Valley Voice Issue 128 (1 November, 2018)

Valley Voice

Four seats up for Visalia Unified board

Tulare’s potential hospital lease, in depth

CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

TONY MALDONADO

The Visalia Chamber of Commerce and the Foothills Sun-Gazette held a forum at 210 café on October 18 to give Visalia residents a chance to meet their school board candidates face to face.

A total of nine candidates are running for four seats in the Visalia Unified School District (VUSD.) Districts 1, 3, 4, and 5 are up for election this November. Each are four-year terms except District 5 which is only a two-year term to fill Patricia Griswold’s seat. Griswold sadly passed away after a nearly 40-year career in education.

Walta Gamoian and Mike Moberly - Area 1

Walta Gamoian and Mike Moberly are running for Area 1, currently held by Charles Ulmschneider, who is retiring.

Moberly has been a prosecutor for 17 years and his “number one priority is to shine a light on this silent cancer that puts these kids on a path to failure.” The cancer he is referring to is elementary school age truancy.

Being part of the judicial system, Moberly has seen firsthand how a lack of education can lead to a life of crime as many of those who land in jail are functionally illiterate. He said that even though it is a small, 3-5%, the truancy rate adds up to more than a 1000 students who are not receiving an education.

He said currently there is a law on the books that VUSD could use collaboratively with the Tulare County District Attorney’s (TCDA) office to persuade parents to get their kids to school and give them a chance at life.

“Our schools have a powerful and long lasting effect on every single one of us,” said Moberly.

Gamoian retired after teaching for

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tony@ourvalleyvoice.com

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Trustees of the Visalia Unified School District are asking voters to approve a $105.3 million bond issue on November 6, with the bulk of the proceeds earmarked for a fifth high school, but some critics say another campus may not be necessary.

Measure A Details

Measure A--approval of which will allow the District to sell general obligation bonds backed by the District’s future property tax income, which is also created by approval of the measure--requires a yes vote of 55-percent for passage.

If Measure A is OK’d, property owners will pay an additional $36 per $100,000 of their property’s value annually, according to the

Playhouse.

Poochigian said that the city council gave the Enchanted Playhouse every opportunity to buy the building but that it did not come up with a reasonable offer. He does not believe that the city should subsidize the playhouse and that there are several other theaters in Visalia the organization can use.

“I think the city council made the right decision. I think the Enchanted Playhouse board could have raised the funds to buy the building but unfortunately they didn’t.”

Wiseman, who is a big fan of Enchanted Playhouse productions and sits on the Fox Theater Board, said, “I do understand the financial side of running a theater. It’s tough. You have to have a good business model, you have to have a good director, and a strong board, and you have to make the difficult decisions.”

Given the financial realities of

There’s no doubt that Measure H will ensure that Tulare Regional Medical Center stays open for up to 30 years.

The question to the voters is simple enough -- will they approve the lease of the hospital to Adventist Health?

Measure H is simply that question. The legal backing for the arrangement, however, is provided by a long-term lease agreement between the two parties, which spans 80 pages. The full document is available at ourvalleyvoice.com, and the Voice has attempted to summarize the key parts of the lease below.

Attorneys for the Tulare Local Healthcare District (TLHCD) the legal entity that owns the hospital, negotiated the lease agreement and three other contracts with the Roseville-based nonprofit.

Todd Wynkoop, an attorney for the district, has indicated that the most recent version of the lease -- dated October 5, 2018 -- is still considered a draft, but that no additional changes are anticipated.

If the measure fails, Adventist Health (AH) would exit the premises and the hospital would almost certainly close its doors again. The hospital has already reopened under the management of Adventist Health, and averages 66 emergency department patients a day, with an average midnight census of eight.

If voters approve the lease, the district would have no financial obligations to the hospital beyond specific maintenance and construction costs, crucially including the completion of the stalled tower project and any seismic improvements needed.

The tower would need to be completed 10 years after the lease begins,

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LEASE continued on 12 »

Brian Poochigain, Steve Woods, and Merritt Wiseman. Catherine Doe/Valley Voice

Visalia City Council District 3 candidates face off in forum CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

The race for Visalia City Council District 3 is heating up with three candidates and little time left before the November 6 election. To air out their differences and similarities the Visalia Chamber of Commerce and the Foothills Sun-Gazette held a forum October 18 at Cafe 210.

District 3 encompasses the western quarter of Visalia, including the Industrial Park that is the fastest growing region of the city. Candidates Merritt Wiseman, Brian Poochigian, and Steve Woods are vying for Mayor Warren Gubler’s council seat. Gubler is retiring.

Should we build an aquatic center and subsidize the Enchanted Playhouse?

The issue that drew out the most ideological differences between the candidates was the Enchanted

Critics question need for new Visalia high school, Measure A DAVE ADALIAN

Volume XXXVIII No. 21 2 November, 2018 ourvalleyvoice.com

VUSD’s estimate.

The District projects the additional tax will be collected for 30 years, through the 2048-49 fiscal year. The total debt repayment amount has been estimated by the Tulare County Council’s Office at $234,345,298, which served as an impartial analyst of the plan.

District-Wide Upgrades Included

Passage of Measure A could also mean a lot more spending power for the District beyond the $105 million bond sales will provide. Should voters approve the bond issue, state matching funds would more than double the amount VUSD can spend upgrading classrooms around the District, says Assistant Superintendent Rob-

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Hanford City Council candidates share views at Chamber of Commerce forum MARK PRATTER Special to the Voice

The Hanford Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidates’ forum in the Civic Auditorium on October 21.

John Draxler is challenging incumbent David Ayers for Area A. Francisco Ramirez, who was recalled in January, is challenging incumbent Dianne Sharp for Area D. Art Brieno, Jason Kemp Van Ee, Savino Perrico, and Cheyne Strawn are running for Area E currently held by Justin Mendes, who is running for State Assembly.

Strawn did not participate in the forum.

It was a highly-controlled and sanitized event where no questions were allowed from the more than 100 people attending.

The event was moderated by District Attorney Keith Fagundes, himself

a candidate for re-election and a figure in the local Republican hierarchy.

Chamber Chief Executive Officer, Joey Joslin, said the questions were gleaned from what people were discussing on social media after the chamber requested that people submit questions online.

The forum covered homelessness, restoration of historic downtown buildings, and taxing marijuana production, though not a question was asked on the disposition of the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park at 11th and Cortner.

In 2017 the city council changed the zoning on the property to allow it to be sold. In response to that decision more than 2,700 voters signed a petition that summer requesting the council to either change the zoning back to public facilities, or put a mea-

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2 November, 2018 Valley Voice

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FROM THE PUBLISHER'S DESK

Bandwagoning Pirates Discourse

However politically unpopular they might prove to be--or however inconvenient--we print the facts as we uncover them. Rational people appreciate this. This is, after all, our mission.

Then there are those who lose their composure over press releases, assuming the Valley Voice endorses whatever statement has been issued. And there are those, too, who take umbrage at the facts themselves. Both are the type of online troll who jab threats, call us names, and vow to be done with us.

But they never do go away. If only they’d honor their promise!

It’s not about agreeing with us. It’s about being an impediment to discourse. Because these trolls tend to be follower types, bandwagoning pirates discourse. Worse is that some of them think they’re witty when the sad truth is half of them can’t even seem to spell properly.

And I was being kind to leave it at spelling. Grammar and punctuation are nothing so much as a minefield before their comprehension of English.

All I mean to say is, if you’re going to troll someone, do it well. Otherwise you risk making a ridiculous spectacle of yourself.

We have, for instance, a defective next door neighbor whose medication clearly does not work. She used to leave her trash bin on the street to prevent people from parking in front of her house. One time, when we defied her, she scrawled a trolling message in the dirt on the side of our car. So I edited it. This made a spectacle of her, and she erased it.

What’s needed, then--in addition to a dictionary and some remedial language classes--is a minor education as to what all newspapers put forth. Forget the classifieds, the weather, crossword puzzles and horoscopes, the comics and all other flummery. I’m distilling it down to content. And it comes in four basic categories. In no particular order of importance, here they are: First, there are the aforesaid press releases. Pressers. These come from all manner of sources, and newspapers the world over are literally slammed by a plethora of them. It simply isn’t possible to print each or even share them all online. Our approach is one of timeliness--sometimes, we get pressers just hours before an event--and what’s newsworthy. We try to be balanced, but that isn’t always possible as some sources are more loquacious than others. And on our side of the equation, we neither endorse nor alter pressers.

About half of the time we actively disagree with them. But it’s a copy and paste situation. And if the presser in question appears in print, I can introduce you to its author every time. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mr. Reports.

Mr. Staff Reports.

Then there are letters to the editor. Call them op/eds or editorials--it’s up to you. But these, much like pressers, can’t in good conscience be altered, either. And--yes--I have repeatedly warned contributors that they must be their own language police. We run them, or not, according to space. And--again-about half of them I actively disagree with.

Next are columns. Currently--and historically, at least for us--there are two: my own, this one, “From the Publisher’s Desk” and my wife’s, “Political Fix.” These are also sometimes called editorials. But the main takeaway with a column is that it is an in-house opinion piece. Perhaps not of the entire staff, true enough, but of the author willing to stick his proverbial neck out.

Finally, we have news articles. Here, most newspapers--as do we--strive for unbiased accuracy. We’d be shooting ourselves in the mouth if we did not. Which is why it always amazes me that a goodly fraction, not liking the facts themselves, resorts to trolling. Our job is best done when just the facts are presented.

Which is where editing factors. Editing involves more than proofreading. You can do that on the side of a car. Believe it or not, sometimes it comes down to a single word. Someone will seize on that word and then troll us as biased. It’s a form of shooting the messenger.

And with the messenger dead, there can be no discourse.

Joseph Oldenbourg

Valley Voice

The Valley Voice is your newspaper, published by The Valley Voice, LLC.

The Voice strives for accuracy in reporting.

Commentary or corrections regarding errors of fact in our printed, online, or social media content can be sent to the email and mailing address listed below.

The first five copies of this newspaper are free. Subsequent copies are 25 cents per copy without prior arrangement. Please contact us for more information.

Use your voice: send letters, concerns, or corrections to editor@ourvalleyvoice.com PO Box 44064, Lemon Cove, CA 93244

Publisher/Editor:

Joseph Oldenbourg

joseph@ourvalleyvoice.com — 559-731-8687

Sales/Writing: Catherine Doe

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com — 559-972-7778

Reporters: John Dillon

john@ourvalleyvoice.com

Dave Adalian

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Martin Velasco-Ramos martin@ourvalleyvoice.com

Production/Website: Tony Maldonado

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com — 559-799-4100

Valley Voice 2 November, 2018

POLITICAL FIX Is the Blue Wave real? In less than a week the nation will find out.

The following are my predictions for local and federal elections: Congressional District 21: Democrat TJ Cox and Republican Congress Member David Valado Mr. Valadao lives in a district that has a Democratic advantage of 16 points but they tend to be conservative Democrats. The popular Congress member and native son has never been seriously challenged and beat Democrat Emilio Huerta by 13 points in 2016.

Mr. Cox, on the other hand is not a local. He moved to Modesto to challenge Turlock Republican Jeff Denham in the 10th District, then, a few days before the filing deadline, he moved back to Fresno to challenge Mr. Valadao when Mr. Huerta dropped out of the race.

He still doesn’t live in the district but has several businesses here.

Mr. Valadao has a few pieces of baggage himself.

He wants to protect the Dreamers but his party does not. He wants to protect healthcare for his constituents but his party voted 70 times to repeal Obamacare. Mr. Valadao was strongarmed into voting for the Republican healthcare plan that would have eliminated protections for pre-existing conditions by making coverage too expensive and would have kicked 70,000 to 100,000 people off of their healthcare plan. The Republican plan was ultimately rejected by the Senate.

Mr. Valadao is a well liked representative who has remained accessible to his constituents. Even though California Republicans are under attack this election, I predict Mr. Valadao will do as well or better than in 2016 and win by

15 points.

Congressional District 22: Democrat Andrew Janz and Republican Congress member Devin Nunes For the first time since 2002, Mr. Nunes is facing a serious challenger.

So what changed?

Mr. Nunes changed. The Republican Party changed. And so has the country.

In the last 10 years the country has made a paradigm shift from believing that healthcare is a privilege to believing it is a human right. The Republican Party is no longer the anti-deficit party, pro FBI, and won’t protect us against Russia.

And Mr. Nunes is not the freshfaced, approachable Congressman he was just a few years ago. Unless you go to his church, or your kids attend the same school as his, constituents have to pay $2,700 and attend one of his fundraisers to talk to him. And that is only if you are invited.

As Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, he has also learned firsthand that there is no Democracy without a free press. But his 38-page glossy campaign mailer eviscerating the Fresno Bee seems to want the paper to fold.

Every image on the front and back cover was carefully weighed. The yacht with Fresno Bee written on the side is sinking, supposedly after writing about a suit against a Napa winery in which he is part owner. The bees, drinking the Kool-aid, wear pink pussy hats to mock the women’s movement. And the “resist” signs floating on the water mock the transgender movement by copying the color scheme of their flag.

Fresno is already the butt of Visalia’s jokes because powerful developers have created ugly sprawl and nearly ru-

3 a column by CATHERINE DOE — catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com ined the city. What would happen if the only thing keeping the developers and politicians in check goes under?

How does handicapping or shuttering the Fresno Bee serve his constituents?

And the mega expensive mailer wasn’t even necessary. District 22 is one of last the truly Republican strongholds in California where Mr. Trump beat Ms. Clinton by 10 points, and Republican registration is 8 points over the Democrats. Mr. Nunes usually wins every two years, with the Fresno Bee’s endorsement, by more than 30 points, but current polls put him only winning by 6 points.

I predict the polls will prove to be mostly correct and Mr. Nunes will win 54% to 46%.

State Assembly District 26: Democrat Tulare City Council Member Jose Sigala and Republican incumbent Devon Mathis It wasn’t until last week that I realized how dirty this campaign had become.

In October of 2017 someone started a whisper campaign against Mr. Sigala that he was arrested on domestic abuse charges while living with his wife in Los Angeles. His ex-wife put an end to the rumors a few weeks ago by issuing a statement that he never hit her, or any other woman, and that they are still friends.

Then Mr. Sigala implied through his mailers, and during the candidates forum, that Republican Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler informally endorsed him. That was pretty amusing, but not true.

Then, for the last few weeks, Tulare City Council member, Carlton Jones, Mr. Mathis’ doublemint twin, accused Mr. Sigala of missing meetings, criti-

cized his trip to Sacramento supporting the Tulare Hospital, and accused him of campaigning on Tulare’s dime while at a conference in Long Beach.

Most recently, a new movement, Enough is Enough Voter Project organized by Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, makes violence against women the number one voting issue.

Ms. Dauber posted a slick video accusing Mr. Mathis of physical and sexual abuse of women.

I’m down with Enough is Enough making violence against women a voting issue, but there is one big problem.

The video about Mr. Mathis is misleading to the point of being false and needs to be taken down.

The video “He threatened to hit her” does touch on the fact that Mr. Mathis was reprimanded for locker room talk by the Assembly Rules Committee and had to attend sensitivity training. It also says that the Tulare County Republican Central Committee did not endorse Mr. Mathis.

That’s where the video and the truth part ways.

Ms. Dauber’s main source, former Chief of Staff Sean Doherty, was himself fired by the Assembly Rules Committee for sexual harassment. The accusations in the video about sexual assault committed by Mr. Mathis come from a lawsuit brought by Mr. Doherty that is in the process of being dismissed.

The other serious accusation, that Mr. Mathis raised a fist to a woman, was made by a close friend of Mr. Doherty, is uncorroborated, and was coordinated with Mr. Doherty’s lawsuit. From my research, both litigants appear to be out for revenge against Mr. Mathis.

With or without the video, Mr.

POLITICAL FIX continued on 5 »

VOTE

DENNIS A. MEDEROS TULARE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4

PROVEN LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONALISM FOR TULARE ENDORSED BY

Dennis Mederos has been an attorney, business owner, and local farmer in Tulare for over 35 years.

David Macedo, Current Mayor of Tulare

Tim Ward, Tulare County District Attorney & Army Veteran

Ben Curti, Dairy Farmer / Vietnam War Veteran

Connie Conway, Former Assemblywoman

Ron Quinn, Farmer / Marine

Gerald Benton, Retired Superintendent of Tulare High School District

Pat Hillman, Tulare County Board of Education Member Bill Postlewaite, Retired Superintendent of Tulare City Schools

Kenneth B. Nunes, C.O.S. Board President Adrian & Shirley Holguin, District 4 Residents Paul Daley, Real Estate Developer / Navy Veteran

Mike Shaffer, Clinical Social Worker Melissa Janes, Tulare City Schools Board Member Victor & Lucia Gonzalez, Tulare Residents

Phyllis Quinn, Tulare Sister City Foundation

Ellen Gorelick, Tulare City Historical Museum, Director/ Curator Emeritae

Gary E.M. Smith, Former City Councilman / Marine

Howard Berger, Retired Superintendent of Tulare High School District

Joe L. Pires, Farmer / Korean War Veteran

Mike Lorenzo, Retired Dairy Farmer

Ray Fonseca, Local Businessman

Dan Neppel, Retired Tulare Western High School Principal

Jeff Nelson, Local Tulare Businessman

Scot Hillman, Chairman of the Board of J.D. Heiskell & Co.

Jim Pidgeon, Past National Commander of Amvets

(Partial List)

Dennis was also a recipient of the Golden Apple Award for Service to Education, has been recognized by the Tulare County Branch of the American Cancer Society, and currently serves as an Alternate Public Member of the Tulare County LAFCO Commission.

‘‘

Lynn Dredge, Retired Tulare City Manager

John Beck, Retired Superintendent of Tulare City Schools / Veteran

He was selected as Tulare Man of the Year in 2013 and is a past President of the Tulare County Bar Association.

It’s essential that the disharmony in City Government comes to an end.

David Macedo’s successor must be someone who can provide leadership, professionalism and an understanding as to the role of a City Councilman.

He did so and my record proves I can also.

The Tulare City Council needs to select a new City Manager, permanent City Attorney and has to resolve the leadership issues of the Tulare Police Department. The Council has to balance the budget, insure our safety, repair our roads and make sure we have clean and safe drinking water. Our city employees must work without unnecessary interference and not in a hostile work environment.

With your support, I’ll continue to dedicate myself to the betterment of Tulare in my role as your District 4 Councilman.

LEARN MORE AT MEDEROS4COUNCIL.COM CONNECT AT FACEBOOK.COM/MEDEROS4COUNCIL

’’

PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT: COMMITTEE TO ELECT DENNIS MEDEROS FOR CITY COUNCIL, AREA 4, 2018 FPPC # 1411596

2 November, 2018 Valley Voice

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SCHOOLS continued from 1

ert Gröeber.

“With state reimbursement we expect to leverage $225 million in projects,” he said. “We have $50 million for eligibility (to fund upgrades and maintenance) at 15 different schools across the District.”

Additionally, the Measure A funds will be used to upgrade science labs and classrooms at the city’s five middle schools, as well as providing added security measures at each elementary campus, and to pay for needed repairs throughout the District. That, Gröeber says, will ensure all campuses in the District remain on a par.

“All schools across our district should have the same facilities,” he said. “Your zip code shouldn’t matter.”

Ballot Unclear

Some of the District’s claims may be dubious, however, says critics, and the way Measure A is presented to voters on the November 6 ballot doesn’t make it clear how the money will be spent.

Of the $105.3 million the measure will generate, nearly 75% will go for the construction of a new high school campus, yet the text of Measure A as it appears on the ballot doesn’t mention it.

“To be fair, they did say to prevent overcrowding in schools,” said Tracy Redden, a former school site councilmember who has performed vol-

unteer work the District. Redden is also a college mathematics instructor.

“That’s $75 million of those dollars.”

Gröeber says the District’s plan for a fifth high school can be found in the official election supplemental reading material.

Constructing new classrooms is mentioned twice in the Tulare County Voter Information Guide and Sample Ballot for the November 6 General Election, which was distributed to voters in early October. The booklet includes 11 pages of information about Measure A in English and Spanish, including the two-page full text of the measure. In that full text is the only official mention of constructing a new high school.

Ghost of Measure E

Redden is also concerned about how the District spent the $60 million in funding it received after the passage of Measure E in 2012. As with Measure A, the VUSD promised upgrades and repairs to many of the District’s campuses, and that the state would fatten the construction funds.

Redden says the District has received only part of the state money Measure E was supposed to bring to the VUSD, and because of District priorities, many of the promises made to voters during the Measure E campaign remain unfulfilled.

“They built the new middle school first,” she said. “They’ve only done a handful of (upgrade) projects.”

Many of the schools listed as in

need of repairs and upgrades in the literature supporting Measure A were also listed as such in publicity for Measure E.

Declining Student Population

Also at issue is how many high school students the VUSD will have in coming years.

The number of students in the District is about to peak, says Jerry Jensen, a volunteer for the VUSD who has been crunching numbers on demographics for the District for several years and was involved in the effort to fund construction of El Diamante High School.

Fairly soon, says Jensen, the population will begin to shrink.

“We’re going to have some growth, but that’s going to peak around 2020 or ‘21,” he said. “From that point, going forward it goes flat or starts to decline.”

A study commissioned by the District, Jensen says, shows the VUSD already has enough high-school classrooms to house 8,600 students. Currently, there are 7,640 high-school students in the VUSD. Their distribution, however, is lopsided, with Redwood High School at 100% capacity now, and El Diamante at 95.6%. Mt. Whitney High, which sits less than half a mile from Redwood, is only 81.4% occupied.

Much of the District’s problem could be solved by sending students to other schools.

“We have possibly a need for some additional space,” he added.

Quantity for Quality

The VUSD’s Gröeber says the issue isn’t just about keeping classroom overcrowding at bay. Measure A funding is needed so the District can provide greater options for students and keep them more engaged in their own education.

“Our discussion about the fifth high school has never been about capacity,” Gröeber said. “It’s about us wanting to have equity and balance.”

While the VUSD does have a theoretical capacity to educate 8,600 students at its four high schools, the original capacity of those schools was increased mainly by adding portable classrooms intended to be temporary stopgap measures against overcrowding. Without those portable buildings, the campuses have room for 5,375 students.

The city’s high schools also lack adequate opportunities for its students, Gröeber says, citing recent varsity volleyball tryouts at Redwood High. More than 100 students vied for just 22 spots on the team, he said. Adding another campus to the VUSD will help more students pursue their interests.

“That’s what keeps kids connected to school,” Gröeber said. “Those activities are lost when the campuses get too big.”

Creating an additional campus will also give students greater access to other campus resources that have become overused, such as the libraries and cafeterias, as well as more time with teachers, coaches and counselors.

Valley Voice 2 November, 2018

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College Republicans prepare for upcoming election JOHN DILLON

john@ourvalleyvoice.com

Individual liberty. Economic opportunity. American exceptionalism.

These ideals drive the local College of the Sequoias’ chapter of the College Republicans.

Murmurs of everyone’s week flew about until 12:10pm on October 9, when chapter president Angello Asuncion turned everyone’s focus towards a screen with an American flag. They stood, saluted, and sat down. “Okay, everyone.

Name, major, and choose a superpower,” said Asuncion. After introductions were made, Asuncion turned the meeting over to advisor Stephen Tootle.

Tootle has been the advisor of the club for around 10 years. “I thought this would be a great vehicle for providing opportunities for COS students in politics.” He helps facilitate college transfers, careers in politics, or leadership on the state and national level. “My main job here is to complete administrative tasks so that students can run the club.”

When Tootle gave his notes for the week, he pushed an event for the students to attend. “There’s a permit out for a protest at a Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting. The sheriff called

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Mathis is still going to win. Republicans out-register Democrats by 10 points and Mr. Trump beat Ms. Clinton by 11 points in District 26. Mr. Mathis beat his last Democrat opponent, Ruben Macareno, by 27 points in 2016.

Because of the mood I predict Mr. Mathis’ margin of victory will be cut down to 15 points.

Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) Superintendent: Craig Wheaton and Tim Hire Mr. Wheaton is currently the TCOE Administrative Services Deputy Superintendent and before that he was the Superintendant of Visalia Unified School District (VUSD). His proudest accomplishment was raising the graduation rates from 80% to 94%.

Mr. Wheaton makes a point of highlighting that statistic because Mr. Hire has been the Superintendent of Exeter Union High School (EUHS) for the last 12 years. Their graduation rate is 83%, the second lowest in Tulare County.

But should Mr. Hire be held responsible?

I am probably the last person Mr. Hire would want to ask.

When we had school-aged kids we lived in Lemon Cove, which is in the Exeter Union High School District. Only one child out of our five successfully made it to graduation. My kids talked about screaming coming from the classrooms (by the teachers) bullying by popular cliques (parents who were former Monarchs) and inappropriate jokes about the students (again by the teachers.) There is so much more, but I don’t have room.

My second-oldest son, Alex, stayed through the end of his senior year even though he didn’t have the units to graduate. A few years after his time at EUHS, I ran into an assistant vice principal who had no idea Alex never graduated.

This man was Alex’ counselor.

Alex’ best friend, Adam, also did not make the cut just days before the ceremony, and the teen’s parents weren’t notified until the day before graduation. Alex and Adam still went to the ceremony, but they just sat in the stands.

Personal experiences aside, Mr.

and asked to see some friendly faces there,” said Tootle. He told the club that the permit was to protest the sheriff’s implementation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“I have a feeling that about half of the protestors there wouldn’t have a problem with what they’re saying,” said Tootle.

The club, like the two other political clubs on campus, Young Democrats and COS Greens, is state-chartered. According to the California College Republicans website, the clubs across California “recruit, train, and empower College Republicans to combat liberal bias on campus, and help to elect Republicans throughout our state.”

College Republicans don’t face much liberal bias on the COS campus, as the college is situated in a deep-red town. Instead, it focus on the latter.

“Let’s talk about Triple Threat,” said Asuncion as he checked his notes. “Justin Mendes, Andy Vidak, and David Valadao need our help,” he said. Asuncion explained the logistics of the event. They were to go canvass and phonebank for the three candidates.

“We focus on all candidates,” said Tootle. “There’s Valadao, Matthis, and Vidak, but Nunes is the center of what we

Wheaton has more experience, is better known, and out-campaigned his opponent. I predict Mr. Wheaton wins by 15 - 20 points.

Tulare city council District 2 & 4: Dennis Mederos, Chris Harrell, District 4: Alex Gutierrez, Terry Sayre, District 2 With four qualified Tulare City Council candidates and the reopening of the hospital, Tulare seems to be back on track as one of the best small towns in America.

That’s good news for the Valley Voice because Tulare has been overwhelming our paper.

The four candidates each walked their district and reached out to their constituents, but two of them stand out from the rest in terms of ongoing political activity, public exposure, and name recognition--and that is Mr. Mederos and Mr. Gutierrez. I predict both of them will have easy wins Tuesday night.

Visalia City Council Election District 3, Merritt Wiseman, Brian Poochigian, Steve Woods The Visalia City Council race has three qualified, thoughtful candidates with Mr. Woods’ positions on the issues slightly different from Ms. Wiseman’s and Mr. Poochigian’s. For more details on their positions please refer to the forum article on the front page.

Because they are such good candidates, the scales of victory are going to be tipped by name recognition.

Mr. Poochigian has the highest name recognition because several cousins hold office in Fresno and Kings Counties. He also ran for Tulare County Supervisor in 2016, and is much more polished and trim than he was two years ago.

Ms. Wiseman comes in a close second in terms of name recognition and radiates with charisma. Mr. Woods likely is the least well-known, ran a more sedate campaign, and will probably come in third.

So with hardly any light between the three, I did what I normally do when I can’t make a prediction--I take a poll.

I went to the heart of their district at the Save Mart on Akers and Walnut and learned few things. One: that people in Hanford and the farmer’s market are much nicer. Two: West Visalia is woefully uninformed.

POLITICAL FIX continued on 15 »

do year in and year out.” He provided a time and location for members to go and phonebank for Devin Nunes during the meeting.

The group also discussed working at a fundraiser for Nunes. “We, of course, have to keep it secret,” said Tootle during the meeting. “I promise you it’s not normally like this,” he said. The club members would have to usher attendees to their seats, take tickets, and staff the other areas of the location. “Look at it this way, you get into an event that costs a couple grand for free,” said Asuncion.

Some members have even left the club or stopped participating because they’ve gone out to work on campaigns.

Only eight people attended this meeting, though the club had more students enrolled.

The College Republicans see their duties as local, and they do what they can to give back to their communities.

The club holds a Faith and Philosophy Inquiry Group every Thursday. “We started Faith and Philosophy to have a civil and productive discussion,” said Tootle.

Folks from all backgrounds are welcome at these events.

During the meeting, a representative from the COS newspaper “The Campus” came in and brought up the idea

of having a forum between the Young Democrats and the College Republicans.

They showed interest, and told the representative that they would await the Young Democrats’ answer.

“We’ve always had good relations with other clubs, and I attribute it to our efforts on campus,” said Tootle.

This specific chapter seems to align more with the mission and statements on the national level as opposed to the California College Republicans.

According to the national College Republicans website, “the [College Republicans National Committee] recruits, trains, mobilizes, and engages college-aged students in all 50 states and Washington D.C. to win elections and advocate for conservative ideals.”

As the meeting adjourned, Asuncion made a final announcement. “If anyone needs a ride, I can take three more people to the protest,” he said.

Some walked out talking to each other about classes and movies. They seemed happy to be politically engaged and they enjoyed meeting people with the same interests as them.

“When it comes down to it,” Tootle said. “Our organization believes that you have to be nice to everyone all the time.”

VUSD earns an A Measure SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS

MEASURE E PROJECTS DELIVERED AS PROMISED Measure E made possible: • Ridgeview Middle School • Ranger Hall at Redwood • Cost-saving solar panels • Modernization at campuses across the District

• Safer playground equipment • 21st century learning environments And more!

MEASURE A PROJECTS KEY TO OUR STUDENTS’ FUTURE Measure A will:

• Fund improvements to 18 additional, older schools • Help prevent overcrowding by funding a new high school • Enhance safety at every school

• Provide 21st century learning environments • Deliver equity, access and balance among our schools

California will honor our local investment: 50-50 for new construction and 60-40 for modernization. If we don’t support Measure A, our tax dollars will go to another school district!

Learn more: AforVisaliaSchools.com FPPC #1412110 • Paid for by Visalians For Measure A

2 November, 2018 Valley Voice

6

AGRICULTURE

Presidential order restores western water supplies CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, CALIFORNIA FARM WATER COALITION, FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE AND WESTERN GROWERS The recent order by President Trump will provide welcome relief to Western farmers, cities, rural communities and wildlife refuges that have struggled under water supply rules that are long overdue for an update. Prioritizing national interest and the value of California food production, the president’s order requires the re-consultation of the biological opinions to be completed and fully implemented by August 2019.

The deadline will bring to a close the review of rules governing the long-term operation of the federal Central Valley Project and California State Water Project. The review has been underway since August 2016, a process today’s order requires to be concluded by Aug. 31, 2019.

The president’s action today fulfills his campaign commitment to help solve the state’s water supply shortages and will greatly benefit Central Valley communities and the environment. Since 1992, water supply restrictions have caused severe economic consequences for farms and the people who depend on them for work. Many of the state’s most disadvantaged communities have suffered due to scarce water supplies. Wildlife refuges that are a critical component of the Pacific Fly-

way have had insufficient water to meet the needs of millions of ducks, geese, shorebirds, songbirds and endangered animals in large parts of the Central Valley and the Klamath Basin. An ongoing review of the rules governing these critical water supplies only delays the ability of these important areas to recover.

This action will also help address water shortages that have occurred across the West as the result of federal regulations overseen by multiple agencies. It offers hope to farmers and ranchers served by federal water projects in the Pacific Northwest, including the Columbia Basin and the Klamath Basin. The president’s order places the responsibility of operating the federal water projects with the Department of the Interior, to be supported by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The action prohibits any impacts to threatened or endangered species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. This issue has been scrutinized by the Executive Branch as far back as 2011. At that time, President Obama observed that the Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they’re in freshwater, but the Commerce Department handles them when they’re in saltwater. Those overlapping jurisdictions have only slowed efforts to help the fish.

A committee convened by the National Research Council also studied this matter a few years ago. The

NRC found that the lack of a systematic, well-framed overall analysis between the two services is “a serious scientific deficiency, and it likely is related to the ESA’s practical limitations as to the scope of actions that can or must be considered in a single biological opinion.”

Improved coordination between federal agencies will promote more efficient, effective and coordinated management of all ESA responsibilities for anadromous and freshwater fish in Western watersheds, from the highest reaches of our headwaters to the Pacific Ocean.

“This action is an important and common-sense move that will benefit Western farmers and ranchers whose livelihoods depend on federal water projects,” said Dan Keppen, executive director of the Family Farm Alliance. “It’s a practical and assertive change to Western water management and species recovery that our membership strongly supports.”

California’s GOP congressional delegation from the Central Valley played an important role in identifying the problems in the state’s water system and worked closely with the Trump administration to produce a solution that is consistent with federal law and will improve the water delivery system.

“There’s no question that the Central Valley has lagged behind the economic recovery experienced in other parts of the state. We’re optimistic that these changes will not

only help improve water supplies for farms, farm-related businesses, and disadvantaged rural communities, they will provide the incentive to put science-based solutions to work to help recover iconic native fish species that have suffered under the existing regulatory approach,” said Mike Wade, executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition.

“This is a common-sense improvement to a process that has been abused in the past by regulatory agencies seeking to impose a scientifically-unsound regime on water users that ultimately, by design, de-irrigates some of the highest quality farmland in the world. This move by the Administration simply ensures that the process of revising the rules governing Delta water operations will be less vulnerable to regulatory abuse,” said Tom Nassif, president of the Western Growers Association.

“Implementation of the Endangered Species Act can be better for both species and people, and the president’s action moves us in that direction,” California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson said. “It’s time to grow beyond the culture of conflict that has governed California water for too long.

We need streamlined solutions that benefit species and that benefit both the farmers who provide California-grown food and farm products and everyone who depends on those products.”

Farm Bureau announces positions on ballot measures STAFF REPORTS As the November election nears, California Farm Bureau Federation directors encourage voters to approve

a water bond measure but to reject an initiative that would impose new restrictions on how farm animals are raised. CFBF directors considered statewide ballot measures during a meet-

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The CFBF board endorsed passage of Proposition 3, an $8.9 billion measure to invest in water-system enhancements including groundwater supply, water recycling, efficiency improvements, safe drinking water and repairs to critical water projects.

“One of California’s top priorities must be to enhance our water system,” CFBF President Jamie Johansson said.

“Proposition 3 builds on earlier investments. It represents the latest contribution to what must be an ongoing commitment to assure California’s water system can meet its future needs.”

The ballot initiative Proposition 12 would dictate specific requirements for housing egg-laying hens, veal calves and hogs. Johansson called the measure unnecessary.

“Everyone agrees farm animals should be treated with care,” he said, “and California voters passed Proposition 2 on animal housing 10 years ago.

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VALLEYSCENE

ourvalleyvoice.com

Symphony plays Gershwin, Lindsay Community Theater heads Bernstein November 17 at Visalia Fox Into the Woods on Nov 1 STAFF REPORTS George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein are two of America’s most famous composers.

The Sequoia Symphony features music by both of these talented musicians in its concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Visalia Fox Theatre.

Two of the pieces were themes in iconic films.

“On the Waterfront” is famous for Marlon Brando’s line, “I coulda been a contender.”

But the score by Andrew Tyson Bernstein, the only music he wrote specifically for a movie, is considered among the most distinctive in Hollywood history. Unlike most film scores of the 1950s, it conveys the essence of the drama, with themes for each main character.

“An American in Paris” starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1951. It was filled with music

by Gershwin, including the title piece, a jazz rendering evoking the sights and energy of Paris in the 20s.

Guest pianist Andrew Tyson returns to perform Gershwin’s “Concerto in F,” an easy mingling of Charleston, blues, barrelhouse and ragtime put together with the composer’s usual high energy.

Tickets are available at www. sequoiasymphonyorchestra.com , 559 732-8600 or at the door. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., but concert-goers are invited to attend music director Bruce Kiesling’s always entertaining pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

the spell. In the process they swindle, lie to, and steal from Jack (Gage Phipps), CinA hesitant Cinderella? A bloodthirsty derella (Anna Moore) , Rapunzel (KathLittle Red Riding Hood? Two Prince rynne Wills) , and Little Red Riding Hood Charmings with roving eyes? A Witch (Debra Newman). Cinderella and Rapunwho raps? A vengeful Giant? A neurotic zel are pursued by two Prince Charmings Rapunzel? Two blind stepsisters? All of (Mike Newman and Ash Morales). All of these are among the their fairy-tale stoeccentric characters ries get interwoven in James Lapine as they meet in the and Stephen Sondwoods, and then heim’s fractured everyone’s wish is musical fairy tale, granted by the end Into the Woods. The of Act 1, and all live Lindsay Communi“happily ever after.” ty Theater presents Act 2 tells what Into the Woods on happens “after” October 25, 27, Nowhen the consevember 1, and 3 at quences of their ac7:30pm and October tions come back to 28 and November 4 haunt them. What at 2pm. Tickets are begins as a fanciful Cinderella’s Father (Ron Fleming), his new Wife $14.99 for Adults romp through sev(Jennifer Keeton), and her daughter Florinda and $9.99 for Stueral overlapping (Haley Brummet) all look down on Cinderella dents. Special barfairy tales becomes (Anna Moore). gain on opening a moving lesson night only: Buy about community responsibility and the One Get One Free. Get tickets at lindsay- stories we tell our children. Other cast communitytheater.com. Call 559 284 2223 members are Jim Newman, Jim Kliegl, for more information.

Connor Craven, Ron Fleming, Fernando Into the Woods centers around a Esquivel, Stevie Gonzalez, Linda Jarrett, Baker (Joseph Newman) and his Wife Jennifer Keeton, Haley Brummet, Tiffany (Alli Smith), who learn they have been Steele, Grace Loeffler, LilyAnn Keeton, Carcursed by the Witch (Alyson Cook) next lene Ruiz, Nancy Wills, and Natalia Pratti. door. They embark upon a quest to break

STAFF REPORTS

2 November, 2018

HOLIDAYSCENE

ourvalleyvoice.com

Festival of Trees in Three Rivers on November 29 STAFF REPORTS It’s all about “Gingerbread” that is the theme this year for St Anthony’s Retreat’s Festival of Trees, Thursday November 29th 2018 at 5 PM. These 3-5 foot beautifully adorned trees will go up for auction beginning at 7pm; each individual tree will be decorated with just that perfect theme that tells the story of the spirit of giv¬ing. A silent auction opens at 5pm and will also be displaying many beautiful and handmade items just perfect for that special gift.

This year “Fest your eyes” on the delectable Gingerbread Village, as you enter the Lobby. For your silent bid¬ding pleasure you will find handcraft¬ed and designed gingerbread houses to take home for the evening.

For a complete list of the non¬profits that are showcasing trees and auction items visit out our website at www.stanthonyretreat.org All proceeds benefit each indi¬vidual nonprofit from tree sales and auc-

tion items. All purchases of trees and items are cash or check only. All trees must be taken home the night of the auction.

A true flavor of Three Rivers will be available for the guests as they find themselves wandering through the facility sampling many delicious appetizers provided by local restau¬rants and eateries.

Enjoy Wine tasting from a number of local wineries, or if you prefer micro-brews the most popular 3R Brewery will be pouring samples of their brews including of course a ginger beer, in your very own TAKE HOME GLASS. This Year come stroll the grounds of St Anthony’s and view the beautiful and creative Live Auction Trees during the FREE Preview on Wednesday No¬vember 28th from 3-6pm. Santa will be on site, for your family Holiday photo taken and hosted by a local scouting organization, for a small donation .

Tickets for the main event on

Thursday are $25 per person and can be purchased by calling 559-561-4595 or at the Retreat Center.

Also ask about a package stay that can be bought when you purchase

your event tickets. The package includes a night stay for two complete in twin beds with breakfast the next morning for $90.

Visalia Fox Theater to hold Merry-achi Christmas STAFF REPORTS On Friday, November 30th at 7:30 pm at the Visalia Fox Theatre, Mariachi Sol de Mexico presents A Merry-Achi Christmas.

How is Christmas celebrated in the southwest? With traditional carols played by a mariachi of course! And

this holiday season, Mariachi Sol de Mexico®, with the blazing sounds of its 13-piece ensemble, brings to life a festive, joyous holiday celebration.

Their Music is a fusion of the traditional holiday spirit with the color, and the traditions, of Mexican and American Christmas songs and carols. The

traditions are brought to life by Sol de Mexico’s spectacular artistic execution.

Experience this unique fiesta of favorite holiday tunes from both sides of the border.

This thrice Grammy-Award nominee, Sol de México® has performed and recorded with music greats Linda Ronstadt, Vicki Carr, Jose Feliciano, Willie Nelson, Juan Gabriel, Vicente Fernandez, Luis Miguel, and The Beach

Boys. The group worked on Hollywood soundtracks for Seabiscuit, The Old Gringo, American Me, Don Juan de Marco, Glory Road, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua Price tickets range from $22-$49. The public can purchase tickets at the Visalia Fox Theatre box office at 300 W. Main St. in Visalia or by calling 559.625.1369; or online at www.foxvisalia.org. Discounts are available. Inquire at the box office.

November at a Glance November 10-11 CVWN Holiday place Boutique 10:00 Convention Center

Market– 4:00,

November 11 Tulare Lions Annual Turkey Shoot Agri-Center 10:00 am – 4:00pm.

November 15 Creative Center’s Soup, Sip & Shop 5 - 7 November 17 Three Rivers Holiday Bazaar, Veterans Memorial Building 9;00 – 4:00, November 21 Senior Center Thanksgiving Luncheon 11;30 – 1:00

November 22 14th Annual Race VEAC Against Hunger, Garden Plaza 7 – 9am November 26 Visalia Candy Cane Lane Parade, 7:00pm November 29 Visalia Holiday Open House, 5 -8pm November 29 Three Rivers - A Festival of Trees 5:00 St. Anthony’s Retreat November 29 Dec. 6th, 13th, 20th Exeter Christmas Open House 5 – 9pm November 30 A Merry-Achi Christmas, Visalia Fox Theater, 7:30 pm

Valley Voice 2 November, 2018

9

Tulare HS Drama presenting 40th anniversary of Grease STAFF REPORTS For 40 years, Americans have been singing along with the popular musi-cal, Grease. Now this beloved musical is coming to a stage near you!

The 40th Anniversary edition of Grease is to be performed live at the Tulare Community Auditorium in Tulare, California, for four performances only: Friday, November 9th, Saturday, November 10th, Friday, November 16th

Calendar

Nov. 2: Wine & Chocolate Tasting at art show--The Brandon-Mitchell Gallery The gallery is adding a special wine & chocolate tasting at its annual Members & Friends Art Show during the Downtown Visalia First Friday Art Walk on from 5-8 p.m. 117 S. Locust.

November 3 – Arts Consortium presents 1st Saturday in Three Rivers Art studios, restaurants and merchants open their doors 11:00 - 5:00. Three Rivers Historical Museum, 42268 Sierra Hwy. for a map of venues. Info, visit 1stsaturdaytr.com or 559-561-3463.

November 9 & 10, November 16 & 17 Tulare High School Drama Dept Presents Grease The 40th Anniversary edition of Grease is to be performed at the Tulare Community Auditorium Limited seating. Tickets $12 for non-students,$8 for students. Contact jana. petersdorf@tulare.k12.ca.us.

and Saturday, November 17th.

The goal of the student performers and staff is for all attendees to go away feeling nostalgia of the play and the period.

For ticket information or to call for more information, please contact Jana Petersdorf with Tulare Western High School at jana.petersdorf@tulare. k12.ca.us.

Tickets are $12 for non-students and $8 for students. Seating is limited.

November 9: The Dedication of a Plaque to Redwood High Veterans A plaque will be dedicated to Memorialize Twelve RHS Veterans who lost their lives in Vietnam, L.J. Williams Auditorium, Doors open at 5:00, Program begins at 5:30 Information John Moorman 916.987.8555, or mooravn@aol.com November 10 – Visalia Over the Edge Rappelling adventure to benefit The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ninety-two participants will rappel down the face of the Visalia Marriott. Information visaliaovertheedge.com.

November 10 – Exeter’s Chili Cook-Off The Stag Saloon from noon to 4 p.m. in the City Hall parking lot, 137 N. F St. in Exeter.

November 10-11: Holiday Marketplace Boutique Hosted by Central Valley W.O.M.E.N.S Network and Visalia Convention Center, Nov 10 10:00am – 5:00pm, Nov 11, 10;00 – 4:00pm, Tickets $5.00, Admission Fee for Military and immediate families, Visalia Convention Center

Tulare Host Lions Club to hold annual Turkey Shoot STAFF REPORTS The Tulare Host Lions Club’s annual Turkey Shoot will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2018 on the grounds of the Agri-Center in Tulare, located South of Tulare East of highway 99.

For nearly 50 years the Lions Club has held the shoot on the last Sunday before Thanksgiving. This year we have moved the shoot date up a week to November 11. We hope all our patrons will

November 11: Veterans Day Presentation Flag Ceremony Visalia Public Cemetery, 9:00am, free to public, music and parade walk, www.visaliacem. org or 559-734-6181 for more info November 11, Tulare Lions Annual Turkey Shoot At Agri-Center South of Tulare East of highway 99. 10:00 am – 4:00pm. Frozen 12 to 15 pound turkeys will be on site. They can be won by target shooting at $3.00 a round, or taking part in the other games. Proceeds go to vision conservation for the Tulare elementary schools, and the Blind Babies Foundation of Tulare County. Information 6882740 or 686-6483.

November 15: Dan Walters talks about “Election Post Mortem”

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters at Left of Center, 699 W.Center. Visalia, at 11:30 a.m. Seating is limited and reservations must be made to phoebet8@att.net

by November 12. The cost is $25.00 for lunch (Tax and tip included.)

Saturday

November 15, Creative Center’s Soup, Sip & Shop Free gourmet meal 5:00 - 7:00 at The Creative Center 410 E Race Ave, Visalia, CA. Supports artists with developmental disabilities.

Gourmet soup, bread and desserts donated by local chefs, live music, handcrafted gifts,

Wine & Beer Tasting November 12th

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Frozen 12 to 15 pound turkeys will be on site. They can be won by target shooting at $3.00 a round, or taking part in the other games. The shoot starts at 10:00am and runs until 4:00pm. All net proceeds go to vision conservation for the Tulare elementary schools,and the Blind Babies Foundation of Tulare County. For more information contact 688-2740 or 686-6483.

ceramics, greeting cards, paintings, and fine art by the artists of the Creative Center. All proceeds support Creative Center. Info Stevi Daniels, 559-733-9329 November 17: Three Rivers Holiday Bazaar Veterans Memorial Building 9;00 – 4:00, Three Rivers, gifts hand crafted by local artisans for the holiday season, Pick-a-Prize, TRUS 7th Grade Luncheon, Information: (559)-799-1473, 3rbazaar@gmail.com Nov. 17: Sequoia Symphony plays Gershwin, Bernstein The Visalia Fox Theatre 7:30pm.“On the Waterfront” is the only score by Bernstein. “An American in Paris” was filled with music by Gershwin. Guest pianist Andrew Tyson returns to perform Gershwin’s “Concerto in F,” Tickets at www.sequoiasymphonyorchestra. com , 559 732-8600 or at the door.

November 21st Senior Center Thanksgiving Luncheon Join us for friendship and fun as we enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Turkey with all the fixings. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets in advance at the Senior Center beginning November 1st. Visalia Senior Center. $5 per person, info Holly Ellis (559) 713-4461 November 22: 14th Annual Race VEAC Against Hunger Join over 5,500 runners and walkers on Thanksgiving morning at the Garden Plaza, Main & Garden, 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Visalia as we fight hunger in the Valley! Food vendors, music, selfie stations, kids race. $30 per person, $15 children 12 & under. Includes commemorative T-shirt. Info Iris East, (559) 7320101 November 26th: Candy Cane Lane Parade Downtown Visalia, 7:00pm, All the sights and sounds of Christmas! We have dancing, music, characters, and of course SANTA! Chairs not to be set up before 4pm.

November 29: Visalia Holiday Open House Visalia decks the halls all along the streets, come enjoy the treats! Ride in a horse drawn carriage. Shop till you drop. Enjoy a hot meal. Bundle up go for a stroll, and see all the sights! Hop on Santa’s lap.5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Info 559 732-7737 November 29: Three Rivers - A Festival of Trees It’s all about “Gingerbread” for St Anthony’s Retreat’s Festival of Trees, 5 PM, 3-5 foot beautifully adorned trees, Auction at 7 pm; Silent Auction handmade gifts at 5 pm. Gingerbread Village up for silent bidding. Appetizers, wine tasting, microbrews. November 28, 3:00pm Preview, Check or cash only for silent auction and trees. Tickets $25. 559-5614595.

November 29th, Dec. 6th, 13th, 20th: Exeter Christmas Open House Old fashioned Holiday charm at Exeter’s open house 5:00 9:00 every Thursday until Christmas. Carolers, Pictures with Santa Claus, Old time fire truck rides, holiday refreshments served by merchants, call 559592-2919 November 30: A Merry-Achi Christmas Visalia Fox Theatre at 7:30 pm, traditional carols played by Mariachi Sol de Mexico® a 13-piece ensemble that brings to life a festive, joyous holiday celebration. Tickets from $22-$49 at the Visalia Fox Theatre box office at 300 W. Main St. or 559.625.1369; or online at www.foxvisalia.org.

2 November, 2018 Valley Voice

10

Tulare County first responders gather to honor Fire Captain Jason Elizondo MARTIN VELASCO-RAMOS martin@ourvalleyvoice.com

Last month Tulare County law enforcement and first responders gathered to honor local heroes. Among those honored was Fire Captain Jason Elizondo. Considered a local success story, Elizondo was born in Fresno and went to school in Dinuba before eventually signing on full time with Tulare County Fire in 2008.

With a decade of service, Captain Elizondo has a long history of providing local firefighters leadership and support. A colleague and close friend of Elizondo, Captain Hank Seguin, emphasized how Elizondo’s name kept popping up because of his humble nature and dedication to make the safety of first responders a priority by supplying them with the best protective equipment.

“We felt he went above and beyond mainly because he made my life

COUNCIL continued from 1

running a theater, Wiseman accepted the city council’s decision.

“I look forward to sitting on the Fox Theater Board and offering up our space to bring in kids for Enchanted Playhouse productions,” she said.

Woods, on the other hand, believed that the city should have subsidized the Enchanted Playhouse because it has subsidized other organizations that are creative in nature.

“It is unfortunate that the decision was made the way it was made and I disagree with the decision,” said Woods.

He believes that the city could have offered highly reduced rent or granted the organization the building. Woods feels that the Enchanted Playhouse has proved it is financially viable because it paid $3000 a month rent and up to $10,000 a month in electricity bills in the summers because the HVAC units are so old and inefficient. “But they have survived,” he added.

“The city, at any moment over the last 14 years, could have given them the same deal given other organizations that have given so much to our city. $550,000 is a quarter of one percent of our annual budget and it would not have been painful to forgo that building……..we can still go back to the drawing board.”

Wiseman was resigned to the fact that the building has been sold for another purpose. “I am excited to preserve that building and bring in another art form which will be food.”

JR Shannon, a born and bred Visalian, submitted the winning bid and plans on opening a unique-to-the-area restaurant and incorporating part of Garden Plaza in his design for outdoor seating.

The second contentious issue was the affordability of building an aquatic center.

safer...And also with the newer equipment I’m able to get into something that may be even hotter because I have newer stuff. With the other stuff I may not be able to get in there because the old equipment just wouldn’t allow it.”

Fire Chief Charlie Norman praised Elizondo for being such a versatile captain. Not only was he in charge of acquiring personal protective equipment, but he was also a talented mechanic, frequently had boots on the ground dealing with some of the worst traffic accidents in the county, and managed a $300,000 budget.

“Everybody in our agency is a hero, but Jason goes above and beyond in so many ways and if I had to put one thing I would say, leadership. Being able to pass on what we know. I have a lot of information. I’ve been around for a long time. Jason has a lot of information, but that information is no good unless we’re passing it onto the next generation...When I go off into

Wiseman liked the idea of Visalia’s having an aquatic center because one of her sons was a swimmer and a water polo player. “We live in the Central Valley and a community pool would be a great amenity,” she said.

But she recognized that city’s budget could not withstand the cost of building a $40 to $150 million facility. She was hopeful that if Measure A passed the Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) and the city could collaborate on building an aquatic center.

Poochigian said that right now the city has three big projects in the pipeline: the public safety building, the south side community center, and the aquatic center. “I think we need a pool complex but not at the expense of public safety. That building needs to be built first,” he said.

What concerns Poochigian is that the public safety employees are working in some of the oldest buildings and are spread out over the city.

He suggested, after the public safety building is completed, that the south side community center be combined with the aquatic center and collaborate with VUSD in terms of cost.

Woods is the vice chair on the Visalia Parks and Recreation Commission. He said that Parks and Recreation turns a $500,000 a year profit and that he would like to see the money stay within the department and possibly go towards a community pool. Right now the money gets transferred to other departments.

If the aquatic complex had an indoor pool, Woods said that there are configurations that would bring in a 100% return, and some that could even bring a 125% return, because the pool would be used year round. He said building it would be costly but that Parks and Recreation already has the programming in place and they need the additional pool time.

On other issues, such as when asked about how to deal with the

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Tulare County Fire Chief Charlie Norman and Tulare County Fire Captain Jason Elizondo.

Martin Velasco-Ramos/Valley Voice

greener pastures and Jason promotes through the ranks, there will be some-

body to take his place and we won’t miss a beat.”

homeless, the candidates were not forthcoming with solutions but agreed that it would take a collaborative effort to solve the problem. They agreed on the basics of Visalia’s General Plan, but did not agree on Visalia’s having enough affordable housing.

Poochigian said Visalia is doing a great job of providing affordable housing and Wiseman and Woods said a young person would have a hard time paying rent.

One question not asked that evening was how each candidate would vote on the issue of painting “In God We Trust” above Visalia’s seal in the council chambers. It is an issue close to Council member Steve Nelsen’s heart and he has expressed the intention to bring it back to the council.

All three candidates said they would vote no.

Poochigian said that as a practicing Christian he likes the motto but is a strong believer in the constitution and the separation of church and state.

Woods said “our council chambers are hallowed through the motivations, actions, and words that spring from the hearts of each citizen who stands within it, and advocates for the welfare of their fellow man; not from any words we may place upon its walls.”

“One of the things that makes Visalia great,” said Wiseman, “is that our city is home to a wide diversity of faith groups. As such, I don’t think it would be appropriate to include in council chambers any motto that could offend or exclude people who don’t share the same religious beliefs.

a hands-on leader as well. I know that there are sometimes three or four different sides to the issues that come before the city council and I will listen and make the hard decisions.”

Poochigian was born and raised in Visalia, played football for the Mount Whitney Pioneers, and graduated from San Diego State with a major in social science and a minor in history.

He is married to a local teacher, has two toddlers, and often finds himself cooking dinner for the family.

His priorities are public safety and roads and he was endorsed by all the public safety officials in Visalia: the Visalia Police Department, Deputy Sheriffs Association, Sheriff Boudreaux, Tulare County Fire Chief Charlie Norman, and Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward.

Poohigian has been on the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for two years and feels that he will be ready on day one. The CAC advises the city council on local issues.

“I am currently the only candidate from the private sector,” Poochgian said. “I learned that if you miss a phone call, you lose a client and I plan on bringing the same mindset to the city council.”

Wiseman begged to differ that Poochigian was the only candidate from the private sector. Wiseman built a business from the ground up after first subdividing the investment property she bought with a partner. They built a convenience store, gas station and added a restaurant because she is passionate about food.

“I know what it takes to work with the city on both sides of the fence and will work closely with our chamber of commerce.”

Before that, Wiseman worked for the Nabisco Food Group and also sold pharma. She said selling pharma is “hard work where the biggest skill you must have is communication and you have to know how to work as a team.”

After becoming the matriarch of a blended family, she became a full time mom and community volunteer. “I sit on a number of boards and I have a giving heart and a spirit for volunteerism.”

“My reason for stepping up and running for city council is because I want to take that next level of community service. This will be my fulltime job. I have the time and energy and I look forward to being your next city council woman.”

Background

While all the candidates were articulate, loved Visalia, and were obviously very qualified to sit on the dais, they had very different upbringings and would bring a wide range of experiences to the council.

Woods came from a military family and had lived in Mississippi, New York, Italy, the Philippines, and finally settled in Visalia. He joined the Navy himself in 1986 and served eight years as a nuclear power plant instructor and was a supervisor on a ballistic missile submarine.

After retiring from the military he worked for the Tulare Office of Education as its instruction technical specialist where he helped teachers integrate technology into their curriculum.

“I am a collaborative leader. I am

Valley Voice 2 November, 2018

VUSD

continued from 1 32 years at Golden West High School.

Because of her experience, she has firsthand knowledge of what the students need and how to support the teachers.

She stated that she has been endorsed by the Teachers Association.

She has three priorities: First, to get the students at grade level in reading and math. Second, continue the career technical education program and expand it. Third, Gamoian wants to support the teachers.

“They are the closest things to our kids and I want to see disruption in class minimized.”

When asked about Measure A, Gamoian said she went from a firm yes to undecided. As she walked the district she found many retired transplants from San Francisco and Los Angeles who were not in favor of the bond. She also said that as an elected official it was her duty to be a good steward of taxpayer money.

Moberly said he is against all new taxes but has decided to vote in favor of Measure A. His decision echoes back to his experience with the criminal justice system and seeing how important an education is. Both TCDA Tim Ward and the former DA, Phil Cline, have endorsed Moberly and Measure A for the same reasons.

Moberly also pointed out that Measure A would be a local tax and not something forced on us by Sacramento.

Jim Qualls and Joy Naylor Area 3

Joy Naylor is challenging incumbent Jim Qualls for Area 3, which encompasses Pinkham and Annie Mitchell Elementary Schools.

Naylor has been an educator for 35 years. She has done everything from being a counselor and business teacher to working as an administrative dean. With her experience and the fact she has three children, two of whom want to be educators, she says she can be the voice of the student, teachers, and parents.

“The board needs someone who is fresh, knows what is going on, has that insight knowledge, and experience to know how to move our district forward,” said Naylor.

Naylor said that her three priorities would be Career and Technology Programs, getting students to grade level with reading and math, and supporting the teachers.

Qualls joined the school board in 1997 and then resigned because the board and the Visalia Superintendent were incompetent. He then was reelected in 2001 and has been on the board ever since, bringing 25 years of service to VUSD. “I have proven integrity, trust and leadership.”

Unlike his experience in 1997 he said, “We now work together collaboratively with the teachers and admin-

11

istration. You don’t see us in the newspapers anymore about unrest in our employer groups.”

Qualls says his diverse professional back ground is an asset to the school board. He has worked with the Tulare County Agriculture Commissioner as a biologist, as an investigator with the county, and has also been a teacher and a general contractor. “So I have a lot of areas of expertise,” he said.

On the issue of Measure A, Qualls said that when he walked his district people were very supportive of the bond. In 1997 he did not support the bond because he could not trust a school board that ended up missing out on $43 million of matching funds because it did not fill out the paperwork.

“But now I have complete trust in the administration and we don’t have a lot of money. The time is right.”

Naylor said that when she walked the district she found there was a lot of controversy surrounding Measure A. “Right now I don’t have an answer,” she said.

John Crabtree and Mario Torres - Area 4

Mario Torres is challenging incumbent John Crabtree for Area 4, which is the fastest growing district in Visalia.

Torres did not attend the forum.

Crabtree has been a trustee for five years and his priority has been to visit each site to get a feel for what is happening at ground level. He has two daughters and two grand-daughters currently attending Shannon Ranch School.

“My focus over the next four years will be to push for more parent involvement, bring 21st Century technology into the schools, and move the career and technology program forward because not all kids are ready to go to college when they graduate.”

Crabtree is in favor of Measure A.

Megan Casebeer Soleno, Lori Quinzon and Niessen Foster - Area 5

Attorney Megan Casebeer Soleno, life coach Lori Quinzon, and letter carrier Niessen Foster are running for Area 5, which is the central core and has the oldest schools in the district. Niessen lost to Griswold in the 2016 election.

Three generations of Niessen’s family have gone through the Conyer, Divisidero, and Mt. Whitney school system so he is very well versed in the needs of Area 5. He also says he has the endorsement from all the elected officials in town and former school administrators.

“This is a two-year term…and because I have been a board member before I don’t need a learning curve. I will be prepared from day 1.”

Niessen is a graduate of the University of Southern California and majored in education and history.

Even though he received his teaching credential he has spent most of his

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Quinzon received a Masters degree in Leadership Studies and has been an independent contractor for VUSD, teaching music and theater.

She says that she has seen things while substituting that concern her greatly in terms of unacceptable behavior by the students. “We need to get back to making the classroom a place of learning and not spend time quelling the biggest problem in the classroom. It concerns me to see some of our best and brightest teachers walk away because they are not backed by the administration.”

Quinzon said she owns her own business, is an entrepreneur and a business consultant. “I know what it is to inspire people to succeed. I want to develop education so it’s not a chore for our students or our teachers. I want to see people show up inspired and excited about learning,” she said.

Casebeer Soleno said she found herself in Visalia after meeting her future husband at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied Environmental Sciences. She then got her law degree in San Francisco and has been a public defender for three and a half years.

Casebeer Soleno says her biggest assets are that she comes from the perspective of the criminal justice system and that of young mom.

“Youth is not my weakness it is my strength,” she said.

Concerning Measure A, Niessen said that when he talks to his constituents they are unhappy about the maintenance of their schools and are in favor Measure A. Area 5 has the oldest schools in the district and are in dire need of modernization.

What Quinzon has heard while walking the district is a general mistrust in how the new school boundaries were drawn. Some parents believe there was a lot of politics involved.

She also said that Measure A will mean higher taxes and the voters might be affected by Proposition 6 that is a backlash against higher gas taxes.

“I support Measure A,” said Casebeer Soleno. She acknowledged there was a trust issue with the redrawing of the school boundaries and that affected area 5 the most. But she said that Visalia has a growth problem and that the city needs a new high school.

“When people decide whether to live in Exeter, Tulare or Visalia they are looking at the high schools,” she said.

Behavior issues – Support the teachers

One question concerned behavior problems in the classroom and sparked lively responses but little disagreement.

Quinzon said that she no longer substitutes because of behavioral problems in the classroom. She met one teacher that had to wear “bite sleeves” everyday to class.

The consensus was that when a teacher sends a student to the office it is unacceptable to send the student back to class without the consent of the teacher. The candidates also agreed that teachers need more support from the administration and need to know they have control over their classroom.

Naylor said that the district is still trying to figure out what to do with kids who disrupt class and wants to see how other districts handle the problem. She said those kids need an education also, but at the same time we need to keep the teachers safe.

2 November, 2018 Valley Voice

12

LEASE

continued from 1 and seismic improvements would need to be finished by January 1, 2030.

The district would maintain ownership of the hospital and the surrounding buildings, and would be able to continue using them at the end of the lease.

Agreement Term

The lease of the hospital would last up to 30 years, starting when the district’s hospital license is transferred over or December 31, whichever is later.

The first term of the lease would last 66 months. The next four terms would span five years, and the last term would last 54 months; AH could exit the agreement with 270 days notice before the end of each term; the district wouldn’t be able exit the agreement at any point.

That’s to maximize the benefit to the community while limiting the risk to Adventist Health, a Q&A page administered by the nonprofit says.

“The opt-out provision was designed to maximize the opportunity for the community to benefit from AH investment. If the district could terminate the lease every five years, AH would limit its investment to a fiveyear payback,” the page reads. “The investment required to keep healthcare facilities, equipment and services updated far exceeds that time frame. The “triple net” lease terms require AH to cover routine maintenance and operational costs.”

The district would, however, be able to terminate the lease if AH failed

to continue operating Tulare Regional as an acute care hospital.

Adventist Health currently operates other hospitals in California under lease agreements, including agreements with the Sierra Kings Healthcare District for Adventist Health Reedley, and the Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District for Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley.

District’s Finances

Larger questions are looming over the lease arrangement, separate from the hospital itself staying open: will the district be able to get itself on the right financial footing to survive alongside the hospital, and will it be able to raise the funds needed to improve the hospital as required in the contract?

The district, according to the most recent calculations, is contending with $36,155,232 in accounts payable, with $27,853,897 of that accrued before bankruptcy. It is unknown how much of those debts could be slashed in the bankruptcy process, which could see some creditors paid fractions of what they are owed, and others completely unpaid.

Currently, the district receives approximately $1.9m in tax revenues per year, and AH will pay the district $2,335,000 per year to lease the hospital, its surrounding buildings, and clinics. The nonprofit has also loaned the district $10m toward reopening the hospital and certain construction projects that will be offset against rent payments.

The district will also receive rent for multiple properties it owns. Its board recently voted to sell others; it also receives revenue under an ar-

rangement with Evolutions.

But the district won’t receive rent from Adventist Health for the first 18 months of the arrangement: for the first six, the nonprofit won’t pay rent and Tulare won’t have to repay the loan. For the 12 months after, they will offset the entire rent against the balance of the loan.

Adventist will purchase various items from the hospital under a separate contract; the value of those items would be deducted from the loan.

Currently, that value has not been determined.

After 18 months, and until the loan is finally repaid, AH would be able to offset up to half of their yearly rent against the loan -- in effect, potentially paying as little as $1,167,500 per year; the Q&A page estimates that the loan would be repaid in less than five years.

The likeliest “first thought” for a new revenue stream -- operating another healthcare service, such as a clinic or home health service -- has been barred by the lease agreement.

The district cannot operate any competing service within a defined service area, specifically the ZIP codes 93212, 93274, 93272, 93256, 93219, 93257, 93247, and 93221.

The ZIP codes include Corcoran, Tulare, Porterville, Lindsay, and Exeter, according to a map attached to the lease.

Adventist Health also requires a non-compete in its agreements with the Sierra Kings district and the Tehachapi Valley district. Its agreement with the Tehachapi Valley district does carve out an exception for the district, which recently opened a new hospital building, to use its prior building as a skilled nursing facility.

Loan Undertaken

Tulare’s board recently approved a loan to bridge the monetary gap from Business Capital, a financing company with offices in San Francisco and Connecticut.

“Budget obligations reveal the need to borrow between $5 million to $8 million to bridge its’ obligations until there is sufficient positive cash flow from Property Tax income, Rentals and Evolutions Income, Sale of certain properties, Bankruptcy recoveries, and Lease income from Adventist Health,” the agenda item reads.

The proposal headed to the board would include an Underwriting and Syndication fee of $25k and a 3% financing fee of the loan amount, which could range between $150,000 and $240,000, depending on the total amount received.

The loan would be secured with approximately $15m in real estate; revenues from Evolutions Fitness and Wellness Center, rentals, and eventual lease payments would be put towards repaying the loan.

“By 2020 the hospital is forecasted to break even, and in 2021 a positive net income is projected,” the Business Capital proposal reads. “After 19 months, the additional funds sourced from the Adventist lease can be used to enable TLHCD to refinance this short term loan with a long term mortgage.”

Dan Heckathorne, the district’s Interim Chief Financial Officer, said that the statements were simply preliminary.

“These are preliminary estimates for which the Board has not had opportunity to come to a conclusion.

LEASE continued on 13 »

Valley Voice 2 November, 2018

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continued from 12 They will be providing an update after they have had a chance to review,” he said. “This projection will need to be updated as we get closer to developing a bankruptcy plan over the next 2 – 3 months.”

The district’s observers have concerns that a lack of revenue could cause the district to fail in its quest to present a cohesive bankruptcy plan.

“I want the hospital open, fully functioning and I am eager to know Adventist’s plans for it. I just wish I knew before a vote. The District is almost broke, they have $28 million of debt prior to filing bankruptcy, now they have at least $18 million after bankruptcy,” Deanne Martin-Soares, a former board member, said. “When the lease is passed and they become the landlord they are responsible to fix quite a few problems, many the cost is unknown. This must be done

13

within six months per the lease agreement and prior to CMS inspection. Not completing them is not an option, my assumption is that Adventist will need to pay for it and then the debt to Adventist just becomes larger. Are they willing to pay for it?”

“The income to the District from property taxes is around $2 million annually. Rent from Adventist will not start for 18 months. They must successfully show a plan in the bankruptcy court to be approved or the hospital will be liquidated. Now Adventist has the first right to buy it and will be able to do so for the amount the District will owe them. This could happen quickly, not five years out,” she added.

Construction

If the district doesn’t finish construction on the stalled tower project after 10 years from the start of the lease -- or achieve seismic compliance by January 1, 2030 -- Adventist Health could also exit from the lease

arrangement.

The nonprofit’s Q&A page states that officials would prefer a second bond to finish construction.

“AH would love to provide care from a brand-new building, and the community would undoubtedly love to receive care in a new building for which it is already paying property taxes. To do so, the district will need to complete construction. Once construction is complete, AH would enter into a new lease that would reflect the value of the new space.

“The community clearly communicated through the failed bond measure in 2016 that it did not want to pay more for the tower. That rejection was largely due to a lack of confidence in hospital operations.

The district and AH are committed to rebuilding that confidence through delivering the quality, compassionate healthcare services the community deserves,” it reads.

Robert Beehler, Adventist Health’s

VP for Market Development, Mergers and Acquisitions, told the district’s board in June that Adventist would be open to outside financing if voters rejected a second bond.

Adventist would still be open to alternative financing, but Randy Dodd, Adventist Health’s Vice President of Business Development, stated that any tower financing would be too far down the road to speculate.

Additionally, attached to the latest revision of the lease, dated October 5, is a list of projects to be completed at the hospital; some are due to be completed in six months, and others are as long term as the tower and seismic compliance improvements.

According to Dodd, the hospital wouldn’t be penalized for a failure to complete the other projects on time; the other projects are listed for reference.

Many of the projects have already been completed, he added.

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HANFORD continued from 1

sure on the ballot to allow the voters decide on a zoning change.

The city said the petition did not qualify to get on the ballot.

Forum candidates were asked their position on a proposed homeless resource center on Sixth Street.

Homelessness impacts all of us, said ex-council member Brieno. He said the city should “go with (a) city (that) already made a study and come up with a solution.”

His opponent, Van Ee, said there was no need for the city’s homeless resource center. He said solving the city’s homeless problem was “not government’s job. The community has to come together to solve it.”

Ramirez said a medical facility was needed to deal with the homeless, three-quarters of which have a mental problem. He said he opposed putting a homeless service center downtown because it would hurt downtown businesses.

Sharp, who defeated Ramirez in the recall, said putting a homeless center on 6th Street was putting the cart before the horse.

Sharp, a downtown property owner, said the city should talk to the homeless individually and build out from that. The city, she said, could give food, shelter and a little money.

Sharp suggested collaborating with others on the problem and bring the best answers to Hanford.

Ayers said the city has been talking to the Kings County Community Action Organization for two years about the problem. They had some good ideas on what to do, Ayers

said. The difficulty, he said, is to coordinate services.

The homeless resource center proposed for 6th Street, he said, is not an enabler for the homeless but a resource.

The city will hold a public forum on the project and let everyone talk, Ayers said.

His opponent, Draxler, a downtown apartment owner, said the center was not needed. He said the efforts of private social service agencies should be expanded to help businesses.

Perrico, who works for the Kings County Community Action Organization, also said he was opposed to the homeless resource center. He said the city should see what the rest of the country is doing about the problem.

Candidates were also asked about the current zoning and what could be done to promote business growth in general.

Brieno said while downtown has charm, it is hard to attract businesses.

He suggested bringing non-profits in. Changes, Brieno said, need to be made in zoning.

Van Ee said his family has a contracting background and it is hard to build in Hanford. He said the city’s ordinances restricting where furniture stores can locate are not workable.

Seventy percent of the people don’t buy their furniture in Hanford, according to an online survey he did.

The city needs more businesses, Van Ee said. A businessman told him that it would cost him $30,000 in fees to build in Hanford so he went elsewhere. He said the city needs big-box furniture stores which would generate $9 million in revenue over 20 years.

Perrico said zoning needs to be

changed and if it does not work out then the regulations can be altered.

The city should focus on encouraging cannabis production and the Faraday electric car plant which will produce a lot of jobs.

Ayers said concessions were made on downtown zoning the 2017 General Plan Update. “What businesses want to see,” he said “(is) certainty, consistency.”

Hanford, Ayers said, has regional commercial centers at 12th and Lacey and a second one at the Costco Center off Highway 43. Downtown zoning, he said, will change over the years.

Ayers conceded that there are hoops for businesses to jump through to come to Hanford, but the chamber and Main Street Hanford are specifically there to support business.

Draxler said he would streamline the process of opening a business in Hanford and make it easier to get permits. He said it took him a year to get permits for the apartments he built downtown.

Ramirez said when he was in office he got rid of a lot of regulations.

He said he wanted to get rid of all zoning. The reason he was recalled, he said, was because he went against the grain. “I am not going to go with the grain.”

Voters successfully recalled Ramirez early this year based on the fact they felt he ran a corrupt campaign in 2014. Then in August he was fined $1075 by the Fair Political Practices Commission for incorrectly filling his campaign finance paperwork but was not found guilty of corruption.

Sharp said significant changes were made in the city’s General Plan Update including a number of compromises. She said she tries to sup-

port local business by shopping at local stores when she can. In reference to zoning, she said, furniture stores consume a lot of space. It is easier, she said, to rent smaller spaces. She also defended her record on votes involving downtown.

Regarding marijuana, Sharp said she grew up with “Just say ‘no’ to drugs” and that the marijuana issue is complicated for her.

If the measure passes, she said, half the money should be used for equipment for public safety, 30 percent for civic buildings, 10 percent for unfunded pension liabilities and 10 percent for charity including homeless and cash assistance to help people pay their water bills.

Finally, the candidates were asked what should be done about the historical buildings in downtown, many of which are in dire need of repair.

Brieno said the city needs to take ownership of them.

Van Ee said he would like to see them maintained and kept up if this is what the community wants.

Perrico said he loves old buildings but they are expensive to maintain.

Ramirez said he favored fixing the historic buildings.

Sharp also favored keeping up the historic buildings by spending a $1 million a year for the next five years.

Similarly, Ayers favored investing in the historic buildings. It creates an icon and is a huge attraction, he said.

Investment, Ayers said, is needed in the future to maintain ownership.

Draxler called the old buildings a “jewel” but he said the city doesn’t have unlimited money to spend on them. They need to be kept up, he said, and rented.

Valley Voice 2 November, 2018

15

VOICES & OPINIONS

Measure A concerning; equitable facilities needed at Visalia Unified DARICE VIEIRA I am a huge proponent of public education. I volunteered countless hours when my children were in school in Visalia Unified, and continue to do so advocating for the students of our District.

However, Measure A has me concerned about a great many things. Measure A (2018) is a long lasting additional tax on property owners only, and we are still paying for Measure E (2012) until 2042.

Measure A’s primary expenditure is for a new high school. It has been sold as a bond to “modernize” facilities. After attending several presentations on this bond over the last year, it is evident the District’s definition of modernization for our older schools (in this bond) is polished floors, painted walls, three

big screen televisions and in some cases, modernized furniture. (Most of us would consider that deferred maintenance – not modernization). I hope voters will consider that we have campuses that are not even ADA compliant. We have choir rooms where kids don’t get chairs to sit in because the facility is too small to house the students and chairs together. Many of our older schools are falling down around the feet of the children being educated. The fact is, we have existing facilities; however, VUSD has done poorly structuring boundaries. It makes no sense that we have two high schools within four blocks of one another and one is over burdened by 500 students and the other is underutilized. Why does this continue?

Consider that the state is sitting on a lot of the Measure E (2012) funds and not releasing the matching money that was promised for projects. I am not sure the community is aware that our current school board has already approved and is CURRENTLY BORROWING OVER 50 MILLION DOLLARS in ADDITIONAL FUNDS to complete some Measure E projects. VUSD hopes they can pay it off with Measure E funds when/if the state releases the matching money we were supposed to receive from Measure E (2012). (This is verifiable in the minutes of the school board meeting.) Over. 50. Million. Dollars. That is a huge chunk of change, folks. Consider the interest alone on that much borrowed money. What is our guarantee of matching funds from Measure A if the

state hasn’t paid out on Measure E? Yet we are paying taxes on Measure E (2012) money that we don’t have.

If VUSD builds a new high school, it absolutely should have all the bells and whistles. I do not begrudge the northwest side of town getting a first rate facility. However, the northeast side of town is still waiting for facilities that El Diamante got immediately 20 years ago, and that the new high school will have at opening. We have no theater at all on the east side and our tennis courts after over 30 years still have no lights. We need to be good stewards of the facilities we already have, and be equitable to all four quadrants of town. Our older facilities need much more than what this bond promises.

Who has the “TRUE GRIT” to be our next Congressman? Janz or Nunes?

KERMIT WULLSCHLEGER In the 1969 movie “True Grit”, John Wayne plays the role of “Rooster” Cogburn who was a marshal that was allowed to go into Indian County to track down and arrest a wanted criminal. Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) was recruited because he had “Grit” and a reputation for getting the job done.

Devin Nunes does not have “Grit”.

Whenever he is invited to a town hall he refuses to show up? Whenever any person(s) disagrees with him, he labels them as a left wing extremist.

Even Republican Senator Marco Rubio has “grit”. After the Florida school shooting, Floridians were angry that Rubio takes NRA money. He faced the voters at a town hall, taking a lot of heat.

Where is Nunes’ “grit” to debate Andrew Janz? Even Ted Cruz debated Beto O’Rourke twice.

POLITICAL FIX continued from 5

After polling a very uncooperative 40 people the winner was “I am not going to tell you” or “I don’t know who is running.”

I even had four people tell me they voted, but couldn’t remember for who, even when I refreshed their memory.

Then some of my respondents asked which candidate was Republican.

One said, “Well, Poochigian must be a Republican because all the Armenians

How do we constituents in the Central Valley expect Nunes to represent us in Washington D.C. when he doesn’t have the “grit” to debate Andrew Janz? What is Nunes afraid of? Instead Nunes spends his time trying to create a false narrative about a good man that is willing to debate him. Clearly Nunes lacks TRUE GRIT, and even borders on being cowardly.

Nunes has done little for CA22. He takes millions in corporate money and said that his job is to protect Trump. No! His job as chair of the intelligence committee is to protect all citizens. Nunes supporters, what piece of legislation has he supported and has been passed?

What water bill has he been able to successfully support and get through Congress? None.

Andrew Janz is willing to talk with, not just Democrats, but Republicans, Independents, Libertarians as well. In fact, there have been many Republicans show-

ing up at his town halls.

Andrew Janz is a first-generation American who was raised in the Central Valley, (Visalia,California) , worked at McDonalds, worked his way through college and law school and and works as a Deputy District Attorney for Fresno County .

He aims to find solutions for the water issue, not just for the corporate but to assure safe drinking water for those places in the Central Valley that are lacking, to work across the aisle to find real solutions to the water issue, find answers for rising health care costs, fight to keep our social security, medicare, money from being raid to pay for a recent tax break to billionaires and corporations already overflowing with money.

Don’t give Congressman Nunes a free pass when he refused to come out meet the common folks of this Central Valley.

Many from the Central Valley know

and understand GRIT. We are farmers, students, single parents, field workers, married with children, small business owners, professionals and social workers.

It has been inspiring to see so many young people in Tulare County get involved in this election cycle. There has been interest in this election from all over the State of California and country.

The state and the nation are looking to the Central Valley to do the right thing and vote for Andrew Janz.

I’ve been a social worker for the last 29 years in Tulare County and a member of Toastmasters. My wife has been a high school teacher in Visalia for the last 27 years. We are both members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Our three children all graduated from Redwood High School (2010, 2014 and 2017). We love Visalia. We love the Central Valley and we know that Andrew Janz has “grit” and will represent us well in Washington D.C.

are.” When I responded that this was a non-partisan office I got blank stares.

The final tally was: 29 people refused to respond, didn’t know or couldn’t remember: 5 voted for Mr. Poochigian: 4 for Ms. Wiseman: and 2 for Mr. Woods.

So I am not going to make a prediction. I’ll just rant.

The national stage, dominated

by President Trump, is affecting local elections.

We have two sitting Supreme Court Justices who have been accused

of sexually harassing or sexual assault and four male justices appointed by two presidents who did not win the popular vote.

We have an all-male Republican judicial committee in the senate scoffing at a sexual assault victim, and a president saying it’s a dangerous time right now to be a young man in America, and a United States Supreme Court Justice who lied under oath more times than I have room in this column to list.

The bottom line is the United States is missing out on the perspec-

tive and wisdom of half the country’s population.

If women held 50% of elected office we wouldn’t have to explain why everyone’s health insurance should include maternity benefits or why a 15-year-old girl is not going to report a sexual assault.

So everyone in District 3 needs to vote for Merritt Wiseman. And If Ms. Wiseman beats her challengers on the backs of their gender then I only have one thing to say to Brian and Steve.

Welcome to the club.

TAKE A FREE ESOPHAGEAL REFLUX SYMPTOM (RSI) SELF-TEST Within the last month, how did the following problems affect you?

(0-5 rating scale with 0 = No problem and 5 = Severe)

Gaurang S. Pandya, M.D. General Surgery Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery Board Certified Surgeon

1. Hoarseness or a problem with your voice 0 2. Clearing your throat 0 3. Excess throat mucous or postnasal drip 0 4. Difficulty swallowing food, liquids or pills 0 5. Coughing after you ate or after lying down 0 6. Breathing difficulties or choking episodes 0 7. Troublesome or annoying cough 0 8. Sensations or something sticking in your throat 0 9. Heart burn, chest pain, indigestion, or stomach acid coming up 0 10. Taken PPI medication like Omeprazole or Nexium for more than 1 year 0 Please add up all your scores and write the

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Lower esophageal sphincter

Esophagus Stomach contracted

Acid and stomach contents backup into esophagus

TOTAL:

• Research data suggests that a RSI of greater than or equal to 13 is clinically significant.

Therefore a RSI greater than 13 may be indicative of significant reflux disease.

Tejal G. Pandya M.D. General Surgery Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery Board Certified Surgeon

• As shown in the diagram on the top right corner, the reflux occurs due to failed lower esophageal valve.

• The valve can be surgically repaired. After surgery there is no need to take medications.

• Call to find out more or have your physician refer you to us.

555 W Putnam Ave, Porterville, CA 93257

Call (559) 782 8533 FMG-GERD-101

16

2 November, 2018

Valley Voice

VISALIA MAYOR WARREN GUBLER & TULARE COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE SIGALA AGREE..

"We cannot watch this incumbent win this election by default! With Mr. Mathis in our District 26 seat for another term, we can only expect more years of the same in Sacramento."

-Warren Gubler Source: Gubler for Assembly Website

" I went home to fully research Mr. Mathis' legislative behavior and, in fact, confirmed that Assembly District 26 has suffered from ineffective representation in Sacramento since Mr. Mathis was first elected in November 2014."

-Warren Gubler Source: Gubler for Assembly Website

WE NEED EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION

" I agree with Mayor Gubler. We need effective representation in Sacramento.

When 37 out of the 44 bills you introduce are killed and go nowhere, that is NOT leadership."

-Jose Sigala

Show support for every human being Vote JOSE SIGALA FOR STATE ASSEMBLY on November 6th and join this important march!

Paid for by Sigala for Assembly 2018 | FPPC#1398487 sigala4assembly@gmail.com