Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 1-16-20 E-edition

Thursday, January 16, 2020 | A4 | Mid Valley TiMes Editorial & Opinions
Serving the Readers of the Reedley Exponent, Dimuba Sentinel and Sanger Herald.
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION Give us your opinion
during election season
An argument in favor of Reedley's proposed sales tax, Measure B
Rick Curiel — Sanger Editor Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“The great thing about democracy is that it gives ev- ery voter a chance to do something stupid.”
— Art Spander (1938- )
“The silly season” returned in a rush with the advent of this brand new year. No doubt about it, 2020 is an election year and the best way to arm oneself is with credible information from cred- ible sources. Having advocated for a more educated voter for several years, this year we're making an extended ef- fort as we try to accomplish that goal.
By Nicole Zieba
Guest columnist
When I became a city manager years ago, it was because I was so appalled at how government worked — or didn’t work. My firm belief still remains that government should live within its means. Taxpayers work hard for their paychecks, and government shouldn’t always be clamoring to get more of it.
So it came as quite a sur- prise to me years ago when I dove into city financial mat- ters and found out just how little of the local taxpayer dol- lar stays in a community. For example, a mere 17 cents of every $1 in tax stays in Reed- ley. How is city government to live within its means when its means are stripped away and taken by the state, county, and others?
Despite this challenge, over the past eight years, Reedley has done incredible work in becoming one of the safest communities in Fresno Coun- ty. Work includes beginning a street pavement program to finally tackle bad roads, rehabilitating old parks and pool sites that were blighted, replacing old water and sewer infrastructure, and a host of other important, although not always directly seen, accom- plishments. We have rebuilt a modest General Fund reserve and have maintained a fiscally prudent course of action.
However, the increasing California state laws and reg- ulations, the increases in the
local priorities
and vital city
services such
as: maintaining
911 emergency
response times,
police protec-
tion, neigh-
borhood pa-
trols; repairing
streets, alleys, potholes, and other infrastructure; maintain neighborhood parks, youth, after-school, and senior pro- grams; retain and attract local businesses and address home- lessness. This measure would provide approximately $1.5 million annually with all funds benefitting Reedley residents.
Basic city-funded services will be impacted if no new, locally controlled funding source is provided. Examples include emergency response services and repairing streets, alleyways, potholes, sidewalks and storm drains. The rev- enue is also needed to retain and preserve police officer levels to ensure that there are enough on-duty police officers to prevent crime and respond quickly to 911 calls, and to replace antiquated front line public safety equipment, such as police cars, radios, and fire trucks.
Most of the current sales tax dollars paid in Reedley go outside Reedley — to the State of California and Fresno County. All Measure B dollars will stay in Reedley and ben- efit Reedley. It’s a guarantee.
Nicole Zieba has served as Reedley's city manager since 2011.
Editor's Note:
The Times is running two guest editorials arguing for and against Measure B, a three-quarters cent sales and use tax measure by the city of Reedley that will be on the March 2020 ballot. A guest editorial of similar length op- posing the measure will run in this spot in the Jan. 23 edi- tion of The Times.
Nicole Zieba
Fred Hall
Although this initial venture involves a Reedley is- sue, the intent is that the same arrangement be made available to Dinuba, Sanger, Parlier, Orange Cove and Cutler Orosi. Things that impact you are important to everyone who lives in this area. Inquiring minds want to know! We all want to know what you think about the politics with which you must deal.
We call it community journalism and it involves pro- viding a say in local governmental affairs to members of the individual communities. This should not be con- fused with campaign advertising. Every year, as the election approaches, newspapers receive a batch of let- ters which only announce support for candidates. “Vote for my uncle Bob because he's a nice guy. I endorse his candidacy.” Intellectually, that type of letter contributes absolutely nothing to a campaign or issue and uses up consumers' precious news space that could be used for something worthwhile.
It seems really strange that, while I was brought up in the same type of Catholic home as Nancy Pelosi, which she repeatedly claims was “filled with love,” we were taught that hate and loathing were destructive and self-consumptive. It leaves me to ask, how can anyone raised with all that love — even to the point it involves her regularly “praying” for the president, manage to continue to harbor so much hatred for one man and his entire family?
Recently, after our military and this administration killed one of the world's worst terrorists, it seemed as if the propaganda talking points being used by the Iranians were coming from the lips of the Democratic Party and their officials. I don't care how dense anyone might be, there can be no doubt that these personal attacks impact the ability of our president to conduct foreign policy. That sort of political game playing can only be damaging to our country. The Democrat-controlled House has accom- plished nothing during this session, except obstruction.
We believe — although no one seems to know with any degree of certainty—that the impeachment will be forwarded to the Senate this week in order to dispatch that nonsense once and for all. We also believe, that Ad- am Schiff and Jerry Nadler — along with their gang of Democrats — did such a poor job that the result will be a complete embarrassment. There doesn't even seem to be an impeachable crime cited by the prosecuting House. Disrespecting House committees that were inherently contemptible is not a crime!
No one who has paid ay attention to the political machinations since our last election can truly have any concerns about the president's innocence. Hating some- one because they beat your candidate is not grounds for impeachment!
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Today's issue of The Times will be-
gin the tradition by publishing the first of two very disparate views of Reedley's new proposed sales and use tax. One is pro and one is con in their presentation. Both have been thoughtfully prepared and should as- sist voters in their decision. The plan is for more con- tributed letters and pro and con columns appearing on a regular basis as part of our opinion pages. Because it will be edited, overseen and controlled by a profes- sional, you may be assured it will never take on the any- thing goes, run-and-gun approach of the internet where information is thrown against the wall and watched to see if it sticks. Nothing is ever vetted for veracity.
state’s minimum wage, increas- es in insurance premiums and workers comp costs, increases in fuel and utility costs, and other hardships have begun to take their toll on a city that has tried to act in a financially re- sponsible manner.
Over the last seven years, the city has implemented cost- saving measures, including re- ducing its workforce and cut- ting expenditures. We have avoided giving lavish wage increases, have not increased benefits, and have struck down unnecessary, expensive proj- ects. Even with these steps and a stable economy, Reed- ley’s General Fund faces a budget deficit that is expected to expand to almost $2 million by 2024. With this, the Reed- ley City Council unanimously declared a Fiscal Emergency in August 2019.
It is with this emergency in mind that the city is asking voters to consider Measure B, a three-quarter cent sales tax measure to keep local sales tax dollars in Reedley. This is so we can protect funding for
Time to turn in those nominations for community awards in Reedley, Sanger
The good folks at the Great- er Reedley Chamber of Com- merce and Sanger Chamber of Commerce await nominations from residents to submit their nominations for potential award winners for the 2020 commu- nity awards in those two cities.
Both Reedley and Sanger are accepting submission for upcoming ceremonies — the Reedley Awards Gala on Sat- urday, Feb. 29, and the Sanger Chamber awards banquet on Friday, March 27.
There are nine categories open in Reedley, led by the an- nual Citizen of the Year and Ju- nior Citizen of the Year. A Reed- ley resident involved in grow- ing the community through volunteerism, vision and lead- ership will be honored at the
gala. Also to be honored are large and small businesses, an Entrepreneur of the Year, top public safety professional, edu- cator and health professional of the year and a special Reedley Beautification Award.
Sanger also will have its resi- dents select a Citizen of the Year, Hall of Fame inductee for 2020, Mr. and Mrs. Farmer of the Year and the Mother of the Year. Pub- lic safety will be honored annual- ly with fire and police personnel, as well asa Rotary Club Youth of the Year, a Veteran of the Year and Teacher of the Year.
While there's still plenty of time to nominate Sanger award recipients, time is a bit more limited in Reedley as the dead- line for submissions is Friday, Jan. 31.
For more in- formation on ei-
ther event, con-
tact the Sanger Chamber of Commerce at 875-4575 or the Greater Reed-
ley Chamber of Commerce at 638-3548.
•••
As if you didn't know al-
ready, 2020 is a general election year with a March presidential primary and a variety of local and state races — not to men- tion those pesky propositions. The Times will be filling you in with information in future is- sues, including the next two as we highlight pro and con opin- ions about Reedley's upcoming sales and use tax measure.
Jon Earnest