States across the country look at slashing taxes to help consumers, but California opts out... gas prices soar to record high levels and Canyon Hills Assembly of God sends relief to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees

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. The views expressed here are strictly my own and do not represent any other company or publication.

 * ... LOWER TAXES? Have you noticed there is a movement across the country to reduce taxes due to bloated state revenue coffers and international uncertainty with the war in Ukraine? It's not happening here in California of course, but at least 13 states with surpluses - among them Georgia, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, New York and Connecticut - are looking at tax relief. The notable exception of course is

California where Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Democrats are enjoying record surpluses but are refusing to consider any kind of meaningful tax relief. How about reducing the state auto registration fee for a year or two? Or cut the state gas tax, at least temporarily? In Sacramento, Republicans are pushing for a six month pause in the state tax on gasoline - that would reduce the price by 51 cents a gallon - but don't bet on that happening.

 * ... RUSSIAN OIL BAN:  President Joe Biden announced a ban on importing Russian oil and natural gas today but he stopped short of opening the way for California and other producers to pump more to fill in the gap. The United States imports about 637,000 gallons of Russian oil a day, or about 8 percent of our total usage, and the move is bound to raise gas prices even further. Meanwhile local politicians continue to press for more California oil production, but that is not likely to happen. So brace yourself for shock at the gas pump.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Celebrate International Women's Day by interrupting men with your unsolicited opinions and taking credit for their work. If they get upset about it, be sure to tell them that they sound hysterical and should probably smile more."

* ... FINALLY! Has Gov. Gavin Newsom finally awakened to the threat of having so many mentally challenged and other dangerous people on our streets? Perhaps, at least according to his latest proposal to offer more services to homeless people with severe mental health and addiction disorders even if that means forcing some into care, a move that many advocates of homeless people oppose as a violation of civil rights. The proposal by Newsom would require all counties to set up a mental health branch in civil court and provide comprehensive and community-based treatment to those suffering from debilitating psychosis.

 * ... COPS FOR PARKS: Hats off to the Bakersfield City Council for doing the right thing by creating a new unit to provide security in our public parks. The program will cost $2.4 million a year and comes after parks employees have been accosted and random citizens have grown increasingly frustrated with drug addicts, criminals and the homeless taking over local parks. Few people like to see the size of government grow, but it is well past time that the city of Bakersfield put the welfare of its law abiding citizens on par with those who so flagrantly violate the rules.

 * ... FAREWELL PASTOR ROBIN: Pastor Robin Robinson of Canyon Hills Assembly of God is being transferred back to Oklahoma where she has family, ending a remarkable period of influence for the woman who became the public face of CityServe, an organization devoted to helping the needy as well as the homeless. Perhaps due to her good nature, professionalism and honesty, Robinson was the rare public figure who gained the trust and respect of all sides in her work for CityServe. And her departure comes at an interesting time after CityServe announced a new project of affordable housing near its F Street headquarters, a move that has triggered opposition from some residents in the Westchester neighborhood.

 * ... UKRAINE AID: Speaking of Canyon Hills, did you hear lead Pastor Wendell Vinson and others from CityServe were in Poland where they flew with tons of meals for the thousands of Ukrainian refugees? Hats off to Vinson and his CityServe team for responding to a global crisis with people in dire need.

 * ... MEMORIES: From the Kern County History Fans comes this shot of an old market in Taft.

California gas prices dip to near $3 a gallon, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy warns Republicans that they need to prove they can govern

 * … GAS: The price of gasoline is close to dipping below $3 a gallon, certainly good news for motorists, but it also carries a potential downside. Some economists are worrying that lower gas prices

could prove to be a drag on the nation's energy boom, and that could lead to fewer jobs in energy rich areas like Kern County. In the midst of a shale-gas boom, the national average for regular gasoline hit a four-year low of $3.05 a gallon, and I have spotted it that low at a few stations around town. At the other end, lower gas prices are good for the airline industry, farmers and manufacturing companies.

 * … CLEAN AIR: There's good news and bad regarding the quality of our air. First the good, as reported in The Californian: "Overall, air quality in the Central Valley -- for both ozone levels (summer) and particulate matter (winter) -- is the cleanest and healthiest it's been since anyone has been paying serious attention." That's terrific, but don't think that means government is not watching you and your fireplace. Once again this winter, you can only use your fireplace at the risk of running afoul of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, who frankly would rather you not have a fire at all. That means don't even think about that cozy fire before checking to make sure it is not a "no burn" day.

* … KEVIN: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy had some tough talk for his fellow Republicans recently, warning them that a "failure to govern" after winning the Senate could torpedo any GOP chances of winning the White House in 2016. His warning was being widely interpreted as a sign that the Republicans need to focus on governance and sound policies instead of acting as an obstructionist party. Said McCarthy: “If we don’t capture the House stronger, and the Senate, and prove we could govern, there won’t be a Republican president in 2016.”

* … HAPPY MONDAY: Think your week started poorly? Consider this note I spotted on a friend's Facebook timeline: "Started my day dodging (feces) whilst fishing my daughter's cell phone out of the toilet. Happy Monday everyone!"

* … DISEASE: Did you know that the percentage of adults in Bakersfield who are overweight or obese is approaching 70 percent, and that Kern County ranks 57th out of 50 counties for deaths due to diabetes? That is just one of the more alarming statistics shared with me by Tim Terrio, CEO of Terrio Physical Therapy. To draw attention to diabetes and other chronic illnesses Terrio is offering a free seminar this Saturday to help folks understand the chronic disease epidemic. The seminar will be held at the DoubleTree and will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Seating is limited to the first 100 people.

* … TRASH: Retired oil executive Lynn Blystone just returned from a 3,640 mile drive down the Alaska Highway, down Interstate 5 to Bakersfield and saw no roadside trash "until I got to Bakersfield whose Highway 99 on/off ramps and roadsides made up for all that was absent before. I know Mayor Hall has efforts to address this embarrassing situation. I think it will take more of us cleaning up as I don't believe those who toss trash will diminish. Obtaining clean air is a geographical obstacle, but trash is voluntary."

Gas heads to $5 a gallon and Bakersfield leads the way, and noting the 150th anniversary of the Civil War

 * ... GAS PRICES: The average price for a gallon of gas across our nation is now $3.76 and may hit $5 by the summer. That's what some experts are warning, even as the long recession drags on and areas like the San Joaquin Valley continue to experience unemployment levels north of 16 percent. In one survey, broadcast by ABC this week, Bakersfield had the distinction of having the highest gas prices in the nation. 

 * ... COLLEGE BOUND: High school seniors across town are making their choices for where they will attend college and I'm always happy to put a spotlight on some of these high achieving kids. Over at Garces Memorial High, senior Gina Bell will be attending The George Washington University in Washington D.C. in the fall on an academic scholarship. Gina was accepted at Fordham, Seton Hall, Wheaton and Providence colleges but chose George Washington because of her love for American history and politics. Gina's proud parents are Kevin and Pam Bell: Kevin is a graduate of Highland High and Cal State Bakersfield and Pam is a graduate of Garces Memorial and Fresno State University. Kevin is employed at ATT and Pam is employed at Saint Francis Parish School in Bakersfield.

* ... PROSPECT: Keep your eye on Cruise Adams, a sophomore at Garces Memorial High School who played quarterback and kicker on the JV football team. ESPN recently singled him out as a hot college prospect for the 2013 recruiting class, noting that he had kicked a 50-yard field goal in a kicking camp. 

* ... REMEMBRANCE: This is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, a topic that all Americans should be respectful of and well versed in. Was surprised to learn there is a chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy here (Mary Boykin Chesnut chapter 2634) and it is planning a moment of remembrance on Thursday, April 21, at Union Cemetery. The organization was started by the grieving mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of fallen Confederate soldiers who tended to their graves. They soon began tending to the graves of Union soldiers as well in a tribute to all the fallen men and women. Diane Allen is the local president of the UDC chapter and told me the ceremony is planned for 10:30 a.m. Everyone is invited.

  * ... SPOTTED: A young man riding his bike down Gosford Road in the bike lane, balancing
while he uses both hands for texting on his cell phone. Incidentally, the Legislature is now considering a bill to make this illegal.

 * ... CALIFORNIAN RADIO: If you get a chance, tune in to SmartTalk1230 (AM-1230) on Friday when I will be interviewing new CSUB Athletic Director Jeff Konya on the challenges facing the school's entry into Division 1 sports. If you have a Google (Android) phone or iPhone, download the free application Tunein and you can listen on your cell phone. Should be an interesting hour starting at 10 a.m. Konya recently hired a new basketball coach and has the daunting task of finding a conference that will accept CSUB.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Linda L. Welch wrote that you may be a Bakersfield old timer if you worked at the old J.C. Penney building downtown and knew the top floor was a brothel in the early 1900s and the basement was a bomb shelter.



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