The politics of pot hits the mainstream and asking myself this question: Is the Women's March more about the "resistance" to the Trump administration and leftist causes or advancing women's issues?

Monday, January 22, 2018

Welcome to Bakersfield Observed, now online only. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this such a special place. We value your feedback. Email your news and notes (good form, bad form, kids doing well, anniversaries, observations) to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... POLITICS OF POT: Now that marijuana is legal in California and it has entered mainstream politics, keep an eye on the growing rift between the original local cannabis advocates and the big

moneyed interest coming from out of the area. One of our original pro cannabis groups, the Kern Citizens for Patient Rights, is seeking to distance itself from the out of area interests that have shown no qualms about playing hardball with local politicians. I found this Facebook post from Heather Epps, of the KCPR, interesting: "Kern Citizens for Patient Rights is the same small grassroots group that successfully blocked Kern County's ban on medicinal cannabis dispensaries in 2011.
KCPR quailfied our Medical Cannabis initiative and will be on the City of Bakersfield 2018 ballot.
I do NOT support Americans for Safe Neighborhoods they are #BIGMARIJUANA. I do NOT support the attacks on our local leaders. I do NOT support Los Angeles real estate investors writing our local laws...Now is the time for the cannabis community to come together...not attack each other and perpetuate violence. These attacks are fueled by greed and competition for local campaign funds."

 * ... WOMEN"S MARCH: The second annual Women's March was a big success here in Bakersfield and across the country, but let's be clear about one thing: these marches are less about empowering women than they are about repudiating the Trump administration and advancing the "resistance" movement. That said, there is plenty of good to come from it: the rally encourages our participation in our democracy, recognizes the importance of voting, shines a light on genuine women's issues and sets a good example for our children about how we all can - and should - pay attention and get involved in civic life. And there is also the bad: the Women's March has been hijacked by narrow political interest groups, from the unions to the farmworkers movements to climate change advocates to Democratic candidates. When SB 562 (the nurse's union push for universal health care in California) is a major topic, you know this is more about politics than anything else. A more accurate name might be the Women's Resistance Movement March."

 * ... OVERHEARD: A middle aged man is asked if his wife is participating in the Women's March in downtown Bakersfield. His response: "Only if it goes by Trader Joe's and Nordstrom Rack."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I was wrong. #Women'sMarch2018 was not a good place to meet broads."

 * ... CHAD GARCIA: It's not always easy to do the right thing, but when you have a strong moral compass, you know when to step forward. That was the case last week with Chad Garcia, a Army combat veteran who once worked as a producer for KNZR radio afternoon talk show host Jaz McKay. Garcia left the station after a falling out with McKay, who he describes as a crude bully prone to insults and racist comments. At the same time, Garcia was looking for his own show on the station so he was walking that fine line between insulting the station's star while lobbying for his own show. But when McKay posted a racist video of himself scanning the radio dial and hurling racist insults at the Spanish language stations, Garcia knew he had to do the right thing. So he posted McKay's own video on Facebook, called attention to it and shared it with hundreds of his followers. The blowback was instant and KNZR was flooded with calls demanding McKay be fired. McKay was not on the air Friday and we will see what happens. The larger point here is this: in a world where it is easy to try to get along, people with a strong moral compass like Chad Garcia do the right thing, even if it could hurt him in the long run.

* ... ABANDONED DOGS: Did you see the pictures of the two abandoned dogs who were found and treated at the Kern County Animal Services? They were both nearly unrecognizable because of years of long, matted hair that covered their body to the point you could barely see their heads eyes, paws and feet. Check out their pictures on Facebook. The staff spent hours cutting their fur and bringing them back to life. Hats off to those folks over at animal services.

The nation's railroads are in an unprecedented building and expansion boom, and pop icon Carly Rae Jepsen will perform at The Californian's downtown broadcast studio

 * ... RAILROADS: Some years ago an economist told me to watch the nation's rail traffic to get a real pulse on the economy. When the shipment of durable goods across the country starts to pick up, you can be assured the economy is recovering. Now comes word that North America's major freight railroads "are in the midst of a building boom unlike anything since the industry's Gilded Age hey day in the 19th century - this year pouring $14

billion into rail yards, refueling stations, additional track," according to the Wall Street Journal. In addition, rail is also stealing market share from traditional trucking companies. All good news for the economy.

 * ... CARLY: Pop icon Carly Rae Jepsen, whose song "Call Me Maybe" shot to the top of the pop charts, will be singing for a select group of people Tuesday afternoon in The Californian's downtown First Look broadcast studio. The Californian and radio station Hits 93.1 have been giving away tickets to 20 lucky fans for an up close acoustic performance.

* ... LITTER: A good contribution from reader Denney Evans: "I’ve read countless blogs about the litter problems in Bakersfield. My advice: when you’re walking the neighborhood for exercise, take a bag and pick it up. As the saying goes, 'If you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem.'"

* ... OVERHEARD: Former city councilman Mark Salvaggio, now an aide to Kern County Supervisor David Couch, tells columnist Lois Henry he is working on a constituent problem "like a rat on a Cheeto." Classic Salvaggio.

 * ... HARRISON: The revelation by Monsignor Craig Harrison that his parents were both in hospice tiggered a slew or responses. One of the best is from Jamie Henderson: "I knew Don and Dorothy Harrison were not doing well – very sorry to hear that it has reached the hospice stage. I had the great fortune to have played baseball at BHS on the 1967 Driller team that went 26-3. That was the only year Don coached varsity baseball and he guided a great team that included future Minnesota Viking, all-pro linebacker Jeff Siemon as our right fielder, and future Chicago Cub and San Francisco Giant, Steve Ontiveros, as our third baseman... Don also was absolutely one of the best CIF commissioners that our local sports officials ever worked with. Later, in the latter part of the 1970s I had the privilege of teaching with Dorothy Harrison at Sierra Junior High. Dorothy was an excellent teacher and a wonderful colleague. I am convinced that God brings a number of top notch people into our lives – Don and Dorothy are way up on my list. We all need to pray for them and their family during this time of passage."

 * ... SPCA: The local SPCA does so much good day in and day out, and it certainly deserves our support all year. The organization off Gibson Street is in dire need of fresh towels, and it is also gearing up for its annual book sale that begins April 26 with a preview night of just $10 to have a first chance at the books. The sale will run a full week, once again at 3501 Mall View Road, Suite 113-114. If you have anything to donate, please do so before the annual sale.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You may be a Bakersfield old timer if you bought groceries at the ADS Market on Baker Street, now a dog grooming business.

New Bakersfield College president pushes for passage of Proposition 30, which continues to sink in the polls, and City Councilman Russell Johnson faces a firestorm of criticism

 * ... CHRISTIAN: Dr. Sonya Christian will take over as the 10th president of Bakersfield College in January, but she is already at work tackling some of the college's deepest problems. Though still living in Eugene, Oregon, she is out front pushing for the passage of Prop 30, which would impose a quarter cent sales tax as well as impose new taxes on high wage earners. Tracking polls, however, show Prop 30 losing public support in the days before the election, in part because of cynicism among voters that the money will really spent on education. If it loses, Bakersfield College will be facing yet another round of budget cuts.

* ... THE BUZZ: Local political observers are closely following a dust up and possible conflict of interest involving City Councilman Russell Johnson. Thanks to reporting by columnist Lois Henry, we now know that Johnson is a paid consultant to the North of the River Municipal Water District at the same time he serves on the city water resources board, a position that certainly passes the smell test of a potential conflict. Russell apparently doesn't think it's a big deal, but insiders predict this issue is not going away. Follow this one closely.

* ... BIG HEART: Cameron Caneta is only 12 years old but he has already learned the joy of giving. A member of the St. Francis Church Parish, Cameron got the idea to surprise Monsignor Craig Harrison by leading a drive to collect canned goods for the needy. In just four days he collected more than 400 cans and is well beyond that now. His mother, Mary Caneta, said it all started when her son asked, 'Mom, why is the church pantry always empty?' Turns out it was Monsignor Craig's birthday when the youngster told him of his food drive. Hard to think of a better birthday present.

 * ... HALLOWEEN: One of the hottest costumes for Halloween is expected to feature folks dressing up like pro cyclist Lance Armstrong wearing syringes taped to their arms. Not not ago the now disgraced Tour de France champion was a source of inspiration; today, he's an object of ridicule following revelations he was part of the doping culture on the Tour. (photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal)

 * ... TRASH: Stephen Montgomery is one of those good citizens who actually picks up trash while he takes his daily walk. (Wouldn't it be nice if we all did this?) While out walking recently, he will drop the trash in someone's trash can to help keep the neighborhood clean. "The other day I dropped some street trash, a very small amount of fast food and tobacco trash, in a toter I use regularly because it's always in the front yard. But this time the owner saw me. He scowled at me and now I notice he keeps his brown toter behind a gate although he still leaves his seldom used green toter in the front yard. You can never figure out what offends some people."

 * ... THANKSGIVING: Did you know that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for plumbers? According to Food Network magazine, plumbers view the day as "Black Friday" because of the sheer volume of calls for backed up sinks and stalled disposals.

* ... PETS: Don't forget the blanket drive for abandoned dogs and cats that will be held Saturday at the downtown Bakersfield Racquet Club. It is being sponsored by Operation Blankets for Love and will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All towels and blankets collected will go to local shelters.

A conversation about death with Dr. Stafford Betty and setting the record straight on when The Doors were in Bako

 * ... DEATH: How do you feel about death and the afterlife? How do your spiritual and religious beliefs affect the way you face the inevitable? These are deeply personal and fascinating questions that I will be discussing Monday (today) with Stafford Betty, a professor of religious studies out at Cal State Bakersfield, on Californian Radio on KERN 1180 AM. Make sure to join the conversation and call in at (661) 634-1410 beginning at 9 a.m.

 * ... PUPPY: I don't really care how tough the economy is there is no excuse for abandoning pets. It seems routine around here for folks to simply move discard their animals like trash. What does it say about a society that treats its pets in this way? Just the other day a neighbor found an adorable puppy in a shoe box abandoned in an alley downtown. Is this really the best we can do? (file photo)

 * ... SPOTTED: Larry Miller submitted this "digital salute" to a woman in a black Chevrolet Blazer who displayed an appalling lack of class while parking next to the medical building at Mercy Hospital.  Another driver was trying to pull into a handicapped space while "Blazer girl blocked  all traffic (and) then  proceeded to set there blasting  her horn at  the vehicles in front of her instead of backing up the three feet that would give everyone parking access. I suggest she get her sorry back-side up and leave home a little earlier if she is in that big a hurry."

* ... CONCERTS: Mark Elieff wrote to correct an earlier post on when the legendary rock band The Doors played here in Bakersfield. "The Doors were my first concert when I was 14. It was 1968. My brother Pete had tickets but had to work at Guimarra Vineyards that day (I believe in July.) He gave them to me and my sister Meegan. The tickets were about $3.50 each. The concert (really Jim Morrison) scared the hell out of me but I loved it. It was the first of about 600 courts, 40 Springsteen, 15 Rolling Stones, 15 Tom Petty and so on."

 * ... IGLESIAS: Speaking of concerts, comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias was in town last week and was spotted the next day dining with his crew at Luigi's over on 19th Street, enjoying some of Bakersfield's best local food. No word on what he ordered.

 * ... DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that  Pulitzer Prize winner John Steinbeck visited Bakersfield in the 1930s around the time he was writing The Grapes of Wrath? Rumor has it he even spent some time imbibing at the historic and infamous Padre Hotel.