What has Salomon, and probably city and county leaders throughout the state, nervous, is the latest budget crisis facing the state, a crisis all too familiar to those in local government.
“We are in very uncertain economic times,” said Salomon
doing his best to crystal ball the next 12 months. He said the state budget
deficit and a weakening state and local economy could mean lean times
for the city well into 2008.
Salomon said the reported $14 billion state budget deficit
is cause for concern. “It is a structural deficit they've had for more
than a decade and they [state lawmakers] have never dealt with it. It
is very difficult to know what the state is going to do and how it is
going to affect us. There are many things it can do, directly and indirectly,
and neither is very positive,” he said.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to declare a fiscal
emergency this month, but until the governor proposes his 2008-09 budget, it is not known what the impact will be on local governments,
but twice in the past, local governments have taken a big hit.
However, this time there is Prop.
1A, a state initiative passed in November of 2004 that is designed to
protect local government funding. Prop. 1A prohibits the state from reducing
local governments' property tax proceeds or taking local sales tax revenues.
However, what causes Salomon to worry, is Prop.
1A can be suspended if the governor declares a fiscal necessity and two-thirds
of the Legislature approve the suspension.
Another cause for concern is the local economy, which
is impacted by the national economy. High gas prices, rising unemployment
and a continual slowdown in housing construction and sales could mean
less in revenue for the city.
“Generally,
He said coping with the state's budget mess and a slowing
economy is not just a
“It's clearly a time to be cautious.”
2008 Will Be Very Busy
Even with the cautious outlook, Salomon sees a very busy
year ahead with the city completing or beginning several major projects. First among them is building off the momentum
of the Gang Summit last month to deal with the issue of gangs.
“The gang issue is something the city is not going to
let go of in terms of dealing with. We need to work very hard at this
and have a positive impact on it.”
He said the police chief is working with others in the
county to come up with recommendations to deal with the issue.
Among other initiatives:
The new airline serving
Another area of focus will be the Sequoia Shuttle, the
bus service into Sequoia and Kings national parks from
The annexation of 480 acres to the city's industrial
park will open up many opportunities, said the city manager. He said the
city is working with MSJ partners to market the park. “We are also working
with the Allen Group to see if we can increase and diversify the job base.”
Measure R Projects on Tap
Measure R benefits will be more visible, said Salomon.
The city has already extended hours of operation of the city's transit
system and work has begun on the development of several pedestrian and
bicycle trails, mostly along the four waterways in the city and the
The biggest part of Measure R, the half-cent countywide
sales tax increase approved by voters in 2006, is money for roads. Among
the bigger projects are: Widening of Mooney Boulevard from Packwood to
Noble; improving the Ben Maddox interchange, including widening the bridge
over the freeway and improving the intersection at Noble; construction
of a bridge over the freeway at Santa Fe; improving Shirk Road from Highway
198 to Riggin Avenue; beginning plans on improving the Plaza Drive
interchange.
Salomon said Ben Maddox is a bottleneck and the improvements
there should be well received and the work on
Another major project is to make
Salomon noted there are many other projects on tap in the city for 2008, including the development of at least three new parks and phase II of the sports park.
Representatives of public and private agencies, as well
as some parents, met Dec. 5 to share their concerns about the significant
rise in suicides in the county and the need for the task force.
Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County
Health and Human Services public health officer, said through Oct. 31
there had been 39 suicides, up from a previous high of 37 for all of 2005
in the county. Officials note that suicide is on the rise statewide, not
just
The suicides referenced in 2007 by Dr. Haught
represent an age range from 16 to 90. However, Dr. Haught
reported, the majority of the reported suicides were among youth and adults
aged 19-24.
Ray Bullick, director of Health
Services, and concerned members of other agencies agreed reconvening the
Suicide Prevention Task Force was needed. The task force was last active
in 2005, following the suicides of over a dozen teenagers in the 2004-2005
school year.
As with the earlier taskforce, noted Bullick,
a primary goal of the effort is to promote awareness that “suicide is
a public health problem that is preventable.”
While suicide by firearms had been the most common method
employed in the past by young adults, there has been an increase in suicides
by hanging and for women, suicide by suffocation, Dr. Haught
reported. Factors in youth suicide include a higher prevalence of depression,
more social isolation and more frequency of highly lethal methods. Dr.
Haught noted that the majority of the suicides nationally
and in
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about one
person in 25 surveyed has seriously considered suicide.
Bullick and community representatives
discussed strategies to prevent suicide, including developing and implementing
a county-wide suicide prevention program. Community members involved in
the previous Suicide Prevention Task Force conducted community education
forums in Lindsay, Woodlake,
One goal of the current task force is to develop and
implement strategies to reduce the stigma associated with receiving mental
health services, said Bullick. A primary goal
of the task force is to increase collaboration and coordination among
public agencies, private organizations and communities to improve services
and remove barriers for treatment, said Dr. Haught.
“There is a great need for public-private partnerships, which we hope
this taskforce will address,” said Bullick.
Taskforce members will meet Jan. 10 to further develop
workgroups to address recommendations for a comprehensive countywide plan.
Interested community members may contact Tracy Kruse of the Public Health
Services for
Last month, AT&T announced plans to exit the shrinking pay phone
business by the end of 2008.
Already, AT&T pulled a pay phone out of the
The accessibility and costs of cell phones have practically
made pay phones obsolete. Pay phones in the
AT&T's Public Communications unit has continued to
experience significant pressure from reduced pay phone usage, primarily
as a result of the growth of alternative communications choices, such
as wireless phones and personal communication devices, AT&T said in
a press release announcing its decision.
Obviously, the growing use of cell phones has led to
the demise of the pay phone. Still, a few pay phones remain and a few
will be around for several years to come.
According to Reuters, approximately 810 million mobile
phones were sold in 2007, up from 680 million the year before. And, worldwide
there are more than 2 billion cell phones in use.
“This is the right time for us to take this step on behalf
of our customers, employees and stockholders,” said David Huntley, senior
vice president for Customer Information Services, in the press release.
“We expect that independent providers will pick up much of this business,
and, as we exit the business, we will be able to refocus our resources
to areas that offer stronger growth potential and greater opportunity
for the company.”
Milt Stowe, city of
“We don't even think about pay phones [when designing
parks now],” said Stowe.
In fact, many of those in government contacted for this
story had to do quite a bit of research to find out if their agency still
had pay phones, who maintained them and if they were even used much.
“We have a few left – two at convention center,” said
Nancy Loliva, city of
“I doubt if we'll ever get any more,” said Angie Bouma, Kaweah Delta spokesperson. She said she only knew of
three pay phones left on the main campus. She said an outside agency owns
and maintains them, “and they have been taking them out as they no longer
are profitable.”
Dennis Stanley, owner of
“We still put them in, as a convenience to our customers,”
he said. “They're kind of like dinosaurs, any more. But they still get
used.”
He said a vendor supplies the phones, and then pays him
a small commission for allowing him to place them at his stores.
An employee with Communication Connection in
“Regulations in some states, counties and cities require
pay phones or 911 phones [designed for emergencies],” she said. “A lot
of convenience stores want a pay phone for their customers. It's all about
location,” she said.
She said a refurbished pay phone can sell for about $150.
The buyer then finds a place to locate the phone, pays the hook-up charges,
and then collects on the calls made. She said the owner is responsible
for the phone bill.
She added that on average, a basic call, local for 3-5
minutes, costs the user 50 cents. For long distance, the charge is on
average $1 to $1.50 for three minutes. She noted the owner of the phone
is paying much less for those calls.
According to the American Public Communications Council
and AT&T, the first public telephone was installed in 1889 by inventor
William Gray at a bank in
By 1902, there were 81,000 pay telephones in the
Tulare County - A company specializing in technology to turn organic waste, including manure, into energy and soil enhancements and other products is looking for a location in Tulare County.
WES Technology is weighing a half-dozen potential sites in rural agricultural areas, said Rodney Raeyes, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. At least one site being given serious consideration is in the Visalia area, he said. He said preliminary talks with several county agencies and departments have gone well. No specific plans have been filed.
Raeyes described the company as a leader in pollution-free technology aimed at the organic and municipal waste garbage disposal problem. A planned Tulare County facility would, Raeyes said, include an enclosed methane gas processing plant which could generate enough energy to fuel its operation in addition to excess energy which could be sold or “given away.''
Raeyes said his firm was granted a U.S. patent on its technology in January, 2003. The technology can process and sterilize all kinds of organic waste into marketable “clean and odorless' organic fertilizer and other organic products in two hours.
Raeyes told The Voice WES Technologies could eventually create up to 400 jobs. He said other jobs would be created through the marketing, shipping and sales.
Once a location is secured, the company could move quickly to set up its facility which would be a pilot operation for both research and production.
Basically, the process uses a self-steaming system that provides high pressure and rapid sterilization of the organic waste, largely preserving the nutrient value of the raw materials. It also uses a hydrolyzed process for vacuum drying.
The company's web site states that after sterilization and drying, processed organic materials are conveyed to the 'in house” curing area for quality control over a three-day period.
The company report cites a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report stating that the nation's 450,000 livestock farms produce 1.4 billion tons of animal manure annually. The report claims animal waste has polluted 40 per cent of the assessed waterways, killed billions of fish and accounts for 20 percent of the atmospheric methane gas emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Visalia - A sign that definitely points
to the escalating costs of attending college, College of the Sequoias
now offers an interest-free payment plan to students to pay for their
textbooks.
COS is the only college in
College textbooks have become a major expense item for
students, said Dorianna Mendietta,
bookstore manager at
“The skyrocketing cost of textbooks is putting a great
financial strain on community college students.” said COS President Bill
Scroggins in his report to the board of trustees. He said the average
“It's been great. We've had a good response,” said Mendietta of the number of students who have taken advantage
of the program that offers two, three and four-month payment plans. The
unique program was first offered in the Spring
of 2007 and 48 students took advantage. That grew to 284 students in the
fall of 2007.
“This is a great way to help our students purchase their
books,” she added.
The no-interest payment plan is offered through Nelmet Business Solutions, the same company that offers a
similar plan to pay tuition costs. Mendietta
said two schools in
How the plan works is simple. “A student can sign up
when they purchase their books. They must pay 20 percent of the total
at that time. It is open to any student. They must have a savings or checking
account, or a credit card,” said Mendietta.
Nelmet charges $15 to set up the account.
Students can have the payment automatically transferred
from their bank account, or charged to their credit card. They can use
their parent's account if necessary. Students can also make their payment
at the book store. There is a $25 charge if a payment is missed. The amount
of purchase must be a minimum of $100 and only textbooks can be financed.
Students can also add to the account, or have charges
deducted if they drop or change a class and return a book.
There are deadlines in which to qualify for which plans.
The earlier a student purchases a textbook, the longer payment plan they
can choose. However, the deadline this semester to sign up for the four-month
plan passed last month. The deadline for the three-month plan is Jan.
23.
“It's a pretty good plan,” said Mendietta.
For more information on the program, call the bookstore at 730-3821.
Tulare & Kings Counties -
Terese Lane, Visalia Planning Commissioner: “I expect to see a lot of concern building over the proposed Yokohl Valley project and hope to see some modification to it – whether that means a smaller project or no project. I just think the scale of it is vast and it is ill-advised. This is a pristine part of the county and I hate to see it gobbled up like so much of the rest of California. I don't know if it can be scaled down” and still pencil out with amounts of infrastructure Boswell has to put in. The Yokohl Ranch project will get its first public comment meeting in January when county staff offers its Notice of Preparation for the EIR on the “new town” project that could house 36,000 people at build out. Staff will accept written comment only at this meeting. No date for the meeting has been announced yet.
Manuel Cunha, Valley ag industry leader: “I know we normally support Republican candidates but with the presidential primary gearing up in California over the next month, I have to say the candidate with the best understanding of the immigration issue is Hillary.” Cunha, who heads up Nisei Farmers League, says he is “disappointed with Gulliani's change of tune” over immigration. “When he came here for a fundraiser earlier in the year, he said he backed ag jobs, but he changed his mind in July.” He says McCain, too, “now only backs enforcement” rather than any comprehensive reform that would give farmers hope of easing their labor pains. “Huckabee is saying send all the people back to Mexico in 120 days. That's not realistic,” he says. Republicans are listening to a minority of voters while 68 percent of the American public say they would support comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
Fred Ruiz, business leader: “I think we are seeing the largest increase in food prices in the past 30 years that will continue in 2008.” He says the change is both a boon and a challenge to food companies like Ruiz Foods that employs 2,000 workers in Tulare County – the largest private employer in the county. Ruiz says the other challenge to his company is what happens to immigration reform this coming year. “The labor issue will be tough in California like the rest of the country,” although he says the “work ethic is stronger here than further east.” Ruiz recently opened a new food plant in Dennison, Texas. If labor tightens too much, it won't be long until food processors move some of their production to the other side of the Mexican border, he predicts.
Phil Vandergrift, Tulare City Council member: The newly formed Council of Cities is united in agreeing to work with the county to ensure we come up with a formula to share revenue and collect the newly proposed county impact fees. “We know the county needs help as do all the cities. Together we need to fix public safety. Our city managers hope to meet with county staff to work something out,” says the Tulare City Council member and Tulare representative of the Council of Cities. Regarding the proposed Tulare Motor Sports complex, Vandergrift says his understanding is that project is backed by Japanese money and the financiers hope to build a Japanese cultural center, brew Japanese beer here and even make the alcoholic drink Sake in Tulare in hopes of attracting visitors to the NASCAR race track. Toyota has a NASCAR race car already and it hopes it will run in Tulare. So it's not just rednecks that are awaiting a NASCAR track in Tulare. The project is expected to get a city decision this spring.
Allen Ishida, chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors: “One thing we know is that federal and state revenues will be lower in 2008 – particularly the state. Clearly we need to tighten our belt some more. But I don't think it will have a major effect on Tulare County compared to other counties. Our growth in 2008 should continue and not diminish like in some counties in the state. The thing I fear people will feel the most is $4 gas. But overall I am optimistic about 2008.”
Amy Shuklian, Visalia City Council member: “I think we're trying to keep up the momentum from the Gang Summit in December,” says the new Visalia City Council member. We can only hope that the shooting death of Detective Kent Haws will galvanize the community and “something good can happen out of this tragedy.” Shuklian says she feels what every area in the city can do is organize and back a neighborhood watch program. “I am going to do this in my neighborhood,” vows Amy, working to fight crime locally. “It's little pieces of puzzles but I think it can make a difference.” Shuklian says the Visalia Police Department is now organized by sectors and each sector's officers will work directly with the neighborhood they are assigned to, to keep the neighborhood safe. “I am also looking forward to hiring a new assistant city police chief and fire chief,” in coming weeks. She wants to work to upgrade “code enforcement” in the community.
Don Landers, Visalia City Council member: “I am predicting Don Landers is going to retire from the Tulare County Sheriff's Department January 4,” says Landers after nearly 37 years in the department. Landers says his big concern is the economy. In the past, we've had good resources in the city of Visalia to take care of many needs in the community. But now the state is low on money and they are coming after money promised to the city. “The reality is that the state is spending too much, but they need to keep their hands off City of Visalia's monies.” Landers says the impact fee issue that has divided the city and the developers/builders industry will be negotiated and come to a firm agreement, but “probably not for years” since the city is likely to hire a consultant to crunch the numbers. “We don't want to end up in court over this.”
Manuel Jimenez, Small Farm Advisor: “I see the cost of fuels and more regulations weighing in on small farmers” whom he works with. “They get it from the fuel costs, from the materials that they use like plastic made from oil and they get it from higher costs and new regulations they must comply with.” Jimenez says 2008 could be a tough one for small growers who will have to learn about new rules to comply with and then figure out how to pay for them. “I'm afraid I see more small farmers who will just have to quit,” says Jimenez, who works with UC Cooperative Extension. Jimenez has been the pioneer on the growing blueberry industry in Central California and says the statewide acreage is now 5,000 acres. “Acreage is building worldwide” and the popularity of the fast-growing industry will likely mean lower prices for blueberry growers. The perennial crop is a long-term commitment, he says, with plantings lasting more than 20 years.
Jim Sullins, UC Cooperative Extension director - Predictions for Ag 2008: For 2008, Tulare County Ag will rest on the laurels of 2007, and I expect Tulare County will hold its place as the next largest ag producing county in the state and nation. We will have to wait for the 2007 Annual Crop and Statistic Report to sort out the details. However, looking at the top five, milk prices have stayed in the profitable range through 2007, while alfalfa prices were at record levels. Although the citrus industry was damaged by the January 2007 freeze and many individuals were hurt, the actual farm gate value for the industry should be close to the 2006 level. A below-average table grape market rebounded with late season high quality grapes and strong prices, resulting in what will probably be an average year. Raisin prices were moderate when contract prices were settled. Corn, walnuts, almonds, pistachios and plums rounded out the top ten in 2006, and in 2007 the market prices were good except for corn and plums. Corn had record prices and plums struggled. Fresh market tree fruit growers struggled through 2007 with marketing problems and with prices below break even for most varieties. This will probably bring changes for 2008 with reduced acreages for the less profitable specialty varieties and further consolidation for growers and packers, trying to manage marketing issues.
Harvey May, Visalia developer: “We will see more traditional Visalia building economy in 2008 having experienced a drop in residential construction down as fast as it went up. The slower growth should allow the city to catch its breath on a variety of new plans they have done including the East Visalia, SE Specific Plan, West Visalia and now Smart Growth plan,” says May. “I think the city should bring these disparate plans together in an overall General Plan Update in 2008.” A slow time in the city growth is the right time to do this, he believes. May, who sits on the Smart Growth task force, says its report coming out in early 2008 will need “plenty of community discussion” before its ideas are implemented. A slow economy may mean a slower pace for development of East Visalia – where the city wants to put its new Civic Center.
Tony Oliveira, Kings County Board of Supervisors: People should not feel down about the economy right now, “maybe they've had too much holiday fruitcake.” But the outlook for Tulare and Kings counties is exciting in 2008, says the dairy farmer and member of the Board of Supervisors. “We are gaining attention that we haven't seen before from Calpers and other investors. It's finally our turn” for new investment, says Oliveira who sits on the Calpers board. He cites expansion plans at the area's big food processors like Leprino and S&K and the new Boswell tomato plant. We see $20 milk, lower unemployment and $1 billion in state monies to fix Highway 99 as boosting our economy. Oliveira, who sits on the Kings EDC board, says the agency is working with 30 expanding industry prospects that will hire well over 1,000 new employees. Oliveira also expects the announcement will be made in 2008 that Lemoore will be the home of the new Navy F-35 Joint Striker Fighters.
John Lehn, president/CEO of Kings County EDC, is optimistic about 2008. “It's as positive as its been, which is very positive.” He said the one big challenge for the county will be the availability of water for farmers, but he was hopeful since it was raining outside. He said there is the potential for a gain of “several hundred” jobs across the county, specifically from Boswell's Corcoran tomato processing facility that could add 150 jobs and SK Foods in Lemoore. “Our cheese processors continue to grow,” he said. He said one project that could bring as many as 450-600 jobs, SelectBuild, is on hold. Escrow on 92 acres in Hanford has closed, but because the company depends on the housing industry, it has put off construction plans. On the commercial side, “There is significant growth in retail. Lowe's has announced for Fargo Crossing in Hanford and there is a regional shopping center planned for Hanford as well,” he said. “We're optimistic.”
What's New
Three of
Ruiz Foods, that has 2,000 employees
at its two Tulare County plants (Tulare and Dinuba), is working on a
health care plan that may benefit the company, says CEO Fred Ruiz. “We're
talking to Harry Foster of Family HealthCare Network about some ideas”
that could involve offering clinic services even at their workplace,
along with a plan to increase the emphasis on wellness. “We spend
a lot of money on maintenance of our equipment,” and the company needs
to spend money on its human capital too, he says. “Health care is our
number one expense and goes up 15 percent a year.” Ruiz says he plans
to talk over some ideas with KDDH as well. Technology can be employed
to remind employees about a needed check-up. Ruiz says healthy employees means less absenteeism and better productivity.
City of
Mooney property owner Dave McWilliams,
who owned the former
Two new adult day care centers
are being built for Social Vocational Services in the area. In Tulare,
developer Harvey May is building a 5,400-square-foot center as part
of the Del Lago professional center and May
constructed a 7,500-square-foot center on Caldwell for the same statewide
firm. The projects are funded in part through the
Slower development by the city in
Crawdaddy's restaurant will be expanding its luncheon menu to include a high-end buffet on the second floor. The new general manager of Crawdaddy's is Moe Arianejad. Moe comes with years of experience in the restaurant business. The new addition of the luncheon buffet is designed to appeal to business people and downtown patrons. Most importantly, Crawdaddy's wants to appeal to those who want an easy in and out during their short lunch hour. The all new buffet lunch costs $7.99 and starts on January 14. Crawdaddy's also announced its new Sunday brunch on the second floor from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
By Steve Pastis
“Everyone called him Mr. Exeter because
he did so much for the community,” said close friend Dora Lee. She and
her husband, Larry, considered themselves part of Kempton's adopted
family.
“He was on city council,” said Larry Lee,
owner of Larry Lee Photography. “He got off city council. He figured
he could do more good off of it than being on it.”
“He was a real important person to
“He noticed that businesses downtown were
60% vacant,” said Ooley. “He was the spark that got things moving. We already
had a committee but nothing was going on.”
Kempton dedicated himself to the redevelopment
of Downtown Exeter, even going as far as “floating loans” to help businesses,
according to Brewer.
In the late 1980s, after getting tired
of seeing the burned-out, two-story
“He got the idea that it would be a nice
place to put up a mural,” he said.
Kempton organized a mural committee and
became its president. Members of the committee traveled to a town in
“People were saying 'That's not going
to work,'” recalled Larry Lee. “Well, he footed the bill and put one
up.”
The first mural is owned by the city,
but the mural committee owns the other 23 murals that it organized throughout
the city.
He also established the Happy Honkers,
a club for Model A Ford enthusiasts. He owned three Model A's.
Kempton was also known for a popular presentation
he gave throughout the area. With his well-known sense of humor, he
would give a talk and slide presentation on the subject of outhouses.
Seldon L. Kempton
was born in
He owned the property where the Wildflower
Café and Rosemary and Thyme are now. Rosemary and Thyme is owned and
operated by Paula Marvin, his adopted daughter.
Kempton enjoyed making candle holders,
lamps and what he called “Ginny pots” in memory of his wife, which he
created on a lathe in the back of Rosemary and Thyme and sold out of
the shop.
“People would bring in wood and he would make it up,” Larry Lee said. “The worse the wood looked when they brought it in, the more beautiful it would turn out. It had cracks and all kinds of stuff in it that would give it character.”
By Miles Shuper
Visalia - Construction is expected
to start soon on the county's compressed natural gas fueling facility
at the county corporation yard southeast of
Last month,
Work is expected to be completed in June
2008. No general funds revenue will be used. The county will be reimbursed
$367,661 by Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds and
matched by $160,339 in local road funds.
There were only two bids for the project,
said Britt Fussel, Assistant Resource Management Agency director-engineering.
He said the other bid was from EFS West for
$625,967.
Fussel said
one reason bids were higher than expected was due to funding source
requirements that the gas dryer be made in
The new fueling station will utilize the
existing natural gas source from the Sempra Energy pipeline near the
county yard.
The county recently purchased 12 compressed
natural gas (CNG) dump trucks to replace 12 older diesel-powered ones.
The new trucks currently are being fueled at CNG facilities operated
by the cities of Dinuba,
The county's move to CNG in its trucks
is part of an overall effort to cut air pollution, especially of the
unburned carbon or soot generated by older diesel engines, like the
kind used in the older county trucks.
In addition, two new CNG-powered 30-passenger
Tulare County Area Transit busses, expected for delivery sometime in
October, will be fueled at the new facility, said Dan Fox, the county
transit services coordinator.
The facility will include a station to
compress 120 scfm of natural gas to 4,200 psi.
The CNG will be piped to four time-filled post dispensers capable of
filling eight vehicles. Five hundred gallons of CNG will be stored in
two tanks for a “fast fill” station.
Meanwhile, county officials are expected within days to decide on a course of action for further alternative fuel plans for county vehicles.
Tulare County - More people are unemployed in Tulare and Kings counties in the latest report from the state Employment Development Department. The same goes for the State of California which is now almost a full point higher than the national average.
Analysts say the decline in jobs reflects the weakened housing economy in California that has spread to other sectors now. Statewide, nine major industry sectors were down and just two higher than a year ago. Construction is down statewide by over 30% compared to a year ago.
As of November 2007, Tulare County's rate stood at 9.4% compared to 8.2% a year ago. In Kings County, the rate was 9%, up from 7.9% a year ago. California's rate was 5.6% compared to 5.1% a year ago, while the U.S. average was 4.7% compared to 4.5% in November 2006.
Tulare County's non-farm jobs are down 200 from a year ago, led by decline in construction jobs, transportation, financial activities as well as professional services. By contrast, farm jobs are up almost 5%.
In Kings County non-farm jobs are actually up 1,500 compared to a year ago, led by government jobs.
Both counties' unemployment rates are likely to head into double digits in the next two months since January and February are typically the worst time of year. Last year, when the big freeze hit, rates were still under 11% - better than many years in the 1990s in Tulare County.
Drilling down in the Tulare County figures shows an increase in the labor force year over year – up 3,600 while total jobs were up just 1,500. The number of unemployed increased in Tulare County from 15,700 in November 2006 to 18,300 in November 2007.
A new state report shows a widening gap between the California unemployment rate that has been rising faster than the U.S. average. The report shows an increase in the duration of how long people are unemployed led by a 3.8% decrease in the number of construction jobs year-to-year. Manufacturing jobs are down 1% over the year and financial jobs are down nearly 2%.
Looking forward, a City of Tulare report shows that the fastest growing occupations in Tulare County over the next 10 years include 2,090 new K-12 teachers, 1,050 farm managers, 750 truck drivers and 640 more registered nurses.
Mervyn's South Mooney Building Sold
Visalia - The 60,000-square-foot Mervyn's building at the Sequoia Mall has been sold. The seller was a carpenter's union trust fund and the buyer was the same partnership that owns the rest of the mall – minus Sears. The property sold for $5.8 million – just under the $6 million asking price. The buyer used the name KLA Mooney with the K being Kimco – the nationwide REIT that is a 50-50 partner in the Sequoia Mall.
Sources expect the owners of the mall to seek control of several parcels on site that they had not owned before, including the former gym property they bought several months ago. The Mervyn's property sold November 9. Mervyn's has a lease until 2010, but the terms can be extended.
The partnership which owns the mall has said it is working on a plan to reconfigure the mall in the market place. Sources say it is looking at a so-called Lifestyle Center that could include housing mixed with retail.
Porterville Mapping out Growth until 2030
Porterville - A blueprint for
growth designed to enhance the quality of life for the City of
“We still need to do the final EIR [Environmental
Impact Review]. We hope for adoption in late February,” said Porterville
City Manager John Longley of the general plan update the city is preparing.
The two-year process to identify growth
and growth areas of the city is coming down to the final details,
said Brad Dunlap, Community Development director for the city. The
city council took public comment on the document Dec. 18, and work
on the final EIR has begun.
Some residents, outside of the city,
raised concerns at the public meeting, said Longley. The city council
decided to hold a follow-up hearing on Saturday, Jan. 12, to give
more of the community time to review the document and offer comments.
Dunlap described the document as one
that will guide development in the city for the next 20 years and
improve the quality of life in
The city began the process of updating
its general plan in July of 2005. It will lay out a long-term development
vision for
Most significant is the plan takes in
much of the area around
A major focus of the plan is development
in the area of
“It is a major point of economic interest
for us,” said Dunlap. Key to that area, as well for the entire city,
he added, is improving traffic circulation. Dunlap pointed out
The city has designated 1,800 acres
around the airport for industrial growth. The nearly-6,000-foot runway
gives the city a lot of options. Already, the U.S. Forest Service
has located its headquarters there and the Tule River Tribe is eyeing
the site for some sort of a gambling venture, maybe even a casino,
said Dunlap. Southern California
Dunlap told the Porterville City Council
this month that the plan is a strategy for the city to grow in a compact
manner, while promoting balanced growth. “The downtown will remain
the heart of the city,” he stressed. “Major emphasis is on downtown.
We want to preserve it.
“It moves us in a direction where we
haven't moved in the past decade – strengthening neighborhoods, biking
trails, commercial around the highways,” he said. One way of strengthening
neighborhoods would be the addition of neighborhood commercial centers.
The plan, which covers 36,341 acres of land, predicts a significant growth for the city. Dunlap said projections are that the city will have a population of 107,000 people by 2030, with job growth from 19,471 in 2005, to a projected 31,719 jobs by 2030.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
January 2, 2008
