It appears that some people think cities have the wanton ability to order specific businesses into their domain. I guess that’s because some haven’t taken the time to understand that government does not have all authority. I know that’s a hard concept to grasp given how some have come to rely on government for all needs.
So when our story about Kmart closing its store in Ceres made social media, some suggested how easy it would be for Target to just come strolling in. I’d be surprised if the old building and dilapidated parking lot would be inviting of any use that Cereans really want to see.
A business takes a look at rooftops – how many residents live in the given area – as well as how much disposable income people have. And it may come as no surprise that the Kmart property is in the middle of an impoverished area. So don’t be looking for much to replace Kmart anytime soon.
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The Mitchell/Service area is poised to be developed for new shopping opportunities. It would be nice if Ceres was able to snag new shops and restaurants that aren’t already in this region. (Don’t you get sick of every city along 99 having the same businesses, like Ross, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Chilis, Applebee’s, Kohls?) When I suggested that the city lobby Cracker Barrel to entice them into Ceres now that they’ve entered the California market with locations in Roseville and Fresno, they said they already had. And the corporation delivered back a thanks but no thanks. That’s frustrating because Cracker Barrel would be a unique feature that no other local city has. Ceres also has the billboards and freeway accessibility that Cracker Barrel depends on. So, Cracker Barrel corporate types who may be reading this online, give Ceres some greater consideration please.
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Josh Harder is relying heavily on Democrat party and Bay Area money. Campaign disclosures filed by the Democrat candidate for the 10th Congressional District reports that nearly $3 million of his $6 million came from 5,563 individual transactions from the Bay Area while roughly one percent ($116,084) comes from the 10th District. Denham campaign officials point out that $839,403 comes from San Francisco companies or individuals, $231,840 comes from Palo Alto, $206,018 from Berkeley, $182,136 from Oakland, $113,684 from Atherton, $111,460 from Menlo Park and $111,217 from Hillsborough. So to recap, what Harder has raised from the Bay Area is 25 times that he has raised from the district he wants to represent.
Josh Whitfield, Denham’s campaign manager, said he is surprised to see “such a lack of local support.” He added, “You would think a guy who claims to be from the Valley would be able to generate more local support but that’s obviously not the case.”
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Apparently Harder also is receiving additional support from the League of Conservation Voters – the group that condemned actions taken last week by President Trump to build more water storage in California.
The League of Environmental Whackos has endorsed Harder and given him a lot of campaign cash. Ask yourself why they would do that unless they thought Harder would be a friend of environmentalists who do not want to see dams built in California. The group condemned President Trump’s intent to deliver more water to the Valley by expediting environmental reviews, biological opinions, and FERC relicensing efforts that will aid water projects at Don Pedro, Shasta, Sites Reservoir, Temperance Flat, among others.
Mary Creasman, chief executive of the California League of Conservation Voters, doesn’t like any action that will lead to faster water projects, saying, “This is clearly a political stunt, and Californians are going to pay the price. The danger is we are going to miss some of the important environmental protections we have in place.”
Denham noted that the League of Conservation Voters consistently stands in the way of those who want to build dams in California and said, “It’s absolutely insane that Josh Harder would side with them over the interests of the Valley.”
In addition to securing President Trump’s executive action, Rep. Denham authored and passed the New WATER Act while will deliver financing for new water storage projects in the Valley. This bill will be signed in to law by President Trump this week. Together with the executive action, the New WATER Act will deliver new water storage to the Valley for the first time in decades. California has not added water storage in large part because environmentalists consistently put the interests of fish ahead of people.
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When I was in high school I enjoyed debate. I liked political arguments and how two people who looked alike could come up with two vastly different ideas about life and how they defend their views. It fascinated me.
So I find it greatly disappointing in social media when I see people try to win political arguments with insults, often profanely, and name calling. It just goes to show you how the education system has produced an electorate without the ability to defend one’s view with logic and reasoning over “feelings.”
Social media has become nothing but gutter discourse.
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Apparently a lot of folks are not brokenhearted about Kmart leaving Ceres. According to posts on our Facebook page, it was if Kmart was asking for it. It quickly digested into talk about the store having, in the words of Adam Baltzer, “the most disgusting bathroom in the Central Valley.”
Two thoughts on this: Shame on the store for not keeping it clean. The other thought is, this was the public doing this and what does that say about the clientele who live and shop here? I mean, I bet you wouldn’t see a Macy’s bathroom looking like that because people who shop at Macy’s, generally, have more class.
Joe Brocchini said “The store was not being taken care of by KMART and the store was run down. If you noticed glass all over the parking lot ? many vehicle break ins or stolen. Inside the store was always disorganized.”
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Just for fun the other day I watched an old 20/20 segment that John Stossel did on why the American Indians live in squalor and poverty despite the U.S. government offering all types of financial assistance. It confirmed what I already knew: That giving handouts to people to where they have no job and no purpose makes them depressed and turn to substances to cope. It also robs people of their ambition to advance themselves and work harder to achieve greater things.
I liken this cycle to that of the relationship between the drug pusher and the drug user. The person buying drugs depends on the supply of the seller. The seller knows he has the junkie over a barrel. Now insert the word “Democrat” for drug pusher and those on public assistance for junkie. Democrats need people being dependent on government because the one on the public dole will always go back to them for their “drug,” in this case, money for doing nothing. The Democrats get power and support eternally.
It’s a vicious cycle. Breaking free from the cycle of dependence created by Democrats is like an addict breaking free from the dependence. It can get very ugly. Just look at how things have been since Trump was elected. The junkie is screaming about going through withdrawals.
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We heard lots of reaction to the story about the two teenagers robbing a 60-year-old man at a downtown Ceres ATM, particularly how two young people could become so depraved.
If I were a betting man I’d say someone needed a quick fix.
Some tried to blame the criminal behavior on nothing for kids to do in Ceres.
Others lamented on something just lost in our country.
I have lots of thoughts as to where we, as a society, are missing the mark. The evil one came to steal, kill and destroy and he’s doing an outstanding job. There are consequences for abandoning committed relationships and abandoning our children in the process, shelving religion, abandoning absolute values that are still taught today if one only seeks it in a house of worship, far too many people loving themselves too much and not loving others, too little time spent with loved ones, too much sex in our face on TV, promoting this sense of entitlement devoid of work (thank you, government), propagating a belief system where everyone can hold a victim card to justify getting what’s due them, too much dependence on other people to make them happy or health or prosperous and human greed that thinks it’s okay to sell chemicals as an escape while destroying people.
How do you feel about this? Let Jeff know at jeffb@cerescourier.com
