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Nationwide search for Hanford City manager search yields no active candidates;
current interim city manager Tavarez only contender left
Posted 1/7/26 6:11 pm
Meetings on Hanford City manager hiring have shortened noticing
Posted 1/3/26 2:47 pm
The Hanford City Council is holding three special meetings on Monday (1/5/26) and Tuesday (1/6/26) which have shortened meeting notice requirements. The content of the meetings involve the hiring of a new city manager following the departure last year of Mario Cifuentez.
This has led some members of the community to question whether the city is being transparent about the selection process.
This reporter received a call from one resident concerned about the process and another person who was informed about the situation, questioned the process.
Meanwhile, Mayor Mark Kairis defended the handling of the meetings saying the noticing and actions regarding the meetings are within the law.
As of Saturday morning (1/3/26) the only notice of Monday’s meeting was on the bulletin board adjacent to the entrance of city hall. There was no agenda posted on the city’s web site. The meeting will be held at 5:30 pm in the city hall conference room.
Tuesday’s meetings also did not have agendas posted on the city’s web site. The first meeting titled a special meeting is Tuesday in the city hall conference room at 8:30 am. The second meeting will be in the council chambers at 7 pm.
Normally council meeting agendas for a regular Tuesday city council meeting are posted on the city’s web site on Friday afternoon before the meeting. This gives members of the public who want to attend, participate online or just be informed a chance to review the agenda packet which typically can run hundreds of pages.
Kairis said the agendas for Monday’s and Tuesday’s meetings will be posted on the website Sunday night. Unanswered is why Tuesday night’s council meeting was not noticed Friday.
Another issue is whether the meetings at city hall can be live-streamed. Kairis said he will have an answer Monday.
The decision was made to hold the meetings in the conference room because it gives the public more open space, Kairis said.
On Monday the consultant hired to help in the search for a new city manager will explain the process and the public will get to talk to the city manager candidates informally, Kairis said.
One of the candidates is acting city manager Chris Tavarez, said Kairis. There will be an announcement Monday about who the other candidate is, said Kairis. It is not Jason Waters, who at one time expressed an interest in the job. Waters is deputy city manager and community development director.
The number of candidates had been narrowed to four but two of those people dropped out, Kairis said. That leaves Tavarez and one other candidate who at this point is unidentified to the public.
On Tuesday during the morning meeting there will be a public comment period and then there will be a closed session to discuss the candidates.
Kairis said the council is allowed to discuss the candidates in closed session because the topic is a personnel matter.
Also candidates’ resumes will not be published because human resources said that this is a violation of the Brown Act.
Asked why the Measure H committee members’ resumes were published, Kairis said it is because Measure H committee members did not fall under the heading of a personnel matter.
The Hanford City Council is holding three special meetings on Monday (1/5/26) and Tuesday (1/6/26) which have shortened meeting notice requirements. The content of the meetings involve the hiring of a new city manager following the departure last year of Mario Cifuentez.
This has led some members of the community to question whether the city is being transparent about the selection process.
This reporter received a call from one resident concerned about the process and another person who was informed about the situation, questioned the process.
Meanwhile, Mayor Mark Kairis defended the handling of the meetings saying the noticing and actions regarding the meetings are within the law.
As of Saturday morning (1/3/26) the only notice of Monday’s meeting was on the bulletin board adjacent to the entrance of city hall. There was no agenda posted on the city’s web site. The meeting will be held at 5:30 pm in the city hall conference room.
Tuesday’s meetings also did not have agendas posted on the city’s web site. The first meeting titled a special meeting is Tuesday in the city hall conference room at 8:30 am. The second meeting will be in the council chambers at 7 pm.
Normally council meeting agendas for a regular Tuesday city council meeting are posted on the city’s web site on Friday afternoon before the meeting. This gives members of the public who want to attend, participate online or just be informed a chance to review the agenda packet which typically can run hundreds of pages.
Kairis said the agendas for Monday’s and Tuesday’s meetings will be posted on the website Sunday night. Unanswered is why Tuesday night’s council meeting was not noticed Friday.
Another issue is whether the meetings at city hall can be live-streamed. Kairis said he will have an answer Monday.
The decision was made to hold the meetings in the conference room because it gives the public more open space, Kairis said.
On Monday the consultant hired to help in the search for a new city manager will explain the process and the public will get to talk to the city manager candidates informally, Kairis said.
One of the candidates is acting city manager Chris Tavarez, said Kairis. There will be an announcement Monday about who the other candidate is, said Kairis. It is not Jason Waters, who at one time expressed an interest in the job. Waters is deputy city manager and community development director.
The number of candidates had been narrowed to four but two of those people dropped out, Kairis said. That leaves Tavarez and one other candidate who at this point is unidentified to the public.
On Tuesday during the morning meeting there will be a public comment period and then there will be a closed session to discuss the candidates.
Kairis said the council is allowed to discuss the candidates in closed session because the topic is a personnel matter.
Also candidates’ resumes will not be published because human resources said that this is a violation of the Brown Act.
Asked why the Measure H committee members’ resumes were published, Kairis said it is because Measure H committee members did not fall under the heading of a personnel matter.
EDITORIAL
Hanford council fails the public in its extension of law firm's contract
This is our opinion on a current event. It is NOT a news article. Editorials take sides. News articles give balanced viewpoints.
Posted 12/27/25 7 am
Suppose one of the city council members was car shopping and wanted to find the cheapest, most reliable way to get from point A to B. Would the council member just walk into the Ford dealership and pay sticker price without negotiating and without looking what Chevy or Toyota had to offer? Yet that is exactly what the council did November 18 in extending the Griswold, LaSalle law firm’s contract into 2027.
The council majority---there was one no vote from Kimber Regan---used the cover story that it wasn’t a good time to go shopping for another city attorney when it also had to hire a new city manager.
It must be too much work to analyze what offer law firms in the Valley might have to offer the city in terms of expertise and price. Instead the council just bought the Ford for sticker price.
To put a finer point on the car shopping analogy, the council majority didn’t bother to ask friends and relatives what they thought was a good car or where they could get a good deal. Former sheriff Chris Jordan who also has long experience in the Hanford Police Department made the following comment to the council: ”...layout all the options plus and minus, conclude who is the best one. Show the courage, put in the work that we get the best (it) may end up being the current attorney.” Nine other speakers over two meetings echoed Jordan’s comments. The council majority ignored them.
One would think Griswold, LaSalle’s egregious error on the Helena Chemical case which resulted in the city (read taxpayers) paying a $ 12.5 million settlement in a breach of contract dispute and the employer moving lock, stock and barrel to Lemoore would have been sufficient to disqualify Griswold, LaSalle from getting another contract.
Instead, Council Member Mark Kairis, who is now mayor, engaged in a ludicrous exercise where he asked top city official Jason Waters whether there had been any problem with Griswold, LaSalle’s work. Waters said no.
There was little discussion among council members during open session about the decision to extend the contract, an indication that the whole thing had been decided beforehand. No matter that the staff report didn’t even mention what other similar-sized cities pay for legal services. Hanford is paying Griswold, LaSalle $52,000 a month. Tulare is paying the same firm half that. Griswold LaSalle defended the difference saying Hanford requires more work. Did anyone investigate that claim or ask a single question about it?
The bottom line is the council majority didn’t do its due diligence and Hanford is saddled with the vehicle it paid sticker price for. No questions asked.
The council majority---there was one no vote from Kimber Regan---used the cover story that it wasn’t a good time to go shopping for another city attorney when it also had to hire a new city manager.
It must be too much work to analyze what offer law firms in the Valley might have to offer the city in terms of expertise and price. Instead the council just bought the Ford for sticker price.
To put a finer point on the car shopping analogy, the council majority didn’t bother to ask friends and relatives what they thought was a good car or where they could get a good deal. Former sheriff Chris Jordan who also has long experience in the Hanford Police Department made the following comment to the council: ”...layout all the options plus and minus, conclude who is the best one. Show the courage, put in the work that we get the best (it) may end up being the current attorney.” Nine other speakers over two meetings echoed Jordan’s comments. The council majority ignored them.
One would think Griswold, LaSalle’s egregious error on the Helena Chemical case which resulted in the city (read taxpayers) paying a $ 12.5 million settlement in a breach of contract dispute and the employer moving lock, stock and barrel to Lemoore would have been sufficient to disqualify Griswold, LaSalle from getting another contract.
Instead, Council Member Mark Kairis, who is now mayor, engaged in a ludicrous exercise where he asked top city official Jason Waters whether there had been any problem with Griswold, LaSalle’s work. Waters said no.
There was little discussion among council members during open session about the decision to extend the contract, an indication that the whole thing had been decided beforehand. No matter that the staff report didn’t even mention what other similar-sized cities pay for legal services. Hanford is paying Griswold, LaSalle $52,000 a month. Tulare is paying the same firm half that. Griswold LaSalle defended the difference saying Hanford requires more work. Did anyone investigate that claim or ask a single question about it?
The bottom line is the council majority didn’t do its due diligence and Hanford is saddled with the vehicle it paid sticker price for. No questions asked.
Legislature's transportation chair favors keeping Bakersfield-Merced high speed rail routing
Posted 12/2/25 2:05 pm
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Hanford Council extends Griswold, LaSalle contract through June 2027 despite public comments seeking outside law firm bids
Because of the importance of this topic, the full article is available to the public at no charge. Generally only headlines are posted on website. Subscribers get full articles emailed to them. If you want to subscribe it's just $1 for first three months. Cancel anytime. You can pay online. For subscriptions email to:
[email protected]
Revised and updated 11/25/25 10:06 am
This corrects the circumstances of Art Brieno's offer to resign from the council and includes Griswold, LaSalle's explanation of why Hanford and Tulare are charged different amounts for monthly legal services. Mark Pratter, the reporter on this article, made a comment on Griswold, LaSalle's relations with the press.
The city council Tuesday (11/18/25) approved extending the contract for Griswold, LaSalle law firm through July 2027 despite comments from 10 residents spread out over two meetings stating the city needed to shop around before signing a new contract with a city attorney.
Griswold, LaSalle is charging the city $52,000 per month for basic legal services, considerably more than it charges Tulare which, according to the Tulare City Clerk, is in the range of $22,000 to $24,000 monthly. Madera, which does not use Griswold, LaSalle, is billed hourly for legal services at the rate of $250 per hour. Bills are submitted by the attorney to the city monthly, said the city clerk.
Mario Zamora, attorney/partner at Griswold LaSalle said the legal work in Hanford and Tulare is not the same. “Hanford asks our firm to do about double the amount of work in a month than Tulare does. There would be a discrepancy if we did the same work and then charged different amounts. No two cities are the same and some ask us to be more involved than others. This can be for a variety of reasons, none have to do with our firm, including a lack of staff, experience of the staff, levels of acceptable risk, budgets, and many other reasons.”
There was no mention of the rates charged by other cities in the staff report on this issue nor did any council member ask about rates charged by other cities. The staff recommended the council either continue the current contract or seek bids from other law firms.
In its argument for retaining Griswold, LaSalle, Dowd, Cobb and Gin the staff cited the f irm’s 18 years of experience in representing the city and its expertise in public agency law. The vote was 4-1 in favor with Council Member Kimber Regan voting no.
The majority’s reasoning was that the city didn’t need to be looking for a new city attorney when it was
NEWS ANALYSIS
also trying to replace the city manager following the departure of Mario Cifuentez to Arizona. The council said it would seek bids from other law firms as well as Griswold, Lasalle when Griswold, LaSalle’s contract is up for renewal. But by that time a new council will be seated and what happens is anybody’s guess. Griswold, Lasalle is an influential part of the local business/government scene with some of its attorneys becoming judges in the local superior court.
Over the years attorney Robert Dowd has hosted social events for local elected officials and prominent people in the community at his brick home across from Hanford High School’s East Campus.
During the public comment period former sheriff and Hanford police veteran Chris Jordan of Hanford urged the council to “…layout all the options plus and minus, conclude who is the best one. Show the courage, put in the work that we get the best (it) may end up being the current attorney.” Russell Brookshire of Hanford, “it’s good business when spending money to get bids. You are spending our money, the taxpayers, the ones that voted you into office. Competition is good for the consumer.”
Nick Wagner said it would be prudent for the city to look at other firms to see if it can get a better deal. Cheyn Strawn, a former council candidate and commissioner, said the council should get the best bang for the buck by looking at outside firms. Russell Brookshire agreed.
Former Mayor and longtime Council Member Francisco Ramirez was critical of Griswold LaSalle’s representation in the Helena Chemical breach of contract case. He said Griswold, Lasalle repeatedly told the council Helena had no case.
With the threat of the suit looming a previous council agreed to pay a $12.5 million settlement to Helena plus lost the tax revenue and jobs from Helena which moved from a site across from the Costco Center on East Lacey to Lemoore. Ramirez also said Griswold, LaSalle is giving Hanford bad information by giving the opinion that special meeting voting is permissible when cities such as Clovis and Tulare do not allow it. In also urging outside firms be contacted another speak said, “personally having a legal representative this long is bad for the city.
It is time for a change.” Bob Ramos also urged the city to look at outside firms. “Get some bids, maybe more or less, learn what (they) can do for the city.” Contracts, he said, should be reviewed every five or six years. The city is long past that with Griswold, LaSalle. “This is the thought of a lot of the people we talk to.”
Mark Pratter, editor of the Bulletin Board newspaper, said he could only comment on Griswold, Lasalle’s treatment of the press over the years which has been generally non responsive to questions, tight-lipped and discourteous.
This, he said, despite the American Bar Association’s Code of Ethics which states, “…a lawyer should…exemplify the legal profession’s ideals of public service” and “…maintaining a professional, courteous and civil attitude toward all persons.”
One of the points the staff report listed for retaining Griswold, LaSalle was the firm’s ongoing ethics training. Ty Mizote, the attorney from Griswold, Lasalle who attends council meetings, defended the f irm’s service.
“Because of our knowledge and experience (we are) able to effectively much work the city provides to us,” he said. Vice Mayor Nancy Howze said she didn’t think the timing was right for seeking other candidates for the city attorney’s job. “I don’t see anything wrong. (I have been) quite pleased. He has Hanford’s back. We are in the process of hiring a new city manager. (We have) many projects. No one from the public offering (a reason) this needs to change right now,” said. Later she added, “…don’t see fire being lit. (I) see some sort of vendetta people not liking other people.” She said it wasn’t a good use of the staff’s time to seek bids from other attorneys when staff could be working on other things.
Following the meeting Howze was asked about her campaign promises to get rid of Griswold, Lasalle and terminate the then city manager Mario Cifuentez because he was mean to the public.
“At the time I thought Mario and Ty needed to go. I don’t go into a relationship with a bad attitude,” she said. “I went into the relationship (with Cifuentez and Mizote) with an open mind.” She said after working with Mizote, the city attorney, she changed her mind.
Mayor Travis Paden and Council Members Mark Kairis and Lou Martinez agreed with Howze’s reasoning that now wouldn’t be a good time to change the city attorney. Paden said, ”The current attorney did not go after two council members. (He was) …given direction from council to look at two other council members.”
He said seeking bids from new law firms is too close to the time the city should be hiring a new manager. Paden also defended Griswold, LaSalle’s fees. “The amount the city pays depends on the amount of work that is requested,” he said.
“It is the council which gives direction to move forward.” Council Member Lou Martinez said, “At this time because we are in the process of selecting a city manager (it) won’t be beneficial to do both.”
He said the council should have addressed the bids from law firms some time back. “I would like to move forward with a request for proposal as soon as (we) could.”
Council Member Regan said if the city issues a request for proposals for attorney firms, the matter wouldn’t be resolved until March. In answer to Paden, she said, she didn’t have a problem with the current city attorney.
Failures, successes by Griswold, LaSalle firm
Posted 11/25/25 10:14 am
Over the years Griswold, LaSalle has had a series of failures in representing the city but there also have been some successes.
One case in the last few years involved the Helena Chemical Company which operated a facility across from the Costco Center at East Lacey and State Highway 198.
Former Council Members Art Brieno and Francisco Ramirez said when they were on the council the Griswold, Lasalle firm repeatedly told the council that Helena had no case in a breach of contract dispute with the city.
NEWS ANALYSIS
But the city then made a $12.5 million settlement with Helena rather than take the case to trial. Brieno had urged the council to fight the lawsuit rather than settle it. Subsequently, Helena decided to relocate its plant and jobs to Lemoore. There would also be an ensuing loss of tax revenue to Hanford from the move.
Another matter involved the $700,000 payout by the city to former, longtime community development director Darlene Mata involving sexual harassment and gender discrimination charges against Brieno and Council Member Francisco Ramirez.
Mata filed a lawsuit against the city in January 2022. Griswold, LaSalle had hired a private investigator to interview Brieno, Brieno said. His comments appeared to corroborate some of Mata’s allegations. But Brieno said he felt he had been framed.
There was a messy back and forth. Brieno said today (11/23/25) that he offered to resign from the council if he were paid for the remaining two years of his term. But after the council met in closed session, Dowd told him the council did not accept his offer, Brieno said. Brieno then said he decided to continue to serve the remainder on the council even though the council did not accept his offer, he said.
Griswold, LaSalle delivered a major victory for city when a jury declined to award money to former finance director Paula Lofgren who alleged discrimination by city staff including sexual harassment by Cifuentez.
There is also the matter of Griswold, LaSalle’s censorship of commissioners and council members who are critical of city actions and policies. During Griswold Lasalle’s tenure commissioners on city advisory bodies such as the planning commission have said that if they criticize the city during meetings, afterwards they are summoned to Griswold, Lasalle’s offices on East 7th Street and told by an attorney to stop their criticism.
Asked about this a couple of years ago, Dowd said in a telephone interview that he didn’t have any recollection of censorship. However, he said he would be willing to discuss it with the person making the allegation in the presence of a reporter. There wasn’t any followup on the matter.
The notion that the city and its policies should not be criticized even by elected officials surfaced again in a social media policy on city websites which was written by Mizote, the city attorney, and approved by the council at its previous meeting. The policy states that if comments “…adversely affects members of the public served by the City, City employees, or the City’s interests, the City Council may take disciplinary action against the official.” The policy continues “…discipline of an elected official my include censure…” Mizote said the policy was modeled after Hayward’s, Fresno’s and Sacramento’s policies.
While a review of Hayward’s policy showed similarities to Hanford’s, there is no provision in Hayward’s policy for banning criticism of city actions by elected officials on city websites. It remains to be seen whether Hanford’s social media policy could withstand a potential court challenge over violating the First Amendment free speech rights which council members are sworn to uphold in their allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
[email protected]
Revised and updated 11/25/25 10:06 am
This corrects the circumstances of Art Brieno's offer to resign from the council and includes Griswold, LaSalle's explanation of why Hanford and Tulare are charged different amounts for monthly legal services. Mark Pratter, the reporter on this article, made a comment on Griswold, LaSalle's relations with the press.
The city council Tuesday (11/18/25) approved extending the contract for Griswold, LaSalle law firm through July 2027 despite comments from 10 residents spread out over two meetings stating the city needed to shop around before signing a new contract with a city attorney.
Griswold, LaSalle is charging the city $52,000 per month for basic legal services, considerably more than it charges Tulare which, according to the Tulare City Clerk, is in the range of $22,000 to $24,000 monthly. Madera, which does not use Griswold, LaSalle, is billed hourly for legal services at the rate of $250 per hour. Bills are submitted by the attorney to the city monthly, said the city clerk.
Mario Zamora, attorney/partner at Griswold LaSalle said the legal work in Hanford and Tulare is not the same. “Hanford asks our firm to do about double the amount of work in a month than Tulare does. There would be a discrepancy if we did the same work and then charged different amounts. No two cities are the same and some ask us to be more involved than others. This can be for a variety of reasons, none have to do with our firm, including a lack of staff, experience of the staff, levels of acceptable risk, budgets, and many other reasons.”
There was no mention of the rates charged by other cities in the staff report on this issue nor did any council member ask about rates charged by other cities. The staff recommended the council either continue the current contract or seek bids from other law firms.
In its argument for retaining Griswold, LaSalle, Dowd, Cobb and Gin the staff cited the f irm’s 18 years of experience in representing the city and its expertise in public agency law. The vote was 4-1 in favor with Council Member Kimber Regan voting no.
The majority’s reasoning was that the city didn’t need to be looking for a new city attorney when it was
NEWS ANALYSIS
also trying to replace the city manager following the departure of Mario Cifuentez to Arizona. The council said it would seek bids from other law firms as well as Griswold, Lasalle when Griswold, LaSalle’s contract is up for renewal. But by that time a new council will be seated and what happens is anybody’s guess. Griswold, Lasalle is an influential part of the local business/government scene with some of its attorneys becoming judges in the local superior court.
Over the years attorney Robert Dowd has hosted social events for local elected officials and prominent people in the community at his brick home across from Hanford High School’s East Campus.
During the public comment period former sheriff and Hanford police veteran Chris Jordan of Hanford urged the council to “…layout all the options plus and minus, conclude who is the best one. Show the courage, put in the work that we get the best (it) may end up being the current attorney.” Russell Brookshire of Hanford, “it’s good business when spending money to get bids. You are spending our money, the taxpayers, the ones that voted you into office. Competition is good for the consumer.”
Nick Wagner said it would be prudent for the city to look at other firms to see if it can get a better deal. Cheyn Strawn, a former council candidate and commissioner, said the council should get the best bang for the buck by looking at outside firms. Russell Brookshire agreed.
Former Mayor and longtime Council Member Francisco Ramirez was critical of Griswold LaSalle’s representation in the Helena Chemical breach of contract case. He said Griswold, Lasalle repeatedly told the council Helena had no case.
With the threat of the suit looming a previous council agreed to pay a $12.5 million settlement to Helena plus lost the tax revenue and jobs from Helena which moved from a site across from the Costco Center on East Lacey to Lemoore. Ramirez also said Griswold, LaSalle is giving Hanford bad information by giving the opinion that special meeting voting is permissible when cities such as Clovis and Tulare do not allow it. In also urging outside firms be contacted another speak said, “personally having a legal representative this long is bad for the city.
It is time for a change.” Bob Ramos also urged the city to look at outside firms. “Get some bids, maybe more or less, learn what (they) can do for the city.” Contracts, he said, should be reviewed every five or six years. The city is long past that with Griswold, LaSalle. “This is the thought of a lot of the people we talk to.”
Mark Pratter, editor of the Bulletin Board newspaper, said he could only comment on Griswold, Lasalle’s treatment of the press over the years which has been generally non responsive to questions, tight-lipped and discourteous.
This, he said, despite the American Bar Association’s Code of Ethics which states, “…a lawyer should…exemplify the legal profession’s ideals of public service” and “…maintaining a professional, courteous and civil attitude toward all persons.”
One of the points the staff report listed for retaining Griswold, LaSalle was the firm’s ongoing ethics training. Ty Mizote, the attorney from Griswold, Lasalle who attends council meetings, defended the f irm’s service.
“Because of our knowledge and experience (we are) able to effectively much work the city provides to us,” he said. Vice Mayor Nancy Howze said she didn’t think the timing was right for seeking other candidates for the city attorney’s job. “I don’t see anything wrong. (I have been) quite pleased. He has Hanford’s back. We are in the process of hiring a new city manager. (We have) many projects. No one from the public offering (a reason) this needs to change right now,” said. Later she added, “…don’t see fire being lit. (I) see some sort of vendetta people not liking other people.” She said it wasn’t a good use of the staff’s time to seek bids from other attorneys when staff could be working on other things.
Following the meeting Howze was asked about her campaign promises to get rid of Griswold, Lasalle and terminate the then city manager Mario Cifuentez because he was mean to the public.
“At the time I thought Mario and Ty needed to go. I don’t go into a relationship with a bad attitude,” she said. “I went into the relationship (with Cifuentez and Mizote) with an open mind.” She said after working with Mizote, the city attorney, she changed her mind.
Mayor Travis Paden and Council Members Mark Kairis and Lou Martinez agreed with Howze’s reasoning that now wouldn’t be a good time to change the city attorney. Paden said, ”The current attorney did not go after two council members. (He was) …given direction from council to look at two other council members.”
He said seeking bids from new law firms is too close to the time the city should be hiring a new manager. Paden also defended Griswold, LaSalle’s fees. “The amount the city pays depends on the amount of work that is requested,” he said.
“It is the council which gives direction to move forward.” Council Member Lou Martinez said, “At this time because we are in the process of selecting a city manager (it) won’t be beneficial to do both.”
He said the council should have addressed the bids from law firms some time back. “I would like to move forward with a request for proposal as soon as (we) could.”
Council Member Regan said if the city issues a request for proposals for attorney firms, the matter wouldn’t be resolved until March. In answer to Paden, she said, she didn’t have a problem with the current city attorney.
Failures, successes by Griswold, LaSalle firm
Posted 11/25/25 10:14 am
Over the years Griswold, LaSalle has had a series of failures in representing the city but there also have been some successes.
One case in the last few years involved the Helena Chemical Company which operated a facility across from the Costco Center at East Lacey and State Highway 198.
Former Council Members Art Brieno and Francisco Ramirez said when they were on the council the Griswold, Lasalle firm repeatedly told the council that Helena had no case in a breach of contract dispute with the city.
NEWS ANALYSIS
But the city then made a $12.5 million settlement with Helena rather than take the case to trial. Brieno had urged the council to fight the lawsuit rather than settle it. Subsequently, Helena decided to relocate its plant and jobs to Lemoore. There would also be an ensuing loss of tax revenue to Hanford from the move.
Another matter involved the $700,000 payout by the city to former, longtime community development director Darlene Mata involving sexual harassment and gender discrimination charges against Brieno and Council Member Francisco Ramirez.
Mata filed a lawsuit against the city in January 2022. Griswold, LaSalle had hired a private investigator to interview Brieno, Brieno said. His comments appeared to corroborate some of Mata’s allegations. But Brieno said he felt he had been framed.
There was a messy back and forth. Brieno said today (11/23/25) that he offered to resign from the council if he were paid for the remaining two years of his term. But after the council met in closed session, Dowd told him the council did not accept his offer, Brieno said. Brieno then said he decided to continue to serve the remainder on the council even though the council did not accept his offer, he said.
Griswold, LaSalle delivered a major victory for city when a jury declined to award money to former finance director Paula Lofgren who alleged discrimination by city staff including sexual harassment by Cifuentez.
There is also the matter of Griswold, LaSalle’s censorship of commissioners and council members who are critical of city actions and policies. During Griswold Lasalle’s tenure commissioners on city advisory bodies such as the planning commission have said that if they criticize the city during meetings, afterwards they are summoned to Griswold, Lasalle’s offices on East 7th Street and told by an attorney to stop their criticism.
Asked about this a couple of years ago, Dowd said in a telephone interview that he didn’t have any recollection of censorship. However, he said he would be willing to discuss it with the person making the allegation in the presence of a reporter. There wasn’t any followup on the matter.
The notion that the city and its policies should not be criticized even by elected officials surfaced again in a social media policy on city websites which was written by Mizote, the city attorney, and approved by the council at its previous meeting. The policy states that if comments “…adversely affects members of the public served by the City, City employees, or the City’s interests, the City Council may take disciplinary action against the official.” The policy continues “…discipline of an elected official my include censure…” Mizote said the policy was modeled after Hayward’s, Fresno’s and Sacramento’s policies.
While a review of Hayward’s policy showed similarities to Hanford’s, there is no provision in Hayward’s policy for banning criticism of city actions by elected officials on city websites. It remains to be seen whether Hanford’s social media policy could withstand a potential court challenge over violating the First Amendment free speech rights which council members are sworn to uphold in their allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
Hanford approves social media policy which limits some uses
Posted 11/7/25 2:01 pm
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Hanford tables decision on city attorney hire until November 18
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Person hit by Amtrak train in Hanford, no injuries to passengers
Posted 10/4/25 4:34 pm
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DA seeks to limit grand jury transcript in indictment HPD officer
POSTED 9/28/25 3:20 pm
HANFORD – Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker is trying to limit how much information is released from a grand jury transcript involving the indictment of a Hanford Police officer for excessive use of force.
The DA’s reasoning is that the full release of the transcript would taint the potential jury pool, she said September 27.
By law transcripts of grand jury proceedings are supposed to be released 10 days after an indictment which would be September 28.
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HANFORD – Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker is trying to limit how much information is released from a grand jury transcript involving the indictment of a Hanford Police officer for excessive use of force.
The DA’s reasoning is that the full release of the transcript would taint the potential jury pool, she said September 27.
By law transcripts of grand jury proceedings are supposed to be released 10 days after an indictment which would be September 28.
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Treating juveniles as adults at issue in murder trial
POSTED 9/28/25 3:18 PM
HANFORD – The Nana Jeff Silva murder case in Lemoore is the latest chapter in the ongoing nationwide battle over whether juveniles who are accused of murder or other serious crimes should be tried as adults. So far Judge Jennifer Giuliani here on September 17 denied the DA’s request to have two of the suspects’ cases tried together. It is possible that Giuliani will also make a ruling October 21 on the DA’s request to have two suspects, who were both juveniles at the time of the murder, tried as adults.
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HANFORD – The Nana Jeff Silva murder case in Lemoore is the latest chapter in the ongoing nationwide battle over whether juveniles who are accused of murder or other serious crimes should be tried as adults. So far Judge Jennifer Giuliani here on September 17 denied the DA’s request to have two of the suspects’ cases tried together. It is possible that Giuliani will also make a ruling October 21 on the DA’s request to have two suspects, who were both juveniles at the time of the murder, tried as adults.
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Fire on Amber engulfs Hanford neighborhood with smoke
UPDATE 9/14/25 3:45 PM Corrects location of fire, additional details included
HANFORD - A fire in the driveway of a house in the 500-block of West Amber Sunday afternoon (9/14/25) ignited some juniper trees and engulfed the Short Acres area in northeast Hanford in dense smoke.
The incident occurred about 2:5 2 pm. Hanford Fire was on the scene putting out the flames within minutes. One engine responded and police cordoned off both ends of the street.
The reason for the dense smoke in the neighborhood was juniper trees are very dry inside, said Hanford Battalion Chief Tom McKean.
The fire department was able to keep the fire from spreading to the house structure which was the main concern, McKean said.
Asked about the cause of the fire, McKean, said he was unable to release information about that at this time. An old pickup which was in the driveway was moved onto the street.
About a dozen people came out of their houses to watch firefighters extinguish the flames.
The story will be updated as more details become available.
HANFORD - A fire in the driveway of a house in the 500-block of West Amber Sunday afternoon (9/14/25) ignited some juniper trees and engulfed the Short Acres area in northeast Hanford in dense smoke.
The incident occurred about 2:5 2 pm. Hanford Fire was on the scene putting out the flames within minutes. One engine responded and police cordoned off both ends of the street.
The reason for the dense smoke in the neighborhood was juniper trees are very dry inside, said Hanford Battalion Chief Tom McKean.
The fire department was able to keep the fire from spreading to the house structure which was the main concern, McKean said.
Asked about the cause of the fire, McKean, said he was unable to release information about that at this time. An old pickup which was in the driveway was moved onto the street.
About a dozen people came out of their houses to watch firefighters extinguish the flames.
The story will be updated as more details become available.
Fagundes put on leave from Kern DA's office following $1.9 million verdict awarded to his ex-secretary
OSTED 8/11/25 12:37 pm This is a shortened version of the article for non-subscribers. If you want to read the full 321-word article please subscribe. Just $1 for three months. To subscribe email: bulletinboardpublications.weebly.com.
KERN COUNTY – Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer put Keith Fagundes on leave as a Kern County prosecutor following a $1.9 million verdict sexual harassment verdict last week in favor of Fagundes secretary while he was Kings DA, according to story by KERO TV Channel 23 in Bakersfield.
Another sexual harassment lawsuit against Kings County filed by Robert Waggle, ex-Kings County chief investigator settled in 2022 for $1.1 million. In that suit Waggle also alleged sexual harassment by Fagundes.
Fagundes, contacted by KERO, told the station he had no comment.
Unanswered is why Zimmer hired Fagundes and potentially exposed Kern County to litigation. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future will reach out to Zimmer and Fagundes and if they respond the story will be updated.
KERN COUNTY – Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer put Keith Fagundes on leave as a Kern County prosecutor following a $1.9 million verdict sexual harassment verdict last week in favor of Fagundes secretary while he was Kings DA, according to story by KERO TV Channel 23 in Bakersfield.
Another sexual harassment lawsuit against Kings County filed by Robert Waggle, ex-Kings County chief investigator settled in 2022 for $1.1 million. In that suit Waggle also alleged sexual harassment by Fagundes.
Fagundes, contacted by KERO, told the station he had no comment.
Unanswered is why Zimmer hired Fagundes and potentially exposed Kern County to litigation. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future will reach out to Zimmer and Fagundes and if they respond the story will be updated.
Smith wins $1.9 million verdict in sexual harassment case
Posted 8/7/25 Updated 9:26 pm. This update includes more of Keith Fagundes' testimony together with a statement following the verdict from County Administrator Kyria Martinez.
KINGS COUNTY – The jury awarded a $1.9 million verdict to DA secretary Alexandria Smith today (8/6/25) for past non-economic suffering in a stunning blow to Kings County whose attorneys argued that the county took the right steps to deal with her complaints of retaliation and sexual harassment by ex-DA Keith Fagundes.
Smith, dressed in a dark blue outfit, sobbed as the judge went through the jury’s verdict in the 16 counts. Virtually all of them---15 out of 16--- were in her favor.
After the trial she said the verdict was “…not for me but all of the women who felt oppressed in the workplace and were silenced by those who didn’t want it to come out.”
She said she expects to return to her job in a few days as office manager/secretary to DA Sarah Hacker who defeated Fagundes in his bid for a third term. Smith said the presence of Fagundes’ father Richard on the Kings County Board of Supervisors had to have affected how the county should have acted.
Kings County Administrator Kyria Martinez who sat through most the trial refused to make any comment both during and after the verdict. She looked subdued, did not smile and talked quietly with the county’s attorneys in the hallway outside the Kings County Superior Court courtroom after the verdict was delivered and the jury excused.
The county’s attorney James Arendt of Fresno said the county hasn’t determined whether it will appeal the verdict. He also couldn’t say at this point how much of the verdict amount will have to be paid by the county and how much will be covered by insurance. Martinez said today (8/7/25) that the Kings County Board of Supervisors will decide whether the verdict will be appealed, a process that plaintiff’s co-counsel John L. Barber said could take three years.
The verdict comes on the heels of a $1.1 million settlement paid by the county a few years ago to Robert Waggle, chief DA investigator under Fagundes, for sexual harassment.
At one time Waggle, his then girlfriend Smith and Keith Fagundes were close. They called themselves the “three muskateers” and the “the amigos,” Fagundes testified. The relationship developed into a friendship, Fagundes testified.
When Waggle was having marital difficulties and living rent free at Fagundes’ pool house, Fagundes testified, Waggle and Smith were at Fagundes’ house every weekend. And Waggle and Smith each brough their kids, Fagundes said.
But as Fagundes said in his August 4 testimony something happened. Waggle and Fagundes stopped have lunch together, Fagundes testified.
He said his connection to Smith, whom he described “autocratic” and lacking in personal skills, was through Waggle whom Fagundes described as a confidante. Waggle agreed about Smith’s lack of personal skills, said Fagundes. Fagundes said he went with Smith to Sacramento for leadership training so she could get personal skills. At another point in his testimony Fagundes described Smith as “a difficult personality to deal with” and Fagundes said he found her “a difficult personality to deal with” adding that she was “aloof, arrogant and unworkable.”
But yet when Smith was first hired, Fagundes said, it was he, over the objections of other staff members, who championed Smith’s cause. He said Smith had “…determination reminding me of my sisters and my wife, impressive.”
During the entirety of Fagundes’ nearly two hours of testimony Smith did not look at Fagundes once and Smith said listening to Fagundes was the most difficult part of the case for her.
Juror Foreperson Stephanie Fontaine of Hanford said when the jurors were excused to deliberate after lunch on Tuesday they were all initially in agreement on the case. "There was no one piece of evidence,” said Fontaine.
The jurors “felt Keith Fagundes lied” in his testimony.
Fagundes’ testimony was largely dismissive of Smith’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.
During cross examination the county’s co-counsel Arendt asked Fagundes if he ever made comments about Waggle and his body? Fagundes said no, adding to Arendt’s question about touching Waggle in a sexual manner, Fagundes said, “I don’t believe so….(I) never touch(ed) Waggle in a sexual manner, tell things of a sexual nature (to) Ms. Smith, never asked (about) sex life (with) Waggle, anal sex never, asked how big Mr. Waggles’ penis was…”
Then Arendt asked if Fagundes ever made a comment about seeing Waggle have sexual intercourse with Smith. Fagundes denied making such a comment adding, “Robert being an expert investigator could imprint people. (I) happened to love pineapple. (Waggle) going to imprint you. (It) makes your semen sweet. Now you have ruined pineapple.”
Two days after Fagundes’ testimony and after the jury had delivered its verdict county administrator Martinez issued a statement (8/7/25) that referred to Smith’s allegations of retaliation occurring under the previous DA Fagundes.
She continued, the trial “…commenced on Monday 7/28/25 with a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. Kings County is deeply committed to maintaining a professional and respectful work environment where all individuals are treated with dignity. Kings County takes all personnel matters seriously and will continue to review internal policies, procedures and practices to ensure accountability and uphold the highest standards of integrity in the workplace.”
As soon as the county became aware of Smith’s allegations it has to act according to the requirements of the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, Barber, Smith’s co-counsel told the jury.
But instead the county chose to move Smith from the DA’s office to the human resources department where she had virtually no duties.
Barber said there was a whole host of actions that the county could have taken including presenting the matter to the grand jury but the county chose not to take any of them.
The jurors decided at the end of the day Tuesday what their verdict should be but they asked to review an additional piece of evidence, a report from Daniele Drossel of Oppenheimer, a legal investigative service hired by the county. The jury found Keith Fagundes’ sexual comments to Smith graphic and not appropriate, Fontaine said. “I think we did a good job,” she said. “We did the right thing.” Barber, co-counsel for Smith, said, “the jury usually gets it right.”
In the final day of arguments in the Smith sexual harassment trial Tuesday opposing counsels traded interpretations about what constituted harassment and whether the county acted properly in response to Smith’s complaints about her boss DA Keith Fagundes. The case in superior court here went to jury of seven women and five men early in the afternoon and deliberations were expected to last at least until Wednesday.
Smith’s co-counsel Barber the legal matter at hand was clearcut. The state Fair Employment and Housing Act the employer is strictly liable for workplace harassment. If Fagundes harassed Alex Smith, Barber said, the inquiry is over.
The employer’s obligation Barber told the jury, which appeared to be attentive, arises “…when I knew or should have known.” Harassment is based on gender, he said, there is no requirement that sexual desire be present. “This is a series of adverse employment actions,” Barber said. “That is harassment.” Kings County was supposed to take all reasonable steps to avoid harassment, he said. But the county didn’t do that.
But Fresno attorney James Arendt said while a lot of people didn’t like Fagundes the plaintiff's case is a distraction to sidetrack the jury from the real issue: did Fagundes harass and retaliate against her?
One of Smith’s claims was that as DA secretary Fagundes sent her emails every day about things he wanted her to do, Arendt recapped from previous testimony. There was one email discussed during trial, Arendt said, that involved id cards and checking with human resources on the victim witness advocate. ”She said he sent her emails every day,” Arendt said. “(I) didn’t see any of those emails.” Except August 16, 2024, he “said, there aren’t any. Arendt described the email matter as a perfect example of “…blowing things out and exaggerating. (She) tried to make you believe (she was) taking all three of these tasks in one day.”
Arendt also called Smith’s claim that Fagundes tried to take away her Internet access as a “non-issue.” “Where is the evidence (of) him, Keith Fagundes, cutting off ipad service?”
At the end of the email Fagundes said, according to testimony, that he would have the county buy Smith an Ipad.
Smith argued that cross training Veronica Miller for Smith’s job was a hostile act but Arendt called it “…a good business practice.”
Evidence was presented of her belongings in the office being thrown away. “Nothing was thrown away,” Arendt told the jury. HR director Henie Ring and Risk Manager Sande Huddleston were Smith’s strongest allies, Arendt recalled, “…they couldn’t tell you one thing Keith Fagundes did to retaliate.” “Smith had the tendency to twist the facts, so its fits her narrative,” Arendt said.
He urged the jurors not to fall into the trap that former DA chief investigator Waggle got money, so should Smith.
Throughout Arendt summation Smith did not look at him but straight ahead. This was the same posture she took Monday when the most explosive witness of the trial, Fagundes, testified.
In a rebuttal to Arendt’s summation Barber said the county is responsible for taking all reasonable steps to prevent harassment. The county, Barber said, knew about Smith’s claims in August of 2021 but did zero investigation. “When a man with power speaks to you (women) with Mr. Keith Fagundes it is frightening,” said Barber. “Of all the untruths of Keith Fagundes,” Barber said, “the most glaring was he hadn’t considered that he was going to run for DA (again).
KINGS COUNTY – The jury awarded a $1.9 million verdict to DA secretary Alexandria Smith today (8/6/25) for past non-economic suffering in a stunning blow to Kings County whose attorneys argued that the county took the right steps to deal with her complaints of retaliation and sexual harassment by ex-DA Keith Fagundes.
Smith, dressed in a dark blue outfit, sobbed as the judge went through the jury’s verdict in the 16 counts. Virtually all of them---15 out of 16--- were in her favor.
After the trial she said the verdict was “…not for me but all of the women who felt oppressed in the workplace and were silenced by those who didn’t want it to come out.”
She said she expects to return to her job in a few days as office manager/secretary to DA Sarah Hacker who defeated Fagundes in his bid for a third term. Smith said the presence of Fagundes’ father Richard on the Kings County Board of Supervisors had to have affected how the county should have acted.
Kings County Administrator Kyria Martinez who sat through most the trial refused to make any comment both during and after the verdict. She looked subdued, did not smile and talked quietly with the county’s attorneys in the hallway outside the Kings County Superior Court courtroom after the verdict was delivered and the jury excused.
The county’s attorney James Arendt of Fresno said the county hasn’t determined whether it will appeal the verdict. He also couldn’t say at this point how much of the verdict amount will have to be paid by the county and how much will be covered by insurance. Martinez said today (8/7/25) that the Kings County Board of Supervisors will decide whether the verdict will be appealed, a process that plaintiff’s co-counsel John L. Barber said could take three years.
The verdict comes on the heels of a $1.1 million settlement paid by the county a few years ago to Robert Waggle, chief DA investigator under Fagundes, for sexual harassment.
At one time Waggle, his then girlfriend Smith and Keith Fagundes were close. They called themselves the “three muskateers” and the “the amigos,” Fagundes testified. The relationship developed into a friendship, Fagundes testified.
When Waggle was having marital difficulties and living rent free at Fagundes’ pool house, Fagundes testified, Waggle and Smith were at Fagundes’ house every weekend. And Waggle and Smith each brough their kids, Fagundes said.
But as Fagundes said in his August 4 testimony something happened. Waggle and Fagundes stopped have lunch together, Fagundes testified.
He said his connection to Smith, whom he described “autocratic” and lacking in personal skills, was through Waggle whom Fagundes described as a confidante. Waggle agreed about Smith’s lack of personal skills, said Fagundes. Fagundes said he went with Smith to Sacramento for leadership training so she could get personal skills. At another point in his testimony Fagundes described Smith as “a difficult personality to deal with” and Fagundes said he found her “a difficult personality to deal with” adding that she was “aloof, arrogant and unworkable.”
But yet when Smith was first hired, Fagundes said, it was he, over the objections of other staff members, who championed Smith’s cause. He said Smith had “…determination reminding me of my sisters and my wife, impressive.”
During the entirety of Fagundes’ nearly two hours of testimony Smith did not look at Fagundes once and Smith said listening to Fagundes was the most difficult part of the case for her.
Juror Foreperson Stephanie Fontaine of Hanford said when the jurors were excused to deliberate after lunch on Tuesday they were all initially in agreement on the case. "There was no one piece of evidence,” said Fontaine.
The jurors “felt Keith Fagundes lied” in his testimony.
Fagundes’ testimony was largely dismissive of Smith’s claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.
During cross examination the county’s co-counsel Arendt asked Fagundes if he ever made comments about Waggle and his body? Fagundes said no, adding to Arendt’s question about touching Waggle in a sexual manner, Fagundes said, “I don’t believe so….(I) never touch(ed) Waggle in a sexual manner, tell things of a sexual nature (to) Ms. Smith, never asked (about) sex life (with) Waggle, anal sex never, asked how big Mr. Waggles’ penis was…”
Then Arendt asked if Fagundes ever made a comment about seeing Waggle have sexual intercourse with Smith. Fagundes denied making such a comment adding, “Robert being an expert investigator could imprint people. (I) happened to love pineapple. (Waggle) going to imprint you. (It) makes your semen sweet. Now you have ruined pineapple.”
Two days after Fagundes’ testimony and after the jury had delivered its verdict county administrator Martinez issued a statement (8/7/25) that referred to Smith’s allegations of retaliation occurring under the previous DA Fagundes.
She continued, the trial “…commenced on Monday 7/28/25 with a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. Kings County is deeply committed to maintaining a professional and respectful work environment where all individuals are treated with dignity. Kings County takes all personnel matters seriously and will continue to review internal policies, procedures and practices to ensure accountability and uphold the highest standards of integrity in the workplace.”
As soon as the county became aware of Smith’s allegations it has to act according to the requirements of the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, Barber, Smith’s co-counsel told the jury.
But instead the county chose to move Smith from the DA’s office to the human resources department where she had virtually no duties.
Barber said there was a whole host of actions that the county could have taken including presenting the matter to the grand jury but the county chose not to take any of them.
The jurors decided at the end of the day Tuesday what their verdict should be but they asked to review an additional piece of evidence, a report from Daniele Drossel of Oppenheimer, a legal investigative service hired by the county. The jury found Keith Fagundes’ sexual comments to Smith graphic and not appropriate, Fontaine said. “I think we did a good job,” she said. “We did the right thing.” Barber, co-counsel for Smith, said, “the jury usually gets it right.”
In the final day of arguments in the Smith sexual harassment trial Tuesday opposing counsels traded interpretations about what constituted harassment and whether the county acted properly in response to Smith’s complaints about her boss DA Keith Fagundes. The case in superior court here went to jury of seven women and five men early in the afternoon and deliberations were expected to last at least until Wednesday.
Smith’s co-counsel Barber the legal matter at hand was clearcut. The state Fair Employment and Housing Act the employer is strictly liable for workplace harassment. If Fagundes harassed Alex Smith, Barber said, the inquiry is over.
The employer’s obligation Barber told the jury, which appeared to be attentive, arises “…when I knew or should have known.” Harassment is based on gender, he said, there is no requirement that sexual desire be present. “This is a series of adverse employment actions,” Barber said. “That is harassment.” Kings County was supposed to take all reasonable steps to avoid harassment, he said. But the county didn’t do that.
But Fresno attorney James Arendt said while a lot of people didn’t like Fagundes the plaintiff's case is a distraction to sidetrack the jury from the real issue: did Fagundes harass and retaliate against her?
One of Smith’s claims was that as DA secretary Fagundes sent her emails every day about things he wanted her to do, Arendt recapped from previous testimony. There was one email discussed during trial, Arendt said, that involved id cards and checking with human resources on the victim witness advocate. ”She said he sent her emails every day,” Arendt said. “(I) didn’t see any of those emails.” Except August 16, 2024, he “said, there aren’t any. Arendt described the email matter as a perfect example of “…blowing things out and exaggerating. (She) tried to make you believe (she was) taking all three of these tasks in one day.”
Arendt also called Smith’s claim that Fagundes tried to take away her Internet access as a “non-issue.” “Where is the evidence (of) him, Keith Fagundes, cutting off ipad service?”
At the end of the email Fagundes said, according to testimony, that he would have the county buy Smith an Ipad.
Smith argued that cross training Veronica Miller for Smith’s job was a hostile act but Arendt called it “…a good business practice.”
Evidence was presented of her belongings in the office being thrown away. “Nothing was thrown away,” Arendt told the jury. HR director Henie Ring and Risk Manager Sande Huddleston were Smith’s strongest allies, Arendt recalled, “…they couldn’t tell you one thing Keith Fagundes did to retaliate.” “Smith had the tendency to twist the facts, so its fits her narrative,” Arendt said.
He urged the jurors not to fall into the trap that former DA chief investigator Waggle got money, so should Smith.
Throughout Arendt summation Smith did not look at him but straight ahead. This was the same posture she took Monday when the most explosive witness of the trial, Fagundes, testified.
In a rebuttal to Arendt’s summation Barber said the county is responsible for taking all reasonable steps to prevent harassment. The county, Barber said, knew about Smith’s claims in August of 2021 but did zero investigation. “When a man with power speaks to you (women) with Mr. Keith Fagundes it is frightening,” said Barber. “Of all the untruths of Keith Fagundes,” Barber said, “the most glaring was he hadn’t considered that he was going to run for DA (again).
Stock photo of Navy F35 aircraft. This is not the same aircraft that crashed north of NAS Lemoore on Wednesday.
F-35 crash 12th since aircraft
Updated 8/9/25 7:25 pm
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NAS LEMOORE – Following the crash of an $89.2 million Navy F-35 Lighting II just north of the base here on July 30 a check of the aircraft’s crash data shows there’s been a dozen crashes involving the aircraft since it was introduced to the fleet in 2018, according to Modern Engineering Marvels.
The aircraft has a crash rate of 1.6 crashes per 100,000 flying hours which is considered respectable compared to other fighter aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, according Aerospace Global News.
By comparison the F-16, which the Navy does not fly, has a crash rate of 3.55 per 100,000 hours of flying, according to an analysis by Sand Boxx. However, the F-35C has issues with readiness, that is its ability to fly when needed, according to the article. It is only ready 51.9 percent of the time, which is about half the amount that the Navy wants, according to the article. The UK’s Royal Air Force, which also flies the aircraft, has also experienced the readiness problems, the article stated.
A spokesman for the base confirmed that the crash occurred August 30.
The aircraft crashed about 6:30 pm in a cotton field in Fresno County owned by Fresno County Supervisor Chairman Buddy Mendes, according to media reports. The location was Dickenson and Cadillac avenues in Fresno County which just north of the base, according to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. NAS Lemoore is located in neighboring Kings County.
The Fresno County Sheriff's Office was alerted about the crash. First responders found the pilot with his parachute deployed near the crash site. Firefighters extinguished flames from the burning jet. The crash sent a huge plume of dark gray smoke above the crash site.
The aircraft has a crash rate of 1.6 crashes per 100,000 flying hours which is considered respectable compared to other fighter aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, according Aerospace Global News.
By comparison the F-16, which the Navy does not fly, has a crash rate of 3.55 per 100,000 hours of flying, according to an analysis by Sand Boxx. However, the F-35C has issues with readiness, that is its ability to fly when needed, according to the article. It is only ready 51.9 percent of the time, which is about half the amount that the Navy wants, according to the article. The UK’s Royal Air Force, which also flies the aircraft, has also experienced the readiness problems, the article stated.
A spokesman for the base confirmed that the crash occurred August 30.
The aircraft crashed about 6:30 pm in a cotton field in Fresno County owned by Fresno County Supervisor Chairman Buddy Mendes, according to media reports. The location was Dickenson and Cadillac avenues in Fresno County which just north of the base, according to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. NAS Lemoore is located in neighboring Kings County.
The Fresno County Sheriff's Office was alerted about the crash. First responders found the pilot with his parachute deployed near the crash site. Firefighters extinguished flames from the burning jet. The crash sent a huge plume of dark gray smoke above the crash site.
Jury selected in retaliation suit against Kings County
Posted 7/29/25 8:32 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Attorneys today completed jury selection and were scheduled to present opening arguments in the lawsuit filed by DA office administrator Alexandra Smith against Kings County for retaliation by her former boss Keith Fagundes who was district attorney.
Attorneys selected a jury of seven women and five men in the case which is expected to last 10 days. There are also two alternates. The case is being heard by Frederick Horn, presiding judge of Orange County. Kings Superior Court judges excused themselves citing conflict of interest.
Smith is represented by Larry Lenneman of Los Angeles, the same attorney who in 2022 won a $1.1 million sexual harassment settlement against the county for his client Robert Waggle, former DA chief investigator. Waggle alleged in his suit that Fagundes sent him sexually explicit text messages and undertook other illegal actions against him while Waggle worked in the office.
Waggle and Smith were coworkers when Fagundes was DA.
In addition to Smith, present in the Kings County Superior Court courtroom today, were Kyria Martinez, county administrative officer, the top administrator in the county. She sat at the defense table.
The county is represented by the law firm of Weakley and Arendt of Fresno who also represented the county in Waggle’s case. Martinez said in a text message that she had no further comment on the case at this time as this is active litigation.
After working for Fagundes, Smith was transferred to the county’s human resources department but now works in her old job for the new DA, Sarah Hacker. Hacker, who also worked for Fagundes, defeated him in his bid for a third term.
Attorneys selected a jury of seven women and five men in the case which is expected to last 10 days. There are also two alternates. The case is being heard by Frederick Horn, presiding judge of Orange County. Kings Superior Court judges excused themselves citing conflict of interest.
Smith is represented by Larry Lenneman of Los Angeles, the same attorney who in 2022 won a $1.1 million sexual harassment settlement against the county for his client Robert Waggle, former DA chief investigator. Waggle alleged in his suit that Fagundes sent him sexually explicit text messages and undertook other illegal actions against him while Waggle worked in the office.
Waggle and Smith were coworkers when Fagundes was DA.
In addition to Smith, present in the Kings County Superior Court courtroom today, were Kyria Martinez, county administrative officer, the top administrator in the county. She sat at the defense table.
The county is represented by the law firm of Weakley and Arendt of Fresno who also represented the county in Waggle’s case. Martinez said in a text message that she had no further comment on the case at this time as this is active litigation.
After working for Fagundes, Smith was transferred to the county’s human resources department but now works in her old job for the new DA, Sarah Hacker. Hacker, who also worked for Fagundes, defeated him in his bid for a third term.
Council accepts Tavarez as interim city manager, Paden elected mayor
UPDATED 6/17/25 8:11 pm
HANFORD - The city council voted to accept finance director Chris Tavarez as interim city manager while a search is underway for a permanent replacement.
The council also elected vice mayor Travis Paden as mayor after Mayor Lou Martinez resigned. Martinez is known to be unhappy with the conflict in city government. Martinez will continue to serve on the council until his term ends. Council Member Nancy Howze was elected vice mayor.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez is resigning August 15 to accept the city manager's job in Cottonwood, Arizona. Tavarez will assume the city manager's job August 4 so there can be a transition period for him while Cifuentez is still on city staff.
HANFORD - The city council voted to accept finance director Chris Tavarez as interim city manager while a search is underway for a permanent replacement.
The council also elected vice mayor Travis Paden as mayor after Mayor Lou Martinez resigned. Martinez is known to be unhappy with the conflict in city government. Martinez will continue to serve on the council until his term ends. Council Member Nancy Howze was elected vice mayor.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez is resigning August 15 to accept the city manager's job in Cottonwood, Arizona. Tavarez will assume the city manager's job August 4 so there can be a transition period for him while Cifuentez is still on city staff.
DEMONSTRATIONS IN HANFORD AGAINST ICE RAIDS AND TRUMP More than a hundred people turned out Saturday (6/14/25) for a demonstration against President Trump and his immigration policies. All four corners of the busy intersection were filled with demonstrators waving American, Mexican and Canadian flags. Some of carried signs some of which read: "Families belong together," "We stand with immigrant families," and "Trump is not a king." At the southeast corner a line of demonstrators stretched more than 500 feet and several persons deep. Demonstrations here coincide with others in the Central Valley and nationwide. The demonstrations were unleashed the day Trump will review a military parade for the 25 0 anniversary of the Army and his own 79th birthday. The Trump Administration has said the deportation of immigrants here illegally is necessary to secure the U.S. borders.
- The Hanford Civic Auditorium Centennial Celebration Saturday (6/7/25) included a presentation by civic leaders, a concert by the John Philip Sousa Tribute Band and “Happy Birthday” and a ceremonial cake cutting. People attending chatted, ate cake and looked at various exhibits including one about Big Bands such as Benny Goodman whose orchestra once played at the civic. Sousa’s band also played there.
Youngster enjoys cake as he listens to music by Tim and Adam of Hanford at the Civic Auditorium Centennial Celebration on Saturday (6/7/25).
Council names finance director Tavarez as interim Hanford City Manager
POSTED 6/5/25 9:16 pm
HANFORD – The city council Thursday selected Finance Director Christopher Tavarez as the interim city manager to replace City Manager Mario Cifuentez who is leaving to take a job in Arizona, according to informed sources.
Tavarez and Deputy City Manager Jason Waters interviewed for the position in a closed-door meeting on Thursday, according to informed sources.
Tavarez could not be reached for comment.
During public comment period prior to the closed- door meeting on Thursday Bob Ramos, who is active in Hanford city issues, and former Mayor Francisco Ramirez urged the council to hire Mike Olmos, who previously worked for as interim Hanford City Manager city manager before Cifuentez was hired.
Olmos, who had a long career at the City of Visalia, was Visalia City Manager from 2013 – 2017 before he retired, according to an article in the Porterville Recorder.
Last week former Mayor David Ayers also urged the Hanford Council not to hire a current city staff member as interim city manager.
But the council disagreed and turned to Tavarez who previously worked for the City of Exeter.
As Hanford’s finance director Tavarez supervises both the finance division and utility billing areas, according to the city’s website. He is also heavily involved in the preparation of the city’s $150 million budget.
Last week the council agreed to hire a consulting firm to field candidates for Cifuentez’s permanent replacement. The council said it will also consider the interim city manager as a candidate for permanent city manager.
Cifuentez has been city manager of Hanford since November 2019. He is leaving his job in Hanford on August 15. He will become city manager in Cottonwood, Arizona, a city of about 12,000 that is 100 miles north of Phoenix.
HANFORD – The city council Thursday selected Finance Director Christopher Tavarez as the interim city manager to replace City Manager Mario Cifuentez who is leaving to take a job in Arizona, according to informed sources.
Tavarez and Deputy City Manager Jason Waters interviewed for the position in a closed-door meeting on Thursday, according to informed sources.
Tavarez could not be reached for comment.
During public comment period prior to the closed- door meeting on Thursday Bob Ramos, who is active in Hanford city issues, and former Mayor Francisco Ramirez urged the council to hire Mike Olmos, who previously worked for as interim Hanford City Manager city manager before Cifuentez was hired.
Olmos, who had a long career at the City of Visalia, was Visalia City Manager from 2013 – 2017 before he retired, according to an article in the Porterville Recorder.
Last week former Mayor David Ayers also urged the Hanford Council not to hire a current city staff member as interim city manager.
But the council disagreed and turned to Tavarez who previously worked for the City of Exeter.
As Hanford’s finance director Tavarez supervises both the finance division and utility billing areas, according to the city’s website. He is also heavily involved in the preparation of the city’s $150 million budget.
Last week the council agreed to hire a consulting firm to field candidates for Cifuentez’s permanent replacement. The council said it will also consider the interim city manager as a candidate for permanent city manager.
Cifuentez has been city manager of Hanford since November 2019. He is leaving his job in Hanford on August 15. He will become city manager in Cottonwood, Arizona, a city of about 12,000 that is 100 miles north of Phoenix.
Council will use outside firm to find permanent Cifuentez replacement
Updated 5/30/25 11:19 am This expands and corrects previous story which incorrectly stated the meeting was Tuesday (5/27/25) night.
HANFORD – After hearing from more than a half dozen speakers who mostly urged the city council to use an outside hiring firm to find the next city manager, the city council Thursday night (5/29/25) heeded the public’s advice on the permanent replacement but decided to recruit a candidate from city staff for the interim replacement.
The vote on both motions to replace resigning city manager Mario Cifuentez was 5-0. The council will have until August 15 to find Cifuentez’s replacement. He is to become city manager in Cottonwood, Arizona, about 100 miles north of Phoenix. Cifuentez has been city manager in Hanford since November 2019.
Prior to the vote council members were adamant that they wanted the interim manager from city ranks. Although someone else from city staff could apply, the council’s direction presumably would give a leg up to Deputy City Manager Jason Waters who in words and actions reflects Cifuentez’s policies and management style. This despite numerous statements from the public that they were not happy with Cifuentez’s management of the city.
Waters and city spokesman Brian Johnson were emailed and called regarding Waters’ possible interest in the interim and permanent city manager's positions. So far they have not responded.
“Employee retention is critical,” said Council Member Mark Kairis, District E, southwest. He said, “…(we) have a pool (of) individuals open up to them if they are interested.”
Nancy Howze, District C, central-northeast, said constituents told her the council should select an internal candidate for the interim city manager. Mayor Lou Martinez, District D, downtown-southeast, and Kimber Regan, District B, north central, agreed with Howze.
Vice Mayor Travis Paden, District A, northwest, “in education (we) look internally first that’s when we open up and look outside (the) school district.” Paden is a public school math teacher.
During public comment former Mayor David Ayers urged the council not to hire from current staff even on a temporary basis. Ayers said that the problem is staff would be responsive to their boss (Cifuentez).
Ernie Harmon thought spending money for an outside firm to do the hiring recommendations was a waste of money. He said he wasn’t happy with the city’s direction in the last few years citing non-functioning traffic lights, graffiti and downtown roundabouts. In urging the council to hire someone from outside the city Russell Brookshire said he was “not really happy the way the city was going.”
Pointing to the controversy over roundabouts that he said cost the city $300,000 that could have gone to police and fire. The roundabouts were defeated by the council but money was spent on studies. Brookshire also mentioned the problems with the airport fuel pumps which have contaminated sheriff’s office aircraft. The city denies there is contamination. The state has suspended fuel dispensing at the airport. Bob Ramos said the people he talked to supported hiring someone from outside.
He said he didn’t want the city human resources department to do the hiring because it “taints the process.” Victor Chavarin, district representative for State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, said he favored hiring someone from the outside. Jim Castleman thanked Cifuentez for his efforts on behalf of the city and said he wanted an outside firm to do the hiring recommendations.
Jeff Mora of the 76ers conservative political group said, “Mario leaving is a good thing, (we) shouldn’t fill the spot with someone under him.” On the hiring decision he echoed the views of Ayers and former sheriff Chris Jordan who also wanted to hire an outside firm to do the search. Craig Johnson, a downtown furniture store owner, also said he wanted an outside firm to do the hiring recommendations.
HANFORD – After hearing from more than a half dozen speakers who mostly urged the city council to use an outside hiring firm to find the next city manager, the city council Thursday night (5/29/25) heeded the public’s advice on the permanent replacement but decided to recruit a candidate from city staff for the interim replacement.
The vote on both motions to replace resigning city manager Mario Cifuentez was 5-0. The council will have until August 15 to find Cifuentez’s replacement. He is to become city manager in Cottonwood, Arizona, about 100 miles north of Phoenix. Cifuentez has been city manager in Hanford since November 2019.
Prior to the vote council members were adamant that they wanted the interim manager from city ranks. Although someone else from city staff could apply, the council’s direction presumably would give a leg up to Deputy City Manager Jason Waters who in words and actions reflects Cifuentez’s policies and management style. This despite numerous statements from the public that they were not happy with Cifuentez’s management of the city.
Waters and city spokesman Brian Johnson were emailed and called regarding Waters’ possible interest in the interim and permanent city manager's positions. So far they have not responded.
“Employee retention is critical,” said Council Member Mark Kairis, District E, southwest. He said, “…(we) have a pool (of) individuals open up to them if they are interested.”
Nancy Howze, District C, central-northeast, said constituents told her the council should select an internal candidate for the interim city manager. Mayor Lou Martinez, District D, downtown-southeast, and Kimber Regan, District B, north central, agreed with Howze.
Vice Mayor Travis Paden, District A, northwest, “in education (we) look internally first that’s when we open up and look outside (the) school district.” Paden is a public school math teacher.
During public comment former Mayor David Ayers urged the council not to hire from current staff even on a temporary basis. Ayers said that the problem is staff would be responsive to their boss (Cifuentez).
Ernie Harmon thought spending money for an outside firm to do the hiring recommendations was a waste of money. He said he wasn’t happy with the city’s direction in the last few years citing non-functioning traffic lights, graffiti and downtown roundabouts. In urging the council to hire someone from outside the city Russell Brookshire said he was “not really happy the way the city was going.”
Pointing to the controversy over roundabouts that he said cost the city $300,000 that could have gone to police and fire. The roundabouts were defeated by the council but money was spent on studies. Brookshire also mentioned the problems with the airport fuel pumps which have contaminated sheriff’s office aircraft. The city denies there is contamination. The state has suspended fuel dispensing at the airport. Bob Ramos said the people he talked to supported hiring someone from outside.
He said he didn’t want the city human resources department to do the hiring because it “taints the process.” Victor Chavarin, district representative for State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, said he favored hiring someone from the outside. Jim Castleman thanked Cifuentez for his efforts on behalf of the city and said he wanted an outside firm to do the hiring recommendations.
Jeff Mora of the 76ers conservative political group said, “Mario leaving is a good thing, (we) shouldn’t fill the spot with someone under him.” On the hiring decision he echoed the views of Ayers and former sheriff Chris Jordan who also wanted to hire an outside firm to do the search. Craig Johnson, a downtown furniture store owner, also said he wanted an outside firm to do the hiring recommendations.
Cifuentez successful in getting his way but at high cost
Editor’s note: The author of this article was involved in efforts to expand Hidden Valley Park.
HANFORD – Outgoing City Manager Mario Cifuentez’s administration can be characterized as mostly being successful in getting what it wants from various city councils but Cifuentez’s term has had many costly lawsuits and pursued its goals often without normal sensitivity to public opinion.
His departure comes at a time when the composition of the city council has changed to be less favorable to him.
In a brief statement that occurred deep into Tuesday’s (May 20) city council meeting Cifuentez, who has held the
NEWS ANALYSIS
position since November 2019, said he was resigning August 15 to become City Manager of Cottonwood, Arizona, a much smaller city 100 miles north of Phoenix.
Cifuentez labeled the switch as a transition into eventual retirement in Arizona, a state, he said, according to published reports, that he and his wife are fond of.
Cifuentez declined to be interviewed by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future for this article. Had Cifuentez agreed to be interviewed he would have had the opportunity to highlight his accomplishments.
He and deputy city manager Jason Waters and city spokesman Brian Johnson have in the last six months been unresponsive to requests for information from this newspaper.
As a result Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has, in certain instances, to resort to time consuming state Records Requests to get information. These are often delayed for weeks making the information less timely.
Yet Cifuentez and his team regularly give information to other media competitors including the Hanford Sentinel and KMPH Fox 26.
“This is typical behavior from the playbook of city officials who cut off the media when they are held accountable for their actions,” said Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future editor Mark Pratter. “Another former editor has told me the same thing happens in Fresno. My responsibility is to report the news in a way that tells the public what is really going on in their area and not sugar coat or shy away from legitimate news stories even if they are unfavorable to the powers that be. This is not going to change whether Cifuentez or another administrator is in charge.”
Cifuentez came to Hanford from the City of Visalia where he administered the Municipal Airport among other duties.
Cifuentez’s impending departure which was anticipated by some council members for months, didn’t draw any comment from the council Tuesday other than to set the date of a special meeting to discuss selection of an interim and permanent city manager on May 29 at 5 pm in the city council chambers.
Vice Mayor Travis Paden asked Cifuentez if the meeting was to provide direction or select an interim city manager.
“We (staff) will provide options,” replied Cifuentez. but he said the meeting would obviously not be to select a permanent replacement.
Like all city managers in the last two decades Cifuentez has had his ups and downs although two council members are known to be unhappy with his performance.
Cifuentez, according to published reports, said he was particularly proud of the passage of the Measure H sales tax proposal which following passage in November 2024 added a 1 percent local sales tax to support additional police and fire services among other provisions.
Cifuentez, who does not like to be criticized publicly, also issued, according to published reports, a veiled rebuke of people who appeared at city council meetings, sometimes to criticize him, city policies or the council.
His parting advice to the council was that there is a larger community with a median age of 32 and that is not who shows up at council meetings. He said, “…there’s a larger community out there and that’s who we serve.”
Cifuentez often referred to the “the same six people” showing up at city council meetings.
During Cifuentez’s Administration the city council changed its practice of not saying anything when a resident spoke during public comment period during council meetings. Now council members, staff or the city attorney will respond to statements made by the public which are sometimes critical of council or city actions.
Under Cifuentez’s management there didn’t appear to be any obvious problem with the garbage getting collected, streets swept, routine maintenance of streets and local development projects moving forward.
Some downsides include the Northstar mixed income housing project on North 11th Avenue, just north of 10th, which produced a firestorm of criticism at one of the most raucous public meetings in 20 years. The council approved this by a 3-2 vote in April 20, 2022.
Cifuentez claimed that he didn’t know in advance that the project would be located in relatively affluent North Hanford. The issue involved the county but a check of county meeting records was inclusive about whether the location was known in advance.
The fallout led to the council causing then Mayor Diane Sharp, a Cifuentez ally, to resign as mayor and it spawned the creation of the Sons of Liberty 76ers, a new conservative political group locally that has been active in local politics since then.
Other negatives included the $700,000 settlement the city paid out to former longtime Community Development Director Darlene Mata over sexual harassment allegations by Council Member Art Brieno. The settlement followed her filing of a lawsuit against the city in Kings Superior Court on March 16, 2022.
Earlier, when Mata was community development director, and Cifuentez pressed a zoning violation case against Aguilar Auto Repair Shop at 330 E. 7th St. Mayor Francisco Ramirez and Councilman Art Brieno defended Aguilar and a credible confidential source alleged that the two council members were each paid $400 cash to advocate for Aguilar.
Police Chief Parker Sever refused to investigate the allegations. The matter was ultimately investigated by Kings County Sheriff David Robinson who in August 2022 said there was no evidence that Ramirez and Brieno were bribed. They both denied the allegations when the matter initially surfaced.
Two other high profile harassment cases involved former city finance director Paula Lofgren who Cifuentez said was fired for cause and another by Carl Anderson, longtime Hanford Police captain who alleged in a Kings Superior Court lawsuit that Cifuentez retaliated against him for opposing an annexation of county property that Cifuentez favored. Anderson’s case is pending and in the meantime he is on paid administrative leave. Cifuentez told Sever to fire Anderson but Sever refused, according to the lawsuit. The city has denied Anderson’s claims.
Lofgren’s case resulted in a major victory for the city when a jury decided March 11 that she was not the victim of gender discrimination and not entitled to monetary damages. But during the trial Lofgren testified that Cifuentez’s administration exhibited a complete lack of support for her over male directors.
Anderson, who testified in Lofgren’s case, said Deputy City Manager Waters exhibited “…callous behavior, dealing with, dismissing her thoughts or suggestions during staff meetings.”
The handling in April 2024 of the euthanasia of the police dog Krash also was highly controversial.
The city had the dog euthanized after his former handler with whom the dog resided refused to sign a revised agreement about retaining the dog. The city claimed the dog was sick but Krash’s longtime vet, Dr. Lee Fausett said the dog was healthy other than some residual damage from a leg injury.
Many people showed up at multiple city council meetings to question, criticize or outright condemn the city’s actions.
The city also lost to Lemoore a major employer and tax generator in the Helena Chemical Company located by Highway 43 and East Lacey Boulevard.
The council, on the recommendation of the city attorney, settled on January 12, 2025 for $12.5 million with Helena in breach of contract dispute. Sharp was instrumental in urging that the city settle the case without going to trial while Brieno, who was no longer on council, said during the public comment period the case should be fought in court.
Rightly or wrongly, it was widely known that Cifuentez was vindictive towards his political opponents. One gauge of this is many knowledgeable in local politics refused to comment for the record on Cifuentez’s administration of the city.
In most cases Cifuentez was able to convince the council of the policies and actions he and his staff wanted. But regarding the installation of roundabouts in downtown Hanford there was too much public opposition, particularly from downtown merchants, and the proposal was defeated. Bob Ramos, a longtime critic of Cifuentez, was instrumental in defeating the roundabouts.
Cifuentez and his Park Director Bradley Albert also made a number of park and recreational improvements including to Lacey Park downtown, Centennial Park on the South Side, Earl F. Johnson Park in East Hanford, the Longfield Center on the South Side, to the existing Hidden Valley Park on 11th and Cortner and started the process of development a new East Side park called Heroe’s Park.
The Hidden Valley expansion project was subject to a continual series of delays. The proposal, which was the subject of two unsuccessful voter initiatives, was to expand the vacant 18-acre property west of Hidden Valley Park (11th and Cortner) into park space.
When it became clear, judging by the number of speakers during public comment period, that there was too much public support to kill the project, the council allocated $75,000 for design work. Meanwhile, Cifuentez and Parks Director Albert pushed building Heroe’s Park on Hanford’s East Side. Heroe’s could cost upwards of $40 million. At the end of December 2021 the city secured an $8.5 million state grant toward funding the project. Heroe’s would be a spur to development on the East Side, long a cherished goal of the city.
In March the county clashed with city over potential contamination of fuel at Hanford Municipal Airport which ultimately resulted in the Caltrans Department of Aviation banning fuel sales at the airport. The county’s law enforcement aircraft and other private owners of piston aircraft buy fuel at the airport and in December 2024 a sheriff’s patrol plan had to abort a takeoff due to a rough running engine traced to the fuel problem, said the sheriff’s office.
The city disputed that there was a contamination problem. “We would say this is particulate matter,” city spokesman Brian Johnson told KMPH Fox 26. “Contamination brings in the idea that this was something out of the ordinary.”
The sheriff’s office plans to submit $8,328.56 in inspection and repair bills to the city related to this problem, said Sheriff David Robinson.
Over the years Cifuentez and his staff have largely gotten what they wanted from the council although conditions changed when a new council was elected last fall. Kimber Regan, District B, was critical of the city on the roundabouts, Mayor Lou Martinez, District D, has also questioned Cifuentez’s policies including on access to the Longfield Center and another new council member was elected in Nancy Howz, District C. Howz is not afraid to ask tough questions during council meetings.
Vice Mayor Paden, District A, the most vocal council member, presents a mixed picture regarding support of the staff and Cifuentez. He voted against the staff recommendation on the roundabouts but on other issues, including the annexation that police captain Anderson opposed, he sided with staff.
Council Member Mark Kairis, District E, supported the roundabouts and is an ally of Cifuentez.
HANFORD – Outgoing City Manager Mario Cifuentez’s administration can be characterized as mostly being successful in getting what it wants from various city councils but Cifuentez’s term has had many costly lawsuits and pursued its goals often without normal sensitivity to public opinion.
His departure comes at a time when the composition of the city council has changed to be less favorable to him.
In a brief statement that occurred deep into Tuesday’s (May 20) city council meeting Cifuentez, who has held the
NEWS ANALYSIS
position since November 2019, said he was resigning August 15 to become City Manager of Cottonwood, Arizona, a much smaller city 100 miles north of Phoenix.
Cifuentez labeled the switch as a transition into eventual retirement in Arizona, a state, he said, according to published reports, that he and his wife are fond of.
Cifuentez declined to be interviewed by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future for this article. Had Cifuentez agreed to be interviewed he would have had the opportunity to highlight his accomplishments.
He and deputy city manager Jason Waters and city spokesman Brian Johnson have in the last six months been unresponsive to requests for information from this newspaper.
As a result Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has, in certain instances, to resort to time consuming state Records Requests to get information. These are often delayed for weeks making the information less timely.
Yet Cifuentez and his team regularly give information to other media competitors including the Hanford Sentinel and KMPH Fox 26.
“This is typical behavior from the playbook of city officials who cut off the media when they are held accountable for their actions,” said Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future editor Mark Pratter. “Another former editor has told me the same thing happens in Fresno. My responsibility is to report the news in a way that tells the public what is really going on in their area and not sugar coat or shy away from legitimate news stories even if they are unfavorable to the powers that be. This is not going to change whether Cifuentez or another administrator is in charge.”
Cifuentez came to Hanford from the City of Visalia where he administered the Municipal Airport among other duties.
Cifuentez’s impending departure which was anticipated by some council members for months, didn’t draw any comment from the council Tuesday other than to set the date of a special meeting to discuss selection of an interim and permanent city manager on May 29 at 5 pm in the city council chambers.
Vice Mayor Travis Paden asked Cifuentez if the meeting was to provide direction or select an interim city manager.
“We (staff) will provide options,” replied Cifuentez. but he said the meeting would obviously not be to select a permanent replacement.
Like all city managers in the last two decades Cifuentez has had his ups and downs although two council members are known to be unhappy with his performance.
Cifuentez, according to published reports, said he was particularly proud of the passage of the Measure H sales tax proposal which following passage in November 2024 added a 1 percent local sales tax to support additional police and fire services among other provisions.
Cifuentez, who does not like to be criticized publicly, also issued, according to published reports, a veiled rebuke of people who appeared at city council meetings, sometimes to criticize him, city policies or the council.
His parting advice to the council was that there is a larger community with a median age of 32 and that is not who shows up at council meetings. He said, “…there’s a larger community out there and that’s who we serve.”
Cifuentez often referred to the “the same six people” showing up at city council meetings.
During Cifuentez’s Administration the city council changed its practice of not saying anything when a resident spoke during public comment period during council meetings. Now council members, staff or the city attorney will respond to statements made by the public which are sometimes critical of council or city actions.
Under Cifuentez’s management there didn’t appear to be any obvious problem with the garbage getting collected, streets swept, routine maintenance of streets and local development projects moving forward.
Some downsides include the Northstar mixed income housing project on North 11th Avenue, just north of 10th, which produced a firestorm of criticism at one of the most raucous public meetings in 20 years. The council approved this by a 3-2 vote in April 20, 2022.
Cifuentez claimed that he didn’t know in advance that the project would be located in relatively affluent North Hanford. The issue involved the county but a check of county meeting records was inclusive about whether the location was known in advance.
The fallout led to the council causing then Mayor Diane Sharp, a Cifuentez ally, to resign as mayor and it spawned the creation of the Sons of Liberty 76ers, a new conservative political group locally that has been active in local politics since then.
Other negatives included the $700,000 settlement the city paid out to former longtime Community Development Director Darlene Mata over sexual harassment allegations by Council Member Art Brieno. The settlement followed her filing of a lawsuit against the city in Kings Superior Court on March 16, 2022.
Earlier, when Mata was community development director, and Cifuentez pressed a zoning violation case against Aguilar Auto Repair Shop at 330 E. 7th St. Mayor Francisco Ramirez and Councilman Art Brieno defended Aguilar and a credible confidential source alleged that the two council members were each paid $400 cash to advocate for Aguilar.
Police Chief Parker Sever refused to investigate the allegations. The matter was ultimately investigated by Kings County Sheriff David Robinson who in August 2022 said there was no evidence that Ramirez and Brieno were bribed. They both denied the allegations when the matter initially surfaced.
Two other high profile harassment cases involved former city finance director Paula Lofgren who Cifuentez said was fired for cause and another by Carl Anderson, longtime Hanford Police captain who alleged in a Kings Superior Court lawsuit that Cifuentez retaliated against him for opposing an annexation of county property that Cifuentez favored. Anderson’s case is pending and in the meantime he is on paid administrative leave. Cifuentez told Sever to fire Anderson but Sever refused, according to the lawsuit. The city has denied Anderson’s claims.
Lofgren’s case resulted in a major victory for the city when a jury decided March 11 that she was not the victim of gender discrimination and not entitled to monetary damages. But during the trial Lofgren testified that Cifuentez’s administration exhibited a complete lack of support for her over male directors.
Anderson, who testified in Lofgren’s case, said Deputy City Manager Waters exhibited “…callous behavior, dealing with, dismissing her thoughts or suggestions during staff meetings.”
The handling in April 2024 of the euthanasia of the police dog Krash also was highly controversial.
The city had the dog euthanized after his former handler with whom the dog resided refused to sign a revised agreement about retaining the dog. The city claimed the dog was sick but Krash’s longtime vet, Dr. Lee Fausett said the dog was healthy other than some residual damage from a leg injury.
Many people showed up at multiple city council meetings to question, criticize or outright condemn the city’s actions.
The city also lost to Lemoore a major employer and tax generator in the Helena Chemical Company located by Highway 43 and East Lacey Boulevard.
The council, on the recommendation of the city attorney, settled on January 12, 2025 for $12.5 million with Helena in breach of contract dispute. Sharp was instrumental in urging that the city settle the case without going to trial while Brieno, who was no longer on council, said during the public comment period the case should be fought in court.
Rightly or wrongly, it was widely known that Cifuentez was vindictive towards his political opponents. One gauge of this is many knowledgeable in local politics refused to comment for the record on Cifuentez’s administration of the city.
In most cases Cifuentez was able to convince the council of the policies and actions he and his staff wanted. But regarding the installation of roundabouts in downtown Hanford there was too much public opposition, particularly from downtown merchants, and the proposal was defeated. Bob Ramos, a longtime critic of Cifuentez, was instrumental in defeating the roundabouts.
Cifuentez and his Park Director Bradley Albert also made a number of park and recreational improvements including to Lacey Park downtown, Centennial Park on the South Side, Earl F. Johnson Park in East Hanford, the Longfield Center on the South Side, to the existing Hidden Valley Park on 11th and Cortner and started the process of development a new East Side park called Heroe’s Park.
The Hidden Valley expansion project was subject to a continual series of delays. The proposal, which was the subject of two unsuccessful voter initiatives, was to expand the vacant 18-acre property west of Hidden Valley Park (11th and Cortner) into park space.
When it became clear, judging by the number of speakers during public comment period, that there was too much public support to kill the project, the council allocated $75,000 for design work. Meanwhile, Cifuentez and Parks Director Albert pushed building Heroe’s Park on Hanford’s East Side. Heroe’s could cost upwards of $40 million. At the end of December 2021 the city secured an $8.5 million state grant toward funding the project. Heroe’s would be a spur to development on the East Side, long a cherished goal of the city.
In March the county clashed with city over potential contamination of fuel at Hanford Municipal Airport which ultimately resulted in the Caltrans Department of Aviation banning fuel sales at the airport. The county’s law enforcement aircraft and other private owners of piston aircraft buy fuel at the airport and in December 2024 a sheriff’s patrol plan had to abort a takeoff due to a rough running engine traced to the fuel problem, said the sheriff’s office.
The city disputed that there was a contamination problem. “We would say this is particulate matter,” city spokesman Brian Johnson told KMPH Fox 26. “Contamination brings in the idea that this was something out of the ordinary.”
The sheriff’s office plans to submit $8,328.56 in inspection and repair bills to the city related to this problem, said Sheriff David Robinson.
Over the years Cifuentez and his staff have largely gotten what they wanted from the council although conditions changed when a new council was elected last fall. Kimber Regan, District B, was critical of the city on the roundabouts, Mayor Lou Martinez, District D, has also questioned Cifuentez’s policies including on access to the Longfield Center and another new council member was elected in Nancy Howz, District C. Howz is not afraid to ask tough questions during council meetings.
Vice Mayor Paden, District A, the most vocal council member, presents a mixed picture regarding support of the staff and Cifuentez. He voted against the staff recommendation on the roundabouts but on other issues, including the annexation that police captain Anderson opposed, he sided with staff.
Council Member Mark Kairis, District E, supported the roundabouts and is an ally of Cifuentez.
Hanford City Manager since 2019 Cifuentez resigns
Editor's note: City Manager Mario Cifuentez was emailed and called today (5/28/25) requesting an interview. He has not responded. The story will be updated tomorrow (5/29/25) with or without his input. Because of the importance of this topic to readers, a full-length version will appear on the website.
UPDATE 5/28/25 8:36 PM
HANFORD – In a brief statement that occurred deep into Tuesday’s (May 20) city council meeting City Manager Mario Cifuentez, who has held the position since November 2019, said he was resigning August 15 to become City Manager of Cottonwood, Arizona, a much smaller city 100 miles north of Phoenix.
Cifuentez labeled the switch as a transition into eventual retirement in Arizona, a state, he said, according to published reports, that he and his wife are fond of.
Cifuentez came to Hanford from the City of Visalia where he administered the Municipal Airport among other duties.
Cifuentez’s impending departure which was anticipated by some council members for months, didn’t draw any comment from the council Tuesday other than to set the date of a special meeting to discuss selection of an interim and permanent city manager on May 29 at 5 pm in the city council chambers.
Vice Mayor Travis Paden asked Cifuentez if the meeting was to provide direction or select an interim city manager.
“We (staff) will provide options,” replied Cifuentez. but he said the meeting would obviously not be to select a permanent replacement.
Like all city managers in the last two decades Cifuentez has had his ups and downs although two council members are known to be unhappy with his performance.
Cifuentez, according to published reports, said he was particularly proud of the passage of the Measure H sales tax proposal which increased the local sales tax to support additional police and fire services.
Cifuentez, who does not like to be criticized publicly, also issued, according to published reports, a veiled rebuke of people who appeared at city council meetings, sometimes to criticize him, city policies or the council.
His parting advice to the council was that there is a larger community with a median age of 32 and that is not who shows up at council meetings. He said, “…there’s a larger community out there and that’s who we serve.”
Cifuentez often referred to the “the same six people” showing up at city council meetings.
During Cifuentez’s term the garbage got collected, the streets swept, there was, for the most part, an orderly processing of development projects, city engineering moved ahead with sewer and water improvements, finances were stable and police and fire services were rendered.
UPDATE 5/28/25 8:36 PM
HANFORD – In a brief statement that occurred deep into Tuesday’s (May 20) city council meeting City Manager Mario Cifuentez, who has held the position since November 2019, said he was resigning August 15 to become City Manager of Cottonwood, Arizona, a much smaller city 100 miles north of Phoenix.
Cifuentez labeled the switch as a transition into eventual retirement in Arizona, a state, he said, according to published reports, that he and his wife are fond of.
Cifuentez came to Hanford from the City of Visalia where he administered the Municipal Airport among other duties.
Cifuentez’s impending departure which was anticipated by some council members for months, didn’t draw any comment from the council Tuesday other than to set the date of a special meeting to discuss selection of an interim and permanent city manager on May 29 at 5 pm in the city council chambers.
Vice Mayor Travis Paden asked Cifuentez if the meeting was to provide direction or select an interim city manager.
“We (staff) will provide options,” replied Cifuentez. but he said the meeting would obviously not be to select a permanent replacement.
Like all city managers in the last two decades Cifuentez has had his ups and downs although two council members are known to be unhappy with his performance.
Cifuentez, according to published reports, said he was particularly proud of the passage of the Measure H sales tax proposal which increased the local sales tax to support additional police and fire services.
Cifuentez, who does not like to be criticized publicly, also issued, according to published reports, a veiled rebuke of people who appeared at city council meetings, sometimes to criticize him, city policies or the council.
His parting advice to the council was that there is a larger community with a median age of 32 and that is not who shows up at council meetings. He said, “…there’s a larger community out there and that’s who we serve.”
Cifuentez often referred to the “the same six people” showing up at city council meetings.
During Cifuentez’s term the garbage got collected, the streets swept, there was, for the most part, an orderly processing of development projects, city engineering moved ahead with sewer and water improvements, finances were stable and police and fire services were rendered.
Correctional officers at Mendota prison get sick from mail
POSTED 5/20/25 1:58 pm
MENDOTA – Two correctional officers became sick after handling contaminated mail at the federal prison in Mendota.
The officers were sorting mail when they became sick from the contents of the mail which is suspected of containing drugs.
They were treated at a local hospital and are recovering.
Officer Marc Fischer at the U.S. correct ional facility in Atwater died in 2024 after being exposed to contaminated mail. He was due to retire in a few weeks.
The correctional officers union is urging passage of H.R. 1046 which would require screening of all mail at federal prisons. The bill is labeled as an interdiction of fentanyl in federal prisons.
MENDOTA – Two correctional officers became sick after handling contaminated mail at the federal prison in Mendota.
The officers were sorting mail when they became sick from the contents of the mail which is suspected of containing drugs.
They were treated at a local hospital and are recovering.
Officer Marc Fischer at the U.S. correct ional facility in Atwater died in 2024 after being exposed to contaminated mail. He was due to retire in a few weeks.
The correctional officers union is urging passage of H.R. 1046 which would require screening of all mail at federal prisons. The bill is labeled as an interdiction of fentanyl in federal prisons.
Fuel problem at Hanford Airport curtails sheriff patrol flights;
sheriff's department is asking city to cover $9,700 in repairs.
UPDATED 4/8/25 12:29 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Problems with fuel contamination at Hanford Municipal Airport continue to ricochet for the City of Hanford.
Now the city is on the hook for nearly $9,800 in sheriff’s aircraft repairs and inspections and the number of hours aircraft can patrol are being curtailed by the problem.
Last week the Caltrans aviation division halted all fuel dispensing at the airport. This affects piston-powered aircraft.
Jet and turbine aircraft do not fuel at Hanford Municipal.
The sheriff’s office is asking the City of Hanford to pay nearly $9,800 for repairs and inspections to sheriff’s aircraft related to the fuel problem at the airport.
The bills are for two patrol aircraft, a Cessna 182 and a Cessna 206, according to copies of the invoices.
Sheriff David Robinson said he is optimistic that the city will cover the expense because the sheriff’s Air Unit is also staffed by Hanford Police in addition to sheriff’s deputies.
Chris Tavarez, the city finance director, was contacted today and he could not be reached for comment. If and when the city issues a response the story will be updated.
The fuel problem involving contamination with metal particles has also impacted the number of hours the Air Unit can patrol.
Because mechanics found metal contamination in the 206, the aircraft could not fly while the repairs were being performed. No contamination was found in the 182 aircraft following inspection.
Normally the 206 patrols Kings County assisting in the location and apprehension of criminal suspects.
It flies 23-30 hours weekly for a two-week period then the air unit’s helicopter flies for two weeks, according to an April 3 memo submitted by Sergeant Jerry Hunter of the air unit to Robinson.
Until April 3 problems with the 206 didn’t curtail patrol operations because the helicopter took up the slack.
However, now the helicopter is having its annual inspection performed so neither aircraft is able to fly, the memo said. This will continue until the work on both aircraft is completed, according to Hunter’s memo.
Now the city is on the hook for nearly $9,800 in sheriff’s aircraft repairs and inspections and the number of hours aircraft can patrol are being curtailed by the problem.
Last week the Caltrans aviation division halted all fuel dispensing at the airport. This affects piston-powered aircraft.
Jet and turbine aircraft do not fuel at Hanford Municipal.
The sheriff’s office is asking the City of Hanford to pay nearly $9,800 for repairs and inspections to sheriff’s aircraft related to the fuel problem at the airport.
The bills are for two patrol aircraft, a Cessna 182 and a Cessna 206, according to copies of the invoices.
Sheriff David Robinson said he is optimistic that the city will cover the expense because the sheriff’s Air Unit is also staffed by Hanford Police in addition to sheriff’s deputies.
Chris Tavarez, the city finance director, was contacted today and he could not be reached for comment. If and when the city issues a response the story will be updated.
The fuel problem involving contamination with metal particles has also impacted the number of hours the Air Unit can patrol.
Because mechanics found metal contamination in the 206, the aircraft could not fly while the repairs were being performed. No contamination was found in the 182 aircraft following inspection.
Normally the 206 patrols Kings County assisting in the location and apprehension of criminal suspects.
It flies 23-30 hours weekly for a two-week period then the air unit’s helicopter flies for two weeks, according to an April 3 memo submitted by Sergeant Jerry Hunter of the air unit to Robinson.
Until April 3 problems with the 206 didn’t curtail patrol operations because the helicopter took up the slack.
However, now the helicopter is having its annual inspection performed so neither aircraft is able to fly, the memo said. This will continue until the work on both aircraft is completed, according to Hunter’s memo.
The state Last week (3/2/25) suspended all fuel deliveries at Hanford Municipal Airport following a fuel contamination issue that started late last year.
The issue on December 12, 2024 forced a sheriff’s department patrol aircraft to cancel a takeoff due to a rough running engine, said Sheriff David Robinsion. Metal particles were later found in the aircraft’s fuel, he said. Robinson said he is checking on the cost of repairs to the patrol plane.
And the problem is continuing with metal continuing to show up in the fuel, Robinson said
Tuesday.
The city has not provided an explanation to Bulletin Board Public Safety Report and Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future despite three requests to do so. It has, however, provided an explanation to other local media.
The letter to the city from Tarek Tabshouri, division chief of the Caltrans, Division of Aeronautics stated, “…the operation of the self-serving fueling station at Hanford Municipal Airport is hereby summarily suspended until further notice.” The letter goes on to request that the city take all immediate and necessary measures to halt fueling operations and to notice this suspension to airport users.
If arriving and departing piston-powered aircraft cannot obtain fuel it will limit aircraft that can operate at the airport. The aircraft had 28,500 operations in 2007, according to Wikipedia. The article also states that there are 75 aircraft based at the airport.
The fuel issue does not affect jet or turbine-powered aircraft that use the airport because the airport does not dispense jet fuel, according to Robinson.
At this point information on how many aircraft have been affected by fuel contamination has not been stated.
If other aircraft have been contaminated, repairs or engine replacements may be necessary.
Common general aviation single engine piston engines made by companies such as Lycoming typically cost upwards of $120,000 each.
The issue on December 12, 2024 forced a sheriff’s department patrol aircraft to cancel a takeoff due to a rough running engine, said Sheriff David Robinsion. Metal particles were later found in the aircraft’s fuel, he said. Robinson said he is checking on the cost of repairs to the patrol plane.
And the problem is continuing with metal continuing to show up in the fuel, Robinson said
Tuesday.
The city has not provided an explanation to Bulletin Board Public Safety Report and Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future despite three requests to do so. It has, however, provided an explanation to other local media.
The letter to the city from Tarek Tabshouri, division chief of the Caltrans, Division of Aeronautics stated, “…the operation of the self-serving fueling station at Hanford Municipal Airport is hereby summarily suspended until further notice.” The letter goes on to request that the city take all immediate and necessary measures to halt fueling operations and to notice this suspension to airport users.
If arriving and departing piston-powered aircraft cannot obtain fuel it will limit aircraft that can operate at the airport. The aircraft had 28,500 operations in 2007, according to Wikipedia. The article also states that there are 75 aircraft based at the airport.
The fuel issue does not affect jet or turbine-powered aircraft that use the airport because the airport does not dispense jet fuel, according to Robinson.
At this point information on how many aircraft have been affected by fuel contamination has not been stated.
If other aircraft have been contaminated, repairs or engine replacements may be necessary.
Common general aviation single engine piston engines made by companies such as Lycoming typically cost upwards of $120,000 each.
Lofgren loses discrimination suit against City of Hanford
Updated 3/11/25 6:14 pm
HANFORD – A Kings County Jury found today (3/11/25) that former city finance director Paula Lofgren was not the victim of gender discrimination nor was she entitled to any monetary or economic damages.
Lofgren who, according to testimony, was fired by City Manager Mario Cifuentez in 2020 for budget mistakes and other reasons was claiming $1.2 million in economic damages relating to losses of past and future income. She also was claiming $18.4 million in non-economic damages for stress, loss of self-esteem and other emotional factors, according to her attorney Taylor Prainito of Los Angeles.
Contacted after the verdict, Prainito was unable to talk to a reporter. It is not known at this time whether Lofgren will appeal.
There was lack of evidence in the case and Lofgren's firing was based on a legitimate reason---performance, said Christina Filippo Smith, one of the attorneys for the city. Filippo Smith said she had not had any communication with the plaintiff's attorneys since the verdict regarding an appeal.
The verdict in Kings Superior Court after less than two hours of deliberation represents a sweeping victory for the city which in the last several years had suffered major, costly defeats in a sexual harassment case brought by former community development director Darlene Mata. The city settled with her for $750,000. The city also settled a $12 million breach of contract case with Helena Chemical Company located across from the Costco Center. Helena decided to relocate to Lemoore.
During Lofgren’s gender discrimination trial against the city both sides presented a conflicting picture of the former finance director. Closing arguments were made Tuesday morning. This reporter was not present in the courtroom for closing arguments or for the verdict which was announced shortly before 3 pm. A printed redacted version of the verdict was not available as of 3:53 pm on Tuesday (3/11/25).
Cifuentez testified that Lofgren was fired July 30, 2020 after a series of mistakes in the budget process and following receipt of complaints from some city departments that during budget preparations she was favoring the police department over other departments.
Cifuentez also got complaints about her leadership saying that some employees were fearful of her.
This was disputed by Police Captain Carl Anderson who said he found her easy to work and described her as “friendly, outgoing, jovial.” He didn’t recall her making any mistakes while working with her on budgets and capital projects.
Anderson, who is on paid administrative leave and is himself suing the city, said in his lawsuit that Cifuentez wanted him fired after he (Anderson) objected to a proposed annexation. Anderson also said he suffered trauma due to the city’s handling of the euthanasia of the police dog Krash.
Krash died in Anderson’s arms after a veterinarian injected him, according to the suit. Anderson thought the animal was being treated for care at the vet, not to be put to sleep, according to the suit. The city issued a press release stating that the dog was sick but this was disputed by the animal’s main veterinarian in Hanford who said the only thing wrong with Krash was damage from a leg injury.
Anderson was the number two person in the department after the chief and sometimes served as acting chief. Anderson also said people holding a negative opinion of Lofgren were deputy city manager Jason Waters, Cifuentez and former city employee Matthew Credit. Anderson corroborated Lofgren’s later contention that she and her ideas were treated dismissively during city directors’ meetings and specifically by Cifuentez.
Waters’ behavior toward Lofgren was described by Anderson as “…callous behavior, dealing with, dismissing her thoughts or suggestions during staff meetings.” Lofgren testified to a pattern of conduct that she experienced from Cifuentez showing a complete lack of support for her, especially in contrast to the way male directors were treated and supported, said Prainito in a recap of her closing argument.
The defense earlier agreed to give a recap of closing arguments but didn’t respond when asked twice by phone today.
Lofgren’s attorney Prainito questioned a forensic accountant in Thursday’s (3/6/25) afternoon testimony about Lofgren’s total economic loss from her firing by the city.
The accountant Heather Xitco told the jury of eight women and four men that she put Lofgren’s lifetime loss at $1,137,665 if she had continued to work for the city through age 64. Xitco’s testimony was marred by her repeatedly misstating the name of Hanford as Hanover.
Defense Attorney Mario Zamora asked Xitco if Lofgren could have gotten a better job after her firing. “If she got a better job (the) loss of the earnings (would) stop but the pension loss (would) still continue,” she said.
Part of Wednesday’s testimony and a good deal of Thursday’s testimony centered on establishing Lofgren’s reputation as an exemplary employee under previous city manager Darrell Pyle, in high level jobs at the University of Illinois and UC Berkeley as well as an outstanding person who had high grades in school and was accomplished in the martial arts.
Lofgren also received praise for her work from former city council member Art Brieno. Brieno’s remarks about women to a city-hired investigator provided fodder for Mata’s lawsuit against the city.
Following the verdict Prainito was unable to make any comment but earlier in the day she said she said she didn’t know if an appeal would be filed should the verdict go against her client.
Lofgren who, according to testimony, was fired by City Manager Mario Cifuentez in 2020 for budget mistakes and other reasons was claiming $1.2 million in economic damages relating to losses of past and future income. She also was claiming $18.4 million in non-economic damages for stress, loss of self-esteem and other emotional factors, according to her attorney Taylor Prainito of Los Angeles.
Contacted after the verdict, Prainito was unable to talk to a reporter. It is not known at this time whether Lofgren will appeal.
There was lack of evidence in the case and Lofgren's firing was based on a legitimate reason---performance, said Christina Filippo Smith, one of the attorneys for the city. Filippo Smith said she had not had any communication with the plaintiff's attorneys since the verdict regarding an appeal.
The verdict in Kings Superior Court after less than two hours of deliberation represents a sweeping victory for the city which in the last several years had suffered major, costly defeats in a sexual harassment case brought by former community development director Darlene Mata. The city settled with her for $750,000. The city also settled a $12 million breach of contract case with Helena Chemical Company located across from the Costco Center. Helena decided to relocate to Lemoore.
During Lofgren’s gender discrimination trial against the city both sides presented a conflicting picture of the former finance director. Closing arguments were made Tuesday morning. This reporter was not present in the courtroom for closing arguments or for the verdict which was announced shortly before 3 pm. A printed redacted version of the verdict was not available as of 3:53 pm on Tuesday (3/11/25).
Cifuentez testified that Lofgren was fired July 30, 2020 after a series of mistakes in the budget process and following receipt of complaints from some city departments that during budget preparations she was favoring the police department over other departments.
Cifuentez also got complaints about her leadership saying that some employees were fearful of her.
This was disputed by Police Captain Carl Anderson who said he found her easy to work and described her as “friendly, outgoing, jovial.” He didn’t recall her making any mistakes while working with her on budgets and capital projects.
Anderson, who is on paid administrative leave and is himself suing the city, said in his lawsuit that Cifuentez wanted him fired after he (Anderson) objected to a proposed annexation. Anderson also said he suffered trauma due to the city’s handling of the euthanasia of the police dog Krash.
Krash died in Anderson’s arms after a veterinarian injected him, according to the suit. Anderson thought the animal was being treated for care at the vet, not to be put to sleep, according to the suit. The city issued a press release stating that the dog was sick but this was disputed by the animal’s main veterinarian in Hanford who said the only thing wrong with Krash was damage from a leg injury.
Anderson was the number two person in the department after the chief and sometimes served as acting chief. Anderson also said people holding a negative opinion of Lofgren were deputy city manager Jason Waters, Cifuentez and former city employee Matthew Credit. Anderson corroborated Lofgren’s later contention that she and her ideas were treated dismissively during city directors’ meetings and specifically by Cifuentez.
Waters’ behavior toward Lofgren was described by Anderson as “…callous behavior, dealing with, dismissing her thoughts or suggestions during staff meetings.” Lofgren testified to a pattern of conduct that she experienced from Cifuentez showing a complete lack of support for her, especially in contrast to the way male directors were treated and supported, said Prainito in a recap of her closing argument.
The defense earlier agreed to give a recap of closing arguments but didn’t respond when asked twice by phone today.
Lofgren’s attorney Prainito questioned a forensic accountant in Thursday’s (3/6/25) afternoon testimony about Lofgren’s total economic loss from her firing by the city.
The accountant Heather Xitco told the jury of eight women and four men that she put Lofgren’s lifetime loss at $1,137,665 if she had continued to work for the city through age 64. Xitco’s testimony was marred by her repeatedly misstating the name of Hanford as Hanover.
Defense Attorney Mario Zamora asked Xitco if Lofgren could have gotten a better job after her firing. “If she got a better job (the) loss of the earnings (would) stop but the pension loss (would) still continue,” she said.
Part of Wednesday’s testimony and a good deal of Thursday’s testimony centered on establishing Lofgren’s reputation as an exemplary employee under previous city manager Darrell Pyle, in high level jobs at the University of Illinois and UC Berkeley as well as an outstanding person who had high grades in school and was accomplished in the martial arts.
Lofgren also received praise for her work from former city council member Art Brieno. Brieno’s remarks about women to a city-hired investigator provided fodder for Mata’s lawsuit against the city.
Following the verdict Prainito was unable to make any comment but earlier in the day she said she said she didn’t know if an appeal would be filed should the verdict go against her client.
Verdict expected tomorrow in Lofgren discrimination trial
Posted 3/10/25 9:39 pm
HANFORD – Closing arguments will be heard tomorrow (3/11/25) in the gender discrimination trial against the city filed by former finance director Paula Lofgren.
The jury is expected to hear closing arguments in Kings Superior Court in the morning, said attorneys for both sides.
A verdict is expected in the afternoon, said Christina Di Filippo Smith, one of the attorneys for the city.
Judge Robert S. Burns issued extensive instructions to the jury on Monday afternoon.
The city could be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in damages if the jury decides in Lofgren’s favor.
Lofgren alleged gender and disability discrimination after she was fired in 2020.
During the trial the city denied Lofgren’s claims and City Manager Mario Cifuentez alleged that she made mistakes as finance director.
California is an at will employment state which means an employee can be fired at any time for no reason. However, state law bans termination on the basis of gender, race or disability among other factors.
The jury is expected to hear closing arguments in Kings Superior Court in the morning, said attorneys for both sides.
A verdict is expected in the afternoon, said Christina Di Filippo Smith, one of the attorneys for the city.
Judge Robert S. Burns issued extensive instructions to the jury on Monday afternoon.
The city could be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in damages if the jury decides in Lofgren’s favor.
Lofgren alleged gender and disability discrimination after she was fired in 2020.
During the trial the city denied Lofgren’s claims and City Manager Mario Cifuentez alleged that she made mistakes as finance director.
California is an at will employment state which means an employee can be fired at any time for no reason. However, state law bans termination on the basis of gender, race or disability among other factors.
Both sides conflict in ex-finance director's termination lawsuit
Posted 3/6/25 10:24 pm
HANFORD – After two days of testimony in the gender discrimination trial against the city both sides presented a conflicting picture of former finance director Paula Lofgren who filed the suit.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez testified in Kings superior Court that Lofgren was fired July 30, 2020 after a series of mistakes in the budget process and following receipt of complaints from some city departments that during budget preparations she was favoring the police department over other departments.
Cifuentez also got complaints about her leadership saying that some employees were fearful of her.
This was disputed by Police Captain Carl Anderson who said he found her easy to work and described her as “friendly, outgoing, jovial.”
He didn’t recall her making any mistakes while working with her on budgets and capital projects.
Anderson, who is on paid administrative leave and is himself suing the city, said in his lawsuit that Cifuentez wanted him fired after he (Anderson) objected to a proposed annexation. Anderson also said he suffered trauma by the city’s handling of the euthanasia of the police dog Krash.
Anderson was the number two person in the department after the chief and sometimes served as acting chief.
Anderson also said people holding a negative opinion of Lofgren were deputy city manager Jason Waters, Cifuentez and former city employee Matthew Credit.
Anderson corroborated Lofgren’s later contention that she and her ideas were treated dismissively during city directors’ meetings and specifically by Cifuentez.
Waters’ behavior toward Lofgren was described by Anderson as “…callous behavior, dealing with, dismissing her thoughts or suggestions during staff meetings.”
Plaintiff’s Attorney Taylor Prainito of Los Angeles questioned a forensic accountant in Thursday’s (3/6/25) afternoon testimony about Lofgren’s total economic loss from her firing by the city.
The accountant Heather Xitco told the jury of eight women and four men that she put Lofgren’s lifetime loss at $1,137,665 if she had continued to work for the city through age 64.
Xitco’s testimony was marred by her repeatedly misstating the name of Hanford as Hanover.
Defense Attorney Mario Zamora asked Xitco if Lofgren could have gotten a better job after her firing.
“If she got a better job (the) loss of the earnings (would) stop but the pension loss (would) still continue,” she said.
Part of Wednesday’s testimony and a good deal of Thursday’s testimony centered on establishing Lofgren’s reputation as an exemplary employee under previous city manager Darrell Pyle, in jobs at the University of Illinois and UC Berkely as well as an exemplary person who had high grades in school and was accomplished in the martial arts.
Testimony will continue Friday with closing arguments expected Monday or Tuesday, according to the attorneys.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez testified in Kings superior Court that Lofgren was fired July 30, 2020 after a series of mistakes in the budget process and following receipt of complaints from some city departments that during budget preparations she was favoring the police department over other departments.
Cifuentez also got complaints about her leadership saying that some employees were fearful of her.
This was disputed by Police Captain Carl Anderson who said he found her easy to work and described her as “friendly, outgoing, jovial.”
He didn’t recall her making any mistakes while working with her on budgets and capital projects.
Anderson, who is on paid administrative leave and is himself suing the city, said in his lawsuit that Cifuentez wanted him fired after he (Anderson) objected to a proposed annexation. Anderson also said he suffered trauma by the city’s handling of the euthanasia of the police dog Krash.
Anderson was the number two person in the department after the chief and sometimes served as acting chief.
Anderson also said people holding a negative opinion of Lofgren were deputy city manager Jason Waters, Cifuentez and former city employee Matthew Credit.
Anderson corroborated Lofgren’s later contention that she and her ideas were treated dismissively during city directors’ meetings and specifically by Cifuentez.
Waters’ behavior toward Lofgren was described by Anderson as “…callous behavior, dealing with, dismissing her thoughts or suggestions during staff meetings.”
Plaintiff’s Attorney Taylor Prainito of Los Angeles questioned a forensic accountant in Thursday’s (3/6/25) afternoon testimony about Lofgren’s total economic loss from her firing by the city.
The accountant Heather Xitco told the jury of eight women and four men that she put Lofgren’s lifetime loss at $1,137,665 if she had continued to work for the city through age 64.
Xitco’s testimony was marred by her repeatedly misstating the name of Hanford as Hanover.
Defense Attorney Mario Zamora asked Xitco if Lofgren could have gotten a better job after her firing.
“If she got a better job (the) loss of the earnings (would) stop but the pension loss (would) still continue,” she said.
Part of Wednesday’s testimony and a good deal of Thursday’s testimony centered on establishing Lofgren’s reputation as an exemplary employee under previous city manager Darrell Pyle, in jobs at the University of Illinois and UC Berkely as well as an exemplary person who had high grades in school and was accomplished in the martial arts.
Testimony will continue Friday with closing arguments expected Monday or Tuesday, according to the attorneys.
Hanford Airport fuel issue causes sheriff's airplane to stall
Update 3/5/25 10:19 pm
HANFORD - Several months ago the sheriff's department single engine patrol airplane had to abort a takeoff because the engine failed, said Sheriff David Robinson yesterday (3/3/25).
The problem was subsequently traced to metal shavings in fuel dispensed at the municipal airport here, he said.
The problem with the pump started as early as November 22 which was the last known flight of the aircraft, according to Robinson. The sheriff's department said it purchases fuel after every flight.
The city isn't saying anything. A call and email today to deputy city manager Jason Waters went unanswered. Also unclear is how long the city
knew about the problem and why it didn't make the matter public. Waters said in between a court session in Hanford on Wednesday that he would respond about the airport incident but no phone call or email has been received.
The Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards Office in Fresno said they were aware of the problem and requested that questions be emailed to them.
The revelation about the situation in Hanford comes at a time about heightened concern about aviation accidents and the safety of the U.S.
aviation system.
Also unknown is how many aircraft fueled at Hanford with aviation gas from the contaminated pump. Another issue is whether aircraft sustained
engine damage from the fuel and whether there have been any engine failures or accidents related to the contaminated fuel.
Aircraft engines are expensive and can cost $18,000 to $150,000 each or more depending on horsepower and add-ons such as supercharging. Another potential liability, according to a local pilot, is fuel purchased months ago can last a long time because it doesn't contain ethanol. This could set up a potential disaster down the road, he said.
The city reportedly is doing a risk assessment on the issue, according to an informed. source.
The problem was subsequently traced to metal shavings in fuel dispensed at the municipal airport here, he said.
The problem with the pump started as early as November 22 which was the last known flight of the aircraft, according to Robinson. The sheriff's department said it purchases fuel after every flight.
The city isn't saying anything. A call and email today to deputy city manager Jason Waters went unanswered. Also unclear is how long the city
knew about the problem and why it didn't make the matter public. Waters said in between a court session in Hanford on Wednesday that he would respond about the airport incident but no phone call or email has been received.
The Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards Office in Fresno said they were aware of the problem and requested that questions be emailed to them.
The revelation about the situation in Hanford comes at a time about heightened concern about aviation accidents and the safety of the U.S.
aviation system.
Also unknown is how many aircraft fueled at Hanford with aviation gas from the contaminated pump. Another issue is whether aircraft sustained
engine damage from the fuel and whether there have been any engine failures or accidents related to the contaminated fuel.
Aircraft engines are expensive and can cost $18,000 to $150,000 each or more depending on horsepower and add-ons such as supercharging. Another potential liability, according to a local pilot, is fuel purchased months ago can last a long time because it doesn't contain ethanol. This could set up a potential disaster down the road, he said.
The city reportedly is doing a risk assessment on the issue, according to an informed. source.
Trump Administration sounds death knell for high-speed rail
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Posted 2/20/25 4:58 pm
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Transportation Secretary sounded the death knell for the California High -Speed Rail project, a controversial multibillion effort that would have eventually spanned 800 miles between San Diego and San Francisco.
“There is no timeline in which you are going to have high-speed rail that goes from LA to San Francisco,” said Secretary Sean Duffy. “That timeline does not exist,” said Duffy in press conference reported by Fox News. There were ongoing noisy chants by protesters while Duffy spoke. President Trump called the project “…the worst managed project I think I’ve ever seen.”
Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-3rd) and new Congressman Vince Fong (R-20) piled on with Duffy and his boss. If the Trump Administration ends federal funding for the $106 billion project, the project is dead, Kiley said.
To date the 170-mile Merced to Bakersfield segment under construction has been built with a blend of federal and state bond issue money. To complete this first segment would take another $6.5 billion.
Fong called the project grossly mismanaged something Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon agreed with. But Verboon (District 3 – North Hanford, Island District, North Lemoore) said today after there is an accounting of what went wrong financially, it may be possible to regroup and forge a path forward including having Amtrak use the right-of-way, bridges and overpasses.
Posted 2/20/25 4:58 pm
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Transportation Secretary sounded the death knell for the California High -Speed Rail project, a controversial multibillion effort that would have eventually spanned 800 miles between San Diego and San Francisco.
“There is no timeline in which you are going to have high-speed rail that goes from LA to San Francisco,” said Secretary Sean Duffy. “That timeline does not exist,” said Duffy in press conference reported by Fox News. There were ongoing noisy chants by protesters while Duffy spoke. President Trump called the project “…the worst managed project I think I’ve ever seen.”
Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-3rd) and new Congressman Vince Fong (R-20) piled on with Duffy and his boss. If the Trump Administration ends federal funding for the $106 billion project, the project is dead, Kiley said.
To date the 170-mile Merced to Bakersfield segment under construction has been built with a blend of federal and state bond issue money. To complete this first segment would take another $6.5 billion.
Fong called the project grossly mismanaged something Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon agreed with. But Verboon (District 3 – North Hanford, Island District, North Lemoore) said today after there is an accounting of what went wrong financially, it may be possible to regroup and forge a path forward including having Amtrak use the right-of-way, bridges and overpasses.
Despite some opposition, Hanford could get its first walking trails
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HANFORD – Proposals for 93 miles of new bikeways and the city’s first walking trails that would link north and south Hanford will be on the next city council agenda on March 4. The public will have a chance to comment on the 126-page plan then.
During a presentation on the Active Transportation Plan at tonight’s (2/18/25) city council meeting Council Member Kimber Regan and Vice Mayor Travis Paden voiced concerns about random people walking behind peoples’ houses. How do you keep the trails from being a magnet attracting unhoused people?, Regan asked Parks and Recreation Director Bradley Albert.
Albert said lighting, the ability to close a trail the way parks are closed at night and having volunteer trail monitors are the best ways to address Regan’s issues. “If you can get people on the trail,” he said “That deters the bad element.”
HANFORD – Proposals for 93 miles of new bikeways and the city’s first walking trails that would link north and south Hanford will be on the next city council agenda on March 4. The public will have a chance to comment on the 126-page plan then.
During a presentation on the Active Transportation Plan at tonight’s (2/18/25) city council meeting Council Member Kimber Regan and Vice Mayor Travis Paden voiced concerns about random people walking behind peoples’ houses. How do you keep the trails from being a magnet attracting unhoused people?, Regan asked Parks and Recreation Director Bradley Albert.
Albert said lighting, the ability to close a trail the way parks are closed at night and having volunteer trail monitors are the best ways to address Regan’s issues. “If you can get people on the trail,” he said “That deters the bad element.”
Rafael Estrada, 2 7, arrested in Hanford fatal shooting.
Arrest man, 27, in fatal In-n-Out shooting
POSTED 2/8/25 8:40 pm
HANFORD – Police arrested Rafael Estrada, 27 in connection with the homicide early Thursday night.
Daniel Dawson, 23, was shot and killed outside the In-N-Out restaurant at 280 S. 12th Avenue in southwest Hanford.
A second man seriously wounded in the same shooting remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Police said the suspect ran from the victims after the shooting. He was arrested Friday at an apartment complex in Goshen, east of Hanford.
Dawson was the father of a three-month old baby girl.
Police are still investigating but Lt. Justin Vallin told local media that an illegal drug transaction could have been a factor in the shooting.
HANFORD – Police arrested Rafael Estrada, 27 in connection with the homicide early Thursday night.
Daniel Dawson, 23, was shot and killed outside the In-N-Out restaurant at 280 S. 12th Avenue in southwest Hanford.
A second man seriously wounded in the same shooting remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Police said the suspect ran from the victims after the shooting. He was arrested Friday at an apartment complex in Goshen, east of Hanford.
Dawson was the father of a three-month old baby girl.
Police are still investigating but Lt. Justin Vallin told local media that an illegal drug transaction could have been a factor in the shooting.
Coroner: Rivera wasn't wearing seatbelt at time of fatal crash
POSTED 2/6/25 10:51 am Editor’s note: To read full 366-word article please subscribe. $1 for two months. For
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HANFORD – Kellie Rivera, the 43-year-old wife of a Hanford Police officer, killed in a two-vehicle crash December 8, 2024, wasn’t wearing her seatbelt when she died, according to a coroner’s report.
“Arriving sheriff’s deputies and Fire/EMS personnel…discoveredKellie lying across the rear passenger seats,” the report said.
The first sentence of the narrative of the report stated that Rivera “…was a 43-year-old female who was reportedly the the unrestrained driver of a Chevy Traverse minivan.”
The report continued, EMS personnel at 13th and Fargo in the county attempted resuscitation efforts and later pronounced her death at the scene at 0027 hours.
The autopsy revealed that blunt head and neck trauma as the cause of death.
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HANFORD – Kellie Rivera, the 43-year-old wife of a Hanford Police officer, killed in a two-vehicle crash December 8, 2024, wasn’t wearing her seatbelt when she died, according to a coroner’s report.
“Arriving sheriff’s deputies and Fire/EMS personnel…discoveredKellie lying across the rear passenger seats,” the report said.
The first sentence of the narrative of the report stated that Rivera “…was a 43-year-old female who was reportedly the the unrestrained driver of a Chevy Traverse minivan.”
The report continued, EMS personnel at 13th and Fargo in the county attempted resuscitation efforts and later pronounced her death at the scene at 0027 hours.
The autopsy revealed that blunt head and neck trauma as the cause of death.
American Airlines CRJ 700, the aircraft involved in the Washington crash. This type of aircraft is flown into Fresno by American and other airlines. Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter collided with the CRJ700. This type of helicopter, below, is also based in Fresno at the Army Air National Guard base at Fresno Yosemite International Airport.
Deadly DC aviation crash kills 67 people
UPDATED 1/30/25 6:00 pm Editor's note: For full 513-word article please subscribe. Just $1 for 2 months. To subscribe please email: [email protected]
WASHINGTON – An American Airlines regional jet collided with an Army helicopter over Reagan National Airport Wednesday night (1/29/25) killing all 67 onboard the two aircraft including members of the U.S. Figure Skating Team. The two black box flight recorders on the American flight have been reccovered, authorities said.
Video from several different cameras showed America flight 5342 from Wichita on final approach to the airport at 8:48 pm when there was an explosion and then a second larger one. Parts of both aircraft plummeted into the frigid Potomac River where search and rescue crews worked through the night to recover bodies and debris. So far 40 bodies have been recovered.
There were no survivors, according to first responders. Just before the crash an air traffic controller can be heard asking the helicopter pilot whether he had the jet in sight. A crew member said he did and then the controller could be heard saying, “did you see what happened?”
One controller was handling incoming and departing flights and helicopter traffic, authorities said. Normally two people handle these tasks, authorities said.
WASHINGTON – An American Airlines regional jet collided with an Army helicopter over Reagan National Airport Wednesday night (1/29/25) killing all 67 onboard the two aircraft including members of the U.S. Figure Skating Team. The two black box flight recorders on the American flight have been reccovered, authorities said.
Video from several different cameras showed America flight 5342 from Wichita on final approach to the airport at 8:48 pm when there was an explosion and then a second larger one. Parts of both aircraft plummeted into the frigid Potomac River where search and rescue crews worked through the night to recover bodies and debris. So far 40 bodies have been recovered.
There were no survivors, according to first responders. Just before the crash an air traffic controller can be heard asking the helicopter pilot whether he had the jet in sight. A crew member said he did and then the controller could be heard saying, “did you see what happened?”
One controller was handling incoming and departing flights and helicopter traffic, authorities said. Normally two people handle these tasks, authorities said.
Left shooting suspect Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz. 23, center, Rose Cuevas, 22, found shot dead. right, daughters Alana 2, Arya 3.
Deputies return man wanted in shooting death, abduction to county
UPDATED 1/31/25 6:26 pm
HANFORD – Sheriff's deputies arrested the man wanted in the shooting death of his wife and abduction of his children on Thursday, the Kings County Sheriff's office said on its Facebook Page.
Jonathan Maldonado-Cruz, 23, was flown back to Central California from Southern California. Before leaving he turned over his daughters Alana and Arya at the San Ysidro, Ca. border crossing into Mexico.
Prior to his arrest he had already crossed into Mexico.
The FBI, state and Mexican authorities were trying to track down Maldonado-Cruz following the shooting of his wife on Tuesday (1/28/25) in the Home Garden section on the outskirts of Hanford. He was also a suspect in the abduction of two daughters, 2 and 3.
The victim, Madeline Rose Cuevas, 22, was found shot to death at her home on Fourth Street and Orchard Drive.
The woman’s father, Joel Cuevas, went to check on his daughter when he hadn’t heard from her. He found her dead in the house.
Maldonado-Cruz left the home about 1 am and was driving a gray 2020 Hyundai Elantra with California license plate 8LZD084, the sheriff’s office said. The
young mother was a supervisor at Costco and had recently bought a home.
HANFORD – Sheriff's deputies arrested the man wanted in the shooting death of his wife and abduction of his children on Thursday, the Kings County Sheriff's office said on its Facebook Page.
Jonathan Maldonado-Cruz, 23, was flown back to Central California from Southern California. Before leaving he turned over his daughters Alana and Arya at the San Ysidro, Ca. border crossing into Mexico.
Prior to his arrest he had already crossed into Mexico.
The FBI, state and Mexican authorities were trying to track down Maldonado-Cruz following the shooting of his wife on Tuesday (1/28/25) in the Home Garden section on the outskirts of Hanford. He was also a suspect in the abduction of two daughters, 2 and 3.
The victim, Madeline Rose Cuevas, 22, was found shot to death at her home on Fourth Street and Orchard Drive.
The woman’s father, Joel Cuevas, went to check on his daughter when he hadn’t heard from her. He found her dead in the house.
Maldonado-Cruz left the home about 1 am and was driving a gray 2020 Hyundai Elantra with California license plate 8LZD084, the sheriff’s office said. The
young mother was a supervisor at Costco and had recently bought a home.
Despite opposition, Hanford Council okays four annexations
Posted 1/21/25 11:40 pm
HANFORD – A majority of the city council tonight approved a staff proposal to annex four areas of the county into the city despite widespread opposition from residents who live in the annexed areas.
It was a case of David versus Goliath only David didn’t win.
The areas in the annexation are: an area bounded by East Lacey Boulevard and south of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks, an area west of 10 ½ Avenue and north of Houston Avenue, an area west of 10th Avenue between Idaho and Iona avenues and an area west of 11th Avenue and south of Flint Avenue.
The staff and City Attorney Ty Mizote argued that it was state policy to eliminate so-called county islands within city boundaries and both warned that if the islands were not annexed this could halt all future development projects within the city. The role of the Local Agency Formation Commission also figured importantly in the discussion. LAFCO passes on local development projects as they relate to the relat ionship be tween cities in the county and county jurisdiction.
During the public comment period Luis Guzman Jr. gave a passionate plea to vote the proposals down. “That is not right. We don’t want it. It’s not American…all you are doing is because of the money,” he said. In the city a person has to pay to have a dog or park a car if it’s in the wrong spot, Guzman said.
Besides Guzman, county island residents David Guzman, Alexander Moreno, Al Cason and city resident Bob Ramos all spoke against the proposals. Only one speaker spoke in favor stating that annexation would clear up troubles he had experienced recently getting city police to respond to a homeless problem in his area.
Absent from the staff report and lengthy verbal presentation was the substantial financial benefits that would accrue to the city from the annexation including increased land for development, more sales and property taxes. Plus by making the city larger, the city could potentially gain more political clout.
One of the arguments against the annexation included changing the looser more rural way of life that exists in the county.
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[email protected].
HANFORD – A majority of the city council tonight approved a staff proposal to annex four areas of the county into the city despite widespread opposition from residents who live in the annexed areas.
It was a case of David versus Goliath only David didn’t win.
The areas in the annexation are: an area bounded by East Lacey Boulevard and south of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks, an area west of 10 ½ Avenue and north of Houston Avenue, an area west of 10th Avenue between Idaho and Iona avenues and an area west of 11th Avenue and south of Flint Avenue.
The staff and City Attorney Ty Mizote argued that it was state policy to eliminate so-called county islands within city boundaries and both warned that if the islands were not annexed this could halt all future development projects within the city. The role of the Local Agency Formation Commission also figured importantly in the discussion. LAFCO passes on local development projects as they relate to the relat ionship be tween cities in the county and county jurisdiction.
During the public comment period Luis Guzman Jr. gave a passionate plea to vote the proposals down. “That is not right. We don’t want it. It’s not American…all you are doing is because of the money,” he said. In the city a person has to pay to have a dog or park a car if it’s in the wrong spot, Guzman said.
Besides Guzman, county island residents David Guzman, Alexander Moreno, Al Cason and city resident Bob Ramos all spoke against the proposals. Only one speaker spoke in favor stating that annexation would clear up troubles he had experienced recently getting city police to respond to a homeless problem in his area.
Absent from the staff report and lengthy verbal presentation was the substantial financial benefits that would accrue to the city from the annexation including increased land for development, more sales and property taxes. Plus by making the city larger, the city could potentially gain more political clout.
One of the arguments against the annexation included changing the looser more rural way of life that exists in the county.
For the full version of this story please subscribe. Subscriptions $1 for the first two months. For details please contact:
[email protected].
Trump sworn in as president promising to end American decline
Posted 1/20/25 2:05 pm
WASHINGTON CAPITOL ROTUNDA - Donald Trump was sworn in today (1/20/25) as the 47th president saying in an inaugural speech that the "Golden Age of America" has just begun. With all the living former presidents including outgoing Joe Biden looking on Trump promised a border crackdown, strong national defense and renewed emphasis on drilling domestically for oil and gas.
The ceremony was held here at the Capitol where January 6, 2020 protesters angry at Trump's election loss to Biden stormed the Capitol causing great damage to the building. Four people died in the riots. Trump was widely criticized for not taking swifter action to stop the rioting.
Trump survived an assassination attempt during the campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Now he is in almost total control of the federal government with both the executive and legislative branches in majority Republican hands. The Democrats are in political disarray having badly misread the electorate. Notably former VP Mike Pence's wife Karen and President Barrack Obama's wife Michelle did not attend the inauguration. Former House Speaker and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, a frequent Trump critic during his first term, also did not attend.
Trump did not attend Biden's inauguration.
Trump has two years to enact his agenda before voters give a report card on it in the mid-term Congressional elections.
Voters are concerned about high gas and food prices, border security and hot button social issues such as gender affirmations.
The ceremony was held here at the Capitol where January 6, 2020 protesters angry at Trump's election loss to Biden stormed the Capitol causing great damage to the building. Four people died in the riots. Trump was widely criticized for not taking swifter action to stop the rioting.
Trump survived an assassination attempt during the campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Now he is in almost total control of the federal government with both the executive and legislative branches in majority Republican hands. The Democrats are in political disarray having badly misread the electorate. Notably former VP Mike Pence's wife Karen and President Barrack Obama's wife Michelle did not attend the inauguration. Former House Speaker and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, a frequent Trump critic during his first term, also did not attend.
Trump did not attend Biden's inauguration.
Trump has two years to enact his agenda before voters give a report card on it in the mid-term Congressional elections.
Voters are concerned about high gas and food prices, border security and hot button social issues such as gender affirmations.
Remains of a home in Pacific Palisades January 16. The Palisades fire is still burning but is 59 percent contained. It's the largest of the Southern California wildfires. More than 14,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged in the Palisades and Eaton fires, the two largest wildfires. VHL Future/Bulletin Board Public Safety Report photo
Some containment in Palisades fire
UPDATED 1/20/25 1:11 pm
Editor's note: Subscribers get multiple pictures and videos.
PACIFIC PALISADES – Two things strike the visitor about the burnt -out neighborhoods here that stand off Temescal Canyon above the Pacific Ocean.
One is the absolute silence where before the fire struck January 7 there were conversations between neighbors, family discussions and fights, children laughing and playing, dogs barking and cats meowing.
The other thing is the air is heavy with the scent of smoke, not smoke from a barbecue or firepit pit but a charred, sooty smell that burns in the nose. In the 800-block of Radcliffe Avenue sit burnout cars that are hardly recognizable and even spookier are burnt out cars still in the driveway. Some homes are partially standing, many are not. Some homes on a higher elevation appeared to be not touched at all. Among the ruins there might be a chimney standing or the frame of a garage door. Blackened shards of wood litter the sites, concrete is purlverized. A green waste can in the street was melted and in one house a washer and dryer were a charred, twisted mess.
Despite the wreckage of neighborhood there is some good news. The Palisades fire has been 59 percent contained though Santa Ana winds today are pushing the fire eastward. Containment of the Eaton Fire in Pasadena is nearly contained at 87 percent.
The death toll from the two fires stands at 27 but is likely to go higher as inspectors go house-to-house assessing fire damage.
Bulldozers, Tyler Tomlinson of Calfire said, have already dug breaks to prevent the fire from jumping. More breaks are planned. Other efforts underway today included handcrews using chainsaws and hand tools to remove potential fuel sources --- trees and vegetation--- on steep hillsides directly above Pacific Coast Highway, said Calfire Captain Craig Knight.
Some of the burnt hillsides had nothing growing on them and wooden barriers were used to prop up the soil. In all more than 5,000 resource people are helping with the disaster. This includes people from all over the state as well as Colorado, Washington and Wyoming. The National Guard, LAPD, LA Fire Department and Port Police are all out in force. Though Santa Ana winds which push the fire from east to west were a factor today. The situation wasn’t as bad as expected, said Tomlinson. In the meantime, weather forecasters are expecting a helpful increase in humidity but looming next week is another Santa Ana situation. There is also a slight chance of rain in the next week. The Palisades and Eaton fires are just two of a series of wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area. More than 180,000 people have been evacuated and the death toll stands at 20 but is expected to go higher.
Editor's note: Subscribers get multiple pictures and videos.
PACIFIC PALISADES – Two things strike the visitor about the burnt -out neighborhoods here that stand off Temescal Canyon above the Pacific Ocean.
One is the absolute silence where before the fire struck January 7 there were conversations between neighbors, family discussions and fights, children laughing and playing, dogs barking and cats meowing.
The other thing is the air is heavy with the scent of smoke, not smoke from a barbecue or firepit pit but a charred, sooty smell that burns in the nose. In the 800-block of Radcliffe Avenue sit burnout cars that are hardly recognizable and even spookier are burnt out cars still in the driveway. Some homes are partially standing, many are not. Some homes on a higher elevation appeared to be not touched at all. Among the ruins there might be a chimney standing or the frame of a garage door. Blackened shards of wood litter the sites, concrete is purlverized. A green waste can in the street was melted and in one house a washer and dryer were a charred, twisted mess.
Despite the wreckage of neighborhood there is some good news. The Palisades fire has been 59 percent contained though Santa Ana winds today are pushing the fire eastward. Containment of the Eaton Fire in Pasadena is nearly contained at 87 percent.
The death toll from the two fires stands at 27 but is likely to go higher as inspectors go house-to-house assessing fire damage.
Bulldozers, Tyler Tomlinson of Calfire said, have already dug breaks to prevent the fire from jumping. More breaks are planned. Other efforts underway today included handcrews using chainsaws and hand tools to remove potential fuel sources --- trees and vegetation--- on steep hillsides directly above Pacific Coast Highway, said Calfire Captain Craig Knight.
Some of the burnt hillsides had nothing growing on them and wooden barriers were used to prop up the soil. In all more than 5,000 resource people are helping with the disaster. This includes people from all over the state as well as Colorado, Washington and Wyoming. The National Guard, LAPD, LA Fire Department and Port Police are all out in force. Though Santa Ana winds which push the fire from east to west were a factor today. The situation wasn’t as bad as expected, said Tomlinson. In the meantime, weather forecasters are expecting a helpful increase in humidity but looming next week is another Santa Ana situation. There is also a slight chance of rain in the next week. The Palisades and Eaton fires are just two of a series of wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area. More than 180,000 people have been evacuated and the death toll stands at 20 but is expected to go higher.
Esteemed friends, kin remember Carter for his goodness
Posted 1/9/25 9:48 pm
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WASHINGTON - Like artists with a palette of different colors each of the speakers who eulogized Jimmy Carter this morning (1/9/25) painted a portrait of a deeply religious man who took to heart the credo to help others whenever possible.
Although the 39th president was a Sunday school teacher, it was his friend of more than 40 years, the Reverend Andew Young who, speaking without notes, best captured the essence of the man as Carter’s daughter Amy looked on tearfully in the National Cathedral. Young, at 92 had trouble walking to his chair next to Carter’s coffin. Young, a lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King, said he was born in the deep south shortly after Carter. Carter died December 29, 2024 at age 100. ‘It’s still had for me to understand how you could get to the presidency from Plains, Ga.” said Young to an audience that included President Biden all the former living presidents including President-elect Trump. Young knew Carter’s mileau of Sumter County, Ga. And he recounted how King called the Sheriff there, Fred D. Chappell, the meanest man on earth. When Carter told Young that Chappell was a friend of his, Young said that was the last thing he wanted to hear. Sumter had a 25 percent white population. Yet, Young said, Carter became a friend of the 75 percent majority African American population. Young said it was Carter’s “…sensitivity, spirituality (that) made James Earl Carter a great president.” Young described Carter as “something of a miracle.” For full 562-word version of this story please subscribe. Stories emailed to your inbox. $3 for first two months then $3 a month thereafter. Cancel anytime. Can cancel once in 12-month period. To subscribe email: [email protected] |
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Unanswered questions in dui accident that killed Kellie Rivera
Posted m12/28/24 1:45 pm
HANFORD – While the Philip Macias Chavez dui homicide case works its way through the local legal system, there are many unanswered questions about what happened the night of December 8 when the suspect, accused of killing Kellie Rivera, allegedly plowed through a four-way stop intersection at a high rate of speed.
Like the weather at the time of early morning accident, the picture of what happened is cloudy in part due to the California Highway Patrol’s denial of a media request to release the accident report.
NEWS ANALYSIS
CHP explained its denial in the case, involving the wife of a Hanford Police officer, as being one that is still under investigation. This is permissible under the state Records Act which normally allows any citizen to see any government record.
Instead CHP issued a press release which does not answer important questions. As tragic as this accident is for the family and the community, it is important to know all the facts considering a suspect is being charged with murder.
In addition, District Attorney Sarah Hacker will not answer basic questions such as Rivera’s whereabouts just prior to the accident and whether she had been drinking alcohol.
Rivera’s family members were in the courtroom for Macia Chavez’s arraignment. Hacker is under public pressure to deliver a murder conviction in this high-profile case involving a 43-year-old mother of four who worked for a local veterinarian. There has been an outpouring of public support for Rivera’s family.
The time of the accident was reported by CHP as a few minutes after midnight on December 8 which was a Sunday.
The Kings County Sheriff’s Department was alerted first by an electronic crash detection device in one of the vehicles, according the Sheriff’s Department and the CHP press release.
This is a shortened version of this story. For the full 900 plus version of this story please subscribe. Subscriptions $3 for first two months. To subscribe please email: [email protected].
HANFORD – While the Philip Macias Chavez dui homicide case works its way through the local legal system, there are many unanswered questions about what happened the night of December 8 when the suspect, accused of killing Kellie Rivera, allegedly plowed through a four-way stop intersection at a high rate of speed.
Like the weather at the time of early morning accident, the picture of what happened is cloudy in part due to the California Highway Patrol’s denial of a media request to release the accident report.
NEWS ANALYSIS
CHP explained its denial in the case, involving the wife of a Hanford Police officer, as being one that is still under investigation. This is permissible under the state Records Act which normally allows any citizen to see any government record.
Instead CHP issued a press release which does not answer important questions. As tragic as this accident is for the family and the community, it is important to know all the facts considering a suspect is being charged with murder.
In addition, District Attorney Sarah Hacker will not answer basic questions such as Rivera’s whereabouts just prior to the accident and whether she had been drinking alcohol.
Rivera’s family members were in the courtroom for Macia Chavez’s arraignment. Hacker is under public pressure to deliver a murder conviction in this high-profile case involving a 43-year-old mother of four who worked for a local veterinarian. There has been an outpouring of public support for Rivera’s family.
The time of the accident was reported by CHP as a few minutes after midnight on December 8 which was a Sunday.
The Kings County Sheriff’s Department was alerted first by an electronic crash detection device in one of the vehicles, according the Sheriff’s Department and the CHP press release.
This is a shortened version of this story. For the full 900 plus version of this story please subscribe. Subscriptions $3 for first two months. To subscribe please email: [email protected].
Suspect in Kellie Rivera traffic death pleads not guilty to all counts
Posted 12/23/24 5:57 pm
HANFORD – The 33-year-old man accused of killing Kellie Rivera in a dui traffic accident earlier this month pleaded not guilty on all counts including five aggravated circumstances during a brief arraignment this morning (12/23/24).
Defendant Philip Andrew Macias Chavez made an appearance from his hospital bed in Visalia via video. He had a tube in his nose and wore a neck brace.
He agreed to supervised detention with an electronic ankle monitor pending his next court appearance on January 28.
As Rivera’s family members looked on together with DA Sarah Hacker, Macias Chavez’s attorney Sally Vecchiarelli of Fresno told Kings County Superior Court Judge Melissa D’Morias her client pleaded not guilty on all counts including aggravated circumstances.
The DA’s complaint alleges Macias Chavez committed murder with malice and aforethought.
The defendant had two prior dui convictions in the county in 2015 and 2018 and this constituted another aggravating circumstance, according to the complaint.
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Defendant Philip Andrew Macias Chavez made an appearance from his hospital bed in Visalia via video. He had a tube in his nose and wore a neck brace.
He agreed to supervised detention with an electronic ankle monitor pending his next court appearance on January 28.
As Rivera’s family members looked on together with DA Sarah Hacker, Macias Chavez’s attorney Sally Vecchiarelli of Fresno told Kings County Superior Court Judge Melissa D’Morias her client pleaded not guilty on all counts including aggravated circumstances.
The DA’s complaint alleges Macias Chavez committed murder with malice and aforethought.
The defendant had two prior dui convictions in the county in 2015 and 2018 and this constituted another aggravating circumstance, according to the complaint.
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Suspect in accident that killed Kellie Rivera to be arraigned Monday
POSTED 12/20/24 4:36 pm
HANFORD – Philip Andrew Macias Chavez, the suspect in the traffic death of Kellie Rivera, 43, will be arraigned Monday via video from his Visalia hospital bed and charged with murder with aggravating circumstances, said Kings County DA Sarah Hacker today (12/20/24).
He will appear before Kings County Superior Court Judge Melissa R. Lucero D’Morias. A Proper Defense, the Fresno law firm representing him, did not return a call today (12/20/24) seeking comment.
The December 8 accident at Fargo and 13th Avenues in rural Kings County occurred just after midnight when the driver of one of the vehicles failed to stop at the intersection and broadsided the other vehicle at a high rate of speed, said the California Highway Patrol in a press release. An automated crash notification system on one of the vehicles notified law enforcement that an accident had occurred.
The vehicle was traveling at 75 mph, said Hacker. Alcohol and/or drugs appeared to be a factor in the crash, said the CHP press release. Rivera, a mother of four who was married to a Hanford Police officer, died at the scene, said CHP and Hacker. She worked at Hanford Veterinary Hospital on Glendale Avenue here. Both injured were pinned in the driver’s seat of their respective vehicles when law enforcement arrived, CHP said.
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HANFORD – Philip Andrew Macias Chavez, the suspect in the traffic death of Kellie Rivera, 43, will be arraigned Monday via video from his Visalia hospital bed and charged with murder with aggravating circumstances, said Kings County DA Sarah Hacker today (12/20/24).
He will appear before Kings County Superior Court Judge Melissa R. Lucero D’Morias. A Proper Defense, the Fresno law firm representing him, did not return a call today (12/20/24) seeking comment.
The December 8 accident at Fargo and 13th Avenues in rural Kings County occurred just after midnight when the driver of one of the vehicles failed to stop at the intersection and broadsided the other vehicle at a high rate of speed, said the California Highway Patrol in a press release. An automated crash notification system on one of the vehicles notified law enforcement that an accident had occurred.
The vehicle was traveling at 75 mph, said Hacker. Alcohol and/or drugs appeared to be a factor in the crash, said the CHP press release. Rivera, a mother of four who was married to a Hanford Police officer, died at the scene, said CHP and Hacker. She worked at Hanford Veterinary Hospital on Glendale Avenue here. Both injured were pinned in the driver’s seat of their respective vehicles when law enforcement arrived, CHP said.
For the full 366-word story please subscribe. Subscriptions $3 for first two months then $3 per month thereafter. Cancel any time. Only one cancellation allowed in 12-month period. To subscribe email: [email protected]. Subscribers get stories emailed to their in-box.
Replacement for retiring county attorney is broad-based Fresno firm
Posted 12/18/24 8:54 pm
KINGS COUNTY – County Attorney Diane Freeman is retiring after 2 ½ years in that position to be replaced by the Lozano Smith law firm with offices in Fresno and other California cities, said District 3 (Lemoore and West Hanford) Supervisor Doug Verboon today (12/18/24).
Freeman served as an attorney with the county for 13 years, said Verboon. The board of supervisors decided to hire Lozano Smith on Tuesday, he said. Lozano Smith also represents Madera County, Verboon said.
Verboon said the law firm has expertise in various practice areas including labor law. If the county needs an attorney with a certain specialty, Lozano Smith can handle it, he said.
Supervisors didn’t give Lozano Smith a retainer, Verboon said. Instead, he said, the county will be billed monthly for legal services.
KINGS COUNTY – County Attorney Diane Freeman is retiring after 2 ½ years in that position to be replaced by the Lozano Smith law firm with offices in Fresno and other California cities, said District 3 (Lemoore and West Hanford) Supervisor Doug Verboon today (12/18/24).
Freeman served as an attorney with the county for 13 years, said Verboon. The board of supervisors decided to hire Lozano Smith on Tuesday, he said. Lozano Smith also represents Madera County, Verboon said.
Verboon said the law firm has expertise in various practice areas including labor law. If the county needs an attorney with a certain specialty, Lozano Smith can handle it, he said.
Supervisors didn’t give Lozano Smith a retainer, Verboon said. Instead, he said, the county will be billed monthly for legal services.
Hanford council agrees to scaled-down Hidden Valley expansion
Posted 12/17/24 10:38 pm
HANFORD – After six speakers told the city council that initial plans for an expanded Hidden Valley Park were too elaborate and too expensive, the council responded by endorsing a simplified version of the improvements that will include walking trails, picnic benches and some parking.
This was during the council study session and didn’t include a formal vote. Later, during the regular session the council voted 4-0 to hire Crawford and Bowen Planning Inc. for $69,400 to prepare environmental studies for the expansion.
During the regular session the council also observed a moment of silence for Kellie Rivera, a mother of four and wife of a Hanford Police officer, who was killed December 8 on 13th Avenue when a suspected dui driver failed to stop at an intersection and was speeding.
On the park environmental studies will cover a full buildout of the 18-acres of the existing space which is just west of the present park at 11th Avenue and Cortner Street. This is a much more elaborate plan with sports fields, greatly expanded parking, tennis courts and other amenities.
The environmental report covering a more comprehensive park plan doesn’t mean the more elaborate plans will be built. The report is just an insurance policy in case some future council decides to add extra features.
The price difference between the two options is enormous. The scale-down plan would cost about $5 million, Bradley Albert, parks and recreation director. Previously he has said the expanded plan could cost $14 million.
“It’s not an athletic park,” said Ernie Harmon who lives near the park. “It’s a green space. We don’t need to inundate the parks department with more shrubs. He called for more park benches and a running path in the expanded property which has been fought over for two decades.
He said it makes sense to use common sense because funds are short.
Mickey Stoddard said, “all we ever want was a park, walking trails, biking trails.”
He urged the council not to overthink or overspend on the facility. “Just build a park.”
Another man who identified himself as Victor said the opposite of other speakers. He wanted to see a more elaborate plan for the 18 acres because, he said, it’s needed for youth athletics.
Bob Ramos said, “we should determine how much money we have in the budget and build something to fit that budget.”
Kim Harmon said, “we need to start small so it can be taken care of.”
Judy Scott said she wanted walking trails and places for kids to play.
To start the project the council will have to first change the zoning on the property and add a general plan amendment. These steps were already approved by the planning commission last week.
HANFORD – After six speakers told the city council that initial plans for an expanded Hidden Valley Park were too elaborate and too expensive, the council responded by endorsing a simplified version of the improvements that will include walking trails, picnic benches and some parking.
This was during the council study session and didn’t include a formal vote. Later, during the regular session the council voted 4-0 to hire Crawford and Bowen Planning Inc. for $69,400 to prepare environmental studies for the expansion.
During the regular session the council also observed a moment of silence for Kellie Rivera, a mother of four and wife of a Hanford Police officer, who was killed December 8 on 13th Avenue when a suspected dui driver failed to stop at an intersection and was speeding.
On the park environmental studies will cover a full buildout of the 18-acres of the existing space which is just west of the present park at 11th Avenue and Cortner Street. This is a much more elaborate plan with sports fields, greatly expanded parking, tennis courts and other amenities.
The environmental report covering a more comprehensive park plan doesn’t mean the more elaborate plans will be built. The report is just an insurance policy in case some future council decides to add extra features.
The price difference between the two options is enormous. The scale-down plan would cost about $5 million, Bradley Albert, parks and recreation director. Previously he has said the expanded plan could cost $14 million.
“It’s not an athletic park,” said Ernie Harmon who lives near the park. “It’s a green space. We don’t need to inundate the parks department with more shrubs. He called for more park benches and a running path in the expanded property which has been fought over for two decades.
He said it makes sense to use common sense because funds are short.
Mickey Stoddard said, “all we ever want was a park, walking trails, biking trails.”
He urged the council not to overthink or overspend on the facility. “Just build a park.”
Another man who identified himself as Victor said the opposite of other speakers. He wanted to see a more elaborate plan for the 18 acres because, he said, it’s needed for youth athletics.
Bob Ramos said, “we should determine how much money we have in the budget and build something to fit that budget.”
Kim Harmon said, “we need to start small so it can be taken care of.”
Judy Scott said she wanted walking trails and places for kids to play.
To start the project the council will have to first change the zoning on the property and add a general plan amendment. These steps were already approved by the planning commission last week.
POSTED 12/12/24 10:10 am
Editor’s note: Mark Pratter, the reporter of this story, was one of the speakers in favor of the zoning change and general plan amendment.
HANFORD – The planning commission achieved a major milestone Tuesday (12/10/24) when it unanimously approved a general plan amendment and rezoning of a property west of Hidden Valley Park that has been stalled for two decades despite widespread public support for turning the city-owned land into a park.
The decision involving an 18-acre parcel west of the existing park located at 11th Avenue and Cortner St. isn’t final until the city council approves it but, barring some last -minute glitch, the council is expected to okay the planning commission’s decision.
In 2022 the council headed by Mayor Francisco Ramirez spearheaded staff to get the property changed from low density residential and surplus to the designation approved by the commission.
NEWS ANALYSIS
When David Ayers was mayor and Darlene Mata was community development director, the council switched the designation to low density residential, a prelude to selling the space for housing. Opponents including Council Member Sue Sorenson, an Ayers ally, argued that the city didn’t need such a large park at that location and that selling the land for housing would give the city needed income. She also urged the council to take care of existing parks rather than expanding new ones.
On Tuesday seven speakers urged the commission to approve the changes. By standards of turnouts at other city meetings, this was a good showing and indicated public support for the project.
A 2019 city Parks Master Plan revealed 64 percent of those surveyed said they wanted walking and bike trails and new rest rooms in city parks, said Mickey Stoddard, a long-time member of the city parks and recreation commission.
“How many yards of walking, hiking, biking since 2019?,” asked Stoddard. “In addition how many rest rooms? Answer both zero.”
On Thursday (12/12/24), he said, the 18-acre property would be a perfect place to build them.
Another resident, Ernie Harmon, who lives near Hidden Valley, said he was concerned by the city’s plans to put Rodgers Road through the proposed 18-acre park space. He said he was worried about the road creating more crime.
The city’s proposal to put the 40-acre Heroes’ Park on Hanford’s east side is a long way off. The city, Harmon said, needs to take care of what it has first. There are “…new items all round and the inner city is falling apart.”
Cora Coll, who lives next to the park, said people need a safe place to walk in the 18-acre property would benefit all the residents. She said she was not concerned about noise from the park addition, a reference to a letter of opposition the city received on the project.
Bob Ramos said Sorenson, the former council member, wanted to build houses on the property and said Hanford didn’t need a 40-acre park. Now the city, he said, is building a 40-acre park at Heroes.
With all the development in Hanford, Hidden Valley and the 18-acre property are in the center of the city. Because of this, he said, it’s more crucial for the property to become a park.
He said the city spent $230,000 on an exercise facility at the entrance of Hidden Valley and described the facility as a “failure.”
Ramos said he was also concerned about the ordinance requiring a $1 million brick sound deadening wall if the city builds a park on the 18-acres. Ramos has said previously that the ordinance needs to be changed.
People, Ramos said, want simple things on the 18-acres---walking trails, trees, benches and eventually restrooms. The 18-acre property, he said, could be built in phases.
Rose Shapley also echoed many of Ramos’ comments.
Nate Odom, an activist on the 18 acres, said a 1972 General Plan Update envisioned Hidden Valley as a 140-acre regional park with a connection to downtown via inland waterways.
If that plan had been done, “…(I) really wonder how much different the town would look now.”
Mark Pratter said, “The public has spoken innumerable times on this issue. They want the 18-acres transformed into parkland. This is crystal clear.”
Editor’s note: Mark Pratter, the reporter of this story, was one of the speakers in favor of the zoning change and general plan amendment.
HANFORD – The planning commission achieved a major milestone Tuesday (12/10/24) when it unanimously approved a general plan amendment and rezoning of a property west of Hidden Valley Park that has been stalled for two decades despite widespread public support for turning the city-owned land into a park.
The decision involving an 18-acre parcel west of the existing park located at 11th Avenue and Cortner St. isn’t final until the city council approves it but, barring some last -minute glitch, the council is expected to okay the planning commission’s decision.
In 2022 the council headed by Mayor Francisco Ramirez spearheaded staff to get the property changed from low density residential and surplus to the designation approved by the commission.
NEWS ANALYSIS
When David Ayers was mayor and Darlene Mata was community development director, the council switched the designation to low density residential, a prelude to selling the space for housing. Opponents including Council Member Sue Sorenson, an Ayers ally, argued that the city didn’t need such a large park at that location and that selling the land for housing would give the city needed income. She also urged the council to take care of existing parks rather than expanding new ones.
On Tuesday seven speakers urged the commission to approve the changes. By standards of turnouts at other city meetings, this was a good showing and indicated public support for the project.
A 2019 city Parks Master Plan revealed 64 percent of those surveyed said they wanted walking and bike trails and new rest rooms in city parks, said Mickey Stoddard, a long-time member of the city parks and recreation commission.
“How many yards of walking, hiking, biking since 2019?,” asked Stoddard. “In addition how many rest rooms? Answer both zero.”
On Thursday (12/12/24), he said, the 18-acre property would be a perfect place to build them.
Another resident, Ernie Harmon, who lives near Hidden Valley, said he was concerned by the city’s plans to put Rodgers Road through the proposed 18-acre park space. He said he was worried about the road creating more crime.
The city’s proposal to put the 40-acre Heroes’ Park on Hanford’s east side is a long way off. The city, Harmon said, needs to take care of what it has first. There are “…new items all round and the inner city is falling apart.”
Cora Coll, who lives next to the park, said people need a safe place to walk in the 18-acre property would benefit all the residents. She said she was not concerned about noise from the park addition, a reference to a letter of opposition the city received on the project.
Bob Ramos said Sorenson, the former council member, wanted to build houses on the property and said Hanford didn’t need a 40-acre park. Now the city, he said, is building a 40-acre park at Heroes.
With all the development in Hanford, Hidden Valley and the 18-acre property are in the center of the city. Because of this, he said, it’s more crucial for the property to become a park.
He said the city spent $230,000 on an exercise facility at the entrance of Hidden Valley and described the facility as a “failure.”
Ramos said he was also concerned about the ordinance requiring a $1 million brick sound deadening wall if the city builds a park on the 18-acres. Ramos has said previously that the ordinance needs to be changed.
People, Ramos said, want simple things on the 18-acres---walking trails, trees, benches and eventually restrooms. The 18-acre property, he said, could be built in phases.
Rose Shapley also echoed many of Ramos’ comments.
Nate Odom, an activist on the 18 acres, said a 1972 General Plan Update envisioned Hidden Valley as a 140-acre regional park with a connection to downtown via inland waterways.
If that plan had been done, “…(I) really wonder how much different the town would look now.”
Mark Pratter said, “The public has spoken innumerable times on this issue. They want the 18-acres transformed into parkland. This is crystal clear.”
In historic move, planning commission paves way for expanding Hidden Valley Park
Council picks Martinez as Hanford mayor
POSTED 12/7/24 7:06 pm
HANFORD – The City council elected District D (central) Council Member Lou Martinez as its 69th mayor on Tuesday (12/3/24) and then passed over Vice Mayor Mark Kairis and instead elected previous Mayor Travis Paden as vice mayor.
The vote to elect Martinez was unanimous but the vote for vice mayor included one abstention by Kairis. Usually the vice mayor becomes mayor.
Kairis said today (12/7/24) that he would not make any comment on his abstention or the subject of Paden become vice mayor.
Previously the two have been political allies. Paden’s comments could not be included because he refuses to talk to this newspaper.
Newly elected District B (central) Council Member Kimber Regan nominated Martinez for mayor and Paden for vice mayor. Both actions were seconded by newly elected District C (northwest) Council Member Nancy Howze.
The short council meeting included a swearing- in ceremony for Howze and Regan. Regan defeated former Council Member Martin Devine. Devine, himself a previous elected council member, was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Kalish Morrow.
Howze replaced Council Member Diane Sharp who left the state.
The council expressed its appreciation to Devine for his hard work and dedication during interim service.
Martinez told Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future today (12/8/24): “We need to work together, put aside our differences and move forward for the benefit of the community.”
Despite the conciliatory comments, Martinez has at times been at odds with the administration of City Manager Mario Cifuentez particularly over its policies regarding the Longfield Center and the slow handling of the proposal to turn the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park into parkland.
Martinez has been critical of city-imposed charges at the center arguing that the charges deter disadvantaged youth who live near the center from attending.
Parks and Recreation Director Brad Albert has argued that the charges are fair and are needed to offset the expenses of running the center whose facilities have been upgraded.
Martinez was asked today for a copy of a letter of apology he wrote to the council regarding comments he made to staff regarding the Longfield Center, a recreation facility on Hanford’s south side. He said the letter was in the agenda packet but it was not there.
As soon as the letter becomes available, VHL Future will update this story.
The elevation of Martinez as mayor and Regan to the council changes the dynamic on the city council.
Regan, a real estate agent and downtown business owner, has been critical of the staff proposal for roundabouts downtown arguing that they would hurt downtown businesses and be unsafe.
The proposal was defeated earlier this year after widespread public opposition. But other proposed improvements involving, among other things, sidewalks and lighting are in the works for downtown.
Martinez also got into trouble for trying to attend a city meeting on the roundabouts last February.
The meeting was supposed to be only for downtown business owners.
Martinez, who has an affable personality, is the most experienced member of the current city council and has been mayor before.
HANFORD – The City council elected District D (central) Council Member Lou Martinez as its 69th mayor on Tuesday (12/3/24) and then passed over Vice Mayor Mark Kairis and instead elected previous Mayor Travis Paden as vice mayor.
The vote to elect Martinez was unanimous but the vote for vice mayor included one abstention by Kairis. Usually the vice mayor becomes mayor.
Kairis said today (12/7/24) that he would not make any comment on his abstention or the subject of Paden become vice mayor.
Previously the two have been political allies. Paden’s comments could not be included because he refuses to talk to this newspaper.
Newly elected District B (central) Council Member Kimber Regan nominated Martinez for mayor and Paden for vice mayor. Both actions were seconded by newly elected District C (northwest) Council Member Nancy Howze.
The short council meeting included a swearing- in ceremony for Howze and Regan. Regan defeated former Council Member Martin Devine. Devine, himself a previous elected council member, was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Kalish Morrow.
Howze replaced Council Member Diane Sharp who left the state.
The council expressed its appreciation to Devine for his hard work and dedication during interim service.
Martinez told Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future today (12/8/24): “We need to work together, put aside our differences and move forward for the benefit of the community.”
Despite the conciliatory comments, Martinez has at times been at odds with the administration of City Manager Mario Cifuentez particularly over its policies regarding the Longfield Center and the slow handling of the proposal to turn the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park into parkland.
Martinez has been critical of city-imposed charges at the center arguing that the charges deter disadvantaged youth who live near the center from attending.
Parks and Recreation Director Brad Albert has argued that the charges are fair and are needed to offset the expenses of running the center whose facilities have been upgraded.
Martinez was asked today for a copy of a letter of apology he wrote to the council regarding comments he made to staff regarding the Longfield Center, a recreation facility on Hanford’s south side. He said the letter was in the agenda packet but it was not there.
As soon as the letter becomes available, VHL Future will update this story.
The elevation of Martinez as mayor and Regan to the council changes the dynamic on the city council.
Regan, a real estate agent and downtown business owner, has been critical of the staff proposal for roundabouts downtown arguing that they would hurt downtown businesses and be unsafe.
The proposal was defeated earlier this year after widespread public opposition. But other proposed improvements involving, among other things, sidewalks and lighting are in the works for downtown.
Martinez also got into trouble for trying to attend a city meeting on the roundabouts last February.
The meeting was supposed to be only for downtown business owners.
Martinez, who has an affable personality, is the most experienced member of the current city council and has been mayor before.
2 arrests in Hanford drive-by shooting that killed Avalos
POSTED 11/28/24 3:39 pm
HANFORD - Police announced Tuesday (11/26/24) they rearrested Roman Perdue, 19. in connection with the fatal driveby shooting of Cruz Avalos October 23. A second suspect, allegedly the driver of the vehicle from which Avalos was shot, was also arrested. He is Jordan Sanchez, 19.
VHL Future contacted HPD on Thursday (11/28/24) regarding the case but Sergeant Gabe Jimenez said he was unable to provide details on the suspects and arrests because he did not have direct knowledge of the case. VHL Future will followup with HPD on Friday.
In late October Perdue was arrested in connection with the shooting but not charged, said Sheriff David Robinson on October 30.
DA Sarah Hacker gave the following explanation of why Perdue was let go initially: "...we wanted to ensure we had the right person and that we could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt."
New evidence following Perdue's release pointed to him being the shooting suspect and Sanchez being the suspected getaway driver.
Perdue was arrested near the California-Nevada border on Tuesday. He was booked in the Kings County Jail on homicide charges. Sanchez was arrested in Southern California on November 13 and arraigned on the 18th.
Sanchez entered a not guilty plea, A bail hearing was set for December 2.
Perdue does not have a court date yet. Perdue previously was convicted of aggravated battery with serious bodily injury. Robinson verified that Perdue had a prior arrest record.
In a different incident Perdue was shot a day after the Avalos shooting at the Santa Rosa Rancheria and hospitalized, said Robinson.
HANFORD - Police announced Tuesday (11/26/24) they rearrested Roman Perdue, 19. in connection with the fatal driveby shooting of Cruz Avalos October 23. A second suspect, allegedly the driver of the vehicle from which Avalos was shot, was also arrested. He is Jordan Sanchez, 19.
VHL Future contacted HPD on Thursday (11/28/24) regarding the case but Sergeant Gabe Jimenez said he was unable to provide details on the suspects and arrests because he did not have direct knowledge of the case. VHL Future will followup with HPD on Friday.
In late October Perdue was arrested in connection with the shooting but not charged, said Sheriff David Robinson on October 30.
DA Sarah Hacker gave the following explanation of why Perdue was let go initially: "...we wanted to ensure we had the right person and that we could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt."
New evidence following Perdue's release pointed to him being the shooting suspect and Sanchez being the suspected getaway driver.
Perdue was arrested near the California-Nevada border on Tuesday. He was booked in the Kings County Jail on homicide charges. Sanchez was arrested in Southern California on November 13 and arraigned on the 18th.
Sanchez entered a not guilty plea, A bail hearing was set for December 2.
Perdue does not have a court date yet. Perdue previously was convicted of aggravated battery with serious bodily injury. Robinson verified that Perdue had a prior arrest record.
In a different incident Perdue was shot a day after the Avalos shooting at the Santa Rosa Rancheria and hospitalized, said Robinson.
Find of 'no significant impact' in NAS Lemoore's plans to add solar and a data center
Posted 11/28/24 3:53 pm
NAS LEMOORE - An environmental report said there was 'no sigificant impact' from the base's plan to build another 300 megawatts of solar and a data center, electric vehicle charging stations, battery energy storage systems and a backup/generation microgrid, according to a copy of the report.
The construction is an addition to an existing 125 megawatt solar facility on a 930-acre site, according to the report.
Sarah Thrasher, NAS Lemoore Public Information Officer and Ameresco, the contractor for the project, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday (11/27/24).
The price of the project and its duration could not be determined today (11/28/24).
A followup story will be posted when more details are available.
NAS LEMOORE - An environmental report said there was 'no sigificant impact' from the base's plan to build another 300 megawatts of solar and a data center, electric vehicle charging stations, battery energy storage systems and a backup/generation microgrid, according to a copy of the report.
The construction is an addition to an existing 125 megawatt solar facility on a 930-acre site, according to the report.
Sarah Thrasher, NAS Lemoore Public Information Officer and Ameresco, the contractor for the project, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday (11/27/24).
The price of the project and its duration could not be determined today (11/28/24).
A followup story will be posted when more details are available.
EDITORIAL
Hacker, Martinez response to Fagundes corruption wholly inadequate
Posted 11/24/24 3:04 pm
bThe state Department of Justice announced at the end of last month that it is not going to prosecute ex-DA Keith Fagundes who abused the powers of his office by paying relatives for county services and according to a sheriff’s investigation committed eight possible felonies.
Not only were his actions in clear violation of county policies but possibly state policies involving the use of the CalCard, state credit card issued to localities. A Kings County Sheriff’s Department investigation concluded that while Fagundes was in office eight years he may have committed eight violations of state law involving misuse of public monies by a government official. The sheriff’s case was reviewed by an independent attorney and former prosecutor. The attorney concluded there was grounds for prosecution. These allegations are all against the county’s highest law enforcement officer who should have known better not to mention set an example for public conduct.
While Fagundes escapes full accountability, it is clear is that his former employee and current DA Sarah Hacker has a prominent role in this outcome.
When the revelations about Fagundes’ misconduct came to light she recused herself from prosecuting him on the grounds that she had a conflict of interest. While this self-sealing argument may be legally construed by some as true the excuse offers a convenient out for someone who ran on a platform that Fagundes was mismanaging his office.
So while her exposure of Fagundes played a prominent role in her election, she kicked the can to the side of the road once she got elected. Hacker misled the voters into believing that she would prevent the type of corruption that Fagundes perpetrated.
Hacker had options to deal with a possible conflict of interest which she chose not to exercise. She could have filed a case against her predecessor and let a Kings County Superior Court judge determine if she had a conflict. She could have hired a special prosecutor to pursue the case against Fagundes and thereby wall herself off from any conflict. The state Department of Justice option she exercised obviously failed. A fourth option would have been to go the Kings County Grand Jury and ask for an indictment of Fagundes based on the evidence.
And the responsibility for Fagundes’ non-prosecution at the local level doesn’t just rest with the current DA.
The Kings County Government Administration has displayed a total lack of accountability to the taxpayers who were ripped off by Fagundes to the tune of up to $12,152 from 2019-22. This is just in a two-year period where receipts were checked. The total for eight years may be far higher. Despite county policies that forbid use of county funds to pay relatives, Fagundes paid his sister for use of a Pismo Beach house for DA staff conferences and also paid his brother for numerous questionable printing expenditures such as putting the DA’s logo on a tablecloth.
The current county administrator Kyria Martinez, while working as assistant administrator, even approved a $1,000 expenditure by Fagundes for use of his sister’s beach house. Martinez’s explanation that she didn’t know the house was owned by Fagundes’ sister may be true. But taxpayers have to factor in that it was widely known in county circles that Fagundes was using his sister’s beach house for staff conferences.
Beyond Martinez’s action, there is no public indication that any disciplinary action was taken against the administrative analyst in Fagundes’ office that approved multiple expenditures to Fagundes’ relatives, all in violation of county policy and possibly state law.
County Counsel Diane Freeman is able to deflect any inquiries about accountability involving the analyst---who no longer works for the county---by citing various Government Code accountability sections (GC7923.600, 7927.700, 7927.705).
The abuse by Fagundes doesn’t just stop with payments to relatives. He also abused a state-issued credit card that comes with a series of recommended policies to avoid abuse, none of which appeared to have been followed. The county even requires employees to sign an oath promising to use the CalCard correctly.
An attorney in Fagundes’ office stated in our other publication (VHL Future) that he received no training in the proper use of the credit card even though this was recommended by the state.
So what we have is a ripoff of taxpayers by a public official who swore an oath to protect the interests of the public and there is no public indication that anything was paid back to the county treasury or any public indication that anything was done to the county staff. This allowed Fagundes to get away with his malfeasance.
This sends a clear and troubling message to office holders and county staff: “take what you want from the county treasury and flaunt county policies with while in office or working for the county because you will never be held publicly accountable.” Meanwhile, taxpayers end up paying the bill and suffering the consequences.
Not only were his actions in clear violation of county policies but possibly state policies involving the use of the CalCard, state credit card issued to localities. A Kings County Sheriff’s Department investigation concluded that while Fagundes was in office eight years he may have committed eight violations of state law involving misuse of public monies by a government official. The sheriff’s case was reviewed by an independent attorney and former prosecutor. The attorney concluded there was grounds for prosecution. These allegations are all against the county’s highest law enforcement officer who should have known better not to mention set an example for public conduct.
While Fagundes escapes full accountability, it is clear is that his former employee and current DA Sarah Hacker has a prominent role in this outcome.
When the revelations about Fagundes’ misconduct came to light she recused herself from prosecuting him on the grounds that she had a conflict of interest. While this self-sealing argument may be legally construed by some as true the excuse offers a convenient out for someone who ran on a platform that Fagundes was mismanaging his office.
So while her exposure of Fagundes played a prominent role in her election, she kicked the can to the side of the road once she got elected. Hacker misled the voters into believing that she would prevent the type of corruption that Fagundes perpetrated.
Hacker had options to deal with a possible conflict of interest which she chose not to exercise. She could have filed a case against her predecessor and let a Kings County Superior Court judge determine if she had a conflict. She could have hired a special prosecutor to pursue the case against Fagundes and thereby wall herself off from any conflict. The state Department of Justice option she exercised obviously failed. A fourth option would have been to go the Kings County Grand Jury and ask for an indictment of Fagundes based on the evidence.
And the responsibility for Fagundes’ non-prosecution at the local level doesn’t just rest with the current DA.
The Kings County Government Administration has displayed a total lack of accountability to the taxpayers who were ripped off by Fagundes to the tune of up to $12,152 from 2019-22. This is just in a two-year period where receipts were checked. The total for eight years may be far higher. Despite county policies that forbid use of county funds to pay relatives, Fagundes paid his sister for use of a Pismo Beach house for DA staff conferences and also paid his brother for numerous questionable printing expenditures such as putting the DA’s logo on a tablecloth.
The current county administrator Kyria Martinez, while working as assistant administrator, even approved a $1,000 expenditure by Fagundes for use of his sister’s beach house. Martinez’s explanation that she didn’t know the house was owned by Fagundes’ sister may be true. But taxpayers have to factor in that it was widely known in county circles that Fagundes was using his sister’s beach house for staff conferences.
Beyond Martinez’s action, there is no public indication that any disciplinary action was taken against the administrative analyst in Fagundes’ office that approved multiple expenditures to Fagundes’ relatives, all in violation of county policy and possibly state law.
County Counsel Diane Freeman is able to deflect any inquiries about accountability involving the analyst---who no longer works for the county---by citing various Government Code accountability sections (GC7923.600, 7927.700, 7927.705).
The abuse by Fagundes doesn’t just stop with payments to relatives. He also abused a state-issued credit card that comes with a series of recommended policies to avoid abuse, none of which appeared to have been followed. The county even requires employees to sign an oath promising to use the CalCard correctly.
An attorney in Fagundes’ office stated in our other publication (VHL Future) that he received no training in the proper use of the credit card even though this was recommended by the state.
So what we have is a ripoff of taxpayers by a public official who swore an oath to protect the interests of the public and there is no public indication that anything was paid back to the county treasury or any public indication that anything was done to the county staff. This allowed Fagundes to get away with his malfeasance.
This sends a clear and troubling message to office holders and county staff: “take what you want from the county treasury and flaunt county policies with while in office or working for the county because you will never be held publicly accountable.” Meanwhile, taxpayers end up paying the bill and suffering the consequences.
Hacker decries people with 'special titles'escaping prosecution;
Martinez: Response to Fagundes' misapproriation 'appropriate'
Posted 11/24/24 3:15 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Current DA and Keith Fagundes’ successor Sarah Hacker says she cannot prosecute Fagundes for misuse of county funds and possible legal violations because “…it would look like a political prosecution.”
Hacker in an interview September 23 also dismissed the various options potentially open to her to prosecute her predecessor.
For instance, she said she cannot file a motion with Superior Court and ask a judge whether she has a conflict or not because she “…can only initiate prosecutions in good faith with a clear conscience that I do not have a conflict but the law is clear that I have a conflict.”
She has to pass the case on to a neutral third party which in this case is the attorney general.
Hacker also dismissed the idea of having a special prosecutor handle the case because a special prosecutor operates under state Constitutional authority.
And a grand jury indictment wouldn’t have worked either , she said, because an indictment would come back to me to prosecute.
Meanwhile, Kyria Martinez, the county administrative officer, issued a four sentence statement instead of agreeing to an in-person interview. She said in part October 3 “…we have taken the appropriate legal actions to ensure a fair and thorough investigation. The county has followed all legal processes required to address this matter in accordance with established protocols. Our goal remains to protect the interests of our community, the county itself, and to uphold the law.”
Questions submitted to Martinez that weren't answered
Posted 11/24/24 3:19 pm
Editor's note: The following questions were submitted to County Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez on 9/24/24. Martinez said she wanted the questions in advance so she could prepare for an in-person interview with the Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future reporter. Instead of being interviewed Martinez responded
to the questions by releasing via email a four-sentence statement on October 1. It read, in part: "...we have taken appropriate legal actions to ensure a fair and thorough investigation. The county has followed all legal processes required to address this matter in accordance with established protocols. Our goal remains to protect the interests of our community, the county itself, and to uphold the law." The number secquence of the questions submitted to Martinez listed below is different but the questions submitted to her are the same.
Questions for Kyria Martinez, Kings County Administrator
from Mark Pratter, Editor, Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper
Re: Keith Fagundes, violation county policies, possible felonies, county financial controls, county training standards, repayment of monies improperly paid
9/30/24
One. At this point it doesn't look like the state AG is going to prosecute former DA Keith
Fagundes based the Sheriff's Robinson's investigation including eight possible felonies. So what woud stop the taxpayers from thinking, based on the county's inaction, that a former public official who violated county policies regarding payment to relatives is not subject to any legal or administrative consequences?
Two. During a two-year period county receipts show that Fagundes paid relatives somewhere between $8,000 and $12,000. Has any of this money been repaid to the county treasury?
Three. A fiscal analyst, who no longer works for the county, approved some of these payments. What, if any changes, have been made to county administrative procedures to prevent this kind of thing from happening again?
Four. Have any changes been made to county fiscal controls to prevent a repeat of this thing in the DA's office or any other county department?
The CalCard was used for some of these transactions even though users are required to sign a statement saying the card will be used properly or it will be forfeited. What changes, if any, have been made in the controls and training regarding the use of the CalCard by county departments?
Five. The DA says she cannot prosecute her predecessor due to a conflict of interest yet any non-high public official, e.g. a common person, would be prosecuted for the same offenses? What does this say about fairness in treatment of public officials versus treatment of ordinary taxpayers?
Six. Do you think it is administratively wise to have sitting member of the Board of Supervisors overseeing a county department run by his own son and/or having a DA consider the case of that same person while simultaneously being dependent on the Board of Supervisors for funding?
Seven. Has the county attempted to get repayment of the funds from the relatives of Keith Fagundes who received taxpayer dollars?
to the questions by releasing via email a four-sentence statement on October 1. It read, in part: "...we have taken appropriate legal actions to ensure a fair and thorough investigation. The county has followed all legal processes required to address this matter in accordance with established protocols. Our goal remains to protect the interests of our community, the county itself, and to uphold the law." The number secquence of the questions submitted to Martinez listed below is different but the questions submitted to her are the same.
Questions for Kyria Martinez, Kings County Administrator
from Mark Pratter, Editor, Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper
Re: Keith Fagundes, violation county policies, possible felonies, county financial controls, county training standards, repayment of monies improperly paid
9/30/24
One. At this point it doesn't look like the state AG is going to prosecute former DA Keith
Fagundes based the Sheriff's Robinson's investigation including eight possible felonies. So what woud stop the taxpayers from thinking, based on the county's inaction, that a former public official who violated county policies regarding payment to relatives is not subject to any legal or administrative consequences?
Two. During a two-year period county receipts show that Fagundes paid relatives somewhere between $8,000 and $12,000. Has any of this money been repaid to the county treasury?
Three. A fiscal analyst, who no longer works for the county, approved some of these payments. What, if any changes, have been made to county administrative procedures to prevent this kind of thing from happening again?
Four. Have any changes been made to county fiscal controls to prevent a repeat of this thing in the DA's office or any other county department?
The CalCard was used for some of these transactions even though users are required to sign a statement saying the card will be used properly or it will be forfeited. What changes, if any, have been made in the controls and training regarding the use of the CalCard by county departments?
Five. The DA says she cannot prosecute her predecessor due to a conflict of interest yet any non-high public official, e.g. a common person, would be prosecuted for the same offenses? What does this say about fairness in treatment of public officials versus treatment of ordinary taxpayers?
Six. Do you think it is administratively wise to have sitting member of the Board of Supervisors overseeing a county department run by his own son and/or having a DA consider the case of that same person while simultaneously being dependent on the Board of Supervisors for funding?
Seven. Has the county attempted to get repayment of the funds from the relatives of Keith Fagundes who received taxpayer dollars?
Planning commission cancels meeting on Hidden Valley expansion after power failure
POSTED 11/21/24 720 PM
HANFORD - The planning commission postponed until December 10 a vote on the rezoning of a property west of Hidden Valley Park---a potential decision that has been years in the making----because of a power failure. The December meeting will be held at 5:30 pm in the city council chambers of the Hanford Civic Auditorium.
Successive city councils, a past city manager and residents have been in a tug-of-war on the issue for years. There is a strong public support for turning the land into park space effectively creating a 40-acre park in the area of 11th Avenue and Cortner Street.
NEWS ANALYSIS
Some two years ago then Mayor Francisco Ramirez spearheaded the effort to get the council to switch the property from its current General Plan status of Low Density Residential to Open Space. In order for the property to become a park the land would also have to be rezoned from Low Density Residential to Public Facility.
This was after a previous council under Mayor David Ayers rezoned the land to Low Density Residential and declared the property surplus, a prelude to selling off the space for housing development. Other opponents included Devine, council members Sue Sorensen and Diane Sharp. Engineer John Zumwalt, a former heavy hitter in local development circles, also strongly opposed the project. Devine has since switched his position.
Under the administration of City Manager Mario Cifuentez the project has been a low priority and it appears the primary reason it is moving forward is public support for the effort as evidenced by two of the recently elected city council members supporting the change. The 18 acres has sat vacant for more than 20 years.
The Cifuentez administration has pushed other parks notably Heroe's Park, a 40-acre park on Hanford's east side.
Any decision by the planning commission is only a recommendation to the city council. The city council has the final say on the matter. Although some council members---Devine and Lou Martinez---have said they support the change, it is unclear at this point how the two other council members will vote.
The public can speak for or against the change during the public comment period at the December 10 planning commission meeting and also at the council meeting where the issue is considered.
HANFORD - The planning commission postponed until December 10 a vote on the rezoning of a property west of Hidden Valley Park---a potential decision that has been years in the making----because of a power failure. The December meeting will be held at 5:30 pm in the city council chambers of the Hanford Civic Auditorium.
Successive city councils, a past city manager and residents have been in a tug-of-war on the issue for years. There is a strong public support for turning the land into park space effectively creating a 40-acre park in the area of 11th Avenue and Cortner Street.
NEWS ANALYSIS
Some two years ago then Mayor Francisco Ramirez spearheaded the effort to get the council to switch the property from its current General Plan status of Low Density Residential to Open Space. In order for the property to become a park the land would also have to be rezoned from Low Density Residential to Public Facility.
This was after a previous council under Mayor David Ayers rezoned the land to Low Density Residential and declared the property surplus, a prelude to selling off the space for housing development. Other opponents included Devine, council members Sue Sorensen and Diane Sharp. Engineer John Zumwalt, a former heavy hitter in local development circles, also strongly opposed the project. Devine has since switched his position.
Under the administration of City Manager Mario Cifuentez the project has been a low priority and it appears the primary reason it is moving forward is public support for the effort as evidenced by two of the recently elected city council members supporting the change. The 18 acres has sat vacant for more than 20 years.
The Cifuentez administration has pushed other parks notably Heroe's Park, a 40-acre park on Hanford's east side.
Any decision by the planning commission is only a recommendation to the city council. The city council has the final say on the matter. Although some council members---Devine and Lou Martinez---have said they support the change, it is unclear at this point how the two other council members will vote.
The public can speak for or against the change during the public comment period at the December 10 planning commission meeting and also at the council meeting where the issue is considered.
Local election results
Posted 11/6/24 12:06 pm
Local election results Kings County 11/6/24
U.S. Representative 20th District
Vince Fong, Republican 7,611
Mike Boudreaux, Republican 6,041
Districtwide Fong 119,270
Boudreaux 63,490
Fong projected winner (59 percent votes in)
U.S. Representative 22nd District
David Valadao, Republican 7,644
Rudy Salas, Democrat 5,246
Districtwide Valadao 53,794
Salas 43,955
56 percent of vote reported
33rd State Assembly District
Xavier Avila, Republican 9,234
Alexandra Macedo, Republican 15,742
County Supervisor District 5
Robert Thayer 3,707
Adam Medeiros 3,346
City of Hanford Council Member District B
Martin Devine 699
Kimber Regan 1,400
Alfred Benavides 647
City of Hanford Council Member District C
Nancy Howze 1,778
Judy Scott 1,316
City of Hanford Sales Tax
Yes 8,949
No 5,422
Local election results Kings County 11/6/24
U.S. Representative 20th District
Vince Fong, Republican 7,611
Mike Boudreaux, Republican 6,041
Districtwide Fong 119,270
Boudreaux 63,490
Fong projected winner (59 percent votes in)
U.S. Representative 22nd District
David Valadao, Republican 7,644
Rudy Salas, Democrat 5,246
Districtwide Valadao 53,794
Salas 43,955
56 percent of vote reported
33rd State Assembly District
Xavier Avila, Republican 9,234
Alexandra Macedo, Republican 15,742
County Supervisor District 5
Robert Thayer 3,707
Adam Medeiros 3,346
City of Hanford Council Member District B
Martin Devine 699
Kimber Regan 1,400
Alfred Benavides 647
City of Hanford Council Member District C
Nancy Howze 1,778
Judy Scott 1,316
City of Hanford Sales Tax
Yes 8,949
No 5,422
Trump likely to win presidency in landslide;
GOP wins Senate, taking control both houses
Posted 11/5/24 11:53 pm
MAR-A-LAGO, FLORIDA - Former President Donald is all but certain to return to the White House as the next president of the United States needing only four electoral votes to hit the magic 270. Even though late polling showed the race against Vice President Kamala Harris a dead heat, Trump overwhelmed his opponent in key states including projected wins in battleground states Pennsylvania and Georgia.
At this hour there appeared to be few paths to a Harris victory. Harris had 218 electoral votes and Trump 266 as of 11:57 pm.
The electoral map of Trump's victories looked like a sea of red with voters showing a clear preference for Trump's positions on the economy, border security and America's stature in the world.
Trump pledged in an early morning victory declaration to supporters here to keep his promises to voters by "making America strong free and prosperous again."
Networks are also projecting that Republicans will take control of the Senate after the Nebraska Senate race is projected to go to Sen. Deb Fischer. The GOP already has control of the house.
MAR-A-LAGO, FLORIDA - Former President Donald is all but certain to return to the White House as the next president of the United States needing only four electoral votes to hit the magic 270. Even though late polling showed the race against Vice President Kamala Harris a dead heat, Trump overwhelmed his opponent in key states including projected wins in battleground states Pennsylvania and Georgia.
At this hour there appeared to be few paths to a Harris victory. Harris had 218 electoral votes and Trump 266 as of 11:57 pm.
The electoral map of Trump's victories looked like a sea of red with voters showing a clear preference for Trump's positions on the economy, border security and America's stature in the world.
Trump pledged in an early morning victory declaration to supporters here to keep his promises to voters by "making America strong free and prosperous again."
Networks are also projecting that Republicans will take control of the Senate after the Nebraska Senate race is projected to go to Sen. Deb Fischer. The GOP already has control of the house.
Council votes to sell downtown Courthouse
Posted 11/5/24 11:35 pm
HANFORD - In a late evening vote on election night the city council voted unanimously to sell the downtown Courthouse to two local developers despite seven speakers during public comment urging the council to delay the vote until there was more community discussion on the proposal.
The developers’ company called the Esteem Land Co. LLC said they would make the necessary repairs on the 1896 building and try to put a restaurant/bar on the top floor and rent more spaces on the first floor.
Although city staff said the deal was in the works for two years, the proposal came before the public out of the blue on a night when most people were home watching election returns.
Following the vote Council Member Lou Martinez was asked about why the council didn’t listen to the public pleas to delay the vote, “we have to do something. I have the assurance that if anything does go wrong (we) have first (right) to reaquire (the building).”
Martinez said even if he voted against the proposal, he would have been outvoted by Mayor Travis Paden, Vice Mayor Mark Kairis and Council Member Martin Devine.
The city has been responsible for repairs on the building and has used in excess of $1 million a year to maintain the building, according to staff. The funds come from the city’s General Fund budget, staff said.
The developers estimated repairs to the building would be in excess of $10 million.
HANFORD - In a late evening vote on election night the city council voted unanimously to sell the downtown Courthouse to two local developers despite seven speakers during public comment urging the council to delay the vote until there was more community discussion on the proposal.
The developers’ company called the Esteem Land Co. LLC said they would make the necessary repairs on the 1896 building and try to put a restaurant/bar on the top floor and rent more spaces on the first floor.
Although city staff said the deal was in the works for two years, the proposal came before the public out of the blue on a night when most people were home watching election returns.
Following the vote Council Member Lou Martinez was asked about why the council didn’t listen to the public pleas to delay the vote, “we have to do something. I have the assurance that if anything does go wrong (we) have first (right) to reaquire (the building).”
Martinez said even if he voted against the proposal, he would have been outvoted by Mayor Travis Paden, Vice Mayor Mark Kairis and Council Member Martin Devine.
The city has been responsible for repairs on the building and has used in excess of $1 million a year to maintain the building, according to staff. The funds come from the city’s General Fund budget, staff said.
The developers estimated repairs to the building would be in excess of $10 million.
2nd suspect in fatal Hanford shooting won't be charged
UPDATED 10/30/24 9:23 pm
HANFORD - The district attorney is not charging Roman Perdue in the fatal shooting of Cruz David Avalos last week and Perdue will be released, said Kings County Sheriff David Robinson today (10/30/24).
With Robinson's announcement two suspects have been arrested by Hanford Police in connection with the drive-by shooting October 23 at 10th Avenue and Lacey Boulevard and it has later been determined that they are not suspects.
The shooting occurred in broad daylight at the busy intersection.
Police found bullet holes in Avalos' car, he was wounded and unresponsive. Police tried to revive him. He was transported to Adventist
Medical Center in Hanford where he died, Brian T. Johnson, city spokesman.
Johnson said over the weekend that the 16-year-old initially arrested in the case was no longer a suspect. The 16-year-old is still in custody on unrelated firearms charges.
The 16-year-old was arrested October 24 in connection with another shooting at the Santa Rosa Rancheria, Johnson said.
Perdue was the victim in the second shooting and he is still in the hospital, said Robinson.
An autopsy on Avalos was completed today, said Robinson.
HANFORD - The district attorney is not charging Roman Perdue in the fatal shooting of Cruz David Avalos last week and Perdue will be released, said Kings County Sheriff David Robinson today (10/30/24).
With Robinson's announcement two suspects have been arrested by Hanford Police in connection with the drive-by shooting October 23 at 10th Avenue and Lacey Boulevard and it has later been determined that they are not suspects.
The shooting occurred in broad daylight at the busy intersection.
Police found bullet holes in Avalos' car, he was wounded and unresponsive. Police tried to revive him. He was transported to Adventist
Medical Center in Hanford where he died, Brian T. Johnson, city spokesman.
Johnson said over the weekend that the 16-year-old initially arrested in the case was no longer a suspect. The 16-year-old is still in custody on unrelated firearms charges.
The 16-year-old was arrested October 24 in connection with another shooting at the Santa Rosa Rancheria, Johnson said.
Perdue was the victim in the second shooting and he is still in the hospital, said Robinson.
An autopsy on Avalos was completed today, said Robinson.
16-year-old no longer suspected in fatal shooting of man 23
Posted 10/27/24 6:35 pm
KINGS COUNTY - A 16-year-old is no longer a suspect in the fatal shooting of Cruz David Avalos, 23, last Wednesday (October 23), said Brian T. Johnson, city of Hanford spokesman.
The juvenile is considered a victim in the case, Johnson said. However, he is in custody on firearms charges, Johnson said.
A news story on this website posted 10/25/24 incorrectly stated that Avalos was the suspect. Avalos was the victim of the shooting, said Johnson.
The shooting occurred near 10th Avenue and Lacey Boulevard, said Johnson. Officers found numerous bullet holes in a Honda in the area, Johnson said.
Avalos, who was in the driver's seat, was wounded and unresponsive, Johnson said. He was taken to Adventist Hospital in Hanford where he later died, Johnson said.
The initial 16-year-old suspect was later arrested by Sheriff's deputies at the Santa Rosa Rancheria, Johnson said. This was following another shooting in the early morning hours of October 24 at that location, Johnson said.
The 16-year-old fled the scene of the shooting at the Rancheria, Johnson said.
Authorities received new information that indicated that the 16-year-old was not the suspect in the Avalos shooting in Hanford, Johnson said.
The investigation is ongoing, Johnson said.
KINGS COUNTY - A 16-year-old is no longer a suspect in the fatal shooting of Cruz David Avalos, 23, last Wednesday (October 23), said Brian T. Johnson, city of Hanford spokesman.
The juvenile is considered a victim in the case, Johnson said. However, he is in custody on firearms charges, Johnson said.
A news story on this website posted 10/25/24 incorrectly stated that Avalos was the suspect. Avalos was the victim of the shooting, said Johnson.
The shooting occurred near 10th Avenue and Lacey Boulevard, said Johnson. Officers found numerous bullet holes in a Honda in the area, Johnson said.
Avalos, who was in the driver's seat, was wounded and unresponsive, Johnson said. He was taken to Adventist Hospital in Hanford where he later died, Johnson said.
The initial 16-year-old suspect was later arrested by Sheriff's deputies at the Santa Rosa Rancheria, Johnson said. This was following another shooting in the early morning hours of October 24 at that location, Johnson said.
The 16-year-old fled the scene of the shooting at the Rancheria, Johnson said.
Authorities received new information that indicated that the 16-year-old was not the suspect in the Avalos shooting in Hanford, Johnson said.
The investigation is ongoing, Johnson said.
Southbound Amtrak train parked in the crossing on 11th Avenue in Hanford shortly before 5 pm on Saturday. The train struck a person at the intersection shortly after 4 pm. The train was still in the intersection at 6:13 pm Saturday forcing vehicle traffic to divert to other streets to reach destinations. No details were immediately available on the identity and condition of the viction.
Amtrak train hits person in Hanford
Updated 10/7/24 9:32 am
HANFORD – HANFORD – A 70-year-old man was hit and killed by a southbound Amtrak train at the 11th Avenue crossing shortly after 4 pm Saturday (10/5/24), said Kings County Sheriff-Coroner David Robinson today (10/7/24).
Release of the man’s name is pending notification of next of kin, he said. None of the 57 passengers on board train 714 was hurt, said a spokeswoman for Amtrak.. Amtrak would give no further information regarding the status of the person who was hit including the person’s name, age, status of injuries, town of residence.
Hanford Police, Adventist Hospital in Hanford, American Ambulance would not give any information regarding the victim. City spokesman Brian Johnson did not return a phone call seeking information. American Ambulance said it would contact the Hanford Fire Department to ask them to call this newspaper.
The Hanford Fire Department did not call.
Hanford Police would not give any information regarding the injured party stating that the accident was within Amtrak’s jurisdiction.
On Saturday the front of the engine was still in the intersection of the crossing at 11th Avenue just north of Lacey Boulevard at 5 pm. The accident tied up the intersection for several hours. Hanford Police would only confirm the time and that an accident occurred just after 4 pm and said the matter was being handled by Amtrak Police.
Police cordoned off the 11th Ave crossing. Both patrol and Hanford Fire Department units were on the scene.
HANFORD – HANFORD – A 70-year-old man was hit and killed by a southbound Amtrak train at the 11th Avenue crossing shortly after 4 pm Saturday (10/5/24), said Kings County Sheriff-Coroner David Robinson today (10/7/24).
Release of the man’s name is pending notification of next of kin, he said. None of the 57 passengers on board train 714 was hurt, said a spokeswoman for Amtrak.. Amtrak would give no further information regarding the status of the person who was hit including the person’s name, age, status of injuries, town of residence.
Hanford Police, Adventist Hospital in Hanford, American Ambulance would not give any information regarding the victim. City spokesman Brian Johnson did not return a phone call seeking information. American Ambulance said it would contact the Hanford Fire Department to ask them to call this newspaper.
The Hanford Fire Department did not call.
Hanford Police would not give any information regarding the injured party stating that the accident was within Amtrak’s jurisdiction.
On Saturday the front of the engine was still in the intersection of the crossing at 11th Avenue just north of Lacey Boulevard at 5 pm. The accident tied up the intersection for several hours. Hanford Police would only confirm the time and that an accident occurred just after 4 pm and said the matter was being handled by Amtrak Police.
Police cordoned off the 11th Ave crossing. Both patrol and Hanford Fire Department units were on the scene.
Hanford okays ordinance banning homeless sleeping, lying
Editor’s note: The author of this article spoke against the ordinance.
POSTED 10/4/24 2:22 pm
HANFORD – Responding to political pressure from downtown businesses and complaints from residents in other areas of the city, the city council by a 3-0 vote Tuesday approved an ordinance which bans homeless persons from sleeping, lying, resting or camping on public or private property.
The ordinance also bans people from living in their vehicles.
The ordinance also effectively says that personal property cannot be stored on public property.
Persons who do not comply with the ordinance could, upon conviction be fined $1,000 and/or jailed for one year, the ordinance stated. A violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor.
However, arrests will be up to the police officer’s discretion. In addition, if the offender’s case gets to court, conviction depends on successful prosecution by the DA’s office, according to a staff report.
Voting for the ordinance were: Vice Mayor Mark Kairis and Council Members Martin Devine and Lou Martinez. Mayor Travis Paden was absent.
Mark Pratter of Hanford spoke against the ordinance calling it cruel and victimization of helpless people. No one else spoke against it during the public comment period.
He urged the council to adopt an approach taken by the City of Tulare which set up a designated encampment for the homeless with various services to help them. However, persons in Tulare who do not wish to go to the encampment can be arrested, fined or asked to leave Tulare, said Mayor Terry Sayre.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future also contacted Jeff Garner, executive director of Kings County Community Action, a local social service agency and three churches in Hanford.
Garner would not comment on the ordinance.
A spokesman for St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Hanford referred a request for comment on the ordinance to the Diocese of Fresno whose spokesman would not provide a comment.
St. Brigid restored the eyesight of a blind nun and turned water into beer for a leper colony, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
Messages seeking comment were left with the following churches in Hanford: Seventh Day Adventist, First Dutch Reformed Church and the Episcopal Church of the Saviour. None of the churches returned phone calls.
Meanwhile, the county is considering its own ordinance. Hanford’s ordinance is modeled after an ordinance passed by the Fresno City Council, said City Attorney Ty Mizote.
Mizote responded to Pratter’s comment stating that the ordinance was one tool in the city’s toolbox for dealing with the homeless problem.
The actions come in the wake of the June 2024 U.S. Supreme Grants Pass decision which allows localities to clear homeless from public or private property.
The decision said removing the homeless is not a violation of a person’s 8th Amendment (to the U.S. Constitution) right against cruel and unusual punishment.
The court recognized that necessity may be a valid defense if a person is prosecuted. In other words, if a person has no where else to sleep this may be a valid defense, the court said.
Governor Newsom also issued an executive order allowing authorities to clear homeless from state property and he encouraged local governments to take action at their level.
In answer to a question from Council Member Devine (District C), Mizote said the city could
revise the ordinance at a later date.
A previous council had the funds to build a homeless service center---not a shelter--- on 6th Street in downtown Hanford. However, the proposal was defeated after a number of downtown merchants said the center would hurt their businesses.
POSTED 10/4/24 2:22 pm
HANFORD – Responding to political pressure from downtown businesses and complaints from residents in other areas of the city, the city council by a 3-0 vote Tuesday approved an ordinance which bans homeless persons from sleeping, lying, resting or camping on public or private property.
The ordinance also bans people from living in their vehicles.
The ordinance also effectively says that personal property cannot be stored on public property.
Persons who do not comply with the ordinance could, upon conviction be fined $1,000 and/or jailed for one year, the ordinance stated. A violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor.
However, arrests will be up to the police officer’s discretion. In addition, if the offender’s case gets to court, conviction depends on successful prosecution by the DA’s office, according to a staff report.
Voting for the ordinance were: Vice Mayor Mark Kairis and Council Members Martin Devine and Lou Martinez. Mayor Travis Paden was absent.
Mark Pratter of Hanford spoke against the ordinance calling it cruel and victimization of helpless people. No one else spoke against it during the public comment period.
He urged the council to adopt an approach taken by the City of Tulare which set up a designated encampment for the homeless with various services to help them. However, persons in Tulare who do not wish to go to the encampment can be arrested, fined or asked to leave Tulare, said Mayor Terry Sayre.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future also contacted Jeff Garner, executive director of Kings County Community Action, a local social service agency and three churches in Hanford.
Garner would not comment on the ordinance.
A spokesman for St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Hanford referred a request for comment on the ordinance to the Diocese of Fresno whose spokesman would not provide a comment.
St. Brigid restored the eyesight of a blind nun and turned water into beer for a leper colony, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
Messages seeking comment were left with the following churches in Hanford: Seventh Day Adventist, First Dutch Reformed Church and the Episcopal Church of the Saviour. None of the churches returned phone calls.
Meanwhile, the county is considering its own ordinance. Hanford’s ordinance is modeled after an ordinance passed by the Fresno City Council, said City Attorney Ty Mizote.
Mizote responded to Pratter’s comment stating that the ordinance was one tool in the city’s toolbox for dealing with the homeless problem.
The actions come in the wake of the June 2024 U.S. Supreme Grants Pass decision which allows localities to clear homeless from public or private property.
The decision said removing the homeless is not a violation of a person’s 8th Amendment (to the U.S. Constitution) right against cruel and unusual punishment.
The court recognized that necessity may be a valid defense if a person is prosecuted. In other words, if a person has no where else to sleep this may be a valid defense, the court said.
Governor Newsom also issued an executive order allowing authorities to clear homeless from state property and he encouraged local governments to take action at their level.
In answer to a question from Council Member Devine (District C), Mizote said the city could
revise the ordinance at a later date.
A previous council had the funds to build a homeless service center---not a shelter--- on 6th Street in downtown Hanford. However, the proposal was defeated after a number of downtown merchants said the center would hurt their businesses.
Hanford District C candidates both support 1-cent sales tax hike
POSTED 9/23/24 10:21 pm
HANFORD – Both candidates for city council in District C (east central, northeast) said they would support a 1c sales tax proposal mainly earmarking funds for police and fire services but the candidates differed on how to address the issue of whether there is too much staff influence on the council’s votes.
While Judy Scott said she wants to know what the staff says, she added, if elected she is “not always (going to) take what someone says for what it is. I need to do my own research and what I need to do to vote.”
Her opponent Nancy Howze said that the council and not the staff is in charge but “I am not going into situation (where I) want to fire you…I am very cautious.”
She said she was not going to do things before she finds out what is going on behind closed doors that she doesn’t know.
The pair spoke at a Monday night (9/23) candidates forum sponsored by the 1776er Sons of Liberty at the Elks Lodge. About 50 people attended.
In answer to another question on priorities from former Mayor David Ayers candidate Scott said. “being fiscally sound is number one in my book.”
Regarding the much talked about possible extension of Hidden Valley Park, she said she wanted to at least do landscaping, put walking paths in and install irrigation. Other items, Scott said, could be deferred.
Scott, vice chairman of the parks and recreation commission, has changed her position on the issue. Previously she said in a city council meeting that she was opposed to extending the park to the 18 acres west of the existing park which is located at 11th and Cortner. The 18 acres has remained vacant for years.
Scott, a retired Department of Corrections captain, also said police response times are not good enough and she wants to make improving them and addressing police staff shortages a top priority.
Howze said since she started campaigning she achieved a whole new level of getting to know the community. “I started seeing a huge lack of respect from council to constituents. I don’t like that.”
She said she supported the expansion of Hidden Valley Park, opposed downtown roundabouts and wanted to see more youth activities in Hanford.
Howze said she didn’t want to see any city council meetings before 5 pm so that more people could attend council meetings. “Nothing should happen before 5 pm,” she said.
HANFORD – Both candidates for city council in District C (east central, northeast) said they would support a 1c sales tax proposal mainly earmarking funds for police and fire services but the candidates differed on how to address the issue of whether there is too much staff influence on the council’s votes.
While Judy Scott said she wants to know what the staff says, she added, if elected she is “not always (going to) take what someone says for what it is. I need to do my own research and what I need to do to vote.”
Her opponent Nancy Howze said that the council and not the staff is in charge but “I am not going into situation (where I) want to fire you…I am very cautious.”
She said she was not going to do things before she finds out what is going on behind closed doors that she doesn’t know.
The pair spoke at a Monday night (9/23) candidates forum sponsored by the 1776er Sons of Liberty at the Elks Lodge. About 50 people attended.
In answer to another question on priorities from former Mayor David Ayers candidate Scott said. “being fiscally sound is number one in my book.”
Regarding the much talked about possible extension of Hidden Valley Park, she said she wanted to at least do landscaping, put walking paths in and install irrigation. Other items, Scott said, could be deferred.
Scott, vice chairman of the parks and recreation commission, has changed her position on the issue. Previously she said in a city council meeting that she was opposed to extending the park to the 18 acres west of the existing park which is located at 11th and Cortner. The 18 acres has remained vacant for years.
Scott, a retired Department of Corrections captain, also said police response times are not good enough and she wants to make improving them and addressing police staff shortages a top priority.
Howze said since she started campaigning she achieved a whole new level of getting to know the community. “I started seeing a huge lack of respect from council to constituents. I don’t like that.”
She said she supported the expansion of Hidden Valley Park, opposed downtown roundabouts and wanted to see more youth activities in Hanford.
Howze said she didn’t want to see any city council meetings before 5 pm so that more people could attend council meetings. “Nothing should happen before 5 pm,” she said.
Hanford Council eliminates roundabout but moves ahead with other downtown improvements
POSTED 9/17/24 10:06 pm
HANFORD- The city council by a 3-1 vote Tuesday (9/17/24) eliminated the controversial roundabout at Douty and 7th sreets and agreed to move ahead with other downtown improvements including upgrades to sidewalks, water, sewer and storm drains. The council also agreed to seek a $15.5 million grant to help pay for the improvements even though staff told them that the chances of success would be less without the roundabout.
Vice Mayor Mark Kairis was the lone vote for retaining the roundabout with Mayor Travis Paden, council members Lou Martinez and Martin Devine voting to eliminate the roundabout but move forward with the rest of the plan. The city's share of the project will be $7.5 million.
During public comment a number of speakers expressed opposition to the roundabout on the grounds that it would hurt the looks of downtown and be confusing to drivers and pedestrians. Kairis, a former California Highway Patrol Commander, said the roundabout was safer than a four-way stop at the intersection.
HANFORD- The city council by a 3-1 vote Tuesday (9/17/24) eliminated the controversial roundabout at Douty and 7th sreets and agreed to move ahead with other downtown improvements including upgrades to sidewalks, water, sewer and storm drains. The council also agreed to seek a $15.5 million grant to help pay for the improvements even though staff told them that the chances of success would be less without the roundabout.
Vice Mayor Mark Kairis was the lone vote for retaining the roundabout with Mayor Travis Paden, council members Lou Martinez and Martin Devine voting to eliminate the roundabout but move forward with the rest of the plan. The city's share of the project will be $7.5 million.
During public comment a number of speakers expressed opposition to the roundabout on the grounds that it would hurt the looks of downtown and be confusing to drivers and pedestrians. Kairis, a former California Highway Patrol Commander, said the roundabout was safer than a four-way stop at the intersection.
Hanford moves ahead with ordinance banning homeless encampments
POSTED 9/17/24 10:45 pm
HANFORD - The council Tuesday (9/17/24) by a 4-0 vote moved ahead with an ordinance banning camping, sleeping or lying on public and private property.
The council vote waived the first reading of the ordinance and passed it on to a second reading at the next meeting. Ordinances require two readings before they become law. The county is working on a similar ordinance and council members said they might amend the ordinance to conform with the county's wording.
The city ordinance, which amends the Hanford Municipal Code, prescribes a $1,000 fine and/or jail time for violating its provisions. However, City Attorney Ty Mizote drafted it in a way that left its up to the discretion of the arresting police officer as to whether the person would be jailed sent to a diversion program for housing or social services. The ordinance also bans living in cars.
The move follows actions by other cities throughout the U.S. after the U.S. Supreme Court in June issued the Grants Pass decision by a 6-3 vote. The decision said removing homeless from public property was not a violation of a person's Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment. California Governor Gavin Newsom also issued an executive order banning camping on state property and encouraged cities to do the same in their jurisdictions.
Arrested persons would be tried in county court and upon conviction it would be up to the judge to determine appropriate punishment, according to the council discussion. It is conceivable, council members were advised, that homeless persons could offer a defense that they had no where else to sleep.
HANFORD - The council Tuesday (9/17/24) by a 4-0 vote moved ahead with an ordinance banning camping, sleeping or lying on public and private property.
The council vote waived the first reading of the ordinance and passed it on to a second reading at the next meeting. Ordinances require two readings before they become law. The county is working on a similar ordinance and council members said they might amend the ordinance to conform with the county's wording.
The city ordinance, which amends the Hanford Municipal Code, prescribes a $1,000 fine and/or jail time for violating its provisions. However, City Attorney Ty Mizote drafted it in a way that left its up to the discretion of the arresting police officer as to whether the person would be jailed sent to a diversion program for housing or social services. The ordinance also bans living in cars.
The move follows actions by other cities throughout the U.S. after the U.S. Supreme Court in June issued the Grants Pass decision by a 6-3 vote. The decision said removing homeless from public property was not a violation of a person's Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment. California Governor Gavin Newsom also issued an executive order banning camping on state property and encouraged cities to do the same in their jurisdictions.
Arrested persons would be tried in county court and upon conviction it would be up to the judge to determine appropriate punishment, according to the council discussion. It is conceivable, council members were advised, that homeless persons could offer a defense that they had no where else to sleep.
For article on $1 million verdict vs Parlier see Dinuba-Reedley under MORE at upper right
District B candidates oppose roundabouts but disagree on sales tax
POSTED 9/16/24 10:32 PM
HANFORD – Issues emerging during a Monday night (9/16/24) District B candidates night included the fate of the controversial downtown roundabouts, the council holding meetings at times inconvenient to the public, the completion of the 18-acre Hidden Valley Park acreage and the status of historic downtown buildings.
Real estate agency owner Kimber Regan and appointed incumbent Martin Devine both vying for the seat that includes North Hanford and downtown said they were against the roundabouts while Alfred Benavides took the strongest stance against the proposed 1 percent sales tax increase.
People are having a hard time putting food on the table, he said, paying for mortgages and gasoline. “We have to look at our needs,” Benavides continued “and our family needs.”
The event attended by more than 75 people was sponsored by the 1776 Sons of Liberty group at the Elks Lodge.
Regan said she didn’t think the tax initiative would pass “…because people don’t trust the council on spending.” However, her campaign literature stated, “If the tax initiative is passed full accountability with a priority for police, fire and public safety.”
Regan also said Monday night that if the initiative fails, there may have to be a separate initiative just for police and fire.
Devine said he was for the sales tax increase which would generate about $19 million annually.
He argued that the number fire department stations are 50 percent below the national average for a city of this size which leads to longer response times.
Insurance companies will raise rates because of the response times, Devine said. And, he said, the police department has to work out of three different buildings which is not ideal.
Hanford’s 7.2 percent sales tax does not include a city sales tax. If approved by voters, the sales tax initiative would add a penny to the sale tax. Historically local sales tax initiatives have not passed.
Regan’s to do list on the council included: more jobs, fighting homelessness, taking a tough stance on crime, completing Hidden Valley Park with creative financing, revising the Bastille and Old Court House and working with government agencies to help each other.
She decried the current council’s “…lack (of) transparency, out of control spending, meetings at a time not convenient for (the) public.”
The council, she said, should take care of the 18 vacant acres west of Hidden Valley Park that has been ignored for so many years. There are different ways, Regan said, to do creative financing.
“The city manager (Mario Cifuentez) is telling us what to do,” she said. “We need to take our town back (and) do it all together.”
“I am not for the roundabout, I’m for the (Hidden Valley) park,” said Benavides.
Devine said he wants a balanced budget and wants to bring more business to Hanford.
He has changed his position on Hidden Valley for the third time. He has reverted back to his original support for making the 18 acres into a park. When he was elected to the council last time he was the strongest voice for selling the property for housing development. He admitted to questioner Bob Ramos that he in fact voted with Council Member Sue Sorenson to have the property declared surplus city property.
Now he said he would like to see the property turned into parkland, but, he said this will require thinking outside the box to get financing.
HANFORD – Issues emerging during a Monday night (9/16/24) District B candidates night included the fate of the controversial downtown roundabouts, the council holding meetings at times inconvenient to the public, the completion of the 18-acre Hidden Valley Park acreage and the status of historic downtown buildings.
Real estate agency owner Kimber Regan and appointed incumbent Martin Devine both vying for the seat that includes North Hanford and downtown said they were against the roundabouts while Alfred Benavides took the strongest stance against the proposed 1 percent sales tax increase.
People are having a hard time putting food on the table, he said, paying for mortgages and gasoline. “We have to look at our needs,” Benavides continued “and our family needs.”
The event attended by more than 75 people was sponsored by the 1776 Sons of Liberty group at the Elks Lodge.
Regan said she didn’t think the tax initiative would pass “…because people don’t trust the council on spending.” However, her campaign literature stated, “If the tax initiative is passed full accountability with a priority for police, fire and public safety.”
Regan also said Monday night that if the initiative fails, there may have to be a separate initiative just for police and fire.
Devine said he was for the sales tax increase which would generate about $19 million annually.
He argued that the number fire department stations are 50 percent below the national average for a city of this size which leads to longer response times.
Insurance companies will raise rates because of the response times, Devine said. And, he said, the police department has to work out of three different buildings which is not ideal.
Hanford’s 7.2 percent sales tax does not include a city sales tax. If approved by voters, the sales tax initiative would add a penny to the sale tax. Historically local sales tax initiatives have not passed.
Regan’s to do list on the council included: more jobs, fighting homelessness, taking a tough stance on crime, completing Hidden Valley Park with creative financing, revising the Bastille and Old Court House and working with government agencies to help each other.
She decried the current council’s “…lack (of) transparency, out of control spending, meetings at a time not convenient for (the) public.”
The council, she said, should take care of the 18 vacant acres west of Hidden Valley Park that has been ignored for so many years. There are different ways, Regan said, to do creative financing.
“The city manager (Mario Cifuentez) is telling us what to do,” she said. “We need to take our town back (and) do it all together.”
“I am not for the roundabout, I’m for the (Hidden Valley) park,” said Benavides.
Devine said he wants a balanced budget and wants to bring more business to Hanford.
He has changed his position on Hidden Valley for the third time. He has reverted back to his original support for making the 18 acres into a park. When he was elected to the council last time he was the strongest voice for selling the property for housing development. He admitted to questioner Bob Ramos that he in fact voted with Council Member Sue Sorenson to have the property declared surplus city property.
Now he said he would like to see the property turned into parkland, but, he said this will require thinking outside the box to get financing.
Homeless taken to Santa Cruz says she was "forced to go," Hanford denies this
Posted 9/14/24
1:48 pm
A homeless woman transported by Hanford Police to the City of Santa Cruz said she was “…forced to go to Santa Cruz,” according to a Santa Cruz staff report.
This directly contradicts a press release issued by the City of Hanford on September 5.
The Hanford Press Release stated, “At no point in time did Hanford Police Department officers suggest, encourage or coerce the individual to go to the City of Santa Cruz. Any claims of this nature are flat-out false.”
The City of Santa Cruz staff report for the Council’s September 10 meeting quoted the woman as saying, “I had no friends or family (in Santa Cruz) and they basically forced me to go to Santa Cruz.”
The staff report is available online on the city’s website (cityofsantacruz.com) under agenda packets.
Hanford Vice Mayor Mark Kairis today (9/14/24) disputed the woman’s statement in the staff report and reiterated that the woman was “not coerced.”
The woman also said, according to the staff report, that during the trip, “My belongings were not secured and some things flew out.”
The woman continued, according to the staff report, HPD officers were “Looking for an open field or a Walmart parking lot or anywhere to drop me off but didn’t want to go to the beach because they didn’t want to get caught. They tried to drop me off at Ross, but two SCPD officers drove through. They stopped unloading when they saw them.”
The person transported “…described being terrified during this ordeal,” according to the staff report.
She said, according to the staff report, that she was “…disabled, had no functioning phone, and no community connections.”
Hanford Mayor Travis Paden was contacted today for a response and he replied in a text message, “I do not trust that an interview with you will be represented correctly and honestly.”
Hanford Vice Mayor Kairis said, “It was ultimately her decision. The City of Hanford stands by its previous (press) release. The city has undertaken multiple reunifications of homeless persons, Kairis said, she’s not the only one.
Previously on September 7 Council Member Martin Devine defended Hanford’s actions stating that Hanford paid for the woman’s trip and that the city wants to help the homeless.
The City of Santa Cruz council on September 10 unanimously took a preliminary step toward approving an ordinance which would ban Hanford and any other city or county from transporting homeless persons to Santa Cruz.
For the ordinance to become law a second majority vote will be required by the council. A violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor.
A second part of the ordinance also stops City of Santa Cruz officials from doing what Hanford did to Santa Cruz, that is have Santa Cruz Police drop off a homeless person in another jurisdiction.
The ordinance directs city staff to continue the current practice of reserving city-funded, city-managed shelter resources for persons experiencing homelessness who are currently residing in the City of Santa Cruz.
The reason Santa Cruz took the first step toward passing an ordinance is current state law nor the city’s current municipal code addresses HPD’s conduct, according to the staff report.
What legal authority the City of Hanford had to drop off the woman in Santa Cruz is not clear. Governor Newsom Executive Order N-1-24 encouraged cities and counties to remove homeless encampments.
Hanford City Attorney Ty Mizote was out of the office and will not be available until the week of September 15.
The U.S. Supreme Court in the Grants Pass decision allows cities to enforce laws regulating camping on public property even in the absence of an offer of shelter. The June 28 decision said the enforcement doesn’t constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Santa Cruz has made significant progress in reducing its homeless population in the last two years, according to the staff report.
In 2023 Santa Cruz recorded a 29 percent decline in homeless in the city and in 2024 there was another 36 percent increase, according to the staff report
The “,,,City (of Santa Cruz does not have the resources available to provide shelter and services to any homeless person who happens to be dropped off in the City by employees of another jurisdiction,” said the staff report.
The city called Hanford’s action “flagrantly inappropriate.”
For its part Hanford Police Chief Stephanie Huddleston said in a press release, “We strongly disagree with the City of Santa Cruz’s assessment that the City of Hanford is moving its homeless problem ‘elsewhere.’”
Santa Cruz gives preliminary okay to homeless drop off law
Posted 9/10/24 4:39 pm
The Santa Cruz City Council today unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance that would prevent Hanford and other cities from transporting homeless persons to the coastal city without prior communication.
Hanford touched off a fury in Santa Cruz when on June 27 Hanford Police transported a disabled homeless woman to Santa Cruz voluntarily at her request but did not inform Santa Cruz city officials that they were doing so.
Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said what Hanford did “…doesn’t do us any good…sends a message in our county and out of county (it’s) not a responsible way to deal with homeless.”
And at least one Hanford City Council Member, Lou Martinez, agrees with Keeley although Hanford’s Vice Mayor Mark Kairis and Council Member Martin Devine disagree with the Santa Cruz mayor.
“I don’t think we should be transporting to other communities,” said Martinez. Each community, he said, should deal with homelessness on its own.
To become law, the Santa Cruz ordinance will have to be approved again at a second council meeting.
“I feel in this instance taken advantage of,” said Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Renee Golder.
Santa Cruz is addressing its homeless problem and this year has seen a 36 percent decrease in homelessness and a 29 percent decrease the year before, said Council Member Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, “This is an indication to other jurisdictions instead of pushing problems…reach out to us. Happy to share how we approached that.”
But Hanford Council Member Devine (District B North Central Hanford) said, “just because she is homeless
(they) want to restrict her from coming to their city.”
Asked if Hanford should approach the matter differently next time, Devine said “people are free to where they want to go.”
Hanford Vice Mayor Kairis (District E South and Southeast) said the Hanford Homeless Assistance Response Team periodically reunifies people with family or friends in another city.
Kairis said he didn’t want to say anything further other than what was in a city-issued press release which stated that the woman wanted to go to Santa Cruz voluntarily and that HPD in no way coerced or forced her to go to there.
Hanford Police Chief Stephanie Huddleston said in the press release that she has previously explained these events to Escalante. “We strongly disagree with the City of Santa Cruz’s assessment that the City of Hanford is moving its homeless problem “elsewhere.”
Hanford Mayor Travis Paden could not be reached for comment.
Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante said in a video on KSBW-TV in Salinas on September 5 that Hanford “can’t take people’s civil liberties way” and he called Hanford’s policies “irresponsible” and “inhumane.”
Whether Hanford can legally transport a homeless person to another city has not been clarified. Hanford City Attorney Ty Mizote was asked for clarification on Saturday (9/7/24) and today (9/10/24). He did not return VHL Future’s phone calls. If he does, the story will be updated.
Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said the City of Hanford didn’t give Santa Cruz city officials a heads up that the woman was going to be dropped off, according to the TV news report.
When Keeley asked HPD to return the woman to Hanford, Keeley quoted an HPD sergeant as saying “we’re not coming back.”
Santa Cruz accuses Hanford of dumping homeless on beach city;
Hanford denies accusations, says the woman requested transport
Posted 9/7/24 1:55 pm
SANTA CRUZ – The everyday Valley ag city of Hanford and upscale Santa Cruz are in a he said, she said controversy over the dropping off a disabled Hanford homeless woman at the Santa Cruz Armory.
The incident occurred June 27, according to a City of Hanford press release. Hanford Council Member Martin Devine said Saturday (9/7//24) the woman---who has not been identified--- requested that HPD drop her off in Santa Cruz. The city claims in a press release that at no point did HPD officers encourage, coerce the woman to go to Santa Cruz. The city paid for the trip though Devine didn’t know the amount. Devine said the city wants to help the homeless. The woman is in a wheelchair.
But Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante said in a video on KSBW-TV in Salinas on September 5 that Hanford “can’t take people’s civil liberties way” and he called Hanford’s policies “irresponsible” and “inhumane.”
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SANTA CRUZ – The everyday Valley ag city of Hanford and upscale Santa Cruz are in a he said, she said controversy over the dropping off a disabled Hanford homeless woman at the Santa Cruz Armory.
The incident occurred June 27, according to a City of Hanford press release. Hanford Council Member Martin Devine said Saturday (9/7//24) the woman---who has not been identified--- requested that HPD drop her off in Santa Cruz. The city claims in a press release that at no point did HPD officers encourage, coerce the woman to go to Santa Cruz. The city paid for the trip though Devine didn’t know the amount. Devine said the city wants to help the homeless. The woman is in a wheelchair.
But Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante said in a video on KSBW-TV in Salinas on September 5 that Hanford “can’t take people’s civil liberties way” and he called Hanford’s policies “irresponsible” and “inhumane.”
FOR A COMPLETE VERSION OF THIS STORY PLEASE SUBSCRIBE; $3 FOR FIRST THREE MONTHS, $3 A MONTH THEREAFTER, CANCEL ANYTIME. TO SUBSCRIBE PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected].
Controversial Hanford roundabout project defeated
POSTED 8/20/24 9:56 pm
HANFORD – A controversial proposal to build a roundabout at 7th and Douty streets in downtown Hanford died for lack of a second Tuesday night (8/20/24).
The agenda item was on awarding a $506,853 construction management contract to 4Creeks Inc. which was part of the proposed $7.5 million project which included improvements to downtown sidewalks, parking, lighting, landscaping and water and sewer main replacement.
When Vice Mayor Mark Kairis’ motion to award the contract to 4Creeks died, there was applause in the audience which included opponents of the project. It was Kairis who on March 19 cast the deciding initial vote to move the project forward.
The council voted 3-2 then with then Council member Diane Sharp (District C) and Kalish Morrow (District B) voting with Kairis. Mayor Travis Paden (District A) and Council member Lou Martinez (District D) opposed the roundabouts.
“It’s all being shoved down our throats,” said downtown businesswoman Kimber Regan during Tuesday’s public comment period. She said the downtown was cohesive as it is and didn’t need a roundabout replacing a four-way stop.
Other arguments raised were a roundabout would destroy the character of downtown and the money needed to be spent on more important projects.
Only $1.5 million of the project came from city fees. The rest was from federal and state grants and appropriations.
Regan said she had collected 313 signatures on a petition opposing the roundabout. City staff and the council majority have said in the past that roundabouts were safer than four-way stops
HANFORD – A controversial proposal to build a roundabout at 7th and Douty streets in downtown Hanford died for lack of a second Tuesday night (8/20/24).
The agenda item was on awarding a $506,853 construction management contract to 4Creeks Inc. which was part of the proposed $7.5 million project which included improvements to downtown sidewalks, parking, lighting, landscaping and water and sewer main replacement.
When Vice Mayor Mark Kairis’ motion to award the contract to 4Creeks died, there was applause in the audience which included opponents of the project. It was Kairis who on March 19 cast the deciding initial vote to move the project forward.
The council voted 3-2 then with then Council member Diane Sharp (District C) and Kalish Morrow (District B) voting with Kairis. Mayor Travis Paden (District A) and Council member Lou Martinez (District D) opposed the roundabouts.
“It’s all being shoved down our throats,” said downtown businesswoman Kimber Regan during Tuesday’s public comment period. She said the downtown was cohesive as it is and didn’t need a roundabout replacing a four-way stop.
Other arguments raised were a roundabout would destroy the character of downtown and the money needed to be spent on more important projects.
Only $1.5 million of the project came from city fees. The rest was from federal and state grants and appropriations.
Regan said she had collected 313 signatures on a petition opposing the roundabout. City staff and the council majority have said in the past that roundabouts were safer than four-way stops
Remodeling for Hanford, Lemoore libraries
POSTED 8/22/24 8:57 am
KINGS COUNTY – The Kings County libraries in Hanford and Lemoore will be closed to undergo a $7 million renovation possibly starting in December, said a spokesman for the libraries.
In the interim the Hanford branch will be housed at a another location to be determined, the spokesman said.
The project is in its preliminary stages at this point but will be finalized once plans and designs are complete, the spokesman.
Funding comes from the state.
KINGS COUNTY – The Kings County libraries in Hanford and Lemoore will be closed to undergo a $7 million renovation possibly starting in December, said a spokesman for the libraries.
In the interim the Hanford branch will be housed at a another location to be determined, the spokesman said.
The project is in its preliminary stages at this point but will be finalized once plans and designs are complete, the spokesman.
Funding comes from the state.
Hanford 99c store gets tenant, none yet for old Rite Aid
POSTED 8/16/24 12:31 pm
HANFORD – No tenants have been lined up yet for the vacant Hanford Rite Aid store at 10th and Fargo Avenues but one of the vacant Rite Aids in Fresno County at Willow and Nees Avenues will be getting a Grocery Outlet, said a spokesperson for Colliers Tingey, the real estate broker.
Construction work is underway to revamp the Rite Aid in and the Grocery Outlet should open the second quarter of 2025, the spokesperson said.
Since Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy last year, at least 31 stores in California have been targeted for closure.
A spokesperson for Grocery Outlet Corporate headquarters said at 1:05 pm Pacific she is working on confirming the information and will be updating the request shortly.
Meanwhile, the vacant 99c store on 11th Avenue near Lacey Boulevard has a new temporary tenant, a Spirit Halloween store which should remain open until the end of that holiday.
No word yet from the real estate agent marketing that location---not Colliers Tingey---- on whether a permanent tenant has been secured.
HANFORD – No tenants have been lined up yet for the vacant Hanford Rite Aid store at 10th and Fargo Avenues but one of the vacant Rite Aids in Fresno County at Willow and Nees Avenues will be getting a Grocery Outlet, said a spokesperson for Colliers Tingey, the real estate broker.
Construction work is underway to revamp the Rite Aid in and the Grocery Outlet should open the second quarter of 2025, the spokesperson said.
Since Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy last year, at least 31 stores in California have been targeted for closure.
A spokesperson for Grocery Outlet Corporate headquarters said at 1:05 pm Pacific she is working on confirming the information and will be updating the request shortly.
Meanwhile, the vacant 99c store on 11th Avenue near Lacey Boulevard has a new temporary tenant, a Spirit Halloween store which should remain open until the end of that holiday.
No word yet from the real estate agent marketing that location---not Colliers Tingey---- on whether a permanent tenant has been secured.
City's Hidden Valley Park expansion ideas carry a big pricetag
Posted 8/10/24 5:44 pm
EDITOR’S NOTE: The author of this article has been involved in the Greater Hidden Valley Association.
HANFORD – The city presented its ideas for the long-delayed expansion of Hidden Valley Park all carrying a hefty pricetag. Mayor Travis Paden told the staff at an August 6 council study session that he was excited about the ideas but questioned where the money would come to pay for it all.
Council member Lou Martinez said the direction the council gave staff was that the project of expanding the park should move forward although not necessarily along the lines the city proposed.
Parks and Recreation Director Bradley Albert put a $14.8 million pricetag on the project which in the five formats the city devised would mainly consists of different configurations of sports fields on the vacant property to the west of the existing park.
There is also a lighted perimeter for walking around the fields and tree plantings.
Albert said these designs came from public feedback the city received at various sessions.
The proposals entail running Rodgers Road through the park something that does not exist now. Rodgers stops before it reaches park property.
Many Rodgers residents, already experiencing speeding traffic on their street and at least one major traffic accident, are opposed to extending the road through the park.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez said Rodgers Road could be extended through the park and that crosswalks could be installed in the park for pedestrian safety.
Albert said one way to reduce the cost of the project would be to build it in phases with the perimeter path and lighting in phase one, parking in phase two and then further improvements could be made as funding became available.
Albert said grant funding for the project is not that feasible because the state is looking for parks in new areas that are economically disadvantaged. The area around Hidden Valley bounded by Cortner and 11th Avenue is not economically disadvantaged.
Another option, Albert said, was for the community to create a self-assessment district to pay for the improvements. This would require a ballot measure, he said.
The Greater Hidden Valley Association, a citizens’ group advocating for making the city-owned 18-acres west of the existing park into parkland, is studying the city’s proposals and when the analysis is done will have comments on the city’s proposed alternatives.
The expansion of Hidden Valley has been a political hot potato for decades with nothing being done
to expand the property west of the existing park into green space.
The Greater Hidden Valley Association and its predecessor organizations sponsored two voter initiatives to get park expansion on the ballot. Although the initiatives did not have enough signatures to qualify, the efforts indicated there was strong public support for park expansion.
The group said in an August 2023 Citizens Action Kit circulated to residents that the city has intentionally delayed the expansion of the park and does not consider it a priority. Further, the group said that Clovis was able build a 12.5-acre David McDonald Park on city-owned land at Sierra and Temperance for $300,098 in landscaping costs and $45,268 for annual maintenance. This information was obtained from the City of Clovis through a state Records Act request.
HANFORD – The city presented its ideas for the long-delayed expansion of Hidden Valley Park all carrying a hefty pricetag. Mayor Travis Paden told the staff at an August 6 council study session that he was excited about the ideas but questioned where the money would come to pay for it all.
Council member Lou Martinez said the direction the council gave staff was that the project of expanding the park should move forward although not necessarily along the lines the city proposed.
Parks and Recreation Director Bradley Albert put a $14.8 million pricetag on the project which in the five formats the city devised would mainly consists of different configurations of sports fields on the vacant property to the west of the existing park.
There is also a lighted perimeter for walking around the fields and tree plantings.
Albert said these designs came from public feedback the city received at various sessions.
The proposals entail running Rodgers Road through the park something that does not exist now. Rodgers stops before it reaches park property.
Many Rodgers residents, already experiencing speeding traffic on their street and at least one major traffic accident, are opposed to extending the road through the park.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez said Rodgers Road could be extended through the park and that crosswalks could be installed in the park for pedestrian safety.
Albert said one way to reduce the cost of the project would be to build it in phases with the perimeter path and lighting in phase one, parking in phase two and then further improvements could be made as funding became available.
Albert said grant funding for the project is not that feasible because the state is looking for parks in new areas that are economically disadvantaged. The area around Hidden Valley bounded by Cortner and 11th Avenue is not economically disadvantaged.
Another option, Albert said, was for the community to create a self-assessment district to pay for the improvements. This would require a ballot measure, he said.
The Greater Hidden Valley Association, a citizens’ group advocating for making the city-owned 18-acres west of the existing park into parkland, is studying the city’s proposals and when the analysis is done will have comments on the city’s proposed alternatives.
The expansion of Hidden Valley has been a political hot potato for decades with nothing being done
to expand the property west of the existing park into green space.
The Greater Hidden Valley Association and its predecessor organizations sponsored two voter initiatives to get park expansion on the ballot. Although the initiatives did not have enough signatures to qualify, the efforts indicated there was strong public support for park expansion.
The group said in an August 2023 Citizens Action Kit circulated to residents that the city has intentionally delayed the expansion of the park and does not consider it a priority. Further, the group said that Clovis was able build a 12.5-acre David McDonald Park on city-owned land at Sierra and Temperance for $300,098 in landscaping costs and $45,268 for annual maintenance. This information was obtained from the City of Clovis through a state Records Act request.
Unclear whether Hanford dispatchers tried to talk man out of committing suicide
Posted 8/3/24 2:17 pm
HANFORD – A police lieutenant said he didn’t know if police dispatchers tried to talk a suicidal man out of killing himself on July 28.
Roger Hedrick, 64, told police at 8:39 am that his wife Teresa, 62, had pointed a gun at him. The couple lived in the 400-block of East Magnolia in North Hanford.
“This male then said because of this he then shot his wife in the head and that he was going to leave the front door open and to send police and that he would be gone by the time police officers arrived on the scene,” Lieutenant Justin Vallin said.
Police arrived within a few minutes after the phone call. Vallin declined to give the exact time.
When officers arrived they found a man and a woman shot in the head.
Asked if police dispatchers tried to talk to Hedrick to stop him from committing suicide, Vallin said he didn’t know.
“Immediately after that (Hedrick) disconnected the line,” said Vallin.
Vallin said police dispatchers receive training in how to desescalate a suicidal or hostile person. There is also a crisis team that can be called to intervene, he said.
The coroner completed autopsies on July 31 on the Hanford-couple who died July 28 in an apparent murder-suicide, police said.
The autopsies have been completed but the results won’t be available for six weeks to six months, said a spokesman for the coroner’s office. The case is still under investigation, she said.
The handguns used by the couple were registered, police said.
Police said they never received any call for domestic violence at the home.
Hanford arrest in Visalia murder
VISALIA – Visalia Police Thursday (8/1/24) arrested an 18-year-old man in Hanford in connection with the fatal shooting last month of a man, 22, outside a downtown Visalia sports bar, police said.
Deonte Crawford was arrested for murder in connection with the July 28 murder of Angel Salazar, 22, in Visalia., according to a Visalia Police Department press release. Officers served a search warrant.
A 16-year-old was also arrested for murder, police said.
Salazar, a father and known gang member, was killed at about 1:30 am outside Rookies Sports Bar, 215 E. Main St., said Liz Jones, Visalia Police Public Information Officer. Two people were injured in the attack which police said appeared to be gang-related.
Crawford’s arrest Thursday followed an earlier drive-by shooting last year on November 20, 2023 in the City of Tulare, according to a Visalia Police Department press release.
Following the shooting in which no one was hurt, the vehicle was in Hanford where Hanford Police, receiving a Be on the Lookout notice following the shooting, stopped the vehicle whose plate number matched the one involved in the shooting in Tulare. Police found two firearms in the vehicle, according to the press release.
Visalia Police then responded in Hanford arresting Crawford, Lavonde Moon, 19, Ramon Perdue, 18 and a 16-year-old teenager, according to the press release. The adults were booked in the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Facility and the 16-year-old was booked in the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility, according to the press release.
Deonte Crawford was arrested for murder in connection with the July 28 murder of Angel Salazar, 22, in Visalia., according to a Visalia Police Department press release. Officers served a search warrant.
A 16-year-old was also arrested for murder, police said.
Salazar, a father and known gang member, was killed at about 1:30 am outside Rookies Sports Bar, 215 E. Main St., said Liz Jones, Visalia Police Public Information Officer. Two people were injured in the attack which police said appeared to be gang-related.
Crawford’s arrest Thursday followed an earlier drive-by shooting last year on November 20, 2023 in the City of Tulare, according to a Visalia Police Department press release.
Following the shooting in which no one was hurt, the vehicle was in Hanford where Hanford Police, receiving a Be on the Lookout notice following the shooting, stopped the vehicle whose plate number matched the one involved in the shooting in Tulare. Police found two firearms in the vehicle, according to the press release.
Visalia Police then responded in Hanford arresting Crawford, Lavonde Moon, 19, Ramon Perdue, 18 and a 16-year-old teenager, according to the press release. The adults were booked in the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Facility and the 16-year-old was booked in the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility, according to the press release.
Kings Supervisors assume role of controversial local water agency
UPDATED 7/30/24 12:57 PM
KINGS COUNTY – The Kings County Board of Supervisors yesterday (7/25) added an additional job by voting to become the board of a regional agency that deals with the state on groundwater issues.
Although the move appears legal and bureaucratic, the issue between the state and groundwater users is a political hot potato that has already led to a lawsuit here against the state Water Resources Control Board.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Valle pledged to work with stakeholders, mainly farmers, on the issue.
Farmer Mike LaSalle accused Supervisor Doug Verboon of misleading him by stating prior to yesterday’s meeting, LaSalle said, that there would be no action taken during the meeting yesterday Verboon said Tuesday that no action was taken on water issues.
The only thing that was done, he said, was reforming the GSA board.
Asked how the board would perform differently from the last one, Verboon said everything will be done publicly and the board will work with farmers at every stage. “There will be no secret meetings,” he said. The GSA, Verboon said, has until August of next year to satisfy the state’s requirements. By this, he meant, to get off probation.
In a series of quick moves before a packed audience at the county board of supervisors chambers, the old board of the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency resigned and the board of supervisors unanimously voted to assume their duties.
The meeting tonight was a joint one with the Hanford City Council and the council voted unanimously to send Hanford Vice Mayor Mark Kairis, who served on the old Mid-Kings River board, to take a seat on the new board which is otherwise populated with supervisors.
The state Water Resources Control Board has put Mid-Kings River on probation for deficiencies in its plan to control groundwater overpumping and subsidence. Subsidence is when land sinks because too much groundwater beneath it has been pumped out.
At a April 23 meeting on the issue at Koinonia Church in Hanford on groundwater overpumping many farmers were hostile to the state regulations as well as paying fees when they pump more groundwater than the state thinks is advisable under the state Groundwater Management Act.
Farmers resorted to groundwater pumping in response to the state’s drought which has been profound during the last decade despite some occasional wet years. Because of the drought there have been significant cutbacks in water allocations to agriculture through the state Water Project and the Central Valley Project. Farmers use some 70 percent of the state’s water with the rest going to cities for drinking water and industrial uses.
Meanwhile, Judge Kathy Ciuffini of Kings Superior Court on July 15 issued a temporary restraining order preventing the state from enforcing the Mid-Kings River Agency probationary status. The order will continue until there is a hearing with the state on the matter.
The order stems from the Kings County Farm Bureau suing the state Water Resources Control Board regarding the probationary status. If the Mid-Kings River Agency fails to satisfy the terms of the probation, the state could step in and form its own plan for the area.
The order remains in effect until August 20 when the judge will consider issuing a temporary injunction.
The Mid-Kings River Agency is just one of a series agencies throughout the state to address the issue of groundwater overpumping.
KINGS COUNTY – The Kings County Board of Supervisors yesterday (7/25) added an additional job by voting to become the board of a regional agency that deals with the state on groundwater issues.
Although the move appears legal and bureaucratic, the issue between the state and groundwater users is a political hot potato that has already led to a lawsuit here against the state Water Resources Control Board.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Valle pledged to work with stakeholders, mainly farmers, on the issue.
Farmer Mike LaSalle accused Supervisor Doug Verboon of misleading him by stating prior to yesterday’s meeting, LaSalle said, that there would be no action taken during the meeting yesterday Verboon said Tuesday that no action was taken on water issues.
The only thing that was done, he said, was reforming the GSA board.
Asked how the board would perform differently from the last one, Verboon said everything will be done publicly and the board will work with farmers at every stage. “There will be no secret meetings,” he said. The GSA, Verboon said, has until August of next year to satisfy the state’s requirements. By this, he meant, to get off probation.
In a series of quick moves before a packed audience at the county board of supervisors chambers, the old board of the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency resigned and the board of supervisors unanimously voted to assume their duties.
The meeting tonight was a joint one with the Hanford City Council and the council voted unanimously to send Hanford Vice Mayor Mark Kairis, who served on the old Mid-Kings River board, to take a seat on the new board which is otherwise populated with supervisors.
The state Water Resources Control Board has put Mid-Kings River on probation for deficiencies in its plan to control groundwater overpumping and subsidence. Subsidence is when land sinks because too much groundwater beneath it has been pumped out.
At a April 23 meeting on the issue at Koinonia Church in Hanford on groundwater overpumping many farmers were hostile to the state regulations as well as paying fees when they pump more groundwater than the state thinks is advisable under the state Groundwater Management Act.
Farmers resorted to groundwater pumping in response to the state’s drought which has been profound during the last decade despite some occasional wet years. Because of the drought there have been significant cutbacks in water allocations to agriculture through the state Water Project and the Central Valley Project. Farmers use some 70 percent of the state’s water with the rest going to cities for drinking water and industrial uses.
Meanwhile, Judge Kathy Ciuffini of Kings Superior Court on July 15 issued a temporary restraining order preventing the state from enforcing the Mid-Kings River Agency probationary status. The order will continue until there is a hearing with the state on the matter.
The order stems from the Kings County Farm Bureau suing the state Water Resources Control Board regarding the probationary status. If the Mid-Kings River Agency fails to satisfy the terms of the probation, the state could step in and form its own plan for the area.
The order remains in effect until August 20 when the judge will consider issuing a temporary injunction.
The Mid-Kings River Agency is just one of a series agencies throughout the state to address the issue of groundwater overpumping.
Near extinct salmon victim of state's water politics
Posted 7/25/24 4:18 pm
The state’s salmon fishery has been a crucial part of the state’s ecosystem and economy for centuries since the time only indigenous peoples inhabited the land that is now California.
But the salmon are at the brink of extinction. For the second consecutive year here salmon fishing has been banned in the ocean off California and in the state’s northern rivers. Salmon live in the ocean but spawn in the state’s freshwater rivers.
To blame, according to experts, is the state’s water politics and the “everyone out for themselves” attitude. Still, there are a group of scientists in California who are fighting for the salmon population’s survival and are dedicated to preserving the fish that are so much a part of the state’s natural resources.
This is not a popular cause in the Central Valley where the politics is dominated by agriculture, particularly Big Agriculture.
Any native or visitor to the Central Valley can see the signs saying “Build more dams. Stop sending water to the ocean.” And “Is growing food a waste of water?”
However, there’s another side to this story.
Dams have blocked more than 90 percent of the salmon’s original spawning grounds. This impact hits hard on the fishery especially in the coldest river stretches upstream.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates dams as part of the Central Valley Project, did not respond to a request for comment. The CVP on the Valley’s West Side delivers water for agriculture as well as drinking water for cities.
Also levees greatly hurt the salmon population. While the levees protect our homes, they have erased virtually all---95 percent---of the floodplain where salmon would feed before heading out to sea.
NEWS ANALYSIS
What’s more the San Joaquin Delta that feeds into ocean created 1,100 miles of levees virtually wiping out---95 percent gone---of original wetlands vital to the salmon’s thriving. Other examples of disappearing wetlands are Pixley Lake and Tulare Lake. Tulare Lake only came back to life after last year’s unusually heavy rainfall.
The odds of salmon maturing from a fertilized egg to a living fish are extremely slim. Of the 5,000
fertilized eggs that an adult pair produce, 99.96 percent fail to produce. The idea is that if .04 percent grow up in the ocean and a pair lives to return to spawn in freshwater then success has been achieved.
Those offspring then struggle to make their way downstream to return to San Francisco Bay. As the fingerlings swim through the Delta they face multiple predators when years ago their only adversary was the pikeminnow.
Now young salmon, besides facing pikeminnow, have three different strains of bass and two different strains of catfish to contend with.
The state Bay-Delta Plan which is supposed to regulate the Delta hasn’t been updated in some time and it will be years before a new plan is adopted.
In September 2023 the state Water Resources Control Board released a draft Staff Report for possible updates to the plan and made it available for public comment, Courtney Hoyt, assistant legislative director of the board, told Assemblyman Devon Mathis’ office.
Hoyt said a draft regulatory text of the updates will be available for public comment this summer or fall. There will also be public workshops on the plan updates, she said. It won’t be until the first quarter of 2025, Hoyt said, that the draft of the final update will be available for the public to view. She recommended an email subscription (https://waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email _subscriptions/) for people who want to be informed about the Bay-Delta Plan changes.
Large water projects are also a threat to the young salmon. The Central Valley Project and the state Water Project operate under federal pumping regulations that permit the taking of 1.2 percent of the most endangered salmon of all, the juveniles.
Westlands Water District benefits greatly from Central Valley Project water and is a powerful force for farmers. VHL Future asked Westlands about the regulations permitting the taking of juveniles and the district’s responsibility in this practice. Initially Westlands said it would respond but did not do so. VHL Future again asked Westlands today to respond. If the district does so, this story will be updated.
If the juveniles are lucky enough to reach the ocean, the regulation of this population is difficult and almost beyond regulation.
Experts have to determine how many salmon are swimming in the ocean off California, a difficult task.
“Salmon forecasting in general is very difficult, this is not unique to the Sacramento system,” said
Will Satterthwaite, a research scientist with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
“In both 2023 and 2024, the preseason forecast was high enough that the default ‘control rule’ would have allowed a small fishery.” He said various interest groups made arguments for and against having a fishery. “Ultimately,” Satterthwaite said, “…the decision of the Council was no ocean fishery off California;
similarly the Fish and Game Commission decided against a river fishery. While both low forecasts and recent forecast error no doubt played a part in that decision, so did other factors involving considerations around conservation, economics and likely political messaging.”
The closure of the fishery is an indication that things are not going well.
In 2021 a canal failure in Butte Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River, caused a temperature spike killing off more than 90 percent of the adults before they could spawn. Pacific Gas & Electric was said to be at fault. A spokesman for the company in Fresno said he would not comment.
Natural events such as drought also hurt the salmon population by increasing water temperature. Since 2015 water regulators have put new requirements about the amount of water Shasta Dam must carry over from year to year. The goal is to increase the amount of cold water behind the dam so the salmon can spawn in the fall. The amount has increased 400 percent since the 1970s. That is at least one success story.
In summary, the issue of whether the salmon will live involves a balancing of water resources in a political and legal climate where historically decisions have been based on who has the most to gain economically by getting the most water. Concerned scientists are trying to save the salmon but as this article illustrates it is a difficult thing to do in California.
But the salmon are at the brink of extinction. For the second consecutive year here salmon fishing has been banned in the ocean off California and in the state’s northern rivers. Salmon live in the ocean but spawn in the state’s freshwater rivers.
To blame, according to experts, is the state’s water politics and the “everyone out for themselves” attitude. Still, there are a group of scientists in California who are fighting for the salmon population’s survival and are dedicated to preserving the fish that are so much a part of the state’s natural resources.
This is not a popular cause in the Central Valley where the politics is dominated by agriculture, particularly Big Agriculture.
Any native or visitor to the Central Valley can see the signs saying “Build more dams. Stop sending water to the ocean.” And “Is growing food a waste of water?”
However, there’s another side to this story.
Dams have blocked more than 90 percent of the salmon’s original spawning grounds. This impact hits hard on the fishery especially in the coldest river stretches upstream.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates dams as part of the Central Valley Project, did not respond to a request for comment. The CVP on the Valley’s West Side delivers water for agriculture as well as drinking water for cities.
Also levees greatly hurt the salmon population. While the levees protect our homes, they have erased virtually all---95 percent---of the floodplain where salmon would feed before heading out to sea.
NEWS ANALYSIS
What’s more the San Joaquin Delta that feeds into ocean created 1,100 miles of levees virtually wiping out---95 percent gone---of original wetlands vital to the salmon’s thriving. Other examples of disappearing wetlands are Pixley Lake and Tulare Lake. Tulare Lake only came back to life after last year’s unusually heavy rainfall.
The odds of salmon maturing from a fertilized egg to a living fish are extremely slim. Of the 5,000
fertilized eggs that an adult pair produce, 99.96 percent fail to produce. The idea is that if .04 percent grow up in the ocean and a pair lives to return to spawn in freshwater then success has been achieved.
Those offspring then struggle to make their way downstream to return to San Francisco Bay. As the fingerlings swim through the Delta they face multiple predators when years ago their only adversary was the pikeminnow.
Now young salmon, besides facing pikeminnow, have three different strains of bass and two different strains of catfish to contend with.
The state Bay-Delta Plan which is supposed to regulate the Delta hasn’t been updated in some time and it will be years before a new plan is adopted.
In September 2023 the state Water Resources Control Board released a draft Staff Report for possible updates to the plan and made it available for public comment, Courtney Hoyt, assistant legislative director of the board, told Assemblyman Devon Mathis’ office.
Hoyt said a draft regulatory text of the updates will be available for public comment this summer or fall. There will also be public workshops on the plan updates, she said. It won’t be until the first quarter of 2025, Hoyt said, that the draft of the final update will be available for the public to view. She recommended an email subscription (https://waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email _subscriptions/) for people who want to be informed about the Bay-Delta Plan changes.
Large water projects are also a threat to the young salmon. The Central Valley Project and the state Water Project operate under federal pumping regulations that permit the taking of 1.2 percent of the most endangered salmon of all, the juveniles.
Westlands Water District benefits greatly from Central Valley Project water and is a powerful force for farmers. VHL Future asked Westlands about the regulations permitting the taking of juveniles and the district’s responsibility in this practice. Initially Westlands said it would respond but did not do so. VHL Future again asked Westlands today to respond. If the district does so, this story will be updated.
If the juveniles are lucky enough to reach the ocean, the regulation of this population is difficult and almost beyond regulation.
Experts have to determine how many salmon are swimming in the ocean off California, a difficult task.
“Salmon forecasting in general is very difficult, this is not unique to the Sacramento system,” said
Will Satterthwaite, a research scientist with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
“In both 2023 and 2024, the preseason forecast was high enough that the default ‘control rule’ would have allowed a small fishery.” He said various interest groups made arguments for and against having a fishery. “Ultimately,” Satterthwaite said, “…the decision of the Council was no ocean fishery off California;
similarly the Fish and Game Commission decided against a river fishery. While both low forecasts and recent forecast error no doubt played a part in that decision, so did other factors involving considerations around conservation, economics and likely political messaging.”
The closure of the fishery is an indication that things are not going well.
In 2021 a canal failure in Butte Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River, caused a temperature spike killing off more than 90 percent of the adults before they could spawn. Pacific Gas & Electric was said to be at fault. A spokesman for the company in Fresno said he would not comment.
Natural events such as drought also hurt the salmon population by increasing water temperature. Since 2015 water regulators have put new requirements about the amount of water Shasta Dam must carry over from year to year. The goal is to increase the amount of cold water behind the dam so the salmon can spawn in the fall. The amount has increased 400 percent since the 1970s. That is at least one success story.
In summary, the issue of whether the salmon will live involves a balancing of water resources in a political and legal climate where historically decisions have been based on who has the most to gain economically by getting the most water. Concerned scientists are trying to save the salmon but as this article illustrates it is a difficult thing to do in California.
New hangars allow for expansion at NAS Lemoore;
new squadrons coming from bases around world
Posted 7/22/24 4:55 pm
LEMOORE – The VFA-115 Eagles will be the first among many squadrons to relocate from military installations across the world to a new hangar at NAS Lemoore, said Sarah Thrasher, base public information officer.
The Eagles, who currently fly the F/A 18E Super Hornet, will be transitioning to the newer, more advanced F35C at Lemoore, she said.
The Eagles are coming late this summer from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan to Lemoore’s new hangar which was recently completed by Harper Construction at a cost of $101,741,289. This is the second newly constructed hangar at the base.
The new hangars mark a significant upgrade for NAS Lemoore. Some of the hangars date from the late 1960s, said Thrasher.
The new hangars, she said, incorporate technology needed for the F35C program as well as more modules for each squadron. A squadron consists of 12 to 24 aircraft.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the hangar is set for Tuesday (7/23) at 9 am.
Regarding Lemoore’s expansion no figures were immediately available on how much the new personnel and equipment to be based at Lemoore will add to the local economy.
When they become available the story will be updated.
Overall the base generates $947 million for Kings County based on 2019 figures on the base’s website but that number is likely higher now given the base’s expansion.
Lemoore is the Navy’s largest Master Jet Base.
“The expansion underscores NAS Lemoore’s commitment to providing modern facilities that support the evolving needs of fighter squadrons…,” she said.
The addition to the existing Hangar 6 will double the Navy’s F-35C fleet capacity at NAS Lemoore, said Captain Barrett “Farva” Smith, Commander of the Joint Strike Fighter Wing.
Based at Lemoore is the Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing, according to the base’s website.
More than half of the Navy’s FA-18E /F Super Hornet aircraft are based here. Lemoore is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II, according to the website.
Lemoore has 16 operational strike fighter squadrons, two fleet replacement squadrons, one search and rescue squadron and four west coast Air Wing Commands and staff, according to the website.
A carrier air wing is composed of several aircraft squadrons.
The Eagles, who currently fly the F/A 18E Super Hornet, will be transitioning to the newer, more advanced F35C at Lemoore, she said.
The Eagles are coming late this summer from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan to Lemoore’s new hangar which was recently completed by Harper Construction at a cost of $101,741,289. This is the second newly constructed hangar at the base.
The new hangars mark a significant upgrade for NAS Lemoore. Some of the hangars date from the late 1960s, said Thrasher.
The new hangars, she said, incorporate technology needed for the F35C program as well as more modules for each squadron. A squadron consists of 12 to 24 aircraft.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the hangar is set for Tuesday (7/23) at 9 am.
Regarding Lemoore’s expansion no figures were immediately available on how much the new personnel and equipment to be based at Lemoore will add to the local economy.
When they become available the story will be updated.
Overall the base generates $947 million for Kings County based on 2019 figures on the base’s website but that number is likely higher now given the base’s expansion.
Lemoore is the Navy’s largest Master Jet Base.
“The expansion underscores NAS Lemoore’s commitment to providing modern facilities that support the evolving needs of fighter squadrons…,” she said.
The addition to the existing Hangar 6 will double the Navy’s F-35C fleet capacity at NAS Lemoore, said Captain Barrett “Farva” Smith, Commander of the Joint Strike Fighter Wing.
Based at Lemoore is the Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing, according to the base’s website.
More than half of the Navy’s FA-18E /F Super Hornet aircraft are based here. Lemoore is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II, according to the website.
Lemoore has 16 operational strike fighter squadrons, two fleet replacement squadrons, one search and rescue squadron and four west coast Air Wing Commands and staff, according to the website.
A carrier air wing is composed of several aircraft squadrons.
Longtime police captain sues Hanford in demotion case
Posted 7/18/24 6:14 pm
HANFORD – Longtime Hanford Police Captain Karl Anderson currently on administrative leave is seeking money from the city for harm suffered due to actions by the police department and City Manager Mario Cifuentez. Anderson is also seeking attorneys’ fees.
The lawsuit alleges Cifuentez retaliated against Anderson for opposing an action to benefit one of Cifuentez’s friends. Prior to the claim and lawsuit Anderson had received outstanding performance evaluation and pay raises, according to the suit.
Anderson has 17 years of experience in local law enforcement and also worked for the Kings County Sheriff’s Office.
The lawsuit also alleges that Cifuentez had one of his friends, former top county administrator Larry Spikes, file a bogus complaint against Anderson with the sheriff’s office.
The lawsuit largely mirrors the administrative claim filed against the city. The city routinely rejects all such claims. The claim has been reported on extensively in a previous article also on this website.
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore law firm in San Francisco is handling the city’s defense, said City Attorney Ty Mizote. They could not be reached for comment but when the respond this article will be updated.
The lawsuit filed July 3 said City Manager Cifuentez told then Police Chief Parker Sever to investigate Anderson and have him fired. The reason, according to the suit, was Anderson opposed a north Hanford annexation which Anderson alleges benefitted one of Cifuentez’s friends, Jeb Headrick.
The item was pulled from the city council’s agenda after Anderson asked Mayor Travis Paden to do so because none of the residents in the proposed annexation area had been properly informed, the lawsuit said.
Then Police Chief Parker Sever refused to fire Anderson, who was head of the police’s operations division, because Sever said, according to the lawsuit, said that Anderson had done nothing wrong.
Later, after Sever moved to Utah, Acting Chief Jack Amoroso stripped Anderson of his oversight of the SWAT Team and later he stripped Anderson of the command of the Operations Division, according to the suit. The suit alleges Amoroso pressured Anderson to change a report about the excessive use of force by another officer. Anderson refused to do so, according to the suit.
The suit alleges that Anderson’s removal as head of the Operations Division was a violation of the Police Officer Bill of Rights Act.
The lawsuit also discusses a complaint filed with the Kings County Sheriff’s Office about allegations that Anderson improperly purchased his home. The complaint was filed by Spikes, retiredadministrative officer of the county, who was a friend of Cifuentez, according to the suit.
There were also allegations against Anderson for filing a false Form 700 and an Elder Abuse complaint, according to the suit.
The suit alleges that the complaints were filed the same day Anderson testified in a sexual harassment case against the city that was filed by Paula Lofgren, former city finance director.
That lawsuit is still pending.
Anderson was subsequently cleared of the Form 700 complaint by the state Department of Justice, according to the suit. The state Fair Political Practices Commission requires public officials to disclose gifts on Form 700.
After Stephanie Huddleston became on January 22, the suit alleges that Cifuentez ordered the chief to have a captain and a lieutenant pick up a retired police dog named Krash from the handler’s house and take him to a veterinarian in Lemoore.
There was a dispute between the city and the handler over signing a new handler agreement. The healthy dog was euthanized in Anderson’s arms without out Anderson having any prior knowledge about what was going to be done to the animal, according to the suit. Anderson was traumatized by this event, according to the suit.
The euthanization of Krash caused an outcry in the community including on social media and more than 10 residents criticized the city’s actions at a city council meeting following Krash’s demise.
The suit alleges Cifuentez and City Public Information Officer Brian Johnson issued a series false press releases regarding the dog issue. One falsely stated that the dog had been sick. The suit also alleges that another false press release was issued by Cifuentez and Johnson stating the Huddleston had done an extensive review of the budget and “discovered” that the program was costing too much and needed to be cancelled.
On April 2, 2024 Anderson was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation of allegations of harassment by Anderson. The suit alleges the action on leave is a violation of the Police Officer’s Bill of Rights.
Anderson is seeking a jury trial. After the city files its answer, both sides will conduct discovery.
The lawsuit alleges Cifuentez retaliated against Anderson for opposing an action to benefit one of Cifuentez’s friends. Prior to the claim and lawsuit Anderson had received outstanding performance evaluation and pay raises, according to the suit.
Anderson has 17 years of experience in local law enforcement and also worked for the Kings County Sheriff’s Office.
The lawsuit also alleges that Cifuentez had one of his friends, former top county administrator Larry Spikes, file a bogus complaint against Anderson with the sheriff’s office.
The lawsuit largely mirrors the administrative claim filed against the city. The city routinely rejects all such claims. The claim has been reported on extensively in a previous article also on this website.
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore law firm in San Francisco is handling the city’s defense, said City Attorney Ty Mizote. They could not be reached for comment but when the respond this article will be updated.
The lawsuit filed July 3 said City Manager Cifuentez told then Police Chief Parker Sever to investigate Anderson and have him fired. The reason, according to the suit, was Anderson opposed a north Hanford annexation which Anderson alleges benefitted one of Cifuentez’s friends, Jeb Headrick.
The item was pulled from the city council’s agenda after Anderson asked Mayor Travis Paden to do so because none of the residents in the proposed annexation area had been properly informed, the lawsuit said.
Then Police Chief Parker Sever refused to fire Anderson, who was head of the police’s operations division, because Sever said, according to the lawsuit, said that Anderson had done nothing wrong.
Later, after Sever moved to Utah, Acting Chief Jack Amoroso stripped Anderson of his oversight of the SWAT Team and later he stripped Anderson of the command of the Operations Division, according to the suit. The suit alleges Amoroso pressured Anderson to change a report about the excessive use of force by another officer. Anderson refused to do so, according to the suit.
The suit alleges that Anderson’s removal as head of the Operations Division was a violation of the Police Officer Bill of Rights Act.
The lawsuit also discusses a complaint filed with the Kings County Sheriff’s Office about allegations that Anderson improperly purchased his home. The complaint was filed by Spikes, retiredadministrative officer of the county, who was a friend of Cifuentez, according to the suit.
There were also allegations against Anderson for filing a false Form 700 and an Elder Abuse complaint, according to the suit.
The suit alleges that the complaints were filed the same day Anderson testified in a sexual harassment case against the city that was filed by Paula Lofgren, former city finance director.
That lawsuit is still pending.
Anderson was subsequently cleared of the Form 700 complaint by the state Department of Justice, according to the suit. The state Fair Political Practices Commission requires public officials to disclose gifts on Form 700.
After Stephanie Huddleston became on January 22, the suit alleges that Cifuentez ordered the chief to have a captain and a lieutenant pick up a retired police dog named Krash from the handler’s house and take him to a veterinarian in Lemoore.
There was a dispute between the city and the handler over signing a new handler agreement. The healthy dog was euthanized in Anderson’s arms without out Anderson having any prior knowledge about what was going to be done to the animal, according to the suit. Anderson was traumatized by this event, according to the suit.
The euthanization of Krash caused an outcry in the community including on social media and more than 10 residents criticized the city’s actions at a city council meeting following Krash’s demise.
The suit alleges Cifuentez and City Public Information Officer Brian Johnson issued a series false press releases regarding the dog issue. One falsely stated that the dog had been sick. The suit also alleges that another false press release was issued by Cifuentez and Johnson stating the Huddleston had done an extensive review of the budget and “discovered” that the program was costing too much and needed to be cancelled.
On April 2, 2024 Anderson was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation of allegations of harassment by Anderson. The suit alleges the action on leave is a violation of the Police Officer’s Bill of Rights.
Anderson is seeking a jury trial. After the city files its answer, both sides will conduct discovery.
HPD investigating big holdup at Walmart May 28;
cash registers removed, large amount money taken
UPDATED 6/13/24 3:45 pm
HANFORD - Police are looking for two men who fled the local Walmart here in a late evening robbery that involved several thousand dollars in cash, said Hanford Police in a press release.
The men, who were wearing masks, on May 28 removed two cash registers in the checkout area containing the money, said Hanford Police. The Walmart is located at 250 S. 12th Ave. and is one of Hanford's busiest shopping locations drawing customers not only from Hanford but from smaller towns in the surrounding area.
After taking the cash the men then fled the store and drove away in a vehicle believed to be an SUV, police said. The robbery occurred about 11:05 pm, police said. Late Tuesday evening at Walmart is typically not that busy late at night on a weekday.
Police refused to give any details on the Walmart robbery until VHL Future made a state Records Request to the city attorney yesterday (6/12/24) seeking the basic facts of the robbery.
Sheriff David Robinson said yesterday (6/12/24) that his department played a small role in the case but he could not say anything further because the matter is an ongoing investigation.
The holdup at the store involved a large amount of cash and VHL Future learned that weapons may have been involved including an ax although the police department press release did not mention the presence of weapons in the commission of the robbery.
Walmart Corporate did not respond to a request for comment by VHL Future.
The robbery in Hanford was reportedly part of a string of other Walmart robberies in different areas of the state, however, this has not been confirmed.
Police departments in areas with one or more Walmarts in Sacramento, Dinuba, Selma, Tulare and Delano said there were no armed robberies at their stores during the early part of June. However, VHL Future will recheck with these departments about an earlier time frame, on or about May 28. Visalia Police there were no armed robberies at that city's Walmart on or about May 28.
Anthony Gamble, a spokesman for Sacramento Police, said his department received an email from the Sacramento Bee regarding a possible robbery involving an ax.
HANFORD - Police are looking for two men who fled the local Walmart here in a late evening robbery that involved several thousand dollars in cash, said Hanford Police in a press release.
The men, who were wearing masks, on May 28 removed two cash registers in the checkout area containing the money, said Hanford Police. The Walmart is located at 250 S. 12th Ave. and is one of Hanford's busiest shopping locations drawing customers not only from Hanford but from smaller towns in the surrounding area.
After taking the cash the men then fled the store and drove away in a vehicle believed to be an SUV, police said. The robbery occurred about 11:05 pm, police said. Late Tuesday evening at Walmart is typically not that busy late at night on a weekday.
Police refused to give any details on the Walmart robbery until VHL Future made a state Records Request to the city attorney yesterday (6/12/24) seeking the basic facts of the robbery.
Sheriff David Robinson said yesterday (6/12/24) that his department played a small role in the case but he could not say anything further because the matter is an ongoing investigation.
The holdup at the store involved a large amount of cash and VHL Future learned that weapons may have been involved including an ax although the police department press release did not mention the presence of weapons in the commission of the robbery.
Walmart Corporate did not respond to a request for comment by VHL Future.
The robbery in Hanford was reportedly part of a string of other Walmart robberies in different areas of the state, however, this has not been confirmed.
Police departments in areas with one or more Walmarts in Sacramento, Dinuba, Selma, Tulare and Delano said there were no armed robberies at their stores during the early part of June. However, VHL Future will recheck with these departments about an earlier time frame, on or about May 28. Visalia Police there were no armed robberies at that city's Walmart on or about May 28.
Anthony Gamble, a spokesman for Sacramento Police, said his department received an email from the Sacramento Bee regarding a possible robbery involving an ax.
Video of HPD patrol units that responded to Dutch Brothers on West Lacey after stolen vehicle spotted.
Arrest man at drive through window for possession of stolen car
Posted 6/9/24 3:18 pm
HANFORD – Police arrested a suspect while at the drive through of a West Hanford coffee shop on Sunday (6/9/24) morning and charged him with felony possession of a stolen vehicle, police said.
“He was at (the) window,” said Corporal Sean Crain. “(We) surrounded him at that point.”
The arrest occurred at the Dutch Brothers at 1791 W. Lacey Boulevard about 10:50 am, said Crain.
He identified the suspect as Erik Delgado, 19, of Hanford. Delgado was taken into custody without incident, said Crain.
There was a female passenger in the vehicle but she was not charged and had no knowledge of the theft, he said.
Police were able to track down the vehicle at Dutch Brothers because they maintain a list of recently stolen vehicles on their patrol unit computers, Crain said. An officer spotted the 2017 Kia Optima at the coffee shop, he said.
Since effecting such an arrest is considered “high risk,” Crain said the whole shift---six patrol units---responded. The patrol units cornered off the suspect, he said.
The vehicle had been reported stolen from a residence at 11th Avenue and Hume on June 5, Crain said.
When police retrieved the vehicle it had to be ferried to the tow yard on a flat bed truck because the ignition had been punched out.
The owner, Crain said, will be notified to retrieve the vehicle.
Delgado had been previously arrested for evading police and drug possession, Crain said.
“He was at (the) window,” said Corporal Sean Crain. “(We) surrounded him at that point.”
The arrest occurred at the Dutch Brothers at 1791 W. Lacey Boulevard about 10:50 am, said Crain.
He identified the suspect as Erik Delgado, 19, of Hanford. Delgado was taken into custody without incident, said Crain.
There was a female passenger in the vehicle but she was not charged and had no knowledge of the theft, he said.
Police were able to track down the vehicle at Dutch Brothers because they maintain a list of recently stolen vehicles on their patrol unit computers, Crain said. An officer spotted the 2017 Kia Optima at the coffee shop, he said.
Since effecting such an arrest is considered “high risk,” Crain said the whole shift---six patrol units---responded. The patrol units cornered off the suspect, he said.
The vehicle had been reported stolen from a residence at 11th Avenue and Hume on June 5, Crain said.
When police retrieved the vehicle it had to be ferried to the tow yard on a flat bed truck because the ignition had been punched out.
The owner, Crain said, will be notified to retrieve the vehicle.
Delgado had been previously arrested for evading police and drug possession, Crain said.
9 people, 1 trapped kitten, a new life
POSTED 6/7/24 3:04 pm PDT
HANFORD – The saying goes, “Cats have nine lives.” Well for a brief moment the last few days nine figured into the life of a little gray kitten named Enterprise or Ente for short.
Nine people cooperated to save this kitten’s life who is possibly four weeks old.
This week (6/22/24) the Central Valley was in a heat dome with triple digit temperatures. If the kitten had not be saved, it would have surely died.
It all started Monday, June 3, when Patricia Pratter of Hanford, a commuter on an Enterpise van, spotted the kitten crying under her car at the van pickup point at the Loew’s parking lot.
Pratter attempted to rescue the kitten, but couldn’t accomplish it.
The next day, after work when the van returned to Loew’s, Pratter and her friend and fellow commuter Kimberly Carson of Visalia made another rescue attempt.
This time the kitten was hiding under a plate behind the rear wheels of one of the Enterprise vans parked at Loew’s.
Carson went to get cat food and cat treats to lure the kitten out. But despite attempts by Carson, Pratter and her husband Mark, the author of this article, the kitten couldn’t be lured out to where his rescuers could reach him.
The next morning Mark Pratter called Hanford Animal Control. And with the help of Hanford Police Dispatch, he met officers Brook Wilkinson and Crystal Gonzalez at Loew’s. The officers both crawled under the van in an attempt to grab the kitten who was still hiding under the plate.
Then Officer Wilkinson thought maybe if she had a flexible probe, she could get the kitten out.
Meanwhile, Mark Pratter called Enterprise in Fresno and explained to Warren that if the van could be jacked up animal control might have a better shot at rescuing the kitten. Wilkinson walked over to Loew’s. Warren said he would call a towing company.
Inside, by chance Wilkinson met store manager Jennifer Twarynski. A discussion ensued about what would be the appropriate object to accomplish the task and it turned out to be a fly swatter.
Amigos Towing of Hanford arrived and within minutes the driver, Diego G. (the company didn’t want to give his last name), quickly raised the vehicle. Then, Wilkinson, wearing a glove, grabbed the kitten who she popped into a waiting carrier.
Ente now lives in the laundry room of the Pratter’s household until he gets used to his new surroundings. He is eating kitten food, wet food, has a litter box and a soft towel to rest on.
The other cats in the house are curious about him sniffing under the laundry room door but they will not be able to satisfy their curiosity for a few days.
HANFORD – The saying goes, “Cats have nine lives.” Well for a brief moment the last few days nine figured into the life of a little gray kitten named Enterprise or Ente for short.
Nine people cooperated to save this kitten’s life who is possibly four weeks old.
This week (6/22/24) the Central Valley was in a heat dome with triple digit temperatures. If the kitten had not be saved, it would have surely died.
It all started Monday, June 3, when Patricia Pratter of Hanford, a commuter on an Enterpise van, spotted the kitten crying under her car at the van pickup point at the Loew’s parking lot.
Pratter attempted to rescue the kitten, but couldn’t accomplish it.
The next day, after work when the van returned to Loew’s, Pratter and her friend and fellow commuter Kimberly Carson of Visalia made another rescue attempt.
This time the kitten was hiding under a plate behind the rear wheels of one of the Enterprise vans parked at Loew’s.
Carson went to get cat food and cat treats to lure the kitten out. But despite attempts by Carson, Pratter and her husband Mark, the author of this article, the kitten couldn’t be lured out to where his rescuers could reach him.
The next morning Mark Pratter called Hanford Animal Control. And with the help of Hanford Police Dispatch, he met officers Brook Wilkinson and Crystal Gonzalez at Loew’s. The officers both crawled under the van in an attempt to grab the kitten who was still hiding under the plate.
Then Officer Wilkinson thought maybe if she had a flexible probe, she could get the kitten out.
Meanwhile, Mark Pratter called Enterprise in Fresno and explained to Warren that if the van could be jacked up animal control might have a better shot at rescuing the kitten. Wilkinson walked over to Loew’s. Warren said he would call a towing company.
Inside, by chance Wilkinson met store manager Jennifer Twarynski. A discussion ensued about what would be the appropriate object to accomplish the task and it turned out to be a fly swatter.
Amigos Towing of Hanford arrived and within minutes the driver, Diego G. (the company didn’t want to give his last name), quickly raised the vehicle. Then, Wilkinson, wearing a glove, grabbed the kitten who she popped into a waiting carrier.
Ente now lives in the laundry room of the Pratter’s household until he gets used to his new surroundings. He is eating kitten food, wet food, has a litter box and a soft towel to rest on.
The other cats in the house are curious about him sniffing under the laundry room door but they will not be able to satisfy their curiosity for a few days.
High-ranking HPD official seeking $1 million in damages from city
POSTED 10:35 PM 5/21/24
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HANFORD – A former high-ranking Hanford police captain, who at one time was seeking to become chief, last week filed a claim against the city claiming $1 million in damages including emotional distress and special damages, according to the claim.
The city put Karl Anderson, who has 17 year’s experience in law enforcement, on paid administrative leave on April 2, 2024 “pending completion of an investigation into allegations of harassment,” according to the claim.
Mayor Travis Paden was contacted by telephone this evening (May 21) regarding the claim which included allegations of city council voting to financially benefit a friend of City Manager Mario Cifuentez.
Paden responded by text message that he wanted to call later. Shortly thereafter he sent a text message saying he couldn’t comment because the claim was a personnel matter. When Paden was texted whether he had read the claim, he texted,” I have no comment. I’d refer you to our city staff at this time.”
The claim alleges that after Anderson questioned an annexation that would benefit Cifuentez’s friend Jeb Headrick, a farmer, with city-supplied water, Cifuentez ordered the Police Chief Parker Sever to “investigate” and “terminate” Anderson. Anderson also lived in the area to be annexed.
Sever, according to the claim, refused stating: “I can’t. Karl did not violate policy and did nothing wrong.”
Anderson, according to the claim, was then being investigated by Assistant Sheriff Robert Thayer over an allegation made by Cifuentez’s friend, former county administrator Larry Spikes, that Anderson had improperly purchased his home.
This was the same day, September 8, 2023, that Anderson testified in the sexual harassment suit against Cifuentez filed by former city finance director Paula Lofgren.
In addition to sexual harassment, Lofgren claimed discrimination and harassment.
City Attorney Ty Mizote told the council May 7 that five of ten allegations---including sexual harassment--- in Lofgren’s suit have been dismissed. All the causes of action against Cifuentez, Mizote said, have been dismissed. However, the case, Mizote said, is still going to trial in Kings Superior Court.
Meanwhile, Anderson’s claim said Interim Police Chief Jack Amoroso told him to change (i.e. falsify) a report about an officer using excessive force. The officer was recorded kicking a suspect who had dropped his weapon and surrendered and kicked the suspect violently hitting the suspect on the side of his body and head, according to the claim.
Anderson told Amoroso that he would not change his report.
Amoroso then stripped Anderson of his command of the operations division, according to the claim.
When Anderson was interviewed for the chief of police position on December 14, 2023, Cifuentez, who was on the interview panel, against raised the allegation about the purchase of Anderson’s home, according to the claim.
The city selected Captain Stephanie Huddleston as chief in January 2024. The claim alleged that Huddleston had only eight months of experience as a captain. The claim also alleges that Huddleston ordered an officer, who was a friend of hers, who had been fired for misconduct to be rehired.
Anderson was then assigned to supervise dispatch and records employees, according to the claim.
FOR FULL 947-WORD VERSION OF THIS STORY PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. YOU CAN GET STARTED FOR $3 FOR FIRST THREE MONTHS. TO SUBSCRIBE PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected].
HANFORD – A former high-ranking Hanford police captain, who at one time was seeking to become chief, last week filed a claim against the city claiming $1 million in damages including emotional distress and special damages, according to the claim.
The city put Karl Anderson, who has 17 year’s experience in law enforcement, on paid administrative leave on April 2, 2024 “pending completion of an investigation into allegations of harassment,” according to the claim.
Mayor Travis Paden was contacted by telephone this evening (May 21) regarding the claim which included allegations of city council voting to financially benefit a friend of City Manager Mario Cifuentez.
Paden responded by text message that he wanted to call later. Shortly thereafter he sent a text message saying he couldn’t comment because the claim was a personnel matter. When Paden was texted whether he had read the claim, he texted,” I have no comment. I’d refer you to our city staff at this time.”
The claim alleges that after Anderson questioned an annexation that would benefit Cifuentez’s friend Jeb Headrick, a farmer, with city-supplied water, Cifuentez ordered the Police Chief Parker Sever to “investigate” and “terminate” Anderson. Anderson also lived in the area to be annexed.
Sever, according to the claim, refused stating: “I can’t. Karl did not violate policy and did nothing wrong.”
Anderson, according to the claim, was then being investigated by Assistant Sheriff Robert Thayer over an allegation made by Cifuentez’s friend, former county administrator Larry Spikes, that Anderson had improperly purchased his home.
This was the same day, September 8, 2023, that Anderson testified in the sexual harassment suit against Cifuentez filed by former city finance director Paula Lofgren.
In addition to sexual harassment, Lofgren claimed discrimination and harassment.
City Attorney Ty Mizote told the council May 7 that five of ten allegations---including sexual harassment--- in Lofgren’s suit have been dismissed. All the causes of action against Cifuentez, Mizote said, have been dismissed. However, the case, Mizote said, is still going to trial in Kings Superior Court.
Meanwhile, Anderson’s claim said Interim Police Chief Jack Amoroso told him to change (i.e. falsify) a report about an officer using excessive force. The officer was recorded kicking a suspect who had dropped his weapon and surrendered and kicked the suspect violently hitting the suspect on the side of his body and head, according to the claim.
Anderson told Amoroso that he would not change his report.
Amoroso then stripped Anderson of his command of the operations division, according to the claim.
When Anderson was interviewed for the chief of police position on December 14, 2023, Cifuentez, who was on the interview panel, against raised the allegation about the purchase of Anderson’s home, according to the claim.
The city selected Captain Stephanie Huddleston as chief in January 2024. The claim alleged that Huddleston had only eight months of experience as a captain. The claim also alleges that Huddleston ordered an officer, who was a friend of hers, who had been fired for misconduct to be rehired.
Anderson was then assigned to supervise dispatch and records employees, according to the claim.
High-ranking HPD official put on administrative leave
POSTED 4/27/24 UUpdated 2:42 pm
HANFORD – Longtime Hanford Police Captain Karl Anderson has been put on administrative leave,
according to informed sources.
The action occurred sometime after January 1, according to the sources.
When City Spokesman Brian Johnson was asked about this earlier this month and today, he did not return two phone calls on the subject.
In addition, Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future about two weeks ago filed a state Records Request for written information pertaining to Anderson’s status and who took over his duties.
The city responded April 26 sending material non-responsive to Anderson's current status with the department.
The city has not stated that Anderson is on leave and has not announced who has taken over his responsibilities, which, according to his LinkedIn Profile, included management and leadership of police department operations and management and leadership of investigations.
Anderson also supervised the school resource officer, the records division, police dispatch, training and the administration division, according to his profile.
Whether the action towards Anderson has anything to do with the controversy surrounding the euthanization of the retired Hanford Police dog Krash is not clear.
Anderson was involved in the handling of the dog’s demise, according to informed sources.
HPD has come under criticism from the public during city council meetings earlier this year regarding the euthanization of Krash who died on January 31, 2024.
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Arraign today in Hanford homicide case
POSTED 5/22/24 8:02 am
HANFORD – Police have found a 67-year-old woman’s body locked in a closet of a home on Encore Drive. A suspect, who is a relative, is in custody.
The arraignment of Kelli Yingling, 37, is scheduled today. She was charged with homicide.
Police said an autopsy May 20 revealed signs of strangulation. The victim was identified as Peggi Ann Yingling, according to a criminal complaint filed by Kings County prosecutors.
Her body was wrapped in plastic bags in the closet and was starting to decompose, Hanford Police Lt. Justin Vallin told a local tv station.
Earlier, after a neighbor didn’t see the woman, police were called for a welfare check.
That’s when they found the body.
Kelli Yingling was already in custody on a pursuit warrant, and she was also charged with homicide, police said.
Neighbors told the tv station that while the neighborhood was quiet, police have been to the home before regarding arguments.
Neighbors described the victim as very quiet and introverted. Sometimes she would ask neighbors
for a ride to the store or to the doctor’s office.
HANFORD – Police have found a 67-year-old woman’s body locked in a closet of a home on Encore Drive. A suspect, who is a relative, is in custody.
The arraignment of Kelli Yingling, 37, is scheduled today. She was charged with homicide.
Police said an autopsy May 20 revealed signs of strangulation. The victim was identified as Peggi Ann Yingling, according to a criminal complaint filed by Kings County prosecutors.
Her body was wrapped in plastic bags in the closet and was starting to decompose, Hanford Police Lt. Justin Vallin told a local tv station.
Earlier, after a neighbor didn’t see the woman, police were called for a welfare check.
That’s when they found the body.
Kelli Yingling was already in custody on a pursuit warrant, and she was also charged with homicide, police said.
Neighbors told the tv station that while the neighborhood was quiet, police have been to the home before regarding arguments.
Neighbors described the victim as very quiet and introverted. Sometimes she would ask neighbors
for a ride to the store or to the doctor’s office.
Many questions remain unanswered regarding Krash
POSTED 4/14/24 4:28 pm 3 minute read
Editor's note: As a courtesy to readers because of the interest in this story the full 450-word version is being offered free.
HANFORD – The city said for legal reasons it had no choice but to euthanize its retired K-9 Krash but the action continues to spark public criticism that the city acted wrongly without exploring all of its options.
Although April 11 the city issued a statement regarding its reasons for the euthanasia of Krash, Hanford Police Chief Stephanie Huddleston refused to meet with a reporter to answer questions about the handling of the incident. Instead she referred all questions to City Spokesman Brian Johnson who emailed a statement on the matter. He said in a subsequent phone call with a reporter.
NEWS ANALYSIS
Johnson said that that was all the city was going to say on the matter.
The reporter’s questions were focused on trying to determine the timeline for various actions in the case and a more detailed inquiry into the legal rationale for why the city acted the way it did.
This incident is one of a series in the last several years that shows the city may acknowledge public criticisms of its actions but does not appear to change policy much in the wake of public protest over a certain policy or agenda.
In this case the city refers to City Manager Mario Cifuentez, some members of his staff and various members of the city council who make up a voting majority on the council. The members of this majority change depending on the issue.
Examples of not changing policy include Northstar mixed Housing project in North Hanford, the downtown roundabouts controversy on March 19, fees and policies at the Longfield Center recreation facility on the South Side and the prioritization of Heroes Park on Hanford’s east side rather than making the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park on the North Side into park space.
Regarding the information deficit involving Krash, there have been at least two separate state Public records requests to get documents pertaining to this case. One was by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper and one was by Denise Parks who spoke at the April 2 city council meeting.
Shortly before January 31 when Krash, who was four years old, was euthanized, acting Police Chief Jack Amoroso said the city had to act because it received a letter from the attorney from the Hanford Police Officers’ Association demanding Krash be taken from his handler. Krash, a Belgian Malinois, had been living with the handler and his wife after Krash had been retired due to a muscle injury, said the city and veterinarian Dr. Lee Fausett who cared for Krash but did not euthanize him. Krash had been euthanized by a veterinarian in the area whom the city would not name.
Krash had to be euthanized, said Johnson’s statement, because all the other K-9 handlers except Krash’s agreed with the city’s “Conditions of Canine Acceptance.”
Among the provisions of that agreement is a clause stating only the handler can take care of a retired dog but if any of the requirements of the agreement are violated the city “…has to right to seize canine (place of name) from your possession and undertake to have the animal destroyed.”
The city said the agreement “…reflects the City’s commitment to protecting public safety and creates a structure that provides for the seamless transfer of police K-9 to K-9 handler.
The dog must be leashed by the handler when in public, the agreement said. Krash had been previously involved in an on-duty biting incident involving an innocent bystander, said Johnson’s statement.
But Fausett said in a previous VHL Future article (2-1-3-16-24) “They tried (to save Krash) as far as many options they knew. But I don’t think they knew every option.”
Fausett said, “I think the dog deserved a better process. The process and the system did not serve the dog very well. (We are) stewards of their lives.”
Editor's note: As a courtesy to readers because of the interest in this story the full 450-word version is being offered free.
HANFORD – The city said for legal reasons it had no choice but to euthanize its retired K-9 Krash but the action continues to spark public criticism that the city acted wrongly without exploring all of its options.
Although April 11 the city issued a statement regarding its reasons for the euthanasia of Krash, Hanford Police Chief Stephanie Huddleston refused to meet with a reporter to answer questions about the handling of the incident. Instead she referred all questions to City Spokesman Brian Johnson who emailed a statement on the matter. He said in a subsequent phone call with a reporter.
NEWS ANALYSIS
Johnson said that that was all the city was going to say on the matter.
The reporter’s questions were focused on trying to determine the timeline for various actions in the case and a more detailed inquiry into the legal rationale for why the city acted the way it did.
This incident is one of a series in the last several years that shows the city may acknowledge public criticisms of its actions but does not appear to change policy much in the wake of public protest over a certain policy or agenda.
In this case the city refers to City Manager Mario Cifuentez, some members of his staff and various members of the city council who make up a voting majority on the council. The members of this majority change depending on the issue.
Examples of not changing policy include Northstar mixed Housing project in North Hanford, the downtown roundabouts controversy on March 19, fees and policies at the Longfield Center recreation facility on the South Side and the prioritization of Heroes Park on Hanford’s east side rather than making the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park on the North Side into park space.
Regarding the information deficit involving Krash, there have been at least two separate state Public records requests to get documents pertaining to this case. One was by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper and one was by Denise Parks who spoke at the April 2 city council meeting.
Shortly before January 31 when Krash, who was four years old, was euthanized, acting Police Chief Jack Amoroso said the city had to act because it received a letter from the attorney from the Hanford Police Officers’ Association demanding Krash be taken from his handler. Krash, a Belgian Malinois, had been living with the handler and his wife after Krash had been retired due to a muscle injury, said the city and veterinarian Dr. Lee Fausett who cared for Krash but did not euthanize him. Krash had been euthanized by a veterinarian in the area whom the city would not name.
Krash had to be euthanized, said Johnson’s statement, because all the other K-9 handlers except Krash’s agreed with the city’s “Conditions of Canine Acceptance.”
Among the provisions of that agreement is a clause stating only the handler can take care of a retired dog but if any of the requirements of the agreement are violated the city “…has to right to seize canine (place of name) from your possession and undertake to have the animal destroyed.”
The city said the agreement “…reflects the City’s commitment to protecting public safety and creates a structure that provides for the seamless transfer of police K-9 to K-9 handler.
The dog must be leashed by the handler when in public, the agreement said. Krash had been previously involved in an on-duty biting incident involving an innocent bystander, said Johnson’s statement.
But Fausett said in a previous VHL Future article (2-1-3-16-24) “They tried (to save Krash) as far as many options they knew. But I don’t think they knew every option.”
Fausett said, “I think the dog deserved a better process. The process and the system did not serve the dog very well. (We are) stewards of their lives.”
Hanford Council okays downtown roundabout
Posted 3/20/24 6:43 am
HANFORD – The city council voted 3-2 Tuesday (3/19/24) to put a roundabout at 7th and Douty Street in downtown despite widespread opposition in the community including 14 speakers against the proposal at the meeting.
Voting in favor were Council Member Kalish Morrow (District B), Diane Sharp (District C) and Vice Mayor Mark Kairis (District E) with no votes from Mayor Travis Paden (District A) and Council Member Lou Martinez (District D). District D includes downtown.
Kairis hesitated for at least one minute before casting his vote.
“How could we not provide the safest option for our residents?” Sharp said.
Martinez said, “This is something we don’t know anything about. (It’s) not a question of trusting engineers. (It’s) important what the community wants.”
Paden said, “I can’t get behind three roundabouts. I can’t get behind one.” He wanted to shift the funding
to lighting, sidewalk and other improvements including addressing safety at 7th and Redington which is an even more dangerous intersection than 7th and Douty.
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HANFORD – The city council voted 3-2 Tuesday (3/19/24) to put a roundabout at 7th and Douty Street in downtown despite widespread opposition in the community including 14 speakers against the proposal at the meeting.
Voting in favor were Council Member Kalish Morrow (District B), Diane Sharp (District C) and Vice Mayor Mark Kairis (District E) with no votes from Mayor Travis Paden (District A) and Council Member Lou Martinez (District D). District D includes downtown.
Kairis hesitated for at least one minute before casting his vote.
“How could we not provide the safest option for our residents?” Sharp said.
Martinez said, “This is something we don’t know anything about. (It’s) not a question of trusting engineers. (It’s) important what the community wants.”
Paden said, “I can’t get behind three roundabouts. I can’t get behind one.” He wanted to shift the funding
to lighting, sidewalk and other improvements including addressing safety at 7th and Redington which is an even more dangerous intersection than 7th and Douty.
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Hanford Council votes to probe Councilman Martinez for possible censure
Posted 3/20/24 6:47 am
HANFORD - The council voted 4-1 Tuesday (3/20/24) to start an investigation of Council Member Lou Martinez (District D) with an eye toward possible censure.
Council Member Diane Sharp (District C) pressed for the investigation after she said matters came to light about undisclosed inappropriate activities, one of which, Martinez said, involved the downtown roundabout controversy.
Martinez was the lone no vote on initiating the investigation. Sharp said a number of complaints were lodged with the city manager regarding Martinez's activities. Asked after the meeting what they were, Sharp refused to discuss them.
One issue, Martinez said, was his attempt to attend a meeting earlier this month between city consultants on roundabouts downtown and downtown businesses. Martinez said he was barred from the meeting even though his district includes downtown. He called the investigation
into his activities "a witchhunt."
City Attorney Ty Mizote's office was charged with hiring an investigator to determine the facts involving the allegations. The investigator will file a report which will be presented to the council at which point the council will decided what action, if any, it wants to take.
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No arrests yet in Bottoms Up Hanford vandalism
Posted 3/12/24 2:37 pm
HANFORD – Police are still investigating vandalism captured on video at Bottoms Up Espresso early last Wednesday morning, said Police Corporal Chad Medeiros.
No suspects have been arrested, he said. The video shows three persons involved in the vandalism, Medeiros said.
The store has a video camera but Medeiros wasn’t sure if that was the camera that captured the incident. There are
other business in the 10th and Fargo shopping center including a gas station, a donut shop and a pizzeria.
Whether the vandalism is connected to public objections to the business or just a random act is unclear. The female Bottoms Up baristas wear bikini-type tops.
Three people were caught on video damaging an east side window shortly before 3 am on March 6, police said. The window was still boarded up with plywood on March 11.
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HANFORD – Police are still investigating vandalism captured on video at Bottoms Up Espresso early last Wednesday morning, said Police Corporal Chad Medeiros.
No suspects have been arrested, he said. The video shows three persons involved in the vandalism, Medeiros said.
The store has a video camera but Medeiros wasn’t sure if that was the camera that captured the incident. There are
other business in the 10th and Fargo shopping center including a gas station, a donut shop and a pizzeria.
Whether the vandalism is connected to public objections to the business or just a random act is unclear. The female Bottoms Up baristas wear bikini-type tops.
Three people were caught on video damaging an east side window shortly before 3 am on March 6, police said. The window was still boarded up with plywood on March 11.
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Farmers don't like fees for extracting groundwater
Posted 3/11/24 4:36 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Growers within the county, city of Hanford, Armona and other nearby areas could be charged $95 per acre foot to extract groundwater under a state scheme to stop overdrafting of groundwater basins, according to a report by a local groundwater agency.
This charge together with an additional proposed $25 per acre fee for administration of the local groundwater agency will be discussed at an April 23 local meeting.
The location of the meeting was not immediately obtainable despite numerous calls and emails to various agencies. As soon as the location is known, the story will be updated.
If a majority of the growers within the Tulare Lake Sub Basin submit a written protest against the fees, they cannot
be adopted, according to Mid Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency report.
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KINGS COUNTY – Growers within the county, city of Hanford, Armona and other nearby areas could be charged $95 per acre foot to extract groundwater under a state scheme to stop overdrafting of groundwater basins, according to a report by a local groundwater agency.
This charge together with an additional proposed $25 per acre fee for administration of the local groundwater agency will be discussed at an April 23 local meeting.
The location of the meeting was not immediately obtainable despite numerous calls and emails to various agencies. As soon as the location is known, the story will be updated.
If a majority of the growers within the Tulare Lake Sub Basin submit a written protest against the fees, they cannot
be adopted, according to Mid Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency report.
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Hanford Walmart ending selfcheckout due to theft problems
Updated 3/10/24 10:46 am
HANFORD – The Walmart here is ending self-checkout due to theft problems, according to informed sources. However, the company’s headquarters declined to confirm this via an email request for comment earlier this week.
Other Walmart stores in the area will also be ending self-checkout, said the sources.
Currently the store here at 250 S. 12th Avenue has predominantly self-checkout lanes, about 30 in all. Its customer base includes
not only Hanford and Lemoore residents but people from outlying areas such as Avenal, Coalinga, Stratford and Kettleman City.
The Internet has been full of stories about changes to Walmarts self checkout policies across the country with customers complaining the lanes are closed or only open to Walmart+ customers and Spark delivery drivers.
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HANFORD – The Walmart here is ending self-checkout due to theft problems, according to informed sources. However, the company’s headquarters declined to confirm this via an email request for comment earlier this week.
Other Walmart stores in the area will also be ending self-checkout, said the sources.
Currently the store here at 250 S. 12th Avenue has predominantly self-checkout lanes, about 30 in all. Its customer base includes
not only Hanford and Lemoore residents but people from outlying areas such as Avenal, Coalinga, Stratford and Kettleman City.
The Internet has been full of stories about changes to Walmarts self checkout policies across the country with customers complaining the lanes are closed or only open to Walmart+ customers and Spark delivery drivers.
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Hanford orders retired K-9 euthanized
Posted 2/19/24 10:46 am
HANFORD - The police ordered that a retired K-9 Krash, a Belgian Malinois, be euthanized after an attorney for the Hanford Police Officers' Association demanded in a letter that the dog be picked up, a Jack Amoroso, acting police chief.
The city, Amoroso said, tried to return the dog to the breeder that sold him to the city but the breeder did not want him.
"Unfortunate comments (were) made (as) to (the) removal of the dog," Amoroso told the council February 6. "It had to be done," he said. "It's difficult but that's what you pay us for."
But the veterinarian who cared for Krash over the years said, "I think the dog deserved a better process. The process and the system did not serve this dog very well. (We are) stewards of their lives," said Dr. Lee Fausett of Hanford Veterinary Hospital. 'They tried (to save Krash) as far as many options they knew. But I don't think they knew every option."
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The city, Amoroso said, tried to return the dog to the breeder that sold him to the city but the breeder did not want him.
"Unfortunate comments (were) made (as) to (the) removal of the dog," Amoroso told the council February 6. "It had to be done," he said. "It's difficult but that's what you pay us for."
But the veterinarian who cared for Krash over the years said, "I think the dog deserved a better process. The process and the system did not serve this dog very well. (We are) stewards of their lives," said Dr. Lee Fausett of Hanford Veterinary Hospital. 'They tried (to save Krash) as far as many options they knew. But I don't think they knew every option."
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State DOJ joins investigation of ex-DA Fagundes
Posted 2/19/24 10:40 am
KINGS COUNTY - The state Department of Justice is now involved in the criminal investigation of ex-DA Keith Fagundes, said Sheriff David Robinson.
There has been no prosecution yet but DOJ said the potential charges involving payment to relatives and other matters could rise to the level of criminal prosecution, Robinson said February 5.
“Sensitive interviews have to occur involving current and former DA employees,” he said. At some point in the investigation DOJ is going to make a decision on whether or not to prosecute, Robinson said.
Initially DOJ did not want to be involved in the case but after some additional investigation by the sheriff’s department, DOJ said the matter could rise to the level of a criminal prosecution, he said.
“It’s a joint investigation going forward,” Robinson said. Fagundes, who was defeated for a third term by former employee Sara Hacker, now works as a deputy DA in Kern County. His father is a member of the Kings County Board of Supervisors.
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There has been no prosecution yet but DOJ said the potential charges involving payment to relatives and other matters could rise to the level of criminal prosecution, Robinson said February 5.
“Sensitive interviews have to occur involving current and former DA employees,” he said. At some point in the investigation DOJ is going to make a decision on whether or not to prosecute, Robinson said.
Initially DOJ did not want to be involved in the case but after some additional investigation by the sheriff’s department, DOJ said the matter could rise to the level of a criminal prosecution, he said.
“It’s a joint investigation going forward,” Robinson said. Fagundes, who was defeated for a third term by former employee Sara Hacker, now works as a deputy DA in Kern County. His father is a member of the Kings County Board of Supervisors.
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Diane Sharp to resign from Hanford Council District C seat
POSTED 2/2/24 3:24 pm
HANFORD - The council at 7 pm Tuesday is set to discuss an upcoming vacancy for the District C Council seat now held by Council Member Diane Sharp. Sharp said today (2/2/24) she is resigning and moving out of state due to her husband's retirement.
HANFORD - The council at 7 pm Tuesday is set to discuss an upcoming vacancy for the District C Council seat now held by Council Member Diane Sharp. Sharp said today (2/2/24) she is resigning and moving out of state due to her husband's retirement.
Kings supervisorial candidates clash on homelessness
UPDATED 2/4/24 7:32 pm
SOUTH VALLEY – Rep. David Valadao, R-22, will try to retain his seat in a rematch with 2022 challenger former Assemblyman Rudy Salas.
During his previous race Republican Valadao portrayed himself as someone who could work across the aisles to solve problems.
Salas, a Democrat, has the backing of national Democrats. The race is considered high-profile, part of the national Democrats “red to blue.” Salas was a long-time assemblyman who is positioning himself as someone who will help seniors and address cost-of-living issues.
In 2022 Valadao beat Salas winning 51.7 percent of the vote with Salas getting 48.3 percent.
The 1776ers, a Kings County conservative political group, sponsored a debate in Hanford on February 2 but neither Salas or Valadao showed up. A representative of the group’s leadership said they were invited. But Kathleen Jorgensen, chair of the Kings County Democratic Party, said today (2/4/24) Democrats were not invited to the debate. Only Republican candidates for federal, state and local offices attended.
The local Republican and Democratic parties are avoiding events sponsored by the 1776ers. Both mainstream party officials consider the group too extreme, according to a source knowledgeable about local politics. "Democrats don't see the need to come, (the 1776ers are) too extreme," Jorgensen said. A spokesperson for the Kings County Republican Party headed by Vern Costa did not return a call seeking comment.
Some of the members of 1776ers are members of the John Birch Society which Wikipedia said is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right,
right-wing populist and right-wing libertarian ideas. The debate was moderated by radio host Jeff Mora who said he is a section leader for the John Birch Society. And Adam Medeiros, a candidate for the District 5 county supervisorial seat, said he is a leader of the John Birch Society in Kings County.
The debate was held at the Hanford High School Presentation Center before an audience upwards of 75 people.
Questions were submitted online and Larry Faria, a representative of the group, said the questions selected for the candidates reflected the 1776ers conservative political views.
20nd District Congressional candidate former long-time Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said when he was sheriff if someone killed a pregnant woman it was a double homicide.
“Why, when a doctor does it, is it not the same thing?” he asked.
Both Boudreaux and Chris Mathys, who previously ran against Valadao, said life begins at conception.
Mathys is running for Valadao’s 22nd District seat.
The pair also agreed that the second amendment, affording citizens the right to bear arms, should be staunchly defended. “If we lose that second amendment,” Mathys, a former Fresno City Councilman, “we are going to lose our freedom.” He said he didn’t want the United States to become like Great Britain where people can’t have firearms. (Actually, according to Wikipedia, they can have rifles and shotguns but most handguns are banned.)
“The second amendment was not written for hunting, it was written for people who had to defend themselves against tyranny,” said Boudreaux. He said there are 10,000 gun permits in Tulare County but none of the permit holders commit crimes. It’s the untold thousands without permits, he said, who commit crimes.
Teacher David A. Giglio, running for the 20th Congressional District seat, agreed with Mathy’s and Boudreaux’s positions on most of the issues discussed. In a discussion on border security, he said, the “…Democrats are firing nuclear weapons at us and we are firing back with nerf guns.” Giglio said he agreed with former President Trump that the United States should only admit the best and the brightest immigrants.
One of the few clashes among the candidates during the two-hour debate was on homelessness among Kings County Supervisor candidates Adam Medeiros and Robert Thayer.
“We have to stop being enablers,” said Medeiros, on the Kings County Board of Education. Officials have to make it difficult for a person to be homeless. He said many of the homeless were “posers” and “terrorists” hurting local communities.
Thayer, Kings County Under Sheriff, said of the homeless,”these people are not trash, they are human beings, they deserve advocacy.” He said laws are needed to define where they can camp.
“Throwing them away is not the right answer,” he said to the audience’s applause.
33rd Assembly District candidate Xavier Avila said forums such as the one presented by 1776ers offer candidates the chance to talk to real people. When candidates don’t want to talk to real people, he said, that gives an indication of how they will be in office.
The dairyman said he was the only conservative and the only pro-life candidate in the race.
Also not attending Thursday night (2/1/24) were his opponent Alexandra Macedo, Ruben Macareno, Hipolito Cerros, Angel Ruiz, 5th District Supervisioral candidate Tyler Pepe, incumbent supervisor Richard Fagundes, 20nd District Congressional candidate Vince Fong, T.J. Essposito, Marissa Wood, Mathew Stoll, Ben Dewell, Kelly Kulikoff, Kyle Kirkland and Andy Morales.
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SOUTH VALLEY – Rep. David Valadao, R-22, will try to retain his seat in a rematch with 2022 challenger former Assemblyman Rudy Salas.
During his previous race Republican Valadao portrayed himself as someone who could work across the aisles to solve problems.
Salas, a Democrat, has the backing of national Democrats. The race is considered high-profile, part of the national Democrats “red to blue.” Salas was a long-time assemblyman who is positioning himself as someone who will help seniors and address cost-of-living issues.
In 2022 Valadao beat Salas winning 51.7 percent of the vote with Salas getting 48.3 percent.
The 1776ers, a Kings County conservative political group, sponsored a debate in Hanford on February 2 but neither Salas or Valadao showed up. A representative of the group’s leadership said they were invited. But Kathleen Jorgensen, chair of the Kings County Democratic Party, said today (2/4/24) Democrats were not invited to the debate. Only Republican candidates for federal, state and local offices attended.
The local Republican and Democratic parties are avoiding events sponsored by the 1776ers. Both mainstream party officials consider the group too extreme, according to a source knowledgeable about local politics. "Democrats don't see the need to come, (the 1776ers are) too extreme," Jorgensen said. A spokesperson for the Kings County Republican Party headed by Vern Costa did not return a call seeking comment.
Some of the members of 1776ers are members of the John Birch Society which Wikipedia said is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right,
right-wing populist and right-wing libertarian ideas. The debate was moderated by radio host Jeff Mora who said he is a section leader for the John Birch Society. And Adam Medeiros, a candidate for the District 5 county supervisorial seat, said he is a leader of the John Birch Society in Kings County.
The debate was held at the Hanford High School Presentation Center before an audience upwards of 75 people.
Questions were submitted online and Larry Faria, a representative of the group, said the questions selected for the candidates reflected the 1776ers conservative political views.
20nd District Congressional candidate former long-time Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said when he was sheriff if someone killed a pregnant woman it was a double homicide.
“Why, when a doctor does it, is it not the same thing?” he asked.
Both Boudreaux and Chris Mathys, who previously ran against Valadao, said life begins at conception.
Mathys is running for Valadao’s 22nd District seat.
The pair also agreed that the second amendment, affording citizens the right to bear arms, should be staunchly defended. “If we lose that second amendment,” Mathys, a former Fresno City Councilman, “we are going to lose our freedom.” He said he didn’t want the United States to become like Great Britain where people can’t have firearms. (Actually, according to Wikipedia, they can have rifles and shotguns but most handguns are banned.)
“The second amendment was not written for hunting, it was written for people who had to defend themselves against tyranny,” said Boudreaux. He said there are 10,000 gun permits in Tulare County but none of the permit holders commit crimes. It’s the untold thousands without permits, he said, who commit crimes.
Teacher David A. Giglio, running for the 20th Congressional District seat, agreed with Mathy’s and Boudreaux’s positions on most of the issues discussed. In a discussion on border security, he said, the “…Democrats are firing nuclear weapons at us and we are firing back with nerf guns.” Giglio said he agreed with former President Trump that the United States should only admit the best and the brightest immigrants.
One of the few clashes among the candidates during the two-hour debate was on homelessness among Kings County Supervisor candidates Adam Medeiros and Robert Thayer.
“We have to stop being enablers,” said Medeiros, on the Kings County Board of Education. Officials have to make it difficult for a person to be homeless. He said many of the homeless were “posers” and “terrorists” hurting local communities.
Thayer, Kings County Under Sheriff, said of the homeless,”these people are not trash, they are human beings, they deserve advocacy.” He said laws are needed to define where they can camp.
“Throwing them away is not the right answer,” he said to the audience’s applause.
33rd Assembly District candidate Xavier Avila said forums such as the one presented by 1776ers offer candidates the chance to talk to real people. When candidates don’t want to talk to real people, he said, that gives an indication of how they will be in office.
The dairyman said he was the only conservative and the only pro-life candidate in the race.
Also not attending Thursday night (2/1/24) were his opponent Alexandra Macedo, Ruben Macareno, Hipolito Cerros, Angel Ruiz, 5th District Supervisioral candidate Tyler Pepe, incumbent supervisor Richard Fagundes, 20nd District Congressional candidate Vince Fong, T.J. Essposito, Marissa Wood, Mathew Stoll, Ben Dewell, Kelly Kulikoff, Kyle Kirkland and Andy Morales.
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Sharp accuses Hanford Mayor Paden of power grab
Posted 1/20/24 4:56
HANFORD – Mayor Travis Paden wanted to make the selection of city commissioners such planning commission and then have the council give their final okay to his choices.
But Paden was rebuffed after Council Member Diane Sharp and Lou Martinez objected. Sharp said she viewed Paden’s idea as an expansion of the mayor’s role.
Instead the council decided 5-0 on Tuesday (1/16/23) to have the selection made by the mayor and one council member with a city staff member present during the interviews. The choices would still have to be confirmed by a majority of the council.
Paden said the Council Handbook said the selection should be made by the mayor with the okay of the council. Vice Mayor Mark Kairis, a Paden ally, said the Council Handbook was clear that the selection should be made by the mayor with the okay of a majority of the council.
Kairis said his “…big concern (was the) selection of (a) commissioner…occur with staff” present.
Kairis said he didn’t “…want (a) staff member to be involved in the selection (of a commissioner). (They) can be
present. We don’t want them to make the decision.”
The “mayor or other council members make the decision. Having a staff member present during the selection is not going to bias the selection in favor of a candidate,” said Kairis in response to a reporter’s question.
But Sharp disagreed with Kairis’ position on who should be present during interviews, “I would advocate strongly that staff be present.” Earlier she said, “The most important thing is good government. (We) have strong staff and good department heads. (I am) in favor learn(ing) of their expertise.”
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HANFORD – Mayor Travis Paden wanted to make the selection of city commissioners such planning commission and then have the council give their final okay to his choices.
But Paden was rebuffed after Council Member Diane Sharp and Lou Martinez objected. Sharp said she viewed Paden’s idea as an expansion of the mayor’s role.
Instead the council decided 5-0 on Tuesday (1/16/23) to have the selection made by the mayor and one council member with a city staff member present during the interviews. The choices would still have to be confirmed by a majority of the council.
Paden said the Council Handbook said the selection should be made by the mayor with the okay of the council. Vice Mayor Mark Kairis, a Paden ally, said the Council Handbook was clear that the selection should be made by the mayor with the okay of a majority of the council.
Kairis said his “…big concern (was the) selection of (a) commissioner…occur with staff” present.
Kairis said he didn’t “…want (a) staff member to be involved in the selection (of a commissioner). (They) can be
present. We don’t want them to make the decision.”
The “mayor or other council members make the decision. Having a staff member present during the selection is not going to bias the selection in favor of a candidate,” said Kairis in response to a reporter’s question.
But Sharp disagreed with Kairis’ position on who should be present during interviews, “I would advocate strongly that staff be present.” Earlier she said, “The most important thing is good government. (We) have strong staff and good department heads. (I am) in favor learn(ing) of their expertise.”
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Mata gets $700,000 in Hanford sexual harrassment case
Posted 1/16/24 11 pm
HANFORD – The city council Tuesday (1/16/24) unanimously approved a $700,000 out-of-court settlement in a 2022 sexual harassment suit brought by former long-time Community Development Director Darlene Mata. The settlement will be paid by the city’s insurance company, said City Attorney Ty Mizote. The city will be reimbursed for all of its expenses in excess of $100,000, he said.
Mata alleged she was sexually harassed by former Council Member Art Brieno who represented
Hanford’s south side. Mata initially sought $1.8 million in her suit filed in Kings County Superior Court.
The lawsuit alleged she was subjected “pervasive harassing conduct because of her gender.” She also claimed a workplace that was “hostile, intimidating, oppressive and abusive.”
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HANFORD – The city council Tuesday (1/16/24) unanimously approved a $700,000 out-of-court settlement in a 2022 sexual harassment suit brought by former long-time Community Development Director Darlene Mata. The settlement will be paid by the city’s insurance company, said City Attorney Ty Mizote. The city will be reimbursed for all of its expenses in excess of $100,000, he said.
Mata alleged she was sexually harassed by former Council Member Art Brieno who represented
Hanford’s south side. Mata initially sought $1.8 million in her suit filed in Kings County Superior Court.
The lawsuit alleged she was subjected “pervasive harassing conduct because of her gender.” She also claimed a workplace that was “hostile, intimidating, oppressive and abusive.”
SUBSCRIBERS GET THE FULL STORY. SUBSCRIPTIONS COST $1 PER MONTH FOR TWO MONTHS AND THEN $3 PER MONTH AFTER THAT. CANCEL ANYTIME. STORIES EMAILED TO YOUR IN BOX. TO SUBSCRIBE PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected].
Hanford raises water rates nearly 100 percent
Posted 1/17/24 1:13 pm
HANFORD – The city council Tuesday (1/17/24) approved a water rate increase that will see many residential customers paying 52 to 98 percent more over a three-year period.
For most residential customers monthly water rates will jump from $15.41 to $17.42 starting February 1 and then increase over the next four years to $23.44, according to a city notice. The increase does not include storm and wastewater fees which are part of the monthly utility bills. These parts are also expected to increase later this year.
The council voted 4-1 for the increase with Council Member Lou Martinez voting no. Eleven residents filed formal protests against the increase far short of 8,501 protests needed under state law to overturn the increase.
Eight speakers spoke against the increase with many of them calling the increase “excessive” and one person spoke in favor of the hike.
The staff report said rates haven’t increased since 2018 and that the increase was needed to pay off debt and for$43.7 million in capital improvement projects such as meter replacements and water well improvements.
Council Member Diane Sharp said the increase should have been planned better. Had the city increased the rates a few percentage points yearly, she said, the city would not be in the position it is now.
The city’s water, wastewater and storm drains rely entirely on money collected from water users to fund operations. The city said it did a comprehensive cost study before proposing the increases. In addition to ongoing operations, the increased revenue will be used to pay for improvement projects.
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HANFORD – The city council Tuesday (1/17/24) approved a water rate increase that will see many residential customers paying 52 to 98 percent more over a three-year period.
For most residential customers monthly water rates will jump from $15.41 to $17.42 starting February 1 and then increase over the next four years to $23.44, according to a city notice. The increase does not include storm and wastewater fees which are part of the monthly utility bills. These parts are also expected to increase later this year.
The council voted 4-1 for the increase with Council Member Lou Martinez voting no. Eleven residents filed formal protests against the increase far short of 8,501 protests needed under state law to overturn the increase.
Eight speakers spoke against the increase with many of them calling the increase “excessive” and one person spoke in favor of the hike.
The staff report said rates haven’t increased since 2018 and that the increase was needed to pay off debt and for$43.7 million in capital improvement projects such as meter replacements and water well improvements.
Council Member Diane Sharp said the increase should have been planned better. Had the city increased the rates a few percentage points yearly, she said, the city would not be in the position it is now.
The city’s water, wastewater and storm drains rely entirely on money collected from water users to fund operations. The city said it did a comprehensive cost study before proposing the increases. In addition to ongoing operations, the increased revenue will be used to pay for improvement projects.
TO READ THE FULL STORY ON THE RATE INCREASE PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. SUBSCRIBERS GET STORIES
EMAILED TO THEIR IN-BOXES AND OTHER BENEFITS. INTRODUCTORY RATE IS $1 FOR TWO MONTHS, AFTER THAT $3 PER MONTH. CANCEL ANYTIME. TO SUBSCRIBE PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected].
Huddleston named Hanford Police chief
Posted 1/6/24 10:18 am
HANFORD - City Manager Mario Cifuentez named long-time police department officer Stephanie Huddleston as police chief. She replaces Parker
Sever who resigned to take a job in Utah.
Huddleston was a captain in the department before her promotion. She is a Hanford native and has worked with the department since January 2006.
HANFORD - City Manager Mario Cifuentez named long-time police department officer Stephanie Huddleston as police chief. She replaces Parker
Sever who resigned to take a job in Utah.
Huddleston was a captain in the department before her promotion. She is a Hanford native and has worked with the department since January 2006.
Charging decision soon on sheriff's investigation of ex-DA
Posted 12/28/23 7:52 am
KINGS COUNTY – A decision whether to prosecute ex-DA Keith Fagundes for paying his relatives for services and possible campaign violations is expected soon, said Sheriff David Robinson.
Another issue being investigated is whether there were legal violations of the Victim Witness Program which is funded through a federal grant, said Robinson.
Meanwhile, a check of Fagundes’ campaign donations by VHL Future from March 19, 2014 to July 26, 2022 shows a pattern of Fagundes relatives contributing thousands of dollars of monetary and in-kind donations while being paid for services to the campaign.
His sister Jacqlyn Smith, served as campaign treasurer during the 2014 -2022 period and both donated monies and services to the campaign while being paid for services. The state Fair Political Practices Commission does not provide information on specific allegations against a campaign until a case has been settled but in the past FPPC has said what its rules are on the subject.
There is no specific ban against a member of a campaign being paid for services, said an FPPC spokesman. Campaign records show $3,980 in contributions from relatives from 2014 - 2022 and payouts to relatives of $19,952.62.
Smith donated $2,500 and received $500 for containers and bread for a fundraiser, according to the records. By far the biggest recipient of campaign expenditures was Fagundes’ brother who received $19,452, according to the records. The records show Donnie and Kay Fagundes donated $300 to the campaign.
These expenditures to relatives do not include payments from county funds when Fagundes was in office from 2014 – 2022.
Between 2019 and 2022 payments to relatives amounted to $8,594.77 and up to $12,152, according to receipts obtained by VHL Future.
The county’s purchasing policies state that decisions cannot be made that would result in financial benefit to an immediate family member. Evan Jones, the county’s purchasing manager, said in June 2022 that the expenditures were in violation of the county’s policies.
The county’s policies also require competitive bidding on many expenditures. The lack of competitive bidding on jobs is one of the areas Robinson’s office is investigating.
Another area the sheriff’s office has investigated is the use of the district attorneys’ office logo in campaign literature and mass mailings. This material was printed by his brother’s printing company. Payment to his brother has already been established as a violation of several county rules.
When Jacqlyn Smith’s, Fagundes’ sister, décor business in Visalia closed a new entity was created called Coral Court Conference Center. Robinson is investigating use of the state credit card issued to counties, known as the CAL-Card, to pay for $15,000 in conference services to Coral Court. Coral Court was his sister’s $1.4 million beach house in Pismo Beach. The county requires the holder of the CAL-Card to sign a statement agreeing to appropriate use of the card.
During Fagundes’ tenure in office the beach house was used for staff conferences.
A former employee told sheriff’s investigators that he saw Fagundes and Phil Ebenshade, Fagundes’ deputy who is an attorney, fishing on a pier during a time when a conference was supposed to be taking place.
Potentially Fagundes could be facing up to eight penal code violations plus a zoning code violation for the use of the Pismo beach house for conferences, said the sheriff’s office.
Penal Code 424 states, “Each officer of this state, or of any county, city, town or district of this state, and every other person charged with the receipt, safe keeping, transfer, disbursement of public moneys who either: 1. Without authority of law appropriates the same or any portion thereof, to his or her own use, or to the use of another…Is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, and is disqualified from holding any office in this state.”
Other possible violations are Government Code 8314 involving unlawful use of funds, 1090 involving violation of the financial interest law, 87100 use of official position for financial gain, 87103 financially benefitting immediate family, Penal Code 424 misappropriation of funds, Penal Code 487 grand theft and 503 embezzlement.
The sheriff’s investigation which started in August 2021 at the request of then County Administrator Ed Hill, said Robinson. The investigation stemmed from a sexual harassment lawsuit against the county by ex-DA chief investigator Robert Waggle, he said. The lawsuit mentioned payments by Fagundes to relatives for county services.
Although the county was criticized editorially for doing nothing about the allegations, the county was trying to hide the investigation so that witnesses could be interviewed, Robinson said.
Fagundes is now working as a deputy district attorney in the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
VHL Future asked Fagundes to respond to the allegations.
Fagundes asked for a copy of the allegations and copies of campaign reports were also emailed to him. Fagundes did not respond to a request for comment.
KINGS COUNTY – A decision whether to prosecute ex-DA Keith Fagundes for paying his relatives for services and possible campaign violations is expected soon, said Sheriff David Robinson.
Another issue being investigated is whether there were legal violations of the Victim Witness Program which is funded through a federal grant, said Robinson.
Meanwhile, a check of Fagundes’ campaign donations by VHL Future from March 19, 2014 to July 26, 2022 shows a pattern of Fagundes relatives contributing thousands of dollars of monetary and in-kind donations while being paid for services to the campaign.
His sister Jacqlyn Smith, served as campaign treasurer during the 2014 -2022 period and both donated monies and services to the campaign while being paid for services. The state Fair Political Practices Commission does not provide information on specific allegations against a campaign until a case has been settled but in the past FPPC has said what its rules are on the subject.
There is no specific ban against a member of a campaign being paid for services, said an FPPC spokesman. Campaign records show $3,980 in contributions from relatives from 2014 - 2022 and payouts to relatives of $19,952.62.
Smith donated $2,500 and received $500 for containers and bread for a fundraiser, according to the records. By far the biggest recipient of campaign expenditures was Fagundes’ brother who received $19,452, according to the records. The records show Donnie and Kay Fagundes donated $300 to the campaign.
These expenditures to relatives do not include payments from county funds when Fagundes was in office from 2014 – 2022.
Between 2019 and 2022 payments to relatives amounted to $8,594.77 and up to $12,152, according to receipts obtained by VHL Future.
The county’s purchasing policies state that decisions cannot be made that would result in financial benefit to an immediate family member. Evan Jones, the county’s purchasing manager, said in June 2022 that the expenditures were in violation of the county’s policies.
The county’s policies also require competitive bidding on many expenditures. The lack of competitive bidding on jobs is one of the areas Robinson’s office is investigating.
Another area the sheriff’s office has investigated is the use of the district attorneys’ office logo in campaign literature and mass mailings. This material was printed by his brother’s printing company. Payment to his brother has already been established as a violation of several county rules.
When Jacqlyn Smith’s, Fagundes’ sister, décor business in Visalia closed a new entity was created called Coral Court Conference Center. Robinson is investigating use of the state credit card issued to counties, known as the CAL-Card, to pay for $15,000 in conference services to Coral Court. Coral Court was his sister’s $1.4 million beach house in Pismo Beach. The county requires the holder of the CAL-Card to sign a statement agreeing to appropriate use of the card.
During Fagundes’ tenure in office the beach house was used for staff conferences.
A former employee told sheriff’s investigators that he saw Fagundes and Phil Ebenshade, Fagundes’ deputy who is an attorney, fishing on a pier during a time when a conference was supposed to be taking place.
Potentially Fagundes could be facing up to eight penal code violations plus a zoning code violation for the use of the Pismo beach house for conferences, said the sheriff’s office.
Penal Code 424 states, “Each officer of this state, or of any county, city, town or district of this state, and every other person charged with the receipt, safe keeping, transfer, disbursement of public moneys who either: 1. Without authority of law appropriates the same or any portion thereof, to his or her own use, or to the use of another…Is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years, and is disqualified from holding any office in this state.”
Other possible violations are Government Code 8314 involving unlawful use of funds, 1090 involving violation of the financial interest law, 87100 use of official position for financial gain, 87103 financially benefitting immediate family, Penal Code 424 misappropriation of funds, Penal Code 487 grand theft and 503 embezzlement.
The sheriff’s investigation which started in August 2021 at the request of then County Administrator Ed Hill, said Robinson. The investigation stemmed from a sexual harassment lawsuit against the county by ex-DA chief investigator Robert Waggle, he said. The lawsuit mentioned payments by Fagundes to relatives for county services.
Although the county was criticized editorially for doing nothing about the allegations, the county was trying to hide the investigation so that witnesses could be interviewed, Robinson said.
Fagundes is now working as a deputy district attorney in the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
VHL Future asked Fagundes to respond to the allegations.
Fagundes asked for a copy of the allegations and copies of campaign reports were also emailed to him. Fagundes did not respond to a request for comment.
Lemoore could reduce its police department, contract out refuse service to deal with budget shortfall
Posted 12/12/23 1:07 pm
LEMOORE- City expenditures are growing faster than revenues and Lemoore is facing a choice of a 1 percent sales tax increase or reducing its police department to a skeleton crew and contracting refuse service to a private operator, said City Manager Nathan Olson on Monday (12/11/23).
If the police department were eliminated, Olson said, the sheriff's department could be paid to provide police services. But it's more likely, said Olson,
that the department might have to be reduced to a minimal staffing level.
He spoke at a state of the city discussion attended by a handful of residents at city hall. Other state of the city discussions are planned.
The city’s dilemma in a nutshell is since 2018 revenue is up 8 percent and spending has increased 12 percent, Olson said. The city’s budget is $17.4 million in the current budget year and reserves are $8.1 million.
The city council has authorized Olson to explore a sales tax for a possible November 2024 ballot measure.
The city which gained $2.8 million since 2018 from cannabis deals will only see a $750,000 increase in revenue from this source this year, he said. This is because one grower, who netted the city more than $2 million, went out of business.
The city has seen some growth this year in housing permits during the period January 18 to August 18. There were 406 permits in this period. Helena Chemical moving to Lemoore from Hanford will generate $385,000 annually in tax revenue, Olson said.
Other new businesses include a slaughterhouse north of Jackson, Panada Express, Baskin Robbins, Maverick truck stop
and DD’s Discount store. There is also the prospect of NAS Lemoore and West Hills College expanding, Olson said.
But all this will not be enough to close the city’s revenue shortfall, he said.
A 1.5 percent increase in the sales tax would give the city an additional $5 million in revenue, he said. Lemoore
currently has a 7.25 percent sales tax.
Other cities such as neighboring Hanford are talking about going to the voters for a sale tax increase citing similar
reasons as Lemoore.
However, there are substantial difference between the two cities. Much larger Hanford has Big Box stores and many car dealerships, all big sales tax generators.
“The timing of it is brutal,” said resident Michael Wallace, a former Lemoore Police officer. (We) could wait to see what Hanford does first.”
If the police department were eliminated, Olson said, the sheriff's department could be paid to provide police services. But it's more likely, said Olson,
that the department might have to be reduced to a minimal staffing level.
He spoke at a state of the city discussion attended by a handful of residents at city hall. Other state of the city discussions are planned.
The city’s dilemma in a nutshell is since 2018 revenue is up 8 percent and spending has increased 12 percent, Olson said. The city’s budget is $17.4 million in the current budget year and reserves are $8.1 million.
The city council has authorized Olson to explore a sales tax for a possible November 2024 ballot measure.
The city which gained $2.8 million since 2018 from cannabis deals will only see a $750,000 increase in revenue from this source this year, he said. This is because one grower, who netted the city more than $2 million, went out of business.
The city has seen some growth this year in housing permits during the period January 18 to August 18. There were 406 permits in this period. Helena Chemical moving to Lemoore from Hanford will generate $385,000 annually in tax revenue, Olson said.
Other new businesses include a slaughterhouse north of Jackson, Panada Express, Baskin Robbins, Maverick truck stop
and DD’s Discount store. There is also the prospect of NAS Lemoore and West Hills College expanding, Olson said.
But all this will not be enough to close the city’s revenue shortfall, he said.
A 1.5 percent increase in the sales tax would give the city an additional $5 million in revenue, he said. Lemoore
currently has a 7.25 percent sales tax.
Other cities such as neighboring Hanford are talking about going to the voters for a sale tax increase citing similar
reasons as Lemoore.
However, there are substantial difference between the two cities. Much larger Hanford has Big Box stores and many car dealerships, all big sales tax generators.
“The timing of it is brutal,” said resident Michael Wallace, a former Lemoore Police officer. (We) could wait to see what Hanford does first.”
Changing past practice of discussion only, Hanford Council
wants to give staff formal direction during study sessions
Posted 10/20/23 7:17 pm
A 49 minute video of the meeting is viewable this afternoon (10/21/23) at [email protected]
HANFORD – The city council Tuesday (10/17/23) agreed to give formal direction to staff on city issues during late afternoon study sessions which in the past have not been the venue for formal decisions.
This change is not yet final and still has to be okayed during a regular 7 pm meeting which will include a public hearing.
Study sessions often occur at 4:30 or 5 pm when many members of the public are still at work or in school. If members of the public work until 5 or 5:30 pm, attending a study session would require a person to cut his or her workday short or they may not be able to attend at all.
Vice Mayor Mark Kairis said Friday (10/20/23) that he didn’t think allowing the council to give formal direction to staff during study sessions would limit public participation.
Council agendas are posted on the city’s website late Thursday before the following week’s meeting and if a person cannot attend a study session he or she could call or email the appropriate council member prior to the meeting to discuss any questions or concerns. Council agenda’s are also posted on a bulletin board outside city hall and are available at the Kings County Public Library.
The reason the council wants to allow staff direction during sessions is it is constrained during regular meetings by all the things that have to be covered including public comment, consent items and public hearings, he said. The regular meetings start at 7 pm and have to be completed by 10 pm, Kairis said.
The study session change is part of a series of modifications proposed by to the “Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures.” Staff made changes to the Handbook after it was directed to do so by the council at a previous meeting.
The actual wording of the new section of the Handbook on study sessions is “The City Council may meet in a ‘study session’ for the purpose of acquiring information on a particular subject(s) or hold ‘work sessions’ for the purpose of and collaborating with the public through individual public comment periods. These sessions are considered special meetings that shall be open to the public and comply with the Brown Act. Additionally, as special meetings, Council may provide formal direction to staff consistent with the agenda wording for each item.”
The Brown Act is a California law that guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies. It was passed in 1953 in response to mounting public concern over informal, undisclosed meetings held by local elected officials, according to Wikipedia. City Councils, county boards, and other local government bodies were avoiding public scrutiny by holding secret “workshops” and “study sessions.” In a series of articles in 1952 San Francisco Chronicle reporter Mike Harris revealed that local agencies were frequently holding secret meetings or caucuses, even though state law had long required that business should be done in public, according to Wikipedia.
At Tuesday’s study session or special meeting on the Handbook City Manager Mario Cifuentez referred what he said was a problem in other jurisdicitons where members of the public speaking at meetings are texting people in the audience. He said he would get copies of council handbooks from other jurisdictions to see how they addressed this matter.
He also referred to a provision to remove a city commissioner from a city commission. City commissions include
Planning, Parking and Traffic and Parks and Recreation.
In 2022 a planning commissioner received a warning letter from the city attorney regarding comments he made during a meeting. The commissioner subsequently resigned together with another commissioner.
Other proposed changes would include mandatory harassment and ethics training for commissioners as well as a briefing on the Brown Act.
Referring to the proposed revised Handbook Cifuentez said, “This will be the guiding document until the council decides to change it.”
This change is not yet final and still has to be okayed during a regular 7 pm meeting which will include a public hearing.
Study sessions often occur at 4:30 or 5 pm when many members of the public are still at work or in school. If members of the public work until 5 or 5:30 pm, attending a study session would require a person to cut his or her workday short or they may not be able to attend at all.
Vice Mayor Mark Kairis said Friday (10/20/23) that he didn’t think allowing the council to give formal direction to staff during study sessions would limit public participation.
Council agendas are posted on the city’s website late Thursday before the following week’s meeting and if a person cannot attend a study session he or she could call or email the appropriate council member prior to the meeting to discuss any questions or concerns. Council agenda’s are also posted on a bulletin board outside city hall and are available at the Kings County Public Library.
The reason the council wants to allow staff direction during sessions is it is constrained during regular meetings by all the things that have to be covered including public comment, consent items and public hearings, he said. The regular meetings start at 7 pm and have to be completed by 10 pm, Kairis said.
The study session change is part of a series of modifications proposed by to the “Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures.” Staff made changes to the Handbook after it was directed to do so by the council at a previous meeting.
The actual wording of the new section of the Handbook on study sessions is “The City Council may meet in a ‘study session’ for the purpose of acquiring information on a particular subject(s) or hold ‘work sessions’ for the purpose of and collaborating with the public through individual public comment periods. These sessions are considered special meetings that shall be open to the public and comply with the Brown Act. Additionally, as special meetings, Council may provide formal direction to staff consistent with the agenda wording for each item.”
The Brown Act is a California law that guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies. It was passed in 1953 in response to mounting public concern over informal, undisclosed meetings held by local elected officials, according to Wikipedia. City Councils, county boards, and other local government bodies were avoiding public scrutiny by holding secret “workshops” and “study sessions.” In a series of articles in 1952 San Francisco Chronicle reporter Mike Harris revealed that local agencies were frequently holding secret meetings or caucuses, even though state law had long required that business should be done in public, according to Wikipedia.
At Tuesday’s study session or special meeting on the Handbook City Manager Mario Cifuentez referred what he said was a problem in other jurisdicitons where members of the public speaking at meetings are texting people in the audience. He said he would get copies of council handbooks from other jurisdictions to see how they addressed this matter.
He also referred to a provision to remove a city commissioner from a city commission. City commissions include
Planning, Parking and Traffic and Parks and Recreation.
In 2022 a planning commissioner received a warning letter from the city attorney regarding comments he made during a meeting. The commissioner subsequently resigned together with another commissioner.
Other proposed changes would include mandatory harassment and ethics training for commissioners as well as a briefing on the Brown Act.
Referring to the proposed revised Handbook Cifuentez said, “This will be the guiding document until the council decides to change it.”
Charge suspect with murder in 99c store stabbing
UPDATED 10/4/23 7:07 pm. Video is below.
HANFORD - Police have charged a Hanford man with murder after a knife attack fatally wounded an 82-year-old shopper at
a Hanford 99c store.
Ryan Washington, 23, is being held in Kings County Jail in the stabbing death of William Chartrand of Hanford, a regular shopper at the Hanford 99c Only
Store at 550 N. 11th Ave, said Police Chief Parker Sever. He is also charged with use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony, according to Kings County Jail booking information.
The stabbing occurred shortly before 2:58 pm Tuesday and part of the attack was recorded on store video, said Sever.
Police said a man asked to be taken to the 99c Only Store and when he arrived he randomly attacked Chartrand in the aisle with a knife which
police have recovered. Sever was asked about what type of knife was used in the attack but he did not provide those details.
Officers and paramedics tried to aid the victim but Sever said Chartrand was deceased even though he was transported to the hospital.
The motive for the stabbing is still under investigation, police said. Police said the suspect did not know the victim.
The suspect has a criminal history, police said, but does not have major felonies in his record. Previously police received theft-related calls and
battery offenses involving the suspect, said Sever. Police were told the suspect has mental health issues, Sever said.
Two employees questioned about the stabbing in the parking lot shortly after it occurred would not say anything to a reporter other than they were told not to talk about it.
A representative of the store said employees were saddened and dismayed about the incident and are doing everything possible to assist the police
in the investigation.
The store remained closed on Wednesday. The front entrance was cordoned off with yellow tape. Other stores in the shopping center were open and appeared to be doing business normally.
Tuesday afternoon the area around the front door was cordoned off with yellow police tape as several officers stood by the front door. A police officer carrying an equipment case arrived about 3:48 pm.
Several patrol cars including an unmarked unit blocked the front entrance of the store, emergency lights flashing.
This is the second murder at a downtown store in approximately four months. July 6 an ex-employee Raul Arzate, 46, crashed his pickup into the front of Candice & Company jewelry store at 117 W. 7th St. and fired a gun multiple times in the store with customers and employees present. Arzate then turned the gun on himself and fired a fatal shot. The store was boarded up following the incident and has remained closed.
Sever called Tuesday's stabbing an "evil act" and said, "I don't think the victim in this case did anything wrong. (He) went out shopping (and was) not searching for someone (to) do harm."
"Everybody was shocked by what happened," he said. Nothing preceded the incident such as a red flag, Sever said. HIs advice to Hanford residents out shopping is to give police a call if they see something suspicious.
HANFORD - Police have charged a Hanford man with murder after a knife attack fatally wounded an 82-year-old shopper at
a Hanford 99c store.
Ryan Washington, 23, is being held in Kings County Jail in the stabbing death of William Chartrand of Hanford, a regular shopper at the Hanford 99c Only
Store at 550 N. 11th Ave, said Police Chief Parker Sever. He is also charged with use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony, according to Kings County Jail booking information.
The stabbing occurred shortly before 2:58 pm Tuesday and part of the attack was recorded on store video, said Sever.
Police said a man asked to be taken to the 99c Only Store and when he arrived he randomly attacked Chartrand in the aisle with a knife which
police have recovered. Sever was asked about what type of knife was used in the attack but he did not provide those details.
Officers and paramedics tried to aid the victim but Sever said Chartrand was deceased even though he was transported to the hospital.
The motive for the stabbing is still under investigation, police said. Police said the suspect did not know the victim.
The suspect has a criminal history, police said, but does not have major felonies in his record. Previously police received theft-related calls and
battery offenses involving the suspect, said Sever. Police were told the suspect has mental health issues, Sever said.
Two employees questioned about the stabbing in the parking lot shortly after it occurred would not say anything to a reporter other than they were told not to talk about it.
A representative of the store said employees were saddened and dismayed about the incident and are doing everything possible to assist the police
in the investigation.
The store remained closed on Wednesday. The front entrance was cordoned off with yellow tape. Other stores in the shopping center were open and appeared to be doing business normally.
Tuesday afternoon the area around the front door was cordoned off with yellow police tape as several officers stood by the front door. A police officer carrying an equipment case arrived about 3:48 pm.
Several patrol cars including an unmarked unit blocked the front entrance of the store, emergency lights flashing.
This is the second murder at a downtown store in approximately four months. July 6 an ex-employee Raul Arzate, 46, crashed his pickup into the front of Candice & Company jewelry store at 117 W. 7th St. and fired a gun multiple times in the store with customers and employees present. Arzate then turned the gun on himself and fired a fatal shot. The store was boarded up following the incident and has remained closed.
Sever called Tuesday's stabbing an "evil act" and said, "I don't think the victim in this case did anything wrong. (He) went out shopping (and was) not searching for someone (to) do harm."
"Everybody was shocked by what happened," he said. Nothing preceded the incident such as a red flag, Sever said. HIs advice to Hanford residents out shopping is to give police a call if they see something suspicious.
Outside Hanford 99c store 3:48 pm today (10/3/23) following fatal stabbing of customer. Visalia-Hanford-Lemooore Future video.
Police had just started investigating the fatal stabbing at the Hanford 99c store when this photo was taken late Tuesday afternoon. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future Photo,
Experts expect gas prices to stay high till end '23
Posted 10/1/23 9:58 am
CENTRAL VALLEY - Gasoline prices are expected to stay high until the end of the year as a result of Middle East
production cuts, the Ukraine war and high demand in California, other U.S. states and elsewhere in the world,
according to experts who follow the petroleum industry.
The lowest regular unleaded gas cash price in Hanford-Lemoore is $4.99 at the Yokut Gas Station at the
Tachi Indian Reservation in Lemoore while the highest price is $6.04 also in Lemoore at the Chevron Station at 25
S. 9 1/2 Avenue and Bush Street.
The average cash price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Hanford and Lemoore is $5.52, based on a survey
of 21 stations.
Many of the stations in Hanford and Lemoore are selling a gallon of regular unleaded for cash in the in the $5.29 to$5.79
price range, according to the survey.
In Visalia some of the lowest prices are clustered at 10 stations with the average cash price for regular unleaded S5.12,
according to the survey.
The lowest price is $4.89 at the Shop & Go, 2411 N. Dinuba Blvd., according to the survey.
Some stations in the area have stratospheric prices.
The Chevron Station at 2990 Pea Soup Anderson Boulevard in Selma on September 30 was selling a gallon of regular
unleaded for a whopping cash price of $6.75, according to the survey. Although gas can be purchased for as little
as $5.17 per gallon at the Star 1 Gas Mart, 1506 2nd and Bauder streets, according to the survey.
And, even compared with last summer, prices are historically high. Judging from the way people are driving
there appears to be no slowing down to save gas.
People are driving as fast as ever and well above the speed limit on Highways 99, 43 and 198, according to observations
of local drivers' habits.
For those who do want to save gas, driving at the speed limit or just below it saves gas together with avoiding rapid
starts, not passing other vehicles unless absolutely necessary and keeping tires properly inflated.
Many of the newer vehicles are equipped with fuel monitoring gauges which can tell the driver how much
fuel is being used at any moment. By varying speed, a driver can tell what the most economical speed is consistent
with keeping up with the flow of traffic.
For instance, on Highway 43 going the 55 mph speed limit saves fuel even though most drivers are traveling
at 60-65 mph.
Other factors that affect fuel mileage are the cleanliness of air and oil filters, keeping up the recommended
oil change intervals and ensuring that the vehicle is properly tuned, according to automotive experts and
vehicle manuals.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) last week cut daily production by 2 million barrels
which is equivalent to about 2 percent of global demand, according to published reports.
About 90 percent of the state's gasoline comes from in-state refineries, according to energy.ca.gov. These
refineries get 56.2 percent of their crude oil from foreign countries, 14,9 percent from Alaska and 28.9 from
California. Crude oil is converted to gasoline in the refining process.
CENTRAL VALLEY - Gasoline prices are expected to stay high until the end of the year as a result of Middle East
production cuts, the Ukraine war and high demand in California, other U.S. states and elsewhere in the world,
according to experts who follow the petroleum industry.
The lowest regular unleaded gas cash price in Hanford-Lemoore is $4.99 at the Yokut Gas Station at the
Tachi Indian Reservation in Lemoore while the highest price is $6.04 also in Lemoore at the Chevron Station at 25
S. 9 1/2 Avenue and Bush Street.
The average cash price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Hanford and Lemoore is $5.52, based on a survey
of 21 stations.
Many of the stations in Hanford and Lemoore are selling a gallon of regular unleaded for cash in the in the $5.29 to$5.79
price range, according to the survey.
In Visalia some of the lowest prices are clustered at 10 stations with the average cash price for regular unleaded S5.12,
according to the survey.
The lowest price is $4.89 at the Shop & Go, 2411 N. Dinuba Blvd., according to the survey.
Some stations in the area have stratospheric prices.
The Chevron Station at 2990 Pea Soup Anderson Boulevard in Selma on September 30 was selling a gallon of regular
unleaded for a whopping cash price of $6.75, according to the survey. Although gas can be purchased for as little
as $5.17 per gallon at the Star 1 Gas Mart, 1506 2nd and Bauder streets, according to the survey.
And, even compared with last summer, prices are historically high. Judging from the way people are driving
there appears to be no slowing down to save gas.
People are driving as fast as ever and well above the speed limit on Highways 99, 43 and 198, according to observations
of local drivers' habits.
For those who do want to save gas, driving at the speed limit or just below it saves gas together with avoiding rapid
starts, not passing other vehicles unless absolutely necessary and keeping tires properly inflated.
Many of the newer vehicles are equipped with fuel monitoring gauges which can tell the driver how much
fuel is being used at any moment. By varying speed, a driver can tell what the most economical speed is consistent
with keeping up with the flow of traffic.
For instance, on Highway 43 going the 55 mph speed limit saves fuel even though most drivers are traveling
at 60-65 mph.
Other factors that affect fuel mileage are the cleanliness of air and oil filters, keeping up the recommended
oil change intervals and ensuring that the vehicle is properly tuned, according to automotive experts and
vehicle manuals.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) last week cut daily production by 2 million barrels
which is equivalent to about 2 percent of global demand, according to published reports.
About 90 percent of the state's gasoline comes from in-state refineries, according to energy.ca.gov. These
refineries get 56.2 percent of their crude oil from foreign countries, 14,9 percent from Alaska and 28.9 from
California. Crude oil is converted to gasoline in the refining process.
Woman in hospital after Kings County trailer fire
KPosted 9/14/23 12:24 pm
KINGS COUNTY - A woman is in the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation after she was hurt during a trailer fire on Hanford's East Side, authorities said.
The hospitalized woman was able to escape with her pet.
Four adults and two children were displaced by the fire at Lacey Boulevard and 9th Avenue.
The woman's identity could not be immediately obtained but when it is, the information will be updated. Kings County fire officials
were not available to answer questions at 1 pm today (9/1/4/23).
The 1:45 am September 14 fire engulfed the trailer which was a total loss. A tire shop and a mobile home were also damaged.
The trailer was engulfed in flames when Kings County firefighters arrived.
The Red Cross and the local firefighters union will help the displaced persons find shelter and purchase some necessities for them.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
KINGS COUNTY - A woman is in the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation after she was hurt during a trailer fire on Hanford's East Side, authorities said.
The hospitalized woman was able to escape with her pet.
Four adults and two children were displaced by the fire at Lacey Boulevard and 9th Avenue.
The woman's identity could not be immediately obtained but when it is, the information will be updated. Kings County fire officials
were not available to answer questions at 1 pm today (9/1/4/23).
The 1:45 am September 14 fire engulfed the trailer which was a total loss. A tire shop and a mobile home were also damaged.
The trailer was engulfed in flames when Kings County firefighters arrived.
The Red Cross and the local firefighters union will help the displaced persons find shelter and purchase some necessities for them.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Rezone of Hidden Valley Park property could take up to a year;
designation of vacant land west of park for green space mired in delays
Posted 8/6/23 10:35 am
Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the Greater Hidden Valley Association
which advocates expanding the 18-acre property west of the existing Hidden Valley Park into
parkland. The article discusses various sides of the issue.
HANFORD – The preliminary steps needed to expand Hidden Valley Park, a hot-button issue here for years, will take nine months to a year, Parks Director Bradley Albert told the city council July 18.
The 18-acre property for the expansion is just west of the existing park at 11th and Cortner Street.
A previous city council under the leadership of then-Mayor David Ayers rezoned the property for low-density residential housing and declared the property surplus.
In order for the property to be converted into parkland, it would have to have a General Plan Amendment---a major undertaking---to rezone the property to Public Facilities.
Further since the land was designated for housing, state law requires that it be replaced with a parcel in some other location of the city.
The change in land-use will require an environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. This
process is already underway and will take five-to six-months to complete, according to a staff report.
The current activity stems from a vote by a majority of a previous council under the leadership of then Mayor Francisco Ramirez on November 2, 2021 directing staff to expand the park after years of back-and-forth on the issue where previous councils tried to sell the property for housing development. Some of the councils reversed their position after public opposition.
There have also been two unsuccessful voter initiatives to get the expansion question on the ballot.
A city survey conducted during the administration of ex-city manager Darrell Pyle, an expansion opponent, showed the majority of those polled wanted the property next to Hidden Valley expanded as park space and not sold for housing.
Since then the project has been mired in delays as the current council and the previous one agreed to spend millions on other parks and recreation facilities including Heroe’s Park on the East Side, Lacey Park downtown, Centennial Park on Hanford-Armona Road, the Longfield Center, the downtown ice rink and August 1 the council unanimously voted to spend $255,000 on playground equipment and related costs at Earl F. Johnson Park, a little-used park across from the East Campus of Hanford High School.
Other General Plan amendments have been prepared by staff and approved by the current council and a previous one but no General Plan amendment has been approved on the Hidden Valley expansion. The General Plan is the city’s blueprint for development.
The current council did appropriate $75,000 for preliminary design work on an expanded Hidden Valley. Since then the city has surveyed the community at in-person and online forums regarding their preferences about what features they would like to see at expanded Hidden Valley.
During the May 27 – June 1 period the events and online surveys showed people want walking and biking trails (655), innovative playground equipment (372) and picnic arbors (278) among other preferences.
Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the Greater Hidden Valley Association
which advocates expanding the 18-acre property west of the existing Hidden Valley Park into
parkland. The article discusses various sides of the issue.
HANFORD – The preliminary steps needed to expand Hidden Valley Park, a hot-button issue here for years, will take nine months to a year, Parks Director Bradley Albert told the city council July 18.
The 18-acre property for the expansion is just west of the existing park at 11th and Cortner Street.
A previous city council under the leadership of then-Mayor David Ayers rezoned the property for low-density residential housing and declared the property surplus.
In order for the property to be converted into parkland, it would have to have a General Plan Amendment---a major undertaking---to rezone the property to Public Facilities.
Further since the land was designated for housing, state law requires that it be replaced with a parcel in some other location of the city.
The change in land-use will require an environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. This
process is already underway and will take five-to six-months to complete, according to a staff report.
The current activity stems from a vote by a majority of a previous council under the leadership of then Mayor Francisco Ramirez on November 2, 2021 directing staff to expand the park after years of back-and-forth on the issue where previous councils tried to sell the property for housing development. Some of the councils reversed their position after public opposition.
There have also been two unsuccessful voter initiatives to get the expansion question on the ballot.
A city survey conducted during the administration of ex-city manager Darrell Pyle, an expansion opponent, showed the majority of those polled wanted the property next to Hidden Valley expanded as park space and not sold for housing.
Since then the project has been mired in delays as the current council and the previous one agreed to spend millions on other parks and recreation facilities including Heroe’s Park on the East Side, Lacey Park downtown, Centennial Park on Hanford-Armona Road, the Longfield Center, the downtown ice rink and August 1 the council unanimously voted to spend $255,000 on playground equipment and related costs at Earl F. Johnson Park, a little-used park across from the East Campus of Hanford High School.
Other General Plan amendments have been prepared by staff and approved by the current council and a previous one but no General Plan amendment has been approved on the Hidden Valley expansion. The General Plan is the city’s blueprint for development.
The current council did appropriate $75,000 for preliminary design work on an expanded Hidden Valley. Since then the city has surveyed the community at in-person and online forums regarding their preferences about what features they would like to see at expanded Hidden Valley.
During the May 27 – June 1 period the events and online surveys showed people want walking and biking trails (655), innovative playground equipment (372) and picnic arbors (278) among other preferences.
2 defendants among 62 plead in Crips gang cases
POSTED 8/6/23 12:08 pm
SOUTH VALLEY – One of the 62 Crips gang members arrested in the areawide law enforcement sweep June 8 has pleaded not guilty, according to the Kings County DA's office. Another defendant pleaded no contest in an apparent plea deal, according to Andrew Vargas, office supervisor for the Kings County DA’s Office.
Additional pleas have been entered although they are not available at this time. As soon as the pleas become available they will be updated.
Meanwhile, the defendants pleading not guilty are Nahjee McCoy, 27, of Hanford who is charged with trafficking, according to a charge sheet provided by the DA’s office.
Cyrus Clark, 24, of Hanford is the defendant who pleaded no contest, according to Vargas. He is charged with a lewd and lascivious violent act, according to the charge sheet.
The bulk of the defendants are being held in Kings County Jail, Vargas said.
Because the region is experiencing a substantial increase in violent crime, a multi-agency law enforcement task force arrested members of the Crips criminal street gang in early morning raids and accused them of conspiracy to commit violent actions funded by illegal drug activities, said Kings County Sheriff David Robinson.
Various law enforcement SWAT teams served 23 search warrants on suspected gang members including 11 warrants in Hanford, five in Visalia, two in Kings County, 1 in Fresno, 1 in Delano, 1 in Lemoore and 1 in Tulare, he said.
The early morning raid caused a stir among some members of the public as at least 10 law enforcement vehicles were observed on Highway 198 in Hanford, another 10 or more vehicles were observed on Grangeville Boulevard heading east into Hanford and at the Hanford Mall about 6 am another observer heard a law enforcement helicopter.
Nearly half of 35 defendants are from Hanford, six each are from Fresno and Visalia, according to a count of the charge sheet.
Two are from Lemoore and there are single defendants from Blythe, Bakersfield, Soledad, Concord and Victorville, according to the charge sheet.
Jordan Behn, 20, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Charrone Sherrick Berry, 28, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking. His pre-trial conference was set for July 6.
Aquarian Houston, 25, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking and attempting a crime.
Elijah Malcom Johnson, 24, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Jaylen Booker, 18, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking and conspiracy to commit a crime. His paperwork was submitted to court.
Rashad McBride, 34, of Fresno is charged with sexual assault. He has a pre-trial conference scheduled for July 6.
Brian Keith Quamy Robinson, 34, of Fresno is charged with sexual assault. His paperwork has been submitted to the court.
Numerous other defendants are from Hanford. Elijah Jalen Love Crockett, 29, of Hanford was charged with a weapons offense. His paper has been submitted to court.
Lance Andrew Flenoid, 28, of Hanford was charged with homicide and a weapons offense. A pre-trial conference is scheduled on August 22 regarding the homicide charge. The weapons offense paperwork has been submitted to court.
Jazzmon Emmanuelle Hargro, 20, of Hanford was charged with human trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Lamar Eugene Shea Harris, 35, of Hanford was charged with human trafficking and attempting a crime. His paper has been submitted to court.
Kyle Damon Horn, 26, of Hanford was charged with human trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Jupri Jordan Hughes, 22, of Hanford was charged with homicide and attempting a crime. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for July 20.
Cecil Devon Love, 27, of Hanford was charged with a weapons offense. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Mae D. Love, 63, of Hanford has been charged with conspiracy. Her paperwork has been submitted to court.
Lanon Jag McCullough, 36, of Victorville was charged with sexual assault. His paperwork
has been submitted to court.
Tyrei Lee Miles, 27, of Vacaville was charged with trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Jeorgio Alexander Miller, 22, of Hanford was charged with homicide and attempting a crime. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for July 6.
Elise Padilla, 49, of Hanford was charged with conspiracy. Her paperwork was submitted to court.
Dante Carl Patterson, 35, of Hanford was charged with sexual assault. A pretrial conference was scheduled July 6.
SOUTH VALLEY – One of the 62 Crips gang members arrested in the areawide law enforcement sweep June 8 has pleaded not guilty, according to the Kings County DA's office. Another defendant pleaded no contest in an apparent plea deal, according to Andrew Vargas, office supervisor for the Kings County DA’s Office.
Additional pleas have been entered although they are not available at this time. As soon as the pleas become available they will be updated.
Meanwhile, the defendants pleading not guilty are Nahjee McCoy, 27, of Hanford who is charged with trafficking, according to a charge sheet provided by the DA’s office.
Cyrus Clark, 24, of Hanford is the defendant who pleaded no contest, according to Vargas. He is charged with a lewd and lascivious violent act, according to the charge sheet.
The bulk of the defendants are being held in Kings County Jail, Vargas said.
Because the region is experiencing a substantial increase in violent crime, a multi-agency law enforcement task force arrested members of the Crips criminal street gang in early morning raids and accused them of conspiracy to commit violent actions funded by illegal drug activities, said Kings County Sheriff David Robinson.
Various law enforcement SWAT teams served 23 search warrants on suspected gang members including 11 warrants in Hanford, five in Visalia, two in Kings County, 1 in Fresno, 1 in Delano, 1 in Lemoore and 1 in Tulare, he said.
The early morning raid caused a stir among some members of the public as at least 10 law enforcement vehicles were observed on Highway 198 in Hanford, another 10 or more vehicles were observed on Grangeville Boulevard heading east into Hanford and at the Hanford Mall about 6 am another observer heard a law enforcement helicopter.
Nearly half of 35 defendants are from Hanford, six each are from Fresno and Visalia, according to a count of the charge sheet.
Two are from Lemoore and there are single defendants from Blythe, Bakersfield, Soledad, Concord and Victorville, according to the charge sheet.
Jordan Behn, 20, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Charrone Sherrick Berry, 28, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking. His pre-trial conference was set for July 6.
Aquarian Houston, 25, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking and attempting a crime.
Elijah Malcom Johnson, 24, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Jaylen Booker, 18, of Fresno was charged with human trafficking and conspiracy to commit a crime. His paperwork was submitted to court.
Rashad McBride, 34, of Fresno is charged with sexual assault. He has a pre-trial conference scheduled for July 6.
Brian Keith Quamy Robinson, 34, of Fresno is charged with sexual assault. His paperwork has been submitted to the court.
Numerous other defendants are from Hanford. Elijah Jalen Love Crockett, 29, of Hanford was charged with a weapons offense. His paper has been submitted to court.
Lance Andrew Flenoid, 28, of Hanford was charged with homicide and a weapons offense. A pre-trial conference is scheduled on August 22 regarding the homicide charge. The weapons offense paperwork has been submitted to court.
Jazzmon Emmanuelle Hargro, 20, of Hanford was charged with human trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Lamar Eugene Shea Harris, 35, of Hanford was charged with human trafficking and attempting a crime. His paper has been submitted to court.
Kyle Damon Horn, 26, of Hanford was charged with human trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Jupri Jordan Hughes, 22, of Hanford was charged with homicide and attempting a crime. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for July 20.
Cecil Devon Love, 27, of Hanford was charged with a weapons offense. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Mae D. Love, 63, of Hanford has been charged with conspiracy. Her paperwork has been submitted to court.
Lanon Jag McCullough, 36, of Victorville was charged with sexual assault. His paperwork
has been submitted to court.
Tyrei Lee Miles, 27, of Vacaville was charged with trafficking. His paperwork has been submitted to court.
Jeorgio Alexander Miller, 22, of Hanford was charged with homicide and attempting a crime. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for July 6.
Elise Padilla, 49, of Hanford was charged with conspiracy. Her paperwork was submitted to court.
Dante Carl Patterson, 35, of Hanford was charged with sexual assault. A pretrial conference was scheduled July 6.
HANFORD POLICE CHIEF PARKER SEVER describes shooting scene at Candice & Co. Jewelry store 7/6/23 posted 7/7/23 5:52 am
One Eleven coffee house assistant manager Daniel Merlos gives eyewitness account of what happened inside Candice jewelry store. He was inside store during the shooting. 7/6/23 Posted 7/7/23 5:54 am
Ex-employee kills himself, destroys downtown jewelry store
Updated 7/9/23 1:03 pm
HANFORD – One man is dead of a self-inflicted gunshot and five people were injured when a suspect intentionally drove his pickup into a downtown jewelry store here Thursday afternoon (7/6/23).
The suspect was identified by police as Raul Arzate, 49, of Visalia. He had "stressors in his life. He lost his job two weeks ago," said Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever.
Sever said the driver of the pickup destroyed the store. Figures on the amount of damage done to the store were not immediately available.
Sever wouldn’t say where the man shot himself. Police have recovered the handgun used in the shooting. He described the man an ex-employee of the Candice & Company, 117 W. 7th St. It will be many months before autopsy results are available.
The five injured about 2:30 pm were the store’s owner and four others, Sever said. The suspect fired shots in the store before killing himself. The people in the store were not wounded by bullets. The injuries were from glass and required outpatient treatment, Sever said.
After the Nissan Titan pickup smashed through the front glass, the owner was seen running out of the store. The entire body of the truck was in the store and it took a towing company more than an hour to extricate the truck from the building using a steel line and tow truck winch. The truck was pulled out tailgate first.
The passenger side door of the truck was heavily damaged. The curb was intact and there was no damage to a mature tree just west of the store’s entrance.
Bystanders said the truck was traveling west on 7th Street from Irwin St. and had hit other vehicles before plowing into the store.
“I heard the truck peel out, 1 shot, light sounding,” said Brian, an employee of the nearby brewery. Customers stayed in the brewery during the incident and employees locked the doors.
“Nothing in recent memory has happened like this,” Brian said.
“I heard the tires screech,” Victor Ramos, a customer at One Eleven coffee house, 111 W. 7th St.
Police cordoned off the area around the store. Broken glass was scattered around the front of the store on the sidewalk.
Sever people who receive threats at their business should treat the threats as real and notify law enforcement.
"If you see something, say something," he said.
If a person has been drinking or is acting weird, people should be on the alert, Sever said.
"In today's environment," he said. "It's wise for everybody to be vigilant."
HANFORD – One man is dead of a self-inflicted gunshot and five people were injured when a suspect intentionally drove his pickup into a downtown jewelry store here Thursday afternoon (7/6/23).
The suspect was identified by police as Raul Arzate, 49, of Visalia. He had "stressors in his life. He lost his job two weeks ago," said Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever.
Sever said the driver of the pickup destroyed the store. Figures on the amount of damage done to the store were not immediately available.
Sever wouldn’t say where the man shot himself. Police have recovered the handgun used in the shooting. He described the man an ex-employee of the Candice & Company, 117 W. 7th St. It will be many months before autopsy results are available.
The five injured about 2:30 pm were the store’s owner and four others, Sever said. The suspect fired shots in the store before killing himself. The people in the store were not wounded by bullets. The injuries were from glass and required outpatient treatment, Sever said.
After the Nissan Titan pickup smashed through the front glass, the owner was seen running out of the store. The entire body of the truck was in the store and it took a towing company more than an hour to extricate the truck from the building using a steel line and tow truck winch. The truck was pulled out tailgate first.
The passenger side door of the truck was heavily damaged. The curb was intact and there was no damage to a mature tree just west of the store’s entrance.
Bystanders said the truck was traveling west on 7th Street from Irwin St. and had hit other vehicles before plowing into the store.
“I heard the truck peel out, 1 shot, light sounding,” said Brian, an employee of the nearby brewery. Customers stayed in the brewery during the incident and employees locked the doors.
“Nothing in recent memory has happened like this,” Brian said.
“I heard the tires screech,” Victor Ramos, a customer at One Eleven coffee house, 111 W. 7th St.
Police cordoned off the area around the store. Broken glass was scattered around the front of the store on the sidewalk.
Sever people who receive threats at their business should treat the threats as real and notify law enforcement.
"If you see something, say something," he said.
If a person has been drinking or is acting weird, people should be on the alert, Sever said.
"In today's environment," he said. "It's wise for everybody to be vigilant."
ENLISTED SAILOR FROM WISCONSIN RETURNING HOME to NAS Lemoore from USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
6/28/23 discusses homecoming, also interview with his young son who looks forward to playing cards with dad.
6/28/23 discusses homecoming, also interview with his young son who looks forward to playing cards with dad.
WEDNESDAY (6/28/23) WAS THE ENLISTED SAILORS' turn to get hugs and kisses from family and friends as seven C-40 aircraft (similar to 737s) ferried them from San Diego--- where the USS Nimitiz docked--- to their homebase at NAS Lemoore. The enlisted personnel had just returned from a seven-month deployment in the Western Pacific. After the aircraft landed, vehicles that looked like white school buses transported them from the tarmac to base where a hook and ladder had hoisted a huge American flag, music blared and loved ones waved little flags or clutched balloons. Some held welcome home signs. While everyone waited there was free soda and lots of nervous chatter. Some said they didn't believe their loved ones were really coming home until the last minute.
VFA-22, KNOW AS THE FIGHTING REDCOCKS, arriving home to NAS Lemoore today (6/27/23) after 7-month deployment in Western Pacific on USS Nimitz. VFA 22 is part of Carrier Wing 17 which includes three other squadrons who also arrived in Lemoore today (VFA -94, VFA -137, VFA -146. Some 100 family and friends were on hand to greet them waving flags, holding signs and cheering as some of the other pilots based at Lemoore looked on adding to the celebratory atmosphere. In the hangar behind the tarmac decorated tables were laden with food and drink. VFA 22's arrival on the tarmac was preceded by a 12-jet FA 18 Super Hornet wedge formation flyover before landing. The pilots were clad in special navy blue and red flight suits for the occasion. Tomorrow 6/28/23) nearly 1,000 sailors from the Nimitz will arrive on a large passenger jet for their homecoming.
VIDEO DAVID MCDONALD PARK in Clovis. Possible model for Hidden Valley Park expansion in Hanford, Ca. Filmed 6/22/23
CONTINUATION OF VIDEO DAVID MCDONALD PARK in Clovis. Filmed 6/22/23
ERIC SIMES Clovis Youth Football Coach on his group's use of David McDonald Park. Filmed 6/22/23
Aerial footage photographed 6/13/23 of Tule Lake flooding
Sentinel building sold to Hanford High District
POSTED 6/3023 12:48 pm
HANFORD – In a significant change in the downtown property landscape, the Hanford Sentinel is selling its downtown building at 300 W. 6th St. to the Hanford Joint Union High School District for $1.49 million and moving to another undetermined, smaller location downtown, according to District Superintendent Victor Rosa and an article in the Sentinel.
The Sentinel under its current owner, Santa Maria New Media Inc., and previous owners has occupied the West 6th Street 16,500 square foot location since April 1991, the Sentinel said. Prior to being a newspaper office, it was occupied by the Prairie Market.
The reason for the sale is “…over the last several years, with changes in our business and areas of our building that are no longer being used for what they once were…it is simply too much space,” said Terri Leifeste, vice president/group publisher of Santa Maria News Media Inc. in an article in the Sentinel.
HJUHSD trustees approved the sale June 27. The district plans to consolidate its offices at the West 6th Street location. The facility will also accommodate the growing online charter school which is now housed in the Hanford Adult School behind Hanford High on Campus Drive.
The West 6th street building will require $2 million - $2.49 million in improvements, mainly to the heating ventilation and air conditioning system, Rosa told Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future. The charter school will move in the fall of 2024 and district offices will relocate in the December 2023 – January 2024 period, he said.
Approximately seven rooms now occupied by district offices at the Hanford High Annex property on the East Campus will be turned over to the high school for special education and other classes, said Rosa.
The district will likely sell its current district offices at 823 W. Lacey Blvd. after all the moves are completed.
The Sentinel has occupied four locations since it has been in Hanford, according to the Sentinel: Douty, between 6th and 7th streets, 200-block of West 7th Street, in 1961 it moved to a location 8th Street near the Amtrak station and Bank of the Sierra which it occupied until 1991 when it moved to 300 W. 6th St.
Besides publishing the Sentinel, the Sentinel owns newspapers in Kingsburg-Selma and has an online website. Santa Maria News Media Inc. Santa Maria News Media Inc includes the Sentinel, the Lompoc Record and the Santa Ynez Valley News, according to the YouTube channel of the Santa Maria Times.
Santa Maria New Media Inc. is owned by an out-of-state owner with ties to Canada, according to a March 13, 2020 Noozhawk.com article, an online news publication based in Santa Barbara. Noozhawk could not be reached for queries on the newspapers owned by Santa Maria News Media Inc.
Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa formerly owned the Santa Maria Times and the Sentinel. The Selma-Kingsburg papers were purchased from Jim Brock whose family had been long-time owners of those newspapers.
Melanie Walsh, chief executive officer of Santa Maria News Media Inc. and others are affiliated with other newspaper properties including The Bakersfield Californian, the Antelope Valley Press and the Porterville Recorder, according to Noozhawk.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future emailed Walsh. If she replies, this article will be updated.
HANFORD – In a significant change in the downtown property landscape, the Hanford Sentinel is selling its downtown building at 300 W. 6th St. to the Hanford Joint Union High School District for $1.49 million and moving to another undetermined, smaller location downtown, according to District Superintendent Victor Rosa and an article in the Sentinel.
The Sentinel under its current owner, Santa Maria New Media Inc., and previous owners has occupied the West 6th Street 16,500 square foot location since April 1991, the Sentinel said. Prior to being a newspaper office, it was occupied by the Prairie Market.
The reason for the sale is “…over the last several years, with changes in our business and areas of our building that are no longer being used for what they once were…it is simply too much space,” said Terri Leifeste, vice president/group publisher of Santa Maria News Media Inc. in an article in the Sentinel.
HJUHSD trustees approved the sale June 27. The district plans to consolidate its offices at the West 6th Street location. The facility will also accommodate the growing online charter school which is now housed in the Hanford Adult School behind Hanford High on Campus Drive.
The West 6th street building will require $2 million - $2.49 million in improvements, mainly to the heating ventilation and air conditioning system, Rosa told Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future. The charter school will move in the fall of 2024 and district offices will relocate in the December 2023 – January 2024 period, he said.
Approximately seven rooms now occupied by district offices at the Hanford High Annex property on the East Campus will be turned over to the high school for special education and other classes, said Rosa.
The district will likely sell its current district offices at 823 W. Lacey Blvd. after all the moves are completed.
The Sentinel has occupied four locations since it has been in Hanford, according to the Sentinel: Douty, between 6th and 7th streets, 200-block of West 7th Street, in 1961 it moved to a location 8th Street near the Amtrak station and Bank of the Sierra which it occupied until 1991 when it moved to 300 W. 6th St.
Besides publishing the Sentinel, the Sentinel owns newspapers in Kingsburg-Selma and has an online website. Santa Maria News Media Inc. Santa Maria News Media Inc includes the Sentinel, the Lompoc Record and the Santa Ynez Valley News, according to the YouTube channel of the Santa Maria Times.
Santa Maria New Media Inc. is owned by an out-of-state owner with ties to Canada, according to a March 13, 2020 Noozhawk.com article, an online news publication based in Santa Barbara. Noozhawk could not be reached for queries on the newspapers owned by Santa Maria News Media Inc.
Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa formerly owned the Santa Maria Times and the Sentinel. The Selma-Kingsburg papers were purchased from Jim Brock whose family had been long-time owners of those newspapers.
Melanie Walsh, chief executive officer of Santa Maria News Media Inc. and others are affiliated with other newspaper properties including The Bakersfield Californian, the Antelope Valley Press and the Porterville Recorder, according to Noozhawk.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future emailed Walsh. If she replies, this article will be updated.
Doug Verboon, supervisor
District 3 Kings County
District 3 Kings County
Daniel J. O'Connell.
executive director
Central Valley Partnership
executive director
Central Valley Partnership
Hanford town hall forum on water
With flooding, unfairness to small towns, waste,
new narrative on Central Valley water needed
Posted 6/18/23 1:01 pm
HANFORD – With small towns such as Allensworth, Pixley and Stratford struggling to run local water systems, excessive farming and pumping on land that shouldn’t be farmed and a lack of preparedness for the recent flooding, a whole new way of approaching water issues in the Central Valley is needed, said water experts at a town hall meeting in Hanford.
A new narrative to increase public oversight on water is needed, Daniel J. O’Connell, executive director of the Central Valley Project told about 50 people attending a non-partisan town hall on water Friday (6/16/23) sponsored by the Kings County Democratic Party.
O’Connell and others interested in water issues developed a ”Progressive Water Platform for the Central Valley.”
Among the recommendations in the three-page document is agencies developed to protect groundwater need a member of a disenfranchised
community on their boards.
Many large water districts are financially corrupt, said O’Connell who has a PhD in education and is the co-author “In The Struggle: Scholars and the Fight Against Industrial Agribusiness in California.”
O’Connell praised Kings County Supervisor Jim Verboon (District 3), who is a Republican, for his efforts in securing a law that prevents Kings County groundwater from being exported outside the county.
The current governing structures of the water agencies, O’Connell said, is oppressive. And this ironically occurs, he said, in a region that has the highest poverty and hunger while agriculturally it is the world’s most productive food region.
“Truth,” he said “is the active voice of God in the world.”
For his part Verboon said the county knew when the value of water increases so much that it doesn’t pay to do farming, something has to be done.
Verboon, in his 13th year as supervisor, said Kings County was the only county of the state’s 58 that didn’t have an ordinance preventing the export of water outside the county.
He said when he started working on the issue several years ago, a grower he spoke to about it said, “You better get a body guard.”
The matter is not so much an issue now because of the rains, but in tight years growers will “…resort to everything they have to to survive.”
He said he didn’t want Kings County to end up like the Owens Valley where the City of Los Angeles appropriated so much water that the valley turned into a wasteland. This story is depicted in the movie “Chinatown.”
The unincorporated community of Allensworth in Tulare County faced its owns trials and tribulations from the flood by having to print and distribute fliers to its residents about the flooding, having pump failures and an uncertain water future, Valeria Jasso Gorospe, of the Allensworth Progressive Association. The community is in the flooded Tulare lakebed.
She spoke of days and exhausting long months to get help for Allensworth.
Frank Herrera, who works for a Kern County health and safety organization, said he had a bird’s eye view of the flood emergency when he volunteered in Allensworth.
At one community meeting, he said, a veteran stood up and said, “I will die before I let my community flood.”
Herrera said he noticed a lot of governmental systems failures with no one at the other end to answer questions.
“This may be our new normal, I don’t know,” he said.
Preparedness is the key for the future, he said, especially in the expected El Nino year.
Mark Arax, author of “The King of California” and other noted books, contrasted farming in or near small cities such as
Fowler and Kingsburg with the West Side. The farms in the small cities on the East Side, he said, are farmed by people of Armenian, Japanese descent and others of different national origins and rivers run through these areas.
“The west side (has) no rivers,” Arax said. “Farmers don’t live in Huron. When you don’t live on the land,” he said “you have psychic distance from it.”
He asked whether it made sense to grow where nature didn’t intend it and turn this land into food production.
It's taken a half century, Arax said, to get where we are and the question is: should we have ag here and what should be the size of the farms?
Many of the large farmers, such as J.G. Boswell follow the family motto “As long as the whale never surfaces, it is never harpooned,” Arax said.
The penchant for secrecy extends to his one-time rival Clarence Salyer and his descendants.
The Boswells, with ownership of more than 200,000 acres---more than any other family in California---didn’t want their story told, Arax said.
“The farmer wants to die with the history on his pillow,” he said.
And frequently, Arax said, these large farmers’ holdings were underpinned by threats of violence or actual violence.
When Arax asked Fred Salyer about his father Clarence’s penchant for violence, Fred Salyer said he remembered during the cotton worker’s in 1933 that several of the striking farmworkers were shot while attending a strike meeting in Pixley.
His father later told him to light up the cold forge “good and hot” so the gun could be melted down and no one could trace its origins back to Clarence.
By the 20s Tule Lake had been diverted so crops could be planted in the lake bottom. At the same the invention of the turbine pump allowed groundwater pumping.
Prior to that, Arax said, much of the Valley was watered by artesian wells. This lowered the groundwater.
Then came drip irrigation. “Drip,” Arax said “ allowed farmers that farmed ground that that should have never been farmed.”
In the Bakersfield area, Arax said, farmers draw too much groundwater even in flood years. A third of the 900,000 acres farmed in Kern County, he said, needs to be retired.
To its credit, the Westlands water district on the West Side, he said, has reduced its acreage from 565,000 by a little less than half or 265,000 acres.
(In addition to California’s county ordinances preventing export of water, the state in 2014 passed a State Groundwater Management Act which requires the formation of local agencies to develop groundwater sustainability plans and prevent overdrafting of groundwater.)
Farmers, Arax said, found some common ground with those concerned about overpumping and water waste.
“We have got to talk,” he said. “Somehow on this water issue we have got (to get) together to make sense.”
Gang cases from big raid working way through justice system
Updated 6/15/23 2:38 pm
SOUTH VALLEY – Two of the 62 Crips gang members arrested in the areawide law enforcement sweep June 8 have pleaded not guilty, according to the Kings County DA's office. Additional pleas have been entered although they are not available at this time. As soon as the pleas become available they will be updated.
Meanwhile, the defendants pleading not guilty are Nahjee McCoy and Cyrus Clark, according to Andrew Vargas, office supervisor for the Kings County District Attorney's Office.
The names of 12 defendants, according to Vargas, are: Tyrese Jeugens-Taylor, Jeorgio Miller, Lance Flenoid, Jupri Hughes, Luis Perez Jr., Dante Patterson, Kyle Damon Horn, Rashad McBride, Mark Anthony Scott, Jonathan Sanders and Damarious Donald Sanders.
The bulk of the defendants are being held in Kings County Jail, Vargas said.
Because the region is experiencing a substantial increase in violent crime a multi-agency law enforcement task force arrested members of the Crips criminal street gang in early morning raids and accused them of conspiracy to commit violent actions funded by illegal drug activities, said Kings County Sheriff David Robinson.
Various law enforcement SWAT teams served 23 search warrants on suspected gang members including 11 warrants in Hanford, five in Visalia, two in Kings County, 1 in Fresno, 1 in Delano, 1 in Lemoore and 1 in Tulare, he said.
The early morning raid caused a stir among some members of the public as at least 10 law enforcement vehicles were observed on Highway 198 in Hanford, another 10 or more vehicles were observed on Grangeville Boulevard heading east into Hanford and at the Hanford Mall about 6 am another observer heard a law enforcement helicopter to the north. The Kings County Sheriff’s Air Support Unit, which flies a Cessna 206 equipped with special detection equipment, also participated in the raid starting at 4:30 am, said Sergeant Jerry Hunter of the unit.
In connection with the raids authorities seized $225,00 in cash, froze bank accounts with $550,000 in deposits and seized $120,000 in allegedly fraudulently-obtained jewelry, said Robinson.
Among the crimes authorities charged the gang members with was human trafficking.
“This is a big case,” he said. “It is one of the biggest in Kings County. This is what we need in our community to hold people to account.”
Various law enforcement SWAT teams served 23 search warrants on suspected gang members including 11 warrants in Hanford, five in Visalia, two in Kings County, 1 in Fresno, 1 in Delano, 1 in Lemoore and 1 in Tulare, he said.
Besides the Kings County Sheriff’s Office also participating was Hanford Police, Lemoore Police, Kings County Probation, state Department of Justice Special Operations and the California Highway Patrol.
An official from the state Department of Justice said as a result of the investigation 32 guns were taken off the street, two of which are believed to be involved in shootings and three of which are believed to have been involved in homicides. Also seized, the official said, were a pipe bomb and contraband including an item believed to be destined for a fellow gang member at a correctional facility in Mariposa.
Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever said the city is experiencing a dramatic increase in gun violence. He mentioned two recent murders including a man shot and killed for no reason. A 17-year-old was arrested in connection with the later case, said Sever. There was also a March 30 murder in broad daylight in front of a Domino’s Pizza in the more upscale area of 11th Avenue and Grangeville Boulevard in North Hanford. A 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection with that case.
Of the three biggest criminal street gangs in the area, the Crips are the most violent, said Robinson. Three years ago, he said, law enforcement moved to suppress the Nortenos, the biggest of the big three. The third gang prevalent in the area is the Surenos. The area also has motorcycle street gangs which law enforcement has moved on in the past.
With today’s arrests of Crips, Robinson said, there will be a leadership vacuum in that gang and new leaders will emerge.
Because of budgetary constraints the smaller counties are at a disadvantage in terms of acquiring technology to help fight gang crime and other forms of urban violence. “We are at a disadvantage and the gangs know this,” Robinson said.
And although Robinson wants the new technologies, he said one advantage smaller counties have over larger counties is that law enforcement in smaller counties knows their communities better.
The action against the Crips incurred a substantial amount of overtime for the participating departments and Robinson said shortly he will assemble some figures on the extra cost his office incurred.
Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker was also at the law enforcement press conference today and she praised the efforts of authorities. She said although the cases will add to her department’s workload, they will be analyzed and brought to trial where warranted in a matter of weeks, not months.
SOUTH VALLEY – Two of the 62 Crips gang members arrested in the areawide law enforcement sweep June 8 have pleaded not guilty, according to the Kings County DA's office. Additional pleas have been entered although they are not available at this time. As soon as the pleas become available they will be updated.
Meanwhile, the defendants pleading not guilty are Nahjee McCoy and Cyrus Clark, according to Andrew Vargas, office supervisor for the Kings County District Attorney's Office.
The names of 12 defendants, according to Vargas, are: Tyrese Jeugens-Taylor, Jeorgio Miller, Lance Flenoid, Jupri Hughes, Luis Perez Jr., Dante Patterson, Kyle Damon Horn, Rashad McBride, Mark Anthony Scott, Jonathan Sanders and Damarious Donald Sanders.
The bulk of the defendants are being held in Kings County Jail, Vargas said.
Because the region is experiencing a substantial increase in violent crime a multi-agency law enforcement task force arrested members of the Crips criminal street gang in early morning raids and accused them of conspiracy to commit violent actions funded by illegal drug activities, said Kings County Sheriff David Robinson.
Various law enforcement SWAT teams served 23 search warrants on suspected gang members including 11 warrants in Hanford, five in Visalia, two in Kings County, 1 in Fresno, 1 in Delano, 1 in Lemoore and 1 in Tulare, he said.
The early morning raid caused a stir among some members of the public as at least 10 law enforcement vehicles were observed on Highway 198 in Hanford, another 10 or more vehicles were observed on Grangeville Boulevard heading east into Hanford and at the Hanford Mall about 6 am another observer heard a law enforcement helicopter to the north. The Kings County Sheriff’s Air Support Unit, which flies a Cessna 206 equipped with special detection equipment, also participated in the raid starting at 4:30 am, said Sergeant Jerry Hunter of the unit.
In connection with the raids authorities seized $225,00 in cash, froze bank accounts with $550,000 in deposits and seized $120,000 in allegedly fraudulently-obtained jewelry, said Robinson.
Among the crimes authorities charged the gang members with was human trafficking.
“This is a big case,” he said. “It is one of the biggest in Kings County. This is what we need in our community to hold people to account.”
Various law enforcement SWAT teams served 23 search warrants on suspected gang members including 11 warrants in Hanford, five in Visalia, two in Kings County, 1 in Fresno, 1 in Delano, 1 in Lemoore and 1 in Tulare, he said.
Besides the Kings County Sheriff’s Office also participating was Hanford Police, Lemoore Police, Kings County Probation, state Department of Justice Special Operations and the California Highway Patrol.
An official from the state Department of Justice said as a result of the investigation 32 guns were taken off the street, two of which are believed to be involved in shootings and three of which are believed to have been involved in homicides. Also seized, the official said, were a pipe bomb and contraband including an item believed to be destined for a fellow gang member at a correctional facility in Mariposa.
Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever said the city is experiencing a dramatic increase in gun violence. He mentioned two recent murders including a man shot and killed for no reason. A 17-year-old was arrested in connection with the later case, said Sever. There was also a March 30 murder in broad daylight in front of a Domino’s Pizza in the more upscale area of 11th Avenue and Grangeville Boulevard in North Hanford. A 14-year-old boy was arrested in connection with that case.
Of the three biggest criminal street gangs in the area, the Crips are the most violent, said Robinson. Three years ago, he said, law enforcement moved to suppress the Nortenos, the biggest of the big three. The third gang prevalent in the area is the Surenos. The area also has motorcycle street gangs which law enforcement has moved on in the past.
With today’s arrests of Crips, Robinson said, there will be a leadership vacuum in that gang and new leaders will emerge.
Because of budgetary constraints the smaller counties are at a disadvantage in terms of acquiring technology to help fight gang crime and other forms of urban violence. “We are at a disadvantage and the gangs know this,” Robinson said.
And although Robinson wants the new technologies, he said one advantage smaller counties have over larger counties is that law enforcement in smaller counties knows their communities better.
The action against the Crips incurred a substantial amount of overtime for the participating departments and Robinson said shortly he will assemble some figures on the extra cost his office incurred.
Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker was also at the law enforcement press conference today and she praised the efforts of authorities. She said although the cases will add to her department’s workload, they will be analyzed and brought to trial where warranted in a matter of weeks, not months.
Kyria Martinez lands top Kings County job
UPDATED 6/14/23 7:38 pm
KINGS COUNTY – In an expected move the board of supervisors Tuesday (6/13/23) selected Kyria Martinez, acting county administrative officer, to become county administrative officer.
She assumes the position after the departure of Ed Hill. When Hill left she was appointed acting county administrative officer and she said she would seek the top job. The county has 1,658 employees, is one of the county's largest employers and has an annual budget of $423.8 million much of which is for state-mandated social services.
A couple of local people who are experienced in local government and politics including Sheriff Dave Robinson have pushed Martinez’s candidacy for county administrative officer.
Hill announced earlier this year that he is leaving to become an administrator in Fresno County.
Prior to becoming chief administrator of Kings County, Hill headed the county’s health department.
His tenure included managing the local response to the Covid 19 pandemic. The county took a posture that was adversarial to the state’s position that businesses and churches needed to remain closed until the pandemic abated.
Supervisors were responding to political pressure from businesses and residents that wanted the county to reopen sooner. At one point the county had the highest infection rate of any county in the state, according to a study by the San Jose Mercury News.
Hill replaced Rebecca Campbell who resigned after filing a harassment claim against the county.
This was related to purported investigations of “public corruption” by then District Attorney Keith Fagundes. Fagundes, whose father Richard is on the board of supervisors, has denied there was any such investigation involving Campbell and denied that
NEWS ANALYSIS
she had filed a claim. Campbell also claimed she was harassed by two members of the board of supervisors. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has been unable to identify which two supervisors
were involved in Campbell’s claim. Campbell would not respond to requests for comment.
The county ultimately paid her a $10,000 settlement. Campbell is now deputy administrator of San Luis Obispo County.
Martinez said she didn’t think she would be in the running for the chief county administrative position this soon.
Supervisors will begin their selection process shortly, she said. One option available to the county
is to hire a headhunter to obtain candidates.
Martinez has been working for the county since 2017. She started as an administrative analyst where she worked primarily on the annual budget.
Campbell appointed Martinez as assistant county administrator.
Martinez has a background in retail management. After earning a double major undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from California State University Bakersfield, she earned a master’s degree in public administration from the same school. She has also worked for Tulare County and the City of Tulare.
KINGS COUNTY – In an expected move the board of supervisors Tuesday (6/13/23) selected Kyria Martinez, acting county administrative officer, to become county administrative officer.
She assumes the position after the departure of Ed Hill. When Hill left she was appointed acting county administrative officer and she said she would seek the top job. The county has 1,658 employees, is one of the county's largest employers and has an annual budget of $423.8 million much of which is for state-mandated social services.
A couple of local people who are experienced in local government and politics including Sheriff Dave Robinson have pushed Martinez’s candidacy for county administrative officer.
Hill announced earlier this year that he is leaving to become an administrator in Fresno County.
Prior to becoming chief administrator of Kings County, Hill headed the county’s health department.
His tenure included managing the local response to the Covid 19 pandemic. The county took a posture that was adversarial to the state’s position that businesses and churches needed to remain closed until the pandemic abated.
Supervisors were responding to political pressure from businesses and residents that wanted the county to reopen sooner. At one point the county had the highest infection rate of any county in the state, according to a study by the San Jose Mercury News.
Hill replaced Rebecca Campbell who resigned after filing a harassment claim against the county.
This was related to purported investigations of “public corruption” by then District Attorney Keith Fagundes. Fagundes, whose father Richard is on the board of supervisors, has denied there was any such investigation involving Campbell and denied that
NEWS ANALYSIS
she had filed a claim. Campbell also claimed she was harassed by two members of the board of supervisors. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has been unable to identify which two supervisors
were involved in Campbell’s claim. Campbell would not respond to requests for comment.
The county ultimately paid her a $10,000 settlement. Campbell is now deputy administrator of San Luis Obispo County.
Martinez said she didn’t think she would be in the running for the chief county administrative position this soon.
Supervisors will begin their selection process shortly, she said. One option available to the county
is to hire a headhunter to obtain candidates.
Martinez has been working for the county since 2017. She started as an administrative analyst where she worked primarily on the annual budget.
Campbell appointed Martinez as assistant county administrator.
Martinez has a background in retail management. After earning a double major undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from California State University Bakersfield, she earned a master’s degree in public administration from the same school. She has also worked for Tulare County and the City of Tulare.
Martinez lands top Kings County job
UPDATED 6/14/23 7:38 pm
KINGS COUNTY – In an expected move the board of supervisors Tuesday (6/13/23) selected Kyria Martinez, acting county administrative officer to become county administrative officer.
She assumes the position after the departure of Ed Hill. When Hill left she was appointed acting county administrative officer and she said she would seek the top job. The county has 1,658 employees, is one of the county's largest employers and has an annual budget of $423.8 million much of which is for state-mandated social services.
A couple of local people who are experienced in local government and politics including Sheriff Dave Robinson have pushed Martinez’s candidacy for county administrative officer.
Hill announced earlier this year that he is leaving to become an administrator in Fresno County.
Prior to becoming chief administrator of Kings County, Hill headed the county’s health department.
His tenure included managing the local response to the Covid 19 pandemic. The county took a posture that was adversarial to the state’s position that businesses and churches needed to remain closed until the pandemic abated.
Supervisors were responding to political pressure from businesses and residents that wanted the county to reopen sooner. At one point the county had the highest infection rate of any county in the state, according to a study by the San Jose Mercury News.
Hill replaced Rebecca Campbell who resigned after filing a harassment claim against the county.
This was related to purported investigations of “public corruption” by then District Attorney Keith Fagundes. Fagundes, whose father Richard is on the board of supervisors, has denied there was any such investigation involving Campbell and denied that
NEWS ANALYSIS
she had filed a claim. Campbell also claimed she was harassed by two members of the board of supervisors. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has been unable to identify which two supervisors
were involved in Campbell’s claim. Campbell would not respond to requests for comment.
The county ultimately paid her a $10,000 settlement. Campbell is now deputy administrator of San Luis Obispo County.
Martinez said she didn’t think she would be in the running for the chief county administrative position this soon.
Supervisors will begin their selection process shortly, she said. One option available to the county
is to hire a headhunter to obtain candidates.
Martinez has been working for the county since 2017. She started as an administrative analyst where she worked primarily on the annual budget.
Campbell appointed Martinez as assistant county administrator.
Martinez has a background in retail management. After earning a double major undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from California State University Bakersfield, she earned a master’s degree in public administration from the same school. She has also worked for Tulare County and the City of Tulare.
KINGS COUNTY – In an expected move the board of supervisors Tuesday (6/13/23) selected Kyria Martinez, acting county administrative officer to become county administrative officer.
She assumes the position after the departure of Ed Hill. When Hill left she was appointed acting county administrative officer and she said she would seek the top job. The county has 1,658 employees, is one of the county's largest employers and has an annual budget of $423.8 million much of which is for state-mandated social services.
A couple of local people who are experienced in local government and politics including Sheriff Dave Robinson have pushed Martinez’s candidacy for county administrative officer.
Hill announced earlier this year that he is leaving to become an administrator in Fresno County.
Prior to becoming chief administrator of Kings County, Hill headed the county’s health department.
His tenure included managing the local response to the Covid 19 pandemic. The county took a posture that was adversarial to the state’s position that businesses and churches needed to remain closed until the pandemic abated.
Supervisors were responding to political pressure from businesses and residents that wanted the county to reopen sooner. At one point the county had the highest infection rate of any county in the state, according to a study by the San Jose Mercury News.
Hill replaced Rebecca Campbell who resigned after filing a harassment claim against the county.
This was related to purported investigations of “public corruption” by then District Attorney Keith Fagundes. Fagundes, whose father Richard is on the board of supervisors, has denied there was any such investigation involving Campbell and denied that
NEWS ANALYSIS
she had filed a claim. Campbell also claimed she was harassed by two members of the board of supervisors. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has been unable to identify which two supervisors
were involved in Campbell’s claim. Campbell would not respond to requests for comment.
The county ultimately paid her a $10,000 settlement. Campbell is now deputy administrator of San Luis Obispo County.
Martinez said she didn’t think she would be in the running for the chief county administrative position this soon.
Supervisors will begin their selection process shortly, she said. One option available to the county
is to hire a headhunter to obtain candidates.
Martinez has been working for the county since 2017. She started as an administrative analyst where she worked primarily on the annual budget.
Campbell appointed Martinez as assistant county administrator.
Martinez has a background in retail management. After earning a double major undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from California State University Bakersfield, she earned a master’s degree in public administration from the same school. She has also worked for Tulare County and the City of Tulare.
Updated 6/7/23 3:59 pm
Breaking news
Suspect in 3 Reedley shootings killed by Reedley PD;
1 of suspects alleged victims dead, 2 others 'critical'
For detailed story please go to MORE at upper right and see
Public Safety Report
Breaking news 6/6/23 12:58 pm
Sheriff investigating ex-DA Fagundes' travel expenditures
Please see story below
Meetings on Hidden Valley expansion tomorrow (5/27/23)
POSTED 5/26/23 12:52 pm
HANFORD – Residents will have a chance to say what they would like to see in an expanded Hidden Valley Park at a meeting Saturday, May 27 at Hidden Valley Park starting at 9 a.m. The meeting will run until 11 a.m.
There will additional meetings on June 1 at the Hanford Civic Auditorium, 6-8 p.m. and June 3 at Hidden Valley Park from 3-5 p.m.
The expansion of Hidden Valley Park has been a hot-button issue in Hanford for a half century.
Successive city councils have tried to sell off the 18-acre property west of the existing park at 11th and Cortner only to be beaten back by public opposition.
A city-funded survey several years ago also confirmed that a majority of those who answered the survey wanted the park expanded.
A majority of the city council prior to the current council agreed that the park needed to be expanded and told city staff to rezone the 18-acre property from its current status of low-density residential and surplus property to public facilities. This effort was spearheaded by then Mayor Francisco Ramirez who at one time opposed expanding the park. Then Council Member Amanda Saltray and Art Brieno were strong supporters of expanding Hidden Valley.
There have been two voter initiatives to get the park expansion on the ballot. But neither initiative garnered enough qualified signatures to put the matter before the voters.
One initiative by Friends of Hidden Valley Park received more than 2,500 signatures but the city disputed the signatures for a variety of reasons including that some of the people who signed didn’t put Hanford under their names. City Manager Darrel Pyle actively opposed Hidden Valley expansion as did Council Member Justin Mendes and Ramirez.
The second initiative by Save Our Parkland93230 received 480 qualified signatures gathered during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The expansion would require a General Plan Amendment, a major undertaking. The General Plan is the city’s blueprint for development.
The council prior to the current one also voted to spend $75,000 on preliminary design work on an expanded park.
Although the previous council directed staff to rezone the property more than a year ago, the council has yet to receive any proposals from staff to do this. Other General Plan Amendments have been forwarded by staff and approved by the council but nothing on Hidden Valley expansion.
The city has also devoted millions of dollars in resources to other city parks including the proposed Heroes’ Park on the east side, Centennial Park, Lacey Park, the Longfield Center and Civic Park.
Mayor Travis Paden, District A, and Vice Mayor Mark Kairis, District E, have said they support an expanded Hidden Valley but what form their support would take is unclear. One idea they have discussed is expanding the park by nine acres and selling off the other half for housing. They also have discussed running Rodgers Road through the park.
The Greater Hidden Valley Association, the successor to Saveourparkland93230, wants all 18 acres developed as parkland.
Council Members Lou Martinez, District D and Kalish Morrow, District B have been supporters of expanding Hidden Valley.
Council Member Diane Sharp, District C, has been the least supportive of the park expansion of the existing council members although she did, at one time, propose a three-acre expansion.
HANFORD – Residents will have a chance to say what they would like to see in an expanded Hidden Valley Park at a meeting Saturday, May 27 at Hidden Valley Park starting at 9 a.m. The meeting will run until 11 a.m.
There will additional meetings on June 1 at the Hanford Civic Auditorium, 6-8 p.m. and June 3 at Hidden Valley Park from 3-5 p.m.
The expansion of Hidden Valley Park has been a hot-button issue in Hanford for a half century.
Successive city councils have tried to sell off the 18-acre property west of the existing park at 11th and Cortner only to be beaten back by public opposition.
A city-funded survey several years ago also confirmed that a majority of those who answered the survey wanted the park expanded.
A majority of the city council prior to the current council agreed that the park needed to be expanded and told city staff to rezone the 18-acre property from its current status of low-density residential and surplus property to public facilities. This effort was spearheaded by then Mayor Francisco Ramirez who at one time opposed expanding the park. Then Council Member Amanda Saltray and Art Brieno were strong supporters of expanding Hidden Valley.
There have been two voter initiatives to get the park expansion on the ballot. But neither initiative garnered enough qualified signatures to put the matter before the voters.
One initiative by Friends of Hidden Valley Park received more than 2,500 signatures but the city disputed the signatures for a variety of reasons including that some of the people who signed didn’t put Hanford under their names. City Manager Darrel Pyle actively opposed Hidden Valley expansion as did Council Member Justin Mendes and Ramirez.
The second initiative by Save Our Parkland93230 received 480 qualified signatures gathered during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The expansion would require a General Plan Amendment, a major undertaking. The General Plan is the city’s blueprint for development.
The council prior to the current one also voted to spend $75,000 on preliminary design work on an expanded park.
Although the previous council directed staff to rezone the property more than a year ago, the council has yet to receive any proposals from staff to do this. Other General Plan Amendments have been forwarded by staff and approved by the council but nothing on Hidden Valley expansion.
The city has also devoted millions of dollars in resources to other city parks including the proposed Heroes’ Park on the east side, Centennial Park, Lacey Park, the Longfield Center and Civic Park.
Mayor Travis Paden, District A, and Vice Mayor Mark Kairis, District E, have said they support an expanded Hidden Valley but what form their support would take is unclear. One idea they have discussed is expanding the park by nine acres and selling off the other half for housing. They also have discussed running Rodgers Road through the park.
The Greater Hidden Valley Association, the successor to Saveourparkland93230, wants all 18 acres developed as parkland.
Council Members Lou Martinez, District D and Kalish Morrow, District B have been supporters of expanding Hidden Valley.
Council Member Diane Sharp, District C, has been the least supportive of the park expansion of the existing council members although she did, at one time, propose a three-acre expansion.
Ex-DA Keith Fagundes
Acting County Administrator Kyria Martinez
Supervisor Richard Fagundes. District 5 (Hanford, Burris Park)
During ex-DA's tenure
Sheriff investigating Fagundes' travel expenditures
Updated 6/6/23 12:59 pm
Copyright 2023 Bulletinboarddigital Publications
by MARK PRATTER
VHL Editor
KINGS COUNTY – Kings County Sheriff David Robinson said Monday he is investigating the travel expenditures in the district attorney's office during the tenure of ex-DA Keith Fagundes.
No further details of the investigation are available at this time.
The county’s current acting head administrator approved a travel request in 2021 that involved a $1,000 payment to the sister of the then district attorney even though the payment was in violation of county’s policy against purchasing services from relatives, according to a receipts and the county’s policy manual.
Acting County Administrator Kyria Martinez explained that she was not aware when she gave her approval that Decorium Décor, the nominal owner of the conference center in Pismo Beach, was owned by the sister of then DA Keith Fagundes. “The actual receipt of the transaction of purchase was not presented,” she said in an email on May 3.
NEWS ANALYSIS
While Martinez’s explanation may be factual, it was known in county circles that Fagundes was using his sister’s beach house for staff retreats.
The payment for the February 17-19, 2021 use of Jacqlyn Smith’s $1.4 million Pismo Beach house was approved by now acting county administrator Martinez on March 9, 2021, according to a copy of the travel request.
At the time Martinez was not the chief administrator but was employed by the county in an administrative capacity. The travel request was also signed by then DA Keith Fagundes, the county’schief law e nforcemennt officer, according to the travel request.
And this was not the only instance of payments to relatives of the ex-DA. Between 2019 and 2022 payments amounted to $8,594.77 and up to $12, 152, according to receipts obtained by this newspaper.
The county’s purchasing policies state that purchase decisions cannot be made that would result in financial benefit to an immediate family member. Last June (6/22) when the payments were first revealed by this newspaper, Evan Jones, the county’s purchasing manager, said the transactions were in violation of the county’s policies.
At the time, Martinez, who was then assistant county administrator, said that the county was initiating an investigation into the matter.
Many of the travel requests during the period were approved by Veronica Mello, a fiscal analyst III in the DA’s office. Mello said in an email that she did not want to be interviewed.
Mello approved travel payments to Fagundes’ sister’s business on April 26, 2021 ($772.50).
When County Counsel a Freeman was asked whether any action had been taken involving Mello, Freeman claimed exemptions from disclosure citing Government Code 7923.600 involving a records investigation, 7927.700 (confidential personnel records) and 7927.705 (privilege).
Purchasing policy clear
While Mello has not publicly given an answer about why she approved the expenditures to Fagundes’ relatives, the county’s purchasing policy regarding this type of action is clear.
According to the county’s purchasing policy effective March 5, 2019 the purpose of the policy is “…ensure that the County’s expenditures are adequately executed and tracked, in order to minimize costs for the County’s goods and services.”
No personal financial interest
In a section of the policy labeled “Employee Interest in Suppliers” the stated policy is “In order to avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest, purchasing personnel shall avoid making award decisions that affect their personal financial interest or that of a family member.”
The policy also stated that a financial interest in a county supplier must be disclosed to the county’s purchasing manager as soon as the interested employee knows or reasonably out to know of the conflict.
The policy further stated that the purchasing manager will then take action to have that person abstain from any further involvement in that acquisition.
“Employees must act,” the policy continued “purely in the best interest of the public at all times and avoid the introduction of personal factors.”
These payments were noted on monthly US Bank statements. The transactions were made using the CAL-Card, which is a Visa credit card issued by the state to participating localities for purchases.
CAL-Card is merely the issuing agency. It is up to the localities using the card to train employees in the proper use of the credit instrument, according to the CAL-Card website.
“It is strongly encouraged that agencies develop a customized training program for staff participating in their CAL-Card program,” according to the CAL-Card website.
The CAL-Card website does provide tutorials, tests and videos that localities can use to train people.
At least one attorney who went to staff conferences at Fagundes’ sister’s house said he wasn’t trained regarding the use of the CAL-Card.
No CAL-Card training
“(I) never received any training (on the) use of CAL-Card,” said Matt Darby, a Kings County assistant district attorney who was in management in 2021. “I never heard of anything. No emails to that effect,” said Darby who is now a deputy district attorney in Tennessee. “Everyone knew it (the trips) were covered. I thought Keith to be fiscally sound. My operating assumption (was) he was not being charged.”
The frequency of the trips accelerated and they were interfering with his work, Darby said.
Other people who attended the staff conferences in Pismo Beach were asked if they received any training in the use of the CAL-Card.
These were attorney L. Torch, Eric Gong, who still is a deputy Kings County District Attorney, attorney Adam A. Fayad, now with the Orange County District Attorney and attorney Jeffrey Winter.
Torch declined to speak and Gong, Fayad and Winter did not respond to emails.
It is possible that Fagundes handled the payments using the CAL-Card and did not require his staff to submit the payments.
But if this was the case county employees that are issued a CAL-Card are required by the county to sign a form that they are responsible for appropriate use, according to a copy of the form obtained from counsel Freeman’s office on May 2.
The form refers to county procedures for use of the CAL-Card. “Any purchases found to be in violation of county policy shall be the responsibility of the cardholder and disciplinary action may be taken.”
The form requires the cardholder to sign his or her name and an approving official is required to sign.
It has already been established by the county purchasing manager that payment to relatives for county services is in violation of county purchasing policies and the holder in the county of a CAL-Card is required to sign a statement that he or she is responsible for appropriate use and any purchases found to be in violation of county policy shall be the responsibility of the cardholder and disciplinary action may be taken.
The county’s policy manual places the responsibility for use of the CAL-Card squarely on department heads.
“Department heads are responsible for the proper use of the Cal Cards issued to employees and for insuring compliance with the policies and procedures provided in this section,” the manual stated.
The manual also stated that multiple violations of the policy shall result in the revocation of the offender’s card at the discretion of the purchasing manager.
However, the receipt pattern showed Fagundes made multiple payments to his relative using the CAL-Card.
Counsel Freeman was asked in an email whether disciplinary action was taken against DA Fagundes and whether Fagundes was required to repay the county for CAL-Card purchases in violation of county policies.
Two telephone messages regarding this matter were also left on her voicemail. To date she has not responded either by email or phone.
Ex-DA Fagundes’ purchases didn’t stop with his sister.
There were also expenditures to Spy Screen Image & Printing in Hanford which was owned at the time of the transactions by Fagundes’ brother Ronnie Fagundes. These included everything from business cards and DA emblazoned polo shirts to a $1,100 expenditure for lettering on an Emergency Response Trailer. The trailer work was invoiced on April 6, 2021, according to county records.
The expenditures between September 29, 2019 and March 21, 2022 total $5,097,27, according to county receipts.
In summary, the taxpaying and voting residents of Kings County have no public indication whether anything was done to recoup the money paid to relatives by ex-DA Fagundes in violation of county policies.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future only examined a snapshot of the expenditures between 2019 and 2022. Fagundes was in office eight years and there may or may not be additional payments to relatives.
In addition, there is no public indication that the fiscal analyst who approved the unauthorized expenditures suffered any repercussions for not following county policy.
Counsel Freeman has declined to answer this question quoting various government code sections justifying confidentiality.
Why did purchases continue?
Another unknown is why the purchasing manager continued to allow Fagundes to use the CAL-Card when he was using it violation of state county policies.
The county refuses to disclose if anything happened to the people who violated its policies.
In another matter involving ex-DA Fagundes the county, specifically counsel Diane Freeman’s office, engaged in a pattern of delay and partial release of information in response to state Records Requests to prevent the public from knowing that there was a more than $1 million settlement of a harassment suit against the county involving an ex-employee of Fagundes.
The delay, partial release of information and outright denial of pertinent information is also evident in this case involving the use of the CAL-Card to pay relatives of the ex-DA.
The public knows that county has a form that employees issued a CAL-Card are supposed to use. But the county has given no indication that anyone issued a CAL-Card during the ex-DA’s term received any training in how the credit instrument was to be appropriately used. The county has succeeded in hiding the vital facts in this conflict-of-interest of interest case possibly violating the state Records Act which says when the there is conflict between disclosure and confidentiality government should favor disclosure.
VHL Editor
KINGS COUNTY – Kings County Sheriff David Robinson said Monday he is investigating the travel expenditures in the district attorney's office during the tenure of ex-DA Keith Fagundes.
No further details of the investigation are available at this time.
The county’s current acting head administrator approved a travel request in 2021 that involved a $1,000 payment to the sister of the then district attorney even though the payment was in violation of county’s policy against purchasing services from relatives, according to a receipts and the county’s policy manual.
Acting County Administrator Kyria Martinez explained that she was not aware when she gave her approval that Decorium Décor, the nominal owner of the conference center in Pismo Beach, was owned by the sister of then DA Keith Fagundes. “The actual receipt of the transaction of purchase was not presented,” she said in an email on May 3.
NEWS ANALYSIS
While Martinez’s explanation may be factual, it was known in county circles that Fagundes was using his sister’s beach house for staff retreats.
The payment for the February 17-19, 2021 use of Jacqlyn Smith’s $1.4 million Pismo Beach house was approved by now acting county administrator Martinez on March 9, 2021, according to a copy of the travel request.
At the time Martinez was not the chief administrator but was employed by the county in an administrative capacity. The travel request was also signed by then DA Keith Fagundes, the county’schief law e nforcemennt officer, according to the travel request.
And this was not the only instance of payments to relatives of the ex-DA. Between 2019 and 2022 payments amounted to $8,594.77 and up to $12, 152, according to receipts obtained by this newspaper.
The county’s purchasing policies state that purchase decisions cannot be made that would result in financial benefit to an immediate family member. Last June (6/22) when the payments were first revealed by this newspaper, Evan Jones, the county’s purchasing manager, said the transactions were in violation of the county’s policies.
At the time, Martinez, who was then assistant county administrator, said that the county was initiating an investigation into the matter.
Many of the travel requests during the period were approved by Veronica Mello, a fiscal analyst III in the DA’s office. Mello said in an email that she did not want to be interviewed.
Mello approved travel payments to Fagundes’ sister’s business on April 26, 2021 ($772.50).
When County Counsel a Freeman was asked whether any action had been taken involving Mello, Freeman claimed exemptions from disclosure citing Government Code 7923.600 involving a records investigation, 7927.700 (confidential personnel records) and 7927.705 (privilege).
Purchasing policy clear
While Mello has not publicly given an answer about why she approved the expenditures to Fagundes’ relatives, the county’s purchasing policy regarding this type of action is clear.
According to the county’s purchasing policy effective March 5, 2019 the purpose of the policy is “…ensure that the County’s expenditures are adequately executed and tracked, in order to minimize costs for the County’s goods and services.”
No personal financial interest
In a section of the policy labeled “Employee Interest in Suppliers” the stated policy is “In order to avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest, purchasing personnel shall avoid making award decisions that affect their personal financial interest or that of a family member.”
The policy also stated that a financial interest in a county supplier must be disclosed to the county’s purchasing manager as soon as the interested employee knows or reasonably out to know of the conflict.
The policy further stated that the purchasing manager will then take action to have that person abstain from any further involvement in that acquisition.
“Employees must act,” the policy continued “purely in the best interest of the public at all times and avoid the introduction of personal factors.”
These payments were noted on monthly US Bank statements. The transactions were made using the CAL-Card, which is a Visa credit card issued by the state to participating localities for purchases.
CAL-Card is merely the issuing agency. It is up to the localities using the card to train employees in the proper use of the credit instrument, according to the CAL-Card website.
“It is strongly encouraged that agencies develop a customized training program for staff participating in their CAL-Card program,” according to the CAL-Card website.
The CAL-Card website does provide tutorials, tests and videos that localities can use to train people.
At least one attorney who went to staff conferences at Fagundes’ sister’s house said he wasn’t trained regarding the use of the CAL-Card.
No CAL-Card training
“(I) never received any training (on the) use of CAL-Card,” said Matt Darby, a Kings County assistant district attorney who was in management in 2021. “I never heard of anything. No emails to that effect,” said Darby who is now a deputy district attorney in Tennessee. “Everyone knew it (the trips) were covered. I thought Keith to be fiscally sound. My operating assumption (was) he was not being charged.”
The frequency of the trips accelerated and they were interfering with his work, Darby said.
Other people who attended the staff conferences in Pismo Beach were asked if they received any training in the use of the CAL-Card.
These were attorney L. Torch, Eric Gong, who still is a deputy Kings County District Attorney, attorney Adam A. Fayad, now with the Orange County District Attorney and attorney Jeffrey Winter.
Torch declined to speak and Gong, Fayad and Winter did not respond to emails.
It is possible that Fagundes handled the payments using the CAL-Card and did not require his staff to submit the payments.
But if this was the case county employees that are issued a CAL-Card are required by the county to sign a form that they are responsible for appropriate use, according to a copy of the form obtained from counsel Freeman’s office on May 2.
The form refers to county procedures for use of the CAL-Card. “Any purchases found to be in violation of county policy shall be the responsibility of the cardholder and disciplinary action may be taken.”
The form requires the cardholder to sign his or her name and an approving official is required to sign.
It has already been established by the county purchasing manager that payment to relatives for county services is in violation of county purchasing policies and the holder in the county of a CAL-Card is required to sign a statement that he or she is responsible for appropriate use and any purchases found to be in violation of county policy shall be the responsibility of the cardholder and disciplinary action may be taken.
The county’s policy manual places the responsibility for use of the CAL-Card squarely on department heads.
“Department heads are responsible for the proper use of the Cal Cards issued to employees and for insuring compliance with the policies and procedures provided in this section,” the manual stated.
The manual also stated that multiple violations of the policy shall result in the revocation of the offender’s card at the discretion of the purchasing manager.
However, the receipt pattern showed Fagundes made multiple payments to his relative using the CAL-Card.
Counsel Freeman was asked in an email whether disciplinary action was taken against DA Fagundes and whether Fagundes was required to repay the county for CAL-Card purchases in violation of county policies.
Two telephone messages regarding this matter were also left on her voicemail. To date she has not responded either by email or phone.
Ex-DA Fagundes’ purchases didn’t stop with his sister.
There were also expenditures to Spy Screen Image & Printing in Hanford which was owned at the time of the transactions by Fagundes’ brother Ronnie Fagundes. These included everything from business cards and DA emblazoned polo shirts to a $1,100 expenditure for lettering on an Emergency Response Trailer. The trailer work was invoiced on April 6, 2021, according to county records.
The expenditures between September 29, 2019 and March 21, 2022 total $5,097,27, according to county receipts.
In summary, the taxpaying and voting residents of Kings County have no public indication whether anything was done to recoup the money paid to relatives by ex-DA Fagundes in violation of county policies.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future only examined a snapshot of the expenditures between 2019 and 2022. Fagundes was in office eight years and there may or may not be additional payments to relatives.
In addition, there is no public indication that the fiscal analyst who approved the unauthorized expenditures suffered any repercussions for not following county policy.
Counsel Freeman has declined to answer this question quoting various government code sections justifying confidentiality.
Why did purchases continue?
Another unknown is why the purchasing manager continued to allow Fagundes to use the CAL-Card when he was using it violation of state county policies.
The county refuses to disclose if anything happened to the people who violated its policies.
In another matter involving ex-DA Fagundes the county, specifically counsel Diane Freeman’s office, engaged in a pattern of delay and partial release of information in response to state Records Requests to prevent the public from knowing that there was a more than $1 million settlement of a harassment suit against the county involving an ex-employee of Fagundes.
The delay, partial release of information and outright denial of pertinent information is also evident in this case involving the use of the CAL-Card to pay relatives of the ex-DA.
The public knows that county has a form that employees issued a CAL-Card are supposed to use. But the county has given no indication that anyone issued a CAL-Card during the ex-DA’s term received any training in how the credit instrument was to be appropriately used. The county has succeeded in hiding the vital facts in this conflict-of-interest of interest case possibly violating the state Records Act which says when the there is conflict between disclosure and confidentiality government should favor disclosure.
Victim Witness Director arrested on theft charges
Posted 5/19/23 11:34 am
NGS COUNTY – The Sheriff’s Office arrested County District Attorney Victim Witness Director Julia Patino in connection with personal use of a generator and misuse of a county-issued CAL-Card involving personal expenditures of $19,958.94, according to a posting on the Sheriff’s office Facebook page.
The May 10 arrest followed execution of a search warrant at Patino’s Visalia home. Detectives issued a citation for crime against revenue and property of the state, the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office forwarded the case to the district attorney’s office for prosecution and is seeking witnesses in connection with the case.
Patino reportedly filed a claim this year against newly-elected DA Sarah Hacker for harassment. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore-Future has made a state records request to the county for a copy of the claim but has not received it yet.
The sheriff’s office said the purchases from Costco and Amazon were delivered to Patino’s home. The county had recently instructed all employees to use Amazon Business accounts. “Julia Patino did not move her Amazon account to a business account, as instructed, and did not use the County shipping and receiving location for delivery,” the sheriff’s office alleges.
District Attorney Sarah Hacker received a tip from an employee regarding misuse of a generator and
the misuse of the CAL-Card involving purchases, the sheriff’s office Facebook page stated. When Hacker took office in January she held a series of informal meetings with office employees to establish relationships and learn about particular office procedures, the sheriff’s office Facebook page stated.
The employee told Hacker that Patino took a generator purchased with taxpayer funds to her residence and had been using it for personal camping trips in her travel trailer with her family, the sheriff’s office Facebook page stated.
Patino initially denied having possession of the generator, but when confronted she admitted to having it and stated, “Yes, I forgot and the only reason it was there was to run fuel through it,” the sheriff’s office Facebook page stated.
When Patino turned the generator over to district attorney employees they discovered the generator had 74-hours of use on the meter, the Facebook page stated. Sheriff’s detectives concluded the 74-hours of use was much more
than merely running fuel through it and that it had, in fact, never been used at work or for work-related events.
The sheriff’s office alleges that Patino used her CAL-Card, the state-issued credit card, to buy the generator at Costco. The generator was intended to be used for a mobile crisis trailer. However, the sheriff’s office said, the generator would not have been available to victims in the county had there been a mass casualty incident while the suspect was in illegal possession of it in Tulare County.
County policy requires employees who are issued a CAL-Card to sign a statement that they will use the card properly and if they do not, they are subject to discipline. The statement also reads that the cardholder is responsible for any purchases in violation of county policy.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has made a state Records Request to the county for a copy of Patino’s CAL-Card signed statement.
The sheriff’s office compiled a partial inventory of many of the illegal items purchased. These included: 72 boxes of Kleenex, two dog baths, three men’s grooming kits, one six-foot folding bench, six easel pads, five tablecloths and two dog bowls.
The mass casualty travel trailer was mentioned in the news last year when then County Administrator Ed Hill told then DA Keith Fagundes to remove the trailer from his residence and return it to the county.
Fagundes had said at the time that he had moved it there for security reasons because the trailer was repeatedly vandalized when it was on Kings County Property.
Fagundes also paid his brother’s printing business---in violation of county policy--$1,100 for lettering on the trailer, according to county records. County purchasing policy states that employees may not do county business with relatives.
The May 10 arrest followed execution of a search warrant at Patino’s Visalia home. Detectives issued a citation for crime against revenue and property of the state, the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office forwarded the case to the district attorney’s office for prosecution and is seeking witnesses in connection with the case.
Patino reportedly filed a claim this year against newly-elected DA Sarah Hacker for harassment. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore-Future has made a state records request to the county for a copy of the claim but has not received it yet.
The sheriff’s office said the purchases from Costco and Amazon were delivered to Patino’s home. The county had recently instructed all employees to use Amazon Business accounts. “Julia Patino did not move her Amazon account to a business account, as instructed, and did not use the County shipping and receiving location for delivery,” the sheriff’s office alleges.
District Attorney Sarah Hacker received a tip from an employee regarding misuse of a generator and
the misuse of the CAL-Card involving purchases, the sheriff’s office Facebook page stated. When Hacker took office in January she held a series of informal meetings with office employees to establish relationships and learn about particular office procedures, the sheriff’s office Facebook page stated.
The employee told Hacker that Patino took a generator purchased with taxpayer funds to her residence and had been using it for personal camping trips in her travel trailer with her family, the sheriff’s office Facebook page stated.
Patino initially denied having possession of the generator, but when confronted she admitted to having it and stated, “Yes, I forgot and the only reason it was there was to run fuel through it,” the sheriff’s office Facebook page stated.
When Patino turned the generator over to district attorney employees they discovered the generator had 74-hours of use on the meter, the Facebook page stated. Sheriff’s detectives concluded the 74-hours of use was much more
than merely running fuel through it and that it had, in fact, never been used at work or for work-related events.
The sheriff’s office alleges that Patino used her CAL-Card, the state-issued credit card, to buy the generator at Costco. The generator was intended to be used for a mobile crisis trailer. However, the sheriff’s office said, the generator would not have been available to victims in the county had there been a mass casualty incident while the suspect was in illegal possession of it in Tulare County.
County policy requires employees who are issued a CAL-Card to sign a statement that they will use the card properly and if they do not, they are subject to discipline. The statement also reads that the cardholder is responsible for any purchases in violation of county policy.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has made a state Records Request to the county for a copy of Patino’s CAL-Card signed statement.
The sheriff’s office compiled a partial inventory of many of the illegal items purchased. These included: 72 boxes of Kleenex, two dog baths, three men’s grooming kits, one six-foot folding bench, six easel pads, five tablecloths and two dog bowls.
The mass casualty travel trailer was mentioned in the news last year when then County Administrator Ed Hill told then DA Keith Fagundes to remove the trailer from his residence and return it to the county.
Fagundes had said at the time that he had moved it there for security reasons because the trailer was repeatedly vandalized when it was on Kings County Property.
Fagundes also paid his brother’s printing business---in violation of county policy--$1,100 for lettering on the trailer, according to county records. County purchasing policy states that employees may not do county business with relatives.
Hanford residents experience utility billing problems
zPOSTED 5/26/23 11:24 am
HANFORD – The city is experiencing problems with its water meters and online billing system.
About 13 percent of the meters manufactured by Zenner, or 2,500, are not working correctly and it will take several months to fix the problem, said Public Works Director Jim Ross. The city has a total of 18,000 meters.
In addition, the city’s online utility billing system does not accept payments when current account numbers are entered and those residents experiencing the problem cannot pay their bills online. Residents either have to mail a payment or pay in person at city hall.
Regarding the billing issue, the city is looking for a new vendor to handle its online billing, said a water department employee. The current vendor is Paymentus of Redmond, WA.
Council Member Lou Martinez, District D, said he has received complaint from people regarding utility billing.
The water department is also not answering some calls and not returning calls on a timely basis. Asked about this, a department employee said they are short-staffed.
To address the meter problem the city is setting up payment plans for residents who have meter problems. But the city is not waiving charges for water used even if the bills are inaccurate, Ross said.
The city operates the water department as an enterprise fund where the water system is paid for by
for by city residents.
VHL emailed Zenner, the water meter vendor, and Paymentus, the water billing software company, requesting comment. If either company responds, the story will be updated.
HANFORD – The city is experiencing problems with its water meters and online billing system.
About 13 percent of the meters manufactured by Zenner, or 2,500, are not working correctly and it will take several months to fix the problem, said Public Works Director Jim Ross. The city has a total of 18,000 meters.
In addition, the city’s online utility billing system does not accept payments when current account numbers are entered and those residents experiencing the problem cannot pay their bills online. Residents either have to mail a payment or pay in person at city hall.
Regarding the billing issue, the city is looking for a new vendor to handle its online billing, said a water department employee. The current vendor is Paymentus of Redmond, WA.
Council Member Lou Martinez, District D, said he has received complaint from people regarding utility billing.
The water department is also not answering some calls and not returning calls on a timely basis. Asked about this, a department employee said they are short-staffed.
To address the meter problem the city is setting up payment plans for residents who have meter problems. But the city is not waiving charges for water used even if the bills are inaccurate, Ross said.
The city operates the water department as an enterprise fund where the water system is paid for by
for by city residents.
VHL emailed Zenner, the water meter vendor, and Paymentus, the water billing software company, requesting comment. If either company responds, the story will be updated.
Victims name released in Hanford Dominos shooting
Posted 5/29/23 12:02 pm
HANFORD – Police said the name of the victim in the fatal shooting in front of Domino’s Pizza on 11th Avenue is Rigoberto Garcia Zabala Jr., 34. Police have not confirmed gang-related ties.
Zabala died March 30 at Adventist Hospital after being shot in the late morning the same day in front of
the pizzeria located at the northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Grangeville Boulevard.
A 14-year-old male suspect was arrested in connection with the shooting, police said. Police have
not confirmed gang-related ties in connection with the suspect.
HANFORD – Police said the name of the victim in the fatal shooting in front of Domino’s Pizza on 11th Avenue is Rigoberto Garcia Zabala Jr., 34. Police have not confirmed gang-related ties.
Zabala died March 30 at Adventist Hospital after being shot in the late morning the same day in front of
the pizzeria located at the northeast corner of 11th Avenue and Grangeville Boulevard.
A 14-year-old male suspect was arrested in connection with the shooting, police said. Police have
not confirmed gang-related ties in connection with the suspect.
Flood district $15 million short on Corcoran levee repairs
POSTED 4/26/23 11:52 am
CORCORAN – The safety of Corcoran and specifically Corcoran State Prison depends on repairs to a 14.5- mile levee that surrounds the city and so far the Cross Creek Flood Control District is $15 million short of the necessary funds to make the needed repairs, said Corcoran City Manager Greg Gatzka yesterday (4/25/23).
The repairs will have to be done before June, said Gatzka. As temperatures rise the huge snowpack in the Sierras is melting adding to the burden of already swollen downstream reservoirs and rivers. The usually dry Tule lakebed, which borders Corcoran on the city’s west side, is now flooded to a depth of several feet or more and this is what the levee is holding back.
The total cost of the repairs is $17 million, said Gatzka.
While the city can provide the district with technical and administrative help in the aftermath of the flooding from the spring rains, he said, the city cannot tap into its reserves to close the funding gap on the levee repairs unless it gets reimbursement from another government entity.
Acting Kings County Administrator Kyria Martinez has told him the county does not have the money to help so the city has hired a Federal Emergency Management Agency specialist to submit the application for federal funding.
An email was sent to Kings County today and Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future is awaiting the county’s reply.
Governor Gavin Newsom was in Corcoran yesterday (4/25/23) to emphasize the state’s commitment to help Corcoran and the Central Valley but there was no specific commitment of funds regarding the levee.
However, there was a win for Corcoran from John Paasche, the state Department of Water Resources Flood Management Director, in the form of materials help to shore up the levee, said Gatzka. The state, he said, will provide erosion control material in the form of silt fencing on the water side of the levee.
The commitment came in a Zoom meeting yesterday with state officials.
The L-shaped levee is 20-feet wide on top which allows trucks and front loaders to carry material across the levee and dump it to strengthen the embankment which has been eroded by the spring rains, said Gatzka.
“The city itself (is) highly dependent on the integrity of the levee,” said Gatzka.
The levee was built in 1983 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has tried to contact with the Corps to get comment on the situation but the Corps has not responded.
One of the problems, said Gatzka, is the Cross Creek Flood Control District, has minimal staff and support to do this job.
Still, Gatzka, a former Office of Emergency Services worker in Kings County for more than two decades, said he is encouraged by the progress with the state.
“I think today was a big win (for) this community getting direct state support.”
CORCORAN – The safety of Corcoran and specifically Corcoran State Prison depends on repairs to a 14.5- mile levee that surrounds the city and so far the Cross Creek Flood Control District is $15 million short of the necessary funds to make the needed repairs, said Corcoran City Manager Greg Gatzka yesterday (4/25/23).
The repairs will have to be done before June, said Gatzka. As temperatures rise the huge snowpack in the Sierras is melting adding to the burden of already swollen downstream reservoirs and rivers. The usually dry Tule lakebed, which borders Corcoran on the city’s west side, is now flooded to a depth of several feet or more and this is what the levee is holding back.
The total cost of the repairs is $17 million, said Gatzka.
While the city can provide the district with technical and administrative help in the aftermath of the flooding from the spring rains, he said, the city cannot tap into its reserves to close the funding gap on the levee repairs unless it gets reimbursement from another government entity.
Acting Kings County Administrator Kyria Martinez has told him the county does not have the money to help so the city has hired a Federal Emergency Management Agency specialist to submit the application for federal funding.
An email was sent to Kings County today and Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future is awaiting the county’s reply.
Governor Gavin Newsom was in Corcoran yesterday (4/25/23) to emphasize the state’s commitment to help Corcoran and the Central Valley but there was no specific commitment of funds regarding the levee.
However, there was a win for Corcoran from John Paasche, the state Department of Water Resources Flood Management Director, in the form of materials help to shore up the levee, said Gatzka. The state, he said, will provide erosion control material in the form of silt fencing on the water side of the levee.
The commitment came in a Zoom meeting yesterday with state officials.
The L-shaped levee is 20-feet wide on top which allows trucks and front loaders to carry material across the levee and dump it to strengthen the embankment which has been eroded by the spring rains, said Gatzka.
“The city itself (is) highly dependent on the integrity of the levee,” said Gatzka.
The levee was built in 1983 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has tried to contact with the Corps to get comment on the situation but the Corps has not responded.
One of the problems, said Gatzka, is the Cross Creek Flood Control District, has minimal staff and support to do this job.
Still, Gatzka, a former Office of Emergency Services worker in Kings County for more than two decades, said he is encouraged by the progress with the state.
“I think today was a big win (for) this community getting direct state support.”
Fresno Kings town hall meeting on flood Thursday (4/27/23)
There will be a joint town hall meeting involving Fresno County and Kings County officials and residents regarding flooding at 6 pm Thursday
(4/27/23) at the Kings River Hardwick School, 10300 Excelsior Ave. in Hanford.
(4/27/23) at the Kings River Hardwick School, 10300 Excelsior Ave. in Hanford.
Flooding on South Fork of Kings at Highway 41 on Saturday (4/22/23)
State: Flooding to get worse as snow melt accelerates
Posted 4/24/23 9:02 pm
SACRAMENTO – For the moment, even though the snowpack in the Sierras has started to melt, downstream flooding is under control but as the weather continues to warm and planned water releases from the reservoirs continues, people in the Southern San Joaquin Valley can expect to see more flooding.
That’s the message from top state Department of Water Resources and Office of Emergency Services officials who briefed the media today (4/24/23) via Zoom.
“Eventually (we) risk reservoir releases exceeding the channel (river) capacity. Not this week, later into May,” said DWR’s Dr. Michael Anderson.
As the reservoirs fill up from the rain and snow melt, water is being released downstream via the Kings, Kaweah and San Joaquin Rivers to make room for more snowmelt.
The Kings River, which flows into Pine Flat Dam, is predicted to have peak flows up to 241,700acre- feet, according to published reports. To give people an idea of how much water this is, one acre foot covers an acre one-foot deep.
A trip to the Kings River and the South Fork of the Kings River at Highway 41 on Saturday (4/22), revealed swift flows with water nearly over the banks, particularly the South Fork of the Kings. Earlier last week water in the Kings River at Laton was over the banks at Laton Kingston Park.
And the Kaweah River which feeds into Lake Kaweah is predicted to have between April 26 and May 1 flows of up to 66,600 acre- feet, according to published reports Paul Goslin, deputy director of groundwater recharge, said a lot of water agencies, meaning irrigation districts, have reached maximum capacity with the pumps they have available. Water is being diverted onto farmland.
The state has initiated a program to get pumps to irrigation districts on an emergency basis and the Fresno Irrigation District has already taken advantage of this.
While the flooding from the dozen atmospheric rivers that hit the state since December has already cause a lot of damage, Brian Ferguson of California Office of Emergency Services acknowledged that there are “…still factors beyond our control” despite the state’s efforts to take every available action to protect the public.
He ticked off a number of steps people can take to protect themselves:
-Sign up for alerts (see CalAlert website)
-Form an emergency evacuation plan
-Have an emergency evacuation route
-When told by the local sheriff to leave, get out.
Regarding the situation in Corcoran Curtis Alexander of the San Francisco Chronicle asked aboutCo rcoran being millions of dollars short to raise the levee protect the city from Tule Lake flooding where telephone poles are partly under water and several motorists and many vehicles have been stranded.
Ferguson said there are a variety of programs that can help Corcoran. State officials met with Corcoran representatives on Friday (4/21/23) and there is a followup meeting scheduled.
To summarize Anderson said, “We’re dealing with a melt and it will accelerate. It’s not going to accelerate to where things will fall apart.”
That’s the message from top state Department of Water Resources and Office of Emergency Services officials who briefed the media today (4/24/23) via Zoom.
“Eventually (we) risk reservoir releases exceeding the channel (river) capacity. Not this week, later into May,” said DWR’s Dr. Michael Anderson.
As the reservoirs fill up from the rain and snow melt, water is being released downstream via the Kings, Kaweah and San Joaquin Rivers to make room for more snowmelt.
The Kings River, which flows into Pine Flat Dam, is predicted to have peak flows up to 241,700acre- feet, according to published reports. To give people an idea of how much water this is, one acre foot covers an acre one-foot deep.
A trip to the Kings River and the South Fork of the Kings River at Highway 41 on Saturday (4/22), revealed swift flows with water nearly over the banks, particularly the South Fork of the Kings. Earlier last week water in the Kings River at Laton was over the banks at Laton Kingston Park.
And the Kaweah River which feeds into Lake Kaweah is predicted to have between April 26 and May 1 flows of up to 66,600 acre- feet, according to published reports Paul Goslin, deputy director of groundwater recharge, said a lot of water agencies, meaning irrigation districts, have reached maximum capacity with the pumps they have available. Water is being diverted onto farmland.
The state has initiated a program to get pumps to irrigation districts on an emergency basis and the Fresno Irrigation District has already taken advantage of this.
While the flooding from the dozen atmospheric rivers that hit the state since December has already cause a lot of damage, Brian Ferguson of California Office of Emergency Services acknowledged that there are “…still factors beyond our control” despite the state’s efforts to take every available action to protect the public.
He ticked off a number of steps people can take to protect themselves:
-Sign up for alerts (see CalAlert website)
-Form an emergency evacuation plan
-Have an emergency evacuation route
-When told by the local sheriff to leave, get out.
Regarding the situation in Corcoran Curtis Alexander of the San Francisco Chronicle asked aboutCo rcoran being millions of dollars short to raise the levee protect the city from Tule Lake flooding where telephone poles are partly under water and several motorists and many vehicles have been stranded.
Ferguson said there are a variety of programs that can help Corcoran. State officials met with Corcoran representatives on Friday (4/21/23) and there is a followup meeting scheduled.
To summarize Anderson said, “We’re dealing with a melt and it will accelerate. It’s not going to accelerate to where things will fall apart.”
Eighteen F-15EXs will replace aging F-15C/D models at Fresno's 144th Air National Guard Fighter Wing. Fresno successfully lobbied to retain the wing in Fresno with the new aircraft. The Air Force decided to keep the wing in Fresno rather than moving the wing to NAS Lemoore and getting F-35 aircraft.
Blow to Kings County economy: air guard to remain in Fresno with new aircraft rather than moving to Naval Air Station Lemoore
UPDATED 4/23/23 1:00 pm
In a blow to Kings County and the South Valley, the Air Force has decided to base new Air National Guard F-15EX fighter aircraft at the existing base at Fresno Yosemite International Airport instead of sending new Air Guard F-35 aircraft to NAS Lemoore. Environmental analysis still has to be done on the assignment of the new aircraft.
The economic impact of the move to Lemoore could have pumped hundred of millions of dollars into the Kings County and South Valley economy based on the Air Guard's 1,200 employees in Fresno plus an additional 80 that would have to be hired to accommodate the new aircraft. In addition, the pricetag for purchasing the F-35s to go to Lemoore would have been close to $2 billion. There would also have been new construction involved to accommodate the new aircraft.
Acting Kings County Administrator did not return a call seeking comment nor to did NAS Lemoore have a comment.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, seeking to preserve one of Fresno's largest employers, lobbied to retain the Air Guard in Fresno. The extent of the city's lobbying with state Air Guard officials and the city's congressional delegation has not been determined yet. But one index of the efforts by air guard bases around the country to get the new aircraft can be seen in New Orleans.
Louisiana's 159th Fighter Wing based at Belle Chasse, 8.23 miles northwest of New Orleans, will get 18 F-15EXs to replace F-15C/D models, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The decision is pending on completion of environmental analysis.
Colonel Jenn Mumme, director of public affairs, Louisiana National Guard, told the Times-Picayune "...we have a lot of people to give credit to in this effort. Governor Edwards, our congressional delegation and their diligent staff, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) for national-level lobbying, our local community leaders and then the tireless efforts of our Louisiana National Guard leadership, both Army and Air, have dedicated countless hours to push the Air Force for a recapitalization solution. We partnered with F-15C Wings from other states as well (MA, CA, FL, OR). It's been a journey of about 5 years and has included visits, meetings, emails, letters, calls, briefings and briefings and briefings. The lives of 1400 Airmen depend on the LA Air National Guard for employment so all parties on the team were motivated to continue pushing this as a top priority."
Also new F-35s will go to the Air National Guard base based in Westfield, Massachusetts.
Although the air national guard and the Navy have different missions, there is a trend in the Pentagon to have joint basing options, according to Defense.com. Lemoore has certain advantages over Fresno in that it is a rural area with a land buffer around the base. Fresno's air guard location is in a densely population urban area with some land buffers around the airport but nothing to the extent that would exist in Lemoore.
In addtion, the Navy already has F-35s at Lemoore so there would be certain compatability advantages to basing in Lemoore, said air national guard officials.
Will Strickland, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau, in an answer to a question during a taped scoping session, said there was a possibility that the entire 144th in Fresno could move to NAS Lemoore. This despite statements indicating a long-term future relationship with the 144th in Fresno by Fresno Air Terminal aviation director Henry Thompason.
He said in an interview earlier this year that "As far as we know (as of today), we continue planning our ongoing, long-term relationship with 144th Fresno."
Thompson was asked to clarify his statement after it was learned that the 144th could leave Fresno entirely but he did not respond to a request asking him to do so.
The possibility of the 144th moving occurred during a recorded question and answer session on August 25, 2022. The recording can be accessed at:
www.ANGF15EX-F35A-EIS.com.
The option of the 144th remaining in Fresno was discussed by Strickland on the recording and that is what happened after the Secretary of the Air Force decided Fresno was the best place after reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement on supplying the Air National Guard with new fighters.
In a blow to Kings County and the South Valley, the Air Force has decided to base new Air National Guard F-15EX fighter aircraft at the existing base at Fresno Yosemite International Airport instead of sending new Air Guard F-35 aircraft to NAS Lemoore. Environmental analysis still has to be done on the assignment of the new aircraft.
The economic impact of the move to Lemoore could have pumped hundred of millions of dollars into the Kings County and South Valley economy based on the Air Guard's 1,200 employees in Fresno plus an additional 80 that would have to be hired to accommodate the new aircraft. In addition, the pricetag for purchasing the F-35s to go to Lemoore would have been close to $2 billion. There would also have been new construction involved to accommodate the new aircraft.
Acting Kings County Administrator did not return a call seeking comment nor to did NAS Lemoore have a comment.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, seeking to preserve one of Fresno's largest employers, lobbied to retain the Air Guard in Fresno. The extent of the city's lobbying with state Air Guard officials and the city's congressional delegation has not been determined yet. But one index of the efforts by air guard bases around the country to get the new aircraft can be seen in New Orleans.
Louisiana's 159th Fighter Wing based at Belle Chasse, 8.23 miles northwest of New Orleans, will get 18 F-15EXs to replace F-15C/D models, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The decision is pending on completion of environmental analysis.
Colonel Jenn Mumme, director of public affairs, Louisiana National Guard, told the Times-Picayune "...we have a lot of people to give credit to in this effort. Governor Edwards, our congressional delegation and their diligent staff, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) for national-level lobbying, our local community leaders and then the tireless efforts of our Louisiana National Guard leadership, both Army and Air, have dedicated countless hours to push the Air Force for a recapitalization solution. We partnered with F-15C Wings from other states as well (MA, CA, FL, OR). It's been a journey of about 5 years and has included visits, meetings, emails, letters, calls, briefings and briefings and briefings. The lives of 1400 Airmen depend on the LA Air National Guard for employment so all parties on the team were motivated to continue pushing this as a top priority."
Also new F-35s will go to the Air National Guard base based in Westfield, Massachusetts.
Although the air national guard and the Navy have different missions, there is a trend in the Pentagon to have joint basing options, according to Defense.com. Lemoore has certain advantages over Fresno in that it is a rural area with a land buffer around the base. Fresno's air guard location is in a densely population urban area with some land buffers around the airport but nothing to the extent that would exist in Lemoore.
In addtion, the Navy already has F-35s at Lemoore so there would be certain compatability advantages to basing in Lemoore, said air national guard officials.
Will Strickland, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau, in an answer to a question during a taped scoping session, said there was a possibility that the entire 144th in Fresno could move to NAS Lemoore. This despite statements indicating a long-term future relationship with the 144th in Fresno by Fresno Air Terminal aviation director Henry Thompason.
He said in an interview earlier this year that "As far as we know (as of today), we continue planning our ongoing, long-term relationship with 144th Fresno."
Thompson was asked to clarify his statement after it was learned that the 144th could leave Fresno entirely but he did not respond to a request asking him to do so.
The possibility of the 144th moving occurred during a recorded question and answer session on August 25, 2022. The recording can be accessed at:
www.ANGF15EX-F35A-EIS.com.
The option of the 144th remaining in Fresno was discussed by Strickland on the recording and that is what happened after the Secretary of the Air Force decided Fresno was the best place after reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement on supplying the Air National Guard with new fighters.
Hanford approves $4.6 million for Heroe's Park land
Posted 4/5/23 5:31 pm
HANFORD – With little discussion and opposition from one public commenter the city council Tuesday unanimously approved a $4.6 million expenditure for the purchase of 40 acres of land for Heroe’s Park on city’s east side as well for a new fire station and water tower.
The city was unable to reach an agreement with the landowner at 9 ¼ and Florinda so it moved the proposed park site adjacent and a little north to that site, said Brad Albert, Hanford’s parks and recreation director.
The land is being purchased from the Loogman family who currently farms on the site and it will be leased back to them temporarily until construction begins in 2024, Albert said.
Total funding for the park amounts to $12.6 million, Albert said. Of that amount $8.5 million came from a state Prop 68 grant, $1.92 million from the National Parks Service and $2.2 million from the city treasury, he said.
Council Member Diane Sharp asked how common it was throughout the state for new park to be funded with 15 percent local funds and the rest from federal and state sources.
Albert didn’t answer he question directly but said the park would be regional in nature and draw not only Hanford residents but people from outside the city. The new park is expected to kick off a development spurt on Hanford’s east side with new homes and businesses.
Albert also raised the issue of why the extension of Hidden Valley Park just west of the existing park at 11th Avenue and Cortner was not funded with state money.
He said the state determines the criteria for funding and the new park had to be in an underserved area. Hidden Valley did not qualify as underserved, Albert said.
Expanding Hidden Valley has been a hot button issue in Hanford for a half century but the 18 acres west of the existing park has been undeveloped for 50 years.. Multiple councils have tried to sell the property only to be beaten back by public opposition. And even though the last council got the ball rolling to develop the 18 acres into a park, the adjacent property remains undeveloped, declared surplus and zoned for low-density residential development.
While spending millions on other parks, the previous council voted $75,000 for preliminary park design work on the 18 acres next to Hidden Valley.
Staff is expected to present a proposal for developing the 18 acres into parkland soon.
HANFORD – With little discussion and opposition from one public commenter the city council Tuesday unanimously approved a $4.6 million expenditure for the purchase of 40 acres of land for Heroe’s Park on city’s east side as well for a new fire station and water tower.
The city was unable to reach an agreement with the landowner at 9 ¼ and Florinda so it moved the proposed park site adjacent and a little north to that site, said Brad Albert, Hanford’s parks and recreation director.
The land is being purchased from the Loogman family who currently farms on the site and it will be leased back to them temporarily until construction begins in 2024, Albert said.
Total funding for the park amounts to $12.6 million, Albert said. Of that amount $8.5 million came from a state Prop 68 grant, $1.92 million from the National Parks Service and $2.2 million from the city treasury, he said.
Council Member Diane Sharp asked how common it was throughout the state for new park to be funded with 15 percent local funds and the rest from federal and state sources.
Albert didn’t answer he question directly but said the park would be regional in nature and draw not only Hanford residents but people from outside the city. The new park is expected to kick off a development spurt on Hanford’s east side with new homes and businesses.
Albert also raised the issue of why the extension of Hidden Valley Park just west of the existing park at 11th Avenue and Cortner was not funded with state money.
He said the state determines the criteria for funding and the new park had to be in an underserved area. Hidden Valley did not qualify as underserved, Albert said.
Expanding Hidden Valley has been a hot button issue in Hanford for a half century but the 18 acres west of the existing park has been undeveloped for 50 years.. Multiple councils have tried to sell the property only to be beaten back by public opposition. And even though the last council got the ball rolling to develop the 18 acres into a park, the adjacent property remains undeveloped, declared surplus and zoned for low-density residential development.
While spending millions on other parks, the previous council voted $75,000 for preliminary park design work on the 18 acres next to Hidden Valley.
Staff is expected to present a proposal for developing the 18 acres into parkland soon.
State's snowpack at record levels posing big flooding risk
POSTED 4/4/23 7:37 am
SACRAMENTO – The state’s latest snowpack survey shows the accumulation is more than four times than average accumulation since measurements were taken in 1983 and this poses severe risks of downtstream flooding in the Southern San Joaquin Valley when the snow starts to melt, said experts from the state Department of Water Resources.
The “…valley has reason to be very concerned. (The) reason for concern (is) how fast the runoff comes,” David Rizzardo, DWR’s hyrdrology manager during a online briefing for the news media. The speed of the runoff will depend on the number of sunny days, he said.
“Snowmelt is driven by radiation (when the) sun is in the sky longer, the more clear, sunny skies and the more melt (of) snowpack,” he said.
And so far temperatures in the South Valley from April 6 to April 11 are predicted to be in the low to high 70s.
Based on April 3 measurements the snowpack in the Sierra is 227 percent of average since 1983, DWR said.
And there have been only three other times when recorded snowpack was above 200 percent of average---1952, 1969 and 1983, DWR said.
The measurement at Phillips Station in the Sierras was 126.5 inches with water content of 54 inches, said Rizzardo.
“That snowmelt with pose a challenge,” said Jeremy Arrich of DWR’s division of flood management. He said two locations in the San Joaquin Valley are at flood stage.
The state’s main means of combatting flooding is to deploy incident management specialists from Calfire who work with local emergency management agencies to cope with the flooding. The state has also provided tons of materials such as sandbags to help hold back the water.
Once the snowmelt gets beyond the reservoirs into the Kings River, the local water management agencies manage the different weirs, Rizzardo said.
So far the atmospheric rivers that have pounded California with a dozen storms since January have caused intense runoff, levee breeches and evacuations, said Arrich of DWR flood management.
Locally streets have been closed in Corcoran, the Kings River is at the brim, dairies, orchards and fields around Corcoran and Tulare have been flooded, people have been evacuated in the Porterville area and local irrigation companies are working feverishly to remove debris from water courses such as the Tule and Kings rivers.
Tule Lake, which was dry for many years, is now full of water.
SACRAMENTO – The state’s latest snowpack survey shows the accumulation is more than four times than average accumulation since measurements were taken in 1983 and this poses severe risks of downtstream flooding in the Southern San Joaquin Valley when the snow starts to melt, said experts from the state Department of Water Resources.
The “…valley has reason to be very concerned. (The) reason for concern (is) how fast the runoff comes,” David Rizzardo, DWR’s hyrdrology manager during a online briefing for the news media. The speed of the runoff will depend on the number of sunny days, he said.
“Snowmelt is driven by radiation (when the) sun is in the sky longer, the more clear, sunny skies and the more melt (of) snowpack,” he said.
And so far temperatures in the South Valley from April 6 to April 11 are predicted to be in the low to high 70s.
Based on April 3 measurements the snowpack in the Sierra is 227 percent of average since 1983, DWR said.
And there have been only three other times when recorded snowpack was above 200 percent of average---1952, 1969 and 1983, DWR said.
The measurement at Phillips Station in the Sierras was 126.5 inches with water content of 54 inches, said Rizzardo.
“That snowmelt with pose a challenge,” said Jeremy Arrich of DWR’s division of flood management. He said two locations in the San Joaquin Valley are at flood stage.
The state’s main means of combatting flooding is to deploy incident management specialists from Calfire who work with local emergency management agencies to cope with the flooding. The state has also provided tons of materials such as sandbags to help hold back the water.
Once the snowmelt gets beyond the reservoirs into the Kings River, the local water management agencies manage the different weirs, Rizzardo said.
So far the atmospheric rivers that have pounded California with a dozen storms since January have caused intense runoff, levee breeches and evacuations, said Arrich of DWR flood management.
Locally streets have been closed in Corcoran, the Kings River is at the brim, dairies, orchards and fields around Corcoran and Tulare have been flooded, people have been evacuated in the Porterville area and local irrigation companies are working feverishly to remove debris from water courses such as the Tule and Kings rivers.
Tule Lake, which was dry for many years, is now full of water.
Flooding poses long-term risk to South Valley
UPDATED 4/6/23 4:34 pm
On any North-South route in the Southern San Joaquin Valley a driver would see the majestic Sierras enrobed in snow.
But as the temperatures this spring continue to warm in an already water-saturated South Valley that snowpack can be likened to a bomb ready to explode.
The new Department of Water Resources snow survey will be conducted tomorrow (April 3) at 11 am, according to a press release. “The April snow survey is considered the most important as it’s typically the peak of the seasonal snowpack,” the department said.
The melting snow will cascade down from Pine Flat Reservoir and other major water storage facilities into the already full Kings River, Tulare River, Tule Lake and many irrigation canals.
Right now authorities are releasing water from reservoirs at a high rate so there will be room for more water the next time it rains. But the price of the releases is more flooding.
April 1 data show Lake Kaweah is at 71 percent capacity, San Luis Reservoir---one of the state’s largest--- is at 97.8 percent and Lake Success is at 60.5 percent.
The Kings River is running at 8,846 cubic feet per second (the natural flow is 5,365) and the San Joaquin River is running at 6,036 cubic feet per second, according to April 1 data.
Flooding would potentially threaten Hanford, Lemoore, Laton, Stratford, Corcoran, Alpaugh and Porterville to name a few potential disaster spots.
Flooding already closed Whitley Avenue, the main drag into Corcoran. It was only recently opened due to heroic efforts by contractors.
Dairies around Corcoran have pools of standing water so deep that the cows have huddle near the fence lines where the ground is drier.
99 south of Tulare near the exit that becomes Olive Avenue in Porterville was reduced to one lane late last month so front loaders could remove debris blocking the flow under a bridge over the Tule River. Cross Creek between Corcoran and Hanford on Highway 43 had a huge debris load removed from the water.
And the “ghost” Tule Lake has come back to life with all the flooding from the rains since January posing the most immediate threat to Corcoran and Alpaugh. The problem is the lake’s soil structure will only allow 4 percent of the water to drain, said John T. Austin, a retired scientist from the National Park Service and the author of a book on Tule Lake floods. The rest of the water, he said, will just evaporate.
Construction temporarily stopped at some of the sites on the high-speed rail line locations in Kings County and in Tulare County.
People haven’t seen river levels like this in a quarter century. In Kings County at Laton and on Highway 43 at several locations the Kings River and Cross Creek are at the brim. Tulare County has seen near overflows of the Tule River near the exit that becomes Olive Avenue in Porterville.
“It’s serious (but) manageable,” said Scott Sills, manager of the Laguna Irrigation District that services 1,100 landowners in the Lemoore area. “I advise people ‘be prepared, things will change, no immediate need for panic.’”
But Sills added, “it’s been a real challenge.” Most the time he and his crews are out on the weirs removing debris so the river can flow.
Meanwhile Governor Newsom signed an executive order providing ongoing support and emergency response for those hit by flooding. This includes boosting emergency response staffing and supporting impacted schools. Schools hit by flooding will be able to relocate to temporary facilities. One school in Alpine County is in this predicament.
On any North-South route in the Southern San Joaquin Valley a driver would see the majestic Sierras enrobed in snow.
But as the temperatures this spring continue to warm in an already water-saturated South Valley that snowpack can be likened to a bomb ready to explode.
The new Department of Water Resources snow survey will be conducted tomorrow (April 3) at 11 am, according to a press release. “The April snow survey is considered the most important as it’s typically the peak of the seasonal snowpack,” the department said.
The melting snow will cascade down from Pine Flat Reservoir and other major water storage facilities into the already full Kings River, Tulare River, Tule Lake and many irrigation canals.
Right now authorities are releasing water from reservoirs at a high rate so there will be room for more water the next time it rains. But the price of the releases is more flooding.
April 1 data show Lake Kaweah is at 71 percent capacity, San Luis Reservoir---one of the state’s largest--- is at 97.8 percent and Lake Success is at 60.5 percent.
The Kings River is running at 8,846 cubic feet per second (the natural flow is 5,365) and the San Joaquin River is running at 6,036 cubic feet per second, according to April 1 data.
Flooding would potentially threaten Hanford, Lemoore, Laton, Stratford, Corcoran, Alpaugh and Porterville to name a few potential disaster spots.
Flooding already closed Whitley Avenue, the main drag into Corcoran. It was only recently opened due to heroic efforts by contractors.
Dairies around Corcoran have pools of standing water so deep that the cows have huddle near the fence lines where the ground is drier.
99 south of Tulare near the exit that becomes Olive Avenue in Porterville was reduced to one lane late last month so front loaders could remove debris blocking the flow under a bridge over the Tule River. Cross Creek between Corcoran and Hanford on Highway 43 had a huge debris load removed from the water.
And the “ghost” Tule Lake has come back to life with all the flooding from the rains since January posing the most immediate threat to Corcoran and Alpaugh. The problem is the lake’s soil structure will only allow 4 percent of the water to drain, said John T. Austin, a retired scientist from the National Park Service and the author of a book on Tule Lake floods. The rest of the water, he said, will just evaporate.
Construction temporarily stopped at some of the sites on the high-speed rail line locations in Kings County and in Tulare County.
People haven’t seen river levels like this in a quarter century. In Kings County at Laton and on Highway 43 at several locations the Kings River and Cross Creek are at the brim. Tulare County has seen near overflows of the Tule River near the exit that becomes Olive Avenue in Porterville.
“It’s serious (but) manageable,” said Scott Sills, manager of the Laguna Irrigation District that services 1,100 landowners in the Lemoore area. “I advise people ‘be prepared, things will change, no immediate need for panic.’”
But Sills added, “it’s been a real challenge.” Most the time he and his crews are out on the weirs removing debris so the river can flow.
Meanwhile Governor Newsom signed an executive order providing ongoing support and emergency response for those hit by flooding. This includes boosting emergency response staffing and supporting impacted schools. Schools hit by flooding will be able to relocate to temporary facilities. One school in Alpine County is in this predicament.
For video related to this story on Reedley College aviation please see [email protected]
Reedley College aviation program expanding with new planes
POSTED 4/4/23 7:44 am
REEDLEY – With five new state-of-the-art training aircraft on the way the Reedley College aviation
program is entering an expanded phase.
“We want students to become commercial pilots,” said David Clark, dean of Reedley’s aviation program.
And the idea, he said, is not just to train pilots but help those students who are disadvantaged “stop the cycle of poverty, criminality (and) be productive, taxpaying citizens.”
Typically it takes a student 40 to 100 hours for students to earn their private pilot’s license. Graduates of the Reedley program who earn their licenses and want to become commercial pilots have to acquire an additional 1,500 hours of flight time before they can apply for airline jobs.
Flight training is also available at Reedley for students who just want to get their private pilot’s license or their instrument pilot’s license.
Some of the graduates earn flight hours by becoming certified flight instructors for the college, said Clark. Others can teach flying elsewhere to build hours. Other flight schools in Parkersburg, West Virginia and Glendale, Arizona are using the Skyleader 600s.
Reedley graduates that have gotten pilots’ jobs with the airlines include Lorenzo Rios, Contour Airlines and David Castaneda Brown and Jonathan Flores, Skywest.
While students are learning to fly in the new Skyleader 600 aircraft they pay $200 per hour for their flying hours with a certified flight instructor. The flying time, Clark said, is a lab fee. They also pay $47 a unit for the class time. Currently there are 15 students in the pilot training program.
Scholarships, student loans and financial aid are available, Clark said. The Skyleader aircraft are considerably cheaper to operate and maintain than other aircraft typically used in pilot training because they burn unleaded gas instead of the more expensive aviation fuel and the aircraft can be flown 100 hours between maintenance checks compared to the typical 50 with other trainers, said Clark.
Reedley’s Skyleader 600s---which are painted in the orange and black Reedley colors--- have 100 horsepower Rotax engines, futuristic bubble canopies and state-of-the-art navigation and radio equipment.
Currently Reedley students are flying in used aircraft with JB Aviation at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. When the new aircraft arrive soon from their manufacturer in the Czech Republic, the program will be housed at Reedley Airport.
The aircraft, which cost $200,000 each, were purchased with a state grant approved by Legislature. The grant was secured with the help of Assemblyman Juan Arambula (D-31st District). The City of Reedley is also working with Reedley College to upgrade its airport to accommodate the new aircraft, said Nicole Zieba, Reedley city manager.
“We are so excited that the aviation program is moving out to Reedley Airport,” she said.
Temporarily the new aircraft will be housed in metal shade structures, Zieba said. But the goal is to build new aircraft hangars as well a new restroom. A failng water well will also have to be addressed, she said.
She doesn’t have a pricetag yet on these improvements. The college is negotiating with the State Center Community College District about what portion of the expenses will be covered by the district and what portion will be paid for by the city, Zieba said. In addition, the city has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration on the getting the okay for the new airport layout plan.
The city has been working with the college on advancing the aviation program and the city council is supportive of the airport expansion, said Zieba.
Reedley will also be using the new aircraft to train students in its airframe and powerplant mechanics program. Currently there are 60 students in this program, said Clark of Reedley College.
Two Reedley instructors have been trained by Rotax to service the engines and the mechanics class will learn how to assemble the entire aircraft from a kit.
Skyleader 600s are either built at the factory or available to be assembled by the home builder in a kit. The kit costs
$70,000.
REEDLEY – With five new state-of-the-art training aircraft on the way the Reedley College aviation
program is entering an expanded phase.
“We want students to become commercial pilots,” said David Clark, dean of Reedley’s aviation program.
And the idea, he said, is not just to train pilots but help those students who are disadvantaged “stop the cycle of poverty, criminality (and) be productive, taxpaying citizens.”
Typically it takes a student 40 to 100 hours for students to earn their private pilot’s license. Graduates of the Reedley program who earn their licenses and want to become commercial pilots have to acquire an additional 1,500 hours of flight time before they can apply for airline jobs.
Flight training is also available at Reedley for students who just want to get their private pilot’s license or their instrument pilot’s license.
Some of the graduates earn flight hours by becoming certified flight instructors for the college, said Clark. Others can teach flying elsewhere to build hours. Other flight schools in Parkersburg, West Virginia and Glendale, Arizona are using the Skyleader 600s.
Reedley graduates that have gotten pilots’ jobs with the airlines include Lorenzo Rios, Contour Airlines and David Castaneda Brown and Jonathan Flores, Skywest.
While students are learning to fly in the new Skyleader 600 aircraft they pay $200 per hour for their flying hours with a certified flight instructor. The flying time, Clark said, is a lab fee. They also pay $47 a unit for the class time. Currently there are 15 students in the pilot training program.
Scholarships, student loans and financial aid are available, Clark said. The Skyleader aircraft are considerably cheaper to operate and maintain than other aircraft typically used in pilot training because they burn unleaded gas instead of the more expensive aviation fuel and the aircraft can be flown 100 hours between maintenance checks compared to the typical 50 with other trainers, said Clark.
Reedley’s Skyleader 600s---which are painted in the orange and black Reedley colors--- have 100 horsepower Rotax engines, futuristic bubble canopies and state-of-the-art navigation and radio equipment.
Currently Reedley students are flying in used aircraft with JB Aviation at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. When the new aircraft arrive soon from their manufacturer in the Czech Republic, the program will be housed at Reedley Airport.
The aircraft, which cost $200,000 each, were purchased with a state grant approved by Legislature. The grant was secured with the help of Assemblyman Juan Arambula (D-31st District). The City of Reedley is also working with Reedley College to upgrade its airport to accommodate the new aircraft, said Nicole Zieba, Reedley city manager.
“We are so excited that the aviation program is moving out to Reedley Airport,” she said.
Temporarily the new aircraft will be housed in metal shade structures, Zieba said. But the goal is to build new aircraft hangars as well a new restroom. A failng water well will also have to be addressed, she said.
She doesn’t have a pricetag yet on these improvements. The college is negotiating with the State Center Community College District about what portion of the expenses will be covered by the district and what portion will be paid for by the city, Zieba said. In addition, the city has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration on the getting the okay for the new airport layout plan.
The city has been working with the college on advancing the aviation program and the city council is supportive of the airport expansion, said Zieba.
Reedley will also be using the new aircraft to train students in its airframe and powerplant mechanics program. Currently there are 60 students in this program, said Clark of Reedley College.
Two Reedley instructors have been trained by Rotax to service the engines and the mechanics class will learn how to assemble the entire aircraft from a kit.
Skyleader 600s are either built at the factory or available to be assembled by the home builder in a kit. The kit costs
$70,000.
Shooting fatal, 11th & Grangeville in Hanford
Updated 4/4/23 7:42 am
HANFORD - Police are investigating a fatal shooting on the morning of March 30 in front of Domino's Pizza at Grangeville Boulevard and 11th Avenue.
The male victim was taken to Adventist hospital in Hanford where he later died. Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever said Monday (4/3/23) an arrest was made in the case but he did not immediately disclose the name of the suspect. He also did not release the identity of the victim.
VHL Future is making a state Records Request today to get this information.
An older Ford Thunderbird painted in primer gray with evidence tags on it placed by police stood in the parking lot in front of the pizzeria with the driver's side door open. Police had the shopping center cordoned off with yellow tape and several officers were talking about 11:30 am. Several police vehicles were in the parking lot and a white police van with lights flashing was parked on Grangeville facing west.
Several bystanders were looking on the busy intersection which normally is relatively free of major crime although many years ago there was a murder at the Jack-in-the-Box which is diagonally across the street from the location.
Sherry Quesada, an employee at a convenience store, across the street, said she heard the shots.
HANFORD - Police are investigating a fatal shooting on the morning of March 30 in front of Domino's Pizza at Grangeville Boulevard and 11th Avenue.
The male victim was taken to Adventist hospital in Hanford where he later died. Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever said Monday (4/3/23) an arrest was made in the case but he did not immediately disclose the name of the suspect. He also did not release the identity of the victim.
VHL Future is making a state Records Request today to get this information.
An older Ford Thunderbird painted in primer gray with evidence tags on it placed by police stood in the parking lot in front of the pizzeria with the driver's side door open. Police had the shopping center cordoned off with yellow tape and several officers were talking about 11:30 am. Several police vehicles were in the parking lot and a white police van with lights flashing was parked on Grangeville facing west.
Several bystanders were looking on the busy intersection which normally is relatively free of major crime although many years ago there was a murder at the Jack-in-the-Box which is diagonally across the street from the location.
Sherry Quesada, an employee at a convenience store, across the street, said she heard the shots.
Ex-Hanford mayor, community activist Dan Chin dies
POSTED 3/29/23 5:09 pm PDT
HANFORD - Dan Chin, a former Hanford mayor and longtime, community activist has died, according to informed sources.
Chin died today after being hospitalized.
Chin served multiple terms on the Hanford City Council and after he did not run again, he was a go-to person for many on local political matters and initiative campaigns. Following his service on the council he was appointed to the Local Agency Formation Commission by then Mayor David Ayers who was politically close to Chin. The Local Agency Formation Commission has jurisdiction over boundary issues between the counties cities and the county.
Most recently Chin spoke during public comment period at city council against zoning changes that allowed for expanded uses at 12th Avenue and Lacey Boulevard. When Chin attended council meetings as a private citizen he often spoke with Ayers.
"It's a big loss for the city of Hanford," said Council Member Lou Martinez (District D South Hanford). He was such an integral part of Hanford. Very instrumental in different issues. He was there to serve. Did so faithfully and honestly. It's a big loss. He made sure I did my civic duty. He was definitely pillar of the community without a doubt. He made numerous contributions to this town of ours."
Ayers could not be reached for comment.
Chin's family owned Buddy's trophy shop in downtown Hanford.
HANFORD - Dan Chin, a former Hanford mayor and longtime, community activist has died, according to informed sources.
Chin died today after being hospitalized.
Chin served multiple terms on the Hanford City Council and after he did not run again, he was a go-to person for many on local political matters and initiative campaigns. Following his service on the council he was appointed to the Local Agency Formation Commission by then Mayor David Ayers who was politically close to Chin. The Local Agency Formation Commission has jurisdiction over boundary issues between the counties cities and the county.
Most recently Chin spoke during public comment period at city council against zoning changes that allowed for expanded uses at 12th Avenue and Lacey Boulevard. When Chin attended council meetings as a private citizen he often spoke with Ayers.
"It's a big loss for the city of Hanford," said Council Member Lou Martinez (District D South Hanford). He was such an integral part of Hanford. Very instrumental in different issues. He was there to serve. Did so faithfully and honestly. It's a big loss. He made sure I did my civic duty. He was definitely pillar of the community without a doubt. He made numerous contributions to this town of ours."
Ayers could not be reached for comment.
Chin's family owned Buddy's trophy shop in downtown Hanford.
UPDATED 6/14/23 7:38 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Kyria Martinez, acting county administrative officer after the departure of Ed Hill, said Friday she will seek an appointment from the board of supervisors to become permanent county administrator.
A couple of local people who are experienced in local government and politics including Sheriff Dave Robinson have pushed Martinez’s candidacy for county administrative officer.
Hill announced earlier this month that he is leaving to become an administrator in Fresno County.
Prior to becoming chief administrator of Kings County, Hill headed the county’s health department.
His tenure included managing the local response to the Covid 19 pandemic. The county took a posture that was adversarial to the state’s position that businesses and churches needed to remain closed until the pandemic abated.
Supervisors were responding to political pressure from businesses and residents that wanted the county to reopen sooner. At one point the county had the highest infection rate of any county in the state, according to a study by the San Jose Mercury News.
Hill replaced Rebecca Campbell who resigned after filing a harassment claim against the county.
This was related to purported investigations of “public corruption” by then District Attorney Keith Fagundes. Fagundes, whose father Richard is on the board of supervisors, has denied there was any such investigation involving Campbell and denied that
NEWS ANALYSIS
she had filed a claim. Campbell also claimed she was harassed by two members of the board of supervisors. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has been unable to identify which two supervisors
were involved in Campbell’s claim. Campbell would not respond to requests for comment.
The county ultimately paid her a $10,000 settlement. Campbell is now deputy administrator of San Luis Obispo County.
Martinez said she didn’t think she would be in the running for the chief county administrative position this soon.
Supervisors will begin their selection process shortly, she said. One option available to the county
is to hire a headhunter to obtain candidates.
Martinez has been working for the county since 2017. She started as an administrative analyst where she worked primarily on the annual budget.
Campbell appointed Martinez as assistant county administrator.
Martinez has a background in retail management. After earning a double major undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from California State University Bakersfield, she earned a master’s degree in public administration from the same school. She has also worked for Tulare County and the City of Tulare.
In Tulare County she was clerk to the board of supervisors, a senior economic development analyst,
helped the county get infrastructure grants and managed construction of new water, sewer, economic development and transportation projects.
She was an assistant finance director for the City of Tulare.
A common refrain in county circles is that Kings County gets ignored by the state and that Sacramento doesn’t understand issues here. The number one issue for Kings County, Martinez said, is keeping the county in the forefront to enable it to get its fair share of state and federal money.
Others might dispute this arguing that poverty, poor local health outcomes, an unemployment rate higher than other areas of the state, crime, political corruption, the failure of local public school students to read and do math at grade level, water and air pollution are more important.
KINGS COUNTY – Kyria Martinez, acting county administrative officer after the departure of Ed Hill, said Friday she will seek an appointment from the board of supervisors to become permanent county administrator.
A couple of local people who are experienced in local government and politics including Sheriff Dave Robinson have pushed Martinez’s candidacy for county administrative officer.
Hill announced earlier this month that he is leaving to become an administrator in Fresno County.
Prior to becoming chief administrator of Kings County, Hill headed the county’s health department.
His tenure included managing the local response to the Covid 19 pandemic. The county took a posture that was adversarial to the state’s position that businesses and churches needed to remain closed until the pandemic abated.
Supervisors were responding to political pressure from businesses and residents that wanted the county to reopen sooner. At one point the county had the highest infection rate of any county in the state, according to a study by the San Jose Mercury News.
Hill replaced Rebecca Campbell who resigned after filing a harassment claim against the county.
This was related to purported investigations of “public corruption” by then District Attorney Keith Fagundes. Fagundes, whose father Richard is on the board of supervisors, has denied there was any such investigation involving Campbell and denied that
NEWS ANALYSIS
she had filed a claim. Campbell also claimed she was harassed by two members of the board of supervisors. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has been unable to identify which two supervisors
were involved in Campbell’s claim. Campbell would not respond to requests for comment.
The county ultimately paid her a $10,000 settlement. Campbell is now deputy administrator of San Luis Obispo County.
Martinez said she didn’t think she would be in the running for the chief county administrative position this soon.
Supervisors will begin their selection process shortly, she said. One option available to the county
is to hire a headhunter to obtain candidates.
Martinez has been working for the county since 2017. She started as an administrative analyst where she worked primarily on the annual budget.
Campbell appointed Martinez as assistant county administrator.
Martinez has a background in retail management. After earning a double major undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from California State University Bakersfield, she earned a master’s degree in public administration from the same school. She has also worked for Tulare County and the City of Tulare.
In Tulare County she was clerk to the board of supervisors, a senior economic development analyst,
helped the county get infrastructure grants and managed construction of new water, sewer, economic development and transportation projects.
She was an assistant finance director for the City of Tulare.
A common refrain in county circles is that Kings County gets ignored by the state and that Sacramento doesn’t understand issues here. The number one issue for Kings County, Martinez said, is keeping the county in the forefront to enable it to get its fair share of state and federal money.
Others might dispute this arguing that poverty, poor local health outcomes, an unemployment rate higher than other areas of the state, crime, political corruption, the failure of local public school students to read and do math at grade level, water and air pollution are more important.
As Corcoran scrambles from flood, other areas Kings have more time
Update3/24/23 6:36 am
SOUTH VALLEY – Thousands of acres of farmland are under water in Corcoran after a levy breach as officials race to reinforce and raise a 188’ berm that surrounds the city.
While the situation in Corcoran is dire and parts of Tulare County are facing possible evacuations, other than Corcoran, Kings County is facing a dual predicament. Some areas are still dry but expected to be flooded this summer when the snow melts and the area in the North Fork of the Kings River at Eldgin Road and Fremont is expected to be flooding soon with the river already at high levels at that location. Residents in this area were urged to prepare now at a town hall meeting at the Island District Fire Station Thursday night (3/23/24) with county officials.
Kings County is very much in a testing phase, said Supervisor Jim Verboon (District 3 North Hanford, Island District and North Lemoore) who addressed a crowd of several hundred at the Island District Fire Station, 7735 N. 21st St, Lemoore.
“I don’t see the flood here until its gets 100 degress,” said Verboon referring to the snow melt which will add to the burden of the already overstuffed reservoirs Pine Flat Dam, Lake Kaweah and Lake Success.
Kaweah and Success, which are smaller than Pine Flat, are already full and Pine Flat still has 200,000 acre-feet of room, he said. An acre-foot is equivalent to about an eight -lane swimming pool 82 feet long, 52 feet wide and 9.8 feet deep, according to Wikipedia.
Currently the high river levels and flooding are due to planned releases from the reservoirs to take pressure off those facilities and nearly continuous rain for more than a month. A “ghost lake” Tule Lake that has been dry for years has reemerged and the Tule River is at high levels.
And the weather forecast predicts rain on Thursday (3/24/23) and more rain is expected Monday through Wednesday next week.
During the Island District meeting questions ranged from whether there will be sand available from Island District residents to was possible to divert some of the Valley’s excess water to Los Angeles. South Valley residents spoke about topographic maps showing flood prone areas, flood insurance and allowing water to accumulate in fallow fields.
“The weakest point is Clark’s Fork,” said Island District resident Tom DiSilva.
Another resident said people can obtain flood insurance from FEMA. He said if they apply today it will take 30 days to be effective. FEMA has to provide the insurance, he said.
Verboon said the county has a flood map available to residents and if the area a resident lives ini s dark blue “…you’re in trouble.”
NAS Lemoore and the J.G. Boswell Company in Corcoran are absorbing some of the excess water, he said.
A visit to the Kings River in Laton early Thursday (3/23/23) showed a fast-flowing river at levels unprecedented in the last quarter century. Usually the river at this point is dry for most of the year.
On Thursday (3/23/23) a picnic table at a county park was partially under water,the river lapped up against the grass and large trees were partially submerged.
Elsewhere in Tulare County 23,921 structures are threatened, seven structures have been destroyed and 776 are damaged.
Those facing mandatory evacuation orders can find shelter at the Veterans Memorial Building in Exeter, Porterville College and Ivanhoe Memorial Building.
Authorities made a request for material donations to flood victims including blankets, warm bedding, flat bed sheets, water, snacks, toys and pet supplies. These items can be dropped off at the Family Resource Centers in Dinuba, Porterville and Visalia from 8 am - 4:30 pm daily.
In addition to the financial impact on farmland, buildings and infrastructure, local government budgets will be reduced. Verboon said Kings County can handle the financial impact of the flooding but later will ask for reimbursement from FEMA.
SOUTH VALLEY – Thousands of acres of farmland are under water in Corcoran after a levy breach as officials race to reinforce and raise a 188’ berm that surrounds the city.
While the situation in Corcoran is dire and parts of Tulare County are facing possible evacuations, other than Corcoran, Kings County is facing a dual predicament. Some areas are still dry but expected to be flooded this summer when the snow melts and the area in the North Fork of the Kings River at Eldgin Road and Fremont is expected to be flooding soon with the river already at high levels at that location. Residents in this area were urged to prepare now at a town hall meeting at the Island District Fire Station Thursday night (3/23/24) with county officials.
Kings County is very much in a testing phase, said Supervisor Jim Verboon (District 3 North Hanford, Island District and North Lemoore) who addressed a crowd of several hundred at the Island District Fire Station, 7735 N. 21st St, Lemoore.
“I don’t see the flood here until its gets 100 degress,” said Verboon referring to the snow melt which will add to the burden of the already overstuffed reservoirs Pine Flat Dam, Lake Kaweah and Lake Success.
Kaweah and Success, which are smaller than Pine Flat, are already full and Pine Flat still has 200,000 acre-feet of room, he said. An acre-foot is equivalent to about an eight -lane swimming pool 82 feet long, 52 feet wide and 9.8 feet deep, according to Wikipedia.
Currently the high river levels and flooding are due to planned releases from the reservoirs to take pressure off those facilities and nearly continuous rain for more than a month. A “ghost lake” Tule Lake that has been dry for years has reemerged and the Tule River is at high levels.
And the weather forecast predicts rain on Thursday (3/24/23) and more rain is expected Monday through Wednesday next week.
During the Island District meeting questions ranged from whether there will be sand available from Island District residents to was possible to divert some of the Valley’s excess water to Los Angeles. South Valley residents spoke about topographic maps showing flood prone areas, flood insurance and allowing water to accumulate in fallow fields.
“The weakest point is Clark’s Fork,” said Island District resident Tom DiSilva.
Another resident said people can obtain flood insurance from FEMA. He said if they apply today it will take 30 days to be effective. FEMA has to provide the insurance, he said.
Verboon said the county has a flood map available to residents and if the area a resident lives ini s dark blue “…you’re in trouble.”
NAS Lemoore and the J.G. Boswell Company in Corcoran are absorbing some of the excess water, he said.
A visit to the Kings River in Laton early Thursday (3/23/23) showed a fast-flowing river at levels unprecedented in the last quarter century. Usually the river at this point is dry for most of the year.
On Thursday (3/23/23) a picnic table at a county park was partially under water,the river lapped up against the grass and large trees were partially submerged.
Elsewhere in Tulare County 23,921 structures are threatened, seven structures have been destroyed and 776 are damaged.
Those facing mandatory evacuation orders can find shelter at the Veterans Memorial Building in Exeter, Porterville College and Ivanhoe Memorial Building.
Authorities made a request for material donations to flood victims including blankets, warm bedding, flat bed sheets, water, snacks, toys and pet supplies. These items can be dropped off at the Family Resource Centers in Dinuba, Porterville and Visalia from 8 am - 4:30 pm daily.
In addition to the financial impact on farmland, buildings and infrastructure, local government budgets will be reduced. Verboon said Kings County can handle the financial impact of the flooding but later will ask for reimbursement from FEMA.
HIGH WIND AND BLOWING DUST WARNING FOR HANFORD AND CENTRAL VALLEY remains in effect until 10 am Wednesday (2/22/23). The westerly winds along Grangeville Boulevard near 10th Avenue in Hanford about 5 pm on Tuesday (2/21/23) were in the 35 to 55 mph range but could gust up to 85 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Where there is blowing dust less than one quarter mile visibility is predicted. Rain is expected Wednesday (2/22/23 through Saturday (2/25/23).
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PROTEST AGAINST ROUNDABOUTS at Douty and 7th in Hanford on the afternoon of February 4. The protesters said the roundabouts meant to add to pedestrian safety and traffic flow are almost universally opposed by the public, are expensive and will harm the appearance of downtown. Hanford Vice Mayor Mark Kairis said the location is one of many identified by the city engineer and traffic consultant as needing the traffic feature to comply with safety laws. The city council already approved the roundabout at an afternoon study session earlier this month.
2nd sexual harassment suit involving ex-DA filed against Kings County
POSTED 2/3/23 1:27 pm
KINGS COUNTY – The former administrative assistant to ex-DA Keith Fagundes filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation and a hostile workplace and she is seeking damages for loss of earnings and emotional distress.
The January 31, 2023 filing in Kings Superior Court marks the second workplace-related lawsuit involving Fagundes.
An earlier sexual harassment suit by his chief investigator Robert Waggle resulted this year in a $1.1 million out-of-court settlement, according to the settlement agreement.
Fees paid to the county’s outside attorney in the Waggle case amounted to $139,000, according to county records.
Waggle alleged homosexual advances by Fagundes.
And there have been multiple payouts by the county involving claims against the county involving Fagundes as well as one by Rebecca Campbell, the county’s former chief administrative officer who said Fagundes had abused his prosecutorial powers.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future made a state Records Request today (2/3/23) seeking the county’s response to the latest suit. The story will be updated when it receives the county’s response.
In her suit plaintiff Alexandria Smith, Waggle’s one-time girlfriend, alleges that Fagundes asked impermissible non-job-related questions, was denied employment benefits and privileges, engaged in conduct that adversely affected her employment, was forced to transfer to another department, reprimanded her, made her to suffer adverse actions.
Smith also alleged that Fagundes retaliated against her.
Fagundes, who lost a race for his third term to former employee Sarah Hacker is now a deputy district attorney in Kern County. Fagundes’ father Richard sits on the Board of Supervisors (District 5 Hanford and Burris Park).
Smith said Fagundes failed to investigate the allegations and take proper corrective action.
In addition, Smith alleges sexual harassment by Fagundes because she was a witness in Waggle’s discrimination suit.
The suit alleges that Fagundes admitted in writing that Smith had the right to be fearful for her own safety.
The lawsuit rehashes the long-history of Waggle’s case against the county spurred by Fagundes administration of the office.
Fagundes has denied Waggle’s allegations and said Waggle was just out for money.
Smith worked in the DA’s office since August 3, 2015 initially as a legal clerk. Later she became Fagundes’ secretary.
Members of the board of supervisors and the county administration do not respond to repeated requests by phone and email for comment about the Waggle suit and other claims against the county involving Keith Fagundes’ administration of the DA’s office.
In addition members of the board of supervisors and county administration have not responded to requests for information about Fagundes’ payments to relatives for office expenses which the county purchasing supervisor said is a clear violation of the county’s conflict of interest policy.
In short, the county’s response to allegations involving Keith Fagundes has been to stonewall unless the county is compelled under the state Records Act to release documents.
KINGS COUNTY – The former administrative assistant to ex-DA Keith Fagundes filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation and a hostile workplace and she is seeking damages for loss of earnings and emotional distress.
The January 31, 2023 filing in Kings Superior Court marks the second workplace-related lawsuit involving Fagundes.
An earlier sexual harassment suit by his chief investigator Robert Waggle resulted this year in a $1.1 million out-of-court settlement, according to the settlement agreement.
Fees paid to the county’s outside attorney in the Waggle case amounted to $139,000, according to county records.
Waggle alleged homosexual advances by Fagundes.
And there have been multiple payouts by the county involving claims against the county involving Fagundes as well as one by Rebecca Campbell, the county’s former chief administrative officer who said Fagundes had abused his prosecutorial powers.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future made a state Records Request today (2/3/23) seeking the county’s response to the latest suit. The story will be updated when it receives the county’s response.
In her suit plaintiff Alexandria Smith, Waggle’s one-time girlfriend, alleges that Fagundes asked impermissible non-job-related questions, was denied employment benefits and privileges, engaged in conduct that adversely affected her employment, was forced to transfer to another department, reprimanded her, made her to suffer adverse actions.
Smith also alleged that Fagundes retaliated against her.
Fagundes, who lost a race for his third term to former employee Sarah Hacker is now a deputy district attorney in Kern County. Fagundes’ father Richard sits on the Board of Supervisors (District 5 Hanford and Burris Park).
Smith said Fagundes failed to investigate the allegations and take proper corrective action.
In addition, Smith alleges sexual harassment by Fagundes because she was a witness in Waggle’s discrimination suit.
The suit alleges that Fagundes admitted in writing that Smith had the right to be fearful for her own safety.
The lawsuit rehashes the long-history of Waggle’s case against the county spurred by Fagundes administration of the office.
Fagundes has denied Waggle’s allegations and said Waggle was just out for money.
Smith worked in the DA’s office since August 3, 2015 initially as a legal clerk. Later she became Fagundes’ secretary.
Members of the board of supervisors and the county administration do not respond to repeated requests by phone and email for comment about the Waggle suit and other claims against the county involving Keith Fagundes’ administration of the DA’s office.
In addition members of the board of supervisors and county administration have not responded to requests for information about Fagundes’ payments to relatives for office expenses which the county purchasing supervisor said is a clear violation of the county’s conflict of interest policy.
In short, the county’s response to allegations involving Keith Fagundes has been to stonewall unless the county is compelled under the state Records Act to release documents.
VIDEO OF FORMER HANFORD COUNCIL MEMBER ART BRIENO speaking during council public comment period on 1/31/23. He urged the council to oppose the $12.5 million Helena settlement and fight the matter out in court.
HANFORD VICE MAYOR MARK KAIRIS defends his vote in favor of the $12.5 million Helena settlement at special council meeting on January 31, 2023.
Hanford agrees to pay Helena Chemical $12.5 million
POSTED 1/31/23 9:42 pm
HANFORD -The city council unanimously agreed at a sparsely attended, short-noticed 3:30 pm meeting today (1/31/23) to pay Helena Chemical Co. $12.5 million for the settlement of a breach of contract dispute.
The settlement represents a stunning blow to the city's finances at a time of general financial uncertainty in the Valley, California and the world.
The first payment of $7.5 million from the city’s General Fund has to be made within 30 days of executing the settlement agreement, according to the staff report. Then the city will have to make $5 million in payments during the next five years, the report said.
Unclear at this point is the fiscal impact on the city's budget. Former Mayor Francisco Ramirez said at the meeting that the settlement will hurt public safety for the next 5-10 years.
Before the council voted to approve the settlement agreement members of the public roundly criticized the city administration and the council for not publicizing the meeting. The public was not given proper notice to allow for comments on the settlement agreement, several speakers said.
The Brown Act allows the city to post notice of a special meeting 24 hours before its occurrence. Notice of the meeting was posted on the city’s website at 3:15 pm on January 30, said City Clerk Natalie Corral. There was also a physical posting of the meeting notice.
A check of the city’s website in the late morning of January 30 showed no notice of the meeting. The matter was further complicated by the city transitioning to a new website.
“My issue is the lack of folks not being able to be here,” said Cheyne Strawn, former council candidate and parks commissioner. “ Time frame 3:30 pm on Tuesday. People are working selling homes, working in retail, small business. (The city) just revamped (the) whole website. (I) never received this one. I did not receive anything for this meeting. You just need to be more transparent. (I) hope the meeting gets postponed.”
Council Member Diane Sharp said in a text message after the meeting: “It is a big check to write, no question. The Council action taken today was in the best long-term interest of the taxpayers, though, to protect us from far greater exposure had a jury found against us…The settlement is fair, in my opinion.”
City Attorney Ty Mizote said the city's exposure had it lost in court could have been as high as $50 million.
Council Member Lou Martinez said during the meeting that the public should have been more involved. "Something of this magnitude (is a) big responsibility (to) make a decision without the public making the same kind of input." Martinez said he reluctantly cast his vote in favor of the settlement.
City Attorney Mizote said it was important to maintain confidentiality because if there was discussion it would weaken the city's case with the opposition, especially if the matter goes to trial. After the meeting Mizote was asked to comment on statements by former council members that the previous council was told there was no liability from Helena's lawsuit which centered on the issue of whether the city reneged on a land deal that would have resulted in Helena relocating from East Lacey Boulevard by Costco to the city's industrial park which is located south of town.
Mizote said the statements about liability were made in confidential closed session. "I think both of those council members violated the Brown Act," he said.
The Brown Act guarantees the right of the public to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies.
The settlement agreement between the two sides was hammered out January 27 before retired Appellate Justice Steven Kane. If the agreement had not been made, Mizote said, the trial in Kings Superior Court would have started on February 6. "At this time I don't see Helena agreeing to something else.
During the long-standing dispute Helena, which batches and sells fertilizer products, agreed in 2020 to move to Lemoore. This could result in $340,000 in additional annual sales tax revenue to Lemoore plus an unspecified number of added jobs. Lemoore will be gaining one of its largest retail companies.
HANFORD -The city council unanimously agreed at a sparsely attended, short-noticed 3:30 pm meeting today (1/31/23) to pay Helena Chemical Co. $12.5 million for the settlement of a breach of contract dispute.
The settlement represents a stunning blow to the city's finances at a time of general financial uncertainty in the Valley, California and the world.
The first payment of $7.5 million from the city’s General Fund has to be made within 30 days of executing the settlement agreement, according to the staff report. Then the city will have to make $5 million in payments during the next five years, the report said.
Unclear at this point is the fiscal impact on the city's budget. Former Mayor Francisco Ramirez said at the meeting that the settlement will hurt public safety for the next 5-10 years.
Before the council voted to approve the settlement agreement members of the public roundly criticized the city administration and the council for not publicizing the meeting. The public was not given proper notice to allow for comments on the settlement agreement, several speakers said.
The Brown Act allows the city to post notice of a special meeting 24 hours before its occurrence. Notice of the meeting was posted on the city’s website at 3:15 pm on January 30, said City Clerk Natalie Corral. There was also a physical posting of the meeting notice.
A check of the city’s website in the late morning of January 30 showed no notice of the meeting. The matter was further complicated by the city transitioning to a new website.
“My issue is the lack of folks not being able to be here,” said Cheyne Strawn, former council candidate and parks commissioner. “ Time frame 3:30 pm on Tuesday. People are working selling homes, working in retail, small business. (The city) just revamped (the) whole website. (I) never received this one. I did not receive anything for this meeting. You just need to be more transparent. (I) hope the meeting gets postponed.”
Council Member Diane Sharp said in a text message after the meeting: “It is a big check to write, no question. The Council action taken today was in the best long-term interest of the taxpayers, though, to protect us from far greater exposure had a jury found against us…The settlement is fair, in my opinion.”
City Attorney Ty Mizote said the city's exposure had it lost in court could have been as high as $50 million.
Council Member Lou Martinez said during the meeting that the public should have been more involved. "Something of this magnitude (is a) big responsibility (to) make a decision without the public making the same kind of input." Martinez said he reluctantly cast his vote in favor of the settlement.
City Attorney Mizote said it was important to maintain confidentiality because if there was discussion it would weaken the city's case with the opposition, especially if the matter goes to trial. After the meeting Mizote was asked to comment on statements by former council members that the previous council was told there was no liability from Helena's lawsuit which centered on the issue of whether the city reneged on a land deal that would have resulted in Helena relocating from East Lacey Boulevard by Costco to the city's industrial park which is located south of town.
Mizote said the statements about liability were made in confidential closed session. "I think both of those council members violated the Brown Act," he said.
The Brown Act guarantees the right of the public to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies.
The settlement agreement between the two sides was hammered out January 27 before retired Appellate Justice Steven Kane. If the agreement had not been made, Mizote said, the trial in Kings Superior Court would have started on February 6. "At this time I don't see Helena agreeing to something else.
During the long-standing dispute Helena, which batches and sells fertilizer products, agreed in 2020 to move to Lemoore. This could result in $340,000 in additional annual sales tax revenue to Lemoore plus an unspecified number of added jobs. Lemoore will be gaining one of its largest retail companies.
Kings County confirms ex-DA investigator lawsuit settlement cost
county $1.2 million including payments to lawyer defending county
POSTED 1/25/23
Kings County confirmed that it agreed to a compromise $1.1 million settlement in the sexual harassment suit filed by Robert Waggle, according to a response to a state Records request filed by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future.
But the payouts of claims filed during the administration of ex-DA Keith Fagundes actually push the county’s total much higher.
To defend the Waggle case cost the county more than $139,000 in outside legal fees, according to county provided documents.
In agreeing to the settlement on November 18, 2022 the county admitted no liability.
Although news of the settlement was first reported in this newspaper November 28, 2022, the county, in response to repeated state Records Requests, denied that there was any settlement.
However, when Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future advised County Counsel Diane Freeman in an email last week that the newspaper might have to go to court to enforce its state records requests, she released the settlement documents.
Meanwhile, Fagundes was hired January 3, 2023 as a deputy district attorney in Kern County at a bi-weekly salary of $6,024.51, according to the Kern County District Attorney’s office.
While this settlement announced today (1/23/23) is significant, it represents only a portion of the payouts made by the county related to Fagundes and/or Fagundes’ secretary Alexandra Smith.
The dollar amounts of these payouts were not immediately available. They included claims filed in 2018 by computer forensic specialist Marlene Dunn, DA Clerk Supervisor Bonnie Riddle and DA Secretary Karen Rivera.
In addition, there was $10,000 payout in a claim filed by the county’s former top administrator Rebecca Campbell that stated Fagundes was investigating her and three-other highly-placed female county executives for purported “public corruption.” Campbell resigned as county administrator on June 15, 2021, according to Kings County.
Campbell, now assistant county administrator of San Luis Obispo County, said in her claim that Fagundes’ actions “…constituted an abuse of prosecutorial discretion and an illegal conflict of interest targeted at me specifically,” according to a copy of the claim.
Fagundes denied on March 26, 2022 that there was any such investigation and said he wasn’t aware of Campbell’s claim.
Fagundes stated during his third re-election campaign that Waggle’s suit was without foundation and that Waggle was just looking for money. Fagundes was overwhelmingly defeated for reelection by Sarah Hacker, a former deputy DA in his office. In his two prior terms Fagundes was considered politically untouchable being both feared and respected for his political skills.
But during the campaign Hacker pointed to high turnover in Fagundes' office, unequal administration of justice and favoritism in the handling of cases. Fagundes not only denied her charges but criticized the administration of the DA's office during his predecessors' regimes. Then shortly before the election, this newspaper reported that Fagundes had used a state credit card to pay for staff retreats at his sister's coastal house and funneled printing business for the office to his brother. The county said both actions violated county conflict-of-interest and state credit card policies.
Other costs associated with Fagundes’ administration include Waggle’s $45,490 stress-induced early retirement, according to county records.
Waggle would have taken his retirement at some point had the conflict with Fagundes not erupted but the payout is partially born by the county. The employee also contributes to his retirement.
In Waggle’s suit the former investigator describes being repeatedly touched in a sexual manner and receiving inappropriate text messages from Fagundes and having sexually explicit conversations with Fagundes.
Some of the many text messages, according to the suit, raised the subject of cum with Waggle, asked Waggle about his sexual relationship with his girlfriend, discussed swimming nude and taking a shower afterwards and referred to Waggle’s apartment as a “masturbatorium.”
The alleged harassment led Waggle to suffer from severe anxiety, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the filing.
Documents provided by the county show that the Kings County Board of Supervisors approved the settlement on December 12, 2022. Some of the settlement amount will be paid by the county’s insurance carrier Prism, according to the documents.
The Workmen’s Comp portion of the settlement was $110,294.50, according to the documents. This is to be paid 45 days after it is approved by Workmen’s Comp judge.
James J. Arendt of Fresno represented the county while Lawrence J. Lenneman of Los Angeles represented Waggle. The civil lawsuit was filed in Superior Court in San Bernardino County to avoid conflicts of interest. Fagundes' father Richard is still a sitting member of the Kings County Board of Supervisors representing District 5 (Hanford and Burris Park).
Kings County confirmed that it agreed to a compromise $1.1 million settlement in the sexual harassment suit filed by Robert Waggle, according to a response to a state Records request filed by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future.
But the payouts of claims filed during the administration of ex-DA Keith Fagundes actually push the county’s total much higher.
To defend the Waggle case cost the county more than $139,000 in outside legal fees, according to county provided documents.
In agreeing to the settlement on November 18, 2022 the county admitted no liability.
Although news of the settlement was first reported in this newspaper November 28, 2022, the county, in response to repeated state Records Requests, denied that there was any settlement.
However, when Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future advised County Counsel Diane Freeman in an email last week that the newspaper might have to go to court to enforce its state records requests, she released the settlement documents.
Meanwhile, Fagundes was hired January 3, 2023 as a deputy district attorney in Kern County at a bi-weekly salary of $6,024.51, according to the Kern County District Attorney’s office.
While this settlement announced today (1/23/23) is significant, it represents only a portion of the payouts made by the county related to Fagundes and/or Fagundes’ secretary Alexandra Smith.
The dollar amounts of these payouts were not immediately available. They included claims filed in 2018 by computer forensic specialist Marlene Dunn, DA Clerk Supervisor Bonnie Riddle and DA Secretary Karen Rivera.
In addition, there was $10,000 payout in a claim filed by the county’s former top administrator Rebecca Campbell that stated Fagundes was investigating her and three-other highly-placed female county executives for purported “public corruption.” Campbell resigned as county administrator on June 15, 2021, according to Kings County.
Campbell, now assistant county administrator of San Luis Obispo County, said in her claim that Fagundes’ actions “…constituted an abuse of prosecutorial discretion and an illegal conflict of interest targeted at me specifically,” according to a copy of the claim.
Fagundes denied on March 26, 2022 that there was any such investigation and said he wasn’t aware of Campbell’s claim.
Fagundes stated during his third re-election campaign that Waggle’s suit was without foundation and that Waggle was just looking for money. Fagundes was overwhelmingly defeated for reelection by Sarah Hacker, a former deputy DA in his office. In his two prior terms Fagundes was considered politically untouchable being both feared and respected for his political skills.
But during the campaign Hacker pointed to high turnover in Fagundes' office, unequal administration of justice and favoritism in the handling of cases. Fagundes not only denied her charges but criticized the administration of the DA's office during his predecessors' regimes. Then shortly before the election, this newspaper reported that Fagundes had used a state credit card to pay for staff retreats at his sister's coastal house and funneled printing business for the office to his brother. The county said both actions violated county conflict-of-interest and state credit card policies.
Other costs associated with Fagundes’ administration include Waggle’s $45,490 stress-induced early retirement, according to county records.
Waggle would have taken his retirement at some point had the conflict with Fagundes not erupted but the payout is partially born by the county. The employee also contributes to his retirement.
In Waggle’s suit the former investigator describes being repeatedly touched in a sexual manner and receiving inappropriate text messages from Fagundes and having sexually explicit conversations with Fagundes.
Some of the many text messages, according to the suit, raised the subject of cum with Waggle, asked Waggle about his sexual relationship with his girlfriend, discussed swimming nude and taking a shower afterwards and referred to Waggle’s apartment as a “masturbatorium.”
The alleged harassment led Waggle to suffer from severe anxiety, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the filing.
Documents provided by the county show that the Kings County Board of Supervisors approved the settlement on December 12, 2022. Some of the settlement amount will be paid by the county’s insurance carrier Prism, according to the documents.
The Workmen’s Comp portion of the settlement was $110,294.50, according to the documents. This is to be paid 45 days after it is approved by Workmen’s Comp judge.
James J. Arendt of Fresno represented the county while Lawrence J. Lenneman of Los Angeles represented Waggle. The civil lawsuit was filed in Superior Court in San Bernardino County to avoid conflicts of interest. Fagundes' father Richard is still a sitting member of the Kings County Board of Supervisors representing District 5 (Hanford and Burris Park).
New DA "doesn't know" if she will investigate payments to Keith Fagundes' relatives
Posted 1/27/23 11:44 am
Although newly seated District Attorney Sarah Hacker criticized her predecessor Keith Fagundes for failing the citizens of Kings County in his misuse of public funds, when asked whether she would investigate ex-DA ‘s brother and sister who received payments in violation of the county's conflict of interest policy, she said she “doesn’t know.”
Fagundes using a state credit card paid county funds of at least $8,594.77 and up to $12,152 to his sister and brother between 2019 and 2022, according to receipts obtained by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper.
The transactions violate the County’s Conflict of Interest Policy which says decisions cannot be made that would result in financial benefit to an immediate family member, said Evan Jones, the county’s purchasing director on June 2, 2022.
Meanwhile, when the news of Fagundes’ payments to his sister Jacqlyn Smith for use of her $1.4 million Pismo Beach house was reported, Kyria Martinez, assistant county administrator, said the county would initiate an investigation of the payments to Smith and the payments to Fagundes’ brother’s printing company. However, to date no results of an investigation have been released.
Martinez said in an email yesterday (1/26/23) she would respond next week (week of 1/29/23).
Although newly seated District Attorney Sarah Hacker criticized her predecessor Keith Fagundes for failing the citizens of Kings County in his misuse of public funds, when asked whether she would investigate ex-DA ‘s brother and sister who received payments in violation of the county's conflict of interest policy, she said she “doesn’t know.”
Fagundes using a state credit card paid county funds of at least $8,594.77 and up to $12,152 to his sister and brother between 2019 and 2022, according to receipts obtained by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper.
The transactions violate the County’s Conflict of Interest Policy which says decisions cannot be made that would result in financial benefit to an immediate family member, said Evan Jones, the county’s purchasing director on June 2, 2022.
Meanwhile, when the news of Fagundes’ payments to his sister Jacqlyn Smith for use of her $1.4 million Pismo Beach house was reported, Kyria Martinez, assistant county administrator, said the county would initiate an investigation of the payments to Smith and the payments to Fagundes’ brother’s printing company. However, to date no results of an investigation have been released.
Martinez said in an email yesterday (1/26/23) she would respond next week (week of 1/29/23).
New Kings DA Hacker promises 'justice for all'
Posted 1/4/23 12:18 pm
KINGS COUNTY – After scoring a major political upset against long-time incumbent Keith Fagundes, and courts staff and local attorneys as well as representatives from the state Legislature attended the event in balmy 58 degreeweather under a flawless blue sky.
Her campaign raised key issues about Fagundes’ prosecution of cases involving accused felons represented by his personal attorney, high turnover in his office during two terms, a sexual harassment suit by a former male DA investigator that has resulted in a $1.1 million settlement with the county. The county denies that any settlement has been approved. In addition, at the 11th hour of the campaign this newspaper reported that Fagundes had used a state credit card to pay for staff expenses at his sister’s house. Fagundes denied there was any morale problem during his tenure and defended the office administration as fair.
Air Guard is staying in Fresno, not moving to Lemoore
UPDATED 4/20/23 2:01 pm
In a blow to Kings County and the South Valley, the Air Force has decided to base new Air National Guard F-15EX fighter aircraft at the existing base at Fresno Yosemite International Airport instead sending new Air Guard F-35 aircraft to NAS Lemoore.
The economic impact of the move to Lemoore could have added hundreds of millions of dollars to the Kings County economy based on the Air Guard's 1,200 employees in Fresno plus an additional 80 that would have had to have been hired to accommodate the new aircraft. In addition, the pricetag for adding 18 F-35s to Lemoore would have been close to $2 billion.
Instead Fresno's Air Guard, known as the 144th Fighter Wing, will be getting even more expensive aircraft, the F-15EX's, which cost $115 million each plus they will get the additional personnel added to their existing payroll and construction money to accommodate the new aircraft. The 18 aircraft are supposed to arrive in three to four years. The F-15EX's will replace aging F-15C/D models.
Kings County Administrator Kyria Martinez could not be reached for comment.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said he lobbied for the 144th to stay in Fresno. The Air Guard is one of Fresno's larger employers.
In addition, the Air Force has decided to base new Air Guard aircraft at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve near New Orleans. This base will also get F-15EXs and the F-35A's that might have gone to Lemoore will instead go to Barnes Air National Guard in Westfield, Mass.
At one point there was a possibility the entire 144th Fighter Wing based at FYI could move to NAS Lemoore, said Will Strickland, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau. This despite statements indicating a long-term future relationship with the 144th in Fresno by Fresno Air Terminal aviation director Henry Thompson.
He said in an interview earlier this year that “As far as we know (as of today), we continue planning our ongoing, long-term relationship with 144th Fresno.”
Thompson was asked to clarify his statement after it was learned that the 144th could leave Fresno entirely but he did not respond to a request asking him to do so.
The possibility of the 144th moving occurred during a recorded question and answer session on August 25, 2022. The recording can be accessed at: www.ANGF15EX-F35A-EIS.com.
The possibility of the 144th remaining in Fresno was discussed by Strickland on the recording and that is what happened after the Secretary of the Air Force decided Fresno was the best place after reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement on supplying the Air National Guard with new fighters.
The secretary decided after the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement.
And although the public comment period ended more than three months ago, the military is keeping a tight lid on the comments. Nothing has been released.
Neither the 144th or NAS Lemoore responded about the content of public comments despite repeated requests to do so.
Noise and crash hazards to surrounding populations are obvious impacts. When F-35s were placed with the Wisconsin Air National Guard in Madison, they were sued by environmental groups, according to the organizations' websites.
In answer to a question Strickland said mitigation measures to environmental impacts involve changing flight tracks, how aircraft take off, regulating the times they fly and the use of afterburners. Afterburners give the aircraft extra thrust but produce more noise.
Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson said the comments won’t be released until after the Environmental Impact is done.
The purpose of possibly assigning new aircraft to the 144th is to replace aging F-15 C/D models.
There are three alternative locations being considered for F-15EX aircraft, the new model of the F-15. These are: Fresno Yosemite, Barnes Air National Guard Base in Western Massachusetts and NAS Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. However, only two locations will get them, according to an air guard flier on the subject. Only one location out of four will get F-35s, the flier said. If Lemoore is selected, the flier said, it would only get F-35As because Lemoore does not currently have F-15 C/D aircraft, the flier said. The Navy also operates F-35s at Lemoore.
So in all one squadron of F-15EXs and one squadron of F-35As will be deployed, the flier said.
Should the 144th leave Fresno it would be a huge economic blow to the city which currently counts the air guard wing as one of its largest employers. The wing occupies a sprawling portion of Fresno Yosemite International Airport stretching along McKinley Avenue from the airport entrance at Peach all the way to Clovis Avenue to the east. The 144th economic impact is estimated at $160 million annually, according to published reports.
The guard said whereever the new aircraft are based, additional construction will be required to accommodate the fighters. In addition, 100 more personnel will be needed at each base where the F-15EXs are located and 80 more people at F-35A bases, according to an air guard flier.
In recent years the Pentagon has approved a number of joint bases involving different branches of the armed services. This is seen as a cost saving measure.
Whether Fresno would be more vulnerable in a national emergency if the air guard was based in Lemoore is a question that will be posed in a future article. However, today's fighters could make the trip from Lemoore to Fresno in minutes.
During 9-11 the 144ths aircraft were patroling the skies around Fresno with armed fighters.
The economic impact of the move to Lemoore could have added hundreds of millions of dollars to the Kings County economy based on the Air Guard's 1,200 employees in Fresno plus an additional 80 that would have had to have been hired to accommodate the new aircraft. In addition, the pricetag for adding 18 F-35s to Lemoore would have been close to $2 billion.
Instead Fresno's Air Guard, known as the 144th Fighter Wing, will be getting even more expensive aircraft, the F-15EX's, which cost $115 million each plus they will get the additional personnel added to their existing payroll and construction money to accommodate the new aircraft. The 18 aircraft are supposed to arrive in three to four years. The F-15EX's will replace aging F-15C/D models.
Kings County Administrator Kyria Martinez could not be reached for comment.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said he lobbied for the 144th to stay in Fresno. The Air Guard is one of Fresno's larger employers.
In addition, the Air Force has decided to base new Air Guard aircraft at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve near New Orleans. This base will also get F-15EXs and the F-35A's that might have gone to Lemoore will instead go to Barnes Air National Guard in Westfield, Mass.
At one point there was a possibility the entire 144th Fighter Wing based at FYI could move to NAS Lemoore, said Will Strickland, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau. This despite statements indicating a long-term future relationship with the 144th in Fresno by Fresno Air Terminal aviation director Henry Thompson.
He said in an interview earlier this year that “As far as we know (as of today), we continue planning our ongoing, long-term relationship with 144th Fresno.”
Thompson was asked to clarify his statement after it was learned that the 144th could leave Fresno entirely but he did not respond to a request asking him to do so.
The possibility of the 144th moving occurred during a recorded question and answer session on August 25, 2022. The recording can be accessed at: www.ANGF15EX-F35A-EIS.com.
The possibility of the 144th remaining in Fresno was discussed by Strickland on the recording and that is what happened after the Secretary of the Air Force decided Fresno was the best place after reviewing the Environmental Impact Statement on supplying the Air National Guard with new fighters.
The secretary decided after the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement.
And although the public comment period ended more than three months ago, the military is keeping a tight lid on the comments. Nothing has been released.
Neither the 144th or NAS Lemoore responded about the content of public comments despite repeated requests to do so.
Noise and crash hazards to surrounding populations are obvious impacts. When F-35s were placed with the Wisconsin Air National Guard in Madison, they were sued by environmental groups, according to the organizations' websites.
In answer to a question Strickland said mitigation measures to environmental impacts involve changing flight tracks, how aircraft take off, regulating the times they fly and the use of afterburners. Afterburners give the aircraft extra thrust but produce more noise.
Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson said the comments won’t be released until after the Environmental Impact is done.
The purpose of possibly assigning new aircraft to the 144th is to replace aging F-15 C/D models.
There are three alternative locations being considered for F-15EX aircraft, the new model of the F-15. These are: Fresno Yosemite, Barnes Air National Guard Base in Western Massachusetts and NAS Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. However, only two locations will get them, according to an air guard flier on the subject. Only one location out of four will get F-35s, the flier said. If Lemoore is selected, the flier said, it would only get F-35As because Lemoore does not currently have F-15 C/D aircraft, the flier said. The Navy also operates F-35s at Lemoore.
So in all one squadron of F-15EXs and one squadron of F-35As will be deployed, the flier said.
Should the 144th leave Fresno it would be a huge economic blow to the city which currently counts the air guard wing as one of its largest employers. The wing occupies a sprawling portion of Fresno Yosemite International Airport stretching along McKinley Avenue from the airport entrance at Peach all the way to Clovis Avenue to the east. The 144th economic impact is estimated at $160 million annually, according to published reports.
The guard said whereever the new aircraft are based, additional construction will be required to accommodate the fighters. In addition, 100 more personnel will be needed at each base where the F-15EXs are located and 80 more people at F-35A bases, according to an air guard flier.
In recent years the Pentagon has approved a number of joint bases involving different branches of the armed services. This is seen as a cost saving measure.
Whether Fresno would be more vulnerable in a national emergency if the air guard was based in Lemoore is a question that will be posed in a future article. However, today's fighters could make the trip from Lemoore to Fresno in minutes.
During 9-11 the 144ths aircraft were patroling the skies around Fresno with armed fighters.
2 political allies elected to top Hanford council jobs vowing community betterment
POSTED 12/2/22 10:49 pm
HANFORD – In what appeared on the surface to be a prearranged deal, newly-elected District A Council Member Travis Paden Friday (12/2) got himself elected mayor with the help of his political ally District E’s Mark Kairis who the council 5-0 voted as vice mayor.
Though neither has any council experience, the 4-1 for Paden was routine and without discussion. The only dissent came from Mayor Kalish Morrow. She did not
NEWS ANALYSIS
state her reasons for her “no” vote but there was known to be friction between Paden and her during the campaign. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future will attempt to contact Morrow for an explanation on Saturday (12/3).
Paden handily defeated appointed- incumbent Amanda Saltray who was running for her first elective term. Paden had the backing of the political establishment and also outraised Saltray in political contributions. Saltray was part of a slate of Libertarian city council candidates, all of whom were defeated.
Meanwhile, new District D Council Member Lou Martinez, who has the most council experience of anyone on the new council, was not nominated for either top council job.
Martinez, who defeated long-time incumbent Francisco Ramirez, is a former Hanford mayor. It was Martinez who nominated Kairis.
An upbeat, positive atmosphere prevailed in the council chamber where some 65 people including council members’ family and friends cheered and applauded frequently.
The early December seating at the special council meeting was unusual in that the council is usually seated at a regular meeting in mid-December.
Asked about this City Manager Mario Cifuentez gave two explanations. He said since the election department said the result was already certified it was thought advisable to seat the new council as soon as possible. Cifuentez also said the special meeting also allowed the new council to make it their night to celebrate rather than also having to deal with the workload of a regular council meeting.
What role the wishes of the outgoing defeated council members Ramirez and Saltray played in all this is unclear. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future contacted Saltray after the meeting but she did not answer. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future will make additional attempts to contact her over the weekend.
Even though the city council job is not full time and the pay is minimal, both Ramirez and Saltray, like many
politicians who were rebuked by the voters, were known to be hurt by the results.
Paden won with 70.40 percent of the vote. His tally was 2,543 versus 1,069 for Saltray, according to the Kings County Elections Department.
Meanwhile, the Martinez-Ramirez race was a lot closer. Martinez got 51.97 percent versus 48.03 for Ramirez, according to the elections department. The tally was 673 for Martinez versus 622 for Ramirez.
Paden won with 70.40 percent of the vote. His tally was 2,543 versus 1,069 for Saltray, according to the Kings County Elections Department.
Meanwhile, the Martinez-Ramirez race was a lot closer. Martinez got 51.97 percent versus 48.03 for Ramirez, according to the elections department. The tally was 673 for Martinez versus 622 for Ramirez.
Paden won with 70.40 percent of the vote. His tally was 2,543 versus 1,069 for Saltray, according to the Kings County Elections Department.
Meanwhile, the Martinez-Ramirez race was a lot closer. Martinez got 51.97 percent versus 48.03 for Ramirez, according to the elections department. The tally was 673 for Martinez versus 622 for Ramirez.
During his local political career Ramirez engendered a lot of controversy over election law violations and a bribery allegation which the sheriff later said was unsubstantiated. He was also subject to continual attacks from a cadre of local political activists. Yet Ramirez’s outgoing, likable personality made him difficult for some people to politically dislike him.
He also relished his job as one-time mayor and a council member.
Also notable Friday night was the absence of Council Member Art Brieno who did not run for re-election after being mired in controversy over a sexual harassment lawsuit by the Community Development Director Darlene Mata. He was also censured by the previous council and stripped of some of his council perks.
With the exception of Martinez, the newly-elected council members will face a steep learning curve in their first year.
The council faces many tough issues in the coming months including the homelessness crisis, the possible expansion of Hidden Valley Park, the development of Heroe’s Park, budget discussions, the drought, new waste recycling laws, repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, zoning issues, support of the Chamber of Commerce and the installation of roundabouts downtown.
And this civic laundry list doesn’t include unforeseen controversies such as the Northstar mixed housing project at 11th and Fargo that blindsided the last council and led to then Mayor Diane Sharp’s replacement. Sharp is still a council member.
Kairis, a former CHP commander with no political experience, vowed to “…work with everyone (to) do what is right for the community.”
Paden, who has a dozen years on city commissions, said he would “work tirelessly for the betterment of the community.”
He said it was an honor to go through the process of running for office. He called it, “Very humbling, very exhausting.”
Settlement in sexual harrassment suit against county $1.1 million
Updated 11/28/22 4 pm
Kings County agreed to settle the sexual harassment filed by the former top DA investigator in the District Attorney’s office for $1.1 million, Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has learned.
The county will not confirm a settlement was reached. The case stems from alleged behavior by District Attorney Keith Fagundes. Waggle worked in the DA's office starting in 2010, according to the suit.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future made multiple attempts to reach county spokesperson Kyria Martinez by telephone yesterday (11/28/22). She was either not in her office or not at her desk, according to receptionists. Martinez is assistant Kings County Administrative Officer.
Further, County Counsel Diane Freeman, in response to a state Public Records Act request seeking a copy of the settlement agreement said in a November 21 letter "...the county has no responsive records."
A check of the court calendar in San Bernardino County where the case was filed showed the case was still active. However, this is not unusual because some courts are behind in updating their records.
Waggle who came to the DA's office after working at the sheriff's department was promoted to senior investigator in the DA's office in 2015, according to the suit.
Waggle is represented by Larry Lennemann of Los Angeles.
The county hired an outside attorney from Fresno to defend the case.
There was nothing in the Board of Supervisors’ agenda yesterday (November 28) to indicate that the settlement was discussed in closed or open session.
The case was originally filed in Kings County Superior Court but later moved to San Bernardino County to avoid conflicts of interest.
The core of the suit alleges that because of the harassment Waggle was forced to take an early medical leave on March 24, 2021 and that being unable to pursue his career until the normal retirement age, he lost both pay and benefits.
The suit claimed Fagundes touched Waggle in a sexual manner, sent inappropriate sexually explicit text messages, blatantly stared at his crotch and compared the size of his penis to various objects.
The suit alleged that Fagundes, would retaliate against anyone who opposed him. And when Waggle did not respond favorably to Fagundes’ advances, Waggle was stripped of his responsibilities and accordingly, Waggle had a difficult time performing his job, according to the suit.
Fagundes began to retaliate against Waggle continually ostracizing him, ignoring him, excluding him, attempting to micromanage him by violating the chain of command, according to the suit.
In February/March 2021 there was a serious allegation involving a sitting member of the board of supervisors, according to the suit.
Then County Counsel Lee Burdick arranged to have an outside law firm investigate, according to the suit. She wanted the state Attorney General's office to become involved but the state AG's office refused unless the DA removed himself, according to the suit. Fagundes' father Richard is a county supervisor representing District 5 which encompasses Hanford.
Waggle, according to the suit, made Fagundes aware of the conflict and that the state AG's office should be investigating.
Fagundes refused to allow this and assigned the investigation to Waggle's subordinate, according to the suit.
Fagundes then altered the focus of the investigation to focus not on a county supervisor but on two women for supposed collusion, according to the suit.
Waggle said the DA's office should not be conducting the investigation as Fagundes had personal animosities towards not only the two women but to women in power in general, according to the suit. Fagundes wanted to send a message, according to the suit, to those women that he---and not them---has the power and control.
In March 2021 Waggle voluntarily requested a demotion to 'computer forensics specialist' for which Waggle was undisputably qualified, according to the suit.
Fagundes denied Waggle's request smirking and tilting his head, "It's not good for the office. If I did allow it, it would have only been because of our personal relationship and that's not there," according to the suit.
Fagundes made clear his denial of a work benefit to Waggle was the result of Waggle's refusal to remain in a personal relationship demanded by Fagundes (quid pro quo), according to the suit.
The suit alleges that as a result of Fagundes' improper and illegal acts Waggle began to suffer severe anxiety and panic attacks and other physical/psychological ailments.
Waggle was diagnosed by the county's own qualified medical examiner with Post Traumatic Stresss Disorder and Panic Disorder directly resulting from Fagundes' actions, according to the suit.
On March 24, 2021 Waggle was in the process of being medically retired at the age of 40 because of the severity of the distress and placed on leave, according to the suit.
The suit said Waggle had planned to work until age 55. Because of his early retirement Waggle will get 60 percent of his salary rather than 90 percent. Waggle had planned to work until he was 55, the suit said.
The suit said that if the lawsuit had proceeded to trial Waggle expected attorney's fees to be $650,000 - $800,000.
In a separate sexual harrassment claimed filed against the county on July 6, 2021, Waggle said he was touched in a sexual manner by Fagundes, received
inappropriate sexual text messages from Fagundes and had sexually explicit conversations with Fagundes.
When Waggle getting a divorce in 2018 Fagundes allowed Waggle to move into an apartment owned by Fagundes. When Waggle offered to pay rent, Fagundes told Waggle "just being here was enough for (him)."
One of Fagundes' text messages referred to by Waggle compared the size of Waggle's penis to various objects and stated, "wow, I just can't get it out of my mind."
Fagundes texted a photo of statue of a man with a broken tennis racket with a caption: "When the racket on your tennis trophy breaks and now it looks like
you won the award for masturbation." Beneath this Fagundes wrote, "Why did I think of you when I saw this????"
Fagundes repeatedly discussed eating pineapples with Waggle. Fagundes stated that eating pineapple would make male ejaculation ("cum") taste sweeter.
In another instance, when a package arrived for Waggle, Fagundes texted Waggle "cum over and see it."
Fagundes also told Waggle that he "loved" him.
Fagundes has previously said the text messages Waggle is referring to represent a reality that is different from what Waggle is describing.
Fagundes dismissed the texts as “crude guy banter” adding that if the claims were true “…why did he let it go for so long.”
Fagundes’ attorney said the timing of the suit, which was filed in July 2021, was aimed at Fagundes’ reelection campaign. Fagundes was running for his third four-year term when he was defeated by Hacker, a former deputy district attorney in his office. Prior to the various controversies involving Fagundes' alleged actions, Fagundes was secure in his post and considered politically unassailable.
The county will not confirm a settlement was reached. The case stems from alleged behavior by District Attorney Keith Fagundes. Waggle worked in the DA's office starting in 2010, according to the suit.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future made multiple attempts to reach county spokesperson Kyria Martinez by telephone yesterday (11/28/22). She was either not in her office or not at her desk, according to receptionists. Martinez is assistant Kings County Administrative Officer.
Further, County Counsel Diane Freeman, in response to a state Public Records Act request seeking a copy of the settlement agreement said in a November 21 letter "...the county has no responsive records."
A check of the court calendar in San Bernardino County where the case was filed showed the case was still active. However, this is not unusual because some courts are behind in updating their records.
Waggle who came to the DA's office after working at the sheriff's department was promoted to senior investigator in the DA's office in 2015, according to the suit.
Waggle is represented by Larry Lennemann of Los Angeles.
The county hired an outside attorney from Fresno to defend the case.
There was nothing in the Board of Supervisors’ agenda yesterday (November 28) to indicate that the settlement was discussed in closed or open session.
The case was originally filed in Kings County Superior Court but later moved to San Bernardino County to avoid conflicts of interest.
The core of the suit alleges that because of the harassment Waggle was forced to take an early medical leave on March 24, 2021 and that being unable to pursue his career until the normal retirement age, he lost both pay and benefits.
The suit claimed Fagundes touched Waggle in a sexual manner, sent inappropriate sexually explicit text messages, blatantly stared at his crotch and compared the size of his penis to various objects.
The suit alleged that Fagundes, would retaliate against anyone who opposed him. And when Waggle did not respond favorably to Fagundes’ advances, Waggle was stripped of his responsibilities and accordingly, Waggle had a difficult time performing his job, according to the suit.
Fagundes began to retaliate against Waggle continually ostracizing him, ignoring him, excluding him, attempting to micromanage him by violating the chain of command, according to the suit.
In February/March 2021 there was a serious allegation involving a sitting member of the board of supervisors, according to the suit.
Then County Counsel Lee Burdick arranged to have an outside law firm investigate, according to the suit. She wanted the state Attorney General's office to become involved but the state AG's office refused unless the DA removed himself, according to the suit. Fagundes' father Richard is a county supervisor representing District 5 which encompasses Hanford.
Waggle, according to the suit, made Fagundes aware of the conflict and that the state AG's office should be investigating.
Fagundes refused to allow this and assigned the investigation to Waggle's subordinate, according to the suit.
Fagundes then altered the focus of the investigation to focus not on a county supervisor but on two women for supposed collusion, according to the suit.
Waggle said the DA's office should not be conducting the investigation as Fagundes had personal animosities towards not only the two women but to women in power in general, according to the suit. Fagundes wanted to send a message, according to the suit, to those women that he---and not them---has the power and control.
In March 2021 Waggle voluntarily requested a demotion to 'computer forensics specialist' for which Waggle was undisputably qualified, according to the suit.
Fagundes denied Waggle's request smirking and tilting his head, "It's not good for the office. If I did allow it, it would have only been because of our personal relationship and that's not there," according to the suit.
Fagundes made clear his denial of a work benefit to Waggle was the result of Waggle's refusal to remain in a personal relationship demanded by Fagundes (quid pro quo), according to the suit.
The suit alleges that as a result of Fagundes' improper and illegal acts Waggle began to suffer severe anxiety and panic attacks and other physical/psychological ailments.
Waggle was diagnosed by the county's own qualified medical examiner with Post Traumatic Stresss Disorder and Panic Disorder directly resulting from Fagundes' actions, according to the suit.
On March 24, 2021 Waggle was in the process of being medically retired at the age of 40 because of the severity of the distress and placed on leave, according to the suit.
The suit said Waggle had planned to work until age 55. Because of his early retirement Waggle will get 60 percent of his salary rather than 90 percent. Waggle had planned to work until he was 55, the suit said.
The suit said that if the lawsuit had proceeded to trial Waggle expected attorney's fees to be $650,000 - $800,000.
In a separate sexual harrassment claimed filed against the county on July 6, 2021, Waggle said he was touched in a sexual manner by Fagundes, received
inappropriate sexual text messages from Fagundes and had sexually explicit conversations with Fagundes.
When Waggle getting a divorce in 2018 Fagundes allowed Waggle to move into an apartment owned by Fagundes. When Waggle offered to pay rent, Fagundes told Waggle "just being here was enough for (him)."
One of Fagundes' text messages referred to by Waggle compared the size of Waggle's penis to various objects and stated, "wow, I just can't get it out of my mind."
Fagundes texted a photo of statue of a man with a broken tennis racket with a caption: "When the racket on your tennis trophy breaks and now it looks like
you won the award for masturbation." Beneath this Fagundes wrote, "Why did I think of you when I saw this????"
Fagundes repeatedly discussed eating pineapples with Waggle. Fagundes stated that eating pineapple would make male ejaculation ("cum") taste sweeter.
In another instance, when a package arrived for Waggle, Fagundes texted Waggle "cum over and see it."
Fagundes also told Waggle that he "loved" him.
Fagundes has previously said the text messages Waggle is referring to represent a reality that is different from what Waggle is describing.
Fagundes dismissed the texts as “crude guy banter” adding that if the claims were true “…why did he let it go for so long.”
Fagundes’ attorney said the timing of the suit, which was filed in July 2021, was aimed at Fagundes’ reelection campaign. Fagundes was running for his third four-year term when he was defeated by Hacker, a former deputy district attorney in his office. Prior to the various controversies involving Fagundes' alleged actions, Fagundes was secure in his post and considered politically unassailable.
LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS
Posted 11/10/22 5:37 am
Local election results 11/9/22
Hanford/Kings County Local races
As of 11:16 pm 11/8/22 Kings County Elections
Slightly less than a third of registered voters voted in Kings County
Supervisor District 1 (Lemoore, Stratford) 28.67% of vote
Martin Chavez 1,298 44.32%
Joe Neves (incumbent) 1,631 55.68%
Hanford Council District D 24.88% of vote
Lou Martinez 532 52.94%
Francisco “Frank” 473 47.06%
Ramirez (incumbent)
Hanford Council District A 42.58%
Amanda Saltray (incumbent) 843 30.03%
Travis Paden 1,964 69.97%
Hanford Council District E 30.41% of vote
Mark A. Kairis 841 53.98%
Cheyne Strawn 717 46.02%
Lemoore Council Area A
Stuart Lyons (incumbent) 720 votes (unopposed)
Lemoore Council Area C
Frank Gornick (incumbent) 662 votes (unopposed)
Tulare County
As of 11:59 pm 11/8/22 Tulare County Elections
23% of registered voters voted
Visalia Council District 3 31.08%
Heather L. Carter 1,204 25.54%
Brian Poochigian (incumbent) 3,511 74.46%
Visalia Council District 4 16.38%
Bob Ainley 634 36.63%
Emmanuel Soto 846 48.87%
Visalia Council District 5 20.88%
Steve Nelsen (incumbent) 1,599 64.87%
Kris Korsgaden 866 35.13%
City Council District 1 Short Term 28.49%
Justin Bolton 356 9.01%
David Standley Farris 1,278 32.35%
Liz Wynn (incumbent) 2,316 58.63%
Posted 11/10/22 5:37 am
Local election results 11/9/22
Hanford/Kings County Local races
As of 11:16 pm 11/8/22 Kings County Elections
Slightly less than a third of registered voters voted in Kings County
Supervisor District 1 (Lemoore, Stratford) 28.67% of vote
Martin Chavez 1,298 44.32%
Joe Neves (incumbent) 1,631 55.68%
Hanford Council District D 24.88% of vote
Lou Martinez 532 52.94%
Francisco “Frank” 473 47.06%
Ramirez (incumbent)
Hanford Council District A 42.58%
Amanda Saltray (incumbent) 843 30.03%
Travis Paden 1,964 69.97%
Hanford Council District E 30.41% of vote
Mark A. Kairis 841 53.98%
Cheyne Strawn 717 46.02%
Lemoore Council Area A
Stuart Lyons (incumbent) 720 votes (unopposed)
Lemoore Council Area C
Frank Gornick (incumbent) 662 votes (unopposed)
Tulare County
As of 11:59 pm 11/8/22 Tulare County Elections
23% of registered voters voted
Visalia Council District 3 31.08%
Heather L. Carter 1,204 25.54%
Brian Poochigian (incumbent) 3,511 74.46%
Visalia Council District 4 16.38%
Bob Ainley 634 36.63%
Emmanuel Soto 846 48.87%
Visalia Council District 5 20.88%
Steve Nelsen (incumbent) 1,599 64.87%
Kris Korsgaden 866 35.13%
City Council District 1 Short Term 28.49%
Justin Bolton 356 9.01%
David Standley Farris 1,278 32.35%
Liz Wynn (incumbent) 2,316 58.63%
Travis Paden, right, and his wife Ann Marie at election watch party at their North Hanford home. Paden took a decisive lead in Hanford's District A Council race against incumbent Amanda Saltray.
3 possible upsets in Hanford Council races early voting
POSTED 11/8/22 11:14 pm
HANFORD – In early voting three challengers for city council have scored surprise upsets against two incumbents and one long-time city commissioner, according to results from the Kings County Election Department.
The outcome of the three races could change as more ballots are counted but as of 8:05 on November 8 the trends were unmistakable.
Planning Commissioner and teacher Travis Paden in District A Northwest decisively led appointed incumbent Amanda Saltray by more than a two-to-one margin, 1,322 votes to 574 with 28.67 percent of the votes cast. Paden’s percentage margin was 69.73 vs 30.27 for Saltray.
The voters apparently agreed with Paden’s argument that he had better experience to serve on the council than Saltray. Paden had a dozen year’s of experience on city commissions. Saltray was appointed to the council when former Council Member John Draxler resigned to move to Sacramento.
Meanwhile, in District D Central former Council Member and Mayor Lou Martinez who had been active in city affairs even after leaving office was leading long-time incumbent Francisco ‘Frank’ Ramirez by 72 votes out of 662 cast. Martinez stressed that the council was ignoring the will of the people and taking stances that the public did not agree with. Martinez had 55.44 percent of the vote to Ramirez’s 44.56 percent. The percentage of votes cast in this district was 16.48 percent.
Ramirez appeared confident of victory at a watch party held for Cheyne Strawn who was also running behind challenger Mark Kairis in District E Southwest. Ramirez said ultimately he thought he would prevail in the race which could take up to a week before all the ballots are counted.
He also predicted that if the council majority changes that would spell the death knell for expanding the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park into parkland. Vice Mayor Diane Sharp only voted for a three acre expansion of Hidden Valley and Ramirez said Paden’s and Martinez’s support for the 18-acre
expansion is questionable. Paden and Martinez have both taken campaign contributions from die-hard opponents of expanding Hidden Valley although both candidates said this would have no effect on their stance in favor of expanding the park.
Ramirez said he doesn’t believe Paden, if elected, will ultimately vote to expand the park which has been a hot-button political issue in Hanford for a half century, the subject of two unsuccessful voter initiatives and attempts by successive city council’s to sell off the property for housing development.
Strawn trails former Highway Patrol Commander Kairis by 71 votes with Kairis garnering 53.3 percent to Strawn’s 46.7 percent. At of 8:05 pm 1,147 votes had been cast in this race, 20.97 percent of the total.
Saltray, Paden, Ramirez and Strawn all held watch parties with plenty of food and TV coverage of elections humming in the background. Paden’s was the most upbeat gathering even before the 8:05 pm results came in. People were crowded into his living room and kitchen area and the mood was celebratory.
HANFORD – In early voting three challengers for city council have scored surprise upsets against two incumbents and one long-time city commissioner, according to results from the Kings County Election Department.
The outcome of the three races could change as more ballots are counted but as of 8:05 on November 8 the trends were unmistakable.
Planning Commissioner and teacher Travis Paden in District A Northwest decisively led appointed incumbent Amanda Saltray by more than a two-to-one margin, 1,322 votes to 574 with 28.67 percent of the votes cast. Paden’s percentage margin was 69.73 vs 30.27 for Saltray.
The voters apparently agreed with Paden’s argument that he had better experience to serve on the council than Saltray. Paden had a dozen year’s of experience on city commissions. Saltray was appointed to the council when former Council Member John Draxler resigned to move to Sacramento.
Meanwhile, in District D Central former Council Member and Mayor Lou Martinez who had been active in city affairs even after leaving office was leading long-time incumbent Francisco ‘Frank’ Ramirez by 72 votes out of 662 cast. Martinez stressed that the council was ignoring the will of the people and taking stances that the public did not agree with. Martinez had 55.44 percent of the vote to Ramirez’s 44.56 percent. The percentage of votes cast in this district was 16.48 percent.
Ramirez appeared confident of victory at a watch party held for Cheyne Strawn who was also running behind challenger Mark Kairis in District E Southwest. Ramirez said ultimately he thought he would prevail in the race which could take up to a week before all the ballots are counted.
He also predicted that if the council majority changes that would spell the death knell for expanding the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park into parkland. Vice Mayor Diane Sharp only voted for a three acre expansion of Hidden Valley and Ramirez said Paden’s and Martinez’s support for the 18-acre
expansion is questionable. Paden and Martinez have both taken campaign contributions from die-hard opponents of expanding Hidden Valley although both candidates said this would have no effect on their stance in favor of expanding the park.
Ramirez said he doesn’t believe Paden, if elected, will ultimately vote to expand the park which has been a hot-button political issue in Hanford for a half century, the subject of two unsuccessful voter initiatives and attempts by successive city council’s to sell off the property for housing development.
Strawn trails former Highway Patrol Commander Kairis by 71 votes with Kairis garnering 53.3 percent to Strawn’s 46.7 percent. At of 8:05 pm 1,147 votes had been cast in this race, 20.97 percent of the total.
Saltray, Paden, Ramirez and Strawn all held watch parties with plenty of food and TV coverage of elections humming in the background. Paden’s was the most upbeat gathering even before the 8:05 pm results came in. People were crowded into his living room and kitchen area and the mood was celebratory.
Hanford raises residential trash rates 22 percent
Posted 10/21/22 2:52 pm
HANFORD – The council Tuesday (10/18/22) unanimously approved a 22 percent increase in residential trash rates. The increase will be phased in over four years.
Rates for a common class of commercial customers (32-gallon receptacles) will skyrocket by more than 60 percent to $43.39 starting November 1. And there will be additional increases after that.
However, commercial customers with 96- gallon receptacles will actually see rates drop 11.9 percent on November 1. The rate will be $43.39 a month, according to a staff report.
Nearly half or ten percent of the total residential increase will occur on November 1. The other portions of the increases will occur on July 1 (4 percent), July 1, 2025 (4 percent) and July 1, 2026 (4 percent).
The typical residential homeowner with three cans (black garbage, green recycle waste, blue cans, bottle recycle) will see his or her bill jump from the current $21.65 to $23.82 monthly starting next month. By July 1, 2026 residential customers will be paying $74.52 more per year than the current rate.
During public comment Brenda Griffin, a retired fiscal analyst for the Kings County Waste and Recycling
Authority questioned the need for the increases when the city received a substantial windfall in lower county dump costs.
This amounted to $1,142,000 over the last four years. In 2019 dump costs were reduced from $75 per ton to the current $50 per ton, she said.
She questioned the city’s plan to buy another garbage truck. Even with the purchase, the city would have a positive balance of $513,000, she said.
Deputy Public Works Director Jim Ross agreed that dump costs have been lower but said the increase
in trash rates is needed because of a state law (SB 1383) requiring businesses having more than two
yards of waste monthly to recycle food waste. This, he said, is on top of the previous requirement to recycle cardboard and glass bottles.
The state’s goal to reduce organic waste in landfills which contributes to global warming.
“We have a lot of equipment that has to be purchased to comply with state regulations,” he said.
He added that public works has 12 – 18 months to purchase the equipment which includes trailers, 800 bins, and two additional refuse trucks. The city will also hire a recycling coordinator.
If the rates are not raised there will be inadequate funding to effectively operate the refuse enterprise fund, said the staff report. In addition, the city will be unable to replace aging refuse trucks through contributions to the fleet reserve fund, the report said. Figures on what is in the fleet reserve fund and what the shortfall could be were not immediately available.
Sacramento gave the city $79,000 to help offset the cost of the expenses associated with the recycling mandate.
Figures on how much the rate increases for residential and commercial customers will generate during the five-year period of increases were not immediately available.
Vice Mayor Diane Sharp said the bins were more expensive than what was budgeted.
Council member Art Brieno moved to approve the increase decrying the lack of state financial support. Sharp seconded.
Also approved were the purchase of a front loader for $375,000, hiring two refuse drivers at $65,000 each including benefits and moving two part-time refuse employees to full-time employment.
The dollar figure for these expenditures was not immediately available.
HANFORD – The council Tuesday (10/18/22) unanimously approved a 22 percent increase in residential trash rates. The increase will be phased in over four years.
Rates for a common class of commercial customers (32-gallon receptacles) will skyrocket by more than 60 percent to $43.39 starting November 1. And there will be additional increases after that.
However, commercial customers with 96- gallon receptacles will actually see rates drop 11.9 percent on November 1. The rate will be $43.39 a month, according to a staff report.
Nearly half or ten percent of the total residential increase will occur on November 1. The other portions of the increases will occur on July 1 (4 percent), July 1, 2025 (4 percent) and July 1, 2026 (4 percent).
The typical residential homeowner with three cans (black garbage, green recycle waste, blue cans, bottle recycle) will see his or her bill jump from the current $21.65 to $23.82 monthly starting next month. By July 1, 2026 residential customers will be paying $74.52 more per year than the current rate.
During public comment Brenda Griffin, a retired fiscal analyst for the Kings County Waste and Recycling
Authority questioned the need for the increases when the city received a substantial windfall in lower county dump costs.
This amounted to $1,142,000 over the last four years. In 2019 dump costs were reduced from $75 per ton to the current $50 per ton, she said.
She questioned the city’s plan to buy another garbage truck. Even with the purchase, the city would have a positive balance of $513,000, she said.
Deputy Public Works Director Jim Ross agreed that dump costs have been lower but said the increase
in trash rates is needed because of a state law (SB 1383) requiring businesses having more than two
yards of waste monthly to recycle food waste. This, he said, is on top of the previous requirement to recycle cardboard and glass bottles.
The state’s goal to reduce organic waste in landfills which contributes to global warming.
“We have a lot of equipment that has to be purchased to comply with state regulations,” he said.
He added that public works has 12 – 18 months to purchase the equipment which includes trailers, 800 bins, and two additional refuse trucks. The city will also hire a recycling coordinator.
If the rates are not raised there will be inadequate funding to effectively operate the refuse enterprise fund, said the staff report. In addition, the city will be unable to replace aging refuse trucks through contributions to the fleet reserve fund, the report said. Figures on what is in the fleet reserve fund and what the shortfall could be were not immediately available.
Sacramento gave the city $79,000 to help offset the cost of the expenses associated with the recycling mandate.
Figures on how much the rate increases for residential and commercial customers will generate during the five-year period of increases were not immediately available.
Vice Mayor Diane Sharp said the bins were more expensive than what was budgeted.
Council member Art Brieno moved to approve the increase decrying the lack of state financial support. Sharp seconded.
Also approved were the purchase of a front loader for $375,000, hiring two refuse drivers at $65,000 each including benefits and moving two part-time refuse employees to full-time employment.
The dollar figure for these expenditures was not immediately available.
Colonel J.D. Lunholm, vice commander, 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, discusses environmental report on possible move to NAS Lemoore.
Posted 8/11/22 2:43 pm
Environmental report in works on Fresno Air Guard moving to NAS
LEMOORE – An environmental impact statement is being prepared on the possible relocation of a squadron of Air National Guard aircraft to NAS Lemoore.
It's still early in the process and the Department of Defense could decide that the 144th Fighter Wing should remain in Fresno but in the meantime DOD is seeking public comment on the environmental impact of the proposal.
Lemoore hosted one meeting seeking comment on August 10 and the next one August 25 will be a virtual one from 5:30 – 6:30 pm Pacific.
Possible environmental impacts include added noise, air pollution, traffic, damage to plants and animals from the additional aircraft and personnel, according to the environmental impact statement presentation on August 10.
County Supervisors Doug Verboon (District 4 Hanford-Armona) and Joe Neves (District 2 Avenal, Corcoran, Home Garden and Kettleman City) attending the Lemoore session August 10 thought the move was a great idea and would be a economic boost to the area. Hanford Mayor Kalish Morrow, whose husband is in the Navy, also attended.
The reason the Air Force is considering the move is aging F-15 fighters in Fresno and other locations have to be replaced either with a newer model of the F-15 or the F-35A, said Colonel J.D. Lundholm vice commander of the 144th Fighter Wing. Only the F-35A is under consideration as a replacement for the 144th’s aircraft, he said.
Since Lemoore already flies the Navy version of the F-35, there would be some efficiencies in basing the Air Force version of the F-35 in Lemoore, Lundholm said.
The 144th currently flies older models of the F-15 which are ending their service life.
If the new Air Guard’s F-35 were based in Lemoore it would require 80 additional personnel on top of the 1,200 the wing already employs.
In addition, some new construction would be required at NAS Lemoore to accommodate the Air Force’s needs. The practice of basing aircraft from two different branches of the armed services is a Department of Defense trend, said Master Sergeant Charles Vaughn.
Moving to Lemoore is the most expensive alternative, he said. But the move, Vaughn said, would conform to the Defense Department’s goal of basing different branches of the service together.
In addition, Lemoore’s remote location and the buffer of land around the base would have some environmental advantages, said Lundholm.
The cost of acquiring 23 new F-35As at $85.8 million each is close to $2 billion, according to breakingdefense.com.
Meanwhile, the F15EX aircraft are costlier $117 million each, according to breaking defense.com. The Air Force wants 24 of these for the Air Guard, according to the environmental impact statement web site.
Wherever the new aircraft go, they will not be arriving until 2027 or 2028, according to the environmental impact site web site.
The environmental analysis is scheduled to be done next summer. At that time the public will have another chance to comment on it.
Comments on the environmental impact statement being prepared now can also be made by mail to:
Eis Project Manager, National Guard Bureau NGB 1A4AM, Shepperd Hall, 3501 Fetchet Ave., Joint Base Andrews MD 20762-5157.
The environmental statement will also cover basing of F-35s or F-15 EXIIs at the following bases: Westfield-Barnes Airport in Massachusetts (104th Fighter Wing), Fresno Yosemite International Airport, and Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans (159th Fighter Wing).
The 144th Fighter Wing is one of 90 Air Guard Wings in the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.
Video of VFA 14 arriving at NAS Lemoore after 7-month deployment
Not too much longer now. Family outside VFA 14 hangar at NAS
Lemoore shortly before pilots arrived August 10, 2022 from
USS Abraham Lincoln.
Lemoore shortly before pilots arrived August 10, 2022 from
USS Abraham Lincoln.
VFA 14, 41, 151 perform thrilling swoops, then land in front of waiting family
Posted 8/9/22
9:50 pm
NAS LEMOORE – Three carrier wings assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln returned from the shimmering Pacific to the hot, baked expanse of their Central California home base after a seven-month deployment in Asian waters.
It was a scene reminiscent of a World War II homecoming complete with little girls in their best dresses, mothers with tressed hair, screaming babies and girl and boy toddlers perhaps dreaming of one day piloting an aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornet that carried their fathers on the 600-mile journey from the carrier to the base.
There were even red roses given by gold-helmeted ground crew to the disembarking pilots to be presented to the pilots’ waiting wives.
While 75 to 100 people anticipated the landings inside the VFA 14 hangar, people at decorated tables handed out cold drinks--- both non-alcoholic and alcoholic--- as well as croissant sandwiches. Clusters of flight-suited non-deployed pilots chatted as they waited to welcome their colleagues who were at sea.
The arriving squadrons were VFA 14, VFA 41, VFA 151. Each flew over the base in a screaming low-level v-formation before swooping down for landings.
Commander Marvin Wynn of the “Top Hatters” explained how sailors survive the long deployment away from family, friends and the comforts of home.
“You don’t think about the end,” of the deployment he said inside a cavernous hangar. Even though the first month and the last one are the hardest, he stayed focused on daily tasks and goals that have to be accomplished. He likened it to running a race where the runner focuses on the moment, not the end of the race so he or she can complete the course.
When the 5,000 crew are not working, he said, they are exercising, on the Internet, reading, watching movies and even just standing on the stern viewing the ocean sunset. Crews definitely have the sense they are on the ocean because the carrier periodically makes hard turns.
The seven-day work schedule is both demanding and dangerous especially on the flight deck and for pilots. While on duty, Wynn said, people have to be alert at all times.
And as world tension increases over possible mainland Chinese military action against Taiwan, the Lincoln sailed some 65,000 nautical miles performing deterrence, presence operations as well as multi-national exercises.
In addition to the F-18 Super Hornets, the fourth and fifth generation fighters were the first to deploy with the F-35C Lightning squadrons and others assigned to Carrier Air Wing 9, according to a press release.
Duties included maritime security, integrated training between surface and air units, long-range maritime strike training, anti-submarine warfare, information warfare operations, maritime interdiction operations, multiple ship navigation operations, maritime interdiction operations, personnel recovery, defense operations, formation maneuvering and refueling at sea operations, the press release said.
Posted 8/9/22
9:50 pm
NAS LEMOORE – Three carrier wings assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln returned from the shimmering Pacific to the hot, baked expanse of their Central California home base after a seven-month deployment in Asian waters.
It was a scene reminiscent of a World War II homecoming complete with little girls in their best dresses, mothers with tressed hair, screaming babies and girl and boy toddlers perhaps dreaming of one day piloting an aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornet that carried their fathers on the 600-mile journey from the carrier to the base.
There were even red roses given by gold-helmeted ground crew to the disembarking pilots to be presented to the pilots’ waiting wives.
While 75 to 100 people anticipated the landings inside the VFA 14 hangar, people at decorated tables handed out cold drinks--- both non-alcoholic and alcoholic--- as well as croissant sandwiches. Clusters of flight-suited non-deployed pilots chatted as they waited to welcome their colleagues who were at sea.
The arriving squadrons were VFA 14, VFA 41, VFA 151. Each flew over the base in a screaming low-level v-formation before swooping down for landings.
Commander Marvin Wynn of the “Top Hatters” explained how sailors survive the long deployment away from family, friends and the comforts of home.
“You don’t think about the end,” of the deployment he said inside a cavernous hangar. Even though the first month and the last one are the hardest, he stayed focused on daily tasks and goals that have to be accomplished. He likened it to running a race where the runner focuses on the moment, not the end of the race so he or she can complete the course.
When the 5,000 crew are not working, he said, they are exercising, on the Internet, reading, watching movies and even just standing on the stern viewing the ocean sunset. Crews definitely have the sense they are on the ocean because the carrier periodically makes hard turns.
The seven-day work schedule is both demanding and dangerous especially on the flight deck and for pilots. While on duty, Wynn said, people have to be alert at all times.
And as world tension increases over possible mainland Chinese military action against Taiwan, the Lincoln sailed some 65,000 nautical miles performing deterrence, presence operations as well as multi-national exercises.
In addition to the F-18 Super Hornets, the fourth and fifth generation fighters were the first to deploy with the F-35C Lightning squadrons and others assigned to Carrier Air Wing 9, according to a press release.
Duties included maritime security, integrated training between surface and air units, long-range maritime strike training, anti-submarine warfare, information warfare operations, maritime interdiction operations, multiple ship navigation operations, maritime interdiction operations, personnel recovery, defense operations, formation maneuvering and refueling at sea operations, the press release said.
Sheriff: No evidence of bribery involving Ramirez, Brieno;
investigative report has not been publicly released yet
UPDATED 7/30/22 9:38 pm
HANFORD - The Kings County Sheriff’s office did not find any evidence to support the allegation that in 2020 then city council members Francisco Ramirez and Art Brieno solicited and received $800 in cash bribes from a beleaguered Hanford auto shop owner who was trying to keep his business open, said Sheriff David Robinson.
There were no witnesses with any first-hand knowledge of the bribery allegation, Robinson said.
Both Brieno and Ramirez cooperated with the investigation conducted by sheriff’s department detectives, gave statements and denied the allegations, the sheriff said.
In addition, a review of business transactions for the repair shop did not show any documented transactions to Ramirez and Brieno.
When the allegation was first reported Ramirez and Brieno denied they ever solicited or received bribes from Richard Aguilar, owner of Richard Aguilar & Sons auto repair shop at 330 E. 7th St. in Hanford. Aguilar was facing possible shutdown by city for zoning and other violations.
Aguilar was non-responsive about the matter when questioned twice by a reporter.
He later received a temporary reprieve from the city council after the city council heard multiple speakers opposing the closure of his business. The speakers also stated that Aguilar had helped many people in the community when they couldn’t pay for their automotive repairs.
The sheriff’s report was submitted to District Attorney Keith Fagundes’ office June 24 for review.
However, this newspaper has been unable to view a copy of the report because the county counsel’s office is redacting information in the document. County Counsel Diane Freeman did not respond Friday (7/29/22) to a request for clarification of when the full report would be publicly released.
There has been no opportunity to see how the investigation was conducted, who was interviewed, what questions were asked, what the responses were given or other pertinent information relating to allegation.
The matter was first reported in the January 31 – February 28, 2021 issue of this newspaper after the newspaper received a copy of a complaint filed by a credible news source with the state Department of Justice alleging bribery and other forms of wrongdoing by public officials and a local developer.
The complaint also alleges Aguilar made a $150 campaign contributions to a city council candidate that went unreported to the state as required by, thousands of dollars in contributions to the same city council candidate by a local developer, a slander campaign against City Manager Mario Cifuentez and Community Development Director Darlene Mata, payment of trips for council members and a city commissioner by a developer and that a prominent local law firm was aware of the above allegations and failed to disclose them to law enforcement.
Robinson said Friday that the other allegations in the complaint were not part of the sheriff's office complaint because they are possible violations of the state's Fair Political Practices Act. The state Fair Political Practices Commission handles investigations into possible violations of the FPPC Act.
The action against Aguilar was initiated by Cifuentez and presented to the city council by Community Development Director Mata who is currently on leave from her position after filing a more than $1million lawsuit against the city for sexual harassment by Brieno.
After more than 15 months of delay since the bribery allegation was initially reported, the sheriff’s department initiated an investigation. First Robinson asked Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever or Cifuentez to request that the sheriff’s department conduct an investigation. When they did not make a request, Robinson initiated an investigation on his own.
Both Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever and District Attorney Keith Fagundes were aware of the allegations in the complaint but both said they had not received a complaint. “I never had any direct information of criminal activity,” said Sever.
Fagundes maintained this position even though the complainant later said he had met with Fagundes in his office and physically handed him the complaint.
There was a significant time delay---of at least fifteen months--- between when the initial allegation was reported to the state Department of Justice and the sheriff’s department started its investigation. This potentially could be a factor in the findings of the investigation.
“When there is a delay people have a deterioration in memory,” said Sarah Hacker, DA elect. There is a risk, she said, of losing evidence when people do not know that they need to maintain evidence.
She said the new DA administration would put a priority on investigating political corruption. “We don’t want …our cases to fall through the cracks.”
The state Department of Justice routinely refuses to confirm or deny the existence of any investigation. But there is no indication any potential witnesses were interviewed by DOJ.
If you have a comment on this or other stories or a story idea please email it to: [email protected]. Comments will be posted on the website beneath the story. Names and home city are required. If you wish to have your name withheld that is okay provided you can be identified as that person.
No name calling or personal attacks. Stick to the issues and facts in the story.
HANFORD - The Kings County Sheriff’s office did not find any evidence to support the allegation that in 2020 then city council members Francisco Ramirez and Art Brieno solicited and received $800 in cash bribes from a beleaguered Hanford auto shop owner who was trying to keep his business open, said Sheriff David Robinson.
There were no witnesses with any first-hand knowledge of the bribery allegation, Robinson said.
Both Brieno and Ramirez cooperated with the investigation conducted by sheriff’s department detectives, gave statements and denied the allegations, the sheriff said.
In addition, a review of business transactions for the repair shop did not show any documented transactions to Ramirez and Brieno.
When the allegation was first reported Ramirez and Brieno denied they ever solicited or received bribes from Richard Aguilar, owner of Richard Aguilar & Sons auto repair shop at 330 E. 7th St. in Hanford. Aguilar was facing possible shutdown by city for zoning and other violations.
Aguilar was non-responsive about the matter when questioned twice by a reporter.
He later received a temporary reprieve from the city council after the city council heard multiple speakers opposing the closure of his business. The speakers also stated that Aguilar had helped many people in the community when they couldn’t pay for their automotive repairs.
The sheriff’s report was submitted to District Attorney Keith Fagundes’ office June 24 for review.
However, this newspaper has been unable to view a copy of the report because the county counsel’s office is redacting information in the document. County Counsel Diane Freeman did not respond Friday (7/29/22) to a request for clarification of when the full report would be publicly released.
There has been no opportunity to see how the investigation was conducted, who was interviewed, what questions were asked, what the responses were given or other pertinent information relating to allegation.
The matter was first reported in the January 31 – February 28, 2021 issue of this newspaper after the newspaper received a copy of a complaint filed by a credible news source with the state Department of Justice alleging bribery and other forms of wrongdoing by public officials and a local developer.
The complaint also alleges Aguilar made a $150 campaign contributions to a city council candidate that went unreported to the state as required by, thousands of dollars in contributions to the same city council candidate by a local developer, a slander campaign against City Manager Mario Cifuentez and Community Development Director Darlene Mata, payment of trips for council members and a city commissioner by a developer and that a prominent local law firm was aware of the above allegations and failed to disclose them to law enforcement.
Robinson said Friday that the other allegations in the complaint were not part of the sheriff's office complaint because they are possible violations of the state's Fair Political Practices Act. The state Fair Political Practices Commission handles investigations into possible violations of the FPPC Act.
The action against Aguilar was initiated by Cifuentez and presented to the city council by Community Development Director Mata who is currently on leave from her position after filing a more than $1million lawsuit against the city for sexual harassment by Brieno.
After more than 15 months of delay since the bribery allegation was initially reported, the sheriff’s department initiated an investigation. First Robinson asked Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever or Cifuentez to request that the sheriff’s department conduct an investigation. When they did not make a request, Robinson initiated an investigation on his own.
Both Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever and District Attorney Keith Fagundes were aware of the allegations in the complaint but both said they had not received a complaint. “I never had any direct information of criminal activity,” said Sever.
Fagundes maintained this position even though the complainant later said he had met with Fagundes in his office and physically handed him the complaint.
There was a significant time delay---of at least fifteen months--- between when the initial allegation was reported to the state Department of Justice and the sheriff’s department started its investigation. This potentially could be a factor in the findings of the investigation.
“When there is a delay people have a deterioration in memory,” said Sarah Hacker, DA elect. There is a risk, she said, of losing evidence when people do not know that they need to maintain evidence.
She said the new DA administration would put a priority on investigating political corruption. “We don’t want …our cases to fall through the cracks.”
The state Department of Justice routinely refuses to confirm or deny the existence of any investigation. But there is no indication any potential witnesses were interviewed by DOJ.
If you have a comment on this or other stories or a story idea please email it to: [email protected]. Comments will be posted on the website beneath the story. Names and home city are required. If you wish to have your name withheld that is okay provided you can be identified as that person.
No name calling or personal attacks. Stick to the issues and facts in the story.
John Doyel Hanford Public Works Director resigns;
experienced planner oversees community development
Posted 7/28/22 4:25 pm
HANFORD – Major leadership changes occurred recently in two of the city’s most important departments.
Long-time public works director and engineer John Doyel resigned effective August 26.
Workload and the lack of staffing in the department played a role in his resignation, Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has learned. Doyel is on vacation and could not be reached for comment on why he resigned.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez said Doyel told him the reason he is resigning is he has a tremendous job opportunity that he wants to take advantage of it.
Deputy Public Works Director James Ross, who is not an engineer, is running the department on an interim basis, said Cifuentez. Ross declined to answer whether he will seek Doyel’s job.
Public Works is responsible for overseeing the city’s maintenance and construction of roads and sewers among other things.
Ross has worked for the city for two years and he previously was employed in the Visalia Public Works Department.
Meanwhile, in the Hanford Community Development Department, Jason Waters, who is also deputy city manager, will oversee community development, cannabis and economic development, said Cifuentez.
Waters started in his new role on Monday. His appointment was approved by the city council.
Darlene Mata, long-time community development director, is on leave. Cifuentez declined to answer a question on Mata’s status referring the matter to City Attorney Ty Mizote, Mizote said he could not answer the question because he is not actively involved in the Mata suit. He said he would ask Mario Zamora and Megan Dodd, two attorneys defending the city in the suit, to contact Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future.
Mata is suing the city for more than $1 million over sexual harassment and other allegations involving comments and actions by Council Member Art Brieno who was censured by the council for his actions.
Brieno has denied any wrongdoing.
In Mata’s absence, Mary Beattie, who is also a member of the Visalia Planning Commission, was interim
community development director. Beattie will continue to work for the city on a part-time basis on special projects, said Cifuentez.
Waters responsibilities include overseeing a department which monitors commercial and residential construction projects, administration of the city’s General Plan, building inspections, issuance of building permit and code enforcement. The General Plan is the city’s blueprint for development.
Waters has extensive planning experience. He was a planner in Tulare County from 2005 – 2007, then worked for the Tulare County Association of Governments from 2007 – 2013, worked for a year at the Community and Regional Planning Center at Fresno State and was planning director for the City of Woodlake from July 2014 – July 2022.
He said Hanford is a growing city and from a planning perspective there are a lot of opportunities. Hanford has a bright future and he wants to participate in that, Waters said.
The community development department has two planners and the council has directed staff to hire
a building inspection supervisor, said Cifuentez.
If you have a comment on this or other stories or a story idea please email it to: [email protected]. Comments will be posted on the website beneath the story. Names and home city are required. If you wish to have your name withheld that is okay provided you can be identified as that person.
No name calling or personal attacks. Stick to the issues and facts in the story.
HANFORD – Major leadership changes occurred recently in two of the city’s most important departments.
Long-time public works director and engineer John Doyel resigned effective August 26.
Workload and the lack of staffing in the department played a role in his resignation, Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has learned. Doyel is on vacation and could not be reached for comment on why he resigned.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez said Doyel told him the reason he is resigning is he has a tremendous job opportunity that he wants to take advantage of it.
Deputy Public Works Director James Ross, who is not an engineer, is running the department on an interim basis, said Cifuentez. Ross declined to answer whether he will seek Doyel’s job.
Public Works is responsible for overseeing the city’s maintenance and construction of roads and sewers among other things.
Ross has worked for the city for two years and he previously was employed in the Visalia Public Works Department.
Meanwhile, in the Hanford Community Development Department, Jason Waters, who is also deputy city manager, will oversee community development, cannabis and economic development, said Cifuentez.
Waters started in his new role on Monday. His appointment was approved by the city council.
Darlene Mata, long-time community development director, is on leave. Cifuentez declined to answer a question on Mata’s status referring the matter to City Attorney Ty Mizote, Mizote said he could not answer the question because he is not actively involved in the Mata suit. He said he would ask Mario Zamora and Megan Dodd, two attorneys defending the city in the suit, to contact Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future.
Mata is suing the city for more than $1 million over sexual harassment and other allegations involving comments and actions by Council Member Art Brieno who was censured by the council for his actions.
Brieno has denied any wrongdoing.
In Mata’s absence, Mary Beattie, who is also a member of the Visalia Planning Commission, was interim
community development director. Beattie will continue to work for the city on a part-time basis on special projects, said Cifuentez.
Waters responsibilities include overseeing a department which monitors commercial and residential construction projects, administration of the city’s General Plan, building inspections, issuance of building permit and code enforcement. The General Plan is the city’s blueprint for development.
Waters has extensive planning experience. He was a planner in Tulare County from 2005 – 2007, then worked for the Tulare County Association of Governments from 2007 – 2013, worked for a year at the Community and Regional Planning Center at Fresno State and was planning director for the City of Woodlake from July 2014 – July 2022.
He said Hanford is a growing city and from a planning perspective there are a lot of opportunities. Hanford has a bright future and he wants to participate in that, Waters said.
The community development department has two planners and the council has directed staff to hire
a building inspection supervisor, said Cifuentez.
If you have a comment on this or other stories or a story idea please email it to: [email protected]. Comments will be posted on the website beneath the story. Names and home city are required. If you wish to have your name withheld that is okay provided you can be identified as that person.
No name calling or personal attacks. Stick to the issues and facts in the story.
Kings County's covid infection rate is highest in the state
Posted 7/11/22 10:03 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Since Covid started the county has had the highest number of cases per 10,000 population of all 58 counties in the state, according an Corona Virus Weekly Tracker which appeared in the San Jose Mercury News. The data is based on state Department of Health Services statistics.
The county had 54,260 cases as of July 1, according to the article. This is a rate of 3,468 cases per 10,000 people, according to the article. The state DHS has since updated the total number of cases in the county to 54,725 as of July 11.
Kings County has a population of 157,614 and is the 34th largest county in terms of population.
And the burden of covid fell disproportionately on the young with students and minors comprising the largest group of those infected, 23 percent or 10,408 cases, according to Kings County Health Department data. The next largest group infected was among the elderly and the unemployed, seven percent or 3,400 cases.
Also the largest proportion of those infected in Kings were Hispanic, 55 percent or 24,826 cases, according to the county health department. The Caucasian infection percentage was 22 percent or 9,823, according to the county health department.
During the height of the pandemic the Kings County Board of Supervisors pushed for
business openings instead of state- mandated closures and protested the governor’s mask mandates.
During the August 31 – September 29, 2020 period the county was in the worst infection category, the Tier 1 or Purple Tier, according to DHS.
Then County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Verboon told a state task force that the county needs more control from the state so it can take the necessary steps to get the county open while simultaneously checking the spread of the virus.
Business owners pressured the supervisors to reopen the county during this period saying the restrictions were destroying their livelihood. Verboon said during a board of supervisors meeting during the height of covid that money is always number one with him.
The Hanford City Council voiced support for the county’s positions on covid. Ironically Hanford was where covid hit hardest. Hanford had 41 percent of the infections (22,589), according to the county health department.
And today conservative Kings County remains a locale where many downplay the significance of the virus and reject the need for masks and vaccines. Tulare County Supervisors voiced similar sentiments and the attitude towards the virus among many Tulare County residents is similar to those in Kings.
Now the consequences of those decisions and attitudes have come home to roost in Kings showing the county is in the worst position of any county in the state in terms of the rate of infection per 10,000 people.
And the impact of those decisions fell disproportionately on students and minors. The highest number of infections was among this group, 23 percent (10,408 cases), according to Kings County Health Department data.
The burden of covid also fell on Lemoore with 19 percent of the infections (10,741) and Corcoran had 10,684 cases which amounts to 19 percent of the county’s infections, according to the county health department.
Despite repeated attempts by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future over several days to get a response from the Board of Supervisors or the county health department, none was forthcoming. If and when county officials respond, their response(s) will be included in an updated article.
The 3,468 cases per 10,000 persons in Kings is higher than Lassen County which is number two (3,105.3 per 10,000), Imperial County (3,065.4 per 10,000) and Los Angeles County (2,894.6 per 10,000), according to the Mercury News.
Tulare County fared much better than the above counties with a caseload of 2,314.4 per 10,000 people, according to the tracker which appeared in the July 3 issue of the Mercury News.
The total number of cases in Tulare County was 112,117 as of July 1. Tulare County ranked 14 out of 58 counties in terms of the total number of cases, according to the tracker.
However, the death rate in Kings ranked 12 in terms of deaths per 10,000 people. There has been a total of 449 deaths in Kings from the start of the epidemic until July 1, according to the state DHS.
By contrast, Tulare ranked the seventh highest in the state in deaths as of July 1. There were 1,497 deaths which results in a rate per 10,000 of 30.9, according to the tracker.
With only 46 percent of the population fully vaccinated, Kings is also sixth worst in the state, according to the tracker. The data excludes people who received boosters.
The county with the lowest percent of population fully vaccinated is Lassen with 32 percent, according to the tracker.
This is followed by Medoc with 39 percent and the Tehama 43 percent. Mariposa had a vaccination rate of 44 percent and Trinity’s figure was 45 percent. Counties with a similar but higher vaccination rate than Kings include Shasta with 47 percent and Siskiyou 49 percent.
Tulare County’s vaccination rate is 53 percent, according to the tracker.
The county with the lowest number of Covid cases per 10,000 population was Modoc with 830.6 cases, according to the state. San Francisco had among the lowest rates of infection of any county in the state and ranked 42nd in terms of cases per 10,000. Their figure was 1,780.4.
If you have a comment on this or other stories or a story idea please email it to: [email protected]. Comments will be posted on the website beneath the story. Names and home city are required. If you wish to have your name withheld that is okay provided you can be identified as that person.
No name calling or personal attacks. Stick to the issues and facts in the story.
KINGS COUNTY – Since Covid started the county has had the highest number of cases per 10,000 population of all 58 counties in the state, according an Corona Virus Weekly Tracker which appeared in the San Jose Mercury News. The data is based on state Department of Health Services statistics.
The county had 54,260 cases as of July 1, according to the article. This is a rate of 3,468 cases per 10,000 people, according to the article. The state DHS has since updated the total number of cases in the county to 54,725 as of July 11.
Kings County has a population of 157,614 and is the 34th largest county in terms of population.
And the burden of covid fell disproportionately on the young with students and minors comprising the largest group of those infected, 23 percent or 10,408 cases, according to Kings County Health Department data. The next largest group infected was among the elderly and the unemployed, seven percent or 3,400 cases.
Also the largest proportion of those infected in Kings were Hispanic, 55 percent or 24,826 cases, according to the county health department. The Caucasian infection percentage was 22 percent or 9,823, according to the county health department.
During the height of the pandemic the Kings County Board of Supervisors pushed for
business openings instead of state- mandated closures and protested the governor’s mask mandates.
During the August 31 – September 29, 2020 period the county was in the worst infection category, the Tier 1 or Purple Tier, according to DHS.
Then County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Verboon told a state task force that the county needs more control from the state so it can take the necessary steps to get the county open while simultaneously checking the spread of the virus.
Business owners pressured the supervisors to reopen the county during this period saying the restrictions were destroying their livelihood. Verboon said during a board of supervisors meeting during the height of covid that money is always number one with him.
The Hanford City Council voiced support for the county’s positions on covid. Ironically Hanford was where covid hit hardest. Hanford had 41 percent of the infections (22,589), according to the county health department.
And today conservative Kings County remains a locale where many downplay the significance of the virus and reject the need for masks and vaccines. Tulare County Supervisors voiced similar sentiments and the attitude towards the virus among many Tulare County residents is similar to those in Kings.
Now the consequences of those decisions and attitudes have come home to roost in Kings showing the county is in the worst position of any county in the state in terms of the rate of infection per 10,000 people.
And the impact of those decisions fell disproportionately on students and minors. The highest number of infections was among this group, 23 percent (10,408 cases), according to Kings County Health Department data.
The burden of covid also fell on Lemoore with 19 percent of the infections (10,741) and Corcoran had 10,684 cases which amounts to 19 percent of the county’s infections, according to the county health department.
Despite repeated attempts by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future over several days to get a response from the Board of Supervisors or the county health department, none was forthcoming. If and when county officials respond, their response(s) will be included in an updated article.
The 3,468 cases per 10,000 persons in Kings is higher than Lassen County which is number two (3,105.3 per 10,000), Imperial County (3,065.4 per 10,000) and Los Angeles County (2,894.6 per 10,000), according to the Mercury News.
Tulare County fared much better than the above counties with a caseload of 2,314.4 per 10,000 people, according to the tracker which appeared in the July 3 issue of the Mercury News.
The total number of cases in Tulare County was 112,117 as of July 1. Tulare County ranked 14 out of 58 counties in terms of the total number of cases, according to the tracker.
However, the death rate in Kings ranked 12 in terms of deaths per 10,000 people. There has been a total of 449 deaths in Kings from the start of the epidemic until July 1, according to the state DHS.
By contrast, Tulare ranked the seventh highest in the state in deaths as of July 1. There were 1,497 deaths which results in a rate per 10,000 of 30.9, according to the tracker.
With only 46 percent of the population fully vaccinated, Kings is also sixth worst in the state, according to the tracker. The data excludes people who received boosters.
The county with the lowest percent of population fully vaccinated is Lassen with 32 percent, according to the tracker.
This is followed by Medoc with 39 percent and the Tehama 43 percent. Mariposa had a vaccination rate of 44 percent and Trinity’s figure was 45 percent. Counties with a similar but higher vaccination rate than Kings include Shasta with 47 percent and Siskiyou 49 percent.
Tulare County’s vaccination rate is 53 percent, according to the tracker.
The county with the lowest number of Covid cases per 10,000 population was Modoc with 830.6 cases, according to the state. San Francisco had among the lowest rates of infection of any county in the state and ranked 42nd in terms of cases per 10,000. Their figure was 1,780.4.
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State Justice Department investigating Fagundes' payments to sister
UPDATED 6/30/22 11:11 am
KINGS COUNTY – The state Department of Justice is investigating District Attorney Keith Fagundes thousands of dollars in CalCard payments to his sister for the use of her Pismo Beach house for DA staff retreats, said a trusted, reliable informed source who was interviewed by a state investigator.
“The gist (was) about money going to his sister,” said the source today (6/28/22). The state DOJ is also
looking into payments for a County Incident Command trailer that at one point was being stored at Fagundes’ residence in the county, the source said.
The DOJ investigator contacted the source by telephone earlier this year, the source said.
In a June 9 email, two days after a challenger defeated Fagundes in the DA’s race, the DOJ press office customarily refused to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation. Fagundes was decisively defeated for re-election June 7 by Sarah Hacker, a former DA department employee. Fagundes was in the last year of his second four year term.
Keith Fagundes said this week regarding a DOJ investigation, "I am not aware of anything in this regard."
However, the issue of payments of county funds to family members played a role in his election defeat his opponent said.
“I have been approached by several voters regarding Future’s article on the current district attorney’s use of taxpayer funds on his family’s businesses,” Hacker said on June 13.
“These voters told me that this article was the turning point in the election. The article overcame any reservations about voting against the incumbent. The article caused these voters to question whether Fagundes should be the district attorney and whether Kings County could trust him with county resources. It opened their eyes to the corruption in the District Attorney’s office.”
Hacker could not be reached for comment today (6/28/22).
Among the issues Hacker raised in the race were Fagundes’ management of the office including a high turnover rate and a lawsuit filed against the county by former DA Chief Investigator Robert Waggle alleging harassment by Fagundes. Among the harassment charges, according to the lawsuit, were thousands of sexually explicit text messages from Fagundes to Waggle. The messages indicated a sexual attraction to Waggle. Fagundes has been in a long-standing marriage to a woman.
Fagundes said the suit was without foundation but apparently the voters disagreed because the existence of the lawsuit, said voters, cast a shadow on Fagundes’ record.
Meanwhile, the county is doing an investigation into Fagundes’ payments using county funds to family members for DA office services, said Kyria Martinez, assistant Kings County Administrative Officer. Whether this probe is separate from the state DOJ’s probe or one in the same could not be determined.
Martinez has not responded to calls seeking clarification.
The normal procedure in these matters is the county would forward the matter to the sheriff’s office which, if
there was evidence indicating wrongdoing, would forward the matter to state DOJ, said another trusted, reliable source familiar with these matters.
Fagundes used county funds to pay family members $8,594.77 and up to $12,152 between 2019 and 2022, according to reporting by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore-Future. The amounts and time frames were subsequently confirmed by Martinez.
The payments constitute a conflict with county policies which prohibit payments to family members for county services, said Evan Jones, county purchasing director.
Given that DA department purchases are reviewed by a fiscal analyst, it is unclear how the payments to Fagundes brother and sister were approved.
Payments to his brother Ronnie were made for printing services used by the DA’s department, the VHL Future reporting showed. The newspaper obtained printed receipts from the county’s Finance Department.
Fagundes has never responded to a list of written questions emailed to him prior to the publication of the Pismo house and printing payments story. He was emailed at 10:31 am today (6/28/22) additional questions regarding the state DOJ investigation. If and when he responds, his comments will be incorporated into this article.
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VISALIA LOOKS AT THE MANY PROBLEMS OF DRIVE THRUs
Update 6/20/22 11:30 am
VISALIA – City planning staff proposed higher fees for the increasing number fast food drive thrus but council members pushed back against them during a joint planning commission=city council meeting Monday (June 13).
“I am not in favor of more fees,” said Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian. “It hurts businesses in state.”
Nonetheless the council, planning commission and community development staff recognized that there are numerous problems associated with the explosion in drive thrus as more and more people prefer the “grab and go” restaurant format.
The other change the community development staff was suggesting was altering permitting to make it easier for new drive thrus to get approval.
Currently drive thrus are permissible with the okay of a Conditional Use Permit. This is granted if the applicant meets six requirements, said Senior Planner Brandon Smith. But few applicants meet them. A CUP allows an applicant to use a property in ways that do not conform to zoning requirements.
As part of the CUP process there has to be a public hearing. In the past, these hearings were sparsely attended, said planning staff.
The planning staff asked the elected officials if a restaurant’s request for a drive thru should automatically trigger a CUP. The planning staff’s argument is that this move would streamline the approval process.
While the commission and council gave no clear answer, council members voiced the following concerns:
Adam Peck, planning commission vice chair: As the number of requests for drive thrus increases, there needs to be a parking analysis.
Council Member Brett Taylor: San Luis Obispo doesn’t allow any drive thrus. This increases the pressure on parking. Going to no drive thrus is not workable.
Mayor Steve Nelsen: He doesn’t want the city to raise fees for drive thrus without learning about the “new normal” regarding the increase in drive thru activity. If a fast food restaurant is built before housing is built around it, the restaurant should not be penalized.
During the public comment period Matt Ainley of construction company Four Creeks in Visalia said his company needs more certainty regarding what the performance activity is regarding drive thrus.
“We have seen a huge increase, not necessarily Covid-related,” he said.
The staff report made clear that the existing requirement that there be no more than 10 vehicles stacked in the drive thru isn’t working when it comes to In-n-Out burger, Dunkin, Dutch Brothers and Raising Caines. "The goal is not to have vehicles from the drive thru lane running out onto the street," said Smith.
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Update 6/20/22 11:30 am
VISALIA – City planning staff proposed higher fees for the increasing number fast food drive thrus but council members pushed back against them during a joint planning commission=city council meeting Monday (June 13).
“I am not in favor of more fees,” said Vice Mayor Brian Poochigian. “It hurts businesses in state.”
Nonetheless the council, planning commission and community development staff recognized that there are numerous problems associated with the explosion in drive thrus as more and more people prefer the “grab and go” restaurant format.
The other change the community development staff was suggesting was altering permitting to make it easier for new drive thrus to get approval.
Currently drive thrus are permissible with the okay of a Conditional Use Permit. This is granted if the applicant meets six requirements, said Senior Planner Brandon Smith. But few applicants meet them. A CUP allows an applicant to use a property in ways that do not conform to zoning requirements.
As part of the CUP process there has to be a public hearing. In the past, these hearings were sparsely attended, said planning staff.
The planning staff asked the elected officials if a restaurant’s request for a drive thru should automatically trigger a CUP. The planning staff’s argument is that this move would streamline the approval process.
While the commission and council gave no clear answer, council members voiced the following concerns:
Adam Peck, planning commission vice chair: As the number of requests for drive thrus increases, there needs to be a parking analysis.
Council Member Brett Taylor: San Luis Obispo doesn’t allow any drive thrus. This increases the pressure on parking. Going to no drive thrus is not workable.
Mayor Steve Nelsen: He doesn’t want the city to raise fees for drive thrus without learning about the “new normal” regarding the increase in drive thru activity. If a fast food restaurant is built before housing is built around it, the restaurant should not be penalized.
During the public comment period Matt Ainley of construction company Four Creeks in Visalia said his company needs more certainty regarding what the performance activity is regarding drive thrus.
“We have seen a huge increase, not necessarily Covid-related,” he said.
The staff report made clear that the existing requirement that there be no more than 10 vehicles stacked in the drive thru isn’t working when it comes to In-n-Out burger, Dunkin, Dutch Brothers and Raising Caines. "The goal is not to have vehicles from the drive thru lane running out onto the street," said Smith.
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Hanford mulls substantial tax increase to fund parks
Posted 6/10/22 8:14 am
HANFORD – The city is considering a substantial tax increase to fund parks.
The proposal aired at a council study session June 3 comes at a time when spearheaded by Parks and Recreation Director Bradley Albert there has already been hundreds of thousands in spending on various parks but nothing for the extension to Hidden Valley Park, a top parks issue in voters’ minds.
The additional parks spending the last couple of years was done majority council approval.
Last November 2021 a majority of the council directed staff to rezone the Hidden Valley extension from low density residential to public facilities (parks), the rezone hasn’t happened. The 18-acre extension is located west of the existing park at 11th and Cortner in North Hanford. The extension extends from the canal to the railroad tracks.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez said during a council meeting last month the Community Development Department will get to the rezone and other actions necessary to turn the space to parkland but other projects are ahead of it.
The city’s five-year capital program for parks proposes spending $10,022,997 between 2022 and 2026,
according to the staff report.
Meanwhile, the city is enlisting the help of an outside organization, The Trust for Public Land, a non-profit based in San Francisco, to help it win the tax increases necessary to fund its parks proposals.
The Trust for Public Land “…helped pass more than 500 ballot measures---creating $70 billion in voter-approved public funding for parks and open spaces,” according to Wikipedia.
Historically most voter-approved tax measures for public projects have failed in Hanford so getting a tax increase for parks will be difficult. Out of 16 measures proposed in recent years only three passed, according to research by the Trust for Public Land.
On November 16,2021 the same month when Ramirez proposed to the council rezoning the Hidden Valley Park Extension, Ramirez, who was then Mayor, sought “technical assistance” from the Trust for Public Land. The letter to the trust said help was needed “..in our efforts to finance our parks, trails, open spaces, and other recreation priorities.”
Although in his public career Ramirez has proposed a sales tax increase to pay for Hidden Valley’s extension and other parks, his tying of support for Hidden Valley Extension to tax increases was not disclosed when he spoke to the council last November.
In fact, local resident Chad Draxler, said during the public comment period at the June 7 meeting that the city is spending money on parks projects that have not been requested by the public.
And Lou Martinez, a former Hanford mayor, said the council and city manager need to listen to the people’s wish to have Hidden Valley expanded.
The connection to the Trust for Public Land was not revealed until the staff report on the council’s study session was released June 3. Further, there was no prior discussion on the tax proposals or enlisting the help of the Trust for Public Land by council members, Cifuentez, Albert with the principal local group leading efforts to expand Hidden Valley, Saveourparkland93230.
Judging from council comments there also will be blowback on the capital spending program funded by
tax increases from Mayor Kalish Morrow and council members Amanda Saltray and Diane Sharp.
Morrow, who is on the executive committee of the California Libertarian Party, said she does not want tax increases to pay for parks but would be okay with user fees and impact fees paid by developers.
Libertarians believe in letting people live their lives with as little government involvement as possible, limiting the size and scope of government, abolishing the IRS and lowering taxes, according to Wikipedia and the party’s website. On fiscal matters, they are more conservative than the Republican Party, according to Wikipedia.
Saltray, also a Libertarian, said she wants to see more cost recovery on project through user fees while Sharp, an opponent of any expansion of Hidden Valley beyond three acres, said she is concerned the city is spreading itself too thin with its park proposals and not taking care of existing parks. Ramirez is also a Libertarian. The party’s views contradict his support of taxes to parks projects.
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Hacker wins Kings DA race decisively
UPDATED 6/16/22 12:27 pm
KINGS COUNTY - Former Deputy DA Sarah Hacker won a substantial victory in the DA's against three-term incumbent Keith Fagundes in a contentious
race where Hacker made Fagundes' policies, expenditures and treatment of staff the center of her campaign while Fagundes promoted his cleanup of the DA's office from his predecessor's administration, his outreach programs all while touting his "Kings County values."
In the end the voters in the June 7 primary preferred Hacker by a more than 15 percent margin casting 6,548 for her compared to Fagundes' 4,751, according to the Kings County Election Department totals as of 10:56 pm June 7. Hacker got 57.95 percent of the vote compared to 42.05 for Fagundes, according to the elections department.
The reporting in Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future about Fagundes billing the county for retreats at his sister's coastal house was instrumental in convincing voters to elect Hacker, according to her.
"I have been approached by several voters regarding Future's article on the current district attorney's use of taxpayer funds on his family's businesses," said Hacker on June 13. "These voters told me that this article was the turning point in the election. The article overcame any reservations about voting against the incumbent. The article caused these voters to question whether Fagundes should be the district attorney and whether Kings County could trust him with county resources. It opened their eyes to the corruption in the District Attorney's office."
There were multiple debates in this contest, hundreds of yard signs but in the end the voters appeared to have taken offense at sexually-oriented text messages sent by Fagundes to his then chief investigator Robert Waggle, high turnover in the DA's office. particularly among attorneys, a conflict of interest identified by a local judge where Fagundes was prosecuting cases where the defendants were represented by Fagundes' personal attorney, the improper storage of a county trailer at Fagundes' residence and an election eve development where it was reported that Fagundes billed the county for DA's office services that were furnished by his sister and brother.
The morning after the June 7 election Hacker said, "The good of the county will be my guiding light. I want to restore faith in the justice system." She also
thanked her donors for their financial support. Hacker raised substantially more money than Fagundes, especially from the donors connected to the
Dias Law Firm in Hanford where she currently works as a partner.
Six days after election Fagundes had not called Hacker to congratulate her, she said. The only conversation with Fagundes was about scheduling a meeting to review matters involving the DA's office, Hacker said.
Prior to the campaign Fagundes was considered untouchable politically. He was both admired, feared and reviled. In addition, his father Richard was on the Board of Supervisors.
Besides losing the election, a stunning blow to a hard-charging man who took great pride in being DA, Fagundes is by no means out of the woods.
The county has initiated an investigation into his payment of $8,594.77 and up to $12,152 to family members between 2019 and 2022, said Kyria Martinez deputy county administrator. Investigations of other agencies and the State Bar are also conceivable.
The state Attorney General's office this week refused to confirm or deny the existing of any investigation involving Fagundes. This is standard practice on their part when asked by the media about the existence of an investigation.
Fagundes never responded to a list of written questions emailed to him prior to the publication of the coastal house story in Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future. He attacked the reporter in comments to Valley Voice newpaper in Visalia, which also ran the story. He was angry about the story's publication, said Valley Voice.
In other Kings County results there were no great surprises except on Measure F, a proposal to raise the sales tax to benefit the county fire department.
Measure F was resoundingly defeated 62.39 percent no versus 37.61 percent yes, accordingly to the elections department. The votes were 7,117 and 4,290 respectively. Local voters have a history of defeating sales tax measures.
Incumbent and Board of Supervisor Chairman Joe Neves (District 1) beat challengers Martin Chavez and Eddie Neal by a substantial margin.
Neves 782 votes, Neal 782 and Chavez 487.
Newcomer Rusty Robinson, a relative of the current sheriff and namesake of a well-know local family, beat Alicia Ramirez in District 4 1,129 to 769.
Sheriff David Robinson, Assessor Clerk/Record Kristine Lee and Supervisor Doug Verboon (District 3) were unopposed.
$1.4 million house owned by DA Keith Fagundes' sister which was used for DA staff retreats paid for by the DA with state credit card. The county purchasing director said this was in violation of county conflict of interest policies about family members of county employees benefitting from financial transactions with county. The house is located at 141 Coral Court in Pismo Beach.
Fagundes used state card to pay for use of sister's Pismo house
UPDATED 6/4/22 11:30 am
Correction: Article names Fagundes' brother who owns printing company incorrectly. His first name is Ronnie.
KINGS COUNTY – District Attorney Keith Fagundes paid county funds of at least $8594.77 and up to $12,152 to his sister and brother for county transactions between 2019 and 2022, according receipts obtained by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper.
Most of the receipts were obtained from the county Finance Department and some of the transactions involving his brother were in the form of a county ledger viewed by a reporter.
The transactions include multiple payments for use of his sister Jacqlyn Smith’s $1.4 million house in Pismo Beach for DA staff retreats and payments to his brother’s printing business in Hanford. Payments to Smith were made using a state credit card known as CalCard. Payments to his brother were by check.
The transactions by the county’s chief law enforcement officer appear to violate the county’s Conflict of Interest Policy which says decisions cannot be made that would result in financial benefit to an immediate family member. Evan Jones, county purchasing
Director confirmed this on Thursday (6/2/22)
The policy states: “In order to avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest, purchasing personnel shall avoid making award decision(s) that affect their personal financial interest or that of a family member.”
“Any such interest in a county or bidder must be disclosed to the Purchasing Manager as soon as the interested employee knows or reasonably ought to know of the conflict. The Purchasing Manager will take action to havethat person abstain from any further involvement in that acquisition.”
The payments to Smith could also be a violation of Cal Card rules which require that the holder acknowledge and be responsible for.
“Any purchase found to be in violation of County Policy shall be the responsibility of the cardholder and disciplinary action may be taken,” the policy states.
Beyond the issues of possible violation of county policies, there is the matter of funneling transactions through a business that may have been defunct at the time the charges were made.
Decorium Décor, once at 4809 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia, closed December 23, 2020, said the Visalia City Clerk.
Meanwhile, Kings County has initiated an investigation into Fagundes’ actions but cannot comment beyond that, said Kyria Martinez, assistant Kings
county administrative officer.
DA Fagundes, who is nearing the end of his toughest relection campaign for a third term, did not respond to an email requesting an explanation of the county paid transactions involving his brother and sister.
Unclear is why Fagundes, who is one of the most prominent public figures in the county, would risk the appearance of a conflict-of-interest involving county payments to his relatives when similarly-priced retreat facilities with no connection to his family are readily available in Pismo Beach.
For instance, the Cliffs Hotel charges $350 for a full day’s use of a conference room for up to 10 people including a table with linens, said a spokesperson. Food and beverage service are also available for an extra charge.
The county finance department produced receipts for four DA Office retreats between February 17, 2021 and August 4, 2021.
Decorium Décor billed Fagundes’ office $1,000 for use of a conference facility February 17, 2021 for four people over a two-day period, according to county receipts. The payment was made using state CalCard issued to Fagundes.
Decorium also billed Fagundes’ office $772.50 for a “team building” retreat on April 12 – 14, 2021 for six people. The payment was also made with the same CalCard.
Another billing from Decorium for $1,175 was paid on June 24 also using the same CalCard. This one was for five people and occurred on June 14 – 16, 2021. The purpose was labeled “Team Building and Realignment.”
Then on August 10, 2021 a new entity called the Coral Court Conference Facility billed the county $550 for an August 4, 2021 retreat labeled “Strategic Planning between Victim Witness and DDA Staff.” This was also paid with the same CalCard.
Expenditures by the DA’s office to Fagundes’ brother’s printing company included everything from Business cards and DA emblazoned polo shirts to an $1,100 expenditure for lettering on an Emergency Response Trailer. The trailer work was invoiced on April 6, 2021.
The trailer itself became an issue in the campaign when his opponent Sarah Hacker questioned why the trailer was being stored at Fagundes’ residence when it was county property. The Board of Supervisors later told him to return the trailer to county property.
Other expenditures on January 8 of this year included tablecloths printed with the DA’s logo. The cost was $300.
Fagundes’ opponent in the DA’s race, former employee Sarah Hacker said,
“A district attorney has a responsibility to the citizens of Kings County. If Keith Fagundes has been misusing public funds, he has failed in his duty to our citizens again – not only in his mistreatment of employees, or his abuse of power, but also in taking taxpayer money to benefit his family members.”
Sheriff's Department investigating Hanford Council bribery allegations
Updated 5/23/22 8:18 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Sheriff David Robinson directed one of his detectives to investigate bribery allegations involving two Hanford City Council members after Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever declined to ask Robinson's department to look into the matter. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has learned. District Attorney Keith Fagundes also would not investigate and denies the existence of a complaint which was filed with the state Department of Justice.
This is believed to be the first time there has been any investigation by local law enforcement into the allegations involving Council Members Francisco Ramirez and Art Brieno. In July 2020 Ramirez and Brieno allegedly demanded and each received $400 each in cash from embattled downtown auto shop repair owner Richard Aguilar, according to a copy of the complaint. Aguilar was facing possible shutdown over zoning and other city violations which were discussed at a city council meeting.
Ramirez and Brieno deny the bribery allegations and Aguilar would not answer a reporter's questions.
Meanwhile, District Attorney candidate Sarah Hacker, said if she were elected, she would investigate the allegations against Ramirez, Brieno and Aguilar.
“If I received a complaint,” said Hacker. “I would look into it,” she said May 4.
Even though the alleged bribery occurred nearly two years ago, Hacker’s opponent, incumbent Keith Fagundes said in a written response to a reporter’s question that he did not know the identity of anyone who filed a complaint. This was in the April 11- May 10, 2022 issue of this newspaper.
“Who ‘filed’ the ‘complaint’ to my office?” said Fagundes in a written response to a reporter’s question. “I am only aware that you published an article that did not provide the names of any percipient witness, and you did not divulge any names to me when we last spoke. Our conversation is not considered ‘filing a complaint’ when you did not provide any first- hand information nor sources of first-hand information.”
Fagundes’ explanation directly contradicts the statements of the person who filed the bribery allegation with the
State Department of Justice. The complainant, who is a trusted reliable source in Hanford who wished to remain anonymous, said he had a 40- minute meeting with Fagundes in his office this spring where the bribery complaint was discussed and the complainant handed Fagundes a copy of the complaint. The bribery occurred on July 7 and July 8, 2020, according to a copy of the complaint. The complainant said the meeting with Fagundes this spring occurred in the morning early in the week.
The complainant said after his meeting with Fagundes, he was threatened by two men who came to his house and told him not to talk to reporters. The complainant said the men did not identify themselves and the complainant was unable to identify them.
Asked about Fagundes’ statement that there was no complaint, Hacker said, “ it tells me he uses the words honesty and integrity and he doesn’t know what they mean.” She said that if Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future’s recounting of the facts involving the allegation are correct, then Fagundes should be investigating the complaint.
Meanwhile, even though Robinson said he would investigate the bribery allegations if asked by Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever or City Manager Mario Cifuentez, Sever’s explanation as to why there was no investigation was the same as Fagundes’----there was no complaint.
“No one reported to us,” said Sever. “If (they) did, (they would) send info to the DA’s office. If the DA doesn’t want to do anything (there is) no recourse.”
Sever said Robinson does not have a role in the matter because he is sheriff of the county.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future spoke twice to Aguilar shortly after the allegations surfaced and he said he was busy and couldn’t talk and would call the newspaper. He never did. Aguilar later threatened the reporter of the story at the Crossings Shopping Center at 11th and Fargo avenues.
Aguilar did indeed receive relief from the city at the council meeting where the possible shutdown was discussed.
He was given more time to remedy his problems. Aguilar’s business remains open to this day.
The state Department of Justice would neither confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation on bribery allegations made by the Hanford complainant.
Updated 5/23/22 8:18 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Sheriff David Robinson directed one of his detectives to investigate bribery allegations involving two Hanford City Council members after Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever declined to ask Robinson's department to look into the matter. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has learned. District Attorney Keith Fagundes also would not investigate and denies the existence of a complaint which was filed with the state Department of Justice.
This is believed to be the first time there has been any investigation by local law enforcement into the allegations involving Council Members Francisco Ramirez and Art Brieno. In July 2020 Ramirez and Brieno allegedly demanded and each received $400 each in cash from embattled downtown auto shop repair owner Richard Aguilar, according to a copy of the complaint. Aguilar was facing possible shutdown over zoning and other city violations which were discussed at a city council meeting.
Ramirez and Brieno deny the bribery allegations and Aguilar would not answer a reporter's questions.
Meanwhile, District Attorney candidate Sarah Hacker, said if she were elected, she would investigate the allegations against Ramirez, Brieno and Aguilar.
“If I received a complaint,” said Hacker. “I would look into it,” she said May 4.
Even though the alleged bribery occurred nearly two years ago, Hacker’s opponent, incumbent Keith Fagundes said in a written response to a reporter’s question that he did not know the identity of anyone who filed a complaint. This was in the April 11- May 10, 2022 issue of this newspaper.
“Who ‘filed’ the ‘complaint’ to my office?” said Fagundes in a written response to a reporter’s question. “I am only aware that you published an article that did not provide the names of any percipient witness, and you did not divulge any names to me when we last spoke. Our conversation is not considered ‘filing a complaint’ when you did not provide any first- hand information nor sources of first-hand information.”
Fagundes’ explanation directly contradicts the statements of the person who filed the bribery allegation with the
State Department of Justice. The complainant, who is a trusted reliable source in Hanford who wished to remain anonymous, said he had a 40- minute meeting with Fagundes in his office this spring where the bribery complaint was discussed and the complainant handed Fagundes a copy of the complaint. The bribery occurred on July 7 and July 8, 2020, according to a copy of the complaint. The complainant said the meeting with Fagundes this spring occurred in the morning early in the week.
The complainant said after his meeting with Fagundes, he was threatened by two men who came to his house and told him not to talk to reporters. The complainant said the men did not identify themselves and the complainant was unable to identify them.
Asked about Fagundes’ statement that there was no complaint, Hacker said, “ it tells me he uses the words honesty and integrity and he doesn’t know what they mean.” She said that if Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future’s recounting of the facts involving the allegation are correct, then Fagundes should be investigating the complaint.
Meanwhile, even though Robinson said he would investigate the bribery allegations if asked by Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever or City Manager Mario Cifuentez, Sever’s explanation as to why there was no investigation was the same as Fagundes’----there was no complaint.
“No one reported to us,” said Sever. “If (they) did, (they would) send info to the DA’s office. If the DA doesn’t want to do anything (there is) no recourse.”
Sever said Robinson does not have a role in the matter because he is sheriff of the county.
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future spoke twice to Aguilar shortly after the allegations surfaced and he said he was busy and couldn’t talk and would call the newspaper. He never did. Aguilar later threatened the reporter of the story at the Crossings Shopping Center at 11th and Fargo avenues.
Aguilar did indeed receive relief from the city at the council meeting where the possible shutdown was discussed.
He was given more time to remedy his problems. Aguilar’s business remains open to this day.
The state Department of Justice would neither confirm nor deny the existence of any investigation on bribery allegations made by the Hanford complainant.
NFL great Neal won't be charged with felony dui in Idaho because of lapse between offenses
Updated 5/23/22 10:00 pm
Former star NFL player Lorenzo Lavonne Neal was not charged with a felony following his third arrest for dui because Idaho laws limits when a defendant can be charged with an additional dui,
The offender has to have pled guilty or have been found guilty of two prior offenses within the previous 10 years from the date of the plea or guilty finding for the current offense to be amended to\a felony charge, said Emily Lowe, public information officer with the Ada County (Idaho) Prosecutor's Office.
Neal was arrested for dui on July 4, 2011 in Clovis, February 26, 2017 in Kings County, according to court records, and April 30 in Garden City Idaho, according to the Ada County, Idaho prosecutor's office.
Neal at one time worked for a company operated by law enforcement professionals that helped intoxicated drivers. ESPN in an article posted April 9, 2012 that said Neal was chief information for a company called Safe Ride Solutions, which offers confidential rides for intoxicated drivers. ESPN said the source of this information was a report in the Fresno Bee.
The ESPN article also mentioned that the company's website stated, "Lorenzo feels driving and drinking is a major problem and effects (sic) people from all walks of life and all segments of society."
Meanwhile at least one major local media outlet continues to erroneously report that the Idaho arrest was the second time Neal was arrested for dui.
KFSN Channel 30 refused to correct its story and continues to report this is Neal's second dui arrest even though the tv station was advised verbally, in an email of the facts in the case. Channel 30 was also provided with a copy of the news article in Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future which detailed local court records of Neal's duis.
Just prior to Neal's Idaho arrest Channel 30 did a feature story on Neal where he stated that children should not bully each other on social media. At the time of Neal's July 4, 2011 dui CHP soft-pedaled the seriousness of the offense. "Nothing real major about it," CHP spokesman Axel Reyes told Channel 30, according to at July 5, 2011 article by Mike Florio of NBC Sports. Neal, whose blood alcohol tested above the .08 legal limit, crashed his truck into a pole.
Authorities arrested Neal, 51, on April 30 at 12:28 am in Garden City Idaho which is adjacent to Boise, the state capital. Neal is from Kings County.
When his previous dui occurred in Kings County on February 26, 2017 District Attorney Keith Fagundes’ office, represented by Brett M. Barcellos, deputy DA, Neal was convicted of dui with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more but a "special allegation-blood alcohol content of 0.15 or more/refuse chemical test" was stricken, according to the court minute orders. And instead of 10 days of jail time, Neal got credit for one day served with the remainder of his time to be through an alcohol monitoring program rather than incarceration, according to the court minute orders. Neal got three years of formal probation and was to pay $1,972 in fines, according to the minute orders.
Although Neal was subject to a two-year driving license suspension, Randy L. Edwards, Neal’s attorney, won a motion to have this amended to IID-Restricted driving license, according to an August 15, 2018 court order. Edwards is now a Kings County Superior Court judge.
The Superior Court Judge presiding following Neal’s 2017 offense, according to court minute orders, was Donna Tarter who has since retired.
Neal’s dui conviction occurred on April 9, 2011, according to the complaint in the case. Since Neal's arrest was on July 4, 2011, the court records appear to contradict the evidence. A clarification will be provided when the Kings County Superior Court is open tomorrow (5/24/22).
This dui occurred north of Clovis where Neal crashed his pickup. He pleaded no contest to this dui.
Neal is considered one of the greatest fullbacks in NFL history. He played for the New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers and other teams in his 16 seasons. He retired from football in 2018. Neal attended Lemoore High and also played football for Fresno State before being drafted in the fourth round by the Saints, according to Wikipedia and the American Football Database Fandom.
Updated 5/23/22 10:00 pm
Former star NFL player Lorenzo Lavonne Neal was not charged with a felony following his third arrest for dui because Idaho laws limits when a defendant can be charged with an additional dui,
The offender has to have pled guilty or have been found guilty of two prior offenses within the previous 10 years from the date of the plea or guilty finding for the current offense to be amended to\a felony charge, said Emily Lowe, public information officer with the Ada County (Idaho) Prosecutor's Office.
Neal was arrested for dui on July 4, 2011 in Clovis, February 26, 2017 in Kings County, according to court records, and April 30 in Garden City Idaho, according to the Ada County, Idaho prosecutor's office.
Neal at one time worked for a company operated by law enforcement professionals that helped intoxicated drivers. ESPN in an article posted April 9, 2012 that said Neal was chief information for a company called Safe Ride Solutions, which offers confidential rides for intoxicated drivers. ESPN said the source of this information was a report in the Fresno Bee.
The ESPN article also mentioned that the company's website stated, "Lorenzo feels driving and drinking is a major problem and effects (sic) people from all walks of life and all segments of society."
Meanwhile at least one major local media outlet continues to erroneously report that the Idaho arrest was the second time Neal was arrested for dui.
KFSN Channel 30 refused to correct its story and continues to report this is Neal's second dui arrest even though the tv station was advised verbally, in an email of the facts in the case. Channel 30 was also provided with a copy of the news article in Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future which detailed local court records of Neal's duis.
Just prior to Neal's Idaho arrest Channel 30 did a feature story on Neal where he stated that children should not bully each other on social media. At the time of Neal's July 4, 2011 dui CHP soft-pedaled the seriousness of the offense. "Nothing real major about it," CHP spokesman Axel Reyes told Channel 30, according to at July 5, 2011 article by Mike Florio of NBC Sports. Neal, whose blood alcohol tested above the .08 legal limit, crashed his truck into a pole.
Authorities arrested Neal, 51, on April 30 at 12:28 am in Garden City Idaho which is adjacent to Boise, the state capital. Neal is from Kings County.
When his previous dui occurred in Kings County on February 26, 2017 District Attorney Keith Fagundes’ office, represented by Brett M. Barcellos, deputy DA, Neal was convicted of dui with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more but a "special allegation-blood alcohol content of 0.15 or more/refuse chemical test" was stricken, according to the court minute orders. And instead of 10 days of jail time, Neal got credit for one day served with the remainder of his time to be through an alcohol monitoring program rather than incarceration, according to the court minute orders. Neal got three years of formal probation and was to pay $1,972 in fines, according to the minute orders.
Although Neal was subject to a two-year driving license suspension, Randy L. Edwards, Neal’s attorney, won a motion to have this amended to IID-Restricted driving license, according to an August 15, 2018 court order. Edwards is now a Kings County Superior Court judge.
The Superior Court Judge presiding following Neal’s 2017 offense, according to court minute orders, was Donna Tarter who has since retired.
Neal’s dui conviction occurred on April 9, 2011, according to the complaint in the case. Since Neal's arrest was on July 4, 2011, the court records appear to contradict the evidence. A clarification will be provided when the Kings County Superior Court is open tomorrow (5/24/22).
This dui occurred north of Clovis where Neal crashed his pickup. He pleaded no contest to this dui.
Neal is considered one of the greatest fullbacks in NFL history. He played for the New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers and other teams in his 16 seasons. He retired from football in 2018. Neal attended Lemoore High and also played football for Fresno State before being drafted in the fourth round by the Saints, according to Wikipedia and the American Football Database Fandom.
ENTIRE DEBATE IN FAGUNDES-HACKER DA RACE WILL BE POSTED ON COMPANION SITES MONDAY 5/23/22 AT 9 AM Posted 5/23/22 8:24 am. While this website can post short videos, the file in the Fagundes-Hacker debate (5/2/22) is too large to be accommodated on this site. So there are two websites created on Youtube to view this and other long-format videos. Please go to Youtube and type in Goldenstateavvideos which is primarily an aviation site. There you will see the first part of the debate. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future has also posted a summary of the issues in the race to help voters better understand the context of the debate. Part two is on another long format Youtube site called bulletinboarddigital559. However, as of 10:27 am 5/23/22 video was NOT finished uploading. It should be available tomorrow. Type in the Youtube search box bulletinboarddigital559. Scroll down until you see the Fagundes-Hacker debate. Link to first part of debate is: https://youtu.be/DjwSK6gez5A. When the second part is uploaded will provide a link also.
Commission okays General Plan Amendment for 3 areas but no Hidden Valley expansion on agenda
Posted 5/14/22 2:16 pm
HANFORD – The Planning Commission Tuesday unanimously approved a General Plan Amendment and site plan review for a 10,000 square-foot office building downtown, a parking lot at a police facility at 896 N. 11th Avenue and a change in land use for 28 acres near the airport.
But the city proposed no General Plan Amendment for the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park even though the council directed staff to prepare one on November 2, 2021.
The changes the commission acted on Tuesday require one General Plan Amendment. The General Plan is the city’s blueprint for development. Only four General Plan Amendments are allowed by the state each year. The city council must approve Tuesday’s planning commission actions.
Regarding Hidden Valley, the property west of the existing park at 11th Avenue and Cortner Street will also have to be rezoned from Low Density Residential to Public Facilities so the park can be expanded. The action is necessary because, after public opposition, the city sought to reverse the zoning on the property. A previous council voted to declare the property surplus and sell it for housing development.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez said Tuesday (5/11) that this General Plan Amendment will be presented to the planning commission and the city council in the future. He could not be reached for comment Friday on when this will happen or why Tuesday’s General Plan Amendment covering downtown, the police facility and the airport area came first.
Bob Ramos of Hanford told the planning commission Tuesday he expected the commission to follow through and rezone the property west of Hidden Valley and approve a General Plan Amendment for the space. The disposition of the 18 acres has been a hot button topic in Hanford for a half century.
There was no opposition to the land use changes proposed Tuesday which included a change from Downtown Mixed Use to Service Commercial for two downtown parcels, change from Corridor Mixed Use to Public Facilities for the 11th Avenue property and a change in the airport vicinity properties from Service Commercial to Corridor Mixed Use.
Voting for the rezoning and the General Plan Amendment were: Chairman Jacob Sanchez, Vice Chairman Travis Paden and Commissioner Richard Douglas. Commissioner Martin Devine was absent.
The rezone South of Fifth Street between Irwin and Douty streets was from Downtown Mixed Use to Service Commercial will permit the construction of an office building proposed by Telstar Instruments and Control Systems Integrators.
Although the company proposes a major project with the construction of a 10,000 square-foot office building, the planning commission recommended that Telestar receive a declaration of No Significant Environmental Impact for the project.
If the commission had proposed a California Environmental Quality Act Review, the environmental impact of the project would be much more closely scrutinized. CEQA review is time consuming and expensive for a developer but it is intended to address environmental concerns vital to an area’s well-being.
In addition, a Mitigated Negative Declaration of No Significant Environment Impact was proposed for the airport area properties which are located in a rural area.
The staff report discussed remedial measures for possible disturbance of Swainson’s hawk nests, possible disturbance of historic and prehistoric archaeological sites and possible impact and remedial measures involving the disturbance of of San Joaquin kit fox habitat. The Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe will be given a chance to monitor the ground during any construction, said the staff report.
A possible reason for the delay in presenting the Hidden Valley General Plan Amendment is the community development department has been without an acting director since Darlene Mata, the longtime director, went on leave following accusations last year that she was harassed and sexually discriminated against by Council Member Art Brieno.
Mata is also suing the city in connection with these charges although, despite her attempts by her to reach a settlement with the city, no settlement has been made and the case could go to trial.
In addition, Gabrielle Myers, senior planner, was also on leave for a period. Mary E. Beatie, a member of Visalia’s Planning Commission, has been interim director in Mata’s absence although not for the whole time Mata has been gone.
The community development department has been busy with new housing construction applications and various commercial projects including the Target, Wal-Mart remodels, convenience store, tire store, restaurant projects. The Wal-Mart and Target remodels are each multi-million dollar projects.
This newspaper attempted to obtain staffing levels in the department but the city has not provided the information. The department’s directory lists Beatie as interim director, Myers as senior planner and Diana Black and Chrystina Arms, development services technicians. However, this list is not complete.
Posted 5/14/22 2:16 pm
HANFORD – The Planning Commission Tuesday unanimously approved a General Plan Amendment and site plan review for a 10,000 square-foot office building downtown, a parking lot at a police facility at 896 N. 11th Avenue and a change in land use for 28 acres near the airport.
But the city proposed no General Plan Amendment for the 18 acres west of Hidden Valley Park even though the council directed staff to prepare one on November 2, 2021.
The changes the commission acted on Tuesday require one General Plan Amendment. The General Plan is the city’s blueprint for development. Only four General Plan Amendments are allowed by the state each year. The city council must approve Tuesday’s planning commission actions.
Regarding Hidden Valley, the property west of the existing park at 11th Avenue and Cortner Street will also have to be rezoned from Low Density Residential to Public Facilities so the park can be expanded. The action is necessary because, after public opposition, the city sought to reverse the zoning on the property. A previous council voted to declare the property surplus and sell it for housing development.
City Manager Mario Cifuentez said Tuesday (5/11) that this General Plan Amendment will be presented to the planning commission and the city council in the future. He could not be reached for comment Friday on when this will happen or why Tuesday’s General Plan Amendment covering downtown, the police facility and the airport area came first.
Bob Ramos of Hanford told the planning commission Tuesday he expected the commission to follow through and rezone the property west of Hidden Valley and approve a General Plan Amendment for the space. The disposition of the 18 acres has been a hot button topic in Hanford for a half century.
There was no opposition to the land use changes proposed Tuesday which included a change from Downtown Mixed Use to Service Commercial for two downtown parcels, change from Corridor Mixed Use to Public Facilities for the 11th Avenue property and a change in the airport vicinity properties from Service Commercial to Corridor Mixed Use.
Voting for the rezoning and the General Plan Amendment were: Chairman Jacob Sanchez, Vice Chairman Travis Paden and Commissioner Richard Douglas. Commissioner Martin Devine was absent.
The rezone South of Fifth Street between Irwin and Douty streets was from Downtown Mixed Use to Service Commercial will permit the construction of an office building proposed by Telstar Instruments and Control Systems Integrators.
Although the company proposes a major project with the construction of a 10,000 square-foot office building, the planning commission recommended that Telestar receive a declaration of No Significant Environmental Impact for the project.
If the commission had proposed a California Environmental Quality Act Review, the environmental impact of the project would be much more closely scrutinized. CEQA review is time consuming and expensive for a developer but it is intended to address environmental concerns vital to an area’s well-being.
In addition, a Mitigated Negative Declaration of No Significant Environment Impact was proposed for the airport area properties which are located in a rural area.
The staff report discussed remedial measures for possible disturbance of Swainson’s hawk nests, possible disturbance of historic and prehistoric archaeological sites and possible impact and remedial measures involving the disturbance of of San Joaquin kit fox habitat. The Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe will be given a chance to monitor the ground during any construction, said the staff report.
A possible reason for the delay in presenting the Hidden Valley General Plan Amendment is the community development department has been without an acting director since Darlene Mata, the longtime director, went on leave following accusations last year that she was harassed and sexually discriminated against by Council Member Art Brieno.
Mata is also suing the city in connection with these charges although, despite her attempts by her to reach a settlement with the city, no settlement has been made and the case could go to trial.
In addition, Gabrielle Myers, senior planner, was also on leave for a period. Mary E. Beatie, a member of Visalia’s Planning Commission, has been interim director in Mata’s absence although not for the whole time Mata has been gone.
The community development department has been busy with new housing construction applications and various commercial projects including the Target, Wal-Mart remodels, convenience store, tire store, restaurant projects. The Wal-Mart and Target remodels are each multi-million dollar projects.
This newspaper attempted to obtain staffing levels in the department but the city has not provided the information. The department’s directory lists Beatie as interim director, Myers as senior planner and Diana Black and Chrystina Arms, development services technicians. However, this list is not complete.
Payouts to ex-Kings County cao, retirement benefits $45,390;
amounts don't include legal fees for ex-DA investigator case
Posted 5/10/22 9:22 am
Kings County paid Rebecca Campbell, chief administrative office, $10,000, $15,000 less than she requested to settle, her claim against the county where she stated that District Attorney Keith Fagundes was investigating her and three other highly-placed female county executives for purported “public corruption,” according to a copy of the claim obtained by state Records Requests.
The December 17, 2021 settlement together retirement payments to Robert Waggle, former chief investigator in Fagundes’ office, total $45,490, according to state Records Requests. Waggles, according to the suit, had to take early retirement as a result of hostile working conditions in the office, and is suing the county for sexual harassment and other claims arising out of his employment in Fagundes’ office. Fagundes, according to Waggle, sent, thousands of sexually explicit text messages to him.
These amounts involving Campbell’s claim and Waggle’s early retirement do not include the county’s legal expenses for an outside attorney to defend the county against Waggle’s claim. The court case has been moved to San Bernardino County.
Fagundes has said Waggle’s suit is without foundation and Waggle is only out for money. Regarding Campbell’s allegations Fagundes denied March 26 that there was any such investigation. He also said he was unaware of Campbell’s claim.
Regarding Fagundes’ claim that Waggle is only seeking money, the Waggle case claims a civil injury. The remedy in civil cases is financial compensaton.
The terms of the county’s settlement with Campbell require her to abstain from any further legal action and the settlement states that the matter may not be construed as an admission of liability, wrongdoing, violation of the law or contract.
However, the settlement does not extend to claims by Campbell that she didn’t know about at the
time she signed the settlement.
Campbell has not responded to multiple requests for comment. She was appointed assistant administrator of San Luis Obispo County on July 27, 2021, according to San Luis Obispo County’s website.
In her claim against Kings County Campbell said Fagundes’ actions “…constituted an abuse of prosecutorial discretion and an illegal conflict of interest targeted at me specifically.” Campbell said in her claim that a “whistle blower” contacted her to advise her of the disclosures regarding Fagundes.
Fagundes said he is not aware of any “whistle blower.”
Waggle’s suit sheds some light on this matter. The suit alleges that Fagundes altered the investigation to focus not on a county supervisor but on two women for supposed collusion. The suit claimed that “...Fagundes had personal animosities towards not only the two women but to women in power in general. Fagundes wanted to send a message to these women that he---and not them---has the power and control.”
Campbell also said in claim, “I was injured by the acts of certain Supervisors who intentionally and without basis, and with discriminatory and retaliatory intent, regularly publicly ridiculed and embarrassed me and attempted to harm my professional reputation.”
Fagundes’ father Richard is a supervisor but it could not be determined if he was one of the supervisors
Campbell was referring to in her claim. An email that requested comment on the matter to Joe Neves, county supervisor chairman, went unanswered.
Keith Fagundes, a two-term incumbent, is locked in a heated reelection race with Sarah Hacker, a former prosecutor in his office. Hacker has said Fagundes is not truthful, is vindictive toward people who oppose him and has improperly run his office and has high turnover of employees. This newspaper examined the turnover in Fagundes’ office and found, based on county documents, that 64 employees have left including 34 attorneys.
Fagundes has said there is no morale problem in his office, his campaign signs state his “honesty” and “integrity” and that he has run the office efficiently clearing a backlog of 3,900 cases left under the administration of former DA Greg Strickland.
amounts don't include legal fees for ex-DA investigator case
Posted 5/10/22 9:22 am
Kings County paid Rebecca Campbell, chief administrative office, $10,000, $15,000 less than she requested to settle, her claim against the county where she stated that District Attorney Keith Fagundes was investigating her and three other highly-placed female county executives for purported “public corruption,” according to a copy of the claim obtained by state Records Requests.
The December 17, 2021 settlement together retirement payments to Robert Waggle, former chief investigator in Fagundes’ office, total $45,490, according to state Records Requests. Waggles, according to the suit, had to take early retirement as a result of hostile working conditions in the office, and is suing the county for sexual harassment and other claims arising out of his employment in Fagundes’ office. Fagundes, according to Waggle, sent, thousands of sexually explicit text messages to him.
These amounts involving Campbell’s claim and Waggle’s early retirement do not include the county’s legal expenses for an outside attorney to defend the county against Waggle’s claim. The court case has been moved to San Bernardino County.
Fagundes has said Waggle’s suit is without foundation and Waggle is only out for money. Regarding Campbell’s allegations Fagundes denied March 26 that there was any such investigation. He also said he was unaware of Campbell’s claim.
Regarding Fagundes’ claim that Waggle is only seeking money, the Waggle case claims a civil injury. The remedy in civil cases is financial compensaton.
The terms of the county’s settlement with Campbell require her to abstain from any further legal action and the settlement states that the matter may not be construed as an admission of liability, wrongdoing, violation of the law or contract.
However, the settlement does not extend to claims by Campbell that she didn’t know about at the
time she signed the settlement.
Campbell has not responded to multiple requests for comment. She was appointed assistant administrator of San Luis Obispo County on July 27, 2021, according to San Luis Obispo County’s website.
In her claim against Kings County Campbell said Fagundes’ actions “…constituted an abuse of prosecutorial discretion and an illegal conflict of interest targeted at me specifically.” Campbell said in her claim that a “whistle blower” contacted her to advise her of the disclosures regarding Fagundes.
Fagundes said he is not aware of any “whistle blower.”
Waggle’s suit sheds some light on this matter. The suit alleges that Fagundes altered the investigation to focus not on a county supervisor but on two women for supposed collusion. The suit claimed that “...Fagundes had personal animosities towards not only the two women but to women in power in general. Fagundes wanted to send a message to these women that he---and not them---has the power and control.”
Campbell also said in claim, “I was injured by the acts of certain Supervisors who intentionally and without basis, and with discriminatory and retaliatory intent, regularly publicly ridiculed and embarrassed me and attempted to harm my professional reputation.”
Fagundes’ father Richard is a supervisor but it could not be determined if he was one of the supervisors
Campbell was referring to in her claim. An email that requested comment on the matter to Joe Neves, county supervisor chairman, went unanswered.
Keith Fagundes, a two-term incumbent, is locked in a heated reelection race with Sarah Hacker, a former prosecutor in his office. Hacker has said Fagundes is not truthful, is vindictive toward people who oppose him and has improperly run his office and has high turnover of employees. This newspaper examined the turnover in Fagundes’ office and found, based on county documents, that 64 employees have left including 34 attorneys.
Fagundes has said there is no morale problem in his office, his campaign signs state his “honesty” and “integrity” and that he has run the office efficiently clearing a backlog of 3,900 cases left under the administration of former DA Greg Strickland.
Hacker calls Fagundes 'renegade' while Fagundes attacks opponent as supporting killing babies
Posted 5/2/22 11:25 pm
Several hundred people on Monday attended a town hall-style debate between incumbent DA Keith Fagundes and challenger Sarah Hacker. And while both candidates took swipes at each other with Hacker saying her opponent was a “renegade” and “rogue” and Fagundes countering that his opponent wanted to “kill babies in the womb” by supporting the state Attorney General’s stance on a birth issue, the debate was largely dysfunctional with prepared questions largely avoiding key issues in the race.
The conservative 1776 Sons of Liberty sponsored the debate at the First Baptist Church on 13 ½ Avenue in Kings County. While the group doesn’t endorse candidates, President Larry Faria said the group’s aim is to see that people are “justly represented.” A Facebook posting on the group said the organization opposes unjust government measures against the U.S. Constitution.
The questions were largely general. For example, one was about how each candidate would be fair to all sides in an officer involved shooting. Another question asked how the candidate would prepare for the inevitable growth in crime with expected population growth in the county.
Meanwhile, Fagundes, who is completing his second term as DA has been embroiled in a number of controversies including: having prosecution of some cases taken away from him and turned over to the Attorney General because, according to a local judge, of possible favoritism to a local defense attorney who is representing Fagundes in a lawsuit against the county over the reassignment of his secretary, the county is being sued by Fagundes’ former male chief investigator for sexual harassment and workplace harassment by Fagundes, the ex-chief executive of the county filed a claim against the county claiming Fagundes was investigating her and others for “public corruption” after “whistleblowers” came to her about disclosures about Fagundes and Hacker and the news media determined there is a high turnover rate in Fagundes’ office since he has been DA. Fagundes dismissed any morale problem in his office and has denied the existence of any claim by ex-county Administrator Rebecca Campbell even though the news media have obtained copies of the claim. He has called Robert Waggle’s harassment claim as without foundation.
During Monday’s debate Fagundes touted his knowledge of the law infused with Kings County’s conservative values, his 22 year’s of experience in the DA’s office and his creation of a mass victim casualty unit.
Hacker countered that if she were elected DA she would prosecute fairly, not according to political considerations. She said Fagundes was overextended by getting involved in programs that have nothing to do with the core mission of district attorney. She said Fagundes is part of a “good old boys club.”
Fagundes denied being part of any “good old boys club” and said being fair was what he was all about. Fagundes’ father Richard is a Kings County Supervisor.
Fagundes has repeatedly blamed Hacker for a backlog of 3,900 cases under the administration of previous DA Greg Strickland. But Hacker said she was not part of management when Strickland was DA and clearing a backlog was a normal part of the DA’s job, not something to brag about.
There was also fireworks between the two candidates about “stand your ground” law in Kings County. Fagundes said “stand your ground,” referring to a crime victim’s right to self-defense without fear of prosecution, is “alive and well in Kings County.”
Hacker called her opponent’s statement “improper.” She said, “it’s a violation, he (Fagundes) does not make the law.” Her response brought loud applause. Fagundes also won loud applause for his answers many times during the evening.
Extending the theme of evaluating cases on the basis of law, Hacker said the personal views of the DA have no place in the district attorney’s office. Fagundes said personal stances are important and that if the district attorney doesn’t stand for something, he stands for nothing. He said Hacker’s stances were “weak” and “milktoast.” He added, “If you want (Attorney General) Rob Bonta, vote for my opponent.”
Hacker said because of Fagundes’ conduct in office, Sheriff David Robinson has lost confidence in Fagundes. Robinson has endorsed Hacker and also said that the turnover in the DA’s office has hurt the handling of the sheriff’s department cases.
Posted 5/2/22 11:25 pm
Several hundred people on Monday attended a town hall-style debate between incumbent DA Keith Fagundes and challenger Sarah Hacker. And while both candidates took swipes at each other with Hacker saying her opponent was a “renegade” and “rogue” and Fagundes countering that his opponent wanted to “kill babies in the womb” by supporting the state Attorney General’s stance on a birth issue, the debate was largely dysfunctional with prepared questions largely avoiding key issues in the race.
The conservative 1776 Sons of Liberty sponsored the debate at the First Baptist Church on 13 ½ Avenue in Kings County. While the group doesn’t endorse candidates, President Larry Faria said the group’s aim is to see that people are “justly represented.” A Facebook posting on the group said the organization opposes unjust government measures against the U.S. Constitution.
The questions were largely general. For example, one was about how each candidate would be fair to all sides in an officer involved shooting. Another question asked how the candidate would prepare for the inevitable growth in crime with expected population growth in the county.
Meanwhile, Fagundes, who is completing his second term as DA has been embroiled in a number of controversies including: having prosecution of some cases taken away from him and turned over to the Attorney General because, according to a local judge, of possible favoritism to a local defense attorney who is representing Fagundes in a lawsuit against the county over the reassignment of his secretary, the county is being sued by Fagundes’ former male chief investigator for sexual harassment and workplace harassment by Fagundes, the ex-chief executive of the county filed a claim against the county claiming Fagundes was investigating her and others for “public corruption” after “whistleblowers” came to her about disclosures about Fagundes and Hacker and the news media determined there is a high turnover rate in Fagundes’ office since he has been DA. Fagundes dismissed any morale problem in his office and has denied the existence of any claim by ex-county Administrator Rebecca Campbell even though the news media have obtained copies of the claim. He has called Robert Waggle’s harassment claim as without foundation.
During Monday’s debate Fagundes touted his knowledge of the law infused with Kings County’s conservative values, his 22 year’s of experience in the DA’s office and his creation of a mass victim casualty unit.
Hacker countered that if she were elected DA she would prosecute fairly, not according to political considerations. She said Fagundes was overextended by getting involved in programs that have nothing to do with the core mission of district attorney. She said Fagundes is part of a “good old boys club.”
Fagundes denied being part of any “good old boys club” and said being fair was what he was all about. Fagundes’ father Richard is a Kings County Supervisor.
Fagundes has repeatedly blamed Hacker for a backlog of 3,900 cases under the administration of previous DA Greg Strickland. But Hacker said she was not part of management when Strickland was DA and clearing a backlog was a normal part of the DA’s job, not something to brag about.
There was also fireworks between the two candidates about “stand your ground” law in Kings County. Fagundes said “stand your ground,” referring to a crime victim’s right to self-defense without fear of prosecution, is “alive and well in Kings County.”
Hacker called her opponent’s statement “improper.” She said, “it’s a violation, he (Fagundes) does not make the law.” Her response brought loud applause. Fagundes also won loud applause for his answers many times during the evening.
Extending the theme of evaluating cases on the basis of law, Hacker said the personal views of the DA have no place in the district attorney’s office. Fagundes said personal stances are important and that if the district attorney doesn’t stand for something, he stands for nothing. He said Hacker’s stances were “weak” and “milktoast.” He added, “If you want (Attorney General) Rob Bonta, vote for my opponent.”
Hacker said because of Fagundes’ conduct in office, Sheriff David Robinson has lost confidence in Fagundes. Robinson has endorsed Hacker and also said that the turnover in the DA’s office has hurt the handling of the sheriff’s department cases.
Hacker beats Fagundes in fundraising 5- 1
Posted 4/29/22 8:58 am
KINGS COUNTY – If money is the mother’s milk of politics, Sarah Hacker’s campaign for district attorney has abundant resources out fundraising incumbent Keith Fagundes by nearly five-to-one, according to campaign reports required by the state Fair Political Practices Commission.
Whether money alone will be enough to unseat the two-term district attorney Is undeterminable at this point. The race is heated with both sides trading charges and abundant politic buzz around the county.
Hacker, a former deputy DA and private attorney with the Dias Law Firm in Hanford, listed fundraising of $77,459.97 during the January 1 to April 28, 2022 reporting period, according to her California Form 460. This compares to Fagundes fundraising of $15,000 in the same period, according to his California Form 460.
Hacker has spent $25,443.66 compared to $29,353.53 for Fagundes, according to the 460s for each candidate. Hacker’s campaign balance is $52,013.31 while Fagundes’ is $21,176.71, according to the 460s.
Notable contributors to Hacker’s campaign include $10,840 total from persons associated with the Dias law firm, two $500 contributions from Kings County Sheriff David Robinson who has endorsed Hacker, $1,000 from Robert Waggle who is suing the county claiming sexual and other forms of harassment by Fagundes, $5,000 from Shirley Hacker, $5000 from Jacob Hower, Simon Hower Inc. Real Estate Appraisal, $100 from Kristine Spikes, $500 from former deputy DA and local defense attorney Carlos Navarrete as well as a $10,000 contribution from the Corporate America Lending Inc., $3,000 from Milk Flow Dairy and $2,500 from Toor Farming, $1,000 from Tal Cloud of Sanger, according to the report.
Fagundes received a $10,000 contribution from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association which also endorsed him, according to the 460s and Fagundes campaign literature. Fagundes also received $1000 from Anthony Azevedo, farmer, $1,000 from Labert Transfer and Storage in Lemoore and $1,000 from Jim Van Nort, according to his 460 report.
The candidates fate will be decided in a June 7 primary.
Whether money alone will be enough to unseat the two-term district attorney Is undeterminable at this point. The race is heated with both sides trading charges and abundant politic buzz around the county.
Hacker, a former deputy DA and private attorney with the Dias Law Firm in Hanford, listed fundraising of $77,459.97 during the January 1 to April 28, 2022 reporting period, according to her California Form 460. This compares to Fagundes fundraising of $15,000 in the same period, according to his California Form 460.
Hacker has spent $25,443.66 compared to $29,353.53 for Fagundes, according to the 460s for each candidate. Hacker’s campaign balance is $52,013.31 while Fagundes’ is $21,176.71, according to the 460s.
Notable contributors to Hacker’s campaign include $10,840 total from persons associated with the Dias law firm, two $500 contributions from Kings County Sheriff David Robinson who has endorsed Hacker, $1,000 from Robert Waggle who is suing the county claiming sexual and other forms of harassment by Fagundes, $5,000 from Shirley Hacker, $5000 from Jacob Hower, Simon Hower Inc. Real Estate Appraisal, $100 from Kristine Spikes, $500 from former deputy DA and local defense attorney Carlos Navarrete as well as a $10,000 contribution from the Corporate America Lending Inc., $3,000 from Milk Flow Dairy and $2,500 from Toor Farming, $1,000 from Tal Cloud of Sanger, according to the report.
Fagundes received a $10,000 contribution from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association which also endorsed him, according to the 460s and Fagundes campaign literature. Fagundes also received $1000 from Anthony Azevedo, farmer, $1,000 from Labert Transfer and Storage in Lemoore and $1,000 from Jim Van Nort, according to his 460 report.
The candidates fate will be decided in a June 7 primary.
Recall in works against Councilmember Diane Sharp
Posted 4/15/22 10:12 am
HANFORD - District C Council Member Diane Sharp, who already resigned as mayor due to fallout from an affordable housing project, is now the subject of an attempted recall.
The initial recall qualification filed by Jim Nelson was rejected yesterday but City Clerk Natalie Corral said she expected
Nelson to fix the petition and refile it. The notice of intent requires the signatures of 10 registered voters in the city, said Corral.` Should the initial notice qualify, then recall backers would have 60 days to gather 1,550 signatures to recall Sharp, said Corral
Sharp angered voters by her handling of a meeting where more than 700 people attended regarding the Northstar
affordable housing project near 11th and Fargo avenues. Many of those attending the project were opposed. North Hanford a more affluent area of the city.
"This attempted filing is not a surprise," said Sharp. She said, "...a group of folks concerned about the impacts of the Northstar Courts development threatened via social media and in person weeks ago that if I did not vote in a way they liked regarding the project, they were going to attempt to throw me out of office." There are "....about 12,000 folks in District C. I am honored to have the strong support of many members of our community."
Mata suit mentions Brieno comment related to Aguilar;
shop accused in DOJ complaint of bribing councilmen
Posted 3/25/22 4:01 pm
HANFORD – The lawsuit filed March 16 by Hanford Community Development Director Darlene cited as a cause of action a remark by Council Member Art Brieno that she was “heavy handed” in her treatment of downtown auto repair shop owner Richard Aguilar.
Brieno was advocating for Aguilar of Aguilar & Sons Automotive, 330 E. 7th St. Aguilar has had a long-running dispute with the city over zoning and various regulation violations, according to a city staff report. He was facing a possible shutdown of his business if he didn’t comply with city requirements set forth by Mata’s department and City Manager Mario Cifuentez.
Brieno and Council Member Francisco Ramirez were subsequently accused of each receiving a $400 cash bribe from Aguilar in a complaint filed with state Department of Justice. A copy of the complaint was obtained by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper.
Brieno and Ramirez have both denied receiving a cash bribe from Aguilar.
To date no charges have been filed by the state regarding the allegation. Generally, the state Department of Justice has not prosecuted local corruption allegations in the last couple of years. When the DOJ was asked to supply cases of local corruption prosecution in the last two years, the press office produced a list of prosecutions in various jurisdictions all involving state officials.
Further, with the possible exception of FBI prosecution of City of Clovis council members for bribery many years ago, there has been little or no investigation or prosecution of local government corruption by local law enforcement or outside agencies. The two relatively recent exceptions involve the ex-Selma (2017) and ex-Fowler city managers (2019).
In Kings County, District Attorney Keith Fagundes and Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever have not investigated the local bribery allegations involving Brieno and Ramirez saying there was no complaint filed with them about the matter. Fagundes said earlier this month that even if there was probable cause in the matter, there would have to be a complaint in order to investigate.
When Phil Ebenshade, Fagundes’ right-hand man, was asked by a reporter months ago why Fagundes hadn’t investigated the Brieno and Ramirez matter, Ebenshade never followed up on the matter with the reporter.
Last week Fagundes asked Ebenshade about this, and, according to Fagundes, Ebenshade told Fagundes he (Ebenshade) had “no recollection” of the conversation with the reporter.
Two attempts were made by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future to personally ask Aguilar about the allegations and both times he refused to address them stating he was “busy” and “I apologize.”
Aguilar, a couple of weeks after the bribery allegation was reported in Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future and Valley Voice, encountered the reporter who wrote the bribery allegations article in the parking lot at the Crossings Shopping Center at 11th and Fargo avenues. “You better be careful young man,” Aguilar told the reporter through an open window in his pickup as he maneuvered it in the parking lot.
In addition, then Hanford Sentinel reporter Rayvn Cullor did her own investigation of the bribery allegations and the paper subsequently reported that there was no substance to them.
Cullor in July 2021 filed a complaint with the city stating that Brieno made “inappropriate” comments to her following a July 21 interview. Brieno allegedly said to her: “I have to say, you are a very attractive young woman. Your boyfriend is lucky. You must have a sister who is…”
Brieno said the comments were taken out of context. At the beginning of the interview at Hidden Valley Park Brieno asked her what brought her to California. Brieno said she told him her boyfriend was in the Navy. Brieno said he always finds it interesting to discuss people in the Navy. Following the end of the interview, after Cullor turned off a tape recorder, Brieno said he told her: “he’s (her boyfriend) lucky, you’re an attractive gal.”
The next day, Brieno said, he received a call from Cullor which she recorded. Brieno said she asked him about the comments on her physical appearance and a question regarding whether she had a sister.
Brieno disputed Cullor’s account on the second point. He said he asked her whether she had any brothers or sisters. He then told her since she had brought up the matter, it must have been a “poor comment.” The two then discussed whether if she were a male, would he make the same comment?
Following Cullor’s filing of the complaint, her byline no longer appeared in the newspaper. Whether the two are connected could not be determined. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future attempted to contact the Sentinel and Marga Cooley, managing editor of the Santa Maria Times, to determine if there was any connection and whether Cullor still worked for the Sentinel. The Sentinel is part of a newspaper group that includes the Santa Maria Times.
shop accused in DOJ complaint of bribing councilmen
Posted 3/25/22 4:01 pm
HANFORD – The lawsuit filed March 16 by Hanford Community Development Director Darlene cited as a cause of action a remark by Council Member Art Brieno that she was “heavy handed” in her treatment of downtown auto repair shop owner Richard Aguilar.
Brieno was advocating for Aguilar of Aguilar & Sons Automotive, 330 E. 7th St. Aguilar has had a long-running dispute with the city over zoning and various regulation violations, according to a city staff report. He was facing a possible shutdown of his business if he didn’t comply with city requirements set forth by Mata’s department and City Manager Mario Cifuentez.
Brieno and Council Member Francisco Ramirez were subsequently accused of each receiving a $400 cash bribe from Aguilar in a complaint filed with state Department of Justice. A copy of the complaint was obtained by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper.
Brieno and Ramirez have both denied receiving a cash bribe from Aguilar.
To date no charges have been filed by the state regarding the allegation. Generally, the state Department of Justice has not prosecuted local corruption allegations in the last couple of years. When the DOJ was asked to supply cases of local corruption prosecution in the last two years, the press office produced a list of prosecutions in various jurisdictions all involving state officials.
Further, with the possible exception of FBI prosecution of City of Clovis council members for bribery many years ago, there has been little or no investigation or prosecution of local government corruption by local law enforcement or outside agencies. The two relatively recent exceptions involve the ex-Selma (2017) and ex-Fowler city managers (2019).
In Kings County, District Attorney Keith Fagundes and Hanford Police Chief Parker Sever have not investigated the local bribery allegations involving Brieno and Ramirez saying there was no complaint filed with them about the matter. Fagundes said earlier this month that even if there was probable cause in the matter, there would have to be a complaint in order to investigate.
When Phil Ebenshade, Fagundes’ right-hand man, was asked by a reporter months ago why Fagundes hadn’t investigated the Brieno and Ramirez matter, Ebenshade never followed up on the matter with the reporter.
Last week Fagundes asked Ebenshade about this, and, according to Fagundes, Ebenshade told Fagundes he (Ebenshade) had “no recollection” of the conversation with the reporter.
Two attempts were made by Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future to personally ask Aguilar about the allegations and both times he refused to address them stating he was “busy” and “I apologize.”
Aguilar, a couple of weeks after the bribery allegation was reported in Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future and Valley Voice, encountered the reporter who wrote the bribery allegations article in the parking lot at the Crossings Shopping Center at 11th and Fargo avenues. “You better be careful young man,” Aguilar told the reporter through an open window in his pickup as he maneuvered it in the parking lot.
In addition, then Hanford Sentinel reporter Rayvn Cullor did her own investigation of the bribery allegations and the paper subsequently reported that there was no substance to them.
Cullor in July 2021 filed a complaint with the city stating that Brieno made “inappropriate” comments to her following a July 21 interview. Brieno allegedly said to her: “I have to say, you are a very attractive young woman. Your boyfriend is lucky. You must have a sister who is…”
Brieno said the comments were taken out of context. At the beginning of the interview at Hidden Valley Park Brieno asked her what brought her to California. Brieno said she told him her boyfriend was in the Navy. Brieno said he always finds it interesting to discuss people in the Navy. Following the end of the interview, after Cullor turned off a tape recorder, Brieno said he told her: “he’s (her boyfriend) lucky, you’re an attractive gal.”
The next day, Brieno said, he received a call from Cullor which she recorded. Brieno said she asked him about the comments on her physical appearance and a question regarding whether she had a sister.
Brieno disputed Cullor’s account on the second point. He said he asked her whether she had any brothers or sisters. He then told her since she had brought up the matter, it must have been a “poor comment.” The two then discussed whether if she were a male, would he make the same comment?
Following Cullor’s filing of the complaint, her byline no longer appeared in the newspaper. Whether the two are connected could not be determined. Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future attempted to contact the Sentinel and Marga Cooley, managing editor of the Santa Maria Times, to determine if there was any connection and whether Cullor still worked for the Sentinel. The Sentinel is part of a newspaper group that includes the Santa Maria Times.
Mata sues City of Hanford
Posted earlier in April 2022
HANFORD – Darlene Mata, Hanford Community Development director currently on an extended
medical leave, is suing the city and Council Members Art Brieno and Francisco Ramirez, in a discrimination lawsuit seeking a judgement for lost earnings and benefits.
The suit filed in Kings County Superior Court on March 16 follows unsuccessful attempts Mata and her attorney
to reach a settlement with the city. She had sought $1.6 million from the city, according to her attorney.
During Mata’s absence the city community development department, a key city entity, has been run by Mary Beatie, a temporary head from Visalia who is a member of the City of Visalia Planning Commission. The development department is inundated with work, according to staff.
The seeds of the lawsuit were planted when Mata, who has been community development director for nearly eight years, filed a complaint with the city on January 6, 2021 alleging, according to the lawsuit, that she had been harassed, discriminated against on the basis of gender, had her privacy invaded, had confidential personal information disclosed, been retaliated against and been portrayed in a false light. She was seeking $1.6 million from the city as a result of her complaint.
The city rejected her claim on March 5, 2021, according to the lawsuit. It is routine for the city to reject claims.
The Superior Court lawsuit makes many of the same claims alleging hostile work environment, hostile work environment on the basis of a disability, discrimination on the basis of a disability, discrimination on the basis of gender, failure to prevent retaliation and discrimination, unlawful retaliation in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, intrusion into private affairs, disclosure of private materials and false light which means creating a false impression. The suit alleges Brieno and Ramirez portrayed her in a false light.
The first allegedly illegal treatment of her occurred in July 2019, according to the lawsuit.
The suit alleges that the city failed to satisfy its legal requirement to take immediate and appropriate corrective action.
The suit alleges that Brieno publicly admonished her during a city council meeting for being “heavy handed” in July 2020. This was in reference to Mata’s efforts to have various zoning and other violations corrected at the Aguilar & Sons Automotive, 330 E. 7th Street in downtown Hanford. Brieno advocated for Aguilar who also received support during the same meeting from various public speakers during the public comment period.
SEE RELTED ARTICLE BELOW THIS ONE
In Mata’s suit there is reference to the city attorney’s July 13, 2020 admonishment of Brieno in an email not to make public statements of a personal nature, involving medical condition or job performance involving city staff.
The lawsuit said as a result of the alleged acts by the city, Brieno and Ramirez she took medical leave in July 2020,
August 2020 and then on November 2020 took an extended medical leave.
The lawsuit referred to an independent investigator being hired by the city to examine Mata’s claims. The investigator concluded, according to the suit, that 14 of Mata’s 16 claims were supported by evidence. Among these claims was a statement allegedly made by Brieno to a former city manager that Mata should be fired.
The lawsuit recites Brieno’s unanimous censure by the city council on March 2, 2021 for unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation against Mata. As a result of the censure Brieno was stripped of his city council committee assignments and banned to travel on city business.
The lawsuit alleges that Ramirez sought to undermine the censure by requesting on June 15, 2021 that Brieno be allowed to serve on a city committee.
Mata demands a jury trial in her quest for legal relief.
Brieno and Ramirez could not be reached for comment.
Posted earlier in April 2022
HANFORD – Darlene Mata, Hanford Community Development director currently on an extended
medical leave, is suing the city and Council Members Art Brieno and Francisco Ramirez, in a discrimination lawsuit seeking a judgement for lost earnings and benefits.
The suit filed in Kings County Superior Court on March 16 follows unsuccessful attempts Mata and her attorney
to reach a settlement with the city. She had sought $1.6 million from the city, according to her attorney.
During Mata’s absence the city community development department, a key city entity, has been run by Mary Beatie, a temporary head from Visalia who is a member of the City of Visalia Planning Commission. The development department is inundated with work, according to staff.
The seeds of the lawsuit were planted when Mata, who has been community development director for nearly eight years, filed a complaint with the city on January 6, 2021 alleging, according to the lawsuit, that she had been harassed, discriminated against on the basis of gender, had her privacy invaded, had confidential personal information disclosed, been retaliated against and been portrayed in a false light. She was seeking $1.6 million from the city as a result of her complaint.
The city rejected her claim on March 5, 2021, according to the lawsuit. It is routine for the city to reject claims.
The Superior Court lawsuit makes many of the same claims alleging hostile work environment, hostile work environment on the basis of a disability, discrimination on the basis of a disability, discrimination on the basis of gender, failure to prevent retaliation and discrimination, unlawful retaliation in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, intrusion into private affairs, disclosure of private materials and false light which means creating a false impression. The suit alleges Brieno and Ramirez portrayed her in a false light.
The first allegedly illegal treatment of her occurred in July 2019, according to the lawsuit.
The suit alleges that the city failed to satisfy its legal requirement to take immediate and appropriate corrective action.
The suit alleges that Brieno publicly admonished her during a city council meeting for being “heavy handed” in July 2020. This was in reference to Mata’s efforts to have various zoning and other violations corrected at the Aguilar & Sons Automotive, 330 E. 7th Street in downtown Hanford. Brieno advocated for Aguilar who also received support during the same meeting from various public speakers during the public comment period.
SEE RELTED ARTICLE BELOW THIS ONE
In Mata’s suit there is reference to the city attorney’s July 13, 2020 admonishment of Brieno in an email not to make public statements of a personal nature, involving medical condition or job performance involving city staff.
The lawsuit said as a result of the alleged acts by the city, Brieno and Ramirez she took medical leave in July 2020,
August 2020 and then on November 2020 took an extended medical leave.
The lawsuit referred to an independent investigator being hired by the city to examine Mata’s claims. The investigator concluded, according to the suit, that 14 of Mata’s 16 claims were supported by evidence. Among these claims was a statement allegedly made by Brieno to a former city manager that Mata should be fired.
The lawsuit recites Brieno’s unanimous censure by the city council on March 2, 2021 for unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation against Mata. As a result of the censure Brieno was stripped of his city council committee assignments and banned to travel on city business.
The lawsuit alleges that Ramirez sought to undermine the censure by requesting on June 15, 2021 that Brieno be allowed to serve on a city committee.
Mata demands a jury trial in her quest for legal relief.
Brieno and Ramirez could not be reached for comment.
Ex-county administrator says abused by Fagundes;
Fagundes denies allegation, calls her claims bogus
Posted 3/26/22 6:18 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Prior to resigning as county administrator last June 15 Rebecca Campbell filed a claim against the county stating District Attorney Keith Fagundes was investigating her and three other highly-placed female county executives for purported “public corruption.”
Campbell said a whistle blower contacted her to advise her of the disclosures regarding Fagundes.
The district attorney said today (March 26) he is not aware of any whistleblower and denied that there was any such investigation. He also said he wasn’t aware of Campbell’s claim.
A copy of the claim was obtained from Kings County through a state Records Request.
Campbell, now assistant county administrator of San Luis County, said Fagundes’ actions “…constituted an abuse of prosecutorial discretion and an illegal conflict of interest targeted at me specifically.”
She also said, “I was injured by the acts of certain Supervisors who intentionally and without basis, and with discriminatory and retaliatory intent, regularly publicly ridiculed and embarrassed me and attempted to harm my professional reputation.”
Joe Neves, District 1 (Lemoore-Stratford) supervisor, who acts as a spokesman for the board, could not be reached for comment. At the time of Campbell’s departure there was no substantive reason given by the board for the departure of the key county official.
The September 1, 2021 claim then names Fagundes and certain unnamed members of the Board of Supervisors as employees of the county who caused the injury, damage or loss.
The county had no response to the claim because there is no lawsuit, said Diane Freeman, county counsel. The claim was administrative in nature.
Campbell did not return phone and email requests for comment. San Luis Obispo County announced her appointment on July 27, 2021, according to the county’s website.
Campbell, 46, became Kings County Administrator in December of 2017 replacing Larry Spikes who retired after 24 years. But Spikes came back after Campbell left in June 2021 until Ed Hill, formerly the county’s public health director, became county administrator on September 6, 2021.
The county supervisor agenda for June 22, 2021 listed a closed session item to consider the appointment of a county administrative officer. The supervisors include Richard Fagundes who is the district attorney’s father.
A brief check of the county’s website did not show minutes for that meeting although it is possible the minutes were at another location on the website. It could not be immediately determined whether Richard Fagundes attended the closed session.
Fagundes’ son Keith has been accused by Sarah Hacker, his opponent in the DA’s race, Robert Waggle, a former chief investigator in the DA’s office and the whistleblower in Campbell’s complaint as well as Campbell herself of improper actions in the way he runs the district attorney’s office.
Hacker, who used to work for him as a deputy district attorney, described Fagundes as a “vindictive” manager.
Waggle is suing the county for alleged harassment by Fagundes including sending the former investigator sexually explicit texts. Fagundes has said Waggle’s suit is without foundation and that Waggle is just looking for money. Waggle retired on medical leave, according to the suit.
“I have been very kind and patient with everyone in our office,” Fagundes said in an email response to questions from Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future. “I have always offered to assist people in any way I can. I never retaliated against anyone with whom I work.”
Fagundes said Hacker left the office and has been absent from criminal law for seven years. “Anyone with good intentions and the community’s best interest at heart would seek to improve perceived problems rather than wait for election cycle to do so.”
Fagundes added, “Any and all claims now coming forward are for political motives, as these people could have/should have voiced these alleged and perceived concerns in the prior two elections where I had wide margins of support.”
Fagundes denies allegation, calls her claims bogus
Posted 3/26/22 6:18 pm
KINGS COUNTY – Prior to resigning as county administrator last June 15 Rebecca Campbell filed a claim against the county stating District Attorney Keith Fagundes was investigating her and three other highly-placed female county executives for purported “public corruption.”
Campbell said a whistle blower contacted her to advise her of the disclosures regarding Fagundes.
The district attorney said today (March 26) he is not aware of any whistleblower and denied that there was any such investigation. He also said he wasn’t aware of Campbell’s claim.
A copy of the claim was obtained from Kings County through a state Records Request.
Campbell, now assistant county administrator of San Luis County, said Fagundes’ actions “…constituted an abuse of prosecutorial discretion and an illegal conflict of interest targeted at me specifically.”
She also said, “I was injured by the acts of certain Supervisors who intentionally and without basis, and with discriminatory and retaliatory intent, regularly publicly ridiculed and embarrassed me and attempted to harm my professional reputation.”
Joe Neves, District 1 (Lemoore-Stratford) supervisor, who acts as a spokesman for the board, could not be reached for comment. At the time of Campbell’s departure there was no substantive reason given by the board for the departure of the key county official.
The September 1, 2021 claim then names Fagundes and certain unnamed members of the Board of Supervisors as employees of the county who caused the injury, damage or loss.
The county had no response to the claim because there is no lawsuit, said Diane Freeman, county counsel. The claim was administrative in nature.
Campbell did not return phone and email requests for comment. San Luis Obispo County announced her appointment on July 27, 2021, according to the county’s website.
Campbell, 46, became Kings County Administrator in December of 2017 replacing Larry Spikes who retired after 24 years. But Spikes came back after Campbell left in June 2021 until Ed Hill, formerly the county’s public health director, became county administrator on September 6, 2021.
The county supervisor agenda for June 22, 2021 listed a closed session item to consider the appointment of a county administrative officer. The supervisors include Richard Fagundes who is the district attorney’s father.
A brief check of the county’s website did not show minutes for that meeting although it is possible the minutes were at another location on the website. It could not be immediately determined whether Richard Fagundes attended the closed session.
Fagundes’ son Keith has been accused by Sarah Hacker, his opponent in the DA’s race, Robert Waggle, a former chief investigator in the DA’s office and the whistleblower in Campbell’s complaint as well as Campbell herself of improper actions in the way he runs the district attorney’s office.
Hacker, who used to work for him as a deputy district attorney, described Fagundes as a “vindictive” manager.
Waggle is suing the county for alleged harassment by Fagundes including sending the former investigator sexually explicit texts. Fagundes has said Waggle’s suit is without foundation and that Waggle is just looking for money. Waggle retired on medical leave, according to the suit.
“I have been very kind and patient with everyone in our office,” Fagundes said in an email response to questions from Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future. “I have always offered to assist people in any way I can. I never retaliated against anyone with whom I work.”
Fagundes said Hacker left the office and has been absent from criminal law for seven years. “Anyone with good intentions and the community’s best interest at heart would seek to improve perceived problems rather than wait for election cycle to do so.”
Fagundes added, “Any and all claims now coming forward are for political motives, as these people could have/should have voiced these alleged and perceived concerns in the prior two elections where I had wide margins of support.”
Fagundes and Hacker trade barbs in DA's race
Posted 3/18/22 12:26 pm
There was “a lot of negativity and viciousness going on when (Greg) Strickland and (Sarah) Hacker (were) in (the) DA’s office.”
---Keith Fagundes, incumbent Kings County District Attorney
“This type of office should be upholding the law. My goal, if elected…is to get rid of retaliation and hostility
and harassment, to insert an environment of cooperating and independent thinking.”
---Sarah Hacker, attorney, running
to be next Kings County DA
KINGS COUNTY – In what is shaping up to be a bitter campaign in the Kings County District Attorney’s race,
embattled, incumbent Keith Fagundes and challenger Sarah Hacker are trading barbs accusing each other of fostering a poisonous office environment harmful to the effectiveness of the DA.
“It is really shocking to see how she operates,” said Fagundes, a two-time incumbent seeking a third term in the June 7 primary. There was “a lot of negativity and viciousness going on when (Greg) Strickland and (Sarah) Hacker
(were) in (the) DA’s office,” he said.
For her part Hacker said Fagundes was a “vindictive” manager and there has been “a huge rate of turnover in the DA’s (office). Only a handful of people are left since I started. It’s a priority for me to build confidence in the DA’s office. Hacker worked for Fagundes for six weeks as part of her nine-year stint as a deputy DA under Ron Calhoun and Greg Strickland.
“This type of office should be upholding the law. My goal, if elected…is to get rid of retaliation and hostility
And harassment, to insert an environment of cooperating and independent thinking,” said Hacker.
Under Fagundes’ watch the county is being sued by a former male investigator in Fagundes’ office alleging sexual harassment by Fagundes, prosecutorial misconduct, favoritism toward certain clients among a laundry list of allegations. The suit said Fagundes was sexually attracted to Robert Waggle and sent hundreds of texts to him, many of them sexually-oriented.
Fagundes has called Waggle’s claims “completely unfounded” adding that Waggle was just a disgruntled employee that Fagundes was trying to get to do his job. Waggles, said Fagundes, is also looking for a payout from the county.
But Hacker, a 42-year-old attorney with Dias law firm in Hanford, said Waggle also accused Fagundes manipulating evidence to get a guilty verdict. She accused Fagundes, who is 51, of leniency toward clients and unfair prosecution of others.
The issue of prosecutorial favoritism surfaced January 21 when Superior Court Judge Robert S. Burns ordered
the state Attorney General’s office to assume seven of the DA’s cases because the defendants were represented by John Sarsfield, who is also representing Fagundes in a lawsuit against the county for refusing to
pay Fagundes’ legal expenses in the Waggle suit.
One of those cases involves Sarsfield’s client Aavron Bernard Manning. “The problem is it appears to me the District Attorney should be doing something about this and they’re not,” said Burns according to November 16, 2021 transcript of a pretrial conference with attorneys. “So if he gets an acquittal what do you do with the allegations because the DA didn’t present evidence they had?”
Burns, addressing Melissa D’Morias, deputy district attorney, said, “People should have stepped away from this case in my opinion, as soon as you (John Sarsfield, attorney) represented Aavron Manning. As soon as you represented Mr. Fagundes.”
The “…public is going to look at it and say what is going on over there favors being granted, right?,” Burns said earlier in the transcript.
When Sarsfield told the judge that he didn’t talk to Fagundes about the Manning and Galvan cases, the judge replied that the “…impropriety isn’t you (Sarsfield) talking to him (Fagundes) about that, it is him sending a favor
your way whether it was discussed or not discussed.”
Fagundes said he has the right to have his own attorney to litigate the matter of the county not providing independent legal representation to his office. This is why Fagundes retained Sarsfield, Fagundes said.
“It is starting to look like judge (Burns) is trying to influence a political position,” Fagundes said. “We agreed to allow AG (attorney general) to handle the matter because the judge speculated someone would criticize…but nobody did until election season.”
In another allegation of impropriety Hacker said Fagundes is keeping a “District Attorney Mobil Command Center” trailer at his house rather than on Kings County Government Center grounds.
Fagundes said the Mobile Command Center is indeed being kept at his house. Fagundes explained that the county tried three different locations on county property to park the trailer and that the trailer was broken into and vandalized. He said the safest place to keep the trailer is at his house where he is capable of towing it, maintaining it at his own expense and providing free storage to the county.
Another allegation raised by Hacker involved Fagundes’ $1,000 contribution to the Republican Party of Kings County and then using DA investigators on the county payroll to provide dignitary protection for the party’s
Reagan-Lincoln Dinner.
The donation from Fagundes’ campaign was reported on Fagundes’ state Fair Political Practices Form 760 and the
dignitary protection is listed in an October 14, 2021 Kings County District Attorney Operations Plan.
Fagundes said dignitary protection is also given to Democrats when they hold events. When T.J. Cox, a Democrat, visited Kings County he was given dignitary protection, Fagundes said.
Fagundes said he is running because his leadership cleaned up a backlog of 3,900 cases left by Strickland and Hacker. “We have not had a backlog year (in) over (a) year,” he said. The office maintains a backlog of less than 100 cases, Fagundes said. The office is much more efficient now because the cases are reviewed by attorneys and processed by clerks.
He also said the office has more legal experience with fewer attorneys, he created a victim witness division, digital case processing. The office has an actual leadership team with good structures, Fagundes said. When Strickland was in charge, Fagundes said, he was never there.
For her part Hacker said she doesn’t want the problems with Fagundes to be the focus of her campaign rather, she said, she is running to promote public safety and justice for all.
A key issue in criminal justice, she said, is theft. The laws have been made so weak, Hacker said, that it encourages people to steal. “Many of the theft cases that would have been previously prosecuted have been directed to pre-trial diversion programs where the violations are treated as misdemeanors.” She pledged that for those theft cases where crimes do not fall under diversion, the suspects will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Kings County Sheriff David Robinson has endorsed Hacker while the Hanford Police Officers Association has endorsed Fagundes.
---Keith Fagundes, incumbent Kings County District Attorney
“This type of office should be upholding the law. My goal, if elected…is to get rid of retaliation and hostility
and harassment, to insert an environment of cooperating and independent thinking.”
---Sarah Hacker, attorney, running
to be next Kings County DA
KINGS COUNTY – In what is shaping up to be a bitter campaign in the Kings County District Attorney’s race,
embattled, incumbent Keith Fagundes and challenger Sarah Hacker are trading barbs accusing each other of fostering a poisonous office environment harmful to the effectiveness of the DA.
“It is really shocking to see how she operates,” said Fagundes, a two-time incumbent seeking a third term in the June 7 primary. There was “a lot of negativity and viciousness going on when (Greg) Strickland and (Sarah) Hacker
(were) in (the) DA’s office,” he said.
For her part Hacker said Fagundes was a “vindictive” manager and there has been “a huge rate of turnover in the DA’s (office). Only a handful of people are left since I started. It’s a priority for me to build confidence in the DA’s office. Hacker worked for Fagundes for six weeks as part of her nine-year stint as a deputy DA under Ron Calhoun and Greg Strickland.
“This type of office should be upholding the law. My goal, if elected…is to get rid of retaliation and hostility
And harassment, to insert an environment of cooperating and independent thinking,” said Hacker.
Under Fagundes’ watch the county is being sued by a former male investigator in Fagundes’ office alleging sexual harassment by Fagundes, prosecutorial misconduct, favoritism toward certain clients among a laundry list of allegations. The suit said Fagundes was sexually attracted to Robert Waggle and sent hundreds of texts to him, many of them sexually-oriented.
Fagundes has called Waggle’s claims “completely unfounded” adding that Waggle was just a disgruntled employee that Fagundes was trying to get to do his job. Waggles, said Fagundes, is also looking for a payout from the county.
But Hacker, a 42-year-old attorney with Dias law firm in Hanford, said Waggle also accused Fagundes manipulating evidence to get a guilty verdict. She accused Fagundes, who is 51, of leniency toward clients and unfair prosecution of others.
The issue of prosecutorial favoritism surfaced January 21 when Superior Court Judge Robert S. Burns ordered
the state Attorney General’s office to assume seven of the DA’s cases because the defendants were represented by John Sarsfield, who is also representing Fagundes in a lawsuit against the county for refusing to
pay Fagundes’ legal expenses in the Waggle suit.
One of those cases involves Sarsfield’s client Aavron Bernard Manning. “The problem is it appears to me the District Attorney should be doing something about this and they’re not,” said Burns according to November 16, 2021 transcript of a pretrial conference with attorneys. “So if he gets an acquittal what do you do with the allegations because the DA didn’t present evidence they had?”
Burns, addressing Melissa D’Morias, deputy district attorney, said, “People should have stepped away from this case in my opinion, as soon as you (John Sarsfield, attorney) represented Aavron Manning. As soon as you represented Mr. Fagundes.”
The “…public is going to look at it and say what is going on over there favors being granted, right?,” Burns said earlier in the transcript.
When Sarsfield told the judge that he didn’t talk to Fagundes about the Manning and Galvan cases, the judge replied that the “…impropriety isn’t you (Sarsfield) talking to him (Fagundes) about that, it is him sending a favor
your way whether it was discussed or not discussed.”
Fagundes said he has the right to have his own attorney to litigate the matter of the county not providing independent legal representation to his office. This is why Fagundes retained Sarsfield, Fagundes said.
“It is starting to look like judge (Burns) is trying to influence a political position,” Fagundes said. “We agreed to allow AG (attorney general) to handle the matter because the judge speculated someone would criticize…but nobody did until election season.”
In another allegation of impropriety Hacker said Fagundes is keeping a “District Attorney Mobil Command Center” trailer at his house rather than on Kings County Government Center grounds.
Fagundes said the Mobile Command Center is indeed being kept at his house. Fagundes explained that the county tried three different locations on county property to park the trailer and that the trailer was broken into and vandalized. He said the safest place to keep the trailer is at his house where he is capable of towing it, maintaining it at his own expense and providing free storage to the county.
Another allegation raised by Hacker involved Fagundes’ $1,000 contribution to the Republican Party of Kings County and then using DA investigators on the county payroll to provide dignitary protection for the party’s
Reagan-Lincoln Dinner.
The donation from Fagundes’ campaign was reported on Fagundes’ state Fair Political Practices Form 760 and the
dignitary protection is listed in an October 14, 2021 Kings County District Attorney Operations Plan.
Fagundes said dignitary protection is also given to Democrats when they hold events. When T.J. Cox, a Democrat, visited Kings County he was given dignitary protection, Fagundes said.
Fagundes said he is running because his leadership cleaned up a backlog of 3,900 cases left by Strickland and Hacker. “We have not had a backlog year (in) over (a) year,” he said. The office maintains a backlog of less than 100 cases, Fagundes said. The office is much more efficient now because the cases are reviewed by attorneys and processed by clerks.
He also said the office has more legal experience with fewer attorneys, he created a victim witness division, digital case processing. The office has an actual leadership team with good structures, Fagundes said. When Strickland was in charge, Fagundes said, he was never there.
For her part Hacker said she doesn’t want the problems with Fagundes to be the focus of her campaign rather, she said, she is running to promote public safety and justice for all.
A key issue in criminal justice, she said, is theft. The laws have been made so weak, Hacker said, that it encourages people to steal. “Many of the theft cases that would have been previously prosecuted have been directed to pre-trial diversion programs where the violations are treated as misdemeanors.” She pledged that for those theft cases where crimes do not fall under diversion, the suspects will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Kings County Sheriff David Robinson has endorsed Hacker while the Hanford Police Officers Association has endorsed Fagundes.
Controversial housing project triggers potential lawsuit
Posted 2/23/22 5:51 pm
HANFORD – The controversial Northstar affordable housing project in North Hanford is already the subject of a potential lawsuit which will be considered by county supervisors tomorrow in closed session.
Jessica Hoff Berzac, a principal with Upholdings, the co-developer of the project, said today she didn’t know what the lawsuit was about.
Meanwhile, Supervisor Joe Neves said that he would consider another location for the project. But Hoff Berzac said the location cannot be changed because of state and federal financial commitments.
In addition, the 2.76-acre site behind the Crossings Shopping Center at 11th and Fargo was sold to Upholdings Northstar, a California Limited Partnership on January 28, 2022 for $625,000, according to county property records. The seller was Robert T. Junell, successor trustee of the Robert L. Janis T. Junell Revocable Trust. Junell is a retired dentist in Hanford.
If the location for the 72-unit project were changed, it could trigger additional potential lawsuits.
The timing of the sale is interesting in that it occurred just a few weeks before there was widespread publicity about the project.
There was a city council meeting on February 15 where many people spoke opposing the project and then at a special city council meeting the next day some 700 people mostly opposed to the project lashed out at the city, county and the developers. Twenty-two units of the project at 664 and 668 Northstar Courts will serve vulnerable populations.
During the raucous three-hour meeting punctuated by shouts and boos against the development, people said they weren’t aware of it and that the city and county were hiding it from the public. People said the development didn’t belong in that location, they were afraid of increased crime from the tenants and the project would create parking problems.
There is a public record on affordable housing several years old although, until recently, it would have been difficult to identify this specific proposal.
Aspects related to the project were on the agenda at at least two board of supervisor meetings although the meeting on August 6, 2019 didn’t really identify the project. There is reference to an application for $500,000 for “No Place Like Home” from the state Department of Housing and Community Development, according to the agenda. This was essentially a reservation that if the county got the loan from the state, it would accept it.
Then, on December 22, 2020 there is reference in the agenda to an $8 million allocation for a “No Place Like Home” allocation. This was essentially participation in a competition to get the money from the state. Once again, there was no reference to Northstar.
In July 2021 Upholdings and Self-Help Enterprises, the co-developer, got a $4.73 million loan from the state in addition to the $500,000 loan referenced at the August 6, 2019 meeting, said Hoff Berzac. The project also got a
$5.2 million loan from the state to house farm workers in 32 units of the project, said Hoff Berzac.
In all, the project got $22 million in loans from government sources, she said. The remaining portion was financed through private financing and the developers. The construction cost is $24 million but the total cost of the project is $35 million, Hoff Berzac said.
“There is no way to get them (supervisors) to buy it back, it’s done,” she said.
She disputed that the project was hidden from the public. There were countless public meetings at the county’s Homeless Task Force and the location was zoned for multi-family housing.
The Neighborhood Mixed Use zoning designation is compatible with the city’s 2035 General Plan Update which included a citizens’ advisory committee. However, members of the committee have repeatedly stated that certain topics during their deliberations were discouraged including the rezoning from low density residential to public facilities of the Hidden Valley Park extension.
The controversy over Northstar occurs as the state tries to make more affordable housing available through state law that allows for higher densities in residential neighborhoods. Generally, the state’s housing production----including in Central Valley cities---is woefully inadequate to meeting demand thus pushing up prices, increasing homelessness and forcing people to move out of state to find an affordable place to live.. Also each city has state targets that are supposed to met for the amount of affordable housing construction.
Hanford has rebuffed other efforts to help its homeless.
In recent years the city had money to construct a service center on Sixth Street downtown to help the homeless with social services. This was turned down by the city council after numerous downtown merchants opposed it saying the presence of the center would hurt their businesses.
Upholdings has built affordable housing in Clovis and Porterville. But the situation in Hanford is unique, Hoff Berzac said.
“I’ve not experienced this level of not in my backyard in probably a decade,” she said.
She called the community’s reaction “stigmatizing” and “hurtful.” Meanwhile she said she has received many phone calls from people who want to get on the list to move into the new develo
Jessica Hoff Berzac, a principal with Upholdings, the co-developer of the project, said today she didn’t know what the lawsuit was about.
Meanwhile, Supervisor Joe Neves said that he would consider another location for the project. But Hoff Berzac said the location cannot be changed because of state and federal financial commitments.
In addition, the 2.76-acre site behind the Crossings Shopping Center at 11th and Fargo was sold to Upholdings Northstar, a California Limited Partnership on January 28, 2022 for $625,000, according to county property records. The seller was Robert T. Junell, successor trustee of the Robert L. Janis T. Junell Revocable Trust. Junell is a retired dentist in Hanford.
If the location for the 72-unit project were changed, it could trigger additional potential lawsuits.
The timing of the sale is interesting in that it occurred just a few weeks before there was widespread publicity about the project.
There was a city council meeting on February 15 where many people spoke opposing the project and then at a special city council meeting the next day some 700 people mostly opposed to the project lashed out at the city, county and the developers. Twenty-two units of the project at 664 and 668 Northstar Courts will serve vulnerable populations.
During the raucous three-hour meeting punctuated by shouts and boos against the development, people said they weren’t aware of it and that the city and county were hiding it from the public. People said the development didn’t belong in that location, they were afraid of increased crime from the tenants and the project would create parking problems.
There is a public record on affordable housing several years old although, until recently, it would have been difficult to identify this specific proposal.
Aspects related to the project were on the agenda at at least two board of supervisor meetings although the meeting on August 6, 2019 didn’t really identify the project. There is reference to an application for $500,000 for “No Place Like Home” from the state Department of Housing and Community Development, according to the agenda. This was essentially a reservation that if the county got the loan from the state, it would accept it.
Then, on December 22, 2020 there is reference in the agenda to an $8 million allocation for a “No Place Like Home” allocation. This was essentially participation in a competition to get the money from the state. Once again, there was no reference to Northstar.
In July 2021 Upholdings and Self-Help Enterprises, the co-developer, got a $4.73 million loan from the state in addition to the $500,000 loan referenced at the August 6, 2019 meeting, said Hoff Berzac. The project also got a
$5.2 million loan from the state to house farm workers in 32 units of the project, said Hoff Berzac.
In all, the project got $22 million in loans from government sources, she said. The remaining portion was financed through private financing and the developers. The construction cost is $24 million but the total cost of the project is $35 million, Hoff Berzac said.
“There is no way to get them (supervisors) to buy it back, it’s done,” she said.
She disputed that the project was hidden from the public. There were countless public meetings at the county’s Homeless Task Force and the location was zoned for multi-family housing.
The Neighborhood Mixed Use zoning designation is compatible with the city’s 2035 General Plan Update which included a citizens’ advisory committee. However, members of the committee have repeatedly stated that certain topics during their deliberations were discouraged including the rezoning from low density residential to public facilities of the Hidden Valley Park extension.
The controversy over Northstar occurs as the state tries to make more affordable housing available through state law that allows for higher densities in residential neighborhoods. Generally, the state’s housing production----including in Central Valley cities---is woefully inadequate to meeting demand thus pushing up prices, increasing homelessness and forcing people to move out of state to find an affordable place to live.. Also each city has state targets that are supposed to met for the amount of affordable housing construction.
Hanford has rebuffed other efforts to help its homeless.
In recent years the city had money to construct a service center on Sixth Street downtown to help the homeless with social services. This was turned down by the city council after numerous downtown merchants opposed it saying the presence of the center would hurt their businesses.
Upholdings has built affordable housing in Clovis and Porterville. But the situation in Hanford is unique, Hoff Berzac said.
“I’ve not experienced this level of not in my backyard in probably a decade,” she said.
She called the community’s reaction “stigmatizing” and “hurtful.” Meanwhile she said she has received many phone calls from people who want to get on the list to move into the new develo
North Hanford in uproar over affordable housing project
Updated 2/18/22 9:38 am
HANFORD – The city’s need for more affordable housing collided head-on with outraged North Hanford residents who loudly protested Wednesday night a planned 72-unit housing project, 22 of which will serve vulnerable populations.
Two days after the meeting Kings County Supervisor Joe Neves said supervisors are open to considering other locations for the project. "As the planning moves forward, we have to continue to see where the project can land," he said.
With more than 700 people packed into the Hanford Civic Auditorium the residents let city officials and the developers know in no uncertain terms that the Northstar Courts project violated community standards for safety and parking. People said they were afraid of being attacked by a mentally ill person having a breakdown.
The $24 million project at 664 and 682 Northstar Drive will be located on land east of CVS and Chevron which are in Fargo Crossings Shopping Center at 11th Avenue and Fargo Avenue.
The evening was punctuated by boos, applause, signs against the project and verbal threats to recall Mayor Diane Sharp and City Manager Mario Cifuentez. At times the meeting had more of the feel of a mob action than a civic gathering. Police were there to keep order.
“This is a train wreck ready to happen,” said Mike Spicer, a retired law enforcement officer. He did a comprehensive crime analysis and said North Hanford is like Mayberry. He said the project would create traffic problems. He then directed his comments to city council members and said, “What did you know, when did you know it and what did you do?”
One of the themes of the three-hour special city council meeting was poor communication about the existence and purpose of the project. Also the project did not have to be approved by the city planning commission or the city council because as a Neighborhood Mixed Use project under the city’s zoning regulations the complex is a permitted use, said Cifuentez.
When Cifuentez said there was “no attempt to hide anything” his statement was greeted by shouts of “no” and boos. However, he conceded that the city could have done a better job of communicating with residents about the project which will also have 33 apartments for current or retired farm workers and 16 units for working families.
Hanford, the Central Valley and the state are experiencing a crisis in affordable housing. Cifuentez said Hanford needed 15,695 additional housing units.
“Most of the people don’t want the project,” said Gordon Jester. “(The) mayor said (it’s) done deal. I don’t put up with tyrannical governments.”
Others such as Rene Estee said putting the project behind Loew’s or behind Chile’s would be a better choice. “I can’t believe the way this was slipped in. This was crap. Put up a tent village (for the homeless),” she said.
One unidentified male speaker said, “I don’t care how it sounds. You guys aren’t welcome here at all.”
And while less than a handful of those present said they supported helping the homeless and other lower income residents with the apartment complex, the audience didn’t accept the sentiment judging by the reception given the speakers.
This is a reputable company that has built thousands of units for working families, said Susan Long, of Self-Help Enterprise, a consultant to the developer which is Upholdings. “It’s not a handout, it’s a hand-up,” she said. “Everyone in here at one point is there (needing help),” Long said. The audience wouldn’t let her finish her defense of the project.
Upholdings operates similar facilities on the east coast and in Clovis and Porterville, said Joe Neves, Kings County Supervisor on February 18. After the state appropriated money for affordable housing under Governor Brown, the Northstar project was discussed by the supervisors at three meetings on August 6, 2019, December 22, 2020 and January 25, 2022, said Diane Badasci, the supervisors' board clerk.
Another speaker said, “this town hall meeting was hijacked by the city council. The city council, board of supervisors disappointed us. You are not going to LA our Hanford,” he said.
Jessica Hoff Berzac of Upholdings said during a question and answer session that while the project location can’t be changed because of financial commitments from the state and federal government. Upholdings will work with the community to address their concerns. As Berzac started to speak about two-thirds of the audience left.
Although some speakers said the county paid multi-millions for the $24 million project, the actual county contribution, which came from behavioral health funds, was $1 million, said Berzac. The bulk of the money, she said, came from the state and some funds were provided by the federal government.
The facility will have 102 parking spaces which will be regulated, she said. The parking, Berzac said, was designed in consultation with city engineers. The facility, she said, will not be used for emergency shelter.
It doesn’t make a person violent because she can afford a $1,000 a month apartment instead of $1,800 one, Berzac said. The facility will have a $500,000 security system with a camera on every corner, she said. In addition, there will be a live-in onsite manager. The project will provide mental health services such as anger management, vocational education training. "Whatever they need to be successful," said Neves.
The project will not just serve people on the streets but people who might have an address but are struggling. "By our standards, they (those who are struggling) are homeless," Neves said.
Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in June 2022 and will be completed in November 2023.
Higher fine sought for Hanford Now campaign violation
Posted 2/17/22 9:06 pm
SACRAMENTO – The state Fair Political Practices staff proposed a $3,500 fine against ex-Hanford mayor Dan Chin for a campaign law violation but commission members voted unanimously today (2/17/22) to reject the fine amount in favor of a higher one.
The commission returned the matter to the staff for further work. The maximum that could be charged, it was stated during the hearing, is $5,000.
Chin is the treasurer and principal of Hanford Now, a political committee that was involved in a recall election in 2018 of current Council Member Francisco Ramirez.
There is an admission of a violation, said Chairman Richard Miadich. He said it was “…hard to believe (Chin) acted negligently. These things both can’t both be true. I believe the bag of $100 bills (rather than the) statement.”
Meanwhile, Ramirez told the commission, “I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt (Chin) tried to deceive the public.” He said he was referring to money Chin got from the public and special interests.
Chin accepted $9,100 in cash contributions---many in the form of $100 bills--- for Hanford Now from January 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017, according to the stipulation. The law states that cash contributions of $25 or more must be reported which they were not, according to the stipulation.
Chin is currently LAFCO commissioner along with Ramirez. Chin said he is no longer actively involved in local politics. However, he recently spoke at Hanford council meeting opposing zoning changes at 12th and Lacey Avenue and the Costco Center. LAFCO is responsible for coordinating changes in local boundaries such as the annexations of cities.
Chin told Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future that before the hearing that the staff could find no intent of wrong-doing and that staff reduced the number of violations from 21 to one and the fine from $105,000 to $3,500. He said the commission proceedings against him are civil in nature, not criminal.
Staff said Chin should be fined for causing “…public harm in the way that these violations inhibited the ability of the Enforcement Division to determine if other violations were committed,” according to the stipulation.
“By accepting cash, the public has no assurances that the true sources of the contributions were properly disclosed,” according to the stipulation.
FPPC administrators and enforces the state’s Political Reform Act which was passed in the wake of Watergate. The law regulates campaign activities and personal financial affairs of state and local officials.
Chin made statements, the stipulation said, that were not consistent with the evidence. “For example, when asked about cash contributions, he asserted that he did not need to report individual contributors because the cash contributions were under $100.” The stipulation concluded, it was unclear if there was an intent to mislead or conceal the true source or if Chin was negligent in collecting the money and keeping documentation. Later, the stipulation said, Chin refused to meet with an investigator.
Chin said as the investigator became more aggressive, he refused to meet with the investigator on advice of counsel.
“The evidence supports a finding that the violations were negligent,” according to the stipulation. Chin kept and produced records as part of the investigation but he failed to keep his own accounting such as a spreadsheet, according to the stipulation.
Chin repeatedly accepted cash contributions, according to the stipulation. He failed to amend campaign statements to reflect the itemized contributions of $100 or more that were received in cash, according to the stipulation.
Hanford Now, according to the stipulation, had a prior history of problems. The Enforcement Division issued a warning letter to Hanford Now for failing to disclose it was primarily formed to oppose a local measure.
Chin has claimed, the stipulation said, that the contributions were permitted to be unitemized as they were under $100. “However,” according to the stipulation “this is unlikely to be true as the cash was received as $100 bills.”
Chin, through Hanford Now, is accused of doing the same thing---mishandling of campaign funds--- that he called out Ramirez for in a successful recall campaign against Ramirez. During the recall Chin also said Ramirez misrepresented his academic credentials.
In response to a question from Commissioner Catharine Baker FPPC Chief of Enforcement Angela J. Brereton said she didn’t know who started the investigation against Chin. It could have come from an anonymous complaint or was the result of a spinoff from another case, Brereton said.
148 home development proposed for Lemoore
Posted 2/19/22 11:11 am
LEMOORE – Lennar Homes is proposing a 148-home subdivision at 18 ¾ Avenue (Liberty Drive) north of Hanford-Armona Road that will require annexation of 4.3 acres from two conservation districts, according to the planning commission.
A public hearing will be held at the Lemoore Planning Commission meeting on March 14 at 7 pm in the Lemoore Council Chamber at 429 C St.
The total acreage of the project 30.3 acres including the 4.3-acre proposed annexation.
The proposed zoning for the project is low-density residential. There will be one access point for the development to the south. Lot sizes for the single family homes range from 4,320 to 10,864 square feet. The project is a Planned Unit Development which means the level of development is more intense than normally would be permitted.
Rather than doing an environmental impact report on the project the developers have prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration which is a less comprehensive form of environmental review.
Interested parties have twenty days from February 18 to comment on the Mitigated Negative Declaration, according to the planning commission. The document can be reviewed at the city’s Community Development Department at 711 W. Cinnamon Drive. Mailed responses must be filed with the city clerk’s office no later than 4:30 pm. The clerk’s address is City of Lemoore, 711 W. Cinnamon Drive, Lemoore, Ca. 93245.
Public comments on the project can also be submitted via email: [email protected]. The deadline for submission of emailed comments is 4:30 pm on March 14.
Posted 2/19/22 11:11 am
LEMOORE – Lennar Homes is proposing a 148-home subdivision at 18 ¾ Avenue (Liberty Drive) north of Hanford-Armona Road that will require annexation of 4.3 acres from two conservation districts, according to the planning commission.
A public hearing will be held at the Lemoore Planning Commission meeting on March 14 at 7 pm in the Lemoore Council Chamber at 429 C St.
The total acreage of the project 30.3 acres including the 4.3-acre proposed annexation.
The proposed zoning for the project is low-density residential. There will be one access point for the development to the south. Lot sizes for the single family homes range from 4,320 to 10,864 square feet. The project is a Planned Unit Development which means the level of development is more intense than normally would be permitted.
Rather than doing an environmental impact report on the project the developers have prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration which is a less comprehensive form of environmental review.
Interested parties have twenty days from February 18 to comment on the Mitigated Negative Declaration, according to the planning commission. The document can be reviewed at the city’s Community Development Department at 711 W. Cinnamon Drive. Mailed responses must be filed with the city clerk’s office no later than 4:30 pm. The clerk’s address is City of Lemoore, 711 W. Cinnamon Drive, Lemoore, Ca. 93245.
Public comments on the project can also be submitted via email: [email protected]. The deadline for submission of emailed comments is 4:30 pm on March 14.
Hanford is trying to remedy looming pension problems
Updated 2/17/22 9:04 pm
Updated 2/17/22 9:04 pm
HANFORD – The city is trying to remedy part of its looming pension problems.
At issue is the portion of pension liabilities affecting current retirees and some groups of existing employees, said Chris Tavarez, city finance director, February 11.
The city took an initial step remedying this by filing a lawsuit January 3 in Kings County Superior Court against all persons interested in the sale of general obligation bonds. The purpose of the suit is to validate the issuance on bonds, according to a printed legal notice.
The final okay for this remedy process still has to be approved by the city council, said Tavarez.
What the city is trying to do is get a lower interest rate on some $4.8 million in pension liabilities owed to current retirees and some existing employees, he said.
This year the obligation amounts to $4.8 million but by 2031 the amount increases to $5.3 million annually, Tavarez said.
The way the city would lower its interest costs is by paying off the liability owed to the California Public Employees Retirement System. It would do this by issuing general obligation bonds that would be purchased by investors at a certain interest rate.
Calpers invests the city’s pension money and then pays retirees and certain classes of employees.
The bond issuance approach, which has been used by the cities of Auburn and Grass Valley, is not without risk, said Tavarez. If Calpers does better with its investments than the interest rate the city got with bonds, then the city would not be better off, he said.
This strategy does not affect the regular pension contribution for most current employees, said Tavarez. Currently, 10-15 percent of employees’ paychecks is deducted for pension expense. The city matches that contribution. The money is then invested with Calpers.
At issue is the portion of pension liabilities affecting current retirees and some groups of existing employees, said Chris Tavarez, city finance director, February 11.
The city took an initial step remedying this by filing a lawsuit January 3 in Kings County Superior Court against all persons interested in the sale of general obligation bonds. The purpose of the suit is to validate the issuance on bonds, according to a printed legal notice.
The final okay for this remedy process still has to be approved by the city council, said Tavarez.
What the city is trying to do is get a lower interest rate on some $4.8 million in pension liabilities owed to current retirees and some existing employees, he said.
This year the obligation amounts to $4.8 million but by 2031 the amount increases to $5.3 million annually, Tavarez said.
The way the city would lower its interest costs is by paying off the liability owed to the California Public Employees Retirement System. It would do this by issuing general obligation bonds that would be purchased by investors at a certain interest rate.
Calpers invests the city’s pension money and then pays retirees and certain classes of employees.
The bond issuance approach, which has been used by the cities of Auburn and Grass Valley, is not without risk, said Tavarez. If Calpers does better with its investments than the interest rate the city got with bonds, then the city would not be better off, he said.
This strategy does not affect the regular pension contribution for most current employees, said Tavarez. Currently, 10-15 percent of employees’ paychecks is deducted for pension expense. The city matches that contribution. The money is then invested with Calpers.
12 months and no settlement in Mata case
HANFORD – It’s been more than a year since Community Development Director Darlene Mata filed a claim against the city alleging Council Member Art Brieno subjected her to a hostile work environment, harassment and gender discrimination but, according to the city attorney, there is no settlement in the case.
Negotiations are ongoing, said Mario U. Zamora, city attorney. Mata’s attorney Rachelle Berglund did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Mata is still employed by the city even though she is on leave, said Zamora.
Her pay for 2019 was listed as $237,118.02 including a category called “other,” benefits and pension, according to Transparentcalifornia.com.
Negotiations are ongoing, said Mario U. Zamora, city attorney. Mata’s attorney Rachelle Berglund did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Mata is still employed by the city even though she is on leave, said Zamora.
Her pay for 2019 was listed as $237,118.02 including a category called “other,” benefits and pension, according to Transparentcalifornia.com.
Judge orders AG to prosecute 7 Fagundes' criminal cases
POSTED AND UPDATE 2/1/22 11:27 am
KINGS COUNTY - Superior Court Judge Robert S. Burns ordered an attorney from the state Attorney General’s office to take over prosecution of seven criminal cases formerly being prosecuted by embattled county DA Keith Fagundes.
The matter was initiated by the court to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
The potential conflict of interest arose because the Visalia law firm of Sarsfield and Melo is representing both the criminal defendants and in a separate, and unrelated matter, representing Fagundes in a civil action against Kings County.
The criminal defendants are: Luis Alvarado, Jonathan Espinoza, Ricardo Galvan, Aavron Manning, Isias Plata, Kasinda Sandoval and Travis Silkwood.
Even though the DA’s office didn’t think there was any conflict, a representative from the DA’s office told the judge that the DA’s office was going to voluntarily withdraw from prosecution and have an outside attorney handle prosecution.
And although Heather Gimle, a deputy state Attorney General filed a brief objecting to prosecuting the cases, the judge on January 21 ordered her to do so.
Following his ruling Burns told each criminal defendant of his decision via a video hookup and said a new trial date in those cases would be set February 3.
The county is being sued by Robert Waggle, Fagundes’ former chief investigator and a sworn peace officer, and Fagundes.
Waggle alleges Fagundes repeated sexually harassed him over a period of two years. Waggle is now on medical leave.
In his suit Fagundes said the county does not have the authority to transfer personnel from the DA’s office and that the county has to defend the DA against Waggle’s suit, said Sarsfield. The reference to personnel transfers in Fagundes’ suit involves Alexandria Smith, Fagundes’ secretary and Waggle’s girlfriend.
She has been reassigned by the county to the Human Resources Department. Fagundes’ suit said that Smith’s absence has negatively impacted the ability of the office to process criminal prosecutions.
Both the Waggle and Fagundes cases were initially filed in Kings Superior Court. However, the cases were transferred to San Bernardino County after Kings County judges recused themselves from the cases, said Diane Walker Freeman, Kings County Counsel.
Kings County is petitioning the San Bernardino Superior Court to have Fagundes’ suit against the Kings County transferred back to Kings but with a judge from outside Kings, said Freeman.
The county said Fagundes’ legal fees would not be reimbursed unless Fagundes relocates and works at a remote location which is a request Fagundes has refused to comply with. In its response to Fagundes’ suit, the county has
denied every allegation.
Fagundes is among three candidates who have filed for election for the district attorney’s position in the June 7 primary. Also is former DA Greg Strickland and Sarah M. Hacker, who used to work for Strickland and Fagundes.
KINGS COUNTY - Superior Court Judge Robert S. Burns ordered an attorney from the state Attorney General’s office to take over prosecution of seven criminal cases formerly being prosecuted by embattled county DA Keith Fagundes.
The matter was initiated by the court to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
The potential conflict of interest arose because the Visalia law firm of Sarsfield and Melo is representing both the criminal defendants and in a separate, and unrelated matter, representing Fagundes in a civil action against Kings County.
The criminal defendants are: Luis Alvarado, Jonathan Espinoza, Ricardo Galvan, Aavron Manning, Isias Plata, Kasinda Sandoval and Travis Silkwood.
Even though the DA’s office didn’t think there was any conflict, a representative from the DA’s office told the judge that the DA’s office was going to voluntarily withdraw from prosecution and have an outside attorney handle prosecution.
And although Heather Gimle, a deputy state Attorney General filed a brief objecting to prosecuting the cases, the judge on January 21 ordered her to do so.
Following his ruling Burns told each criminal defendant of his decision via a video hookup and said a new trial date in those cases would be set February 3.
The county is being sued by Robert Waggle, Fagundes’ former chief investigator and a sworn peace officer, and Fagundes.
Waggle alleges Fagundes repeated sexually harassed him over a period of two years. Waggle is now on medical leave.
In his suit Fagundes said the county does not have the authority to transfer personnel from the DA’s office and that the county has to defend the DA against Waggle’s suit, said Sarsfield. The reference to personnel transfers in Fagundes’ suit involves Alexandria Smith, Fagundes’ secretary and Waggle’s girlfriend.
She has been reassigned by the county to the Human Resources Department. Fagundes’ suit said that Smith’s absence has negatively impacted the ability of the office to process criminal prosecutions.
Both the Waggle and Fagundes cases were initially filed in Kings Superior Court. However, the cases were transferred to San Bernardino County after Kings County judges recused themselves from the cases, said Diane Walker Freeman, Kings County Counsel.
Kings County is petitioning the San Bernardino Superior Court to have Fagundes’ suit against the Kings County transferred back to Kings but with a judge from outside Kings, said Freeman.
The county said Fagundes’ legal fees would not be reimbursed unless Fagundes relocates and works at a remote location which is a request Fagundes has refused to comply with. In its response to Fagundes’ suit, the county has
denied every allegation.
Fagundes is among three candidates who have filed for election for the district attorney’s position in the June 7 primary. Also is former DA Greg Strickland and Sarah M. Hacker, who used to work for Strickland and Fagundes.
Council to rezone park property to green space after contentious 50-year fight
Posted 11/4/21 8:01 am
HANFORD – In an historic 11th hour action Tuesday the council voted to begin rezoning the property west of Hidden Valley Park so the property can be used to expand the existing park.
The 4-1 vote, which occurred past 11 pm, directs staff to develop a General Plan Amendment to
rezone the 18-acre property from low density residential to public facilities (park space). The action
caps a 50-year struggle between successive city councils and citizens’ groups over the fate of the property which was part of the original land deeded to the city in 1967.
“Through the leadership of Mayor Ramirez and City Manager Cifuentez it looks like the issue of
what to do with the property next to the park will be resolved in a way that follows the will of
the people who have fought so hard for many years to prevent the land from being turned into a housing development,” said Mark Pratter of Saveourparkland93230, a citizens’ group. “It’s a win
for the people of Hanford and generations to come who will benefit from having more green space
instead of ever-increasing development.”
Only Vice Mayor Diane Sharp, who has extensive property holdings in Hanford, voted no regarding the rezone. She had said August 17 that she only wanted three of the 18 acres developed for parkland. She was also concerned about
How the issue of replacing the housing that was designated for the site will be resolved. Cifuentez said staff will
Propose a solution to this question. The state requires that when the zoning is changed on land designated for
housing, alternative land needs to replace it.
The overwhelming majority of the other council members disagreed with Sharp’s position on park expansion including Council Member Kalish Morrow who represents the district containing the park at 11th and Cortner Streets. She said the council would be “…remiss not to develop (into parkland)the full 18 acres in my district.”
Ramirez said when he was on the council that voted to rezone the property from public facilities to
low density residential he got bad information. That was several years ago. In advocating for an expanded park Ramirez has previously said councils need to have vision and look to the future about what would be good for succeeding generations.
During public comment period hours before the council many people urged the council to expand the park.
It makes “…no sense why this property should be sold,” said Ernie Harmon, who lives a few blocks south the park. Hanford’s biggest park should be expanded to all 18 acres, he said.
There were other speakers in favor of the expanded park as well including former Hanford Mayor Lou Martinez, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mickey Stoddard, Pratter and park advocate Nathan Odom.
Posted 11/4/21 8:01 am
HANFORD – In an historic 11th hour action Tuesday the council voted to begin rezoning the property west of Hidden Valley Park so the property can be used to expand the existing park.
The 4-1 vote, which occurred past 11 pm, directs staff to develop a General Plan Amendment to
rezone the 18-acre property from low density residential to public facilities (park space). The action
caps a 50-year struggle between successive city councils and citizens’ groups over the fate of the property which was part of the original land deeded to the city in 1967.
“Through the leadership of Mayor Ramirez and City Manager Cifuentez it looks like the issue of
what to do with the property next to the park will be resolved in a way that follows the will of
the people who have fought so hard for many years to prevent the land from being turned into a housing development,” said Mark Pratter of Saveourparkland93230, a citizens’ group. “It’s a win
for the people of Hanford and generations to come who will benefit from having more green space
instead of ever-increasing development.”
Only Vice Mayor Diane Sharp, who has extensive property holdings in Hanford, voted no regarding the rezone. She had said August 17 that she only wanted three of the 18 acres developed for parkland. She was also concerned about
How the issue of replacing the housing that was designated for the site will be resolved. Cifuentez said staff will
Propose a solution to this question. The state requires that when the zoning is changed on land designated for
housing, alternative land needs to replace it.
The overwhelming majority of the other council members disagreed with Sharp’s position on park expansion including Council Member Kalish Morrow who represents the district containing the park at 11th and Cortner Streets. She said the council would be “…remiss not to develop (into parkland)the full 18 acres in my district.”
Ramirez said when he was on the council that voted to rezone the property from public facilities to
low density residential he got bad information. That was several years ago. In advocating for an expanded park Ramirez has previously said councils need to have vision and look to the future about what would be good for succeeding generations.
During public comment period hours before the council many people urged the council to expand the park.
It makes “…no sense why this property should be sold,” said Ernie Harmon, who lives a few blocks south the park. Hanford’s biggest park should be expanded to all 18 acres, he said.
There were other speakers in favor of the expanded park as well including former Hanford Mayor Lou Martinez, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mickey Stoddard, Pratter and park advocate Nathan Odom.
Hanford Council terminates chambers' subsidy after end of June '22
POSTED 10/22/21 2:21 pm
HANFORD – The city council agreed to continue the city’s subsidy to the Hanford Chamber of
Commerce through the June 30, 2022 but permanently end it after that.
This fiscal year the chamber is to get $40,000. It has already received $20,000 and will get another $20,000 by the end of June 2022, said Amory Marple, CEO and executive director. The reason for the termination is the council
felt the chamber’s activities should be paid for by members, not the taxpayers, said city officials.
The council’s 4-1 vote on October 19 came after the chamber’s executive director and other chamber members pleaded with the council to extend the subsidy at least until the end of June 2022. Council Member Kalish Morrow, District B north central Hanford, voted no. Morrow referred to past problems with the chamber and that other cities give minimal subsidies to the chamber.
Previously there have been funding problems with the chamber. The city staff report referred to a history of struggles with the chamber.
Besides the city subsidy, the chamber gets money from member dues, fundraisers and Covid relief money. The chamber’s operating expense is about $200,000 per year, said Marple. It has 220 members, up from 150 when Marple started in July 2020.
In the last 12 months the chamber got $35,000 in Covid grant money which was used to hire an employee. Before that Marple ran the chamber herself.
The goal of the chamber is to be fiscally sound, Marple told the council.
A council subcommittee consisting of Morrow and Amanda Saltray, District A, northwest, met periodically earlier this year to review chamber operations. The subcommittee said the subsidy to the chamber needed to be reduced. The chamber’s leadership is trying to make the organization self-sufficient, according to the staff report.
There is “no fluff in the budget,” said Kristine Lee, the chamber’s treasurer. She is also Kings County Clerk. She said it was important to fund the chamber during the pandemic. She said the city signed an agreement to fund the chamber through June 30, 2022. “To not honor (the) agreement is very concerning,” she said.
Chamber activities include the Christmas parade, concerts, scholarships, a Zombie Crawl at Hanford Mall, mixers, luncheons, ribbon cuttings for new businesses, grand opening promotional displays, a membership directory and a newsletter.
The “service the chamber provides is beyond the cost of any membership,” said Tana Elizondo, a member and local insurance agent. The chamber provides members free weekly updates during Covid and personal protect equipment. She protested the lack of support from the city council.
The city’s funding of the chamber has been halved while membership increased by 50, said chamber board president John Umscheid, a local attorney. He also asked the council to keep funding the chamber until the end of the contract.
The chamber, he said, was on the verge of collapse two years ago with a ceo terminated and board members resigning. During that period the chamber was focusing on too many things rather than membership, chamber leaders said at the time.
For instance, the chamber no longer operates Freddie the Firetruck or the downtown carousel, said Marple. Freddie the Firetruck is a promotional vehicle used to take visitors around town.
Another issue is that Hanford has, in effect, has two organizations to promote local businesses. Main Street Hanford’s mission is to support, promote and revitalize downtown Hanford, according to its website. Its membership consists of downtown businesses.
The chamber has members from downtown and beyond downtown. The two organizations don’t compete, said Marple. She said she has a good relationship with Main Street Hanford.
Information on city money given to Main Street Hanford was not immediately available from the finance department.
Sources or amounts of Main Street Hanford’s funding were not available from the organization’s website and a representative from the organization could not be reached for comment.
However, Main Street Hanford has fundraising events including the popular Thursday Night Marketplace and it collects money from downtown businesses.
Meanwhile, the chamber is looking ahead to ways to fund itself once the city subsidy ends. Efforts include overhead cuts that have already occurred, expanding membership, adhering to a strict budget and applying for certain grants that were not previously available to the organization, said Marple. This was done by creating a separate foundation, she said.
POSTED 10/22/21 2:21 pm
HANFORD – The city council agreed to continue the city’s subsidy to the Hanford Chamber of
Commerce through the June 30, 2022 but permanently end it after that.
This fiscal year the chamber is to get $40,000. It has already received $20,000 and will get another $20,000 by the end of June 2022, said Amory Marple, CEO and executive director. The reason for the termination is the council
felt the chamber’s activities should be paid for by members, not the taxpayers, said city officials.
The council’s 4-1 vote on October 19 came after the chamber’s executive director and other chamber members pleaded with the council to extend the subsidy at least until the end of June 2022. Council Member Kalish Morrow, District B north central Hanford, voted no. Morrow referred to past problems with the chamber and that other cities give minimal subsidies to the chamber.
Previously there have been funding problems with the chamber. The city staff report referred to a history of struggles with the chamber.
Besides the city subsidy, the chamber gets money from member dues, fundraisers and Covid relief money. The chamber’s operating expense is about $200,000 per year, said Marple. It has 220 members, up from 150 when Marple started in July 2020.
In the last 12 months the chamber got $35,000 in Covid grant money which was used to hire an employee. Before that Marple ran the chamber herself.
The goal of the chamber is to be fiscally sound, Marple told the council.
A council subcommittee consisting of Morrow and Amanda Saltray, District A, northwest, met periodically earlier this year to review chamber operations. The subcommittee said the subsidy to the chamber needed to be reduced. The chamber’s leadership is trying to make the organization self-sufficient, according to the staff report.
There is “no fluff in the budget,” said Kristine Lee, the chamber’s treasurer. She is also Kings County Clerk. She said it was important to fund the chamber during the pandemic. She said the city signed an agreement to fund the chamber through June 30, 2022. “To not honor (the) agreement is very concerning,” she said.
Chamber activities include the Christmas parade, concerts, scholarships, a Zombie Crawl at Hanford Mall, mixers, luncheons, ribbon cuttings for new businesses, grand opening promotional displays, a membership directory and a newsletter.
The “service the chamber provides is beyond the cost of any membership,” said Tana Elizondo, a member and local insurance agent. The chamber provides members free weekly updates during Covid and personal protect equipment. She protested the lack of support from the city council.
The city’s funding of the chamber has been halved while membership increased by 50, said chamber board president John Umscheid, a local attorney. He also asked the council to keep funding the chamber until the end of the contract.
The chamber, he said, was on the verge of collapse two years ago with a ceo terminated and board members resigning. During that period the chamber was focusing on too many things rather than membership, chamber leaders said at the time.
For instance, the chamber no longer operates Freddie the Firetruck or the downtown carousel, said Marple. Freddie the Firetruck is a promotional vehicle used to take visitors around town.
Another issue is that Hanford has, in effect, has two organizations to promote local businesses. Main Street Hanford’s mission is to support, promote and revitalize downtown Hanford, according to its website. Its membership consists of downtown businesses.
The chamber has members from downtown and beyond downtown. The two organizations don’t compete, said Marple. She said she has a good relationship with Main Street Hanford.
Information on city money given to Main Street Hanford was not immediately available from the finance department.
Sources or amounts of Main Street Hanford’s funding were not available from the organization’s website and a representative from the organization could not be reached for comment.
However, Main Street Hanford has fundraising events including the popular Thursday Night Marketplace and it collects money from downtown businesses.
Meanwhile, the chamber is looking ahead to ways to fund itself once the city subsidy ends. Efforts include overhead cuts that have already occurred, expanding membership, adhering to a strict budget and applying for certain grants that were not previously available to the organization, said Marple. This was done by creating a separate foundation, she said.
Hanford Commission rejects council proposal to allow eye doctors at 12th and Lacey
Posted 10/15/21 1:04 pm
HANFORD – The planning commission Tuesday (October 12) rejected a staff and council recommendation to approve some controversial new uses such as optometry, medical and dental offices to operate at 12th and Lacey Bouelvard and the Costco area at Highway 43 and East Lacey Boulevard.
By a 3-0 vote, with one abstention, the commission approved a motion to have a citizens’ group, the planning commission and the city council analyze the fiscal and regulatory aspects of the proposed changes and how they would conform to the city’s General Plan. The General Plan is the city’s guide to local development.
Commissioners Martin Devin, Richard Douglas and Travis Paden voted in favor of the motion.
Chairman Jacob Sanchez, an administrative assistant for the Hanford Chamber of Commerce, abstained from the vote because the chamber had made statements in favor of changing the zoning at the locations. Zoning is regulations about what can be built where.
The council at its August 8 meeting informally approved the changes to the Regional Commercial zone and asked the planning commission to review them.
In essence, planning commissioners said thirty years ago when Hanford Mall opened at 12th and Lacey the community changed zoning to protect downtown business. The zoning did not allow certain uses at 12th and Lacey. This was before the Costco Center had not been developed.
Dan Chin, former Hanford mayor, spoke against changing the zoning at the two locations during the public comment period on Tuesday. He said the changes would give competition to downtown businesses and reduce sales tax revenues from those entities.
This could result, he said, in the city having to invest millions of dollars in downtown to save it.
“If the changes are approved, they will reduce the amount of land producing sales tax,” Chin said.
Former council member David Ayers also supported Chin’s position. Two downtown optometrists also spoke against the proposed changes.
Another part of the council and staff recommendation would eliminate restrictions on how big furniture stores can be at the two locations. In addition, furniture stores of any size would be allowed downtown in an area zoned for Mixed Use.
Another change proposed would allow medical laboratories at the two locations if the applicant got a conditional use permit from the city, according to the staff report.
Secondary branches of banks, credit unions and payday lenders were proposed at the two locations if the applicant got a General Plan Amendment, according to the staff report. A General Plan Amendment is a major undertaking. Only four are allowed per year.
Another proposal would allow food trucks at the two locations.
Posted 10/15/21 1:04 pm
HANFORD – The planning commission Tuesday (October 12) rejected a staff and council recommendation to approve some controversial new uses such as optometry, medical and dental offices to operate at 12th and Lacey Bouelvard and the Costco area at Highway 43 and East Lacey Boulevard.
By a 3-0 vote, with one abstention, the commission approved a motion to have a citizens’ group, the planning commission and the city council analyze the fiscal and regulatory aspects of the proposed changes and how they would conform to the city’s General Plan. The General Plan is the city’s guide to local development.
Commissioners Martin Devin, Richard Douglas and Travis Paden voted in favor of the motion.
Chairman Jacob Sanchez, an administrative assistant for the Hanford Chamber of Commerce, abstained from the vote because the chamber had made statements in favor of changing the zoning at the locations. Zoning is regulations about what can be built where.
The council at its August 8 meeting informally approved the changes to the Regional Commercial zone and asked the planning commission to review them.
In essence, planning commissioners said thirty years ago when Hanford Mall opened at 12th and Lacey the community changed zoning to protect downtown business. The zoning did not allow certain uses at 12th and Lacey. This was before the Costco Center had not been developed.
Dan Chin, former Hanford mayor, spoke against changing the zoning at the two locations during the public comment period on Tuesday. He said the changes would give competition to downtown businesses and reduce sales tax revenues from those entities.
This could result, he said, in the city having to invest millions of dollars in downtown to save it.
“If the changes are approved, they will reduce the amount of land producing sales tax,” Chin said.
Former council member David Ayers also supported Chin’s position. Two downtown optometrists also spoke against the proposed changes.
Another part of the council and staff recommendation would eliminate restrictions on how big furniture stores can be at the two locations. In addition, furniture stores of any size would be allowed downtown in an area zoned for Mixed Use.
Another change proposed would allow medical laboratories at the two locations if the applicant got a conditional use permit from the city, according to the staff report.
Secondary branches of banks, credit unions and payday lenders were proposed at the two locations if the applicant got a General Plan Amendment, according to the staff report. A General Plan Amendment is a major undertaking. Only four are allowed per year.
Another proposal would allow food trucks at the two locations.
Hanford considers new uses at 12th and Lacey, Costco Center
Posted 10/12/21 12:19 pm
HANFORD – The Planning Commission will consider Tuesday (October 12) whether to allow some controversial new uses such as optometry, medical and dental to operate at 12th and Lacey Boulevard and the Costco Center area on East Lacey and Highway 43. These would be subject to certain size restrictions. The meeting starts at 5:30 pm and is held in the City Council Chambers at the Hanford Civic Auditorium in downtown Hanford. Each member of the public that wishes to comment at the start of the meeting has three minutes to do so. Last August 8 the council directed staff to make the changes which are controversial because they were turned down by a different council in 2019 and at least two former council members object to them now. They see the changes as giving competition to downtown, including some retail businesses that produce sales and property taxes. If the changes are enacted, Dan Chin, a former council member, said they could result in the city having to pump millions of dollars into downtown to save it. “If the changes are approved, they will reduce the amount of land producing sale tax,” he said. Sales tax together with property tax is the major source of funding for the city's day-to-day operations including police and fire protection. The changes are to the Regional Commercial Zone. If approved by both the planning commission and the council, they would be part of the city's zoning which are the rules about what can be done where in the city. Zoning is part of the city's General Plan which is the city's guide about how it will develop. The staff is recommending approval of the changes which also eliminate restrictions on how big furniture stores can be at the two locations, according to the staff report. In addition, furniture stores of any size would be allowed downtown in a district known as Mixed Use. Another change would allow medical laboratories at 12th and Lacey and the Costco area if the applicant got a conditonal use permit from the city, according to the staff report. Secondary branches of banks, credit unions and payday lenders could also be allowed the two locations if General Plan amendments were obtained. This is a major undertaking with only four allowed annually. The council has also proposed that food trucks be allowed at 12th and Lacey and the Costco area, said the staff report. While Chin and former council member David Ayers are critical of the changes, the staff report said the changes meeting the requirements of the city's General Plan. One of the arguments against allowing eye exams at 12th and Lacey and the Costco area is that they don't produce sales tax, said Chin. In 1990 the city named at Retail Strategy Committee of residents to develop land use ideas that would be in the next General Plan, said Chin. Costco didn't exist in Hanford then but the mall at 12th and Lacey did and the committee didn't want financial services and professional offices at 12th and Lacey, said Chin. Chin argued that the only beneficiaries of these changes would be developers because financial service businesses and professional offices do not collect sales tax. He said Council Member Kalish Morrow, a Libertarian, is pushing the changes on behalf of Edward Kashian, the big Fresno developer who developed Costco in Hanford. Libertarians believe that government should not interfere in people's professional or personal lives, according to the party's website. Kashian did not return a call seeking comment. Kashian is pushing the changes at Costco, Chin said, because he wants to fill more spaces at the Center. While Costco currently sells glasses and contacts at the center, it cannot perform eye exams. The changes presumably would result in more business for Costco and other new tenants at the center. Costco's and the Hanford Mall located at 12th and Lacey have problems, Chin said, because of changes in the way people do business. More people are shopping on the Internet and have their goods delivered to their homes.
Posted 10/12/21 12:19 pm
HANFORD – The Planning Commission will consider Tuesday (October 12) whether to allow some controversial new uses such as optometry, medical and dental to operate at 12th and Lacey Boulevard and the Costco Center area on East Lacey and Highway 43. These would be subject to certain size restrictions. The meeting starts at 5:30 pm and is held in the City Council Chambers at the Hanford Civic Auditorium in downtown Hanford. Each member of the public that wishes to comment at the start of the meeting has three minutes to do so. Last August 8 the council directed staff to make the changes which are controversial because they were turned down by a different council in 2019 and at least two former council members object to them now. They see the changes as giving competition to downtown, including some retail businesses that produce sales and property taxes. If the changes are enacted, Dan Chin, a former council member, said they could result in the city having to pump millions of dollars into downtown to save it. “If the changes are approved, they will reduce the amount of land producing sale tax,” he said. Sales tax together with property tax is the major source of funding for the city's day-to-day operations including police and fire protection. The changes are to the Regional Commercial Zone. If approved by both the planning commission and the council, they would be part of the city's zoning which are the rules about what can be done where in the city. Zoning is part of the city's General Plan which is the city's guide about how it will develop. The staff is recommending approval of the changes which also eliminate restrictions on how big furniture stores can be at the two locations, according to the staff report. In addition, furniture stores of any size would be allowed downtown in a district known as Mixed Use. Another change would allow medical laboratories at 12th and Lacey and the Costco area if the applicant got a conditonal use permit from the city, according to the staff report. Secondary branches of banks, credit unions and payday lenders could also be allowed the two locations if General Plan amendments were obtained. This is a major undertaking with only four allowed annually. The council has also proposed that food trucks be allowed at 12th and Lacey and the Costco area, said the staff report. While Chin and former council member David Ayers are critical of the changes, the staff report said the changes meeting the requirements of the city's General Plan. One of the arguments against allowing eye exams at 12th and Lacey and the Costco area is that they don't produce sales tax, said Chin. In 1990 the city named at Retail Strategy Committee of residents to develop land use ideas that would be in the next General Plan, said Chin. Costco didn't exist in Hanford then but the mall at 12th and Lacey did and the committee didn't want financial services and professional offices at 12th and Lacey, said Chin. Chin argued that the only beneficiaries of these changes would be developers because financial service businesses and professional offices do not collect sales tax. He said Council Member Kalish Morrow, a Libertarian, is pushing the changes on behalf of Edward Kashian, the big Fresno developer who developed Costco in Hanford. Libertarians believe that government should not interfere in people's professional or personal lives, according to the party's website. Kashian did not return a call seeking comment. Kashian is pushing the changes at Costco, Chin said, because he wants to fill more spaces at the Center. While Costco currently sells glasses and contacts at the center, it cannot perform eye exams. The changes presumably would result in more business for Costco and other new tenants at the center. Costco's and the Hanford Mall located at 12th and Lacey have problems, Chin said, because of changes in the way people do business. More people are shopping on the Internet and have their goods delivered to their homes.
Reporter files complaint against Brieno for 'inappropriate' speech
Posted 8/26/21 4:15 pm
HANFORD – Rayvn Cullor, a reporter for a five-day-a-week newspaper published here, filed a complaint against besieged Council Member Art Brieno for ‘inappropriate’ comments following a July 21 interview, according to a copy of the complaint filed with the city.
The alleged comments were ironic because the topic of the interview, according to the complaint, was his interactions with Darlene Mata, community development director, who is suing the city for $1.6 million for alleged sexual harassment by Brieno. The District E (southwest) council member was censured by the city council following revelations in an investigator’s report that Brieno made comments that were allegedly demeaning about Mata based on her gender.
In the latest allegations against Brieno, he allegedly said, according to Cullor’s complaint: “I have to say, you are a very attractive young woman. Your boyfriend is lucky. You must have a sister who is…”
Brieno said the comments were taken out of context.
At the beginning of the interview at Hidden Valley Park Brieno asked her what brought her to California. Brieno said she told him her boyfriend was in the Navy. Brieno said he always finds it interesting to discuss people in the Navy. Following the end of the interview, after Cullor turned off a tape recorder, Brieno said he told her: “he’s (her boyfriend) lucky, you’re an attractive gal.”
The next day, Brieno said, he received a call from Cullor which she recorded. Brieno said she asked him about the comments on her physical appearance and a question regarding whether she had a sister. Brieno disputed Cullor’s account on the second point. He said he asked her whether she had any brothers and sisters.
He then told her since she had brought the matter up, it must have been a “poor comment.” The two then discussed whether if she were a male, would he make the same comment?
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future attempted to contact the publisher of the five-day per week newspaper by phone and email to see why the publication had not done a story on the complaint. The call was not returned nor was there any email in reply.
The explanation in the complaint regarding why there was no article was: “After discussion with my editor, we chose not to write an article and to write this letter instead, as to allow me to process the interaction and be rightfully upset, because I no longer had to maintain my own objectivity in the situation.” The reporter did write an article on July 31 on Brieno's interactions with Mata but not on Cullor's July 21 meeting with Brieno.
Brieno said he asked to talk to Cullor’s supervisor and some days later he got a call from Marga Cooley, managing editor of the Santa Maria Times. Brieno said he gave his side of the story on the interaction with Cullor.
Cullor said in the complaint that she understood his motivation was “…complimentary and not negative. However, an elected official commented on the appearance of a female reporter during a professional meeting, and that is never appropriate. I understand others may have a different perspective on this issue, but I was personally upset by the comment.”
Curiously the complaint is dated July 14, 2021 but the interview where the comments were made occurred on July 21, 2021, a week after the complaint was filed.
“Women, especially young women, are constantly having their value in professional spaces measured, partly or wholly, by their appearance,” the complaint said.
“Mr. Brieno” the complaint said “said he would make a similar comment to a man, that he seemed healthy or that he must work out. It seems clear to me, though, that a comment on a woman’s inherent appearance and one on a man’s health regiment are very different.”
Brieno said he does not value women by their appearance. “I am going through gender training,” he said. Brieno said he has had three training sessions thus far and the training is not complete. Brieno said his teacher told him “it’s what they (the person who is offended) perceive” that is important.
Cullor also said in the complaint the reference to her sister, who had recently turned 18, made me “…particularly uncomfortable…” Brieno said he asked whether she had any brothers or sisters because he found that these family members support a relative in times of crisis. He gave the example of his troubles with Mata and members of the Hanford City Council.
Cullor said in the complaint that Brieno’s comments were not malicious but she added: Women “…have the right to openly, clearly and publicly hold people in positions of power accountable for the actions which cause harm.”
She said Brieno never apologized for his comments and spent time justifying himself. Brieno said she never said she was offended.
Cullor said the council is required to take sensitivity training and if that training does not include what kinds of comments are appropriate in professional settings, it needs to be included. If an elected official is “…willingly ignoring that direction, and if that member is willing to make an inappropriate comment to a reporter, what’s to say that staff, contractors, constituents, residents and other women who must come in contact with that elected official in a professional context aren’t facing the same thing.”
Posted 8/26/21 4:15 pm
HANFORD – Rayvn Cullor, a reporter for a five-day-a-week newspaper published here, filed a complaint against besieged Council Member Art Brieno for ‘inappropriate’ comments following a July 21 interview, according to a copy of the complaint filed with the city.
The alleged comments were ironic because the topic of the interview, according to the complaint, was his interactions with Darlene Mata, community development director, who is suing the city for $1.6 million for alleged sexual harassment by Brieno. The District E (southwest) council member was censured by the city council following revelations in an investigator’s report that Brieno made comments that were allegedly demeaning about Mata based on her gender.
In the latest allegations against Brieno, he allegedly said, according to Cullor’s complaint: “I have to say, you are a very attractive young woman. Your boyfriend is lucky. You must have a sister who is…”
Brieno said the comments were taken out of context.
At the beginning of the interview at Hidden Valley Park Brieno asked her what brought her to California. Brieno said she told him her boyfriend was in the Navy. Brieno said he always finds it interesting to discuss people in the Navy. Following the end of the interview, after Cullor turned off a tape recorder, Brieno said he told her: “he’s (her boyfriend) lucky, you’re an attractive gal.”
The next day, Brieno said, he received a call from Cullor which she recorded. Brieno said she asked him about the comments on her physical appearance and a question regarding whether she had a sister. Brieno disputed Cullor’s account on the second point. He said he asked her whether she had any brothers and sisters.
He then told her since she had brought the matter up, it must have been a “poor comment.” The two then discussed whether if she were a male, would he make the same comment?
Visalia-Hanford-Lemoore Future attempted to contact the publisher of the five-day per week newspaper by phone and email to see why the publication had not done a story on the complaint. The call was not returned nor was there any email in reply.
The explanation in the complaint regarding why there was no article was: “After discussion with my editor, we chose not to write an article and to write this letter instead, as to allow me to process the interaction and be rightfully upset, because I no longer had to maintain my own objectivity in the situation.” The reporter did write an article on July 31 on Brieno's interactions with Mata but not on Cullor's July 21 meeting with Brieno.
Brieno said he asked to talk to Cullor’s supervisor and some days later he got a call from Marga Cooley, managing editor of the Santa Maria Times. Brieno said he gave his side of the story on the interaction with Cullor.
Cullor said in the complaint that she understood his motivation was “…complimentary and not negative. However, an elected official commented on the appearance of a female reporter during a professional meeting, and that is never appropriate. I understand others may have a different perspective on this issue, but I was personally upset by the comment.”
Curiously the complaint is dated July 14, 2021 but the interview where the comments were made occurred on July 21, 2021, a week after the complaint was filed.
“Women, especially young women, are constantly having their value in professional spaces measured, partly or wholly, by their appearance,” the complaint said.
“Mr. Brieno” the complaint said “said he would make a similar comment to a man, that he seemed healthy or that he must work out. It seems clear to me, though, that a comment on a woman’s inherent appearance and one on a man’s health regiment are very different.”
Brieno said he does not value women by their appearance. “I am going through gender training,” he said. Brieno said he has had three training sessions thus far and the training is not complete. Brieno said his teacher told him “it’s what they (the person who is offended) perceive” that is important.
Cullor also said in the complaint the reference to her sister, who had recently turned 18, made me “…particularly uncomfortable…” Brieno said he asked whether she had any brothers or sisters because he found that these family members support a relative in times of crisis. He gave the example of his troubles with Mata and members of the Hanford City Council.
Cullor said in the complaint that Brieno’s comments were not malicious but she added: Women “…have the right to openly, clearly and publicly hold people in positions of power accountable for the actions which cause harm.”
She said Brieno never apologized for his comments and spent time justifying himself. Brieno said she never said she was offended.
Cullor said the council is required to take sensitivity training and if that training does not include what kinds of comments are appropriate in professional settings, it needs to be included. If an elected official is “…willingly ignoring that direction, and if that member is willing to make an inappropriate comment to a reporter, what’s to say that staff, contractors, constituents, residents and other women who must come in contact with that elected official in a professional context aren’t facing the same thing.”
Longfield Center changes draw protest in Hanford
Posted 8/23/21 4:24 pm
HANFORD - The city council was caught flat-footed July 21 by not seeking enough community feedback on proposed changes and a new fee schedule at the Longfield Center, a community center at 319 N. Douty St.
A couple of seniors who regularly use the center said the changes are unworkable.
Lou Martinez, a former Hanford mayor, acted as their spokesperson.
“It’s wrong to approve something (that would) impact the area in a negative way,” he told the council.
“Kids at the Longfield don’t need a conference room,” he said. “They need a computer room.”
Proposed relocation of the weight room, Martinez said, is not going to work because the equipment won’t fit in the new space.
Martinez had to translate for an unidentified man speaking Spanish who protested that the location of the new pool room was too small to play the game.
No translator was available for the resident.
Raymond Alvarez who lives near the hall and recently suffered a stroke said his limited mobility with his arms and legs will make it more difficult to play pool in the new room.
The pool tables, he said, should remain in the current location.
Martinez also protested the new fee schedule for use of the fitness facility at the center.
Parks and Recreation Director Bradley Albert said there is a sliding scale for the fees which
of the cost of the services.
Albert also defended the relocations at the center and said he thought they would work for the users.
Council Member Art Brieno said it would be good to resolve the issues with the dimension and give the council a proposed layout.
He also said the proposed fees are below what other fitness facilities charge.
Vice Mayor Diane Sharp said while she respected the nearby residents who currently use the hall she also wants to expanded use of the facility by people throughout the community.
Morrow said she approved of the fees so long as there was assistance for people who needed help paying.
Visalia Council picks Wynn to fill Cox's seat
POSTED 8/12/21 8:56 pm
VISALIA – A majority of the city council tonight selected Liz Wynn, director of the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, to fill the District 1 (central) seat of the late Phil Cox.
Although Wynn answered a series of questions posed to all six finalists during public interviews, several council members said one thing that swayed them was that she would have the best chemistry with the council.
Wynn, who served on the planning commission, was the first choice of Mayor Steve Nelsen (District 5 east), Brian Poochigian (District 3, west) and Brett Taylor (District 2, south). Only Council Member Greg Collins (District 4 northeast) picked Steve Woods first. Woods is a technical specialist at the Tulare County Office of Education.
Wynn will serve until November 2022 when Cox’s term would have expired. Then she can decide whether she wants to run and possibly be elected in her own right. Whoever serves after the election will have a two-year term.
“What I was looking for,” said Nelsen was “she had the heart of the city.”
The list of the other candidates besides Woods was: Frank Ruiz, a Kings County government attorney, ex-judge and now mediator Howard Broadman, music teacher Loren Farris and banker Nathan Halls. They were the finalists after a previous round of interviews.
All the candidates were asked the same questions on planning issues, the environment, homeless policy, budget figures, zoning, the number of city departments and more.
VISALIA – A majority of the city council tonight selected Liz Wynn, director of the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, to fill the District 1 (central) seat of the late Phil Cox.
Although Wynn answered a series of questions posed to all six finalists during public interviews, several council members said one thing that swayed them was that she would have the best chemistry with the council.
Wynn, who served on the planning commission, was the first choice of Mayor Steve Nelsen (District 5 east), Brian Poochigian (District 3, west) and Brett Taylor (District 2, south). Only Council Member Greg Collins (District 4 northeast) picked Steve Woods first. Woods is a technical specialist at the Tulare County Office of Education.
Wynn will serve until November 2022 when Cox’s term would have expired. Then she can decide whether she wants to run and possibly be elected in her own right. Whoever serves after the election will have a two-year term.
“What I was looking for,” said Nelsen was “she had the heart of the city.”
The list of the other candidates besides Woods was: Frank Ruiz, a Kings County government attorney, ex-judge and now mediator Howard Broadman, music teacher Loren Farris and banker Nathan Halls. They were the finalists after a previous round of interviews.
All the candidates were asked the same questions on planning issues, the environment, homeless policy, budget figures, zoning, the number of city departments and more.
Lawsuit alleges city credit card abuse by Ramirez, council members
UPDATED 8/5/21 11:22 am
HANFORD – A former city finance director alleges in a civil lawsuit that then Council Member Francisco Ramirez and two other unnamed council members misused and abused a city credit card when they were on trips and that City Manager Mario Cifuentez was aware of the actions by the unnamed council members and did nothing about it.
Both Ramirez, who is now mayor, and Cifuentez denied the allegations both in the formal city’s response to the lawsuit filed by Paula Lofgren and in telephone interviews yesterday (8/2/21).
Lofgren was fired by Cifuentez as city finance director on August 11, 2020. On June 4, Lofgren filed the wrongful termination and sexual harassment civil lawsuit in Kings Superior Court. The lawsuit does not allege any criminal wrongdoing.
It was Lofgren who was responsible for city credit card (CalCard) activities, policies and procedures. Among those policies was the requirement that the card never be used for personal use and not for purchases of meals, the lawsuit said. City employees were given an advance for meal purchases prior to
traveling, the lawsuit said. Also the CalCard was not to be used for fuel purchases as city employees were given a gas card, the lawsuit said.
Ramirez went on a couple of work-related trips and received an advance prior to traveling, the lawsuit said.
When Ramirez returned from his trips and turned in trip documents, he was missing receipts, the lawsuit said. In addition, he had used the CalCard to buy meals even though he had received an advance for this purpose, the lawsuit said.
Then city clerk Sarah Martinez was responsible for reconciling card usage, the lawsuit said. “When
Martinez talked to the council member (Ramirez), he refused to produce receipts and he refused to acknowledge the food purchases were wrong,” said the lawsuit.
Lofgren raised the matter with then interim city manager Olmos who called the city attorney. The issue was also discussed with the mayor and vice mayor, the lawsuit said.
Later a similar incident happened with two city council members and Lofgren sought the assistance of
Cifuentez who was now city manager, the lawsuit said.
“Lofgren never knew if Cifuentez addressed the issue with the council members or not because he never discussed it further with her or gave her an update, even when there was another incident with a council member after that,” the lawsuit said.
Lofgren felt Cifuentez disregarded the seriousness of the issue at hand and totally disregarded her
authority in this area,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit also alleges CalCard misuses involving the purchase of flowers by city employees, the lawsuit said.
“Cifuentez simply did not want to address anything Lofgren reported regardless of the severity,” the lawsuit said.
Ramirez has had problems with receipts and accounting of financial activities before.
Prior to being re-elected to the current council, he was recalled by the voters. At issue was an irregularity in campaign accounting reports to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission. And earlier this year Ramirez was subject of a complaint filed with the state Department of Justice alleging he went on trips shown on Facebook that were paid for by developer Jerry Irons.
A copy of this complaint was obtained by this newspaper. Irons and Ramirez have denied that the trips were paid for by Irons. Ramirez said he paid his own way. Asked whether he had receipts, Ramirez said the trips were years ago and he no longer had them.
HANFORD – A former city finance director alleges in a civil lawsuit that then Council Member Francisco Ramirez and two other unnamed council members misused and abused a city credit card when they were on trips and that City Manager Mario Cifuentez was aware of the actions by the unnamed council members and did nothing about it.
Both Ramirez, who is now mayor, and Cifuentez denied the allegations both in the formal city’s response to the lawsuit filed by Paula Lofgren and in telephone interviews yesterday (8/2/21).
Lofgren was fired by Cifuentez as city finance director on August 11, 2020. On June 4, Lofgren filed the wrongful termination and sexual harassment civil lawsuit in Kings Superior Court. The lawsuit does not allege any criminal wrongdoing.
It was Lofgren who was responsible for city credit card (CalCard) activities, policies and procedures. Among those policies was the requirement that the card never be used for personal use and not for purchases of meals, the lawsuit said. City employees were given an advance for meal purchases prior to
traveling, the lawsuit said. Also the CalCard was not to be used for fuel purchases as city employees were given a gas card, the lawsuit said.
Ramirez went on a couple of work-related trips and received an advance prior to traveling, the lawsuit said.
When Ramirez returned from his trips and turned in trip documents, he was missing receipts, the lawsuit said. In addition, he had used the CalCard to buy meals even though he had received an advance for this purpose, the lawsuit said.
Then city clerk Sarah Martinez was responsible for reconciling card usage, the lawsuit said. “When
Martinez talked to the council member (Ramirez), he refused to produce receipts and he refused to acknowledge the food purchases were wrong,” said the lawsuit.
Lofgren raised the matter with then interim city manager Olmos who called the city attorney. The issue was also discussed with the mayor and vice mayor, the lawsuit said.
Later a similar incident happened with two city council members and Lofgren sought the assistance of
Cifuentez who was now city manager, the lawsuit said.
“Lofgren never knew if Cifuentez addressed the issue with the council members or not because he never discussed it further with her or gave her an update, even when there was another incident with a council member after that,” the lawsuit said.
Lofgren felt Cifuentez disregarded the seriousness of the issue at hand and totally disregarded her
authority in this area,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit also alleges CalCard misuses involving the purchase of flowers by city employees, the lawsuit said.
“Cifuentez simply did not want to address anything Lofgren reported regardless of the severity,” the lawsuit said.
Ramirez has had problems with receipts and accounting of financial activities before.
Prior to being re-elected to the current council, he was recalled by the voters. At issue was an irregularity in campaign accounting reports to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission. And earlier this year Ramirez was subject of a complaint filed with the state Department of Justice alleging he went on trips shown on Facebook that were paid for by developer Jerry Irons.
A copy of this complaint was obtained by this newspaper. Irons and Ramirez have denied that the trips were paid for by Irons. Ramirez said he paid his own way. Asked whether he had receipts, Ramirez said the trips were years ago and he no longer had them.
Lawsuit alleges toxic workplace at city hall
UPDATED 8/5/21 11:23 am
HANFORD – In explosive discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former city finance director Paula Lofgren pulls back the curtain on what she describes as a toxic workplace where a moody and autocratic city manager Mario Cifuentez made sexual advances toward her and Lofgren describes Community Development Director Darlene Mata as a “nasty” and “rude” person, who tried to undermine Lofgren with Cifuentez whom Mata had known a long time.
Mata herself is suing the city of sexual harassment involving Council Member Art Brieno. Mata’s attorney, Rachele Berglund, said in an email that they were not providing any public comment at this time.
The city has denied all of Lofgren’s allegations. It’s an “ex-employee not happy with how things went,” said City Manager Mario Cifuentez. He said he didn’t want to get into the details because the matter is ongoing litigation. This is a civil lawsuit filed in Kings Superior Court. There is no charge of criminal wrongdoing.
The lawsuit filed June 4 also said that within her first few months of employment in August 2016 Lofgren found $3 million “hidden” in another fund that was supposed to be in the city’s General Fund, used for day-to-day operations.
The lawsuit also alleges misuse of city credit cards by then Council Member and now Mayor Francisco Ramirez who is also subject of a 2021 Department of Justice Complaint alleging bribery and having trips paid for by developer Jerry Irons. Hanford City Attorney Mario U. Zamora in a July 7 filing denied the credit card misuse by Ramirez and Ramirez has denied the allegations regarding bribery and having trips paid for by Irons. Irons has denied paying for trips for Ramirez.
In his answer to Lofgren’s lawsuit Zamora suit he said the city is not liable for any injury and that the plaintiff fails to state a cause of action and is not entitled to any money from the city. Zamora’s denial also said the case should be dismissed and that the city should be awarded money for the costs of the suit.
Lofgren is 52 and was hired by former city manager Darrel Pyle on August 29, 2016 as finance manager, the lawsuit said. When longtime Hanford Finance Director Tom Dibble retired she on July 2, 2017 applied for an got Dibble’s job. She suffered from a disability and/or a medical condition, the lawsuit said. Lofgren made a good faith about what she believed to be illegal conduct to her supervisors and/or managers, the lawsuit said.
Other allegations in the lawsuit are sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, quid pro quo sexual harassment, discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of the Fair Employment Housing Act, failure to provide reasonable accommodation in violation Fair Employment Housing Act, failure to engage in an interactive process, retaliation for engaging in a protected activity in violation of the Fair Employment Housing Act.
Prior to being hired by the city Lofgren was director of Business and Finance at University of California Berkeley.
When she was evaluated in 2018 she received an “exceptional” rating, the lawsuit said. During her tenure, the lawsuit said, she reduced the city’s $100,000 utility billing loss to about $20,000, the lawsuit said. Other actions by Lofgren, the lawsuit said, saved the city $1 million in liability expense.
Lofgren said it was a complete surprise when she was fired on August 11, 2020, the lawsuit said. Cifuentez, the lawsuit said, handed her a termination letter and when she said he had not communicated any problems to her and he replied, “yeah I know, but the budget this year…” He also reminded her she was an at will employee.
She said in the lawsuit she had exhausted all her administrative remedies prior to suing and that she wants a jury trial, general and special damages, attorneys fees and money in excess of $25,000. She said she had suffered humiliation, emotional distress, mental and physical pain and anguish, the lawsuit said.
Lofgren is represented by Taylor M. Prainito of Los Angeles.
HANFORD – In explosive discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former city finance director Paula Lofgren pulls back the curtain on what she describes as a toxic workplace where a moody and autocratic city manager Mario Cifuentez made sexual advances toward her and Lofgren describes Community Development Director Darlene Mata as a “nasty” and “rude” person, who tried to undermine Lofgren with Cifuentez whom Mata had known a long time.
Mata herself is suing the city of sexual harassment involving Council Member Art Brieno. Mata’s attorney, Rachele Berglund, said in an email that they were not providing any public comment at this time.
The city has denied all of Lofgren’s allegations. It’s an “ex-employee not happy with how things went,” said City Manager Mario Cifuentez. He said he didn’t want to get into the details because the matter is ongoing litigation. This is a civil lawsuit filed in Kings Superior Court. There is no charge of criminal wrongdoing.
The lawsuit filed June 4 also said that within her first few months of employment in August 2016 Lofgren found $3 million “hidden” in another fund that was supposed to be in the city’s General Fund, used for day-to-day operations.
The lawsuit also alleges misuse of city credit cards by then Council Member and now Mayor Francisco Ramirez who is also subject of a 2021 Department of Justice Complaint alleging bribery and having trips paid for by developer Jerry Irons. Hanford City Attorney Mario U. Zamora in a July 7 filing denied the credit card misuse by Ramirez and Ramirez has denied the allegations regarding bribery and having trips paid for by Irons. Irons has denied paying for trips for Ramirez.
In his answer to Lofgren’s lawsuit Zamora suit he said the city is not liable for any injury and that the plaintiff fails to state a cause of action and is not entitled to any money from the city. Zamora’s denial also said the case should be dismissed and that the city should be awarded money for the costs of the suit.
Lofgren is 52 and was hired by former city manager Darrel Pyle on August 29, 2016 as finance manager, the lawsuit said. When longtime Hanford Finance Director Tom Dibble retired she on July 2, 2017 applied for an got Dibble’s job. She suffered from a disability and/or a medical condition, the lawsuit said. Lofgren made a good faith about what she believed to be illegal conduct to her supervisors and/or managers, the lawsuit said.
Other allegations in the lawsuit are sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, quid pro quo sexual harassment, discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of the Fair Employment Housing Act, failure to provide reasonable accommodation in violation Fair Employment Housing Act, failure to engage in an interactive process, retaliation for engaging in a protected activity in violation of the Fair Employment Housing Act.
Prior to being hired by the city Lofgren was director of Business and Finance at University of California Berkeley.
When she was evaluated in 2018 she received an “exceptional” rating, the lawsuit said. During her tenure, the lawsuit said, she reduced the city’s $100,000 utility billing loss to about $20,000, the lawsuit said. Other actions by Lofgren, the lawsuit said, saved the city $1 million in liability expense.
Lofgren said it was a complete surprise when she was fired on August 11, 2020, the lawsuit said. Cifuentez, the lawsuit said, handed her a termination letter and when she said he had not communicated any problems to her and he replied, “yeah I know, but the budget this year…” He also reminded her she was an at will employee.
She said in the lawsuit she had exhausted all her administrative remedies prior to suing and that she wants a jury trial, general and special damages, attorneys fees and money in excess of $25,000. She said she had suffered humiliation, emotional distress, mental and physical pain and anguish, the lawsuit said.
Lofgren is represented by Taylor M. Prainito of Los Angeles.
Details of sexual harrassment claims against city manager
UPDATED 8/5/21 11:23 am
HANFORD – City Manager Mario Cifuentez allegedly told Paula Lofgren, ex-finance director, that he was the type of person that needed affection and that his ex “trophy wife” had been cheating on him, according to a civil sexual harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Lofgren.
“He went on to tell Lofgren he was the type of person that needs affection that his wife would not give him and that he had been married and divorced before his current wife,” the June 4 Kings Superior Court lawsuit said.
The city and myself deny all of Lofgren’s allegations, said Cifuentez on Monday (8/2/21). The city attorney filed a reply July 7 denying all allegations.
“Lofgren was in complete shock and very uncomfortable because this extremely personal information was not appropriate for work and was completely unprofessional,” the lawsuit said. Lofgren said she felt harassed by Cifuentez’s comments about his wife including but not limited to calling her a “trophy wife.”
Lofgren replied that she had been through a divorce herself and Cifuentez replied that that was good to know, the lawsuit said. He then asked, the lawsuit said, whether she had ever been married or had a boyfriend.
“This comment led Lofgren to believe he was fishing to find out if she was in a relationship because everyone knew at work that she had been married, that she had a daughter and that she talked about her current boyfriend of over six years all the time, the lawsuit said.
“Lofgren”, the lawsuit said, “always felt very uncomfortable when Cifuentez would talk about his personal issues as she felt it was inappropriate, unprofessional and harrassing.”
The lawsuit also describes the relationship between then Community Development Director Darlene Mata and Cifuentez who Lofgren said had knSown each other since they worked together in Visalia.
Mata’s attorney, Rachele Berglund, did not respond to an email or telephone call requesting a response from her client to Lofgren’s allegations. Berglund is representing Mata in a more than a $1 million lawsuit against the city for sexual harassment allegations against Council Member Art Brieno.
Lofgren said in the lawsuit that Mata was trying to undermine Lofgren’s accomplishments in the finance department. She described Mata as follows: “Mata had a reputation of being hostile to other employees, rude to people, including citizens, missing work all the time, and making up false statements about them and trying to get people fired.”
Lofgren said that at least two council members tried to get the former city manager to fire Mata, the lawsuit said.
“Lofgren and other staff members soon discovered Cifuentez got a great deal of his information directly from Mata and he did not bother to verify if it was true or not,” the lawsuit said. “Cifuentez spent a lot of time talking to Mata in her office and Lofgren believes that Mata told Cifuentez false, defamatory lies to Cifuentez about Lofgren,” the lawsuit said.
HANFORD – City Manager Mario Cifuentez allegedly told Paula Lofgren, ex-finance director, that he was the type of person that needed affection and that his ex “trophy wife” had been cheating on him, according to a civil sexual harassment and wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Lofgren.
“He went on to tell Lofgren he was the type of person that needs affection that his wife would not give him and that he had been married and divorced before his current wife,” the June 4 Kings Superior Court lawsuit said.
The city and myself deny all of Lofgren’s allegations, said Cifuentez on Monday (8/2/21). The city attorney filed a reply July 7 denying all allegations.
“Lofgren was in complete shock and very uncomfortable because this extremely personal information was not appropriate for work and was completely unprofessional,” the lawsuit said. Lofgren said she felt harassed by Cifuentez’s comments about his wife including but not limited to calling her a “trophy wife.”
Lofgren replied that she had been through a divorce herself and Cifuentez replied that that was good to know, the lawsuit said. He then asked, the lawsuit said, whether she had ever been married or had a boyfriend.
“This comment led Lofgren to believe he was fishing to find out if she was in a relationship because everyone knew at work that she had been married, that she had a daughter and that she talked about her current boyfriend of over six years all the time, the lawsuit said.
“Lofgren”, the lawsuit said, “always felt very uncomfortable when Cifuentez would talk about his personal issues as she felt it was inappropriate, unprofessional and harrassing.”
The lawsuit also describes the relationship between then Community Development Director Darlene Mata and Cifuentez who Lofgren said had knSown each other since they worked together in Visalia.
Mata’s attorney, Rachele Berglund, did not respond to an email or telephone call requesting a response from her client to Lofgren’s allegations. Berglund is representing Mata in a more than a $1 million lawsuit against the city for sexual harassment allegations against Council Member Art Brieno.
Lofgren said in the lawsuit that Mata was trying to undermine Lofgren’s accomplishments in the finance department. She described Mata as follows: “Mata had a reputation of being hostile to other employees, rude to people, including citizens, missing work all the time, and making up false statements about them and trying to get people fired.”
Lofgren said that at least two council members tried to get the former city manager to fire Mata, the lawsuit said.
“Lofgren and other staff members soon discovered Cifuentez got a great deal of his information directly from Mata and he did not bother to verify if it was true or not,” the lawsuit said. “Cifuentez spent a lot of time talking to Mata in her office and Lofgren believes that Mata told Cifuentez false, defamatory lies to Cifuentez about Lofgren,” the lawsuit said.
Posted 11:10 am 5/5/21
Mayor Francisco Ramirez announced at Tuesday's (5/4/21) Hanford City Council meeting that he will add an agenda item for the May 18 meeting to rezone the Hidden Valley Park extension property from low density residential back to public facilities.
The move, long-sought by advocates of an expanded Hidden Valley Park, was endorsed by Council Members Art Brieno (District E) and Kalish Morrow (District B). Morrow's district includes the park located at 11th Avenue and Cortner Streets in North Hanford. The 18-acre extension property is west of the park and is owned by the city.
If Ramirez, Brieno and Morrow vote to rezone the property---a council majority--- it would mark a major turning point in a bitter, 20-year struggle to save the extension property. Ramirez's position represents a reversal of his stance on the issue when he served on previous councils. He said Tuesday the extended park was needed for future generations in a growing city.
Vice Mayor Diane Sharp (District C) has not announced her position on the park extension and outgoing Council Member John Draxler (District A) is opposed to extending the park.
In 2019 a majority of the council including Council Member Sue Sorensen voted to rezone the property to low density residential and declared the property surplus. This put the property a step closer to a sale. All the land was zoned for a housing development. Sorensen was a staunch opponent of extending the park even though it was in her district. She lost her re-election bid last November to Morrow, a park extension advocate.
A majority of residents (48 percent) in a city-sponsored statistically-valid poll in the recently prepared city Parks Master Plan said they wanted the property kept for park expansion.
Following the 2019 council vote, a citizens' group, Saveourparkland93230, drafted a voter initiative to rezone the property to public facilities and prevent it from being sold for 30 years.
When Ramirez made his announcement Tuesday the group was gathering signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. The initiative is still underway at least until the council acts, said Mark Pratter, a spokesman for the group. If the council votes to rezone the property, the park group will then decide its next course of action, he said.
More than 90 percent of the people contacted about signing the initiative agree the property needs to be saved for park expansion, said Pratter. Those opposed to extending the park said the city's park needs are best served by having parks in different areas of the city rather than having a large park at Hidden Valley. They also said the city cannot afford to build and maintain an expanded Hidden Valley.
Park expansion advocates said the city will never be able to acquire such a large tract of land for a park again. The land is city-owned. The expansion of Hidden Valley is the will of the overwhelming majority of the voters. There is already too much commercial and housing development in Hanford and an expanded park will help offset Hanford's serious air pollution problems, said adovocates.
Simultaneously with the Hidden Valley controversy the city is attempting to get $8.5 million of state money to help build a 40-acre park at 9 1/4 and Florinda. Such a project would likely spur commercial and residential development on Hanford's east side.
Mayor Francisco Ramirez announced at Tuesday's (5/4/21) Hanford City Council meeting that he will add an agenda item for the May 18 meeting to rezone the Hidden Valley Park extension property from low density residential back to public facilities.
The move, long-sought by advocates of an expanded Hidden Valley Park, was endorsed by Council Members Art Brieno (District E) and Kalish Morrow (District B). Morrow's district includes the park located at 11th Avenue and Cortner Streets in North Hanford. The 18-acre extension property is west of the park and is owned by the city.
If Ramirez, Brieno and Morrow vote to rezone the property---a council majority--- it would mark a major turning point in a bitter, 20-year struggle to save the extension property. Ramirez's position represents a reversal of his stance on the issue when he served on previous councils. He said Tuesday the extended park was needed for future generations in a growing city.
Vice Mayor Diane Sharp (District C) has not announced her position on the park extension and outgoing Council Member John Draxler (District A) is opposed to extending the park.
In 2019 a majority of the council including Council Member Sue Sorensen voted to rezone the property to low density residential and declared the property surplus. This put the property a step closer to a sale. All the land was zoned for a housing development. Sorensen was a staunch opponent of extending the park even though it was in her district. She lost her re-election bid last November to Morrow, a park extension advocate.
A majority of residents (48 percent) in a city-sponsored statistically-valid poll in the recently prepared city Parks Master Plan said they wanted the property kept for park expansion.
Following the 2019 council vote, a citizens' group, Saveourparkland93230, drafted a voter initiative to rezone the property to public facilities and prevent it from being sold for 30 years.
When Ramirez made his announcement Tuesday the group was gathering signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. The initiative is still underway at least until the council acts, said Mark Pratter, a spokesman for the group. If the council votes to rezone the property, the park group will then decide its next course of action, he said.
More than 90 percent of the people contacted about signing the initiative agree the property needs to be saved for park expansion, said Pratter. Those opposed to extending the park said the city's park needs are best served by having parks in different areas of the city rather than having a large park at Hidden Valley. They also said the city cannot afford to build and maintain an expanded Hidden Valley.
Park expansion advocates said the city will never be able to acquire such a large tract of land for a park again. The land is city-owned. The expansion of Hidden Valley is the will of the overwhelming majority of the voters. There is already too much commercial and housing development in Hanford and an expanded park will help offset Hanford's serious air pollution problems, said adovocates.
Simultaneously with the Hidden Valley controversy the city is attempting to get $8.5 million of state money to help build a 40-acre park at 9 1/4 and Florinda. Such a project would likely spur commercial and residential development on Hanford's east side.
Hanford will discuss filling council seat
Posted 4/30/21 7:42 pm
A businessman and an ex-council member will vie as replacements for resigning Council Member John Draxler.
Draxler announced at the April 20 council meeting that he was resigning for health reasons and to spend more time with his family.
The process to replace Draxler will be announced at the May 4 council meeting.
The council can either appoint a member or hold a special election at a cost of $40,000.
David Ayers, a longtime council member who was defeated by Draxler in the last election, said he is running. Also businessman and retired Fresno County Sheriff's Deputy Todd Cotta is running.
Draxler's term ends in 2022.
Either candidate is unlikely to change the alignment of council.
Draxler is involved in real estate investments, is strongly pro-business, has a brusque style and opposes extending Hidden Valley Park to the west of the existing park which is located at Eleventh Avenue and Cortner Streets.
When Ayers was on the council in 2019 he voted with the majority to rezone the property west of Hidden Valley from Public Facilities to Low Density Residential and declare the property surplus which is a prelude to selling it. Signature gathering for a voter initiative to save the property for future park expansion is underway. Ayers is also strongly pro business and is an advocate for preserving historic buildings at Courthouse Square. Ayers is a respiratory therapist for Adventist Health. He is married to a local judge. Ayers' father was a local physician.
"I love this city. The city has been good to me and I would love to have the opportunity to represent the city," Ayers said.
Cotta, in addition to being a retired sheriff's deputy, owns the Kings Gun Center, is conservative Republican and involved in land investments. Cotta made an unsuccessful run for the District 32 state Assembly seat. He was defeated by incumbent Democrat Rudy Salas. Cotta comes from a well-known family in Hanford. He has been on the Laguna Irrigation Board for 12 years. He could not be reached for comment today.
If either Cotta or Ayers got the seat they would likely be more aligned with
Vice Mayor Diane Sharp. Sharp, the daughter of a deceased prominent attorney, is pro-business and a keen scrutinizer of city spending. Sharp is involved in real estate investments locally. She said the Hidden Valley Park extension has not been voted on by the council during her terms. Sharp said when the issue does come up she said she will do what is best for the residents and taxpayers of Hanford.
During a council meeting earlier this year she shook her head no when a speaker during public comment advocated extending Hidden Valley first before building a new park at 9 1/4 Avenue.
The other faction on the council is Mayor Francisco Ramirez, a business consultant,
Kalish Morrow, a Libertarian and former business owner, and Art Brieno, a contractor and brother of a local bail bondsman. Ramirez and Brieno are sympathetic to underdogs in the community. Both Brieno and Morrow favor extending Hidden Valley Park to the property west of the existing park. Ramirez has opposed this previously but tends to vote with Brieno.
A businessman and an ex-council member will vie as replacements for resigning Council Member John Draxler.
Draxler announced at the April 20 council meeting that he was resigning for health reasons and to spend more time with his family.
The process to replace Draxler will be announced at the May 4 council meeting.
The council can either appoint a member or hold a special election at a cost of $40,000.
David Ayers, a longtime council member who was defeated by Draxler in the last election, said he is running. Also businessman and retired Fresno County Sheriff's Deputy Todd Cotta is running.
Draxler's term ends in 2022.
Either candidate is unlikely to change the alignment of council.
Draxler is involved in real estate investments, is strongly pro-business, has a brusque style and opposes extending Hidden Valley Park to the west of the existing park which is located at Eleventh Avenue and Cortner Streets.
When Ayers was on the council in 2019 he voted with the majority to rezone the property west of Hidden Valley from Public Facilities to Low Density Residential and declare the property surplus which is a prelude to selling it. Signature gathering for a voter initiative to save the property for future park expansion is underway. Ayers is also strongly pro business and is an advocate for preserving historic buildings at Courthouse Square. Ayers is a respiratory therapist for Adventist Health. He is married to a local judge. Ayers' father was a local physician.
"I love this city. The city has been good to me and I would love to have the opportunity to represent the city," Ayers said.
Cotta, in addition to being a retired sheriff's deputy, owns the Kings Gun Center, is conservative Republican and involved in land investments. Cotta made an unsuccessful run for the District 32 state Assembly seat. He was defeated by incumbent Democrat Rudy Salas. Cotta comes from a well-known family in Hanford. He has been on the Laguna Irrigation Board for 12 years. He could not be reached for comment today.
If either Cotta or Ayers got the seat they would likely be more aligned with
Vice Mayor Diane Sharp. Sharp, the daughter of a deceased prominent attorney, is pro-business and a keen scrutinizer of city spending. Sharp is involved in real estate investments locally. She said the Hidden Valley Park extension has not been voted on by the council during her terms. Sharp said when the issue does come up she said she will do what is best for the residents and taxpayers of Hanford.
During a council meeting earlier this year she shook her head no when a speaker during public comment advocated extending Hidden Valley first before building a new park at 9 1/4 Avenue.
The other faction on the council is Mayor Francisco Ramirez, a business consultant,
Kalish Morrow, a Libertarian and former business owner, and Art Brieno, a contractor and brother of a local bail bondsman. Ramirez and Brieno are sympathetic to underdogs in the community. Both Brieno and Morrow favor extending Hidden Valley Park to the property west of the existing park. Ramirez has opposed this previously but tends to vote with Brieno.
Derek Chauvin convicted of murder
Posted 4/20/21 4:13 pm PDT
MINNEAPOLIS - Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder today in the death of suspect George Floyd. The jury found him guilty of sccond and third degree murder and manslaughter.
Chauvin showed no signs of emotion when the verdict was read in the courtroom other than darting his eyes side-to-side.
The verdict is interpreted as a rebuke to excessive police force and was greeted with enthusiasm in many quarters across the county.
Floyd was killed May 25 when Chauvin, then a Minneapolis Police office, place a kneehold on Floyd's neck after he was arrested. Floyd was arrested for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store here.
While in custody Floyd uttered the now infamous words "I can't breathe."
Posted 4/20/21 4:13 pm PDT
MINNEAPOLIS - Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder today in the death of suspect George Floyd. The jury found him guilty of sccond and third degree murder and manslaughter.
Chauvin showed no signs of emotion when the verdict was read in the courtroom other than darting his eyes side-to-side.
The verdict is interpreted as a rebuke to excessive police force and was greeted with enthusiasm in many quarters across the county.
Floyd was killed May 25 when Chauvin, then a Minneapolis Police office, place a kneehold on Floyd's neck after he was arrested. Floyd was arrested for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store here.
While in custody Floyd uttered the now infamous words "I can't breathe."
Remembering Skip Athey 4/7/21
More than 65 family and friends remembered “easy going and stubborn” James ‘Skip’ Athey at a memorial service at Hanford Fraternal Hall. The long-time local activist died at age 74 on March 2. His memorial was April 7. “He was a great friend, hardheaded,” said Bob Ramos, another Hanford activist. Athey would often host ‘driveway conferences’ at his home in North Hanford. The purpose was to discuss city issues. Athey’s biggest political accomplishment was his key role in the recall of then Council Member Francisco Ramirez who is now mayor. The successful recall was over misuse of campaign funds. Ramirez was later re-elected. Ironically Ramirez attended the memorial and praised Athey for keeping for “keeping him on his toes.” He issued a proclamation celebrating Athey’s involvement in city issues. Following an Army military service where his ashes were saluted and a flag was presented to his family, various speakers recalled Athey’s qualities and life events. The “very first thing they thought of was his laugh,” said friend Gus Amos of Armona where Athey also lived. His laugh was so loud people could hear him downtown, said Amos. The laugh got him kicked out of Coleman’s Restaurant in Armona. Friend Robert Lee of Bakersfield who grew up with Athey said Skip was a great practical joker. When they used to go to baseball games to see the Yankees play the Angels in Anaheim, Athey would pull stunts such as spilling a tray of expensive ballpark beer on people, recalled Lee. When Athey wasn’t joking around he was attending city council meetings and posting comments on “Hanford City Council Actions” on Facebook. “None of us even questioned his love and support for us," said daugher Erin Gonzales of Hanford. "He was always there."
More than 65 family and friends remembered “easy going and stubborn” James ‘Skip’ Athey at a memorial service at Hanford Fraternal Hall. The long-time local activist died at age 74 on March 2. His memorial was April 7. “He was a great friend, hardheaded,” said Bob Ramos, another Hanford activist. Athey would often host ‘driveway conferences’ at his home in North Hanford. The purpose was to discuss city issues. Athey’s biggest political accomplishment was his key role in the recall of then Council Member Francisco Ramirez who is now mayor. The successful recall was over misuse of campaign funds. Ramirez was later re-elected. Ironically Ramirez attended the memorial and praised Athey for keeping for “keeping him on his toes.” He issued a proclamation celebrating Athey’s involvement in city issues. Following an Army military service where his ashes were saluted and a flag was presented to his family, various speakers recalled Athey’s qualities and life events. The “very first thing they thought of was his laugh,” said friend Gus Amos of Armona where Athey also lived. His laugh was so loud people could hear him downtown, said Amos. The laugh got him kicked out of Coleman’s Restaurant in Armona. Friend Robert Lee of Bakersfield who grew up with Athey said Skip was a great practical joker. When they used to go to baseball games to see the Yankees play the Angels in Anaheim, Athey would pull stunts such as spilling a tray of expensive ballpark beer on people, recalled Lee. When Athey wasn’t joking around he was attending city council meetings and posting comments on “Hanford City Council Actions” on Facebook. “None of us even questioned his love and support for us," said daugher Erin Gonzales of Hanford. "He was always there."
Hanford mourns two young stabbing victims
Posted 3/24/21 4:34 pm
HANFORD – Reeling from one of the worst homicides in recent years the city displayed an outpouring of grief for two siblings slain in a March 22 stabbing while simultaneously trying to support the surviving relatives.
Dead are: Ryan Helbert, 20, and her brother Zachary Helbert, 18, said Hanford Police Lt. James Lutz.
After the stabbings the suspect, Garrett Leyva, 20, called 911 and told police he had stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her brother, Lutz said.
Leyva was stabbed with a kitchen knife and is recuperating at a local hospital, Lutz said. He was initially charged with two homicides but pending further investigation could be charged with murder, Lutz said.
Lutz wouldn’t say where he was stabbed. After he recovers he will be transferred to the Kings County Jail, Lutz said.
Police received the initial call at 10:41 am and they were on the scene in the 1100-block of West Orange four minutes later. The victims were deceased at the scene, police said
Lutz would not disclose where the victims were found in the house.
Ryan Helbert and the suspect were in a dating relationship and had recently broken up, said Lutz. Ryan Helbert attended Hanford High’s East Campus.
This is the first murder in Hanford in 2021, Lutz said. Hanford usually has one or two murders each year but last year there were six murders, he said.
Last year there was a father-son murder-suicide, he said.
HANFORD – Reeling from one of the worst homicides in recent years the city displayed an outpouring of grief for two siblings slain in a March 22 stabbing while simultaneously trying to support the surviving relatives.
Dead are: Ryan Helbert, 20, and her brother Zachary Helbert, 18, said Hanford Police Lt. James Lutz.
After the stabbings the suspect, Garrett Leyva, 20, called 911 and told police he had stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her brother, Lutz said.
Leyva was stabbed with a kitchen knife and is recuperating at a local hospital, Lutz said. He was initially charged with two homicides but pending further investigation could be charged with murder, Lutz said.
Lutz wouldn’t say where he was stabbed. After he recovers he will be transferred to the Kings County Jail, Lutz said.
Police received the initial call at 10:41 am and they were on the scene in the 1100-block of West Orange four minutes later. The victims were deceased at the scene, police said
Lutz would not disclose where the victims were found in the house.
Ryan Helbert and the suspect were in a dating relationship and had recently broken up, said Lutz. Ryan Helbert attended Hanford High’s East Campus.
This is the first murder in Hanford in 2021, Lutz said. Hanford usually has one or two murders each year but last year there were six murders, he said.
Last year there was a father-son murder-suicide, he said.
Cities Hanford and Lemoore getting huge stimulus windfall;
Hanford's share nearly a quarter of city's entire spending plan
Updated 3/26/21 1:09 pm
KINGS COUNTY – The cities of Hanford and Lemoore are both getting stimulus payments with Hanford’s amounting to nearly a quarter of its entire fiscal 20-21 budget. The county will get $30
million. The county's entire budget is $393.85 million.
Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson said March 26 he is still reviewing what stimulus money will be available and as soon as he determines this he will release the figures.
During the last round ending December 31, 2020 Lemoore got $326,000, he said. About $150,000 of that, Olson said, went to local businesses as relief from the pandemic. Lemoore's general fund budget is about $13 million.
Hanford is getting $13.7 million in federal stimulus money, said City Manager Mario Cifuentez on March 16.
The money can be spent on households, small businesses, money can be transferred to special districts such as the one in Armona, health, mental health, housing, helping governments recover from a loss of revenue from the pandemic, water, sewer. broadband and premium pay for some workers, Joseph Krahn, a lobbyist for the county in Washington, told supervisors Tuesday (March 23).
County department heads have already drawn up a wish list of projects they would like to see done with the extra money, said County Administrator Rebecca Campbell. Among these, she said, are: road improvements at I-5 and Utica, Juvenile Center remodel, construction of a Family Justice Center, Emergency Operations Center improvements, a non-live-in homeless shelter, pedestrian bridge in Kettleman City, body cameras for the Sheriff's Department, jail rehabilitation and program space.
The supervisors have the final say on how the extra money is spent.
In Hanford Cifuentez told the council the money will come in two payments, an initial one of $6.3 million and second one within 60 days of March 13 when President Biden signed the stimulus bill.
Unlike the last stimulus during the pandemic when Trump was president this one comes directly from the U.S. Treasury, said Cifuentez. There were more restrictions on the money’s use than under Trump, Cifuentez said. Also during Trump Administration the stimulus money was funneled to the city throught state. This year the city is awaiting guidance on how it can spend the money from the federal government, he said.
Some of the conditions, Cifuentez said, are no more spending on economic development but instead spending on infrastructure (water, sewer, roads etc) is permitted. Money can also be used on corona virus related expenditures. The city, he said, can make up for revenue it lost during the pandemic related to providing water, sewer and infrastructure services.
The Hanford City Council will have final word on how the money is spent, Cifuentez said.
Series of photos that were once on respective subjects' Facebook pages showing travel to various locations between December of 2016 and May 15, 2020. (Top to bottom) Hanford Council Member Art Brieno, Hanford Parks and Recreation Commissioner Cheyenne Strawn and Mayor Francisco Ramirez. The pictures no longer appeared on their Facebook pages following publication of a bribery allegation articles involving Brieno and Ramirez.
Trips allegedly financed by developer, pics gone; Brieno, Ramirez, Strawn, Irons deny wrongdoing
POSTED 8:30 am 3/15/21
COPYRIGHT 2021 Hanford-Lemoore Future
HANFORD - Within days of Hanford-Lemoore Future and Valley Voice publishing articles alleging Mayor Francisco Ramirez and Council Member Art Brieno took bribes from auto repair shop owner Richard Aguilar, incriminating Facebook pictures on their accounts were gone.
Hanford-Lemoore Future obtained copies of the removed pictures from Russ Curry, a former Hanford Mayor and police detective.
A state Department of Justice (DOJ) complaint not only alleges cash bribes but accuses Hanford developer Jerry Irons of paying for several leisure
trips for Ramirez and Brieno. Pictures of trips have been removed from their Facebook accounts.
The alleged bribes happened last year when Aguilar's auto repair shop on West 7th Street was facing closure by the city and are documented in the DOJ complaint. "On July 7, 2020 and July 8, 2020, we allege City of Hanford Mayor Francisco Ramirez and City of Hanford Councilman Art Brieno demanded and received bribes of $400.00 each from Hanford resident and businessman Richard Aguilar," the complaint stated.
In addition, Cheyenne Strawn's Facebook pages showing photos of these trips were also removed, said Curry. Strawn is a Hanford Parks and Recreation Commissioner. Strawn accompanied Ramirez and Brieno on two or more of these trips.
Irons has denied that he paid for these trips taken by two council members and Strawn. Irons allegedly paid for the trips, according to the complaint,
to aid in his efforts to have Hanford Community Development Director Darlene Mata fired because she was thwarting approval of his projects.
Brieno and Ramirez were also seeking to have Mata fired, according to the complaint. Although Brieno later told the city council he wanted Mata
moved to a different position.
In response to the allegations, Ramirez, Brieno and Strawn all said they paid their own way. Brieno said he has credit card statements and will provide them if the matter goes to court while Ramirez and Strawn said the trips were years ago and they do not have receipts.
Two of the several trips in question were in April 2019 and May of 2020.
Regarding the Facebook photos one on April 20, 2017 shows Ramirez at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, another on December 12, 2016 shows him on a street in New York City and a third on December 18, 2016 shows Ramirez in what appears to be a hotel room in Brisbane near San Francisco. Another photo
previously on Ramirez's Facebook page on May 15, 2020 shows Ramirez at the Dixie National Forest near Bryce Canyon, Utah.
The September 7, 2019 picture was previously on Strawn's Facebook pages shows a trip to Sacramento with Brieno and Brieno's son who lives there.
A May 19, 2019 Facebook post by Strawn mentions a trip to Parkfield, Ca., said Curry.
The three men had different explanations about why as to why the photos were removed from their Facebook pages.
Ramirez said the trips do not appear on his current Facebook page because when he was vice mayor he was censored by Facebook and had to
create a new Facebook page. He said whoever is making these allegations should come forward. They are being made, Ramirez said, "by people
who want to see me out of office."
Asked why the pictures are no longer on his Facebook page Strawn said, "I don't look back a year. As far as I know (I) don't think they are down."
He added, "This is getting ridiculous nitpicking little things. We pay our own way, split lodging. Irons had nothing to do with this."
When asked why the pictures of his trips were taken off his Facebook page Brieno said that the allegation is just being used as a "'...character
assassination campaign against him."
Brieno responded to the accusation that Irons paid for his trips to Bryce Canyon and Sacramento saying, "That's a new one to me. We took
trips but Jerry was not part of it."
Brieno said that after the stimulus checks came out, along with extra unemployment funds, it was so much money that people bought cars and
took trips. He said that the newest stimulus check for a family with two kids is going to be more than $5,000.
"People don't need it and they are going to take trips."
The state DOJ has refused to comfirm the existence of any investigation and Curry said he did not write or file the complaint with the state.
A copy of the complaint was obtained by Hanford Lemoore-Future but the newspaper does not know the identity of the author.
Strawn also disputed part of the complaint filed with the DOJ that alleged that he attended lunch meetings during the summer of 2020
with Brieno, Ramirez, Council Member Kalish Morrow and Aguilar who was facing shutdown by the city for various violations.
Strawn and Morrow said they did not attend any of those meetings with those parties. Morrow did say she met Aguilar.
Ramirez said there was one lunch at Colima's Restaurant located next to Aguilar's shop to discuss Aguilar's problems.
Other Facebook postings shown on or about November 9, 2020 that have been removed reveal Brieno and Strawn took a trip to Arizona
and New Mexico, said Curry. Ramirez's pages showed trips to Bend, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. A photo of the Vancouver
trip showing Ramirez in front of a restaurant was posted on September 5, 2020.
The Facebook postings also show that during 2018-2019 period Ramirez, Brieno and Strawn took numerous trips to Parkfield and
Barstow, Ca., said Curry.
Ramirez and Strawn said they have not been contacted by investigators from the DOJ.
n ,.
COPYRIGHT 2021 Hanford-Lemoore Future
HANFORD - Within days of Hanford-Lemoore Future and Valley Voice publishing articles alleging Mayor Francisco Ramirez and Council Member Art Brieno took bribes from auto repair shop owner Richard Aguilar, incriminating Facebook pictures on their accounts were gone.
Hanford-Lemoore Future obtained copies of the removed pictures from Russ Curry, a former Hanford Mayor and police detective.
A state Department of Justice (DOJ) complaint not only alleges cash bribes but accuses Hanford developer Jerry Irons of paying for several leisure
trips for Ramirez and Brieno. Pictures of trips have been removed from their Facebook accounts.
The alleged bribes happened last year when Aguilar's auto repair shop on West 7th Street was facing closure by the city and are documented in the DOJ complaint. "On July 7, 2020 and July 8, 2020, we allege City of Hanford Mayor Francisco Ramirez and City of Hanford Councilman Art Brieno demanded and received bribes of $400.00 each from Hanford resident and businessman Richard Aguilar," the complaint stated.
In addition, Cheyenne Strawn's Facebook pages showing photos of these trips were also removed, said Curry. Strawn is a Hanford Parks and Recreation Commissioner. Strawn accompanied Ramirez and Brieno on two or more of these trips.
Irons has denied that he paid for these trips taken by two council members and Strawn. Irons allegedly paid for the trips, according to the complaint,
to aid in his efforts to have Hanford Community Development Director Darlene Mata fired because she was thwarting approval of his projects.
Brieno and Ramirez were also seeking to have Mata fired, according to the complaint. Although Brieno later told the city council he wanted Mata
moved to a different position.
In response to the allegations, Ramirez, Brieno and Strawn all said they paid their own way. Brieno said he has credit card statements and will provide them if the matter goes to court while Ramirez and Strawn said the trips were years ago and they do not have receipts.
Two of the several trips in question were in April 2019 and May of 2020.
Regarding the Facebook photos one on April 20, 2017 shows Ramirez at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, another on December 12, 2016 shows him on a street in New York City and a third on December 18, 2016 shows Ramirez in what appears to be a hotel room in Brisbane near San Francisco. Another photo
previously on Ramirez's Facebook page on May 15, 2020 shows Ramirez at the Dixie National Forest near Bryce Canyon, Utah.
The September 7, 2019 picture was previously on Strawn's Facebook pages shows a trip to Sacramento with Brieno and Brieno's son who lives there.
A May 19, 2019 Facebook post by Strawn mentions a trip to Parkfield, Ca., said Curry.
The three men had different explanations about why as to why the photos were removed from their Facebook pages.
Ramirez said the trips do not appear on his current Facebook page because when he was vice mayor he was censored by Facebook and had to
create a new Facebook page. He said whoever is making these allegations should come forward. They are being made, Ramirez said, "by people
who want to see me out of office."
Asked why the pictures are no longer on his Facebook page Strawn said, "I don't look back a year. As far as I know (I) don't think they are down."
He added, "This is getting ridiculous nitpicking little things. We pay our own way, split lodging. Irons had nothing to do with this."
When asked why the pictures of his trips were taken off his Facebook page Brieno said that the allegation is just being used as a "'...character
assassination campaign against him."
Brieno responded to the accusation that Irons paid for his trips to Bryce Canyon and Sacramento saying, "That's a new one to me. We took
trips but Jerry was not part of it."
Brieno said that after the stimulus checks came out, along with extra unemployment funds, it was so much money that people bought cars and
took trips. He said that the newest stimulus check for a family with two kids is going to be more than $5,000.
"People don't need it and they are going to take trips."
The state DOJ has refused to comfirm the existence of any investigation and Curry said he did not write or file the complaint with the state.
A copy of the complaint was obtained by Hanford Lemoore-Future but the newspaper does not know the identity of the author.
Strawn also disputed part of the complaint filed with the DOJ that alleged that he attended lunch meetings during the summer of 2020
with Brieno, Ramirez, Council Member Kalish Morrow and Aguilar who was facing shutdown by the city for various violations.
Strawn and Morrow said they did not attend any of those meetings with those parties. Morrow did say she met Aguilar.
Ramirez said there was one lunch at Colima's Restaurant located next to Aguilar's shop to discuss Aguilar's problems.
Other Facebook postings shown on or about November 9, 2020 that have been removed reveal Brieno and Strawn took a trip to Arizona
and New Mexico, said Curry. Ramirez's pages showed trips to Bend, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. A photo of the Vancouver
trip showing Ramirez in front of a restaurant was posted on September 5, 2020.
The Facebook postings also show that during 2018-2019 period Ramirez, Brieno and Strawn took numerous trips to Parkfield and
Barstow, Ca., said Curry.
Ramirez and Strawn said they have not been contacted by investigators from the DOJ.
n ,.
Hanford council censures Brieno
Posted 12:49 pm 3/3/21
HANFORD – The Hanford Council Tuesday censured City Councilman Art Brieno for sexual harassment of a city employee in a tension-packed meeting where council members and the general public harshly criticized Brieno for his conduct and Brieno admitted mistakes but defended his right to question the employee’s actions toward his constituents.
The most biting criticism came from Diane Sharp (District C Northeast) who called Brieno’s reasons for his actions “nonsensical and disgusting” adding that “his hubris blows me away.”
The censure resolution---passed 4-1 with Brieno’s abstention--- condemned Brieno’s conduct toward Community Development Director Darlene Mata. Sharp’s proposed resolution to strip Brieno of all his monthly pay except $1 failed for a lack of a second.
And if this wasn’t enough, the city is still facing a $1.25 million lawsuit from Mata and a new sexual discrimination lawsuit from former City Finance Director Paul Lofgren. The council rejected her initial claim which is routine in these kinds of cases.
Brieno (District E Southwest) denied the allegation in an investigator’s report that he doesn’t like to see women in power positions. He cited Michelle Brown, who runs Main Street Hanford, as an example of a woman in an important position who he supports.
While Brieno spoke the other council members looked at him but Sharp looked straight ahead not casting
her head his way. In previous council meetings on other matters Sharp has shaken her head in disagreement when apparently when she hears comments she doesn’t agree with.
In continuing his remarks, Brieno said, “I never asked anyone to fire Darlene. Never!”
Brieno admitted “character defects” and apologized for his actions but regarding Mata he said “…she
wasn’t always truthful.” He gave examples involving his constituents’ projects.
Council member John Draxler said “it was his mistakes that was (sic) the demise of himself.” He characterized the situation as one of “…two people not getting along.”
Draxler said the city made mistakes in how the situation was handled. “We can minimize damage by showing
that we don’t condone these (Brieno’s) actions.”
During the public comment period six people supported Brieno while five condemned him with some calling for his resignation.
Brieno’s treatment of Mata was called “sexist and discriminatory” by Hanford Mall General Manager Joanne Doerter. She called Mata forthright, professional and honest. She said she hopes that Mata not only wins the $1.2 million suit but then also sues Brieno in civil court.
Emily Bernias said she experienced sexual discrimination in the military and added “if I thought for one
minute you were that type of man I wouldn’t be up here.” She said the people criticizing him had “…no right to throw stones at you.” She said they live in glass houses.
Brieno reclaimed his council seat February 16 after verbally resigning in the council chambers on January 26. He said the reason for rescinding his resignation is that the city breached an agreement with him.
As part of the censure March 2 Brieno will be stripped of his committee assignments and will only be able to communicate with staff through City Manager Mario Cifuentez. Brieno will also have to undergo sensitivity training.
Posted 12:49 pm 3/3/21
HANFORD – The Hanford Council Tuesday censured City Councilman Art Brieno for sexual harassment of a city employee in a tension-packed meeting where council members and the general public harshly criticized Brieno for his conduct and Brieno admitted mistakes but defended his right to question the employee’s actions toward his constituents.
The most biting criticism came from Diane Sharp (District C Northeast) who called Brieno’s reasons for his actions “nonsensical and disgusting” adding that “his hubris blows me away.”
The censure resolution---passed 4-1 with Brieno’s abstention--- condemned Brieno’s conduct toward Community Development Director Darlene Mata. Sharp’s proposed resolution to strip Brieno of all his monthly pay except $1 failed for a lack of a second.
And if this wasn’t enough, the city is still facing a $1.25 million lawsuit from Mata and a new sexual discrimination lawsuit from former City Finance Director Paul Lofgren. The council rejected her initial claim which is routine in these kinds of cases.
Brieno (District E Southwest) denied the allegation in an investigator’s report that he doesn’t like to see women in power positions. He cited Michelle Brown, who runs Main Street Hanford, as an example of a woman in an important position who he supports.
While Brieno spoke the other council members looked at him but Sharp looked straight ahead not casting
her head his way. In previous council meetings on other matters Sharp has shaken her head in disagreement when apparently when she hears comments she doesn’t agree with.
In continuing his remarks, Brieno said, “I never asked anyone to fire Darlene. Never!”
Brieno admitted “character defects” and apologized for his actions but regarding Mata he said “…she
wasn’t always truthful.” He gave examples involving his constituents’ projects.
Council member John Draxler said “it was his mistakes that was (sic) the demise of himself.” He characterized the situation as one of “…two people not getting along.”
Draxler said the city made mistakes in how the situation was handled. “We can minimize damage by showing
that we don’t condone these (Brieno’s) actions.”
During the public comment period six people supported Brieno while five condemned him with some calling for his resignation.
Brieno’s treatment of Mata was called “sexist and discriminatory” by Hanford Mall General Manager Joanne Doerter. She called Mata forthright, professional and honest. She said she hopes that Mata not only wins the $1.2 million suit but then also sues Brieno in civil court.
Emily Bernias said she experienced sexual discrimination in the military and added “if I thought for one
minute you were that type of man I wouldn’t be up here.” She said the people criticizing him had “…no right to throw stones at you.” She said they live in glass houses.
Brieno reclaimed his council seat February 16 after verbally resigning in the council chambers on January 26. He said the reason for rescinding his resignation is that the city breached an agreement with him.
As part of the censure March 2 Brieno will be stripped of his committee assignments and will only be able to communicate with staff through City Manager Mario Cifuentez. Brieno will also have to undergo sensitivity training.
State political commission says probable cause ex-councilman Chin committed violations
Posted 2/25/21 7:17 pm
SACRAMENTO – The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission said there was probable cause that ex-council member Dan Chin, who chaired a political committee called Hanford Now, violated state law in the spring and summer of 2016 by accepting campaign donations of more than $100 in cash.
One of the contributions was $3,600, according to an FPPC executive staff report obtained by this newspaper.
Chin disputed the FPPC’s allegations and said many of the alleged violations are technical disputes.
In addition, the FPPC, said Chin falsely reported Sylvia Chin as the source of campaign loans when in fact Chin himself was the source of the loans. The campaign loans totaled $6,400, according to the FPPC.
In all the FPPC lists 21 violations including failure to file timely quarterly reports, pre-election campaign statements, semi-annual statements, amended statements of organization.
Chin disputed the commission’s point that he misrepresented a loan from his account as coming from his mother.
He said he and his mother each have a joint account and both she and Chin have signature authority.
The FPPC report also alleges a series of illegal cash contributions in excess of $100 between March 1, 2016 and July 26, 2017.
The contributions in 2016 involve the Gary Pannett council election campaign and the Francisco Ramirez council recall campaign, said Chin.
The law, Chin said, says cash contributions can be accepted as long as they don’t exceed $25. Any contribution in excess of that has to be in the form of a check, Chin said.
He said the FPPC is alleging a violation because he deposited a $100 bill instead of making five $20 deposits.
When Hanford Now had two fundraisers in 2017 that netted $3,600 tickets were $10 each for one fundraiser and $24 each for the other.
Chin said individual contributions were under the limit but the total deposit was over it. He also called the dispute a technical violation.
One dispute is about the nature of the committee involved in the Ramirez recall. The FPPC alleges Hanford Now failed to timely file an amended statement of organization.
Political Committees have various designations depending on their purpose. For instance, some committees are called General Purpose, some Ballot Measure and some are designated for a particular candidate.
Chin argued that he did not change the nature of the committee based on information provided
by the Hanford City Clerk who is the local elections official and the FPPC telephone hotline.
Chin served on the city council for three terms from 2000 to 2015.
Chin later helped organize a successful recall campaign against then Hanford Councilman Francisco Ramirez. The Kings County grand jury found Ramirez had not properly reported campaign donations.
After the recall, Ramirez was re-elected to the city council and is now Hanford’s mayor.
Chin said the FPPC is offering him a settlement although he said he does not know currently what the settlement is and whether there will be any fines.
The FPPC acknowledged Hanford-Lemoore Future’s email requesting additional information on the case but as of Thursday night no information was provided.
Although sometimes a controversial figure Chin had been one of the most active persons in community affairs over the years although lately he has pulled back from his involvement in local issues.
When David Ayers was on the city council he appointed Chin, who was out of office, to serve on the Local Agency Formation Commission which considers boundary issues between the city and the county. The appointment was approved by the city council.
Chin is a thinker and has a broad and deep knowledge of community issues and local players. He also has organizational and administrative skill as shown by being able to successfully accomplish the difficult task of a council recall and the defeat of a sales tax measure known as measure S.
Hanford Now was created to defeat measure S, a Hanford ballot measure to levy a 1-cent sale tax increase to support police and fire services. The measure was defeated at the polls in November 2014.
Historically sales tax increase measures have not done well at the polls in Hanford and Lemoore.
The FPPC is a five-member, non-partisan commission whose job it is to administer the Political Reform Act of 1974. The act and the FPPC were created in the wake of the Watergate scandal which occurred during the Nixon Administration. The scandal ended in President Nixon’s resignation. The act regulates campaign financing, conflicts of interest, lobbying and governmental ethics, according to the FPPC web site.
At least for now Brieno reclaims his city council seat
Posted 2/17/21 4:14 pm
HANFORD – The adage goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
So it went here Tuesday night when ex-councilman Art Brieno reclaimed his District E (Southwest) council seat after resigning the previous meeting in the wake of a scandal over alleged harassment
of the Community Development Director Darlene Mata.
There’s a special closed session council meeting tonight (2/17/21) to discuss Brieno’s future.
Last night Brieno took his place on the dias without fanfare or initial protest from other council
members although later Council Member Diane Sharp (District C Northeast) said Brieno should
be censured by the council. City Manager Mario Cifuentez said this will be done at the next meeting.
Brieno said his resignation was not legal because he never signed an agreement
brokered by City Attorney Bob Dowd. Dowd also pressured him to resign at the previous
meeting, not at the end of the month as Brieno wanted, Brieno said.
“Dowd said (I) had to resign that evening,” Brieno said. “I made a (resignation) statement contingent (on the) terms agreed.” When Brieno’s attorney called and said the terms were not what was agreed to,
Brieno said he couldn’t sign.
Attorney Ty Mizote of Dowd’s office told the council that there were two conflicting points of law. One, he said, is when a public official verbally resigns from office, the resignation is effective with the statement. The other, he said is that for a resignation to be effective it must be submitted in writing to the city clerk.
Mizote offered to further brief the council on the legal issues at the next meeting but the
council did not agree to a briefing.
“Dowd said (I) had to resign that evening,” Brieno said. “I made a (resignation) statement contingent (on the) terms agreed.” When Brieno’s attorney called and said the terms were not what was agreed to,
Brieno said he couldn’t sign.
Brieno also said another law firm was hired by the city to investigate Brieno’s actions toward Mata and that the law firm put out a one-sided story that was defamatory to him.
“My record has always shown for the best of the city,” he said. He attributed his problems to
poor communication.
Brieno’s return has implications for both Dowd’s office which has a lucrative contract with the city and City Manager Mario Cifuentez whose job could be at stake.
Brieno is known to be be unhappy with the performance of both.
Brieno is aligned politically with Mayor Francisco Ramirez (District D Southeast) and Council member Kalish Morrow (District B North Hanford) and may be able to influence their votes on both issues.
In addition, Brieno is a political ally of local developer Jerry Irons who has had multiple
conflicts with Mata over his development projects and has pushed repeatedly to get the
council to remove her from her position.
Mata’s attorney Rachele Berglund questioned during the public comment period why Brieno
was being allowed to reclaim his seat when he had already resigned.
The council Tuesday night voted 5-0 to reject Mata’s $1.25 million claim. The claim was only
identified in the consent calendar as “Reject notice of government claim” but it is known to be Mata’s lawsuit.
Mizote, the city attorney, said it is standard procedure to reject a claim. The city’s insurance company recommended the move, he said. The rejection limits the amount of time the claim is valid to six months, Mizote said.
Prior to the start of the meeting there was an argument between members of the public and
city staff over whether the public would be allowed to listen to the meeting in the council chambers.
The meeting was lived-streamed but only the council, a few staff and members of the public and news media were in the chambers.
Councilman John Draxler said the limitation was due to CalOSHA concerns about infecting people with COVID.
But Bob Ramos, local activist, said it was an attempt to stifle public participation.
Ramos said he was not leaving. Former Mayor Lou Martinez was also present. Ramos, Martinez and a news reporter for Valley Voice and Hanford-Lemoore Future newspapers were eventually allowed to stay.
Also preceding the meeting was a protest in front of the civic auditorium by ten Brieno supporters.
Protesters carried signs such as “Due Process is Still a Right” and “Stop the Spread of Untruths.” Brieno spoke to his supporters admitting mistakes but defending his right to ask questions of staff.
In reference to a city-commissioned report on Brieno’s actions supporter Emily Burnias said, “anybody
reads that and reads between the lines (can see that)…you were pushed out of your position. To me they’re building up reasons to get rid of you. You were given the shaft.”
Brieno’s troubles are not limited to his conflict with Mata and the city attorney’s office. A complaint
filed with the state Department of Justice alleges that both Brieno and Ramirez each took a $400 cash
bribe to intervene July 7 on behalf of local auto repair shop owner Richard Aguilar who was having trouble meeting various city regulations. Brieno and Ramirez were successful in getting the council to give Aguilar more time to deal with his problems. A copy of the complaint was obtained this month by Valley Voice and Hanford-Lemoore Future newspapers. Both Brieno and Ramirez have denied the allegations contained in the complaint. The state Department of Justice will not say whether it received the complaint or whether it is investigating it, according to a January 28 email.
Posted 2/17/21 4:14 pm
HANFORD – The adage goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
So it went here Tuesday night when ex-councilman Art Brieno reclaimed his District E (Southwest) council seat after resigning the previous meeting in the wake of a scandal over alleged harassment
of the Community Development Director Darlene Mata.
There’s a special closed session council meeting tonight (2/17/21) to discuss Brieno’s future.
Last night Brieno took his place on the dias without fanfare or initial protest from other council
members although later Council Member Diane Sharp (District C Northeast) said Brieno should
be censured by the council. City Manager Mario Cifuentez said this will be done at the next meeting.
Brieno said his resignation was not legal because he never signed an agreement
brokered by City Attorney Bob Dowd. Dowd also pressured him to resign at the previous
meeting, not at the end of the month as Brieno wanted, Brieno said.
“Dowd said (I) had to resign that evening,” Brieno said. “I made a (resignation) statement contingent (on the) terms agreed.” When Brieno’s attorney called and said the terms were not what was agreed to,
Brieno said he couldn’t sign.
Attorney Ty Mizote of Dowd’s office told the council that there were two conflicting points of law. One, he said, is when a public official verbally resigns from office, the resignation is effective with the statement. The other, he said is that for a resignation to be effective it must be submitted in writing to the city clerk.
Mizote offered to further brief the council on the legal issues at the next meeting but the
council did not agree to a briefing.
“Dowd said (I) had to resign that evening,” Brieno said. “I made a (resignation) statement contingent (on the) terms agreed.” When Brieno’s attorney called and said the terms were not what was agreed to,
Brieno said he couldn’t sign.
Brieno also said another law firm was hired by the city to investigate Brieno’s actions toward Mata and that the law firm put out a one-sided story that was defamatory to him.
“My record has always shown for the best of the city,” he said. He attributed his problems to
poor communication.
Brieno’s return has implications for both Dowd’s office which has a lucrative contract with the city and City Manager Mario Cifuentez whose job could be at stake.
Brieno is known to be be unhappy with the performance of both.
Brieno is aligned politically with Mayor Francisco Ramirez (District D Southeast) and Council member Kalish Morrow (District B North Hanford) and may be able to influence their votes on both issues.
In addition, Brieno is a political ally of local developer Jerry Irons who has had multiple
conflicts with Mata over his development projects and has pushed repeatedly to get the
council to remove her from her position.
Mata’s attorney Rachele Berglund questioned during the public comment period why Brieno
was being allowed to reclaim his seat when he had already resigned.
The council Tuesday night voted 5-0 to reject Mata’s $1.25 million claim. The claim was only
identified in the consent calendar as “Reject notice of government claim” but it is known to be Mata’s lawsuit.
Mizote, the city attorney, said it is standard procedure to reject a claim. The city’s insurance company recommended the move, he said. The rejection limits the amount of time the claim is valid to six months, Mizote said.
Prior to the start of the meeting there was an argument between members of the public and
city staff over whether the public would be allowed to listen to the meeting in the council chambers.
The meeting was lived-streamed but only the council, a few staff and members of the public and news media were in the chambers.
Councilman John Draxler said the limitation was due to CalOSHA concerns about infecting people with COVID.
But Bob Ramos, local activist, said it was an attempt to stifle public participation.
Ramos said he was not leaving. Former Mayor Lou Martinez was also present. Ramos, Martinez and a news reporter for Valley Voice and Hanford-Lemoore Future newspapers were eventually allowed to stay.
Also preceding the meeting was a protest in front of the civic auditorium by ten Brieno supporters.
Protesters carried signs such as “Due Process is Still a Right” and “Stop the Spread of Untruths.” Brieno spoke to his supporters admitting mistakes but defending his right to ask questions of staff.
In reference to a city-commissioned report on Brieno’s actions supporter Emily Burnias said, “anybody
reads that and reads between the lines (can see that)…you were pushed out of your position. To me they’re building up reasons to get rid of you. You were given the shaft.”
Brieno’s troubles are not limited to his conflict with Mata and the city attorney’s office. A complaint
filed with the state Department of Justice alleges that both Brieno and Ramirez each took a $400 cash
bribe to intervene July 7 on behalf of local auto repair shop owner Richard Aguilar who was having trouble meeting various city regulations. Brieno and Ramirez were successful in getting the council to give Aguilar more time to deal with his problems. A copy of the complaint was obtained this month by Valley Voice and Hanford-Lemoore Future newspapers. Both Brieno and Ramirez have denied the allegations contained in the complaint. The state Department of Justice will not say whether it received the complaint or whether it is investigating it, according to a January 28 email.
Mayor, ex-council member allegedly took cash bribes from local businessman
By MARK PRATTER
Copyright 2021
Hanford-Lemoore Future
Posted 2/4/21 11:16 p.m.
HANFORD –When Mayor Francisco Ramirez and Art Brieno were on the council last year they solicited and received $800 in cash bribes from local businessman Richard Aguilar who faced a shutdown by the city, according to a complaint filed with the state Department of Justice.
“On July 7, 2020 and July 8, 2020, we allege City of Hanford Mayor Francisco Ramirez and City of Hanford Councilman Art Brieno demanded and received bribes of $400.00 each from Hanford resident and businessman Richard Aguilar…,” the complaint said.
A, reliable unnamed source arranged to have a copy of the complaint delivered to Hanford-Lemoore Future.
“To protect its integrity, our office cannot comment on potential or ongoing investigations, including the complaints that we receive,” said the state Attorney General’s press office in a January 28 email to this newspaper.
Brieno, resigned January 26 for comments he allegedly made about Darlene Mata, city community development director. Brieno denied receiving any bribes from Aguilar, owner of an automotive repair shop at 330 East 7th Street. Mata and her staff were attempting to shut down the shop for various regulation violations.
Brieno said he did have lunches with Aguilar at Colima’s Restaurant next to Aguilar’s shop. He said Aguilar paid for the lunches.
During a July 7, 2020 hearing Brieno and Ramirez were successful in convincing fellow council members to give Aguilar more time to correct his violations
Hanford-Lemoore Future spoke to Aguilar twice and he said he was busy and couldn’t talk and would call the newspaper. He never did.
Ramirez also denied that he asked for or took a bribe from Aguilar. He categorically denied all the allegations against him in the complaint.
He did confirm that there was one lunch at Colima Restaurant. The topic of the discussion with Aguilar was resolving his problems with the city. Ramirez first said he paid for his own lunch. He then called back and said if Aguilar paid, it was less than $10.
Ramirez said he was willing to take a lie detector test with whoever is making these accusations.
Any termination of employment is conducted on a merit basis, he said. Further he said he was not angry with Darlene Mata. He called the charges against him “sad” and “a joke.”
Then council candidate Kalish Morrow (District B) also met during the summer of 2020 with Brieno, Ramirez, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Cheyenne Strawn, and Aguilar multiple times for lunch at Colimas to plot strategy, according to the complaint. (Strawn is a candidate to fill Brieno’s unexpired term on the council, according to multiple supporters who spoke at Tuesday’s city council meeting (2/2/21).
Morrow, who was later elected to the council, received a $150 campaign contribution from Aguilar at one of the lunches but the contribution was not reported on state Fair Political Practices Form 460 as required by law, according to the complaint.
Morrow said she first met Aguilar when she was campaigning and he did not contribute any money to her
election efforts.
In regard to plans to fire the city attorney, Mata and possibly Cifuentez, Morrow said there was “no plan or discussion, no meeting of the minds.”
Morrow’s vote was needed by Ramirez and Brieno as the third vote to terminate the contract of city attorneys Lasalle Grisworld and fire Mata and possibly Cifuentez, according to the complaint.
The plan was for Ramirez to request Mata’s firing and if Cifuentez didn’t agree, Ramirez would call a special meeting to fire Cifuentez, according to the complaint.
During proceedings about Aguilar Brieno made a comment about Mata’s handling of shutting down Aguilar’s shop and this led, in part, to a claim by Mata against the city.
Mata’s attorney Rachele Berglund is seeking a $1.25 million settlement, in part, because Brieno said Mata was “heavy handed” and Brieno told a former city manager she should be fired, said a January 6 letter to the city.
There are additional allegations in the complaint about the motivation of Ramirez and Brieno to have Mata fired but Hanford-Lemoore Future did not have enough time to research these charges at the time of publication.
The allegations regarding bribery, if verified, are sure to rock the city already under duress from the Brieno resignation and the financial and emotional fallout from the pandemic.
By MARK PRATTER
Copyright 2021
Hanford-Lemoore Future
Posted 2/4/21 11:16 p.m.
HANFORD –When Mayor Francisco Ramirez and Art Brieno were on the council last year they solicited and received $800 in cash bribes from local businessman Richard Aguilar who faced a shutdown by the city, according to a complaint filed with the state Department of Justice.
“On July 7, 2020 and July 8, 2020, we allege City of Hanford Mayor Francisco Ramirez and City of Hanford Councilman Art Brieno demanded and received bribes of $400.00 each from Hanford resident and businessman Richard Aguilar…,” the complaint said.
A, reliable unnamed source arranged to have a copy of the complaint delivered to Hanford-Lemoore Future.
“To protect its integrity, our office cannot comment on potential or ongoing investigations, including the complaints that we receive,” said the state Attorney General’s press office in a January 28 email to this newspaper.
Brieno, resigned January 26 for comments he allegedly made about Darlene Mata, city community development director. Brieno denied receiving any bribes from Aguilar, owner of an automotive repair shop at 330 East 7th Street. Mata and her staff were attempting to shut down the shop for various regulation violations.
Brieno said he did have lunches with Aguilar at Colima’s Restaurant next to Aguilar’s shop. He said Aguilar paid for the lunches.
During a July 7, 2020 hearing Brieno and Ramirez were successful in convincing fellow council members to give Aguilar more time to correct his violations
Hanford-Lemoore Future spoke to Aguilar twice and he said he was busy and couldn’t talk and would call the newspaper. He never did.
Ramirez also denied that he asked for or took a bribe from Aguilar. He categorically denied all the allegations against him in the complaint.
He did confirm that there was one lunch at Colima Restaurant. The topic of the discussion with Aguilar was resolving his problems with the city. Ramirez first said he paid for his own lunch. He then called back and said if Aguilar paid, it was less than $10.
Ramirez said he was willing to take a lie detector test with whoever is making these accusations.
Any termination of employment is conducted on a merit basis, he said. Further he said he was not angry with Darlene Mata. He called the charges against him “sad” and “a joke.”
Then council candidate Kalish Morrow (District B) also met during the summer of 2020 with Brieno, Ramirez, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Cheyenne Strawn, and Aguilar multiple times for lunch at Colimas to plot strategy, according to the complaint. (Strawn is a candidate to fill Brieno’s unexpired term on the council, according to multiple supporters who spoke at Tuesday’s city council meeting (2/2/21).
Morrow, who was later elected to the council, received a $150 campaign contribution from Aguilar at one of the lunches but the contribution was not reported on state Fair Political Practices Form 460 as required by law, according to the complaint.
Morrow said she first met Aguilar when she was campaigning and he did not contribute any money to her
election efforts.
In regard to plans to fire the city attorney, Mata and possibly Cifuentez, Morrow said there was “no plan or discussion, no meeting of the minds.”
Morrow’s vote was needed by Ramirez and Brieno as the third vote to terminate the contract of city attorneys Lasalle Grisworld and fire Mata and possibly Cifuentez, according to the complaint.
The plan was for Ramirez to request Mata’s firing and if Cifuentez didn’t agree, Ramirez would call a special meeting to fire Cifuentez, according to the complaint.
During proceedings about Aguilar Brieno made a comment about Mata’s handling of shutting down Aguilar’s shop and this led, in part, to a claim by Mata against the city.
Mata’s attorney Rachele Berglund is seeking a $1.25 million settlement, in part, because Brieno said Mata was “heavy handed” and Brieno told a former city manager she should be fired, said a January 6 letter to the city.
There are additional allegations in the complaint about the motivation of Ramirez and Brieno to have Mata fired but Hanford-Lemoore Future did not have enough time to research these charges at the time of publication.
The allegations regarding bribery, if verified, are sure to rock the city already under duress from the Brieno resignation and the financial and emotional fallout from the pandemic.
Councilman Brieno resigns after another council closed session
posted 1/26/21 6:52 pm
HANFORD – In a shocking move Councilman Art Brieno, under fire for comments he allegedly
made about Darlene Mata, Hanford Community Development Director, resigned Tuesday night.
Brieno’s resignation leaves more questions than answers about what happened and why.
“It’s a very difficult time,” he told the sparsely attended council chamber audience. “I’ve lost
a lot of business. I’ve come to the conclusion (it’s in) best interest of the city to resign. The last
thing I want is continued litigation with the city.”
Brieno, representing District E that includes much of South Hanford, did not attend a 50-minute closed session meeting described in the agenda as “potential litigation.”
The closed session occurred prior to his announcement. While the closed session occurred Brieno sat at the staff staff table talking to his attorney Steve Dias.
Attending the closed session were Mayor Francisco Ramirez, a political ally, vice mayor Diane Sharp and council members Kalish Morrow and John Draxler. Like Brieno, Sharp, District E in Northeast Hanford, previously served on the council.
Ramirez brushed aside a reporter’s question about whether anything was decided in the closed meeting. He referred questions to City Attorney Ty Mizote.
“The matter is not over,” said Mizote. There is “…nothing to report. Any action
taken will be at a further meeting.”
City Attorney Bob Dowd was also at the meeting, a rare event.
During the public comment session following the closed session local activist Bob Ramos said he didn’t know what the issue was and this was hurtful to the community. He said both
Mata , City Manager Mario Cifuentez and Dowd should be fired. “Something is very wrong here,” he said.
January 22 the council held a special meeting on 24 hours notice to conduct "discussion and action on Council Member misconduct," a reference to Council Member Art Brieno.
After 43 minutes of discussion in closed session Mizote announced that the meeting would be continued until Tuesday January 26 at 4 pm.
Brieno, the subject of the meeting, was absent from the council chamber which included the four other council members:
City Clerk Natalie Ortega said notice of the meeting was posted 24 hours in advance on the city's website on Friday at 5:30 pm. She also said it was posted on the bulletin board outside city hall.
The meeting notice could be a possible violation of the Brown Act since Valley Voice and Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper in Hanford were not notified by the city. A reporter from the Hanford Sentinel also attended the meeting but it is not known at this time whether the Sentinel was notified in advance of the meeting.
Also attending the meeting were Dowd of the Lasalle Griswold law firm that represents the city. Mizote is a member of that law firm. Cifuentez was also in attendance as was Rachele Berglund an attorney with Herr Pedersen Berglund, the law firm, according to an unnamed reliable source, that is representing Mata. Berglund spoke at the meeting during the public comment period but refused to disclose who she was representing.
She said it was "shameful" that a serious matter was discussed with 24-hour notice on a Friday night. She also complained that the meeting was not live-streamed.
The catalyst of the dispute between Mata and Brieno appears to be a dispute over regulating
a popular auto repair business in Hanford.
The city attempted in July 2020 to revoke the operating permit of the Hanford auto repair business owned by Richard Aguilar at 330 East 7th Street.
Mata, representing her department’s staff, said Aguilar was out of compliance with various regulations and presented evidence to support her claim. Cifuentez said during the meeting that he was required to bring Aguilar revocation to the council’s attention.
More than six people spoke during the public comment period to defend Aguilar. Some of them stated he had helped people in Hanford by offering lenient terms to do auto repairs.
Brieno and Ramirez resisted the community development department’s recommendations though Councilman Sue Sorensen backed them. The council then agreed with Brieno and Ramirez to give Aguilar more time to comply with the regulations.
This was an administrative defeat for the city administration and a political embarrassment.
Following the hearing concerning Aguilar’s auto repair shop Mata hired an attorney to conduct an investigation. It is not clear why Mata started the investigation. As a result of the investigation Brieno is being accused of saying something improper about Mata, according to an unnamed
reliable source.
HANFORD – In a shocking move Councilman Art Brieno, under fire for comments he allegedly
made about Darlene Mata, Hanford Community Development Director, resigned Tuesday night.
Brieno’s resignation leaves more questions than answers about what happened and why.
“It’s a very difficult time,” he told the sparsely attended council chamber audience. “I’ve lost
a lot of business. I’ve come to the conclusion (it’s in) best interest of the city to resign. The last
thing I want is continued litigation with the city.”
Brieno, representing District E that includes much of South Hanford, did not attend a 50-minute closed session meeting described in the agenda as “potential litigation.”
The closed session occurred prior to his announcement. While the closed session occurred Brieno sat at the staff staff table talking to his attorney Steve Dias.
Attending the closed session were Mayor Francisco Ramirez, a political ally, vice mayor Diane Sharp and council members Kalish Morrow and John Draxler. Like Brieno, Sharp, District E in Northeast Hanford, previously served on the council.
Ramirez brushed aside a reporter’s question about whether anything was decided in the closed meeting. He referred questions to City Attorney Ty Mizote.
“The matter is not over,” said Mizote. There is “…nothing to report. Any action
taken will be at a further meeting.”
City Attorney Bob Dowd was also at the meeting, a rare event.
During the public comment session following the closed session local activist Bob Ramos said he didn’t know what the issue was and this was hurtful to the community. He said both
Mata , City Manager Mario Cifuentez and Dowd should be fired. “Something is very wrong here,” he said.
January 22 the council held a special meeting on 24 hours notice to conduct "discussion and action on Council Member misconduct," a reference to Council Member Art Brieno.
After 43 minutes of discussion in closed session Mizote announced that the meeting would be continued until Tuesday January 26 at 4 pm.
Brieno, the subject of the meeting, was absent from the council chamber which included the four other council members:
City Clerk Natalie Ortega said notice of the meeting was posted 24 hours in advance on the city's website on Friday at 5:30 pm. She also said it was posted on the bulletin board outside city hall.
The meeting notice could be a possible violation of the Brown Act since Valley Voice and Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper in Hanford were not notified by the city. A reporter from the Hanford Sentinel also attended the meeting but it is not known at this time whether the Sentinel was notified in advance of the meeting.
Also attending the meeting were Dowd of the Lasalle Griswold law firm that represents the city. Mizote is a member of that law firm. Cifuentez was also in attendance as was Rachele Berglund an attorney with Herr Pedersen Berglund, the law firm, according to an unnamed reliable source, that is representing Mata. Berglund spoke at the meeting during the public comment period but refused to disclose who she was representing.
She said it was "shameful" that a serious matter was discussed with 24-hour notice on a Friday night. She also complained that the meeting was not live-streamed.
The catalyst of the dispute between Mata and Brieno appears to be a dispute over regulating
a popular auto repair business in Hanford.
The city attempted in July 2020 to revoke the operating permit of the Hanford auto repair business owned by Richard Aguilar at 330 East 7th Street.
Mata, representing her department’s staff, said Aguilar was out of compliance with various regulations and presented evidence to support her claim. Cifuentez said during the meeting that he was required to bring Aguilar revocation to the council’s attention.
More than six people spoke during the public comment period to defend Aguilar. Some of them stated he had helped people in Hanford by offering lenient terms to do auto repairs.
Brieno and Ramirez resisted the community development department’s recommendations though Councilman Sue Sorensen backed them. The council then agreed with Brieno and Ramirez to give Aguilar more time to comply with the regulations.
This was an administrative defeat for the city administration and a political embarrassment.
Following the hearing concerning Aguilar’s auto repair shop Mata hired an attorney to conduct an investigation. It is not clear why Mata started the investigation. As a result of the investigation Brieno is being accused of saying something improper about Mata, according to an unnamed
reliable source.
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1-22-21 posted 1/22/21 812 pm HANFORD – The city council held a special meeting on 24 hours notice to conduct "discussion and action on Council Member misconduct," a reference to Council Member Art Brieno. After 43 minutes of discussion in closed session City Attorney Ty Mizote announced that the meeting will be continued until Tuesday January 26 at 4 pm. Brieno, the subject of the meeting, was absent from the council chamber which included the four other council members: Mayor Francisco Ramirez, Vice Mayor Diane Sharp, Council Members John Draxler and Kalish Morrow. City Clerk Natalie Ortega said notice of the meeting was posted 24 hours in advance on the city's website on Thursday at 5:30 pm. She also said it was posted on the bulletin board outside city hall. The meeting notice could be a possible violation of the Brown Act since Valley Voice and Hanford-Lemoore Future newspaper in Hanford were not notified by the city. A reporter from the Hanford Sentinel also attended the meeting but it is not know at this time whether the Sentinel was notified in advance of the meeting. Also attending the meeting were Bob Dowd of the Lasalle Griswold law firm that represents the city. Mizote is a member of that law firm. City Manager Mario Cifuentez was also in attendance as was Rachele Berglund an attorney with Herr Pedersen Berglund, the law firm, according to an unnamed reliable source, that is representing Hanford Community Development Director Darlene Mata, the employee leveling the improper conduct charges against Brieno. Berglund spoke at the meeting during the public comment period but refused to disclose who she was representing. She said it was "shameful" that a serious matter was discussed with 24-hour notice on a Friday night. She also complained that the meeting was not live-streamed. Mizote said potential litigation against the city pertaining to Brieno was discussed during closed session on January 19 but nothing was resolved. When the matter is decided, he said, it will be announced publicly. State open meeting laws allow city councils to privately discuss pending litigation. However, councils are required to disclose the topic of the litigation. Following an earlier posting of this article on January 22 Mizote disputed this account of his statement saying he thought the reporter was referring to a council meeting that occurred January 12 not January 19. He said the council met in closed session to discuss potential litigation associated with a claim that has been filed. He disputed that the closed session involved Art Brieno. He also said the potential litigation did not refer to the January 19 closed session. The reporter gave the following response to Mizote's statement: The reporter stated the closed session was about Art Brieno in his question. Mizote did not dispute this in his answer. There was no reference to dates during the conversation with Mizote and potential litigation is another way of saying a possible lawsuit. The action follows attempts by the city in July 2020 to revoke the operating permit of a popular Hanford auto repair business owned by Richard Aguilar at 330 East 7th Street, according to the source. Mata, representing her department’s staff, said Aguilar was out of compliance with various regulations and presented evidence to support her claim. Cifuentez said during the meeting that he was required to bring Aguilar revocation to the council’s attention. More than six people spoke during the public comment period to defend Aguilar. Some of them stated he had helped people in Hanford by offering lenient terms to do auto repairs. Brieno and Councilman Francisco Ramirez, who is now mayor, resisted the community development department’s recommendations though Councilman Sue Sorensen backed them. The council then agreed with Brieno and Ramirez to give Aguilar more time to comply with the regulations. This was an administrative defeat for the city administration and a political embarrassment. Following the hearing concerning Aguilar’s auto repair shop Mata hired an attorney to conduct an investigation. It is not clear why Mata started the investigation. As a result of the investigation Brieno is being accused of saying something improper about Mata. Rachele Berglund, an attorney in Hanford, is working on the Brieno case involving charges brought by the employee, said Kris B. Pedersen, an attorney at the firm. She said she would email Berglund regarding the request for comment. Berglund did not respond to Valley Voice. |
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Helena move will help Lemoore, hurt Hanford posted 1/22/21 10:16 am
LEMOORE – Helena Agri-Enterprises is moving here after a long-simmering dispute with the City of Hanford that resulted in the company filing a lawsuit against Hanford.
Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson said the move could result in about $340,000 in additional annual sale tax revenue to the city plus an unspecified number of jobs.
Olson said he wouldn’t disclose the company’s location in Lemoore until the land deal is final. The deal is subject to the okay of the new city council and environmental reviews of the project are needed, he said.
The company, which batches and sells fertilizer products, would build a new facility in Lemoore, Olson said.
In the relocation first announced by the city in early December 2020, Lemoore gains one of its largest retail companies.
Olson wouldn’t comment on what Hanford’s problems with Helena had to do with the relocation. Helena returned one phone seeking comment but did not return later ones. Also Helena’s attorney Mark Everett McKeen did not respond to a request for comment.
Helena on April 14, 2017 filed a breach of contract lawsuit seeking $12 million in damages with the company claiming the City of Hanford reneged on a land deal that would have resulted in Helena relocating from East Lacey Boulevard by Costco to Hanford’s industrial park, according to court records. The city responded in a court filing denying Helena’s allegations and said no money is owed.
During 2015 Helena and Hanford reached a definitive agreement on the relocation.
In July 2015 the city council told Helena it would not execute this agreement.
In late 2014 Costco Center developer John Kashian ordered all work stopped on the project until the city denied Helena’s request to expand agricultural operations at the East Lacey site which was across the street from the Costco Center, according to court documents. Helena has occupied the East Lacey site since 1972. The Hanford site has steadily grown from $15 million annually in 2004 to $30 million in 2017, according to court documents. The company employs hundreds in the Central Valley, according to court documents.
Before the city worked out an agreement to move Helena, the city had approved a conditional
use permit allowing Helena to expand at East Lacey. It also changed the zoning rules to allow Helena to continue operations at the site despite the company’s operations being considered incompatible with surrounding uses.
A jury trial in Kings Superior Court on Helena’s breach of contract lawsuit will be held in Hanford starting June 7, 2021, according to court documents.
Helena’s move represents a financial boon to Lemoore and a blow to Hanford. Lemoore has a multi-million budget deficit and recently saw a ballot measure to raise the sales tax defeated. Hanford had a $1.1 million budget deficit last year but eliminated it by not making a payment to its equipment reserve fund.
Lemoore has switched its economic strategy from being a bedroom community to pursuing growth, said Olson. Hanford has long pursued a pro-growth strategy involving retail, industrial and housing elements.
LEMOORE – Helena Agri-Enterprises is moving here after a long-simmering dispute with the City of Hanford that resulted in the company filing a lawsuit against Hanford.
Lemoore City Manager Nathan Olson said the move could result in about $340,000 in additional annual sale tax revenue to the city plus an unspecified number of jobs.
Olson said he wouldn’t disclose the company’s location in Lemoore until the land deal is final. The deal is subject to the okay of the new city council and environmental reviews of the project are needed, he said.
The company, which batches and sells fertilizer products, would build a new facility in Lemoore, Olson said.
In the relocation first announced by the city in early December 2020, Lemoore gains one of its largest retail companies.
Olson wouldn’t comment on what Hanford’s problems with Helena had to do with the relocation. Helena returned one phone seeking comment but did not return later ones. Also Helena’s attorney Mark Everett McKeen did not respond to a request for comment.
Helena on April 14, 2017 filed a breach of contract lawsuit seeking $12 million in damages with the company claiming the City of Hanford reneged on a land deal that would have resulted in Helena relocating from East Lacey Boulevard by Costco to Hanford’s industrial park, according to court records. The city responded in a court filing denying Helena’s allegations and said no money is owed.
During 2015 Helena and Hanford reached a definitive agreement on the relocation.
In July 2015 the city council told Helena it would not execute this agreement.
In late 2014 Costco Center developer John Kashian ordered all work stopped on the project until the city denied Helena’s request to expand agricultural operations at the East Lacey site which was across the street from the Costco Center, according to court documents. Helena has occupied the East Lacey site since 1972. The Hanford site has steadily grown from $15 million annually in 2004 to $30 million in 2017, according to court documents. The company employs hundreds in the Central Valley, according to court documents.
Before the city worked out an agreement to move Helena, the city had approved a conditional
use permit allowing Helena to expand at East Lacey. It also changed the zoning rules to allow Helena to continue operations at the site despite the company’s operations being considered incompatible with surrounding uses.
A jury trial in Kings Superior Court on Helena’s breach of contract lawsuit will be held in Hanford starting June 7, 2021, according to court documents.
Helena’s move represents a financial boon to Lemoore and a blow to Hanford. Lemoore has a multi-million budget deficit and recently saw a ballot measure to raise the sales tax defeated. Hanford had a $1.1 million budget deficit last year but eliminated it by not making a payment to its equipment reserve fund.
Lemoore has switched its economic strategy from being a bedroom community to pursuing growth, said Olson. Hanford has long pursued a pro-growth strategy involving retail, industrial and housing elements.