Layoffs at The Bakersfield Californian as a sale looms, more details on the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and is the "homeless" crisis really all about drug addiction and mental illness?

Friday, June 21, 2019

 Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO: The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is coming to Kern

County, but we are all going to have to show some patience. Scott Nielson, manager for the project, appeared on The Richard Beene Show to talk about the scope of the project and when we can expect to see in completed. Nielson said clearing the environmental hurdles will take at least 18 month and construction another two years. Eventually, it will provide 2,000 jobs when the 400-room hotel is built, complemented by a dozen restaurants and bars and a concert venue. The Hard Rock empire is owned by the Seminole Indian tribe in Florida, and currently has worldwide revenues in the $4 billion range.

 * ... TBC SALE: Only the most ill informed thought the sale of the family owned Bakersfield Californian would turn out to be a good thing. And with each passing day, that truth is born out as we head to June 30, the day the sale will close. This week, the new owners met individually with staffers to tell them their fate. It was a scene not unlike the 1982 movie Sophie's Choice, where a young Meryl Streep wept as the Nazis forced her to choose which of her two children would live, or die. One who didn't make the cut was executive editor Jim Lawitz, a highly unpopular fellow who won't be missed. Thankfully, senior editor Bob Price and columnist Herb Benham did survive, as did graphics editor Glenn Hammett, one of the most valuable (and popular) members of the staff. Losing their jobs were copy editors Ron Stapp, Tim Heinrichs and Dennis Wynne, graphic designer Kent Kuehl and sales rep Lisa Lee. The entire pressroom and mailroom staff are also being laid off as the paper gets ready to move its printing operations to Palmdale.

 * ... SPOTTED DOWNTOWN: In full view of customers going to a leaving three of downtown's best restaurants - Uricchio's Trattoria, The 18Hundred and Mamma Mia - a vagrant is spotted with his pants down defecating on the street. Remember: we do not have a homeless crisis. We have a drug addiction and mental health crisis disguise as a homeless crisis.

 * ... ZARDES: How fun was it to watch Gyasi Zardes, a player for the U.S. national team, score a head goal in the game against Guyana in the 2019 Gold Cup soccer tournament. Zardes, with his signature blond mohawk, took a header and scored to help the Americans to a 3-0 win. Zardes was a standout with the CSUB soccer team. He graduated in 2012.

 * ... GRIMMWAY FARMS: Did you know that every carrot sold at Costco, anywhere in the world, is a Grimmway Farms carrot? That's right, the Bakersfield-based carrot company is the exclusive supplier of carrots to Costco's no matter where they are located. Under the leadership of CEO Jeff Huckaby, Grimmway just recently closed on the purchase of an organic food company in south Georgia, near Valdosta, which will allow the company to produce organic carrots and other vegetables to Publix and other Southern-based supermarkets.

 * ... MEMORIES: More pictures compliments of there Facebook pages devoted to Kern County's history.

Californian staffers fear big changes as the newspaper changes hands after 122 years, a new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is coming south of Town and the homeless who have seemed to take over our streets

Friday, June 7, 2019

 Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this community such a special place.

 * ... RIP TBC: After 122 years The Bakersfield Californian has been sold, ending a long and distinguished period under the Harrell-Fritts family. The new owners, based in Canada, have pledged no major changes but we can expect just the opposite. In fact, staffers at The Californian are expecting the new owners to force all employees to reapply for their own jobs, a common event in an asset sale. Sound Publishing, the new owners, also operate newspapers in Palmdale and Lodi, so you can expect "back office" jobs like those in human resources, circulation and accounting could go away and replaced by a corporate shared services model. The bottom line: big changes are coming, and not all of them will be good for current employees.

 * ... TEJON CASINO: So be honest here ... just how excited are you about the news that the Tejon Indian Tribe will open a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino just 20 minutes south of town? The project will be built on 350 acres at Highway 99 and state Highway 166 (Mettler exit), with the hotel on 52 acres and an adjacent RV park on 22 acres. It will feature 13 restaurants and bars as well as a live concert venue and employ some 2,000 people. No word on when ground will be broken.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "It's so hot I almost called my ex to be around someone shady."

 * ... ALAN TANDY: City manager Alan Tandy is retiring in December, and no matter what your opinion is of him, his legacy will be a lasting one. After 27 years in the position, consider some of projectsTandy will leave behind: completing the hotel that is now the downtown Marriott, Rabobank Arena, McMurtrey Aquatic Center, Valley Children's Ice Center, the senior housing at 21st and R streets, the new federal courthouse in Central Park, the Westside police station, Maya Cinemas, the Amtrak station, the Park at River Walk, the Mesa Marin Sports Complex, the Kaiser Sports Village, the Mill Creek developments, Yokuts Park and let's not forget the 24th Street widening.

 * ... FOODIE: If you are a fan of Uricchio's Trattoria downtown, check out their roasted vegetable ravioli which is beyond delicious. It's not on the menu yet, but this gluten-free vegetarian dish will knock your socks off.

 * ... GAS PRICES: Think our gas prices are high? Check out this telling graph.

 * ... LAUREN MAE: Congratulations to Lauren Mae Skidmore who has been appointed to the Kern County Planning Commission by Supervisor Mike Maggard. Mae is one of our community's rising millennial stars and has already established herself as a talented leader who knows the workings of government.

 * ... DOWNTOWN: Well now, here is a snapshot from downtown that is becoming increasingly common these days. How long, as citizens, will be put up with this before our civic leaders respond?Or is this the new norm in California? Thanks to my friend Dee Rhodes for sharing.

 * ... MEMORIES: Enjoy this old photo of one of our downtown churches back in the day.