by Lou Binninger

Plumas Lake Elementary School District wants its voters to approve issuing $20 million in bonds to be used when the district needs them for a new middle school. The approval would trigger additional funding from the state. For approval, Measure G needs 66.7% of those going to the polls to agree.

The district doesn’t state what the bonds will cost in interest when they are paid off in 2051-52. Does anyone care about how much they overpay for an item when they borrow to acquire it? Maybe just the WW II generation worried about such numbers.

The bond would cost property owners $72 per $100,000 of assessed value or $216 for a $300,000 piece of real estate every year until 2051-2052. That amounts to an additional $7,680 on property taxes and fees over 30 years. Most adults will not be around to pay the bonds off, but future property owners will inherit the debt.

Longtime Yuba County residents are shocked at the exorbitant property taxes in newer developments like Plumas Lake and Edgewater. One Plumas Lake resident in a modest home has a $3,600 property tax bill that includes multiple school, Yuba College and levee bonds along with Mello-Roos development fees. She is voting against Measure G.

She said the taxes are too high and the schools still have ample space. The district says its three schools have a capacity of 1650-1750 students with a current enrollment of 1270. However, their numbers are based on keeping K-3 classes at less than 24 students and grades 4-8 at 28 pupils or less.

The district notes that building permits for new homes have increased in each of the last 3-years along with enrollment. Residents wonder if portable classrooms couldn’t be added with minimum costs when needing increased capacity thereby putting-off adding more debt on taxpayers.

Another factor wasting 20%-30% of the borrowed money used for construction labor is the federal requirement to pay union wages on any jobs affiliated with government. Rather than getting the best quotes based upon qualified contractors bidding on the same blueprints, the wages are dictated by the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, originally a racist law designed to keep black contractors out of the building trades.

It came about when a contractor employed African-American workers from Alabama to build a Veterans' hospital in the New York District of Congressman Robert Bacon. Prompted by concerns over the displacement of local employees by black migrant laborers and competitive pressure toward lower wages, Bacon introduced the first version of his bill in 1927.

African American labor was much cheaper than the going rate. Blacks were said to be less productive. However, the government could not leave the decision up to the project owner to choose lower labor cost and slower production versus the alternative. The anti-free market Congressman had to tip the unions, use a little social engineering, a little crony capitalism, and a little corruption.

The aim of the act, similar to minimum wage legislation, was to make sure that white labor was preferred over African Americans on such projects. Wage rates were fixed at the higher level of the more productive labor, meaning that it would be the more efficient, white labor that was employed.

This racist move to discriminate robbed all Americans of both freedom and finances.

The $20 million school bond proposal of course does not explain that taxpayers will overpay on labor costs not counting the waste in the state’s contribution by paying mandated government-rigged Davis-Bacon wages.

The government needs to repeal Davis – Bacon and give the job to the lowest bidder regardless of the contractor’s ethnicity, union affiliation or worker pay. Government’s role in public schools should be to set construction standards and that’s it.

Newer developments like Edgewater, Plumas Lake and such are burdened with egregious fees. Hiked costs due to layer after layer of regulations and environmental requirements have priced most young people out of the housing market. Now the schools want to add to that burden.

California needs reform at every level. We need a revolution not another bond.

by Lou Binninger

California Republicans are both dysfunctional as a movement and irrelevant as a voice for conservatism. The national party has the same malady. Remember the 2016 presidential primary where voters fled RINO mumbo jumbo for a businessman outsider?

President Trump’s candidacy exposed two parties interested in maintaining power, ego, and the status quo rather than reforming a corrupt unconstitutional government. The parties conduct a Kabuki Dance ritual of differences to con constituents. They huff and puff then go for cocktails, laugh, and shake for who pays. Close your eyes, you can’t tell the difference.

California Republican voters don’t seem to understand the current voting system where it doesn’t matter if you like your pretty boy better. He only counts if he has the votes and money to get second spot in the primary. This is not a Republican primary election. It’s a street fight.

Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen was running a distant fourth in some polls (third in others) and national Republicans are never going to help campaign for a certain loser. A candidate needs money and the votes to compete. Allen is short of both. All other comparisons of Republican candidates are irrelevant.

A vote for Allen is a vote for Democrats and a Socialist state. Again, it is no longer a two party voting system. If Republican candidate John Cox does not defeat LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in the primary election then voters will have two liberals competing in the November general competition.

The LA Times reports Democrat Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom remains the front-runner, with businessman John Cox and Villaraigosa vying for second place, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll. Other polls show Cox and then Allen behind Newsom. Mr. Newsom makes Governor Brown look conservative.

The poll showed 26% of likely voters backing Newsom, former mayor of San Francisco. John Cox was favored by 15% and Democrat Villaraigosa is at 13%. Allen had 10% and state Treasurer John Chiang, a Democrat, 7%. Former state schools chief Delaine Eastin, a Democrat, 6%. That still leaves remaining voters divided among other candidates or undecided. Again, other indicators say Villaraigosa has slipped behind Allen.

Save California’s children and families activist Randy Thomasson explains that in this no party vote system, “It is a numbers game.” If Republicans don’t support Cox no Republican will get into the general election and have a shot at the state’s top spot.

Cox, like Trump, can independently fund his campaign. He can defeat Villaraigosa and advance to the general election. Both Republican State Senator Jim Nielsen and Republican Congressman Doug La Malfa endorsed Cox while local Assemblyman James Gallagher is backing Allen.

Gallagher is serving his own interests by undermining a Republican getting into the general election. Gallagher is betting on a Republican loss and currying the favor of Allen to maintain the Republican swamp in Sacramento.

It’s cashing-in on remaining in the minority. It’s the big fish in small pond mentality. It all pays the same. It’s the minority swamp and a great excuse for accomplishing very little other than being a political manipulator and posting Facebook speeches.

Allen knows he can’t win but is getting statewide name recognition and future benefits from special interests. This Gallagher/ Allen narcissism is what Trumpers rejected and voted against in 2016. If the day comes where an Allen encourages his followers to join a Cox then Republicans will begin to win some contests.

Otherwise, it is the old boring Republican divide and under-mine your fellow conservative. No wonder thousands of Republican voters are done and have switched to being Independents.

Trump proved Republicans aren’t serious about change and don’t believe their own rhetoric. From coast to coast they are political opportunists focused primarily on their bank accounts.

by Lou Binninger

California County and City governments are going broke. Poor spending priorities by Supervisors and Councilmembers, mismanagement and inefficiencies have created a crisis. Government unions and a corrupt pension fund are a blockade to reform.

Retiring Yuba County Sheriff Steve Durfor did the upcoming sheriff – elect a favor last week by announcing a cut in services due to a lack of funding for personnel. Insufficient law enforcement monies mean the Supervisors have for years robbed the sheriff’s department to spend the dollars elsewhere. Supervisors are responsible for approving the county budget.

A ruse is underway whereby the Supervisors and the County Administrator produce surveys saying citizens believe public safety services are very important. That’s a no-brainer, but instead of restoring tax dollars siphoned from the sheriff’s budget they will use the survey to raise more sales taxes supposedly to be used just for emergency services. You can be arrested for using bait and switch tactics in the car business but not in politics and government where the scheme is a way to deceive voters.

Sheriff Durfor’s announcement explained that for the following crimes (petty theft, felony vandalism - under $5,000 in damages, misdemeanor vandalism, identity theft, annoying phone calls, lost-property report) not in progress and where there is no suspect name, citizens will be referred to online reporting.

Also, barking dog calls will be directed to Animal Care Services. Vehicle tampering reports will be given to the Highway Patrol. Landlord-tenant disputes will be referred to the Yuba County Civil Division when parties need information only. And, civil standbys will be handled by appointment only from noon to 8:00pm.

If you use a gun in settling any of the above difficulties a deputy will surely respond to assist with the details.

On faulty alarms calls, after an initial response determines a false alarm, deputies will not respond to subsequent alarms for the next 24-hours. On residential alarms when the responsible person (occupant/owner or representative) refuses to respond to meet with the deputy, then the deputy will not respond either.

These changes are common sense in order to focus resources on the most egregious crimes. Residents wishing to remain in California should understand that a premium will be paid for fewer desired services in order to afford entitlements and programs that few taxpayers want.

Understanding the current budget blues, Yuba County Jail Commander and Sutter County Sheriff Candidate Brandon Barnes at a recent candidates’ night recommended putting armed guards at schools for student safety. However, Barnes said that hiring private security companies would save 50% of the cost to have an officer or deputy on the job. That’s smart thinking and more of it is needed in the current government crisis. Already many departments are open just 4-days per week in Sutter County.

Government has priced itself out of the market where the private sector can provide the service cheaper and better. The nature of government curbs its ability and incentive to be efficient. And when it comes to one of the largest expenses, salaries, unions have politicians by the short hairs because unions paid for the policy-makers to be elected.

Some have suggested everyone should work for government. There are few jobs in the private sector locally that have the generous pay and benefits of government. Marysville and Yuba County employment opportunities are dominated by government entities.

Yuba County employs one person for every 70 residents. And that’s not counting the schools. Wherever you look in the inhabited areas you can spot a government facility.

Since May 5 was the 200th birthday of Karl Marx, having government take over all tasks would make him smile. Students should note that Marx brought us socialism and then communism where government owns and controls everything.

People pretend to work and the government pretends to pay them. Socialist governments cannot pay what capitalist government employees get. Socialists eventually run out of everything including money.

Currently, Venezuela and Cuba are fully utilizing the socialist approach. Wealthy American liberal women love to visit Cuba to rave about its “wonderful health care” and “how happy those people are.”

However, none of the admirers retire there or return for cheap surgeries.

by Lou Binninger

Yuba-Sutter residents should be concerned about their government, once thought to be of the people, by the people, and for the people.

After being deceived by the City of Marysville’s campaign that a 1% sales tax increase would be dedicated to police and fire, $12,000 was spent last week for a one-day retreat for the city council. This is a rags to riches bunch. One minute they’re broke and the next minute they can afford someone to make a to-do list.

The city is essentially broke for the next 25-years paying off $17 million in bonds but then leased 19 new vehicles. Police cars are looking stylish but don’t try this accounting at home.

Yuba-Sutter politicians and government leaders went to Washington DC on a junket. The social media photos looked like they all had a really nice time. A Yuba City council member reported that citizens paid a stunning $6,000 per Yuba City traveler. That kind of took the fun out of it for the folks that remained home to work and pay taxes.

The Yuba County Water Agency (YCWA) that in the 80s had a director and a couple of clerical staff in a cramped office in the courthouse has come a long way baby. Nowadays, they are in their own comfortable accommodations selling hundreds of millions of dollars in power and water.

Lots of money does funny things to people. An arrangement to sell water from New Bullards Bar Dam to Southern California water districts has been a windfall for the agency and about 100 farm operations in Yuba County. However, most Yuba County citizens would probably agree that if anybody owns the water or power being sold from the Dam it is them and not a handful of farmers or YCWA directors.

What started out as wonderful opportunity to benefit the citizens who risked their properties to build the Dam now has the scent of a scam. A farmer who agrees to turn his 3,500 gallon per minute pump on can net $164,250 per month if the water sells to SoCal for $400 an acre foot. If the water cheap-sells at $110 an acre foot that is $34,000 per month. What a deal if you are in on it!

When farmer Charlie Mathews argued that the lucrative water deals should be shared with all the people he was cast as an evil man. The farmer/pumpers contributed about $150,000 to stop a ballot initiative Mathews wanted Yuba County folks to vote on and to also write their own.

Then, the YCWA filed a legal action against Mathews’ initiative before Yuba County Elections Clerk Terry Hansen could certify the signatures. A Sacramento judge said the YCWA should add the title and summary for the ballot rather than Hansen. The YCWA then refused to add title and summary making it too late to start over, essentially blocking the initiative.

About $120,000 of the political contributions was spent for attorneys and public relations to deprive the citizens a vote. The rest of the pumper cash was then diverted to campaign against Mathews in his run for YCWA director against Tib Belza. However, Mathews’ slogan “Your Water, Your Money” made sense to voters who elected Mathews after their right to vote for the water initiative was undermined.

YCWA chairman Brent Hastey now accuses Mathews of not wanting public debate on the water sales after Mathews resigned from the water committee. Mathews said committee chairman Doug Lofton would not call a meeting to attend.

What seems clear is that other than Mathews YCWA directors want to maintain the status quo which is a cash cow for them.

Jake Abbott of the Appeal Democrat wrote about Michael Vaughn Bartschi, the cousin of Sutter County District Attorney Amanda Hopper, saying on a video that she molested him for about 8 years when they were youngsters. Hopper and family members say it isn’t so.

However, Hopper suggests in the Abbott article that this is an attempt to smear her by her opponent Chris Carlos and her former chief investigator Jason Parker. Bartschi’s father says someone must have given his son money to make this video.

Hopper and Bartschi’s father are mistaken. Neither Carlos nor Parker knew of or had interaction with Michael Bartschi. Bartschi initiated the contact months ago with a local resident and wanted to tell his story after noting Hopper was running for office. Carlos and Parker are being disparaged while having nothing to do with Bartschi.

Whether Bartschi is a “mentally ill, drug addict, embarrassment” as described by family members or a broken person who was molested is anyone’s guess unless additional information is forthcoming. If Hopper is being smeared it was initiated by her own family member.

by Lou Binninger

If liberal political prophets were living in Old Testament times, they would be stoned to death for repeatedly missing the mark. President Trump was supposed to ignite a WW III nuclear disaster with North Korea. Lefty seers were heartbroken when North and South Korean leaders met to make peace not war following Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s secret visit. Who would have thought?

Lib leadership warned the stock market would crash with a Trump Presidency. Candidate Trump said off-shore businesses would actually return to the homeland. Nonsense, mocked President Obama during a town hall meeting. The market has been booming while businesses and billions of dollars are coming home since Trump’s prediction.

Last week, Trump’s decision to wind down the US Department of Education was another fulfillment of a campaign promise. President Jimmy Carter advocated for the creation of the cabinet level department in 1979. Today, it has nearly 4,000 employees with a proposed 2019 budget slightly smaller compared to the $68 billion spent in 2016.

Carter expanded government to rule over education in spite of conservative and libertarian protests. The new department is unconstitutional and illegal with no federal authority to interfere with local control over training children. Who pays attention to the Constitution anyway?

In general, individual educational achievement was higher while costing much less without a federal and state bureaucracy and teacher’s union dominance. That may be because freedom of the press and literacy were prominent in the minds of the Founders and the colonies.

The First Amendment’s protection of free expression is noted in every story of the development of the United States. However, a free press is impotent without an audience for what is printed. Only a literate population makes the right to a free press powerful.

That’s why Thomas Jefferson said that a free press wasn’t enough to guarantee a healthy democracy. As he wrote to Charles Yancey, a prominent Virginia legislator, in 1816, “Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe.”

University of Montana scholar Kenneth Lockridge’s book, ‘Literacy in Colonial New England,’ makes the case that among white New England men, about 60 percent of the population was literate between 1650 and 1670, and rose to 85 percent between 1758 and 1762, and to 90 percent between 1787 and 1795. In cities such as Boston, the rate had come close to 100 percent by century’s end. However, literacy figures for women, slaves or free blacks lagged behind white males.

Slaves were purposely kept illiterate to keep them ignorant, disoriented and therefore less apt to flee the plantation. However, there were exceptions where owners and the clergy felt an obligation to educate them.

Thomas Sowell writes that most free blacks in America were literate by 1850 despite being excluded from public schools in many parts of the country and despite being forbidden to organize their own schools in much of the South.

Free blacks and most white Americans achieved a high level of literacy with few funds through efforts at home, a fact that is lost on those that are anti-home school today. Early Americans valued the printed page and the ability to read it.

President Trump’s “Education Federalism Executive Order,” will launch a 300-day review of Obama-era regulations and guidance for school districts and directs Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to modify or repeal measures she deems an overreach by the federal government.

“For too long the government has imposed its will on state and local governments. The result has been education that spends more and achieves far, far, far less,” President Trump said. “My administration has been working to reverse this federal power grab and give power back to families, cities [and] states — give power back to localities.”

Trump said that previous administrations had increasingly forced schools to comply with “whims and dictates” from Washington, but his administration would break the trend.

“We know local communities know it best and do it best,” Trump said. “The time has come to empower teachers and parents to make the decisions that help their students achieve success.”

There is no evidence that the Department of Education has done anything but establish an expensive bureaucracy giving more power to lobbyists and unions and less freedom for parents and their children. Hopefully, Trump can drain the education swamp under his influence and be an example for states to do the same.

by Carol Withington

In the Spring of 1858, news reached California that gold had been discovered on the Fraser River in British Columbia. During that time, many African Americans were beginning to feel insecure in California. The Fugitive Slave Law, passed in 1852, protected only the rights of the slave-owner. As an example, this Law allowed for temporary residence of slaveholders, who could bring slaves to work in California, sell these slaves or return South with them.

In addition, anyone who arrived in California before statehood as either a slave or a runaway was still regarded a slave. And although the Fugitive Slave Law expired in 1855; unfortunately, many African Americans were carried back into slavery. And It was not until 1858, that the status of freedom from bondage of California African Americans was upheld. For this was the year that produced California's last and most famous fugitive slave case which revolved around a young African American by the name of Archy Lee.

THE ARCHY LEE CASE

Lee, age 18, migrated from Mississippi in 1857 with his owner Charles Stovall. When Stovall attempted to send him back South, Lee refused to leave. It appears he had previously "mingled" with the free African American community in Sacramento where Lee was urged to flee from Stovall. Upon his escape, Lee was arrested by police as a fugitive.

Lawyers were then hired to defend Lee. Edward D. Baker became the chief attorney on his defense team. Baker, a Republican leader in California, was the perfect defender, as he was also a person friend of President Lincoln.

After much debate, Lee eventually received his freedom. Unfortunately, the notoriety of his case showed the degree to which the freedom of African Americans in California was subject to abuse. Many began to feel insecure and looked for other locations to build a new life. And with the news of the gold discovery, it is estimated that over 400 African Americans left California to settle in Canada, where they could be free from prejudice and legal restrictions. According to research, the majority settled in Victoria and on Saltspring Island. Archy Lee was one of them.

THE MOVE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA

Among the few area residents who looked for new opportunities upon hearing of the Frazer River gold strike were family members of James and Elizabeth Segee. The Segees first arrived in San Francisco from Florida in 1852 and soon after settled in Marysville where they opened a laundry.

In 1853 they were joined by Mary and Julia Hernandez, sisters of Elizabeth, who were also from Florida. When news of the gold strike reached them in 1858, both Mary and Julia decided to go to British Columbia where they served as cooks at a wage of $100 a week. Later the Segees sent their daughter Emma to Canada to be with her aunts and also be educated in the public school where they resided.

According to Delilah Beasley in her account in "The Negro Trail Blazers of California", Emma remained in Canada for seven years. When she returned to Marysville, she married a Mr. Washington and was given a position as the "first colored public school teacher" in that city.

Although many found success in Canada, a few African Americans chose other countries to make a new life. John P. Williams, a New Jersey-born African American barber from Marysville, went with his wife to Haiti in 1861. Unfortunately, conditions were so bad that his wife died of a tropical disease and Williams returned in ill health to New York. He once wrote to an Eastern black weekly, where he warned others about Haiti and how he found employment opportunities "nonexistent".

With the exception of Williams, the African American barber community remained virtually intact in Marysville during the Victoria and Haiti migrations. And although life moved along at a contented pace, there were still obstacles to overcome for area African Americans including the "the right of testimony" and homestead rights.

Benjamin Berry, in his court claim for property rights, will be featured in the next edition.

by Lou Binninger

For those who utilize Facebook (FB), mostly old people now, it should be obvious that Mark Zuckerberg is a lefty and not shy about strutting his ideology in business. So what? Is that a problem?

Many conservative FB users got their undies in a bundle after their political posts were removed. Why? It’s Zuck’s business.

Sadly, a sissy Zuckerberg repeatedly lied in claiming his platform was neutral. He is a pitiful little socialist, filthy rich but pretending to be “everyman.”

Senator Ted Cruz assured him that he had a First Amendment right to operate just as he was. It was OK Mark, just say it, you’re a liberal and biased. You are good to go in America.

However, Zuckerberg could not be a man. He could not bring himself to be honest and admit that he had a liberal bent on FB and in hiring his 20,000 anti-conservative content- screeners. Zuck’s a true piss on your boots and tell you it’s raining lefty.

In America, businesses and individuals once had a right to do as they please. If people didn’t like it they could take their trade elsewhere. However, politicians of all flavors with no Spaldings in a quest for power and money traded their freedom to be ruled over.

Zuck and other liberals have a right to operate their enterprises as they wish and people have a choice to utilize their services or not. But liberals have to feign fairness. Then, if a conservative enterprise doesn’t want to offer abortion care, that business must be boycotted, politically carpet-bombed and more importantly shamed.

The fact that nearly the entire United States Senate held together by cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and Botox behaved as fools trying to talk about FB, something they know nothing about shows why government should stay out of business. They’re clowns and corrupt ones at that.

Anyone watching the Senate FB hearings and still doubts that we have become socialists has lost their Constitutional mind. It’s over.

As Constitutional expert KrisAnne Hall wrote, “Zuckerberg should just own up to who they are and say: ‘Yes, we are a bunch of hard core leftists. We will run our private business with a leftist ideology. We are not the government so we don't need to make everybody feel equal and happy in our sandbox. If you don't like it, go to another business.’"

Hall continues, “There is no constitutional authority for this line of questioning. We don't need more government intrusion in our private businesses; we need less. We don't need more federal regulations; we need more liberty. Our politicians ought to stop using this unconstitutional line of questioning to make campaign sound bites. Our conservative politicians ought to know better.”

It is sad that so-called conservative Senators did not cheer Zuck’s right to run his business as he wishes. It shows that they are the socialist swamp and have no allegiance to the Constitution.

At least, Senator Cruz told Zuck the truth. But, Zuck couldn’t handle the truth. He was more comfortable as a deceiver. Then he was shamed and claimed ignorance when confronted by Cruz with his blatant editing of conservative content from FB.

Sadly, local politicians emulate and fawn over the imbeciles in Sacramento and Washington. Zuck’s eagerness to pay-off and leave his DNA on the ass of Senators causes us all to be less free. More regulations will stop future social media platforms from creating alternatives to FB.

by Lou Binninger

California government schools were once admired and emulated throughout the nation. Tragically, with the rise of teachers’ unions and the political dominance of democrats, state schools have been a sick joke for decades.

Incessant union chants for more money and no competition to correct mediocre and embarrassing outcomes are obnoxious. A current union-funded radio campaign attacking “corporate charter schools” uses the same old scare tactics. Big bad corporate America (the Koch brothers) will steal our “public money” for “unaccountable charter schools.” Don’t let them. They hate our kids. Profits are evil.

Sounds like Lenin and Marx, not John and Groucho.

Teachers unions couldn’t care less about children. Students are a meal ticket, that’s it. You notice unions refer to the schools’ money not the parents’ money lifted for schools. Try advocating for parents to direct some of those dollars and the unions will rain hell upon you.

The most unaccountable schools in the nation are the socialist government brand commonly known as public schools. Taxpayers are forced to fund them, nearly 100% of students must attend them, and parents have no say in the curriculum. Vouchers are feared like a venereal disease. Freedom and choice that produced Apple, Ford and Edison are the kiss of death to unions.

Why don’t we remove choice from the rest of the market place? Let’s all wear blue uniforms. China tried that. Let’s have government manage the food supply. The Soviets did that.

We are even crappy at socialist schools. Many third world countries, even socialist ones outperform pampered and poorly-trained American students and the half-baked educators who tend them. Bored children are fleeing schools like rats from a sinking ship.

Drop-outs hate the curriculum, the talking heads and the “education” factory itself. The “failures” are written off as bad seed, stupid and ne’er-do-wells. However, many have more potential than the instructors that fail them. These “losers” are potential craftsmen, artisans, mechanics, entrepreneurs and equipment operators. However, these very occupations are belittled by educrats.

Most students fail to master the basics (literacy and math) while valuable school time is used to force-feed sex education, gender identity, bullying training, revisionist history and skewed teachings on Islam.

Students are not schooled in critical thinking, how to process to arrive at the truth but instead are told what to think. It’s called indoctrination, that which we once mocked in Soviet classrooms.

Students are shamed if they believe in creationism, Jesus, are sexually abstinent, reject the nonsense of alternative sexual identity or love America. Schools have become mental health wards where boys are medicated, oppressed and expected to behave more like good little girls.

Who owns these children? The state does. Orange County Board of Education General Counsel Ronald Wenkart on March 29, 2018 offered a legal opinion for the trustees regarding sex education and gender identity laws. Read closely.

“Therefore, parents who disagree with the instructional materials related to gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation may not excuse their children from this instruction. However, parents are free to advise their children that they disagree with some or all of the information presented in the instructional program and express their views on these subjects to their children.”

Our Founding Fathers and the Constitution were clear that our liberty and freedom come from our creator and not from government. The above legal rendering about California gender education means that parents have no right to opt out, but the state does grant them permission to communicate another view to their kids at home. To hell with these people, this is tyranny.

Friday, April 27, is “GLSEN’s (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) Day of Silence, a student-led national event where students take a vow of silence to highlight the silencing and erasure of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) people at school.” Teaching and classroom documentaries on these topics may be presented to your children on this day or during this week. Kids are encouraged to dress-up to support deviant sexual lifestyles.

Then, on May 22, all schools will honor dead pedophile and habitual liar Harvey Milk. He preferred sex with teen boys. A real beauty, Harvey, just the kind of guy we showcase in today’s institutions.

It’s up to parents and grandparents. While you slept the state took ownership of your kids. You can fight for them or roll over after hitting the snooze button.

by Lou Binninger

The more information is made public about the Jim Whiteaker Yuba City Unified School District sexual assault case the worse it appears. Writer Bob Moffitt with California Public Radio (CPR) obtained a 1998 report from the district through a California Public Records Act request.

Thus far, ladies have accused high school teacher Jim Whiteaker of unwanted sexual advances when they were students. The newly acquired school records give details of reported sexual contact with a student, but also a school employee at her home. The report says Whiteaker engaged in “unwanted” and “offensive” sexual behavior.

The document indicates Whiteaker visited a school employee’s home uninvited to comfort her during a difficult time. He became sexually aroused as he hugged her while running his hand down her side and touching her breast. Whiteaker says the lady initiated the hug.

Whiteaker is also quoted as saying he may have touched her breast accidentally. The school report describes the woman as "big-busted," but does not say whether that was a description of Whiteaker’s or its author, former personnel director Brian Sevier.

Moffitt and CPR’s documents also describe the 1998 incidents that student Andrea Foster reported to school officials, the district and Yuba City Police. She described being touched by Whiteaker on three occasions. Whiteaker denied the accusations saying they weren’t worth commenting on.

Personnel Director Sevier recommended a letter of reprimand be placed in the physical education teacher’s file and that “Whiteaker’s behavior be monitored and that he be provided with appropriate guidance/assistance in the expression of his feelings in more appropriate ways."

Whiteaker has been terminated by the district pending an appeal. Two lawsuits against Whiteaker, Yuba City Unified School District and its leadership have been filed on behalf of students.

Moffitt says state law does not prevent Yuba City or its police department from releasing reports or information on investigations. However, the police department and the city have opposed information requests from victims and the media saying they are not legally compelled to comply. This resistance does not instill confidence in the police or the city in future assault cases.

Recall proponents and others in government believe Clerk/Recorder Donna Johnston looked for a way to slow or block the recall of Jim Whiteaker from his seat on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors. However, Johnston denied this perception last week explaining that recalls are complicated with every detail needing to be exact.

With many recalls occurring throughout the state each year and the steps clearly set forth at the Secretary of State’s (SOS) website it doesn’t look complicated. The SOS is there to assist the election clerks.

Sutter County Counsel Jean Jordan said by email that her interaction with the supervisors and elected officials is confidential when asked if Johnston was inquiring as to whether the recall could be stopped. Some believe that thousands of taxpayer dollars in unnecessary legal research was done for Johnston pertaining to the recall.

A voice mail to County Administrator Scott Mitnick to ask about his knowledge of how the recall was handled received no response. Recall proponents have been circulating another petition to ask the Supervisors to censure and remove Whiteaker from taking an active role on the board.

Politically and practically, Supervisors may be unable to act. Whiteaker’s fate on the Board may have to wait on the recall. His teaching future resides with an appeals board solidly tilted in his favor. He may not return to his classroom but he will likely remain on the government payroll. The attorney for his defense claims neither lawsuit has merit.

There is more to come out, but victims are leery when realizing they are on their own. The city, the police department, and the school system have not been cooperative and accusers are intimidated by Whiteaker.

This 20-year saga of non-action by authority figures should remove any doubt why most victims of sexual assault never come forward.

by Lou Binninger

Some California cities and counties are determined to be sanctuaries for their citizens rather than hide-outs for criminals illegally in the United States.

Orange County and a number of its cities (Los Alamitos, Orange, Westminster, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo) are opting out of the California’s Sanctuary State law (SB54) and advising law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration officers. The Northern California cities of Ripon and Yuba City recently voted to abstain from SB54. San Diego County’s Escondido opted out, as well.

On April 11, Westminster, the “All-American City,” voted to reject Senator Pro-tem Kevin De Leon and Governor Brown’s law. De Leon actually attended the council meeting and spoke in defense of the law.

The Westminster vote has an historic twist. Westminster has the most Vietnamese-Americans per capita of any city in the nation.

In 1975, with the withdrawal of American troops and the resulting fall of Saigon, the nation of Vietnam became a communist country. Millions of Vietnamese fled the former French colony by foot and by boat. Thousands died trying to escape. Some were shot by Vietnamese military while other freedom-seekers died from starvation, dehydration and drowning at sea.

Hundreds of thousands of survivors languished in resettlement camps of nearby Asian countries while applying for refuge in America and other nations. However, a young democrat California Governor Jerry Brown became a key proponent in a national campaign to reject the Vietnamese and even plane loads of orphans from coming to the US, and particularly to California.

Other prominent Democrats calling for the ban were Delaware’s Senator and future Vice-President Joe Biden, former presidential “peace candidate” George McGovern, and New York Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman.

Julia Taft, who in 1975 led President Gerald Ford’s Inter-agency Task Force on Indochinese refugee resettlement, said Brown’s rejection of the freedom-loving and anti-communist Vietnamese was “a moral blow.”

According to Taft, liberals were open as to why they were rejecting Vietnamese war refugees including the Hmong and other mountain people, “....they had too many Hispanics, too many people on welfare, they didn’t want these people.”

“They didn’t want any of these refugees, because they had..... unemployment,” Taft told NPR (National Public Radio).

When Brown took office in 1975 California’s unemployment rate was 9.4%, and the country was in the midst of a recession combined with high inflation. In 2011, during President Obama’s open borders everyone-is-welcome antics California’s unemployment was at 12.4% and was in the midst of the Great Recession.

In 1975, liberals were no friends of immigrants or as they saw it people fleeing a communist ideology. Though hundreds of millions were dying from communist takeovers around the world liberals thought anti-communist Vietnamese should just get over it and settle down over there.

At the Westminster council meeting third-term Mayor Tri Ta, a Vietnamese immigrant and the first Vietnamese-American mayor in the United States said, “Our forefathers of this country, they fought for freedom.” He affirmed his compassion for immigrants, but reminded the audience about the issue. “I would like to clarify that the Vietnamese boat people came legally. We waited twelve years.”

The Hmong, those who survived crossing the Mekong Delta and by land into Thailand from Laos and Vietnam, tell of remaining for years in refugee camps applying for access to America and elsewhere. Many married and birthed their first children in these camps.

Janet Nguyen, State Senator representing parts of Long Beach and Orange County, was born in Saigon, Vietnam, on May 1, 1976, roughly one year after the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. She is the first Vietnamese-American State Senator in the nation.

Nguyen and her family fled with other boat people when she was five, making it to California in 1981. Ironically, Governor Brown aggressively opposed Nguyen and her kind. Today, Brown claims to welcome foreigners no matter how they entered the country including protecting dangerous criminals. A communist leaning California Senate leadership shouted down and removed Nguyen when she tried to recognize the sacrifice of the Vietnamese fighting alongside Americans for freedom.

Maybe liberals did not see thousands of Vietnamese and tribal minorities as an easy voting block for democrats. In 1975, entitlement freebies for immigrants were not as plentiful as today. And, these immigrants were anti-communist.

Today, liberals “love” anyone that can float, tunnel under or climb-over to get here, and “Christmas” is waiting. Just vote democrat to keep it coming.

It will be interesting to see how many jurisdictions seek to be a sanctuary from the Sanctuary Law. In the meantime if a high-profile person or two are raped, robbed, or murdered by an illegal alien the foundation of this democrat stronghold might get a little shake-up.

by Lou Binninger

When longtime Yuba County foothill resident Buck Weckman began complaining about massive grows of marijuana, illegal construction, pollution from ag chemicals and pesticides, and dangerous people with weapons, supervisors rolled their eyes.

Then, Weckman asked for Supervisors to declare a State of Emergency to solicit state and federal law enforcement to stop lawlessness involving marijuana grows and trafficking. Other counties like Siskiyou had done so with success.

Supervisors’ spokesperson Randy Fletcher from the 5th District hill area proclaimed his territory safe in spite of Weckman’s concerns. However, residents were not feeling that way with many giving-up even reporting incidents due to no response from the county.

Then, on August 1, 2017 two Yuba County deputies, Phillip Bronson, a 14-year veteran, and Andrew Everhart, a 10-year veteran, were shot at a grow near Oregon House by felon Mark Sanchez, 32, of Gilroy. They survived, but have not returned to work. Sanchez died.

Following the shooting, law enforcement agencies began to step-up raids on marijuana grow-operations. They were successful but are barely getting started with some people estimating 1,000 illegal sites.

Finally, in December 2017 Supervisors relented and declared the State of Emergency. Federal agencies now claim that three Yuba County properties involved in marijuana raids in 2017 are connected to an international Chinese crime network.

Agents from the DOJ, FBI, DEA, Homeland Security, IRS and other agencies along with local law enforcement have now seized more than 100 homes and searched 74 properties in the Sacramento area. The network received nearly $100 million in electronic transfers from China to purchase properties and set-up grows.

Maybe this will confirm the board’s decision to declare the State of Emergency. Hill deputies have done their best and Neighborhood Watches are great but all fall short of curbing organized crime.

Now, Supervisors are mulling over what to do about cooperating with Sanctuary California policies undermining the work of the Border Patrol and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Yuba County jail is one of ten ICE facilities in California holding detainees until the court adjudicates their immigration cases.

Inmates are fighting deportation after committing crimes in the U.S. and completing their sentences. ICE employees are embedded in the local jail and buses come and go moving new inmates to the jail and back and forth to Sacramento and San Francisco for hearings.

If you ever thought that illegal immigrants think like American citizens or have similar values, think again. That is why there is an immigration process to vet people.

Mexico’s Tijuana (TJ) just across the border to the south of San Diego is a shocking contrast to one of America’s top tourist destinations. There were 549 TJ homicides in the first quarter of 2018 and most will not be solved according to the Baja government. Of the first 132 homicides this year only five resulted in arrests with a total of 11 suspects detained.

In Mexico, the drug cartels control and if not control then kill politicians, judges, journalists and anyone else that hinders them. Their manner of killing can be eccentric. They utilize public shoot-outs and decapitate and dismember folks to make a memory.

Mexico, ala Trump, sent 400 of its Army troops to the border city not to deal with lawless Americans but to stop their own murder-mania. It rages on.

San Diego has a population of 1.4 million compared to Tijuana’s 1.8 million. In 2016 and 2017, TJ finished with 910 and 1,734 homicides while San Diego accounted for 50 and 34 for each year.

Many illegals from Mexico and Central American do not share the importance of obeying the law, respecting life or the innocence of underage females. Three teen illegals shot an Olivehurst boy that they never even knew in the face. Sexual assaults of underage girls are common.

Many illegals in Yuba Co jail have multiple driving under the influence crimes along with hit and runs. Substance abuse and addiction are a huge problem. Their attitude is that if deported they will simply illegally return.

Unfenced open borders welcome the mayhem into America’s lap. The current fence along the border has helped immensely in curtailing rampant crime that once flooded into San Diego and other California border cities.

Supervisors and new sheriffs-to-be in Nevada, Yuba and Sutter Counties will have some gnarly decisions to make as to whether they plan to honor their oaths to defend the Constitution or will bow to the demands of rulers in Sacramento.

by Lou Binninger

A local employer wondered whether he should still complete an I-9 form when hiring a new worker. The US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) I-9 is for Employment Eligibility Verification. The USCIS website says “All U.S. employers must ensure proper completion of Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens.”

Certain noncitizens have permission to work but not illegal aliens. An I-9 completed honestly by an illegal could bring ICE calling.

However, this employer is in California, a rogue state that is now picking and choosing which federal laws to obey. Is it still illegal to hire an illegal in California? Politicians are ordering law enforcement to release border busters and ignore requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain the lawbreakers.

The state college system including nearby Yuba College ordered staff to pay the $495 fee for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students. And, DACA student out of state tuition fees have been waived. They would qualify for hardship benefits.

Campus personnel were told not to cooperate with immigration authorities. All this may create resentment among hard working overregulated and taxed parents who pay their property taxes, college bonds and the cost of tuition and books for their children.

While the state endorses and advocates lawlessness, a politically bipolar Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced legislation to root out the state’s underground economy and bring it to justice. According to a 2013 University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Labor Center report, the state’s black market is estimated at $60 to $140 billion annually, depriving the state of $8.5 billion in corporate, personal, and sales and use taxes each year.

A study with findings that general sounds contrived, bought and paid for or just plain trash talk. However, you don’t need to be an illegal alien to be someone willing to work “under the table” in the once Golden State. The egregious and burdensome regulations together with fees, taxes, surcharges and fines are creating criminals out of honest folk. The state has passed the tipping point where people are bothered by a conscience that says they need to pay more for these “wonderful” benefits.

State infrastructure is approaching Third World quality and the service is horrid. Agencies are overstaffed, overpaid and underperforming. State lawbreakers pass 1,000 new laws annually to control, manipulate and force their social agenda.

Becerra’s Senate Bill 1272 would permanently establish the Tax Recovery and Criminal Enforcement (TRaCE) Task Force within the California Department of Justice, and add a permanent Task Force across the State: Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, and Fresno. The question is will Becerra’s “people” be arrested along with other ethnic groups? And, will those here illegally be arrested?

In other thieves and predators news from Sacramento the state purposely ignored Medicaid rules by enrolling hundreds of thousands of ineligible adults according to the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG says the state bilked the federal government out of more than $1 billion in funding. And, these figures probably understate the amount that California officials have stolen from taxpayers. The OIG used a six month sample, from October 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015, to arrive at its conclusions.

Like the doctors who defraud Medicaid, California asked for and received funds to which it wasn’t entitled — only big time. States are required to ensure that new enrollees are eligible. The steps to qualify are clearly noted by HHS: The state must verify that applicants meet citizenship and residency requirements, have a household income at or below 138 percent of the FPL (Federal Poverty Level), be from 19 to 64 years of age, not be eligible for any other mandatory coverage group, not be pregnant, not be entitled to Medicare benefits, and furnish a Social Security number.

California officials made no serious effort to verify any of these data. The OIG sample revealed that 18 percent of enrollees were clearly ineligible, and that another 9 percent are most likely in violation. All of these enrollees failed one or more of the above-noted requirements.

So, how did this happen? Obamacare removed the incentive to be thorough and honest. At present, 1 in 3 Californians are on Medicaid. As long as the “Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)” remains in place, the federal government will pay a minimum of 90 percent of California’s Medicaid costs for new enrollees. Thus, state officials don’t want to get it right.

If a doctor cashes-in on unallowable Medicaid reimbursements he goes to jail for fraud. In California, rulers can break the law at will with no consequences. Remember, this is a rogue state for those in charge.

by Lou Binninger

Yuba County rice farmer and newly elected Yuba County Water Agency (YCWA) Director Charlie Mathews believes hundreds of millions of water and power dollars should be more fairly dispersed to benefit residents.

The YCWA was founded to construct and manage the New Bullards Dam (built in the early 1960s) and its power and water revenues. After the construction bonds were recently paid-off via a 50-year agreement with utility monopoly PG and E, the YCWA assumed full control and responsibility for maintaining the dam, power production, water dispersion, and sales of power and water.

Both the composition of the agency board (Yuba County Supervisors plus two elected community members) and the management of the revenue have been a local debate topic. Some believe supervisors managing the county should not have a water and power slush fund at their disposal as water agency directors. Others question the history of a select number of farmers (water pumpers) making millions of dollars off selling water that belongs to all citizens via their creation of Bullards Bar Dam.

Agency water is available to farmers from the Yuba River due to storage at Bullards. In an agreement with the YCWA, farmers instead pump well or ground water and forgo their river water allotments to be sold by YCWA. Pumped water is more expensive than YCWA water. However, farmers / pumpers are rewarded handsomely per acre/foot by the agency for allowing their surface water allotments to be sold.

Charlie Mathews argues that those water sales revenues should be allocated to the citizens, water districts, YCWA and the farmers. His attempt to place an initiative on the ballot to change the formula on water sales was refused by YCWA. Some feel this violated the constitutional rights of citizens to vote, that YCWA exceeded its authority.

The controversy seems to be about who owns the water and power or more specifically the sales revenues – the agency, the seven directors, or the citizens. All fear the state usurping everyone’s rights. Mathews is talking about placing another initiative on the ballot to ask voters to more fairly distribute the benefits of YCWA power and water revenues.

Agency directors and management warn that they need hundreds of millions in reserves to maintain the dam, powerhouse etc. The YCWA is solely responsible. And they argue that millions have been spent on flood protection and water resources. That is reasonable as far as it goes.

However, the Supervisors aka agency directors are voting to disperse funds as they see fit which the citizens may or may not agree with. It smacks of a bit of self-dealing particularly when county politics are involved.

Without fully comparing oil to water or power sales, Alaska may offer ideas. In 1976, Alaska citizens voted to establish a permanent investment fund to manage royalties after oil was discovered on the North Slope. The principal may not be spent, according to the state constitution, and the earnings may be used by the Legislature for any public purpose, including dividends. Residents began getting money (dividends) from the fund in 1982.

If an Alaskan qualified for all checks distributed from the beginning (1982), it would have amounted to $41,221.41, said Sara Race, director of the state's Permanent Fund Dividend Division. The checks are distributed annually to Alaskans who apply for them after living in the state for at least one calendar year, and to those born in Alaska by the Dec. 31 deadline of the previous year.

A record payout of $2,072 was distributed to qualifying Alaskans in 2015. However, last year’s check amounted to just $1,100 due to slumping oil prices.

Egregious taxes and fees, exorbitant real estate costs and burdensome regulations make California affordable for the rich and those on the dole. Yuba County citizens are some of the poorest in the state.

Working class middle income people are struggling and moving elsewhere. Yuba County residents seeing some financial benefits from water and power sales would be a welcome relief to being routinely gouged and patronized by all levels of government.

Mathews’ initiative idea deserves more debate and a vote of the people. The composition of the YCWA board deserves the same.

by Lou Binninger

Attorney Paul Matiasic announced his lawsuit last week against Yuba City Unified School District, former Superintendent Nancy Aaberg, Superintendent Doreen Osumi, former Physical Education teacher Jim Whiteaker and others on behalf of a minor female student alleging that Whiteaker grabbed her bottom.

The suit addresses not only this Whiteaker incident, but accuses district leadership and employees of failing in their obligation to protect students against known improper behavior by Whiteaker. It points out the failure of mandated reporters to follow the law and further states that administrators ignored aberrant behavior and did not inform parents about risks in sending their children to Yuba City High.

Matiasic cites incidents occurring in 1993, 1994-5, 1997, 1998, 1999, 1998-2001, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2014, and the current assault in question. He describes reports of abuse made to administrators, the police and recently to teacher Bradley Steinmann, but nothing was done.

This is the second action filed against the district and Whiteaker as attorney Michael Trezza is representing a former student claiming that Whiteaker used his cell phone to inappropriately film her backside while in his class.

Whiteaker has been dismissed from school employment and has a right to appeal to retain his job.

Whiteaker has been Sutter County Supervisor representing the 4th District since November 2002. The district’s borders are Hwy 20 on the north to Bogue Road to the south, Hwy 99 to the east and South Township on the west. A recall has begun primarily due to the school developments. Recall petitions are being circulated collecting signatures to qualify for a special election or the November 2018 ballot.

Recall proponents believe County Clerk Donna Johnston delayed processing the paperwork and worked to stop the recall. State law clearly describes the steps to remove a representative. It’s not complicated.

The County Clerk is a nonpartisan position and like a judge should conduct business in an impartial nonpolitical fashion. The Clerk’s petition process has raised concerns among recall organizers. The Clerk still must certify signatures and count votes.

Recall efforts are common throughout the state. Of course, not all recalls qualify for the ballot. If they do qualify, then the representative still must be voted out of office by 50% plus one of those voting.

In other Sutter County trouble Deputy District Attorney Anu Chopra was asked to resign and then was fired by Sutter County in 2015 for unethical behavior or misconduct in her dealings in court and with defense attorneys. She was accused of withholding evidence from a defense attorney. She countered that she made an error.

Chopra in turn filed a suit listing a barrage of accusations including the DA’s office being racist and harassing her. She accused the DA of being “bad at her job.”

DA Amanda Hopper responded saying the Chopra lawsuit made “scandalous and false accusations.” “My office intends to defend itself against the allegations and will seek to strike out scandalous and false accusations from the court complaint.”

A committee was convened to determine whether to go to court or settle with Chopra. The vote was to fight the suit. However, word was that a settlement would be offered but too late for a redeemed Chopra to oppose DA Hopper in her current election.

So, a settlement of $325,000 was agreed to on February 22, too late to mount a campaign against Hopper. Judge Timothy Nunley made it official on March 26. The settlement included presenting a plaque to Chopra for ten years of service, rescinding her termination, allowing her instead to resign, and removing certain items from her personnel file and sealing it.

DA Hopper had no comment other than saying she was not named in the suit. Chopra agreed to not seek employment from Sutter County. She could run for DA, though it’s too late this time. It’s just amazing how that all worked out.

As usual, the lawsuits against the school district, the Whiteaker recall and the Chopra settlement all will cost taxpayers a bundle.

by Carol Withington

When African Americans arrived in California during the Gold Rush, the idea of working in the mines was not always for the "allurement" that finding gold meant for the majority of miners. For the African Americans, the possibility of success in mining opened the doors to purchasing not only their freedom but freedom for their families as well. In addition, proceeds from diggings would also assist these miners in pursuing their dreams despite the many struggles that lay ahead.

And although these miners were not afforded protection of the California laws, Delilah Beasley was often told in her personal interviews when compiling her book, "The Negro Trail Blazers of California", that white miners were often "fair and kind to them."

SWEET VENGEANCE MINE

In 1848, a group of African-American miners organized a company and worked a claim in Browns Valley. The miners included Gabriel Simms, James Cousins, M. McGowan, Abraham Freeman Holland, Edward Duplex and Fritz Vosburg. By naming their mine "Sweet Vengeance", it appears they hoped to prove to everyone that there were more than capable in achieving success. And to this end, they reached their goal.

By the time the mine closed in 1854, each had become wealthy enough to either accumulate property, establish their own businesses or pay for their freedom and the freedom for other family members. But best of all, one of them would become a Civil Rights leader.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Simms, a native of Virginia, was able to open the Franklin Hotel on First Street in Marysville with his proceeds. According to research, the hotel was situated near a "cluster" of other African-American businesses. Cousins, an Ohio native, worked as a barber on D Street in Marysville. He was able to purchase the freedom of several relatives and bring them to California due to monies received from The Sweet Vengeance Mine. Holland was also able to purchase freedom for his family and reportedly made a "fortune" from the mine. At one time, he was credited in assisting Vosburg in a fight with claim jumpers.

Vosburg, a native of Pennsylvania, also worked as a barber on D Street. With his proceeds from the Sweet Vengeance Mine, he organized a company with James Riker and together they manufactured "Coconut Oil Soap" in San Francisco. Vosburg was also manager of the Phillips and Company Public Bathhouse in San Francisco.

In addition to his many business pursuits, Vosburg was a Yuba County delegate to the 1856 State Convention of Colored Citizens along with M.J. Brown and George Symes.

One successful miner would use a portion of his proceeds in a leadership capacity which would represent, not only Yuba County, but northern California in a continued fight for rights.

By the last half of the 1850s, Duplex, a native of Connecticut, emerged as one of the most important members of the African-American leadership outside of San Francisco. He was a Yuba County representative at the first California Colored Citizens State Convention in 1855, where he was selected to become a member of the Executive Committee.

According to Beasley, the activities of the Executive Committee were part of the Underground Railroad. The Committee also assisted fugitives in many ways. Whenever possible, the Committee provided temporary lodging, purchased food and medicine, located jobs or provided small amounts of money as well as offered legal protection against kidnappers.

A secret code system was also formed. As there were no telegraph or rapid mail system during those years, the African-American barbers proved the ideal course of action for communicating. In Marysville, alone, there were over twenty barbers not including Duplex's own establishments including one in Yuba City and one in Wheatland.

These coded messages were relayed around the state and by inland waterways--the main highways of the day. One can only speculate the possible role that Marysville played during that time regarding the Underground Railroad under the leadership of Duplex as a member of the Executive Committee. But this would be only the beginning--there were still many hurdles to overcome.

The May edition will focus on the Archy Lee case and the exodus to British Columbia.

by Lou Binninger

The city council of little Los Alamitos in Orange County, a town of under 12,000 people had the courage to announce their resistance to Gov. Brown and the La Raza Government Sanctuary State law. These legislators are the same moral bottom feeders that prosecuted the undercover reporters who discovered Planned Parenthood was selling body parts of aborted babies.

The city council voted 4-1 to defend the constitution and law enforcement rather than protect foreign criminals in the U.S. The 4.09 square mile city is represented in the state legislature by Republican Senator Janet Nguyen (Vietnamese Immigrant) and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen.

About 160 people showed up to the City Council meeting, a monthly event that usually gathers little interest to ever fill the tiny 40-seat chamber. Many citizens addressed council members before the vote was taken.

Los Alamitos critics take issue with the SB 54 “Sanctuary State Law” which Gov. Jerry Brown signed after the Legislature passed it last year. It prohibits state and local police agencies from notifying federal immigration officials in many cases when legal and illegal immigrants subject to deportation are about to be released from custody.

The Trump administration went to federal court to invalidate Sanctuary State laws, claiming they obstruct federal immigration law and thus violate the Constitution's supremacy clause. This clause gives federal law precedence over state measures. That case is pending. Los Alamitos leaders voted to file an amicus brief to the Justice Department's lawsuit.

Orange County, once a conservative stronghold, voted in 2016 for Hillary Clinton for President and also helped elect democrat rookie State Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton). Newman is facing a recall for voting to raise the gas tax.

Orange County officials led by Supervisor and former member of the State Board of Equalization Michelle Park Steel (South Korean immigrant) as well as leaders in Aliso Viejo and Buena Park said Tuesday they plan to push for various versions of the anti-sanctuary ordinance as well.

Steel said the first duty of government is to protect its citizens, and a law that prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from apprehending criminal illegal immigrants does just the opposite.

"We are not talking about law-abiding illegal aliens. We're talking about criminals on the street. It's very dangerous, and public safety is very, very important in Orange County," Steel said. "We just want to stop these criminals walking on our streets."

Steel hopes that California's 57 other counties join Orange County in rejecting the "bad law," because all Californians deserve to be in a safe environment.

Shasta County Supervisors approved a resolution declaring the county is not a sanctuary jurisdiction. Similar efforts to officially resist the sanctuary law fell short in Kern County and the City of Costa Mesa.

Local Third District Assemblyman James Gallagher is encouraging cities and counties he represents to follow the lead of Los Alamitos and others in rejecting the bad law.

No official declarations have been made yet by local elected bodies in Yuba-Sutter Counties, but it is unlikely that Yuba County will act. The relicensing of Bullard’s Bar Dam worth hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue is still unfinished and supervisors fear a vengeful Governor Brown could punish the county for opposing the Sanctuary Law.

Citizens in the 1800s formed this state to serve and protect counties and cities rather than be a dictator over them. State government is now corrupt, morally bankrupt, has too much control and too much power. The massive bureaucracy is an ineffective mess and harmful to the citizens. Cities and counties are now held captive by those who were supposed to serve them.

The State has gone from being a republic to a regime.

by Lou Binninger

After spending awhile in Asia and landing back in America people appear overinflated. They look like they’re going to pop. It takes yards of material to cover them. Women often look like they have a meteorite attached to their backside. Guys get pants that are wider and shorter to get a grip below the belly.

Nichole Quick, the good doctor for Yuba County Health, reports like those before her that Yuba County is too fat, too sick, smokes too much and overindulges in narcotics and adult beverages. Of all California’s 58 counties Yuba scores near the top for consuming too much of all the wrong stuff.

So, what’s the difference? If people enjoy their life, why fret. Maybe fat folks are happier. Why don’t we just let people be?

Yuba County is spending around $8 million and change per year to tell everyone how to be healthy, eat this way, quit smoking, use a condom, drink water and wear a hat when it’s hot. However, what if Yuba County people are like the guy that pays the gym membership, but stays home? County health employees, like the gym owner, prosper while those paying for the service stay the same.

Since Yuba County is broke maybe supervisors should try closing the health department for 3-5 years to see what impact it has on the well-being of residents. The county may be surprised and save some money to pay their employee pension liability. Yes, granted, most of the health money is from state and federal sources. But, what if a health department has little impact on people’s health? Should we pay employees anyway?

Since the same educational information is on the Internet and social media at no cost why should county residents pay twice, once in taxes and a second time to attend to their own health needs?

What causes people to change? Think about smoking. Although some experts disagree, many say that increasing the taxes on cigarettes causes people to stop smoking. At $9 a pack per day, that smoker spends $3,285 annually. The majority of these users are poor. (Many of the local squatters are smokers.) However, retailers argue that price increases are not a major factor causing people to quit.

State and federal taxes per pack are at $3.88. Most of the recent $2.00/pack tax is going to Medi-Cal and then to insurance companies to insure poor people. With the decision in 1987 to provide free medical to people unwilling to care for themselves government uses ‘sin’ taxes to off-set those costs.

When people want government to take responsibility for their lives then they surrender their freedom in that same measure. If we want a government to pay for our food, rent, medical care and education, that same government gains the right to tell us what to eat, drink and smoke, where to live and attend school and whether that medical treatment is allowed.

Social scientists and medical professionals are predicting that obesity will become the leading health crisis that smoking once was 25 years ago. Billions have been spent on anti-smoking education campaigns. However, some feel that laws prohibiting where people can indulge have done as much or more to get people to stop.

California taxes are high, but not the highest on smokes (New York is #1). California does have some of the toughest restrictions on where people can light-up and now is second lowest next to Utah on the incidence of tobacco use. However, Yuba County resists those healthy trends.

What about obesity? Some argue that fat people are abusing the healthcare system (insurance) because of ailments related to being over-weight. Others counter that fat people die younger thereby compensating for getting more than their share of services early on.

Facts show that most of the medical care dollars per all individuals are spent at the very end for people in their 70s, 80s and 90s to prolong life a year or so. Expensive operations and extraordinary care in hospital intensive care units can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in a week.

Is it too futuristic for the La Raza Government in Sacramento to tax people based upon their weight? If a one-pack a day California smoker is spending $1416 annually in cigarette taxes how about charging $15 per pound overweight annually. That would be $1500 for a person carrying 100 pounds too much for their height.

People could visit a weigh-in center each year like we get a smog check. With the weigh-in certificate they could pay their annual dues to eat all they want. Here’s to happy fat people who like government medical care.

by Lou Binninger

Thousands of students around the country were hustled by second amendment foes to walk-out of school last week to memorialize the deaths of 17 students in a Florida shooting. However, the rallies were tainted by anti-gun ownership propaganda and acts of violence by those supposedly there protesting violence.

Rocklin High School history teacher Julianne Benzel was placed on administrative leave for discussing the merits of the upcoming protest 2-days prior to the event. The question she posed to students was too much for liberal government schools. She asked whether students with strong views about other important causes like abortion should also be permitted to leave class to protest.

Out of more than 120 students two complained along with one parent that she would prompt a discussion of the merits of releasing students to protest. The shame is that most students were clueless that they were pawns in a political war over the future of the Constitution itself. Last week’s student protests likely will leave them less safe than they were before if liberals get their way.

Amy Wax, a University of Pennsylvania tenured law professor specializing in Social Welfare Law and Policy has been disciplined following statements she made about the lack of black student achievement in her required first year course. She now will only be allowed to teach electives after complaints from some teachers and black students.

Penn Law Dean Theodore Ruger said Wax spoke “disparagingly and inaccurately” when she claimed that “rarely, rarely” had she seen a black student finish in the top half of her class. However, in an article in the Daily Pennsylvanian about the petition to discipline her, Wax said plainly that “student performance is a matter of fact, not opinion. It is what it is.”

The professor’s original remarks came in an interview she gave in September 2017 with Brown University professor Glenn Loury titled, “The Downside to Social Uplift.”

“Here’s a very inconvenient fact, Glenn, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a black student graduate in the top quarter of the class, and rarely, rarely, in the top half,” Wax said in the video, which discussed affirmative action policies. “I can think of one or two students who scored in the top half of my required first-year course.”

Although Wax’s specialty is Social Welfare Law she is forbidden to cite statistics on student achievement that question affirmative action policies. She could probably give stats on the lack of whites or Asians in the NBA with no backlash.

Before her video remarks were attacked, an August commentary written by Wax and another academic stirred controversy for advocating a return to a “bourgeois” era in American society.

“All cultures are not equal. Or at least they are not equal in preparing people to be productive in an advanced economy,” Wax wrote. The column went on to state that some working-class whites, the “rap culture of inner-city blacks” and “anti-assimilation ideas” among Hispanic immigrants were destructive to American democracy. The piece called on academics, the media and Hollywood to “relinquish multicultural grievance polemics” and “return to the 1950s posture of celebrating” bourgeois culture.

Wax also told the Daily Pennsylvanian that “everyone wants to go to countries ruled by white Europeans” because their cultural norms were superior. “I don’t shrink from the word ‘superior’,” Wax said.

Coddlers of whiners can scream all they want but thousands are not fleeing to Third World nations or Muslim-run countries with the hope of freedom and prosperity. It’s just the opposite as Wax says.

Black conservative economists have written books outlining cultures that embrace hard work, freedom, and innovation and those that don’t.

For example, when Dictator Idi Amin took over Uganda he ran the Indian technocrats out of the country. The Kampala cement factory was now run by locals. The new inexperienced “bosses” did not sweep the cement dust from the roof as the Indians insisted upon. Or, maybe the Ugandans all considered themselves bosses and no one wanted that lowly job.

When the tropical rains came the roof collapsed ruining the factory. They all were out of work. Ignoring the truth and plain old facts eventually leads to ruin.

University administrators and liberal professors are living in a dark place while novice learners dutifully follow their silly ways.

by Lou Binninger

No aspect of California is exempt from the absurd and corrupt management practices of the state government. Most people in the rural north state have received those fire safety mailers showing how to clear-out grass and brush from around buildings. Yet, the environmentalist-controlled politicians and bureaucrats prevent the same management of our forests, namely routine clearing out of underbrush and dead trees to stop apocalyptic-level fire disasters.

So one day a human can’t tread somewhere to spare a beetle or owl and the next day a forest fire destroys all habitat, 500 homes and 12 lives while we spend millions of dollars flying around dumping retardant for weeks. Is that stupid or what?

As Sinclair Upton said, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.” Whether it is ruining the timber industry, insane forest management and even ‘stand and watch’ fighting of forest fires, whoever will write the biggest check wins the argument.

Then, the San Diego Tribune brings up the fact that Cal Fire’s use of state prisoners or ‘slave labor’ to fight forest fires has allowed employed firefighters to cash in on exorbitant salaries.

Of course, prisoners love fire camp duty. It is better than prison life. They are out and about and learn marketable skills. They make more money than being “inside.” Pay is $2 a day plus $1 an hour, and meals and hygiene supplies are superior.

Well, let’s not get stuck at those ne’er-do-wells are getting a great deal. This chump-change-earning chain gang is toiling side by side with firefighters collecting enough on a strike team to return home and order a new car. And, state officials say using prison labor saves their budget $100 million a year. Firefighter union leaders are drooling.

The medium compensation for Cal Fire firefighters is $148,000 and the typical battalion chief is getting $15,800 per month. However, the ranks of Cal Fire workers are loaded with those earning in the $200,000 - $300,000 range.

According to Robert Fellner of the Nevada Policy Research Institute, when you add up the entry level average pay ($27,713) for 1,500 seasonal workers (9 months) including their “other pay” ($15,676), and overtime ($11,410) and pensions ($26,848), they’re compensation is at $81,647.

In late 2017, Cal Fire employees were set for a wage increase, ranging from 8.5 percent for the $189,600 per year battalion chiefs to 22.3 % for low-ranking firefighter/paramedics. However, the complicated formulas determining firefighter pay masks from the casual observer what is truly paid out in the end.

And this formula does not include retirement pension liabilities (promised but not budgeted) that the taxpayers are on the hook for. However, if you think this pay is high, Cal Fire employees are paupers compared to city and county firefighters.

California Policy Center shows the average compensation package for county firefighters is above $196,000 and for city firefighters is above $198,000, which is more than $50,000 a year in average total compensation above those at Cal Fire.

Some argue that state firefighters have a tougher job than the locals, since they are focused on wildfires when only 8 percent of local calls are fire responses. Most city and county call-outs are for medical assistance.

So, city and county firefighter higher pay is not attributable to more dangerous work than state firefighters nor is it reflective of free market supply and demand. There are hundreds applying for each job opening. Actually, many will do the job for no pay. Nationwide, 70% of firefighters are volunteers. It is at 30% in California.

The high pay is linked to political clout. Although the fire unions have leverage at the state level they have to compete with special interests and many other unions wanting a bigger slice of the budget.

Firefighter union intimidation has greater impact at the local level on council members and supervisors that depend on union endorsements and contributions to get elected. Candidates are fearful of being tabbed anti-public safety. Firefighter and law enforcement unions have less competition for local dollars.

Cal Fire said they only had around 680 firefighters on the Cascade Fire that should have had 3,000. If firefighters were paid based upon supply and demand rather than union muscle there could be more experienced personnel to save life and property and prisoners could receive better pay as well. However, this is Kalifornia.

by Lou Binninger

Marysville City Council, buried in millions of dollars in debt, decided last week to pay a consultant $12,000 to conduct a one-day retreat and have dinner with the mayor and city manager. It must be nice having all that money lying around, all courtesy of the taxpayers.

In the past, these annual events to set goals and brainstorm were led by the city manager or a local leader. Former city manager Walter Munchheimer conducted the last one but neither the council nor our $100,000 a year City Clerk could locate a copy for review. Guess it wasn’t that memorable. At least it didn’t cost $12,000.

Neither could the highpoints of a council gathering led by former Yuba County Superintendent of Schools Ric Teagarden be recalled. Teagarden annually guided his board trustees through such a meeting and provided attendees with cold drinks, sandwiches and coffee. Back then, administrators had the skills to lead and that’s what you paid them for. Maybe the refreshments cost a hundred.

The Council also agreed to hire another consultant for $22,400 to find a new fire chief for their one station department. With an amazing network of communications throughout the firefighting world a job solicitation for firefighters attracts attention from around the west.

Couldn’t the council use the same network to call for a chief without dishing out $22,400? How about contacting retired captains and battalion chiefs in this community and nearby that may be interested? At least they wouldn’t leave before they run out of business cards.

The city council appears to have little interest in the soccer field complex in Riverfront Park. A nonprofit soccer group took over maintenance of the fields from the city years ago and raises money to care for the fields.

The complex is utilized by thousands of children and their families. Thousands of visitors each year travel here to compete in tournaments. That all adds up to purchases of shoes, clothing, hotels rooms, food and fuel from local retailers.

Last year’s flooding damaged the entire river lowlands for which the city received federal monies for repairs and clean-up. Little if any funds went toward repairing the biggest sports complex in the two counties. Like the closed boat ramp that was ignored for years it seems like the city council has little vision for upgrading the valuable soccer complex to become an even bigger asset to the community.

If the complex were improved more tournaments could be hosted bringing more young athletes and their families to town. Currently, the local soccer program has more than 20 traveling teams competing around the state.

Photos from the 1900s show a Marysville with developed recreation opportunities along the Feather River. The city has miles of river frontage along the Yuba and Feather Rivers. However, city leadership has ignored the opportunity to take advantage of this asset. With a little revenue and leveraging volunteer help the riverside could be developed into a source of pleasure and pride for residents.

Nature abhors a vacuum. If the riverfront acreage is left abandoned others will find a use for it.

The city should make it easier to use the amphitheater and look at renovating the baseball parks. With these improvements along with the motocross, improved river frontage, boat ramp and soccer fields, the park would be busy year around. That all translates to better business for the twin cities and great activity centers for residents.