The Tulare County Board of Supervisors recently decided to pull its funding to the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The vote was 4-1, with Supervisor Pete Vander Poel the lone vote against this move. Comments made by the other four Supervisors called into question the performance of Board of Directors of the EDC and […]
The Pentagon’s budget proposal for next year was announced last week by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. In an interview with The New York Times, Hagel argued that to meet today’s national security needs, the Department of Defense (DoD) must shift its focus and capabilities away from “fighting grinding ground conflicts” and towards “new arenas […]
So, you’ve finally chosen a Realtor to list your home—now what? Most Realtors will guide you through the home selling process with organization and timeliness. Occasionally, though, details are overlooked. Beyond the paperwork needing to be completed, there is now a necessity to prepare your home for newfound attention. Photographs, open houses, and showings are […]
Every year, March 1 – March 7 is designated as National Weights and Measures Week. We would like to take this opportunity to state the importance of our Weights and Measures Officials in Tulare County. In Tulare County, we test more than 7,000 devices on an annual basis. These devices range from the retail motor […]
Human trafficking. It’s a term most people associate with a distant country, but the unfortunate reality is that this form of modern day slavery is happening right here in our community. As your district attorney, I want to raise awareness of this “hidden” crime. Not to be confused with human smuggling – a form of […]
As we enter 2014, there is renewed optimism in the real estate market. Varying expert sales forecasts have somewhat tempered expectations, but new residential construction activity and solid existing home sales hint at continued market strength. While the number of sold houses over this summer and holiday season has not increased in comparison to the […]
Zoning classifications and property descriptions are meant to organize and clarify, but they often just confuse. Land use in Tulare County is divided into thirty-one zone classifications. All zoning designated with an “R” is residential. For example, “R-1” is zoned for single-family residential and “R-2” is zoned for single-family residential or two-family dwellings (like duplexes). […]
Last winter, I dedicated a column to an explanation of the new Common Core State Standards. In fact, I started with, “A big change is on the horizon for California schools: the implementation of Common Core State Standards.” In September, I read about a recent Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the public’s attitudes toward the […]
As Dorothy said, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” I might have the same reaction as I enter Visalia Unified’s new elective course at the middle school level, Exploring Technology. The new course provides students the opportunity to explore technology in fun, innovative ways, beginning with a semester-long experience with the Lego […]
Sustained and thoughtful effort is given to public sector process changes that seek to meet mandates passed down through state of California regulations and to cover the necessary costs to get the work done. These changes are made with a focus on local residents, the economy and the changing requirements that must be met. However, […]