Quote of the Week

“Forty-nine percent of all households in [Kern] county are considered extremely low, very low or low-income. Kern County is considered to be highly socially vulnerable, ranking in the 94th percentile for overall social vulnerability.” 

— Gavin Newsom writes, appealing to the federal government for direct financial assistance to the soaked San Joaquin Valley.

This Week in Fresnoland

Oh my god, OK, so J.G. Boswell really protected the Tulare Lake Bed from floodwaters because of tomatoes they planted?

For real? Lois Henry with SJV water reports just that: even though Kings County agricultural inspectors cleared them of the tomato planting allegations on March 24, by Friday, March 31 the fields of freshly transplanted tomatoes were apparent. 

Avid Toplines readers will recall that last week the Hansen farming family complained that Boswell had ignored a time-honored flood management process, i.e. flooding the lowest parts of the Tulare Lake Bed first, thereby alleviating the strain on rivers and streams. Instead, a low dam and a system of pipes is diverting the swollen South Fork of the Kings River east and west into the Tule River Canal, shafting the high waters away from the southward Tulare Lake Bed. 

Again, it was just last week that that a representative of the J.G. Boswell company claimed that this area of the lake was being saved for flows from the South Fork of the Kings River. I guess they meant the flows from a watering can? 

The powerful Boswell farming company isn’t making any friends. A dramatic standoff with the Deer Creek Storm Water District ended when the Poso Creek finally busted through berms along Dairy Avenue, flooding the bridge and dropping into the Boswell’s Homeland Canal. Boswell had previously parked heavy equipment along the canal bank to prevent the water district from corralling water into the canal in a controlled manner. Ultimately, the water overflowed anyway – in an uncontrolled manner. 

Biden granted Newsom’s request for federal assistance to help flood-struck communities, some in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Residents in Tulare and Kern will be eligible for individual assistance from FEMA, Omar Shaikh Rashad reports. The request emphasized the inadequate insurance coverage and the low socioeconomic status of the flooded communities, especially that, “vulnerable individuals and households have little to no ability to afford repairs to their homes and/or personality property losses.” 

Biden’s aid package will help individual flood victims as well as in repairing public property and infrastructure for four counties, including Tulare, along with ongoing funds for future flooding. “As the historic snowpack begins to melt, it is anticipated that extended advanced planning will be necessary to respond…” Newsom’s request states. 

Tulare officials said that flood victims should start here. The data they’re collecting from this form will be shared with the state and federal agencies assessing the damage.

The snow melts and the bullet train floods.

Tim Sheehan has a story for the Fresno Bee about our poor, once and future bullet train, which has suffered because of flooding in some parts of both Kings and Tulare county. The water is an obstruction, preventing construction crews from reaching their job sites. Drone footage south of Corcoran showed stranded vehicles and the support columns of the future train jutting out from the waters. 

So far, no significant damage has been reported for any of the completed high-speed structures — probably because the rail line has been designed to cope with “a 100 year flood,” according to Garth Hernandez, who runs the Central Valley region of the rail agency. 

While these structures have remained unharmed because of their height and design, this KVPR story reports that the rivers throughout Fresno County remain dangerously high for human beings. They are closed to recreation until summer.

The Clovis City Council is considering spending hundreds of thousands on a special election that would benefit one councilmember’s biggest campaign contributor.

Newly elected Clovis Councilmember, Matt Basgall, Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver reports, received $25,000 in campaign contributions from Club 500 Casinos, who would benefit greatly from a proposed special election to increase the number of allowed gaming tables at their casinos. The special election would cost roughly $350,000. 

While SB 1439 prohibits local legislators from participating in proceedings that involve campaign contributors who have donated more than $250, that law doesn’t apply retroactively to 2022 candidates, like Matt Basgall is. 

An Assembly Bill that is pending in the California senate could render the whole point moot. If passed, AB 341 would reinstate a 25-year moratorium on cardrooms. “That would basically retroactively cancel any expansion the city did in this window,” Jarhett Blonien, a Sacramento attorney representing the 500 Club said. 

The council showed support for the expansion and are leaving it up to the casino to decide whether or not to proceed with the special election vote.

Black students at Fresno Unified have a disproportionate number of discipline interactions with campus police.

Fresno Unified recently restored its contracts with Fresno PD, according to this Fresno Bee story. The agreements lapsed during the pandemic, after the murder of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests about racial profiling, police brutality, and the role of law enforcement in our society. Student Resource Officers (SROs) came under scrutiny: was it necessary to have police in our schools? Fresno Unified reinstated the contracts with the stipulation that officers must log their interactions with students into a database.

Black students represent just 8% of the 70,000 students attending Fresno Unified schools, but they make up 17% of disciplinary interactions with SROs. Black students’ arrests have also remained disproportionate, though lower than pre-pandemic levels. Students with disabilities, foster youth, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students also had more than their fair share of negative interactions with campus police. White and Asian students had disproportionately low representation across the discipline metric.

Block Beat

SOUTHWEST FRESNO: Self-Help Enterprise, a community development nonprofit, is helping to build affordable homes on the corner of E. Florence Avenue and S. Walnut Avenue, across from Computech Middle School and Edison High School. Press Release

MILLERTON: Millerton Lake’s summer hours – 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. – are in effect until September. ABC30

ROOSEVELT HIGH: Mariachi de Roosevelt High took home $1,500 in its first competition of nearly 35 year history. They competed against mariachi bands from several local schools in the inaugural High School Mariachi Festival at Ratcliffe Stadium. Fresno Bee

SOUTHEAST FRESNO: The decision to rename Kings Canyon Road, Ventura Avenue and parts of Temperance Avenue to Cesar Chavez Boulevard remains controversial. The Fresno City Council heard from more than 20 speakers both celebrating and decrying the vote. Fresno Bee

MADERA: Kimberly Campise, a Madera mother of three, has been waitlisted for a life-saving kidney transplant since 2019. As of this writing, her kidney is functioning at only 5%, down from 75% in 2008. Interested potential donors can learn more here and here. KMPH 

LAMONT: The small San Joaquin Valley community just received a massive $25 million grant to help secure clean and safe drinking water. The money will pay for new wells and pipes to connect Lamont’s water system to nearby El Adobe’s. KVPR 

Department of New Construction

SUNNYSIDE: A conditional use permit was filed proposing to demolish the existing gas station and convenience store on South Clovis Avenue, south of Belmont Avenue. It would be replaced with a 7-Eleven and an associated gas station. 

COPPER RIVER: A development permit was filed for the construction of 114 multifamily attached units at East Copper River Drive and North Friant Road. There would be 19 six-unit buildings and a clubhouse. 

NORTH CENTRAL: An environmental assessment was filed for the acquisition of a Quality Inn Motel north of East Bullard Avenue and west of North Fresno Street. It would serve as an interim homeless shelter with funding provided via a Community Development Block Grant. 

CENTRAL: An environment assessment was filed for the acquisition of a Travelodge on North Blackstone Ave, north of East Dakota Avenue. It would serve as an interim homeless shelter with funding provided via the City’s General Fund or other city fund. 

CENTRAL: An environment assessment was filed for the acquisition of a Clarion Motel on North Blackstone Avenue, south of East Ashlan Avenue. It would serve as an interim homeless shelter with funding provided via the City General Fund or other city fund.

Around Town

The Historic Crest Theatre is back from its long hiatus with a screening of Mary Poppins at 8 p.m., Friday, April 7 at 1170 Broadway St. Tickets are $7. Facebook

Arthop returns this Thursday, starting at 5 p.m. Visit Broadway street and experience all the live music, vendors, and art that Fresno’s best local creatives can muster. Downtown Fresno

Next Week in Public Meetings

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Tommy is the author of Toplines, the Fresnoland newsletter curating the top stories in the Central Valley. He thinks he's very funny.