Editorial

EDITORIAL - While watching TV the other day, a political advertisement came on for a lady running for a local California State Assembly seat. In that commercial, the Republican candidate said that if she were elected, there would be two things she would do. This got me thinking: Does this lady understand the unique needs of our community and the importance of local representation in our state legislature?

Nearly two years ago, the Madera Community Hospital had to shutter its services and file bankruptcy for mismanagement. No matter what plans local politicians came up with, something always prevented a solution from being realized. Even when other local medical corporations tried to take over the hospital's management, something always prevented the takeover and reopening.

EDITORIAL - We should all be in favor of Measure T. Why? Because without it our roads will be even worse and with it we have a chance to finally make them better.

This renewal of Measure T arrives on our ballot despite a choir of crybabies who routinely attack any semblance of progress for Madera County. The ringleader: Mark Reed, a man whose collection of hats include retired criminal defendant, wannabe Hollywood actor, wannabe cowboy, and wannabe District 5 Madera County Supervisor.

EDITORIAL - Twenty-four years ago, California voters approved Proposition 1A, granting federally recognized Native American tribes the exclusive right to operate specific gaming operations, including slot machines and banked card games. This was more than a business opportunity—it marked a turning point for California Tribes, creating economic lifelines, job prospects, and funds for essential services like healthcare and education.

It was also a public acknowledgment of the centuries of brutality and violence inflicted upon California's Tribes and an attempt to offer some measure of restitution via meaningful opportunity for self-reliance.

EDITORIAL - On November 7th, 2023, 95% of California Faculty Association (CFA) workers voted to approve a series of limited, one-day strikes at Cal Poly Pomona, San Francisco State, CSU Los Angeles, and Sacramento State on December 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th, respectively. The successful strike vote followed a breakdown of negotiations between the CSU and CFA during a routine contract reopener, which began in the Spring of 2023. The CFA declared an impasse in negotiations on August 9th. 

CFA workers are demanding a general salary increase of 12% for all faculty, coaches, and counselors, a raise of the salary floor for the lowest-paid lecturers and temporary faculty, expanded parental leave benefits, guaranteed employee access to gender-inclusive bathrooms and lactation rooms, and protections for faculty interactions with campus police. Additionally, the CFA is asking for workload reductions for faculty by implementing course caps limiting the number of students allowed in each class. 

EDITORIAL - What happened to Big Valley News? The website went dark at the end of January, and there were no real updates until March. The morning news disappeared from the radio station, and no one saw the site’s publisher around town. The rumor mill has gone so far as to have me in a hospice facility awaiting death. As it turns out, the rumor mill was pretty close to the truth. Towards the end of January, I was air-lifted out of Fresno for emergency surgery. I began a month-long hospital stay that resulted in my losing the ability to walk and the use of my left arm. I have been recuperating at home in Madera for the last two months. Thanks to home health care nurses and an incredible physical therapist, I am up and about with the help of a walker and returned to the website in March.

On January 19^th, I became extremely ill during my first day back at Fresno State. My blood sugars spiked to over 650, and I became lethargic. I took some insulin but could not get my numbers down to a safe level, so I decided to take a nap. When I woke, my numbers were in the 400s, which was still too high. My wife suggested going to the emergency room, but I knew better and drove home to Madera.

EDITORIAL – If the Madera Ranchos voters want to use their water faucets or showers in the future, it is time for them to take back their supervisor’s district, which was sold to the water-hungry Fresno Developers. Now that the Madera County Board of Supervisors has removed any limits to campaign donations, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been “donated” to the current boards’ coffers. In return, potential billion-dollar housing projects rejected for the previous twenty years are suddenly approved.

A vote for Andy Wheeler will be nothing more than a continuation of the Third Term of wholesale quid pro quo in the Madera County Government Center that has existed for the last eight years. What does Richard Spencer, owner of Harris Construction, get for his $20k donation to Brett Frazier’s campaign or the $10k he gave to Andy Wheeler? More importantly, why did Spencer use Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo’s Measure Z to funnel $2500 to Andy’s campaign? Those questions are answered when you realize Spencer’s involvement with the Fresno States Measure E campaign. Who do you think built most of Madera County’s new buildings in the last eight years, and who will profit from future new buildings at Fresno State?