BVN Opinion

WHO OWNS THE MADERA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS?

Over the last few months I have been researching where the money comes from to run a $90k supervisor's campaign and the results show that the majority of the money isn't from the local mom and pop voters but from the multi-million dollar developers from Fresno and around the state.

EDITORIAL - Just a few days after the law firm of Garcia, Hernandez, Sawhney & Bermudez, LLP held an 'Ethics Laws and Legal Principles for Public Service and Board Governance' workshop for the Madera Unified Board of Trustees, it looks like the board's clerk may have already violated the Ralph M. Brown Act.

Last month, in a sold-out board room which included an outdoor theater for overflow viewers,  the board voted to send Superintendent Ed Gonzales, Associate Superintendent Victor Villar, the executive cabinet and the board of trustees to harassment and bullying training. However in a secret vote in closed session at last Tuesda's board meeting, the board voted to reverse their action absolving the executive cabinet and board of trustees from the training.However, Gonzales and Villar are still on the hot seat for training no one outside of the Gang of Four (Trustee Brent Fernandes, Trustee Al Galvez, Trustee Robert E. Garibay and board president Maria Velarde-Garcia) feel they deserve.

EDITORIAL - Just a few days after the law firm of Garcia, Hernandez, Sawhney & Bermudez, LLP held an 'Ethics Laws and Legal Principles for Public Service and Board Governance' workshop for the Madera Unified Board of Trustees, it looks like the board's clerk may have already violated the Ralph M. Brown Act.

Last month, in a sold-out board room which included an outdoor theater for overflow viewers,  the board voted to send Superintendent Ed Gonzales, Associate Superintendent Victor Villar, the executive cabinet and the board of trustees to harassment and bullying training. However in a secret vote in closed session at last Tuesda's board meeting, the board voted to reverse their action absolving the executive cabinet and board of trustees from the training.However, Gonzales and Villar are still on the hot seat for training no one outside of the Gang of Four (Trustee Brent Fernandes, Trustee Al Galvez, Trustee Robert E. Garibay and board president Maria Velarde-Garcia) feel they deserve.

Parks Admin Ignore ADA Issues With Baseball Complex Remodel

EDITORIAL - People should really not thrust themselves into the public arena unless they can stand the spotlight. A person cannot step-up to run a public organization that benefits hundreds of kids in this community then complain when they are being held accountable for or find that some disagree with their actions. Case in point, Steven Barsotti of Foster Parker Insurance, a two year board member and now president of the Madera National Little League.

At a parent meeting at Lincoln Elementary last month over one hundred Little League parents attended to hear changes to the league and meet their new board of directors. After the league's umpire coordinator Mark Palacios spoke, parents were asked if they had any questions. Out of the over one hundred people there, only one parent spoke up.