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Government & Elections - page 21

Local government, public officials, elections, ballot measures and civic decisions.

Calif. Rep to Bring Dead Giant Swamp Rat to Congress

in Government & Elections

A Turlock lawmaker plans to bring a giant swamp rat to Congress to drum up support for eradicating the pest from California’s Central Valley.

Rep. Josh Harder, a rookie Democratic congressman, wants his colleagues to award $7 million to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife over five years to combat the spread of nutria, large semi-aquatic rodents wreaking havoc on wetlands in his district.

The swamp rat that will accompany Harder Tuesday in Washington is not an actual living nutria, but rather the dead, stuffed-with-sawdust variety, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Continue Reading on SFGATE

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Does the Rainbow Flag Have a Place on City-Owned Flagpoles in Turlock?

in Government & Elections

Article from The Modesto Bee

Turlock officials have postponed a request to raise the rainbow flag on city property in support of LGBTQ+ people.

Supporters said the move would reinforce Turlock’s commitment to diversity in the wake of the Straight Pride event in Modesto last month.

“Just a simple flying of the flag would say so much,” resident Jeannie Robinson told the City Council on Tuesday evening.

The request would require a change to a policy, adopted in 2017, that limits what flags can fly, City Attorney Doug White said. Only the American, California and Turlock flags are generally allowed at city buildings and parks. Military flags can fly at Central Park, which has a war memorial, and at the Public Safety Facility.

Continue Reading on The Modesto Bee

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City Council Approves More Cannabis Agreements

in Government & Elections

A second round of development agreements with participants in the cannabis pilot program were approved by the Turlock City Council on Tuesday, furthering the process for two out-of-town dispensaries that hope to set up shop on Golden State Boulevard.

Development agreements, used in conjunction with conditional use permits, allow for the regulation of cannabis businesses by determining the standards and conditions that will govern development of the property. In terms of cannabis, development agreements between local jurisdictions and commercial cannabis properties typically include a “public benefit” amount, designed and intended to offset or mitigate any potential impacts of the project on the community.

On Tuesday the Council approved two development agreements: one with Evergreen Market, a company based out of Washington and another with Perfect Union, which currently operates four stores in both Sacramento and Marysville.

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Man Behind a ‘Straight Pride’ Event Is Ridiculed for Saying Organizers Are ‘Peaceful Racist Group’

in Government & Elections

A man behind a planned ‘Straight Pride’ event in California provoked laughter at a meeting when he referred to the organizers as a ‘totally peaceful racist group.’

Don Grundmann addressed a Modesto City Council meeting on Wednesday about his plans to hold a ‘Straight Pride’ rally on August 24.

He chastened council-member Kristi Ah You, accusing her of ‘pulling the race card’ and allegedly inflaming tensions by attacking the group as racists.

Footage then shows him make the embarrassing gaffe, with the room erupting into laughter at his remarks.

Continue Reading on Brinkwire

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Turlock Businessman Appointed to State Water Post

in Government & Elections

Local businessman Matt Swanson will take his agricultural expertise to the state level after recently being appointed to the California Water Commission.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that Swanson, 51, has been appointed to a four-year term on the CWC — a position which requires Senate confirmation. Members are generally chosen for their expertise related to the control, storage and beneficial use of water or for their knowledge of the environment. Swanson has served as president and chief executive officer at Associated Feed in Turlock since 1998.

Associated Feed serves the animal feed market, offering product for the dairy, poultry, swine, beef, equine, sheep, ratite and rabbit industries. The company considers itself leaders in sustainable, ethical operation, replacing trucks with new, energy-efficient models, running rail cars using emission-lowering technology and upgrading equipment company-wide to state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies that help production run more efficiently in all aspects.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

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California Counties Sue over Trump’s Green Card Rule, Claim Deterrent to Seeking Public Assistance

in Government & Elections

Two California counties are suing over the Trump administration’s new green card restrictions, claiming that they violate federal immigration law and exact a financial toll by deterring migrants’ requests for public assistance.

“This latest effort by the Trump Administration to target immigrants, including those who are lawfully seeking visas and green cards, is abhorrent, and we will do everything in our power to protect our residents’ ability to access the critical services and benefits we provide,” a Tuesday statement from San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera read.

Herrera joined Santa Clara County counsel James R. Williams in arguing that the administration’s rule would effectively force local governments to use revenues in order to mitigate the public health harm allegedly created by migrants not seeking medical care.

Continue Reading on Fox News

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Trump’s Death-Penalty Push Puts House Dems Like Josh Harder in Tough Spot

in Government & Elections

Attorney General William Barr says the Trump administration will propose congressional legislation to accelerate death penalty proceedings for cop killers and mass shooters. That could force House Democrats who represent purple districts — like first-term Central Valley Rep. Josh Harder — into a corner.

Continue Reading on San Francisco Chronicle

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Harmeet Dhillon: Hey, California, Trump Has a Right to Run for Reelection. The Constitution Is Crystal Clear

in Government & Elections

No one –  not Congress, not the president, and certainly not a state government –  may unilaterally change the requirements to be president of the United States without first amending the U.S. Constitution.

Yet that’s exactly what Gov, Gavin Newsom and the California state legislature are trying to do in their pander du jour to the far left in California. But disenfranchising millions of voters in order to score cheap political points is a step too far, even for California.

Continue Reading on Fox News

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Turlock Draws Stiff Competition for Cannabis Dispensaries

in Government & Elections

After receiving over 30 proposals from candidates vying for a spot as one of Turlock’s four future dispensaries, City staff this week announced the retail cannabis businesses they’ve invited to operate in town.

Following the City Council’s approval of a cannabis pilot program in May, a June meeting at City Hall saw over 70 interested parties convene to hear more information on the selection and application process for opening a commercial cannabis business in Turlock, whether it be retail, manufacturing, testing or distribution. The City then accepted 40 Request for Qualifications packets from commercial cannabis stakeholders, 32 of which were proposals for retail dispensary locations.

Last week, a panel consisting of City Manager Bob Lawton, Assistant to the City Manager for Economic Development and Housing Maryn Pitt and Director of Municipal Services Michael Cooke interviewed each of the 32 dispensary respondents in addition to evaluating and scoring each respondent’s RFQ proposal, ultimately selecting four companies that will be able to apply to operate within City limits: Firehouse, Evergreen, Perfect Union and MedMen.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

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Donald Trump Raises Millions from Californians, but Not as Much as These Democrats

in Government & Elections

Thousands of Californians, including hundreds of Central Valley residents, gave to President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign this spring, campaign finance records show.

California remains one of the president’s favorite punching bags. The state has now sued his administration more than 50 times. But many Californians continue to support the president, donating approximately $2 million to his campaign between April and June of 2019. That brings Trump’s total 2020 fundraising from the state to more than $3.5 million.

Continue Reading on Sacramento Bee

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