 or so pounds was taking its toll on the boy.
"I wanted to see how it feels," he said, "but it's hot and it's heavy."
Colin's mom, Claire Sutherland, said they were at the park for their church's vacation Bible school and didn't know about the fair ahead of time. "But we saw the Blackhawk helicopter and we couldn't just drive away."
Oh, yeah, the Army's Blackhawk helicopter -- used by narcotics agents to get to remote marijuana gardens and other scenes -- was the big hit of the morning as kids climbed in for a look around. When it took off shortly after noon, it caused a sensation -- and showered straw and dust -- among the bystanders.
Fresno County Supervisor Bob Waterston leaves office in five months. Could his next job be working for Table Mountain Rancheria -- one of his long-time political supporters?
Waterston said it's just a rumor that he is set to become Table Mountain's new director of safety, overseeing the police department and helping the tribe create its own fire department.
Table Mountain's chief legal counsel Dan Casas said he's heard the same rumor, but it's not true.
"We don't intend to offer Bob Waterston any new position," Casas said. "It's a rumor, that's all it is."
Casas speculated that the rumor may have been sparked by retired Fresno County sheriff's detective John Souza, who up until last week served as the rancheria's police chief. Casas said Souza seemed bitter about being asked to step down.
Although Souza said he wasn't happy about being dismissed, he denies starting the rumor. But he did recall Casas bringing Waterston over to his table at a restaurant last month and saying Waterston was going to be his boss as the new director of safety.
"I can't sit here and say that I was involved in any negotiations or was privy to any information between Dan and Bob, but I know that's what he said," Souza said.
Casas said he doesn't recall making that comment. At best, Casas said, it would have been a joke. Waterston also said that he didn't remember Casas saying that.
Waterston has had a close relationship with the tribe for years. They've contributed thousands of dollars to his political campaigns. And in 2004, Waterston opposed a competing tribe's casino plans around the time he bought a luxury vehicle at an apparent discount from the vice-chairman of Table Mountain Rancheria's tribal council.
For now, Waterston said he plans to focus on his pool business when he leaves office in January. But he admits business is slow right now and said he is always looking at other opportunities.
"I'm keeping my options open," he said. "But nobody has approached me about doing something for Table Mountain."
First, some back story: In an effort to get back to its roots, the Starbucks CEO announced in January that the chain would stop carrying its hot breakfast sandwiches. Apparently the smell of baking (reheating?) bread, cheese and eggs overpowered the smell of coffee.
For whatever reason -- perhaps to fend off competitors like Dunkin' Donuts offering coffee and breakfast -- Starbucks reversed course. The breakfast sandwiches will stay. Only now, they'll be made with a new type of cheese (oh, I'm dying to know how they tested the smelliness of cheese) and less butter in the eggs that should control the smell.
The two Valley schools were among 26 that are to share in $80,000 in cash prizes from the Columbus, Ohio-based closeout retailer.
Lots2Give entrants were asked to create a short video of 90 seconds or less and write a brief paragraph explaining why their school deserved to win, officials said. The public was then invited to vote for the winners between June 30 and July 22 and cast 365,614 votes for their favorites.
McCarthy Teszler School of Spartanburg, S.C., was selected as the $10,000 grand-prize winner.
I came into work, turned on the computer, called up my inbox of electronic mail and hit the delete button, wiping out hundreds of messages. Almost all were outdated, but I had refused to let them go.
I felt their weight, a burden that I carried constantly.
A bead of sweat rolled down my brow as I hit the delete button and I momentarily panicked. Then a strange calm came over me. Relief! I was unshackled. I suggest everyone do the same; free us from the bondage of e-mail.
Lance Johnson, a Shaver Lake resident, says he will be ready to weigh in if the regional air district tries to include his area in occasional wood-burning bans.
Folks living at 3,000 feet and above have been exempt from fireplace wood-burning bans that are called on the worst winter nights in the San Joaquin Valley. The regional air district in August will begin publicly discussing tightening that rule, and the mountain exemption is on the table.
Johnson's e-mail explained why that's not a good idea:
"Power failures up here are often anything but short term inconveniences as they are in the Valley. They can, in fact, last many days, even weeks, during which time we have no other way to heat our homes [when the temperature is hovering near zero], cook or heat water."
He said gas-fired devices installed since 1990 won't work because they have electrical ignitions.
He continued: "Meaning gas fireplaces, pellet stoves which require fans and pellet feeders, space heaters, hot water heaters even stoves and cook tops simply won't light without power."
The district's proposal says that the ban would not apply to mountain residents who have no access to natural gas or if wood burning is the sole source of heating.
Seems like both of those exceptions would apply in a power failure up there. Find out at one of the nine workshops next month. There will be one in Oakhurst on Aug. 12.
Even though an increasing number of public places are going smoke-free, unpleasant aromas in bars may persist.
And not necessarily from cigarettes.
A survey by scientist Alan Hirsch, in tandem with AXE, the male grooming brand, found that bar patrons themselves might be responsible for foul odors.
Only one bar/restaurant in Chicago was tested, but Hirsch found that sweat and body odor were one of the top contributors to smelliness.
Most smells came from the backs, heads, abdomen and underarms of men tested.
Compared with other locations tested, a smoke-free bar was only less smelly than a swine production site. Animal rescue facilities, men's rooms, industrial sites and coffee shops were all less smelly.
Firefighters caught a break today when a grain-dust fire was contained inside a metal hopper at a Pixley grain and bean processing plant.
The fire broke out shortly before 11 a.m. at the Cal-Bean & Grain Co-Op plant at Oaks Avenue and Cedar Street, just west of Highway 99. Black smoke from the tanks from nylon filter bags roiled from inside the tank, prompting 9-1-1 calls from passing motorists on the freeway as well as from workers at the plant.
Once firefighters arrived, with engines, tankers and a ladder truck (see photo at right), they were able to shoot water into the tank to put out the smoldering mess.
If you were a passer-by who saw the smoke, offer up a comment below and let us know what you saw.
Plant manager Roger Ward said the plant is currently processing wheat for seed use and garbanzo beans. The grain dust that gets sucked into the tank, or "bag house," is particularly combustible, Ward added.
"With those nylon bags, it's just like burning oil in there," he said.
Damage to the plant was contained to the tank, but officials didn't know if the fire damaged motors, blowers or other equipment that pulls the dust into the filters. Paint on the exterior of the tank was blistered and peeling from the heat inside and there were scorch marks on the adjacent processing warehouse.
"We're lucky it was confined to the metal hopper," Tulare County Fire Division Chief Joe Garcia said, noting much of the shakers and other processing equipment in the adjacent building is made of wood.
A new solar array field will be the largest government solar installation in Kern County, covering six acres and consisting of 4,704 modules. Here is that announcement.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jack Gotcher, CAE, CM
28 July, 2008 (661) 391-1800
MEADOWS FIELD AIRPORT IS GOING GREEN AND BREAKING GROUND ON A
$6 MILLION SOLAR FACILITY THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008
The Kern County Department of Airports in conjunction with the Kern County Board of Supervisors and Regenesis Power, LLC will officially break ground on a six million dollar solar array at Meadows Field (BFL) on July 31, 2008, at 9:00 a.m.
The public is invited to attend the ground breaking which will take place northwest of the William M. Thomas terminal at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2008.
The solar array field at Meadows Field Airport will be the largest government solar installation in Kern County, covering six acres and consisting of 4704 solar modules. Regenesis Power, LLC will finance, own, operate, and maintain the facility. The total investment by Regenesis will be approximately $6,000,000. The cost of power from Regenesis will be set for the 20-year term of the agreement. Meadows Field Airport will recognize savings of greater than $1 million over 20 years. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, with final commissioning completed by the end of January, 2009.
According to Regenesis, the Meadows Field Airport solar facility will result in the following annual reductions of greenhouse gasses:
• 4,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides
• 7,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide
• 2,000,000 pounds of carbon dioxide
The solar facility is designed to provide power to the William M. Thomas terminal; however the installation can be expanded to meet the future energy needs of Meadows Field Airport. The solar facility will provide an estimated 73% of the total annual power needs. The County will pay Regenesis a set amount per kWh for all solar power generated, even if the array produces more than the terminal uses. Most of the solar power generated will be used directly by the terminal, however during peak hours in the summer, solar production can exceed the power demands of the terminal and excess solar power will be automatically sold back to PG&E. According to Jack Gotcher, Kern County Airports Director, "We will be doing our part to mitigate brownouts during these peak periods by adding power to the grid rather than drawing power from it." The County will also benefit from excess energy production by purchasing energy from Regenesis at a lower rate and selling the excess energy back to PG&E at market rate.
It may have been coincidence, but the new owners of a longtime bridal shop on Fulton Mall bought it shortly after getting an intriguing message in a fortune cookie. Find out more in this week's Word on the Street column.
You'll also learn that some segments of real estate are doing better than others and that the number of restaurants offering deep dish pizza is getting, well, deeper. Check out the column.
It's probably a longshot, but a mainstream political news Web site is reporting that Barack Obama's vice presidential search team might be considering Valley native and former Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman.
Politico.com reported on Friday that "the search committee, now led by Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, raised Veneman's name -- among others -- in discussions with members of Congress, said two Democrats familiar with the conversations."
It would be a surprise pick on many levels.
For one, Veneman, a native of Modesto, is a Republican. Obama, of course, is a Democrat. But, according to Politico, "the selection of a Republican could bolster Obama's unifying message, a Capitol Hill Democrat familiar with the discussion said."
Veneman is used to breaking barriers.
She was the first female public defender in Stanislaus County's history. Then in 2001 she became the first woman to lead the federal agricultural department. She left the Bush administration in 2004 and is now director of the United Nations Children's Fund, better known as UNICEF.
Did anyone in Fresno smell smoke late last week? Or, more importantly, does anyone smell smoke today? I didn't.
We had some state PM-10 violations in the last week, but I didn't smell smoke in my neighborhood then or today, which raises questions that may interest some of you.
If I don't smell smoke, am I really breathing air polluted by particulate matter from a fire? Should I really curb my outdoor activities? Don't the experts say that you don't have a problem if you don't smell the smoke?
The answer to the last question is yes. I've heard many air authorities say that smelling the smoke is the key to knowing if you're having a problem.
But the same experts and doctors tell me to back off the outdoor exercise when monitors show high levels, even if I don't smell the smoke. Be careful, they say, because particulate matter can set off lung and heart problems.
The Fresno monitor said there were state PM-10 violations on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week. I'm expecting to see a few more violations when the state posts the numbers for the weekend, especially with the wildfire kicking up near Yosemite National Park.
Most likely, I will limit my outdoor activities, no matter what my nose tells me.
Gas prices matter. I've been noticing -- at least in the Valley parking lots I frequent -- that the number of large vehicles is down and I can see when I back my 1974 Super Beetle out. Fewer towering SUVs.
Maybe a percentage are getting parked.
Nationally and locally, small car sales are up. In fact, CarMax Inc. issued a report today saying that searches on its Web site for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles increased in June.
The company said the Mazda3, with an estimated 24/32 mpg, leaped from 39th in March to 16th in June.
The Toyota Corolla, with an estimated 28/37* mpg, jumped from ninth to fourth place over the same time period.
Outside the top 20, the Volkswagen Beetle, with an estimated 21/28* mpg made a big leap from 71st place to 40th since March.
“With gas prices continuing to rise, fuel efficiency has increased in importance for many shoppers,” said Ann Yauger, director of carmax.com.
My colleague Dennis Pollock wrote a story in today’s paper about a Fresno company recalling 1,560 pounds of beef cheek products that might be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. No illnesses have been reported.
What the heck is a beef cheek? (It sounded to me like the type of epithet that might lead to a sexual harassment lawsuit if you used it in the office, but no.)
He explains in the story that it’s just like what it sounds — the cheeks of the cow, from the face not the other end. He goes on to say it is part of a dish called barbacoa, a dish with Mexican origins that is popular in our area. It is apparently served in some pretty high restaurants too. You can see recipes here.
Maybe it’s because I’m an anglo girl who grew up on the East Coast, maybe it’s because I don’t eat a lot of meat, but this was a new concept to me. It’s a reminder of what I love about this Valley: the array of fresh vegetables just picked from the plant and the scrumptious and unusual meals from all different cultures that other areas of the country don’t have. It evoked my memory of biting into a fresh — not dried — apricot for the first time in my life.
My question earlier this week about Beijing's ozone levels has been answered, but it does not satisfy my curiosity. I was wondering how Beijing's ozone compared to the San Joaquin Valley's levels.
According to today's Washington Post, officials monitor ozone but they don't tell the public what the numbers say.
There is no way to compare Beijing to the Valley. But I just realized I have my own unscientific yardstick.
My son, Joseph, spent six months in Beijing in 2007. He is a long-time runner. He said outdoor exercise hurt his lungs.
When he returned to Fresno in September that year, he remarked that the sky looks really blue here compared to Beijing. He said he could breathe much easier here.
China has more than ozone problems, though. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide pollution from cars, factories, pulp mills and other industries can get to dangerous levels.
Still, there may be value in publicly confronting the smog problem and telling people about the levels of ozone, which is a corrosive gas that triggers lung disease.
Costa challenger targets report on district's low standard-of-living
Bakersfield Republican Jim Lopez, who is waging an uphill battle to unseat incumbent Democrat Jim Costa in the 20th Congressional District, will be in Fresno tonight, where he will address the Fresno Chapter of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.
The event starts at 6 p.m. and will be held at Sal’s Mexican Restaurant, 7476 N. Fresno Street.
Not surprisingly, Lopez will be speaking on the recently released “The Measure of America” report, which placed the 20th Congressional District — which runs from south of Bakersfield into downtown Fresno — dead last among the 436 congressional districts in the United States on the well-being of residents.
For instance, only 6.5% of the 20th Congressional District’s adults have graduated from college. In the top-ranked New York City district, 62.6% of adult residents claim a college degree. And only half of the 20th CD’s households have annual incomes above $16,767. In the New York City district, half claim incomes above $51,139.
Whalen raises money -- but for what political race?
Just where is Clovis City Council Member Bob Whalen’s next political step?
Even he’s not totally sure, but he is eyeing the 29th Assembly District seat now held by Clovis Republican Mike Villines, who — assuming he wins reelection this November — will be forced out of office by term limits in 2010.
As such, Whalen held a barbecue and bluegrass fundraiser Wednesday night, with proceeds going to an account he set up for an Assembly run. But should that not work out, Whalen says he’ll move the money to his Clovis council account for a 2011 re-election bid.
Whalen said he’s raising money for an Assembly run with the possibility of transferring it to his council account because fund-raising rules make that easier than doing it the other way — raising money for his council seat and later transferring that to an Assembly account.
Contributions to this week’s fundraiser maxed out at the Assembly limit: $3,600 per person.
“Assembly [races] require a lot of money, so it makes a lot of sense to get started early,” said Whalen, which might explain why his fundraising is starting before Villines even wins election to his final term.
Is there a Republican split over Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed water bond package?
It would seem so, by the looks of the debate raging on some GOP blogs.
It began on July 11, the day after the governor announced his revised proposal to put a $9.3 billion water bond on November's ballot. Conservative blogger Jon Fleischman, on the popular Flash Report, called the proposal "sausage of a political process" that would not do much to fix water problems because it was filled with a "Sierra Club wish list" of environmental initiatives.
But wait. Earlier this week, Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill of Modesto defended the proposal on the business-friendly Fox & Hounds blog, calling it "a solid framework for tackling California's water challenges."
Fleischman responded: "I cannot imagine a situation where principled conservatives could vote for a deal."
And today, former GOP legislator Sen. Ray Haynes of Murrieta weighed in: "This bond should be opposed because it (is) the same old Sacramento response to a huge people crisis. It will protect rats and weeds, and not create one ounce of water for people."
The opposition could put Cogdill and Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines of Clovis in an awkward position. Money for dams is a top priority for the farmers who live in their districts. Yet, to strike a deal with Democrats, they will likely have to agree to a "comprehensive fix" that includes money for environmental restoration, water recycling and the like.
That will increase the bond price tag. And, as evidenced by the debate above, will anger fiscal conservatives in other parts of the state.
Oh, and all this must be resolved by Aug. 16 to get it on the ballot.
You're hardly alone. The economy's battering a number of industries, including newspapers. And, in this tight market, you need all the help you can get.
Author and career coach Arnold G. Boldt offered these thoughts recently.
"The job interview process begins long before candidates find themselves sitting in front of an interviewer, and lasts well beyond the end of the initial meeting," he said in an e-mail.
"My no-nonsense approach is embodied in the Three Ps of Job Interviewing: preparation, presentation and post-interview follow-up," he said.
Here's Boldt's lowdown:
Preparation means that before walking into a job interview, it’s absolutely vital for candidates to:
Be ready to speak about every aspect of their work history, ideally, with compelling stories that highlight particular skills or accomplishments.
Compile a list of professional and personal references, contact them to seek their permission, ensure accurate contact information and brief them on current career goals.
Practice responding to a broad spectrum of questions, and be prepared to handle especially tough ones, including salary-related questions.
Be aware of the target employer’s needs and challenges, and based on this research, develop a set of questions to ask the interviewer(s).
Plan for the logistics and every imaginable contingency.
Presentation, the second P, is all about how to make a positive impression on the interviewer(s) in a broad variety of interview settings and includes personal style; how to make a connection with the interviewer(s); identifying and developing materials to bring to the interview; determining what the interviewer is really asking and how to honestly, optimally respond.
Optimally effective post-interview follow-up has evolved way beyond the simply “thank-you” letter. Diligent and thoughtful follow-up can actually distinguish a motivated candidate from similarly qualified candidates, and make the crucial difference in landing a job offer.
Savvy and creative approaches are presented, along with tips from the pros that have proven to be effective for job-seekers everywhere. Approaches to meaningful self-evaluation and difference-making correspondence that can actually go a long way toward salvaging an “interview disaster” are included.
A FPC Workplace Web Poll of 9,105 employees across all industries indicates that 60% of managers, directors and other officiais think that going back to corporate dress would be taking a step backward, while the other 40% thought casual dress hurt productivity. The company released the information in a statement Thursday.
Entry and mid-level employees didn't agree. About 51% feel it would be taking a step backward, while about 49% think casual dress hurt productivity. FPC, a national executive search firm, anonymously polls job candidates visiting www.fpcnational.com on their perspective on workplace issues.
“Companies are always trying to figure out the magic ingredient for happy employees and increased productivity.” said FPC CEO & President Ron Herzog. “For some companies it’s a matter of giving employees autonomy and a voice."
The company said most employees across industries held the same perspective. However, a distinct opposite trend appears in the pharmaceutical, chemical and biomedical Industries, which showed the following:
Candidates polled across all job levels responded to the statement “We should go back to more corporate attire in the workplace.” More on the poll.
Pharmaceutical (183 polled)
64% “I agree, the casual dress trend hurt productivity.”
36% “I disagree, that would be taking a step backward.”
Chemical (264 polled)
59% “I agree, the casual dress trend hurt productivity.”
41% “I disagree, that would be taking a step backward.”
Biomedical (182 polled)
54% “I agree, the casual dress trend hurt productivity.”
46% “I disagree, that would be taking a step backward.”
The health benefits of exercise are well established, from reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes to strenghtening bones. But does exercise on a smoggy day negate those benefits -- and even pose risks of its own?
Staff at the California Air Resources Board say excercisers and people who work outdoors during unhealthy air days have a decrease in lung function, more asthma problems and even damage to their DNA.
And the risk from the smog and particulate exposure is greater for people with heart and lung problems who are trying to exercise for their health.
"This report once again shows that an active person's zeal for fitness may sometimes do more harm than good when air quality is suffering," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "People should be aware of air quality in their region and take precautions to protect their health when pollution spikes occur. For example, we are surprised and alarmed to find many people out exercising during the recent rash of wildfires that have blanketed much of the state in smoke."
The findings from the studies include:
A threefold decrease in lung function after walking near diesel traffic compared to walking in a park with no traffic.
A fourfold increase in DNA damage after cycling in traffic.
A 10% reduction in lung function after cycling with ozone exposure.
Delivery of oxygen to the heart may drop by three times when exercising while exposed to diesel exhaust.
A threefold increase in asthma development for children who play multiple sports in high ozone areas.
The researchers explain it's easy for toxic smog and particles to get deep inside the lungs when a person exercises. They're breathing faster and more air is passing through the mouth and nose.
And people who jog along busy streets in Fresno are inhaling extra doses of pollutants. Studies have found that the risk from air pollution increases for people who jog, cycle or walk near busy roadways.
But researchers aren't telling people to stop exercising. The health and fitness benefits of regular exercise can't be overestimated. They say use common sense. Check air pollution levels before lacing up the Nikes.
Firm picks Fresno for first project outside Bay area
A non-profit developer of affordable housing went looking for its first project outside San Francisco and found it in southwest Fresno.
Mission Housing Development Group, which, as evidenced by its name, has been active in San Francisco’s Mission district, is joining up with a Fresno developer and a non-profit to build and manage the 5-story, 61-unit Bastian Court apartment complex at the northwest corner of Stanislaus and L streets.
The proposal drew a critical eye this week from City Councilman Brian Calhoun, who wondered aloud if mixing in market-rate housing wouldn’t make for a better project.
“It’s a philosophical question,” he said, while joining in the 6-0 City Council vote to approve $2.1 million in HOME funds to help finance the $14.7 million development. A stew of financing, including tax credits that investors will buy, will pay for much of the construction.
Calhoun felt better after the listening to Larry Del Carlo, president of Mission Housing. The company has been around for three decades, has developed 39 projects and is joining Fresno developer Bastian Partners and Cornerstone Foundation.
Bastian Partners is the developer of record and Cornerstone will provide community outreach for residents and help connect tenants with job training programs and other services.
About 7,500 square feet of commercial space on the bottom floor could accommodate a child care program, career-training programs or something similar.
Mission Housing will be the on-site manager and runs a tight ship, Del Carlo said. Visitors won’t see peeling paint, broken windows or trash.
Bastian Court is the latest in a string of affordable-housing developments in Fresno. Del Carlo said the developers found a community in need and a government eager to create housing opportunities.
Chick-fil-A comes to town, brings pronunciation confusion with it
The folks from Chick-fil-A restaurant stopped by with some information the other day. As previously reported, the chicken fast food restaurant is opening in the former Krispy Kreme location on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno in the River Park area in September.
This led to a spirited discussion of the pronunciation of the restaurant in the newsroom here. Some unfamiliar with the Atlanta-based chain pronounced it “Chick-filla,” but the correct pronuncian is “Chick-filet,” as in "fillay." (Hey, it’s better than the original restaurant name — Dwarf Grill.)
Although Chick-fil-A restaurants are hugely popular back east and in the south, it’s a relatively new concept for Fresno. One opened in late 2007 in the student union’s food court at Fresno State, so students are a bit more familiar with it.
Check out what happens when an unfamiliar name comes to town in this video by the college’s newspaper, The Collegian.
Expect a Krispy Kreme-like craze when the Blackstone restaurant opens. From the look of their press kit (which includes a plush cow) Chick-fil-A appears to be big on gimmicks, including this commerical of parachuting cows encouraging diners to eat chicken.
Does anyone know how to find the actual ozone readings in Beijing?
Strange question, I know. But with the Olympics starting next month, I'm curious to compare the ozone levels in that city to ozone in U.S. cities.
For instance, the maximum eight-hour ozone average for Arvin yesterday was 90 parts ber billion. How does that stack up against Beijing's numbers?
The Chinese are planning to ban driving for half the city's 3.3 million cars, according to the Associated Press. The city's Olympic committee expects air pollution to drop 63%. OK, 63% of what?
I've asked a few people in air quality circles and researched briefly, but I haven't had much luck yet. I will continue looking. The readings are probably in a very convenient place that I am just missing.
Sacramento is reeling today from a report by the Sacramento Bee that Gov. Schwarzenegger plans to temporarily reduce pay for more than 200,000 state workers to deal with the state's cash crunch. Sen. Dean Florez, D- Shafter, was among the first lawmakers to respond.
His statement:
“I don’t think it is wise for the Governor to use working men and women as hostages for the State Budget. I think it shows weakness on his part as a negotiator. The men and women who do the hard work that keeps our state running deserve their full pay.”
And here's what Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill, of Modesto, and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, of Clovis, said in a joint statement:
“Republicans understand the urgency of getting the budget done as soon as possible, which is our main focus right now. We are working very hard to avoid drastic measures like the one that is being proposed. Republicans are committed to crafting a responsible budget plan that reforms our broken system while protecting taxpayers.”
Sacramento, of course, is home to many of these state workers. Anyone down there in Fresno, or elsewhere, think you might be affected? Comment here or email me at eschultz@fresnobee.com.
Mooney Blvd. widening brings nighttime lane closures
Traffic on Mooney Boulevard in Visalia will face some nighttime lane closures as Caltrans continues construction work to widen the street south of Highway 198 from four to six lanes.
The first phase of lane closures will continue through August between Meadow and Walnut avenues so crews can remove and rebuild sidewalks and asphalt. Various lanes will be shut down between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Sunday evenings through Friday mornings. No closures will happen on Friday or Saturday evenings.
During the construction, city bus stops along Mooney Boulevard between Meadow and Walnut avenues are being relocated to nearby side streets, and an extra bus is being added to the Mooney Boulevard route to account for any traffic delays to keep the buses on time.
More information about the construction is available here or by calling Caltrans at (866) 740-9230.
I'm not having any luck finding an answer to the following question from Doug Schultz of Fresno:
"I remember as a small child seeing a high wire act, possibly involving a motorcycle, above the streets of downtown Fresno. I was young enough to be up on my father's shoulders, so I'm guessing it was in the early 1950s. Do you have any facts to back me up?"
Schultz says his mother remembers the performance was held in front of the old Hardy's Theater near Van Ness and Tulare avenues. His father thinks the performers may have been from Germany.
If anyone remembers seeing this daring high wire act in downtown Fresno, please write. Maybe together we can find the answer.
Years ago, my friend Torg Hinckley and I got into Japanese cinema, specifically the films of Akira Kurosawa, director/writer of "The Seven Samurai."
That movie was one of a number Kurosawa did with the incomparable Toshiro Mifune, a character actor who portrayed the larger-than-life samurai we wanted -- as kids -- to be. The films portray a wandering samurai, who is without power, but hardly without resources. He embodies knowledge, honor and trust. He saves the downtrodden and lets evil destroy itself.
I'm going through each of them right now and savoring every chapter. Klemmer's applies the lessons of the samurai to everyday situations and fills in the details with current examples -- enough so just about any reader could relate and extract the lessons. Clark's follows the teachings of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who rose by his wits to be the most powerful man in Japan. Hideyoshi's straightforward approach resonates for anybody in a management position despite it coming from a 16th century warlord.
Baby boomers slammed by today’s tough economy need to stick together, writes a 57-year-old Hanford man. He e-mailed me after I wrote a story earlier this week about laid-off workers flocking to community colleges to get training to start new careers.
Rhonda Lawrence, who’s pictured here, was featured in the story. Lawrence, who’s 56 and also from Hanford, lost jobs in the airline industry and real estate and now is enrolled at West Hills College to become a psychiatric technician. She’s praying that job gives her economic stability. The Hanford man said he can “really relate” to Lawrence’s predicament.
“I have two degrees … and unless I am willing to move to a large metro area (even, God forbid, Fresno) the jobs are very few …,” he said. The man says he taking community college courses and hopes to get into banking, finance, manufacturing or retail.
His final thought: “We ought to form a ‘boomer, what’s my career?’ support group!”
It’s been more than a year since Fresno County Supervisor Bob Waterston left an angry message on Fresno Planning Director Nick Yovino’s voicemail. But apparently all is forgiven.
The two came face to face at a supervisor’s meeting Tuesday and Waterston had nothing but glowing remarks for Yovino.
Waterston praised Yovino’s efforts for helping to develop a long-term plan for growth in southeast Fresno: “Nick, you’ve been a rock star in what you’ve done here. This has been handled just incredibly well.”
Waterston, who owns a pool business, wasn’t as happy with Yovino in January 2007 when he called to complain that city staff weren’t returning his calls about one of his pool projects.
Yovino, who has announced he will retire from the city in September, said he appreciated Waterston's comments. He said Waterston has already apologized for the voice-mail.
"I totally accepted his apology. Things happen for whatever reasons they happen," he said following Tuesday's meeting. "It was good to bring that to closure and move beyond it. I’m retiring, so it’s kind of nice to have that closure at the end of my career."
A reader asked a great question when I wrote that the Valley had ozone violations even in nice, breezy weather.
"So what does that mean? According to the AirNow website, most of the Valley stayed in the "good" or "moderate" range all day yesterday. How useful is it to be told that we have bad air, if that only applies to a few locations?"
It's a practical question. A similarly practical approach came up several years ago when folks in Stockton and Modesto realized their air quality was good compared to the rest of the Valley. They wanted to break off from the Valley air district. And, at the time, it seemed pretty sensible.
But the movement died after officials said it would require a state law to make the change. Besides, air officials said, Stockton and Modesto contribute to air quality problems in Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield. We're all one Valley, they said. We all contribute to the problem.
Fast forward to the question at hand. The ozone violations that Arvin and Sequoia National Park had on those nice, breezy days -- when everyone else was breathing fine -- typically result from plumes of ozone-making gases that come from Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield. Really, how much traffic and industry would you find in Sequoia and Arvin, a town of 16,000 people?
The point is that the Valley still has problems, even when it seemingly has no problems.
By the way the federal AirNow site tracks air quality for many California cities, including Stockton, Modesto, Madera, Merced, Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield. It does not mention Arvin -- the city with the most federal ozone violations in the United States over the last dozen years.
We ran a short story Tuesday about a state agency's accusation that a Modesto-based company with four Valley Midas Auto Service Center franchises sold unneeded goods and services at a higher cost than advertised brake specials.
In repsonse, Trevor Traina, co-founder and chairman of San Francisco-based DriverSide, sent a note explaining a little about his business and some tips on how consumers can protect themselves. DriverSide's stated mission is to protect consumers from being ripped off, while also saving them time and money on automobile ownership.
“It’s not uncommon for large auto repair chains to take advantage of consumers," Traina said via e-mail. "Frankly, consumers are sick of being ripped off. They’re already paying high prices at the gas pump, now they’ve lost trust in their mechanics.
"And last month, we (DriverSide) issued a survey and found that nearly one in two (46%) lack confidence that their mechanic is charging them a fair price.”
Here are five things Traina says consumers can do to prevent being ripped off:
1. Ask friends and family for recommendations.
2. Do Internet research on sites like Yelp, DriverSide and Angie’s List for reviews and exact prices and certain repairs.
3. Check with the Better Business Bureau for a list of auto repair shops that have had multiple complaints.
4. Get multiple quotes but don’t always go for the cheapest.
5. Research an exact price before walking into a repair shop.
The Construction Industry Crime Prevention Program is a nonprofit organization committed to helping stop crime in the construction industry, an all-too-common occurance these days.
Recently, however, the group got a little help.
Earlier this month, an employee of Teichert Construction who was trying to find an electrical connector for his boat trailer before heading out of town for the weekend spotted a John deere skip loader that looked like the one that had been stolen from a job site he had been working on.
Sure enough, it was from Sunbelt Rental and stolen from a Teichert Construction job site at McKinley Avenue and Cornelia Street in Fresno. The employee called his foreman who verified the serial numbers, and the loader was returned.
To report a crime -- and like the employee get a reward -- call 1-888-572-3667 for up to $1,000.
Cotton shrinks. And so will the San Joaquin Valley Cotton Board.
Reflecting the downsizing of California's once-booming cotton industry, Gov. Schwarzenegger today signed legislation to change the board's composition from 17 to 11 members. The board establishes quality standards, among other responsibilities.
With costs rising, California growers have cut back on cotton in favor of less fluffy -- and more profitable -- crops, such as pistachios and almonds.
As a result, the industry has had a hard time finding members for the board, said Roger Isom, vice president of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations, which sponsored AB 1913.
"It was difficult to get a quorum and it was necessary to get that board down to a more representative size," he said.
The number of cotton growers in the state has dropped to 700, down from a peak of 2,000, according to the bill analysis. In 1979 there were 120 cotton gins. Today there are 49. Growers are planting around 300,000 acres a year, less than half the amount planted annually from 1974 to 1997.
The Fresno County crop report, out today, shows cotton as the seventh-highest grossing crop in the county. Ten years ago it was No. 2.
I've written two columns recently about trains in California, one on High Speed Rail, and the latest on my experience riding Amtrak from Fresno to Richmond and back last week.
The latest Field Poll indicates that voters favor building a High Speed Rail system, although it appears that many aren't really aware of the bond proposal.
Here is the link for Field Poll samplings for five measures that will be on the November ballot. Below are the highlights:
The waiting area for Fresno's after-hours court is the lobby of the Fresno County Jail.
A deputy signing people in, says night court is not going to be interesting.
"No Bull the Bailiff, no magic tricks," he says referencing Night Court, the 1984-1992 TV series featuring a young, juggling judge who idolized Mel Torme.
But he's wrong. Night court is interesting.
At 5:30, a half-hour past the appointed time for after-hours civil court to begin, there is no judge.
One of the young deputies in front is expressing consternation as plainly as an actor in a sixth-grade skit. He taps a pencil. He scratches his chin. He shrugs his shoulders.
"Can you call the bailiff at the main courthouse? If he shows up there, have them chase him over here," court clerk Earl "Skip" Schmidt tells the deputy.
The last time a night court judge didn't show up without warning or explanation, Schmidt, a man with a lanky cowboy frame, lizard-skinned cowboy boots (he has eel, and alligator ones at home) and a handlebar mustache, faked it.
He spent several minutes pretending to talk into a cell phone saying "yes, uh-huh, yes, no."
Then he told the waiting crowd that the judge was still tied up in day court and still had six more cases to go and night court would unfortunately have to be canceled.
On this night, the would-be plaintiffs and defendants don't yet seemed to have noticed that something is amiss. A young woman, who wants her chiropractor bills paid by the driver who rear-ended her, is engrossed in the magazine article "Can You Be Friends With Your EX?" A woman who is missing a shift as a telephone surveyor intently flips the pages of "Extreme Science Fiction".
At 5:45, Schmidt decides to come clean.
"Folks," he says. "Our judge is MIA".
There's silence. Everyone looks at the judge's bench, which has a fake house plant sprawled across its width, one that stretches back to a plastic trellis next to the Seal of California in a windowless courtroom in a jail.
"Did you call his house?" someone asks.
"How about his cell phone?" helpfully queries another.
"Judges aren't listed in the phone book," says Schmidt. "Think about it."
"Can we give him until 6 p.m.?" says a man in the back wearing thick socks with sandals.
He's Paul Dictos. He ran for Board of Supervisors.
"I lost," he says. "Bad. Third out of three. I'm a Greek immigrant. People don't like my accent."
Everyone agrees to wait until 6 p.m. There is more silence.
"We're like patients in a doctors waiting room with no doctor," one woman finally says.
Dictos wants to use his cell phone. He thinks he knows someone who might know someone who has the judge's personal cell number.
"Have at it," says Schmidt. "Just hang up if the judge, you know -- shows up."
Schmidt says that those who want to be rescheduled for day court go to the courtroom in the old Casablanca restaurant.
"We took it over, except we didn't get to keep the tequila bar," he says.
"Except in the judge's chambers, right? Is that what happened to our judge?" says a man who drove in from Stockton for court.
"The taxpayers are not happy with this situation," says Dictos.
"How do you think I feel?" says Schmidt. "I'm the messenger. You know what they do to messengers."
At 6 p.m. there is no judge and night court is over.
Dictos has brought a trunk full of carefully filed documentation for his $5,000 case against the Pinedale Water District.
"Lift it," he says. "It weighs at least 10 pounds."
He's right.
He says he missed a Toastmasters and a Republican Central Committee meeting to be here.
"Put in there that Paul Dictos was very organized and that he missed a lot of meetings to be here," he tells a journalist. "And that he was hungry."
A story in today’s business section shines a spotlight on Mervyns and its financial difficulties.
A credit monitoring company advised its clients — Mervyns suppliers — to hold off on shipping merchandise to the store. The chain already closed about 70 locations four years ago when Target sold it off.
While other discounters like Wal-mart and Costco are doing great lately, it appears Mervyns isn’t, despite its steep discounts.
I’m not sure what to think of this. On one hand, shopping sales racks there can sometimes be worse than digging through a thrift shop. But as a “vertically challenged” person, I’d sure hate to lose a store with such a complete petite department, one of the few left at discount stores.
Voters will take up at least 12 state propositions come November. So far, not many folks are paying attention.
A new Field Poll on five of the measures shows a huge majority of voters have yet to hear about them. For instance, just 22% of those polled were aware of Proposition 1, which asks voters to approve a $9.9 billion bond to jump start construction on a statewide high-speed rail system.
The apathy is pretty astounding considering that the measure has been talked about since 2002. The Fresno Bee alone has mentioned the rail bond 67 separate times in the past two years in news stories, editorials and letters to the editor. The good news for bullet train supporters is that when poll respondents were told about the measure, 56% said they are likely to vote yes.
Two other measures had majority support, according to the poll.
Prop. 2, which would require certain caged farm animals, like egg-laying hens, be given enough room to move around, drew support from 63% of respondents.
Prop. 7, which would require utilities to produce 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2010, got 63% support.
Measures failing to reach the 50% threshold included Prop.4, which would require teens to get parental notification before getting an abortion. It drew 48% support. Prop. 11, the Gov. Schwarzenegger-backed measure to create a 14-member commission to draw political district boundaries, had 42% support.
Danny Gilmore has won the endorsement of the Kings County Farm Bureau in his bid for the 30th Assembly District seat -- the first time the county agriculture group has officially backed a candidate in its history of more than 90 years.
Gilmore, the Republican nominee for the Assembly post, joined Tim Larson, president of the county bureau, when the endorsement was announced Monday in Hanford.
"We feel Danny understands the issues facing farmers in our county and our district, and of farmers throughout California," said Larson, who farms walnuts in Kings County and grows pistachios, wine grapes and other crops in neighboring Fresno County.
"Water is our primary issue and concern; we feel pretty strongly about trying to revamp the water situation in California and Danny shares that position," Larson added. "His views are very much in synch with ours."
Gilmore's history as a California Highway Patrol officer for years was also attractive to farmers who are concerned about rural crime, including the increasing prevalence of copper and metal thefts from farms and dairies.
Gilmore, who lives in Hanford, faces Democrat Fran Florez, a Shafter city council member, in the Nov. 4 general election. The two are vying to replace term-limited Assembly Member Nicole Parra, D-Hanford. The district includes all of Kings County and portions of Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties.
The governor has stepped in to make it easier for people to buy foreclosures in hard-hit portions of California, including the northern San Joaquin Valley.
Obviously, the housing market is horrible. Yes, sales of existing homes are up (more on that in an upcoming Bee story), but many of those properties are bank owned. Foreclosures are peaking, builders can't give their houses away and a general economic malaise hangs over everything.
I'm not enough of an expert to attach a grade to the various segments. If an average market is a "C," are we flunking? Was the real estate boom in the first half of this decade an "A" or a "D"? I suppose it depends upon perspective. Sellers and investors would attach the higher grade; first-time home buyers would affix the lower.
Real estate consultant John Burns has his own formula and completed a report card for June. Here it is, as reported by Inman News: :
Does anyone remember Starr's Ice Cream on the southwest corner of Fresno Street and Clinton Avenue? A question from Cathy Gorham of Fresno about her favorite ice cream parlor has me stumped.
Gorham remembers going there with her sister in the 1960s until about the late 1970s, but she wonders how they made their ice cream and when the shop closed. "I would love to know their recipe for the chocolate fudge and lemon ice creams," Gorham wrote in an e-mail. She remembers the shop also made ice cream molds for special occasions.
Starr’s was owned by Robert W. Starr, who died in 1974, and then by his son, Robert W. Starr Jr., who died in 1998. At one time they had other locations, maybe on Bullard, Blackstone and Ashlan avenues.
If you remember Starr's Ice Cream, please share your memories.
Carefully reading the Friday 7/18/08 Bee I found one article belonging in the obituary section regarding Clovis. I think the Bee has failed to report and cover any news in the Clovis area since our beloved and treasured Clovis Independent newspaper, Editor Patti Lippert, and her outstanding staff was moved to the Fresno Bee HQ… then a few weeks later- shut down, disbanded, and no longer published.
I am very interested in the city and entire Clovis zip code news and believe the Bee has failed in its’ duty to cover Clovis now...for the second consecutive week. I was told that Clovis would be important enough to have a section or insert in the Fresno Bee and readers throughout your circulation. Please, make a difference and have a reporter & photographer designated for Clovis news and differentiate it with a full page-both sides for us. Clovis residences are very interested in our city and want to stay in touch as it is in our culture. Please help us know what is going to and is happening in Clovis.
Hap Wood
Owner, Precision Technology
Chairman of the Advisory Council, Salvation Army-Clovis
Closing the Clovis Independent wasn't an easy decision. We recognize the place the paper held in the city's history, but also couldn't continue to ignore the fact that much of what we published in the Independent already was available in The Bee.
That's because The Bee covers news of community interest throughout our region -- not just Fresno.
For example, on any given day, readers might find stories about issues affecting Madera and Tulare counties, profiles of people from Coalinga and Three Rivers and coverage of sports events in Chowchilla and Porterville.
We devote most of our reporting resources, of course, to the Fresno metro area -- which includes the city of Clovis.
Many Bee reporters cover Clovis issues as part of a larger topic beat, such as public health.
Two, in particular, focus on the city: Since September 2000, reporter Marc Benjamin has covered the Clovis city beat, writing about elections, city budgets, parks and recreation debates and safety issues, among many topics. And Anne Dudley Ellis has covered Clovis Unified School District since the late 1990s.
Our sports section covers Clovis high school athletics so intensively that on many occasions critics have labeled us "The Clovis Bee."
Specific to the complaint that there was only one Clovis story in the July 18 edition: Actually, there were eight bylined stories that dealt with Clovis residents or issues:
Two on the front page (Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines, R-Clovis, discussing his plans for dealing with the state budget impasse and Clovis resident Stacy Johnson-Klein finding a new job);
Two in Sports (coverage of junior golfer Bryson Dechambeau and five Olympic trials athletes who are either Clovis residents or graduated from Clovis Unified high schools);
Two in 7 (a preview of a Clovis Community Theater production and a story about ticket prices at Clovis Town Centre movie theater);
Two in Local & State (the obituary on Clovis resident David E. Murphy and the sentencing of a former Clovis photo studio owner).
A fruit importer with offices in Hawthorne has been sued in connection with importing unmarked packages of mangos and yams from India that had not been treated to prevent the spread of the destructive Oriental fruit fly, state officials said today.
“Bombino Express Worldwide is charged with smuggling untreated and unlabeled fruit that can carry invasive insects like the Oriental Fruit Fly into the United States,” Attorney General Jerry Brown said in a statement. “When foreign shipping companies disobey California’s quarantine laws they put the state’s growers at risk.
He said county, state and federal inspectors should be commended for catching the illegal shipment and isolating its contents. A parcel inspection dog named C.C., working for the San Bernardino County Agricultural Commissioner’s office, sniffed out the mislabeled box of mangos. There are plans to assign dogs in San Diego, Sacramento and Fresno counties.
A single fruit fly lives approximately 90 days and can travel up to 30 miles in search of food and sites to lay eggs, officials said. The threat of agricultural destruction from invasive species can be costly for farmers. Here is the full release.
Want a quick way to trash your journalistic reputation? Doctor up a photograph and publish it on the front page of the B section like you did on Saturday. Now every picture I see in the paper is suspect.
--Jeff Beatty
I can assure you that we do not alter photographs at The Bee -- that is a cardinal sin in our business, a firing offense.
But I can see how this picture appears to have been manipulated. What looks like a portion of an arm is actually a piece of paper in the deputy's hand. Because of the color, which is partly due to the effect of sunlight from behind, it appears flesh-colored. The effect was particularly confusing in print, where some nuances of light and color were lost.
My story about Starbucksclosing four locations in the central San Joaquin Valley — two in Fresno, one in Visalia, one in Exeter — garnered some voice mail messages over the weekend.
One was from a man who said he prefers to visit local coffee shops and wants to know more about them. (Check out the story's mention of the Wildflower Cafe in Exeter. They appear to be beating the pants off Starbucks.)
Another was from a woman who said if she’s able to take a bath, shave her legs, make breakfast, do the dishes, curl her hair and feed a baby before going to work — why can’t other people find the time to make coffee at home?
What do you think about the Starbucks closings? Will they be missed? Where do you get your coffee?
Word on the Street — photo booths, new ice cream places and more
This week’s Word on the Street is an interesting mix of business news. We have a man who rents photo booths out for weddings and other events, new ice cream places -- Cefiore in River Park and Baskin Robbins in Sanger -- opening, the Silkroad Gallery store opening in Sierra Vista Mall and 67-year-old Piemonte’s Delicatessen offering more hours to get those yummy subs.
That's when the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District will hold nine public meetings on new, stricter fireplace rules that may double the number of burning bans as early as this winter.
In public hearings for the plan, district staffers heard an interesting message from the public: It's time to think about eliminating more wood smoke from neighborhoods.
Not everyone agrees, of course. Several people have told us that they think the district is going too far.
Five years ago, the district passed the current rule, which allows authorities to stop people from burning wood in fireplaces and wood stoves during the worst air days in winter. Fresno County folks are stopped from burning 10 to 20 times a year, officials say.
As the new proposal now stands, there might be 40 burning bans in Fresno County.
Foothill residents may want to take note: The district is considering eliminating the exemption for people who live above 3,000 feet.
The workshops will start in Bakersfield on Aug. 4. There are workshops scheduled in Hanford, Visalia, Oakhurst, Madera, Merced, Stockton and Modesto. Stay tuned to the district Web site to get times and locations.
The last one will be in Fresno with a session at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 at the air district office, 1990 E. Gettysburg Ave.
Banks are having a tough time overcoming losses connected to the plunging real estate market and subprime loans that soured by the truckload.
Today, Citigroup posted a $2.5 billion second-quarter loss. It was smaller than expected, but the news is getting more common.
It's prompted credit unions to say, "Hey, we're doing fine."
“While other financial institutions are experiencing financial difficulties and restricting services, California credit unions are well capitalized and in a great position to continue serving consumers,” said Daniel Penrod, industry analyst for the California Credit Union League, the state association for credit unions, in a statement.
The league says credit unions in California – representing more than 500 financial cooperatives that serve 9 million members – "remain safe and sound and continue to demonstrate positive growth."
Here in the Valley, Visalia-based Tucoemas Credit Union said in a statement that it has the highest rating for financial strength by the National Credit Union Administration, “well capitalized.”
It says its loan delinquency rates are “very low” and “well below the industry averages.”
Tucoemas says it has not made any sub-prime loans and despite the housing crisis, it has not had any home foreclosures for the last couple of years.
Food prices are climbing, gas is expensive and incomes are flat. At least rents, for the most part, are staying relative stable in Fresno, according to one report.
The average rent in Fresno was $806, up less than 1% over a one-year period. Meanwhile, the average occupancy rates remained essentially unchanged, said RealFacts, which tracks such things.
Interestingly, a press release accompanying a rent chart noted that cities with the weakest housing markets and highest foreclosure rates also show little rent growth and, in some cases, declining occupancy rates. That kind of quashes claims that higher foreclosure rates would lead to increased demand for apartments.
Bob Montion, the former chief executive of the Tulare Local Healthcare District, isn't just being sued by the district -- he's a candidate for its board of directors.
This week was the opening of the period for candidates to take out papers and file nominating signatures to run for office. As of this afternoon, Montion is the only candidate to file for one of the three Tulare hospital board seats up for election in the Nov. 4 general election. He qualified for the ballot today, according to the Tulare County Elections Office.
Incumbents Deanne Martin-Soares, Parmod Kumar and Roger McPhetridge have until Aug. 8 to file to run for re-election.
Montion retired in March 2007 after about 10 years as the district's head honcho, citing health reasons. But in November, the district filed a civil suit against him in Tulare County Superior Court, alleging among other things that he breached the terms of his severance agreement by making disparaging and harmful comments about the district and its board of directors.
For his part, Montion filed papers with the court asking a judge to toss the case as a SLAPP suit, or a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation -- a suit aimed at shutting down a person's right to free speech and political expression.
The 565 houses returned to lenders or sold at the courthouse steps in June in Fresno County was up only 1% from May, keeping the county's foreclosure rate at No. 18 in the state, according to ForeclosureRadar, an online tracking and auction service.
Some of the hardest-hit regions in the state - Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties - experienced declining sales. But don't get too excited; foreclosure activity was up significantly from 12 months before. And San Joaquin County remained the hot spot with 1,236 houses going back to lenders or sold at the county courthouse, a 5% hike from May.
ForeclosureRadar's Sean O'Toole said lenders are offering sharp discounts at auction, sometimes 50% or more, to get properties off their books, often to no avail. Those houses are then listed with real estate agents and sold through traditonal channels.
Never assume you have all the answers, because there's always someone who has "the rest of the story," as radio personality Paul Harvey famously says.
On June 16, I answered a question from Diane Ruble of Clovis about the whereabouts of the Wurlitzer organ from the old Pizza and Pipes Restaurant near First Street and Shields Avenue.
I began my search in The Bee's newspaper clipping files which date from 1922, when The Fresno Bee was founded. Stories after 1984 are in our digital files.
In the clip files, I found one sentence about the organ in a 1976 Woody Laughnan column and a little more information in a 1977 news story. The organ appeared in two stories from 2000 and 2001 in our digital files.
From those bits and pieces I was able to say that the organ came from a Shea Theater in New York state and was installed at Pizza and Pipes when it opened in 1977. The restaurant had an old-time movie theme and the organ was played to accompany silent movies.
The organ was sold in 1998 to an owner back East and Pizza and Pipes closed in 2000.
And that's all I knew, until I got an e-mail from Adena Richards of Clovis and a phone call from Dick Cencibaugh of Fresno, who both played the organ at Pizza and Pipes.
Richards wrote that she was the last organist at Pizza and Pipes and played the final performance on the "Mighty Wurlitzer" on Oct. 8, 1997. She also knew that the organ had recently been purchased by the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, PA.
Cencibaugh, who played the Pizza and Pipes Wurlitzer for 15 years, gave me the phone number for the theater, where the executive director put me in touch with Jack Serdy of Phoenixville, who restored the organ for the theater. Serdy filled in a lot of missing details.
The Pizza and Pipes organ was built at the Wurlitzer factory in New York in 1923 for a Hippodrome Theatre in Buffalo. It was later moved to Niagara Falls, Canada.
Apparently in the 1970s, owners of the Sacramento-based pizza chain bought the organ and stored it in Sacramento before it was moved to the Fresno Pizza and Pipes.
Roland Kurik of New Jersey bought the organ shortly before the restaurant closed, intending to install it in a building were it could be played for public performances, Serdy said. Kurik died before he could fulfill that dream, but left a provision in his will to donate the organ to an organization that would use it for the public's enjoyment. His will included $100,000 for rennovation.
The Colonial Theatre applied to Kurik's estate and received the organ, Serdy said. The Wurlitzer from Fresno is now installed in the Phoenixville theater and Serdy hopes to have it fine tuned and ready for its debut performance by Christmas.
It wasn't another story about foreclosures or runs on banks that provided the signal to me that the country is slipping deeper and deeper into an economic muck.
It was a story about catfish that provided proof beyond doubt that we're sliding toward the bottom. The New York Times reports that Mississippi catfish farmers are draining their catfish ponds because they can't afford to feed the whiskered, slick-skinned, bottom-feeding fish.
Can the economy get any lower?
You tell me. But as the daughter of Oklahoma-born parents who grew up eating fresh-caught, corn-meal fried catfish, the idea that we could be facing a catfish scarcity is simply terrifying.
Don Scordino, president of the Fresno Association of Realtors, drives 2,000 miles per month, meeting with clients and showing property. And he drives an SUV.
So, naturally he's looking for a way to cut his fuel bill, which, with gas prices topping $4.50 per gallon in some areas, has become a major expense. But real estate is a business built on relationships, so Scordino can't eliminate the personal approach.
He can, however, bundle his trips; rely more heavily on e-mail for basic correspondence; and analyze the benefits of listing property in far-flung regions. "I had a listing opportunity in the foothills. when I figured it would cost $20 every trip to show the property, I got to thinking it would go better with a local Realtor," he said.
Scordino's not alone in his efforts to cut his fuel bill, and at least one industry web site is eager to help. Inman News offers 12 strategies for Realtors. Check this:
Gloria Romero, California state Senate majority leader, is holding an education forum from 5 to 7 p.m. today in downtown Fresno.
Romero, a Los Angeles Democrat, has hosted other forums around the state, asking local leaders and parents which education policies are working, which aren't, and what must be done to improve academic performance for children -- not only on campuses, but in the arenas of medical and social services.
This evening's discussion will be at the Hugh Burns State Building Assembly Room at 2550 Mariposa Mall. The public is invited.
Among those invited to attend the panel discussion are Raul Moreno, director of migrant services at California State University, Fresno; Juan Garza, superintendent of Kings Canyon Unified School District based in Reedley; and Ed Moreno, Fresno County health officer.
The evening will conclude with a public comment session.
You know the economy is bad when chocolate sales fall
I know times are tough, but how could anyone possibly scale back on buying chocolate — that escape-from-the-world, make-every-problem-better yummy goodness?
Apparently cash-strapped consumers are doing just that. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory sales slipped 7.8% in the most recent quarter, compared to last year. An executive said chocolate was once recession proof, but no more.
Of course, many of these companies’ struggles are due to the high cost of cocoa. This story says that like crude oil, speculators are driving up the cost of it.
I don’t care. I’ll keep eating it. I wonder if times get bad enough if they’ll be enough stressed-out, chocolate-craving people to cause a turnaround in the industry?
Backers of a new new television ad denouncing further cuts in health care programs have decided to debut the ad in Fresno, of all places.
Besides being the largest media market in the San Joaquin Valley, the Fresno area just happens to be in the districts of the Legislature's two Republican leaders, Mike Villines in the Assembly and Dave Cogdill in the Senate.
The 30-second ad, by a coalition of unions and health care advocates, urges the Legislature to "stop the health care cuts, or we’ll all pay the price." Taking a starring role are three Valley health care workers: Dr. Virgil Airola of Fresno, Kit deYoung, a licensed vocational nurse of Visalia and Carmen Morales-Board, a nurse practitioner of Bakersfield.
Lawmakers earlier this year slashed Medi-Cal reimbursement rates by 10%. The cuts went into effect two weeks ago. As a result, "many providers are being forced to end their participation in the underfunded Medi-Cal program or even have to stop providing services altogether," according to a statement by California Health Care Partnership, the coalition backing the ad.
Democrats are pushing for tax increases in the 2008-09 budget to help roll back some of the cuts. Republicans have resisted, saying tax hikes would harm the economy. As of today, the budget is 17 days late.
The ad debuts today. Coalition members include AARP, California Medical Association, Service Employees International Union, Catholic Healthcare West, Kaiser Permanente, and Health Access.
Fresno truck business owner Jim Ganduglia told me the proposed state air rule on diesel trucks will run him out of business by 2013. Environmentalists doubt him.
This may sound like the usual argument, but you need to understand that there is no truck rule like this anywhere in the world.
Nobody orders pollution cutbacks on trucking fleets that are already on the road. The traditional approach is to require better engines and cleaner fuels -- before folks buy them.
Ganduglia says he'll need to replace seven of his 27 trucks at a cost close to $1 million in five years. He says the process is happening too quickly. It needs to slow down, or the public will need to help the industry.
Environmentalists say truckers are simply doing what businesses always do when ground-breaking regulation comes: Over-estimate the cost and claim they are going out of business.
It's not front-page news, but it is a crucial argument. Diesel trucks are the single biggest air quality problem confronting the San Joaquin Valley.
The soot and chemicals in the exhaust must be controlled if this region has any hope of healthy air in the next decade. And the trucking industry is a linchpin in the state's economy.
Another workshop will be held in Fresno from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Fresno County Plaza Ballroom, 2220 Tulare St. The California Air Resources Board will vote on this precedent-setting rule in October.
Former Fresno County District Attorney Ed Hunt confirmed Wednesday he has applied for the Madera County District Attorney job to be filled by appointment by the Madera Board of Supervisors.
Hunt, 66, was District Attorney for 20 years and was elected fives times. He retired in 2002. He said he wants the job "because I'm bored. Do not retire unless you have something to do." After retiring, Hunt opened a private law practice where he still works part-time.
Hunt speaks openly about his alcoholism that lead to two arrests for driving under the influence -- the first in December 2001 while he was still district attorney.
Hunt said he has been sober for almost four years. "My date of sobriety is Oct. 7, 2004," he said, which is the date of his second DUI arrest. "I set out to fix it," he said, and joined Alcoholics Anonymous and saw a psychologist for about one year.
Madera County's current District Attorney Ernest LiCalsi was elected as a Madera County judge in June. He will leave the district attorney post at the year.
This is a bit of a twisty tale, but bear with me, because it involves hubcaps, a prostitute, sno-cones and craigslist.
In the works is this Edge of Town blog, which will offer vignettes, pieces of conversations, funny signs seen around town -- much of it contributed, hopefully, by readers (e-mail me!).
I go looking for something to write about for said blog. I was not dressed as a street-walker, unless frumpy cargo skirts are the new daisy dukes.
On Belmont Avenue, I find a man outside of a shop with a door covered in hubcaps and about 80,000 hubcaps in back. Walt -- "Mr. Hubcap" -- seems to have a story.
But the conversation pauses when a self-proclaimed prostitute, carrying a black umbrella and Pilates book, comes up and bumps me.
"Are you working?" she hisses.
"I am working as a journalist," I say.
"Then you shouldn't be wearing high heels, they scream prostitute," she says. (My shoes were about one-inch wedges, therefore having neither height nor heels).
"Uh, OK, thanks for the fashion tip," I tell somebody who is wearing blue jean cut-offs and turquoise sparkles around her eyes.
"I'm a prostitute!" she says. "This is my block. Why aren't you wearing flats?"
"If you're a prostitute, why are you wearing flip-flops?" I ask. "And why are you carrying a book on Pilates?"
These apparently are fighting words. To avoid a melee with a possible Pilates practitioner, I flee. I will visit Mr. Hubcap on another day -- and wear sneakers.
But on Monday that blog item gets 10 times more online hits than the actual article it accompanied, a piece on West African drumming in the Sierra.
"What's going on?" I ask the online editor.
"Local news at its finest," she says. "People are mad and want to protest." Also someone had linked it to craigslist.
But if there were really thousands of people reading craigslist every hour, then my friend should have been able to sell her really cool iron headboard for more than $100 when she moved.
HMac of Fresno Beehive fame solves the mystery for me.
"Dude," she says (despite being an English major and stickler for all other forms of word-correctness, HMac liberally applies the term "dude" to both sexes). "It's the word shaved. It's 40 million pervs searching shaved and some of them are ending up with shaved ice."
Record number of ballots cast by mail in June election
Across the state and in Fresno County, it was a new record for those who voted by mail in the June 3 election.
Statewide, 58.7% voted postally, a number that shattered the old record of 46.9% set in the June 2006 election. In Fresno County, 64.2% of the 108,265 ballots cast went by snail mail -- also a record.
But are these numbers that should go into the record books?
Fresno County Clerk Victor Salazar and Paul Sampietro, Tulare County's election manager, aren't so sure it should, because the low turnout skewed the numbers.
Salazar likened it to a wind-aided world record set by a sprinter in the 100-meter dash.
He said in low-turnout elections, those less likely to vote are the ones who actually go to the polls on Election Day. Those who vote by mail are more likely to vote, whatever the election.
Sampietro agreed, calling the results "kind of a fluke."
In Tulare County, 56% of votes were cast by mail last month. But that wasn't a record, Sampietro said. That came in a small June 2007 special election, when only 1,800 ballots were cast -- 80% by mail.
But Salazar still feels that voting by mail is the wave of the future, and he feels its growing popularity will be shown in the upcoming election.
"November will be a better indicator of how vote-by-mail has become more popular," he said.
Michele Cantwell-Copher, who's pictured here, has left her job as executive director of the State Center Community College District's fundraising foundation. State Center runs Fresno City College, and Cantwell-Copher's big job was rounding up several million dollars to help renovate the campus' Old Administration Building.
Cantwell-Copher started a new job July 1 with the Fresno County Office of Education. She's heading up the office's efforts to promote voluntary preschool in Fresno County. Cantwell-Copher said raising money in today's economy is a challenge, but it's not the reason she left the college district. She said working in K-12 education is her "career mission" and the new job gets her back to that. Before working at State Center, she was an administrator in the Central Unified School District.
Tom Crow, chancellor of State Center, said Deborah Bristol of Fresno is filling the fundraising job on an interim basis and that a permanent replacement is scheduled to be hired by mid-September. He doesn't believe fundraising will slow down in the meantime.
Cantwell-Copher said she's staying involved in the fundraising campaign as a volunteer: "I want to be there the day we open the doors of the Old Administration Building and give it, in a sense, back to the community." Renovation of the building -- first erected in the early 20th Century -- is scheduled to be finished in 2010.
Tips offer a respite from travel breakdowns, divorce
Gas prices are up, but many still plan to take that summer vacation -- perhaps a bit closer to home.
Before you leave, it's good to have the car/truck running properly. Breaking down, even with towing insurance, can foster divorce. Not good.
CarMax Inc. sent out a list of tips to prevent disaster.
"Most summer vacation trips are driven under what can be considered severe driving conditions," said Juan Crespo, CarMax ASE certified master technician, in a statement. "It is usually hot outside, travelers run the air conditioner, and there is always a lot of stop and go traffic -- these conditions can mean additional stress to your car's components and systems."
Read on for the list of tips, including everthing from tires to transmission.
Tires
-- Check tread depth, and look for bulges and cuts both in the tread area and in the sidewalls.
-- Check air pressure. Set the tire air pressure to your vehicle manufacturer's specification when the tires are cold.
-- Do not forget to check your spare tire, jack and tools. You need a good spare tire with the proper air pressure.
Transmission
-- Check your odometer and look in your owner's manual to see if the transmission is due for service.
-- The transmission fluid should be clean, and not smell burnt.
Suspension
-- Have a professional check the condition of ball joints, tie rod ends and other steering and suspension components.
Oil and filters
-- Change the oil and oil filter as often as required by your vehicle's manufacturer
-- If you are towing a boat or a trailer, look in your owner's manual for information on the manufacturer-recommended type of oil to be used when driving the vehicle under severe conditions.
Air conditioning system
-- On older cars, even if the system works, have a professional perform a thorough check, including the fan(s), the compressor clutch and the belt (while they're at it, have them check all the belts under the hood). A malfunctioning air conditioning system can cause the engine to overheat.
Cooling system
-- Have a professional check to ensure it is working properly and is filled to capacity with the right coolant. Heat can severely damage or even ruin your engine, and can also affect the vehicle's air conditioner.
-- Emergency supply package
-- Make a care package for your car, include the following: anti-freeze, oil, screwdrivers, flares, pliers, jumper cables, flashlight, and a first-aid kit.
The tourism business doesn't look so hot about now.
The Wall Street Journal ran a story on "staycations" accompanied by a picture of a family receiving a dumptruck load of beach sand, and San Francisco-based market research company Destination Analysts released a report today that said about 46% of travelers said they expect to reduce the number of liesure trips.
Whew.
Destination Analysts' survey polled 1,000 American leisure travelers. Those interviewed tagged their cutbacks to the overall economic climate. "General travel spending expectations are also depressed,
with 29.8% saying they will spend less for leisure in the next 12 months, a figure that has more than doubled from just six months prior," the report said.
In the past 12 months, nearly one-in-four, or 23.6%, said they have taken a staycation, or vacation spent at home, in response to gasoline prices, the survey reported.
"Affordability is certain to be top-of-mind," said Erin Francis, managing partner of Destination Analysts, in a statement.
This coming Monday’s Word on the Street includes news of two new ice cream shops opening in the area.
Cefiore opened in River Park next to Color Me Mine last week — the day before we hit 112. It’s in the spot that once housed the Marble Slab Creamery. Cefiore offers exotic flavors of non-fat frozen yogurt like green tea and acai berry.
And Sanger just got its first Baskin Robbins at the corner of Academy Avenue and 9th Street. The owner of six Hungry Howie's Pizza shops decided to branch out into ice cream.
And why not? In the oven that is Fresno, I would guess ice cream shops do well here.
The new Scoops in the Tower District appears to be doing good. Every time I walk passed there’s people sitting outside, and the music piped onto the sidewalk is a nice touch.
You can read more details about the above ice cream places in this Monday’s Word on the Street in the business section.
Obama trails by just one point in conservative Valley
Sen. Barack Obama has opened up a 24 point lead over Sen. John McCain in California, according to a new Field Poll of voters likely to cast ballots in November's presidential contest.
Obama leads in every region of the state except the conservative Central Valley, where the Illinois senator trails by just one point, 40% to 39%. The Valley has the most undecided voters of any region at 21%.
Obama's overall lead is 54% to 30% in the state. His supporters are much more passionate, with 51% saying they are "very enthusiastic" about supporting their candidate, compared with 17% for Arizona's McCain.
Remember $2 billion when talk turns to cost in reducing greenhouse gases in California.
That's how much we reportedly will save in health costs by the year 2020.
Saving the planet is one thing, but we're talking about saving more than 300 people statewide from premature death. We're talking about avoiding more than 9,000 asthma attacks and other lung problems.
The news media aren't reporting much about the health improvements in the plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 30%. It is the proposed blueprint for enforcing Assembly Bill 32 in the next few years.
It will likely cost industry, government and the regular taxpaying folks considerably more than $2 billion. That part of the equation gets a lot of attention in public workshops, like one that was held Monday in Fresno.
But you should know that the plan would take 10 tons per day of soot from the air and 50 tons of nitrogen oxides, or NOx. Those reductions are quite small -- the state daily puts out 3,500 tons of NOx and 680 tons of fine particulates.
Still, it could save hundreds of lives and help thousands of people breathe easier.
Work to modernize two more sections of the historic Generals Highway in Sequoia National Park is expected to begin next year, potentially tying up traffic in the short term but ultimately providing a safer, smoother road.
Park Service officials signed off on the project earlier this month.
Parts of the winding mountain highway date to 1926 and were originally intended for wagons; the demands of modern vehicles are straining the road, portions of which are deteriorating. Work to bring the 40-mile road up to modern standards has been happening in small phases since 1993.
Construction on an 8.5-mile stretch between Wolverton Road and the Little Baldy trailhead is set to start next year. Part of that project includes restoring Halstead Meadow by building a bridge to replace an embankment and culverts. Removing the embankment will revive the natural flow of water across the meadow once gullies created by the culverts are filled in.
Another piece of the project is 1.5 miles between Amphitheater Point and Deer Ridge.
Are you willing to potentially sit in traffic while crews do their work? That's what happened in the most recent segment of work. For about 18 months, wrapping up last fall, traffic on a 1.5-mile portion of the highway at and below Amphitheater Point was blocked during construction, except to allow one lane of traffic through at a time once per hour.
Let us know what you think, either with a comment or an e-mail.
For 45 years, Acequia Avenue through downtown Visalia has been a one-way street, with drivers only able to head east between Redwood High School and Bridge Street.
That'll change by the end of this year, as the street returns to a two-way configuration. On a 4-1 vote Monday, City Council members adopted the plan, including a provision for bike lanes in each direction on the converted street.
Council Member Bob Link was the lone "no" vote, voicing concerns about the safety of bicyclists on a street that is a frequent thoroughfare for fire engines and other emergency vehicles racing from the downtown fire station to calls. Link said he believed bicyclists might feel a "false sense of security" because of the bike lanes.
Once Kaweah Delta Medical Center opens its new expansion on the south side of Acequia Avenue in early 2009, the main ambulance entrance will move from Locust to Acequia, perhaps adding to potential hazards to pedal-powered two-wheelers.
Local bicycle enthusiasts backed the addition of bike lanes, citing the absence of any marked bicycle lanes in the downtown area. They hope the lanes will encourage people to use their bikes instead of cars, easing the strain on parking and reducing air pollution.
So, will bike lanes be enough to pull you out from behind the steering wheel and put you behind your handlebars instead? And do you think the lanes will prompt motorists to be aware enough of the bicyclists sharing the road to prevent tragic accidents on the street? Let us know what you think with a comment or by e-mail.
Confirmation of the first of the 600 stores Starbucks plans to close is here. Fresno and surrounding areas were spared — at least this time. The company will update stores planned for closure each month, after employees are notified.
I’m wondering which — if any — stores will close here. It appears that stores on the chopping block face some of the following criteria:
They’re losing money.
They opened after 2006
They are near an existing Starbucks
They are company-owned stores, not licensed stores
There’s plenty of talk on the Starbucks gossip site about the closures. The Seattle Times is marking rumored closures on a map here. How about you? Any first-hand knowledge of which stores locally will be closing? Post your thoughts here on the blog or feel free to e-mail me privately.
Apple sold 1 million of the much sought-after phones in the first three days since its release.
The much-anticipated phone debuted Friday in Fresno to 300 people waiting in line at Fashion Fair mall.
Many were frustrated by activation difficulties, but the phones are now working properly, said an Apple Store employee.
AT&T stores all over Fresno sold out of the phone Friday, but spokesman John Britton said Monday that the stores are being restocked continuously and the phones are available. Phones are also available at the Apple Store.
About 40 young adults will try to encourage their peers to vote this fall by posting blogs on the Internet and hosting registration drives in their neighborhoods.
The grass-roots, youth-driven outreach effort will target 18 to 24-year-olds in some of Fresno County's underserved communities: southeast Fresno, southwest Fresno and Pinedale.
The project kicks off July 25 in front of the county elections office.
The hope is that more young adults will take an interest in the November election and become involved by blogging about the presidential campaigns and talking about issues that are important to their peers.
"The research has shown that youth are very active on the Internet," said Sam Norman of the Rios Company, which is organizing the project. "We want to make this a process that is really driven by them."
County Clerk Victor Salazar said having the youth actively engage with their peers is what makes this "get out and vote" campaign different from others.
"They're talking about direct one-on-one contact between youths," Salazar said. "It's a new approach."
No matter where you live, State Sen. Dean Florez is on his way.
California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres on Monday named Florez as chairman of the party's “58-County Strategy" effort to "develop a strong, active and long-term Democratic base in every county in the state."
Florez, D-Shafter, promised to meet with Democratic central committees in every county in the next year.
“We are at a turning point in history, and voters are rightfully excited,” Florez said in a statement. “We owe it to our state – to our kids, to the future – to harness that energy in a united movement for change."
Florez worked for Torres in the late 1980's when Torres served in the state Senate.
All the traveling could prove politically useful for Florez, who plans to run for lieutenant governor in 2010.
Business owners in the Fresno area are doing some interesting things in this week’s Word on the Street. The woman in the photo is running a mobile spray-tan business, two local companies are selling their products at Costco stores and Reimer’s Candies is selling their goodies at the coast.
Word on the Street is a weekly column of compelling business news -- including business openings and closings -- published in the business section.
On its world tour, the Solar Taxi is stopping on Friday at the University of California, Merced.
If you hadn't heard about this -- I had not -- the two-seat solar vehicle can travel without recharging for nearly 200 miles. That's on rainy days.
When the sun is shining, it can apparently go almost 260 miles. It has a top speed of 60 miles per hour. And there's basically nothing coming out of the tailpipe, according to Swiss adventurer Louis Palmer, who is taking it to 40 countries all over the globe.
He's trying to call attention to global warming and suggest a solution for breaking free of oil dependency.
UC Merced's School of Engineering is hosting the stop from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday. The vehicle will be parked outside the Yablokoff-Wallace Dining Commons at UC Merced.
The university is the site of the UC Merced Energy Research Institute, which is made up of several energy-related research efforts, including projects developing innovative solar technology, forecasting solar power, and analyzing alternative fuels.
How about a nice game of Global Thermonuclear War?
This cool chart from FlowingData maps the growth of Wal-Mart across the nation. It starts small, like one little dot and then spreads across the United States like little green measles.
It's sort of reminiscent of 1983's WarGames, without the threat of destruction of an entire civilization.
Former Visalia Police Department officer Steve Dyar, who made the DARE drug education for youth program his own, died this week. He was only 52.
Dyar retired from the department in 2004, but he was so well-liked by everyone there that Visalia Police Chief Bob Carden is speaking at his funeral.
“He had a lot of pride about the organization, about being a police officer,” Carden said. “He’s a wonderful guy and a solid citizen. We’re going to miss Steve, as a community.”
Dyar joined the Visalia force in 1978. He made agent and had an article published in California Police Officer Magazine, but being the DARE officer “sparked a lot of enthusiasm in Steve, and he was already enthusiastic,” Carden said.
Services are at 9 a.m. Saturday at Assembly of God church in Visalia. A police escort to the cemetery is planned.
Rather than leaving the store with their phones ready and working, many customers were sent home to activate the phones on personal computers.
Turns out demand was so great that Apple’s software — including iTunes — could handle it all.
The problem was solved by mid-afternoon, according to AT&T, the phone's service carrier.
The difficulties didn’t stop the 300 or so people who lined up for the phone at Fashion Fair mall. Nor did it stop AT&T stores from selling out of them all over town.
See videos of the crowds here. Chat about it all here. Check availability here. And read the full story in tomorrow’s Bee.
A reader just called and asked how bad the highest one-hour ozone peak was on Wednesday -- which was a smoky, smoggy mess. It was the highest ozone peak in six years, according to the California Air Resources Board.
The state figures show the highest readings were in the Fresno-Clovis area. The Fresno reading was 157 parts per billion for one hour. It occurred between 1 and 2 p.m.
The EPA no longer enforces the one-hour peak standard, instead using the more stringent eight-hour averages. But the old one-hour health standard was 125 parts per billion.
Six years ago on July 10, Parlier had a reading of 164 for one hour.
Riverdale farm labor contractor Piedad Ayala's plan to storm the Capitol today with buses of farmers and farmworkers was foiled by one simple fact: lawmakers aren't here today.
Fridays are usually quiet in Sacramento and today was no different, even though legislators still haven't reached a deal on a state budget, which will be 12 days late as of Saturday. Gov. Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, is in Los Angeles.
So the farm caravan -- designed to bring attention to the state's growing water crisis -- was postponed, possibly until July 23.
"An event like that is probably best suited to have legislators there, so they have an opportunity to hear them," said Mario Santoyo, assistant general manager of the Friant Water Users Authority, which has lobbied for state money for dams.
On Thursday Gov. Schwarzenegger unveiled his latest proposal to solve the state's growing water needs, a $9.3 billion bond for water supply and conservation projects. The proposal, which is similar to what he floated unsuccessfully last year, got a lukewarm response from Sen. President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, who said lawmakers should first focus on state budget negotiations.
Ayala, who headed a similar Capitol caravan in 1990, is growing frustrated that the governor has not been able to cut a water deal.
"I know he's said he's going to do a lot for the state, but nobody has done anything for the water," he said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that next month it will begin listing retail stores receiving meat and poultry products involved in recalls.
"The identity of retail stores ... has always been a missing piece of information for the public during a recall," said Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, in a statement. "People want to know if they need to be on the lookout."
USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service will post on its Web site a list of retail stores that receive products subject to Class I recalls, the highest risk category, generally within three to 10 business days of issuing the recall release.
Recall announcements include the name of the establishment recalling the meat or poultry, the reason for the recall, a description of the recalled product, any identifying product codes, the recall classification and contact information at FSIS and the company involved.
The Kings Rehabilitation Center, which provides jobs and life-skill services for adults with special needs in Kings County, has landed a jobs deal with Exopack in Hanford.
Exopack produces bags used in construction, dairy, pet food and bulk food industries.
The work keeps four to five Kings Rehabilitation clients busy six hours a day, five days a week, said Carol Rogers, the center's executive director, in a statement. "We have enough work lined up for a year," she said.
There had been a price change needed on a line of pet food bags already produced, and Craig True, quality manager of Exopack, asked Kings Rehabilitation if it could remedy the situation. The center did. "They did a very good job," he said.
The center works with employers to make good job matches, sometimes using vocational instructors to supervise work. Details: 582-9234.
Want to know how many lending institutions have eaten it?
Go to the Implode-O-Meter, a Web site that tallies the number of financial operations in trouble. The latest to implode: Lehman Brothers SBF, IndyMac Bancorp, Mortgages Ltd., Wilmington Finance - Wholesale and Accredited Home Lenders, Home Funds Direct.
Those topping the non-imploded list: Assurity Financial Services (Retail), Assurity Financial Services (Wholesale), Key Financial Corp., Megastar Financial Corp. and Foundation Financial.
The New York Times says the Implode-O-Meter is the brainchild of Aaron Krowne, a former researcher at Emory University in Atlanta. A computer scientist and mathematician, Krowne, 28, started the site in 2007, believing that the troubles in the housing market, and by extension the mortgage industry, would worsen.
About 250 people were lined up at Fashion Fair mall to get an Apple iPhone Friday morning. Eager customers showed up at 3 a.m. for the store’s 8 a.m. opening, said the mall’s senior manager Mo Bagunu.
Last summer more than 100 peopled lined up (see pic) for the original iPhone, spending $500 or $600.
Federal law says the San Joaquin Valley and other air basins are having a bad-air day even if only one monitor shows pollution exceeding the health threshold.
So on July 6, when only Sequoia National Park and Arvin exceeded the federal standard, the whole Valley had a bad-air day, according to the federal law.
On July 9, all but one of the 22 of the Valley's monitors showed unhealthy levels of ozone. Stockton was the only place that did not exceed the federal threshold, though it did violate the state standard.
The point is that both July 6 and July 9 would be considered bad-air days, even though ozone exceedances on July 9 affected a great majority of the population and July 6 did not.
At 25,000 square miles, the Valley is the largest air basin in the country. That's a lot of room in a big, warm bowl of often stagnant air. And that's one reason this region's problem is so complex.
Hanford City Council member says he'll seek a third term
Hanford City Council member Dan Chin isn’t waiting around until Monday to decide whether he’s running for re-election.
Monday is the opening bell for candidates to take out nominating papers for the Nov. 4 election, and Chin — currently the city’s vice mayor — announced this week that he will be seeking a third term and taking out the necessary forms on the first day.
Chin won his first term for the District C seat in the 2000 election and was unopposed four years ago.
One other Hanford council seat, the District B post now held by Marcie Buford, is up for election this fall.
Warren Paboojian, the lawyer for Stacy Johnson-Klein, was frustrated because the California State University system didn't appear to be serious about settling his client's $6.6 million judgment plus millions more in attorneys' fees, plaintiff's costs and interest.
In Long Beach, meanwhile, system lawyers were telling CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed and trustees that they had an excellent chance of prevailing on appeal against Johnson-Klein, the former Fresno State women's basketball coach who had successfully sued the university for sexual harrassment.
Two months later, the system agreed to pay Johnson-Klein and Paboojian $9 million -- $5.4 million immediately and $3.6 million over 20 years. The total was just $200,000 less than what Paboojian had sought in April.
By any measure, Paboojian and his client were the huge winners in a war of wills that began after a jury sided with Johnson-Klein last December.
So, what motivated the CSU system to cave in and virtually meet Paboojian's asking price?
According to a CSU insider, the mood in Long Beach changed dramatically after USA Today published a package of articles in mid-May detailing Title IX problems at Fresno State and the school's expensive legal losses to Johnson-Klein, former volleyball coach Lindy Vivas and former associate athletic director Diane Milutinovich.
Because of the articles, Reed and the trustees, for the first time, regarded the Johnson-Klein case as their problem instead of a Fresno State problem or a San Joaquin Valley problem, the insider says.
"With the whole country now looking at the CSU," the source says, system lawyers were told to get the case settled quickly -- and get it out of the national spotlight.
Maybe Fresno Unified's dropout rate isn't as bad as advertised
How bad is Fresno Unified's dropout rate?
Maybe not as bad as previously advertised.
Fresno is among six of the state’s largest urban districts that contracted with Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) at the University of California at Berkeley to study the dropout problem, including tracking students who leave high school to determine whether they truly dropped out or pursued educations elsewhere.
The PACE report, titled “Beyond the Numbers,” dramatically lowers the calculated dropout rates of the six districts from the 45%-60% range calculated by other authorities to as low as 9.4% in Fresno. LA Unified had the highest at 25.7%.
The largest single factor in PACE’s revised dropout rates is the number attributed to students who leave one district but enroll in another. In Fresno, for instance, PACE found that more than 31% of ninth-graders move to other schools. But PACE apparently did not find out what happened to those students who left.
Dan Walters writing in The Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert has the full details.
The PACE report was released less than a week before the state Department of Education is scheduled to release its annual dropout report. The PACE report is available here.
Tracey La Monica, a former newspaper reporter and Tulare County Board of Supervisors aide, was promoted this week by state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, to head up his district office.
La Monica previously served as Ashburn's field representative for Tulare County. Now she will oversee operations at Ashburn's Bakersfield office, responsible for serving the far-flung 18th Senate District that covers parts of Tulare, Kern and San Bernardino counties and all of Inyo County.
She replaces Jeff Flores, who left Ashburn's office to take a management job with Rio Tinto Minerals/Borax.
Prior to joining Ashburn's office last year, La Monica worked for Tulare County as a representative for the county board of supervisors. Before that, she was a reporter with the Visalia Times-Delta.
Fresno is the fourth cheapest place in the nation to rent a monthly parking space, according to a study by real estate firm Colliers International. Fresno tied with Santa Rosa at $55 a month, and Bakersfield comes in as the rock bottom cheapest place to park at $40 per month.
I’m guessing that the fact that we don’t have that many parking garages — except for downtown — plays into this a bit, but hey, it’s one more positive thing about living in our city.
And this is one category where I’m glad we haven’t caught up to our big-city counterparts. People parking in midtown New York City pay $585 a month. And people in London pay the equivalent of a whopping $1,166.87 per month.
On local television news last night, I heard a report that said the San Joaquin Valley now has eight unhealthy days this summer. That's different from my count, and it may be confusing to folks.
Things are worse than eight unhealthy days this summer.
Since the first full day of summer -- June 21 -- there has been an exceedance of either the state or federal ozone standard every day, except on the Fourth of July. I count 18 unhealthy ozone days.
Now, if you start the count in March -- the start of spring -- there have been 58 bad days, according to the state ozone standard. There have been 30 bad ones, according to the federal standard.
I don't know where the TV reporter got the number eight. The regional air district Web site says there have been eight violations of the old federal one-hour standard -- a defunct standard. EPA enforces the daylong or eight-hour standard now.
Or, the TV report might refer to the number of days since June 21 when the air quality index was above 150, which means the air is unhealthy for adults with no lung problems. The index is important for determining your outdoor activities from day to day.
But if you're looking for reality, check the monitor readings. I'll give you more perspective about the monitor readings in future blogs.
It took three tries, but the Fresno Housing Authorities finally got a crucial $8.2 million grant that will help finance the agency’s Parc Grove Commons project across from Veterans Hospital.
The site at Fresno Street and Clinton Avenue was cleared about 1 1/2 years ago in anticipation of 464 new apartments to service low and moderate income families.
It will be a model of “green” construction with insulated building panels, radiant barrier roof sheeting, a solar-powered system for the community buildings and maybe a satellite-controlled irrigation system.
Housing Authorities was rejected the first two times for financing, which, said housing resource service manager Lowell Ens, is administered twice a year.
The project was tweaked a bit to better compete -- and the applicants were finally rewarded by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, receiving one the largest awards in this round.
Construction of the first 215 apartments could begin in early fall.
More homeowners are getting help staying in their houses after they default, but more could be done.
HOPE NOW, an alliance of mortgage services, counselors and others, said it helped 170,000 homeowners nationwide avoid foreclosures in May. And the numbers have been climbing each month.
In addition, the number of loan modifications in California climbed 31% in April from March, the state Department of Corporations said.
That’s good.
What’s bad is that foreclosures in California are at their highest point in more than 15 years. The California Reinvestment Coalition, an umbrella group for consumer groups, surveyed independent counseling agencies and found that troubled homeowners in California are still more likely to lose their homes than receive a workout.
David Mendoza of Fresno Housing Resource Center said lenders are getting more serious about cooperating with homeowners. Some sort of workout strategy can be developed for about 14% of the families who seek help in the Central Valley -- a significant jump in six months -- but getting representatives of the banks to return calls in a timely is problematic.
Adding to the woes: Falling home prices make it hard to value property, and employers, responding to a deteriorating economy, are laying off workers or cutting back their hours.
“The playing field keeps changing day to day,” Mendoza said.
Lenders need to step up to the plate and get serious about helping families keep their houses.
Kings County Republicans are celebrating the opening of the party's Victory 2008 campaign office in Hanford today with a daylong open house stocked with local GOP leaders.
The event began at 11 a.m. and is expected to continue until 8 p.m. at the office at 520 W. Lacey Blvd.
Kings County will likely be the epicenter for one of California's liveliest legislative races in the November general election: the battle between Republican Danny Gilmore of Hanford and Democrat Fran Florez of Shafter to replace term-limited Democrat Nicole Parra in the 30th Assembly District. The district includes all of Kings County and parts of Tulare, Fresno and Kern counties.
Expected to be among the local and regional party glitterati on hand today were Kings County Republican chairwoman Prudence Eiland, state Republican regional vice chairwoman Laura Gadke and Brian Forrest, the Central Valley regional chairman for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign. The public could also meet local officeholders and staff.
Back in March, the Fresno-based Regional Jobs Initiative put a group of buyers for warehouse retail giant Costco Wholesale Corp. together with central San Joaquin Valley businesses looking for new venues to sell their goods.
Now those contacts are paying off for two Fresno companies, the RJI reports.
Bouquet of Fruits, the maker of fresh fruit baskets and other tasty gift items, is now shipping its wares to Costco stores throughout the country, including stores in Los Angeles. Steven Paul, vice president of internet and national sales for the company, said he's looking forward to seeing sales grow next year.
And CLICK Espresso Protein Drink, which launched its line of powdered beverage products last year, was invited to debut its products at the Costco store near Herndon and Blackstone avenues starting tomorrow (Thursday, July 10), the first step in what might be a brand-new market for company founder Greg Smith.
Gas prices are fueling anger amongst travelers, a survey reports.
The June survey, commissioned by travel insurer Access America, said 48% of recent travelers identified gas prices as the most frustrating issue they faced while traveling. Nine months ago 24% cited the high cost of fuel, the survey said.
“Whether in the form of increased air fares or miles on the road ... gas prices are a particularly frustrating issue," said Mark Cipolletti, vice president for marketing and communications for Access America, in a statement.
Costs of travel and service issues on airlines also registered on the frustration scale with 52% saying they're frustrated with the cost of airline, cruise line and train tickets and 43% frustrated with other costs, such as lodging.
Early risers can see Sequoia ranger on national TV show
How early are you willing to get up to see some local heritage featured on a national television show? Hopefully 5:30 a.m. isn't too ambitious.
Tim Barrett (right), an interpretive ranger at Sequoia National Park, will appear Thursday morning on the nationally syndicated PBS series, "Los Niños en Su Casa"("The Children in Your House"), a Spanish-language show with different topics of interest to parents of young children. The show airs daily at 5:30 a.m. on Fresno's PBS station, KVPT Channel 18.
The episode featuring Barrett is "El Niño y la Naturaleza," or "The Child and Nature," and will be broadcast Thursday morning.
Barrett will be talking about how parents can connect their young children with nature. On the show's web site, Barrett is the featured expert offering advice that it doesn't take a national park to introduce a pre-schooler to nature; a local park or neighborhood garden can provide a good base for watching birds and bugs, seeing plants grow, and learn how to enjoy being outdoors.
The series is the Spanish-language companion to the English-language show "A Place of Our Own." Both are produced by KCET, a public broadcasting station in southern California.
Average gas prices in Fresno are actually dropping — a whopping four cents since June 21. It’s not much, but any reversal in what seems like the never-ending climb of gas prices is welcome.
They may more drop more in the near future since crude oil dropped $6 a barrel Tuesday. Any drop this time of year is surprising because gas prices typically rise around holidays when more people drive and increase demand. Maybe more people staying home over July 4 made a difference.
Wednesday’s average price for Fresno was $4.59, down from the all time record of $4.63 set in June. Average prices in the Tulare-Porterville-Visalia area are also down four cents to $4.62.
But don’t celebrate yet.
Gas prices typically rise faster than they fall as gas station owners make up for thin profits when prices are high. This study says consumers are partly to blame for prices not falling faster because they stop shopping around, meaning less incentive for lower prices. And for the long term, worldwide demand for oil is expected to stay high and that means higher prices for you.
A number of people lately have asked if ozone can get into your house through the swamp cooler. The answer is yes.
Four years ago, Dave Frank, a professor at California State University, Fresno, sampled the air in his own house -- which was cooled by swamp coolers -- and found the ozone levels inside were similar to the levels outside.
Ozone is the corrosive gas that makes smog dangerous. On hot, still days -- like the ones we're having now -- the sun cooks pollutants from cars and other sources into plumes of ozone, which attack living tissue, such as skin, eyes, throat and lungs.
A swamp cooler pulls air from the outside and passes it through water-cooled pads into the home. A modern air conditioner recirculates air already inside the house.
Ozone is a reactive gas that easily breaks apart when it comes in contact with firm surfaces. So after knocking around the house and recirculating in the air conditioner, most ozone in the house is gone, the professor said.
Bottom line: The professor told me he replaced his old swamp coolers with modern air conditioners.
The vacancy rate in Fresno's office market held steady in the second quarter of the year, despite economic challenges and soaring gas prices, a survey said Tuesday.
The overall rate of 10.6% dropped slightly from the 10.7% recorded in the first quarter and was down from the 11.7% in the final quarter of 2007, according to Grubb & Ellis/Pearson Commercial's Office Market Trends report.
"Asking rents are holding steady, but concessions are getting fatter," the report said. "Landlords are becoming creative."
The report said there is no disputing the market has slowed "by a considerable margin." But "Fresno's geographic location within the strong agricultural economy of the Central Valley helps buffer the highs and lows."
With Fresno County leading the state in asthma rates for children, a report released Tuesday has special significance.
According to researchers at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, asthma results in:
California children missing 1.9 million days of school.
Adult workers missing 2 million days of work.
475,000 children and adults in California going at least once to the emergency department or urgent care center.
Making matters worse: A lack of health insurance. Adults and children “suffer far more than they should,” according to researchers.
And you can bet children and adults are seeing doctors this week with unhealthy air settling over the Valley. Pollution is a known trigger of asthma attacks.
A leadership shuffle is going on at Fresno City College. Guy Lease, who’s pictured here, took over last week as interim president. His six-month contract pays him $14,500 a month. Lease succeeds Ned Doffoney, who got a job in Orange County as the chancellor of a community college district.
Lease, 63, comes from South Lake Tahoe, where he worked for 17 years as superintendent/president of the Lake Tahoe Community College District before retiring. Will he only be a caretaker here until a permanent president is selected? “Clearly, there is not enough time to come in and make major changes,” Lease said Tuesday. But he has goals.
He wants to examine City College’s new system of getting the views and opinions of faculty, staff and students in running the campus. In education circles, they call it “shared governance.” It might sound boring, but it was a problem for City College. Accreditors several years ago said the college needed to improve joint planning between bosses and employees on the campus. City College responded by making it a more formal process in hopes of getting more people involved, and Lease wants to see how it’s working.
As he starts his second week in Fresno, Lease is experiencing a Valley heat wave. (Maybe that should be heat tsunami, with temperatures scheduled to hit 109 this week. It’s quite a contrast from his home near cool Lake Tahoe.) Lease said he has joked about the stinky weather with Tom Crow, chancellor of the State Center Community College District, which runs City College. “Dr. Crow mentioned yesterday that my contract is irrevocable, and he said, ‘Remember, it’s a dry heat.’ ”
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation today praising the Fresno State Bulldogs for their 2008 College World Series win.
There to receive it on behalf of the team was relief pitcher Kris Tomlinson, who grew up in Visalia and played at Golden West High School.
As it happened, the room was packed with county employees, including Sharla Allison, proud mom of pitcher Clayton Allison, also a Golden West alum. She stood up to explain that Clayton couldn't be there today because he'd just left at 6 a.m. for Ogden, Utah, to play with the Raptors, a minor league team in the Dodgers organization. Allsion was drafted by the Dodgers.
I don't cook much or well, but that hasn't stopped me from participating in the Fresno Art Museum's "Men Who Cook" fund-raiser the past three years. Here's the column I wrote about my cooking misadventures.
This year, instead of waiting until the last minute to come up with something, I asked readers for dessert recipes and enlisted Joan Obra, The Bee's food columnist, to help judge the entries.
Elaine Covington of Fresno won the competition with her recipe for a sugar cookie in the shape of an artist's palette. Because I had featured M&M's on my cookies in previous years, she suggested that I continue the tradition.
The cookies were a big hit, as 200 of them disappeared in about 90 minutes. In addition, I sold copies of my book, "It's a Dry Heat" at the event and donated the proceeds ($300) to the art museum.
Thank you, Elaine, for all of your help!
Here is the sugar-cookie recipe, which Elaine say she took from her "tried and true 35-year old Betty Crocker Cookbook with extra vanilla." Elaine advises not to "bake them too crisp."
Sugar Cookies
1/4 cup Crisco
1/2 cup Margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Mix thoroughly shortening, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Blend in
flour, baking powder and salt. Wrap in Saran Wrap. Chill in frig
overnight.
Heat oven to 400. Roll dough 1/8 inch thick on lightly floured board. Cut into desired shapes. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until very light brown.
Forget about unemployment rates or slipping auto sales, business section readers keep calling me about today’s story about Big Happie Hair.
The Fresno company makes plastic hair inserts called bumpits designed to give women that extra bump of volume on the top and back of the head.
Company president Kelly Fitzpatrick is an example of a former real estate professional — a mortgage broker — who has rebounded from the housing slump, though in a very unusual way.
To watch a video of how the bumpit works, go here. Keep reading to see more pictures.
Guys, I know her invention may mystify you, but trust me, flat-haired women have been asking me about the story all day. (Plus, the head of the company that manufactures it, Jet Mold Products of Fresno, told me they tested it in his hair. Not to give his short hair a bump but to make sure it actually gripped hair. So men played a role in this invention too.)
To watch a video of how the bumpit works, go here. Keep reading to see more pictures and details.
These are what the bumpits look like. The big one is the "rock star" size.
Last Sunday I wrote how California's leaders spend a lot more time writing laws -- many of which are redundant -- than focusing on solving pressing problems such as water, education and the state's deficit-riddled budget.
In an excellent article published this week in the Los Angeles Times, reporter Evan Halper points out that many other states are weathering the nation's economic downtown because they set aside reserves during good times and pay their bills with a diverse mix of income sources.
California, in contrast, gets nearly half its revenue from the state income tax, which can vary widely from year to year, depending on how the economy is going. This wasn't always the case, but Proposition 13, which restricts property taxes, radically changed the state's budgeting process.
Furthermore, well-governed states weed out waste and adopt management techniques that have proven successful in the private sector. In other words: California has a lot to learn about money management.
Here is Halper's article:
SACRAMENTO -- As Californians brace for big reductions in government services, the possibility of tax hikes and a long summer of budget bickering, they may be under the impression that everyone else is slogging through the same financial misery.
Not so.
Although the nation's sluggish economy and mortgage crisis have put the squeeze on a number of states, many are humming along fine, without dramatic measures to keep them in the black. Some even have multibillion-dollar surpluses. And almost none of the states that do have fiscal difficulties face shortfalls on the scale of California's.
Analysts say the state's troubles stem largely from its budget system -- the most dysfunctional in the country -- and they look to California as an example of how not to do things. In a recent ranking of state policies by the Pew Center on the States, California scored D+ on fiscal management. The average grade was B-.
"We have these problems that have long been understood, but we don't deal with them," said Jim Mayer, executive director of California Forward, a bipartisan think tank seeking to overhaul the budget process. "If we are going to fix this, we need to learn from what they have done in other places."
Of the 46 states that began their fiscal year on Tuesday, California is one of just four that still have no spending plan. Lawmakers are nowhere near agreement on how to patch a $15.2-billion shortfall, and the budget will probably include borrowing, accounting shifts and other maneuvers that make money managers cringe.
An outdated tax code, voter-approved initiatives that lock in billions of dollars for programs, inadequate oversight of spending and the lack of a substantial rainy-day fund all add to California's financial ills. Other states have addressed such issues with impressive results. But attempts at similar changes here routinely fall flat.
Virginia has achieved a balanced budget and a stellar credit rating by constantly updating its spending priorities, improving its tax system and setting funds aside to be tapped during hard economic times. The state is zealous about oversight, embedding independent investigators in state agencies to monitor how they are spending taxpayers' money.
Iowa, Maryland and Utah employ some of the same techniques, and there is momentum for such reforms in Ohio, Louisiana and Kentucky.
It is not just small states with limited government services that have a firm grasp on their finances, officials at the Pew Center point out. Places that have large, diverse populations and spend generously have also figured it out.
Some experts say the root of California's problem is its unusual requirement of a two-thirds majority for the Legislature to approve budget-related measures. That standard exists in only two other states, Rhode Island and Arkansas, neither of which is nearly as complicated to govern as California.
Daniel J.B. Mitchell, a professor of public policy at UCLA, said the two-thirds rule has paralyzed a Legislature that is already intensely polarized. "The years go by and we don't address these fundamental things," he said, "and here we are in a budget crisis again."
Every change to the budget threatens to cost someone big money. Special interests are organized and ready to protect their turf. They have the ear of lawmakers who, as a result of term limits, constantly have their eye on the next office and are reluctant to rile their political patrons.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took a crack at forcing the state to, in his words, "live within its means" in 2005, when he called a special election to address state government issues. His plan was to put a strict limit on how much spending could grow every year. Democrats said it would strangle government and voters rejected it.
Other states have taken a more moderate approach and succeeded. Over the last decade, many have adopted laws requiring them to build substantial reserves, some as much as 10% of the general fund.
In Washington state, the first 1% of revenue the state collects automatically goes into such a fund. Georgia is weathering the economic downturn with ease, having built a rainy-day fund that equals about 10% of its budget. Nebraska, a state that spends just $3.5 billion a year, has socked away $500 million.
In California, the leader of the Assembly's minority Republicans, Mike Villines of Clovis, says he is perplexed by why California is not building a significant reserve. He said the issue came up during a chat he had with Michelle Bachelet, the Socialist president of Chile, when she visited the Capitol recently.
"She is a former communist, and she was talking about how you have to have a rainy-day fund to balance ups and downs," Villines said. "If it is good enough for Chile and a former communist, it should be good enough for California."
Another area where change has been resisted is the state's reliance on income taxes, a volatile revenue source that plunges when the economy slows. Reformers are perpetually calling for revisions in the tax code that would bring more stability. Virginia, for example, has changed its tax code 15 times in the last 20 years to stay current.
The roadblock in California is largely Proposition 13, which limits property tax increases. Longtime residents and businesses have some of the lowest property taxes in the country because of that citizen initiative. If the state were to rely less on income taxes, property taxes might have to rise.
Lawmakers don't want to deliver that kind of news to voters. Proposition 13 is known in Sacramento as the "third rail" of California politics: Touch it, and your political career is dead.
So California continues to get nearly half its revenue from income tax, and once again finds itself in trouble. That's not the case in most other states, which collect their revenues from a more diverse mix of sources.
Beyond the revenue issue is how the state spends its money. California's financial oversight has yet to impress policy analysts.
Neal Johnson, director of the government performance project at the Pew Center on the States, said other places look carefully at how well government programs are meeting their objectives when deciding how much cash to provide them. Agency heads must show results, inefficiencies are rooted out, management techniques that have proved effective in the private sector are encouraged.
But such an approach "has not gained traction in California the way it has in other states," Johnson said.
Bee readers might recognize the name Sarah Jimenez. She reported for the paper's South Valley bureau from 2004 to 2007. Jimenez, who was raised in Reedley, moved to Sacramento a while back, and today was named communications coordinator for the California State Association of Counties. CSAC, as the organization is called, is the leading voice for counties in the Capitol.
“I’m excited to bring my journalism and county government experiences to CSAC,” Jimenez said in a statement. “I have a deep appreciation and understanding of county issues and I look forward to furthering communication efforts for the association and all 58 California counties.”
Farmersville newest apartment complex, Gateway Village, will provide 48 affordable apartments in a community that needs them. That’s good news.
But what I find interesting is the modular construction. The units are constructed in a factory and put into place with a crane. Proponents say that kind of building reduces costs.
Gateway Village should be finished in mid-October.
Note to Fresno-area farm lobbyists: Get to know Cathleen Galgiani. (She's the woman in the photo.)
The Stockton Democrat will take over as chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee starting next year, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, announced today. She will replace Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, who is termed out. Parra and Galgiani are both moderate Democrats, so it's doubtful the committee direction will change much.
The move means central San Joaquin Valley lawmakers -- those who primarily represent parts or all of Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Merced and Kings counties -- will control just two of the Legislature's 52 standing committees when the next session begins Dec. 1. (The region only has three Dems right now, including Parra)
Assembly Member Juan Arambula, D-Fresno, a strong favorite to win a third term, will likely still head the Jobs, Economic Development and Economy Committee. In the Senate, Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, will probably still control the Governmental Organization Committee.
It's possible that the Valley could gain one more chairmanship after the election if Fran Florez, a Democrat running for Parra's seat in District 30, beats Republican Danny Gilmore. Democrats control both houses and leaders almost always pick members from their own parties as committee chairs.
Fran Florez would probably stand a good chance of landing a chairmanship because leaders like to give such perks to members in vulnerable seats. The 30th seat is one of only a few in the Legislature that is not solidly controlled by one party.
There could be no more important committee to the farm-dominated 30th than the Ag committee. And with that chairmanship now filled, Florez, if she wins, won't be able to tout the post like Parra has. Of course, Parra didn't get the chairmanship in her first term either.
Capitol Alert has more on today's announcement here.
A controversial Valley air rule curbing pollution from city sprawl will soon be on a statewide stage as part of discussions about greenhouse gas restrictions.
The California Air Resources Board is going around the state to talk with people about a proposed set of rules to help the state cut back greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. In the Valley, a meeting on the proposal will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno St.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's sprawl rule is expected to come up as a way to curb traffic and thus reduce carbon dioxide coming from vehicles.
The rule assesses developer fees for pollution created by traffic from new housing or shopping centers. No major air district in California had ever done that before. The building industry unsuccessfully sued to stop it, and the fees have remained.
Now, environmentalists say some form of the rule should be included in the state's push for reduction of greenhouse gas -- the Assembly Bill 32 effort. The suggestion has again met with resistance from the building industry.
State officials are studying the rule. To help them, the Environmental Defense Fund this week will release a study showing that there is a link between new development and increased vehicle mileage. The study also says the Valley's new rule is an appropriate measure to combat greenhouse gas emissions coming from vehicles.
This week’s Word on the Street is packed with info. Business news includes: Clovis’ small business hatchery CargoBay growing by leaps and bounds; Toledo’s restaurant becomes Toledito’s; the Lauck’s Bakery neon sign finds a home in the founder’s family; Freedom Rider motorcycle shop and Baker’s Square have closed; and small businesses looking for government contracts have another avenue to get them.
Word on the Street is a weekly column of compelling business news -- including business openings and closings -- published in the business section.
The Fourth of July came and went without an ozone violation for the first time since 2000 -- one of only three times the air has been healthy on Independence Day in the last 20 years.
There was no stifling heat. The breezes seemed to stir the air just enough. And I did not see a dramatic spike in the particulate matter from fireworks, though I was looking at daylong averages, not the hourly readings.
We went from a perfect storm of pollution in late June -- among the most unhealthy weeks in decades -- to an improbable healthy-air day for the Fourth of July.
How healthy was it? The numbers look like the kind of readings you would see in March.
All that changed in a hurry this week. The wind has stopped. The crud is filling up the Valley's bowl. Time to protect yourself again by staying indoors during afternoon hours.
The day after a story about Huntington Boulevard ran, the city of Fresno hustled out there to close down a shaved ice stand catering to neighborhood kids.
"All these kids are coming up to me and it's breaking my heart to tell them no sno-cones," said Rene Torres, fence company owner/part-time shaved ice salesman.
Torres was mowing his lawn when a code enforcement inspector pulled up and told him he had to immediately remove his signs advertising lime, pineapple and strawberry sno-cones. Torres does about $20 in business a day, along with handing out free flavored ice at will.
He may be able to reopen...he'll just need a business license ($27), a mobile vendor permit ($25), a business tax-certificate ($37) and fingerprints ($47).
All improperly permitted lemonade stands be on alert.
Assembly GOP Leader Mike Villines spared no expense as he recognized the championship-winning Fresno State Bulldog baseball team at the Capitol today. Only coach Mike Batesole and pitcher Jason Breckley made the trip for the ceremonies on the Senate and Assembly floors.
But, thanks to Villines, a 1990 Fresno State grad, each player on the team will get a framed and personalized resolution honoring the achievement. That's about 40 resolutions at a cost of about $20 each.
The $800 charge comes out of Villines' office operating budget -- taxpayer money that pays for such things as his staff and office supplies, said Assembly Chief Administrative Officer Jon Waldie. Each lawmaker gets at least $292,000 a year for such expenses, but as leader, Villines probably gets more than that, Waldie said.
Visalia Republican Assembly Member Bill Maze is termed out at the end of the year. Why, then, did he hold a fundraiser at a Sacramento eatery Wednesday evening?
Because he's running for the state Senate in two years, he said. As for what he'll do between now and then, Maze said he's got "three of four different options I'm looking at." He would not elaborate.
Maze's wife Becky finished a disappointing third in the GOP primary race to fill her husband's seat. The winner, Connie Conway, a Tulare County supervisor, is the heavy favorite to beat Democrat Desmond Farrelly in the fall.
Conway recently made a trip to the Capitol along with other Republican nominees to check out the Assembly chambers.
The name change happened recently following a change in ownership.
Sam Toledo owned all four Mexican restaurants and started the one at Van Ness Avenue and San Joaquin Street with his brother, Armando.
Now Armando Toledo has taken over ownership of the downtown restaurant, said his daughter, Marisela Toledo, who is a manager at the restaurant.
“Being that it’s smaller and ... [he] wanted to make it his own, he changed it from Toledo’s to Toledito’s,” she said.
Everything else will remain the same.
Read about this restaurant and other compelling business news -- including business openings and closings -- in this Monday's Word on the Street column. To read last week's Word, click here.
A new air cleanup campaign is being launched with a weeklong assault on pollution -- from Monday through July 13. After the smoke and smog of the last two weeks, you should be primed for this.
Keep one thing mind: Every little bit will help. Get pollution-trimming ideas from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. The Bee published many similar ideas in a special section called Fighting for Air.
And let's be practical about it. Some of us can't join a carpool or ride a bicycle to work or telecommute. But we can do other things. Example: Wait until dusk to fill your gas tank. Any escaping fumes won't form ozone without sunlight.
Park in the shade at work. You'll get less gasoline evaporation, meaning fewer smog-forming hydrocarbons will escape into the air.
Use your gasoline-powered edger just once in summer to establish a nice clean edge to your lawn. Thereafter, use an old-fashioned manual edger that you push yourself.
Get rid of your gasoline-powered leaf blower. Use an electric one. Better yet, how about sparing your neighbors the noise and floating dust? Use a broom.
Steer away from the long driveup lines at Starbucks. If you idle more than 30 seconds, it's worse than re-starting the average vehicle these days.
UCLA economist Ryan Ratcliff spoke of a "festival of bad news" when we chatted today about the condition of the housing market. But he also expressed hope, saying the recent burst in existing home sales could mean the bottom is at hand or near.
Still, it will take months or even a few years to work through the rubble stemming from the foreclosure and mortgage mess. And don't even talk of price increases, at least until the foreclosures are washed through the system. People are buying repossessed properties fast, but not that fast.
PMI Mortgage Group estimates a 70% chance that home prices in Fresno will be lower two years from now. That's not good, but it could be far worse. We could live in Riverside or San Bernardino, where the likelihood is 95%. Here's the report; click the link for the appendix
Even though air pollution levels have dropped in the past two days, regional air officials are telling residents to refrain from home fireworks displays on Friday.
Wildfires throughout California last week poured a stifling brew of smoke and ozone-creating chemicals into the San Joaquin Valley’s air. The air remained unhealthy for most of the week until weather patterns shifted.
The fires continue this week, and another shift in weather could bring the plumes of smoke back into the Valley.
Fourth of July fireworks in neighborhoods just add to the problem, said officials from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
“We are asking Valley residents to please consider your health and that of your neighbors, and to not opt to light fireworks this year,” said district executive director Seyed Sadredin.
Fireworks produce dangerous specks of pollution — tiny particles of soot, ash, droplets of liquid and other material. The particles can be harmful to people with respiratory conditions. Older adults and children are also more susceptible to health problems from high particle levels.
The smallest particles can invade the bloodstream and trigger asthma or other lung problems. Some fireworks contain tiny metals that can enter the lungs.
The air district includes eight counties from Stockton to Bakersfield. For air-quality forecasts by county, visit www.valleyair.org or call 1-800 766-4463.
All that talk about cutting out $4 lattes has apparently had an effect on Starbucks. The coffee giant announced Tuesday it plans to close 600 stores. They’re not saying which ones yet, but an executive said in a conference call that Starbucks within close proximity to other Starbucks will be targeted.
Will the River Park Starbucks I and Starbucks II be among them? Shopping center spokeswoman Tracy Kashian said she hasn’t heard anything yet. The stores must be unprofitable to be closed, so maybe not.
What do you think?
The neighboring Starbucks thing reminds me of this clip from the film “Best in Show.”
But on a sadder note, the closures will affect 12,000 jobs, and some could be in our community. Check out the Starbucks gossip site if you’re interested in hearing what employees are saying about the news.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that the goal of an ozone cleanup is zero violations in a year. Turns out, that was an overstatement. You don't need to be perfect for the federal government.
The Environmental Protection Agency allows air basins to exceed the standard a few times over a three-year period.
I quote from a 1990 EPA memo: "In its simplest form, the ozone standard requires that the average number of
exceedances over a 3-year period, cannot be greater than 1.0."
That memo was a discussion of the 1990 Clean Air Act update.
So, you're allowed one violation per year. Actually, you could have three in one year, but then you'd need to be perfect for the next two years.
Such subtleties have little bearing in the San Joaquin Valley. This year, for instance, the Valley had four federal exceedances by May 17. That shoots down the next three-year period. And May isn't considered near as bad as July and August for ozone.
But there are nuances in the federal law that do not exactly favor the Valley. More about that in future blogs.
As home prices fall and banks face mounting losses, they are freezing or reducing equity lines of credit, sometimes targeting areas where values have plunged dramatically and borrowers with falling credit scrores.
And the agency that oversees banks is apparently cautioning them to not overdue it.
On the same day The Wall Street Journal reported on the frozen equity lines, an independent newsletter, Housing Wire, said the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation mailed letters to banks warning them against violating loan terms in the process.
“In trying to solve one problem, they could be concerned about creating another one,” said Michael Gilmore, a certified mortgage planner with Royal Charter Mortgage in Fresno.
When the housing market was robust, homeowners were using their houses as ATMs.
The Fresno Association of Realtors dug deep into their records and found that more than 50% of Fresno County homeowners who lost their houses to foreclosure late last year had taken out equity loans, possibly accelerating their downward spiral.
Now, many people can’t access those lines of credit - and look at the number of retailers that are closing or shrinking. Coincidence?
Here's The Wall Street Journal story.
And here's the Housing Wire item.
In today's state budget story I noted that, despite their differences, lawmakers are still talking. Well, not anymore -- at least for today.
Today's meeting of the "Big Four" legislative leaders apparently has been canceled. No word on tomorrow's scheduled meeting. In a possibly related development, Democrats are not too pleased with comments made yesterday by Assembly GOP Mike Villines.
In a meeting with the Bee Capitol bureau, Villines, R-Clovis, said lawmakers are "not making a ton of progress." By most indications, that's true. But leaders have made a conscious effort to speak positively about their meetings. On Sunday, they invited the press to take pictures of their meeting and later issued a joint bipartisan statement saying "we are continuing to make bipartisan progress."
Senate leader Don Perata, D-Oakland, told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Monday that Villines' comments are a "little setback ... because we all have to be working together. I thought we were."
It's been a good year for the Poochigians. First, Debbie Poochigian was elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Now, her husband Chuck, a former state senator, is getting a section of highway named after him.
The state Senate on Monday approved a resolution designating a 46-mile stretch of Highway 180 as "Senator Chuck Poochigian Highway." The measure was authored by Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, who represents Poochigian's former Senate district, and Assembly GOP Leader Mike Villines, who was Poochigian's chief of staff when he served in the Assembly.
The resoultion has already passed the Assembly and does not require the governor's signature. Two signs will be erected at a cost of $1,400, to be raised with private donations.
The 46-mile stretch runs from Clovis Avenue to near the Giant Sequoia National Monument -- including a section north of the small town of Lone Star, where Poochigian grew up.
Poochigian, a conservative Republican, was elected to the Assembly in 1994 and to the state Senate in 1998. One of his most notable achievements was carrying the 2004 workers compensation overhaul bill that has been widely credited with saving employers billions of dollars.
He ran for state attorney general in 2006 but lost by a wide margin to Oakland mayor and former Gov. Jerry Brown. Poochigian now practices law with the Fresno-based firm of Dowling, Aaron & Keeler.
Maybe not. A co-worker of mine counted three drivers using handsets on his seven-minute drive to work this morning.
And this story showcases a study that says that drivers busy yakking into an earpiece are worse than drunk drivers — it’s the distracted brain, not the hand, that is the problem. You can see all kinds of research and varying conclusions here.
Meanwhile, sales of wireless Bluetooths (Blueteeth?) and other devices are going strong locally.
Perhaps the worst thing about this law is that we’ll now have more people with the blinking “ear cockroaches” in movie theaters and more seemingly crazy people chatting to no one in grocery stores.
The Running Horse development is back in the news today.
After months of quiet on the seemingly dead deal, state officials are now accusing developers of defrauding investors of millions of dollars. Read more about it here.
They join investors, who filed a lawsuit in February to get their money back.
No glitz or glamor from Donald Trump this time, just the anger of investors who say they were spurned.
-thumb-200x300.jpg)
-thumb-150x100.jpg)
