Bakersfield.com Richard Beene

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blot about life, media, politics, and people

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:42:00 PDT

Alarm systems

Here is an important tip about home alarm systems in the city of Bakersfield, compliments of reader Gary Crabtree. "Saturday evening, we returned from dinner about 6:30 p.m. to find our alarm activated, and a message from our alarm company on our answering machine that our front door had been breached." he wrote. "We found nothing missing. A call to the alarm company indicated that they had called the police. At 9:30 p.m., an officer arrived at our front door. He indicated that he just got the call from dispatch. We were told that if we didn't renew our alarm permit with the city every year for $30, they may or may not respond. So a warning, if you expect BPD to respond to your alarm system, better cough up $30 a year to the city."

RICHARD BEENE: Bakerfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:15:13 PDT

Leticia Perez, the county supervisor who is in a heated District 16 state Senate race, took me to task for saying she was "not amused" by a locally produced video promoting fiscally sound government. The video was produced by the Kern Citizens for Sustainable Government and is titled, "If I Wanted Kern County to Fail." It talks about balanced budgets, pension and education reform, personal responsibility and leadership. Perez sent me an email denying she had ever commented on the video and demanding that I "clarify" it in this blog. So here is the clarification: I have a copy of the email Perez sent to Jenifer Pitcher, the community liaison at KCRG, in which Perez says this about the video: "What a joke."

That's not an official Perez statement, but I think it fairly captures how she feels about KCRG and its video. I asked Perez to respond, and if she believed her email had been hacked, and she responded that she would "look into it." So there you have it.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Wed, 15 May 2013 05:37:00 PDT

Perez

With just a week to go, the campaign for the 16th District state Senate race is growing predictably nasty. Frontrunners Leticia Perez and Andy Vidak have taken the gloves off, both airing scathing TV ads attacking the other. And now comes word that Perez had to apologize for using the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe in a campaign flier distributed in Fresno. Perez called it an "image of inspiration" but apologized after a complaint was filed with the Fresno Archdiocese. Perez also was not amused by a popular video produced by the Kern Citizens for Sustainable Government promoting more fiscally sound policies. And finally, Perez abruptly canceled a scheduled appearance on KERN's First Look with Scott Cox video simulcast after The Californian endorsed Vidak. If Perez and Vidak end up in a runoff, as is widely expected, we'll all have two more months of this to entertain us.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Mon, 13 May 2013 05:14:00 PDT

The Dome

The Dome, the Bakersfield entertainment center know as a venue for boxing and live music, has been purchased by a local church-affiliated organization. The new name will be the Cross Family Center at The Dome. Toure Tyler, pastor of the Cross Christian Church, said they hope to continue using the Dome for concerts and boxing, but he also has plans to make it more of a community center to reach out to needy youth.

Richard Beene: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Fri, 10 May 2013 03:00:00 PDT

Permit

I have been following the saga of a private/public land battle that Bakersfield's Judi and Rob McCarthy are having in San Luis Obispo County. Seems the California Coastal Commission doesn't like the McCarthys' plan to build a home on 37 acres of prime coastal land above Cave Landing Road between Pismo Beach and Avila Beach. The San Luis Planning Commission approved the project three years ago with no public dissent, but two members of the Coastal Commission appealed the permit to the commission, and it's been all lawyers since then. And now the commission is talking about taking all of the McCarthy land through "prescriptive access" (even eminent domain would be preferable; at least then they have to pay for it). The McCarthys have offered to build a safe hiking trail for the public, but it looks like the Coastal Commission has an appetite for the entire parcel. Wonder how this would play in Kern County? Stay tuned.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:34:49 PDT

VALLEY FEVER

It's worth repeating: The next time we get those devilish winds like we had Sunday, stay inside. That's the warning from Dr. Raj Patel, co-owner of Preferred Family Physicians over on Truxtun Extension. Patel confirmed that yes, valley fever spores are airborne during these wind storms and it's prudent just to stay out of it. Further, he questioned whether bandanas and other masks will guard against valley fever although they might help against certain allergies. And finally, he told me that it now appears that just because you have had valley fever before doesn't mean you can't contract it again. Patel said it takes two or three weeks after exposure to come up with symptons, and he is expecting to diagnose more valley fever cases in the coming weeks.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Mon, 06 May 2013 05:16:00 PDT

Banks

There was a disturbing report by the Appraisal Institute the other day, saying banks have begun "walking away from thousands of vacant properties after beginning foreclosure and then dropping the cases because they don't want to be on the hook for maintaining abandoned properties." The report said that consumer advocates say this violated Federal Reserve rules that "require banks to notify borrowers if they start a foreclosure and then abandon it. What can happen as a result is that borrowers think they have lost their homes and leave the property to the bank, which, having stopped foreclosure proceedings, don't want to assume responsibility." Why would they do this? One JPMorgan chase executive said: "If it's going to cost us $30,000 to foreclose and the unpaid balance on the loan is $30,000 and current market value is not much higher, we might release the lien and give the home back to the borrower."

Bakersfield Observed: A blog about life, media, politics and people

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:34:00 PDT

Andrae

If Leticia Perez wins the battle to succeed Michael Rubio in the 16th State Senate district, Gov. Jerry Brown will appoint someone to fill her unexpired term on the Kern County Board of Supervisors. One name that comes up is Andrae Gonzales, a rising star in the Democratic party and a member of the Bakersfield City School District board. Of course, Perez must first best the five-person field in the State Senate race, where her primary opponent is Republican Andy Vidak. Stay tuned.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:58:00 PDT

Trash

Hats off to Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard who dispatched a crew to clean up the litter and trash on the Panorama bluffs. About a week ago, someone unceremoniously tossed two black trash bags over the bluffs, sending food, paper, diapers and other disposals all over the popular walking trails. Two runners complained to Maggard's office and within a week, the walking trails were near devoid of trash.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:09:00 PDT

Immigration

The chances appear about even that we will see real immigration reform this year. The "gang of eight" in the Senate have agreed on reforms, but conservatives in the House are threatening to block any legislation that does not contain real teeth to secure our borders. According to the Wall Street Journal, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) is holding "listening sessions" with House members to gauge interest in a reform bill, while Rep. David Valadao is arguing the Central Valley would benefit from immigration reform.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:32:00 PDT

RIP

I was devastated to learn of the death of Graham Downes, one of the original investors and chief architect of the renovated Padre Hotel downtown. Downes recently died in San Diego after he suffered a severe beating in front of his historic Bankers Hill home. Police have arrested a 31-year-old man who worked for Graham in connection with the death. I met Graham more than three years ago when he and partner Brett Miller were refurbishing The Padre, now one of the jewels of our downtown. He was South African by birth and a visionary architect, known for projects like The Padre where historic old buildings are brought back to life. I remember asking him if there was any doubt the Padre could get a second chance at greatness. He gave me an incredulous look, motioned his hands toward the then-gutted interior and said -- if I remember his words correctly -- "Are you kidding? This is the type of project I live for." He was 55 years old.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:45:00 PDT

Trash

I was heartened to receive this note from reader Lynn Bailey, who submitted a shout-out to an unidentified neighbor who is single handedly trying to tackle our litter problem. Someone, she said, put a small trash can next to the community mail boxes, leaving it as a handy receptacle to dispose of community trash. "Everyday when I walk down Jenkins with my dogs, I collect trash and dash across the street to dump in the can," she said. "I also try and collect some on my return to dump again in the can. I wish I knew who put it out so I could thank them! I also wish we had a concrete pad to put another one on the opposite side of the street where the kids wait for the buses. There is a ton of wrappings, baggies, cans, cups etc. laying about. Maybe the city could start a program like adopt a street -- only this could be buy a can and individuals would adopt the 'can' to dump. Just some ideas and a big shout-out to the creative person who put that trash can out on Jenkins!"

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:14:26 PDT

Grocers

Fans of the local Fresh & Easy grocery stories are lamenting over the British parent firm's decision to unload its unprofitable U.S. enterprise. If Fresh & Easy leaves our market, it will join Young's Market and the Green Frog on the list of smaller grocery stories that have left our community.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:00:00 PDT

BOSTON

The terrorist bombings at the Boston Marathon are almost beyond belief, but equally disturbing are the troubled ramblings posted on social media websites like Facebook, Twitter and other forums. Within an hour of the bombings some folks were speculating this was an "inside job" by our own government, or a scheme by President Obama to manipulate public opinion. The immediacy of social media allows us to talk before we think. It's disheartening that some among us simply cannot take a moment to grieve for the victims and their families as the investigations unfold.

RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blog about life, media, politics and people

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:15:15 PDT

Jackie Robinson

Turns out that the movie on the life of Jackie Robinson has a local connection. Joy Cook Tolladay told me that her brother, Dick Cook, is executive producer of the film, and she recently attended a special screening. "It's a story about courage, it's a love story, and it's the best history lesson we can teach our children. Even though I didn't grow up in that era, I always knew Jackie Robinson was a hero. I just didn't respect how big of a hero he was until I saw the movie."