Back in the day, as the saying goes, when we were actually in print, my wife, The Chief, used to pen a column called “Political Fix.” I remain convinced it was the best feature of the paper. She has abstained from that effort, largely because we have been shifted to an online presence, but I’ve […]
The water issue is on everyone’s mind these days and we are at a critical crossroads in our area. As a farmer and Mid-Kaweah GSA water board member, I know firsthand the challenges and the need for strong leadership. We need an exceptional assemblymember with a solid grasp of the complexities of SGMA, storage and […]
I am a lifelong Republican but come November 3rd, I am casting my vote for Drew Phelps for State Assembly. I don’t recall ever voting for a Democrat before, but this time it is an easy choice to make. Drew Phelps is bright and articulate, and he understands how to get legislation passed, legislation that will serve in the best interest […]
Understanding budgets and crunching the numbers are important. If we are not getting our fair share of the State’s budget, we are going to drop farther and farther behind the rest of California. As a businessperson, Drew Phelps understands how to allocate our taxpayer dollars, so they are utilized wisely and come back to our […]
PROPOSITION 15 – OPPOSE Changes Tax Assessment of Commercial and Industrial Property. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. Split roll taxes commercial and industrial properties based on current market value instead of purchase price. Reasons for Position: Proposition 15 is a $12.5 billion a year property tax increase—the largest in state history. The measure is riddled with flaws […]
People may think administering elections is easy. It’s not. It’s very complicated. In Tulare County alone, there are 161 different ballot types for the upcoming election, due to variously overlapping congressional districts, state assembly and senatorial districts, city council districts, school board areas, hospital zones, and water districts. And, yes, the pandemic has added more […]
Across our state, fires have burned a record-shattering 4 million plus acres so far this year. These wildfires have created astonishing scenes of destruction that have claimed many lives, destroyed property, and blanketed much of the state in almost unbreathable air. Many of these fires are so fierce that they create their own weather system […]
Democracy’s most sacred right, voting, is already underway in California with all 21 million registered voters having received a mail-in ballot. While voting by mail may have stirred controversy on a national level, here in California, we have grown comfortable with making our decisions around the kitchen table, marking our choices on candidates at the […]
I would like to voice my concern about Dr. and Mrs. Pandya and their recent statements and comments in regards to the election for the hospital board. They have made 1) false accusations of two seasoned and accomplished physicians 2)false accusations of hospital administration salaries 3)false accusations of corruption in the running of Sierra View […]
If you are anything like me, and would like to rudely unhorse our current commander in chief, there is no better way, metaphorically, than the tip of a lucky joust strike right through the eyehole of our president’s helmet–like Henry II suffered. Had he survived, Henry’s entourage were prepared to call him “Blinky.” Or “Left-turn […]