Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Kings County Supervisors Talk Water With Trump
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
October 24, 2018

Share

Two Kings County supervisors spoke with the president at a Washington event on Tuesday (Oct. 24). During a State Leadership Event Day meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, President Donald Trump talked about California water.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub
Politics 101
David Taub
That’s when he noticed two men in the crowd.
“You people are nodding like you know exactly what I’m talking about,” Trump said.
Trump then started interacting with Craig Pedersen and Doug Verboon, who serve on the Kings County board.
“Unfortunately, for me, because of a lack of water, three generations — my family, we sold the farm two years ago because of a lack of water,” Pederson told Trump. “So we just can’t thank you enough. You kept your campaign commitment to help us.”
Verboon talked about the challenges of purchasing water.
“So I had to pay $6,000 an acre-foot to buy this water. So over a million dollars to farm 187 acres,” he said. “That doesn’t make any sense. So it created another industry. So now some people in the Southern California are paying $5,000 an acre-foot for water when they shouldn’t be paying that. It’s too much money.”
You people are nodding like you know exactly what I’m talking about.” — President Trump to Craig Pederson and Doug Verboon
Verboon said the president’s appearance at the event was a last-minute surprise. So was getting called upon.
“We had an opportunity, and we took advantage of it. Hopefully, we represented well,” he said.
Naturally, Verboon talked to his family about the chance conversation.
“I called my wife. And she said, ‘You mean the real president?’ ”
Later in the day, the president signed the America’s Water Infrastructure Act.
(Click on the image above to watch the video.)

Police Survey

The Fresno City Council will hear an update from the mayor’s Citizens’ Public Safety Advisory Board at Thursday’s (Oct. 25) meeting. The group worked on two main issues in the first quarter —  crafting a policy on the release of body camera video footage, and analyzing a recent survey of sworn and non-sworn police department employees.


“If you are willing to say this is a good place to work, I think we’re doing OK.”FPOA President Damon Kurtz
A preview of the presentation available in council documents reveals that the advisory board isn’t ready to make specific recommendations.
However, the board has concerns about the results of the May 2018 police department survey.
The 30-question survey asked officers and civilian members of the department their opinions on working there. For the most part, employees gave the department positive reviews.
“Overall it was fairly positive, compared to the 2014 survey,” said Damon Kurtz, president of the Fresno Police Officers Association, which conducted the survey.

FPOA Survey Highlights

Some notable answers:
— 68% of sworn personnel indicated that low morale is a problem.
But Kurtz said that response comes with a caveat.
“That is a subjective question. However, recommendations are high,” he said.
Kurtz referred to the fact that 67% of sworn personnel would recommend to friends and relatives that they work for Fresno PD. Even more, 89%, are satisfied with job stability.
“If you are willing to say this is a good place to work, I think we’re doing OK,” Kurtz said.
— 49% of sworn personnel answered that the department “supports its employees’ well-being and work/life balance.”
“We’ve been understaffed for years now, we’re doing more with less. That is a reflection of the workload. It deals with requests for days off. You just can’t because the staffing is not there,” Kurtz said.
— 51% said that “information passed through the chain of command is accurate and timely.”
“It’s like the game ‘Telephone,’ ” Kurtz said. “You’re in a large governmental agency. Sometimes the message doesn’t always reach the bottom. It’s like that in any organization.”
A follow-up survey is scheduled for next year.
It should also be noted that the citizens’ advisory board has lost two of its inaugural members.
Amy Guerra resigned after being named a Fresno County Superior Court judge by Gov. Jerry Brown. Clifford Williams resigned because of scheduling conflicts.
And, according to attendance records, Avis Braggs has not attended the CPSAB monthly meetings since June. Michael Vang last attended a meeting in July.

Measure P Fix Re-Do

For the second time in a week, the council is scheduled to discuss how to fix an error in the Measure P ballot language. Voters will decide on the sales tax increase to benefit parks, trails and cultural arts on Nov. 6.
The council canceled a Monday meeting when not enough members attended. The item is rescheduled for Thursday.
Members are set to discuss a plan to mail corrections. City staff has yet to provide a cost estimate.
The ballot language council passed in August never made it to the actual ballot, in what is being called a “clerical error.” An earlier version of the language will appear instead.
Council will also talk about asking the Fresno County elections clerk to post the updated version at polling places. If the clerk refuses, the case could wind up in court.

City Council Candidate Fundraising Update

It’s been a while since Politics 101 examined the financial figures of the six candidates running for the Fresno City Council. Here is an update:

Candidate Race Raised through 9/22 Cash on hand/
Debt
Big Money Donations Since*
Miguel Arias District 3 $98,350 $41,043
$13,457
$18,583
Tate Hill District 3 $72,045 $33,895
$15,053
$9,500
Luis Chavez District 5 $162,705 $76,066
$0
$9,400
Paula Yang District 5 $38,774 $948
$5,551
$2,500
Nelson Esparza District 7 $198,149 $31,088
$5,506
$27,846
Brian Whelan District 7 $356,166 $135,293
$0
$35,355

* As reported through Form 497 through Oct. 24

Alex Jones Comes to Local Radio


He may be banned on Twitter and other social media platforms, but conservative provocateur Alex Jones remains on the airwaves.
Jones is bringing his Info Wars radio program to a revamped lineup on Talk Radio 1680 (AM) KGED. His show airs daily 2-4 p.m. and again 8-10 p.m.
The station will also include Ben Bergquam, who is perhaps best known for heckling local politicians at various events and live-streaming his monologues from the Free Speech area at Fresno State.
The new line-up:
Laura Ingraham 6-9 a.m.
*Local Programming 9-10 a.m.
Hugh Hewitt 10 a.m.-noon
Mike Savage 12-2 p.m.
Alex Jones 2-4 p.m.
*Ben Bergquam 4-5 p.m.
*Guillermo Moreno 5-7 p.m.
*Jerris Lee 7-8 p.m.
Alex Jones 8-10 p.m.
Larry Elder 10 p.m.-midnight
Beyond Reality 12-2 a.m.
Dave Ramsey 2-5 a.m.
America First News 5-6 a.m.
*local show

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire

DON'T MISS

Visalia Police Make Arrest in Deadly Hit-and-Run

DON'T MISS

Madera County Inmate Arrested After Chase and Crash With Kids in Car

DON'T MISS

Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes

DON'T MISS

Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem

DON'T MISS

Man Found Dead in Bass Lake, Cause Under Investigation

DON'T MISS

US Marines Carry out First Known Detention of Civilian in Los Angeles, Video Shows

DON'T MISS

Tensions Boil Between Arias and Dem Congressmembers

DON'T MISS

ICE Arrests of Non-Criminal Migrants Surge 800% Under Trump

DON'T MISS

Youth Invited to Unplug, Connect With Nature at Day Camp in Auberry

UP NEXT

US Marines Carry out First Known Detention of Civilian in Los Angeles, Video Shows

UP NEXT

Tensions Boil Between Arias and Dem Congressmembers

UP NEXT

Teen Dating Violence on the Rise in Fresno. What Are the Warning Signs?

UP NEXT

Here’s What to Expect at the Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade on Trump’s Birthday

UP NEXT

Israel Attacks Iran’s Capital With Explosions Booming Across Tehran

UP NEXT

Derek Carr Says Fresno Is Home, as City Honors Bulldog Great

UP NEXT

Fresno Councilmember Warns of Possible ICE Raid at Popular Outdoor Market

UP NEXT

US House Passes Trump Cuts of $9.4 Billion for Foreign Aid, Broadcasting

UP NEXT

Tulare County Inmate Found Unresponsive in Cell, Autopsy Pending

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: Untangling Community Health’s Kickback Scheme

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Stephen Miller’s Former High School Classmate Challenges His Deportation Policies

2 hours ago

‘We Will Kill You Dead’: Florida Sheriff’s Stark Warning to Demonstrators

2 hours ago

Trump Says ‘War in Israel-Iran Should End’

3 hours ago

Trump Curbs Immigration Enforcement at Farms, Meatpacking Plants, Hotels and Restaurants

3 hours ago

Fresno Protesters Rally Against Trump Administration on ‘No Kings Day’

3 hours ago

Casey Schmitt’s 1st Career Grand Slam Powers Giants Past Dodgers in Series Opener

3 hours ago

Protests, Parades and Pride: One Week in June 2025 Is Drawing Stark American Fault Lines

8 hours ago

Former State House Speaker, Husband Killed in Politically Targeted Shooting

8 hours ago

The Latest: Israel Threatens More Attacks on Iran After Tehran Retaliates With Missile Strikes

8 hours ago

The Best Songs of 2025, So Far

9 hours ago

Authorities Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting of 2 Minnesota State Lawmakers

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — Hundreds of law officers fanned out across a Minneapolis suburb Saturday in pursuit of a man who authorities say pose...

7 minutes ago

7 minutes ago

Authorities Still Searching for Suspect in Shooting of 2 Minnesota State Lawmakers

14 minutes ago

Caitlin Clark Returns and Leads Fever to Upset Win Over Unbeaten Liberty

19 minutes ago

Iran Fires Another Round of Missiles at Israel, and Explosions Are Heard in Tehran

2 hours ago

Stephen Miller’s Former High School Classmate Challenges His Deportation Policies

2 hours ago

‘We Will Kill You Dead’: Florida Sheriff’s Stark Warning to Demonstrators

3 hours ago

Trump Says ‘War in Israel-Iran Should End’

3 hours ago

Trump Curbs Immigration Enforcement at Farms, Meatpacking Plants, Hotels and Restaurants

3 hours ago

Fresno Protesters Rally Against Trump Administration on ‘No Kings Day’

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend