Published
4 years agoon
AOC mania is taking shape in the Valley.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) posted pictures and video on Instagram, showing her at Kings Canyon National Park. She also posted a video of her near The House trees at Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park.
The word is, she was spotted earlier this week in Three Rivers in Tulare County, more toward Sequoia. Various photos of her visit can be found on Facebook, albeit in private groups.
However, there was a sighting of AOC on Wednesday at Kings Canyon. She and a companion rented horses for a two-hour ride.
“We got her ready like any other guest for her ride. I didn’t even recognize her,” said the horse purveyor who did not want to be named.
The news of AOC’s commune with nature, first reported by The Fresno Bee, got many local Democrats excited. Members of the Fresno County Young Democrats tweeted requests for her to visit Fresno.
.@AOC is close by at Kings Canyon National Park! RETWEET to get her to come to Fresno!
— Fresno County Young Democrats (@FresnoYoungDems) August 22, 2019
There is no word if AOC received those messages (cell phone and internet access in Kings Canyon is known to be spotty).
Related Story: How AOC Became Part of Fresno Council Debate on Fire Fees
AOC and Fresno made the news on Memorial Day, when the Fresno Grizzlies baseball club showed what was supposed to be a patriotic video on the stadium’s big screen. Instead, it showed Ocasio-Cortez’s picture as “an enemy of the state.”
The club said it showed the wrong version of the video, calling it an inadvertent mistake.
Despite the profuse apologies from the Grizzlies, the club lost sponsorship from Sun-Maid Raisins and beer brands owned by Heineken.
Fresno council members Miguel Arias and Esmeralda Soria visited with AOC in Washington a week later, bearing Grizzlies gifts.
Related Story: Councilmembers Go to D.C., Mend Fences with AOC over Grizzlies Video
Related Story: Dos Equis/Tecate Drop Grizzlies Over Video Controversy
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
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