McCarthy: It's a perilous time for our country, and time for Congress to get out of the way and support business and job creation

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill:

"The health of our economy remains the number one issue for many in our community. We’re at a 17-year low with new start-ups and our unemployment remains above 8 percent. Where we are in the world today
is very similar to the challenges we faced in 1979. Instead of worrying about Japan, we worry about China and India. We had energy concerns and rising gas prices tied to the Middle East, and today Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. Americans are asking themselves the same question, will the next generation be better off than the generation before? Just like in 1980, we need to take action to unleash our nation’s economic potential.

 "First, we must stop overregulation and can look to Mojave as a model. This week, the House passed legislation that included a provision I fought for to protect the commercial spaceflight industry from
government overregulation. Jobs in this industry have grown exponentially over the past decade, particularly at the Mojave Air & Space Port. From SpaceShipOne to Stratolaunch Systems, there has been major investment here. Already, 25 percent of all the jobs at the Space Port have to do with commercial spaceflight, and this week’s action opens the door for continued investment, innovation and job creation here and around the country.

 "Second, we need to help small businesses with access to capital.  I got tremendous feedback this week from Kern County residents through two teletown halls. One woman in East Kern expressed frustration about accessing capital for her small business. As a former small business owner, I know exactly how she feels, and I’ve been working to help address the problem. Among a group of bipartisan bills that passed the
House intended to help small businesses is a bill I introduced, the Access to Capital for Job Creators Act (H.R. 2940). This bill would modernize securities regulations to open a new door for businesses to
obtain the funding they need to expand and hire. It passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, but lingers in the Senate with 26 other job-creating bills. At a time when we’re experiencing
persistently high unemployment nationally and locally, we need to be doing everything in our power to put people back to work and help small businesses expand.

 "Third, we must expand our energy resources. The Keystone XL Pipeline project can do that and create jobs in America. This project would not only create 20,000 good-paying American jobs right away, it would also reduce our dependence on oil coming from an unstable Middle East. I remain hopeful the President will start listening to the American people on this. Polls show that most Americans want this project, and
over 90 percent of participants in my recent telephone town hall meetings said they supported it. I can assure you that I will not back down and continue pushing to move this project forward.

"If we make the tough decisions, I know our small businesses and entrepreneurs will bring our economy back.

An amazing random act of kindness and another First Friday features the arts district

 * ... KINDNESS: Consider the following nugget as further testimony to the generosity of our community. According to Donna Hylton, executive director of the Kern Adult Literacy Council, one of her volunteer tutors was on the receiving end of an amazing random act of kindness. Turns out the tutor suffered from crooked teeth that her family could not afford to straighten, but an anonymous donor emerged to pay for her dental work at absolutely no charge. "The random act of kindness has changed her life forever," Hylton said. "He paid for everything, even the surgery. I just want to let you know fantastic things are happening every day in good old Bakersfield even at the Kern Adult Literacy Council." By the way, if you are interested in tutoring at the council call (661) 324-3213.

 * ... WEEKEND: It may be Super Bowl weekend, but there's a lot more going on around our town than football. The weather will be a warmer so make sure you get out and enjoy our extensive bike trials and parks. And don't forget to include First Friday in your plans. Make a night of it and dine at one of our many locally owned downtown restaurants - Uricchio's Trattoria, Mama Roomba, Mexicali, Chef's Choice Noodle Bar, Cafe Med etc - and then run by the Metro Galleries on 19th Street to check out a show featuring the works of Art Sherwyn, his mother Doris, and Dean Johnson. The Foundry (located next to Dagny's on 20th Street) will also feature a show by young artist Jesus Fidel titled 'Plant Impossible Gardens.' On Monday, longtime Californian photographer Felix Adamo will have an exhibit of some stunning photography at Valentien Restaurant and Wine Bar from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Twenty-five percent from the sale of every print will go to the Cancer Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital.

* ... SPOTTED: Reader Chris Padham was driving south on Highway 99 between Ming Avenue and While lane when he spotted "a red Mustang being driven by a woman who was texting with a toddler on her lap. Evidently she must have a force field around her vehicle to prevent others from making her have an accident."

 * ... HALF PRICE: H. Walker's, a longtime purveyor of fine men's clothing downtown, will soon stop selling business suits to move to a more casual denim look. That's according to owner Tracy Walker-Kiser, who says the move is in line with the more casual style of men's clothing in California and the southern San Joaquin Valley. The good news: all suits are now on sale for $199, while they last.

 * ... HONOR FLIGHTS: There's an effort under way to create a local chapter of Honor Flights, the organization that flies veterans to Washington, D.C., to view the memorials honoring their service. Lili Marsh, the manager over at the Petroleum Club, told me the group is looking for folks who may be interested in serving on its board of directors or in some other way. Honor Flights was established in 2005 and since then some 22,000 veterans have been flown to Washington at no cost. If interested, email the group at honorflightsbakersfield@yahoo.com.

 * ... CSUB: Had a chance to walk through the Student Recreation Center at Cal State Bakersfield this week and it's an impressive addition to the campus. It was full of students using the treadmills, rock climbing wall and weight rooms, all amenities prospective students expect at a college campus. If you haven't toured it yet, drop by and check it out.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You know you're a Bakersfieldian if, after every cough, sneeze, sniffle and/or wheeze, you always blame "the air quality." Thanks to Jolie Brouttier for that one.

The truth meter finds fault with Terry Phillips' rambling attack on Bakersfield Observed; is refusing to recite the pledge unpatriotic? You be the judge

* ... PHILLIPS RETORT: Terry Phillips is a former Valley Public Radio broadcaster who is thinking about running for Congress against Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Last week I noted that Phillips created quite a stir at the downtown Rotary Club when he declined to participate in the pledge of allegiance before speaking there back in 2008. Phillips took me to task in a rambling letter to the editor Monday, accusing me of distorting the facts and questioning his patriotism. Really Terry? Let's review what happened. First, Phillips never denies not participating in the pledge, so it seems my reporting was accurate on that count. Second, it's also true that some folks in the mostly conservative crowd of local business leaders viewed his act a provocation and complained to Rotary officers after his speech. And third, I never accused Phillips of being unpatriotic, nor did I imply that he was fired because of the incident. (He was fired three years later) I did wonder aloud how his refusal to recite the pledge would play with voters, which seems like a reasonable thought. But as for Phillips being fired last year, I neither know nor care why VPR let him go. So indulge me as I once again review what I wrote: that he did not recite the pledge (true), that some Rotary members were upset (true) and that he was later fired (also true). Looks like a trifecta of accurate reporting to me. Isn't it funny how folks, particularly politicians or would-be politicians, have such a selective memory when the past returns to haunt them?

* ... HOUSING: We all know the dismal state of housing in states like California and Florida, but where is housing making a rebound? Realty website Inman News reports that for a second year in a row, the Midwest and Northeast dominate the markets deemed most desirable. Among the top hot markets are Raleigh, NC, Wichita, KS, Rochester, NY, Des Moines, IA, Chattanooga, TN, Peoria, ILL, and Amarillo, TX.


* ... REIDER: Kudos to retired Kern County Schools Superintendent Larry Reider who has had an educational building named after him. The five-story building in downtown Bakersfield, formerly known as the UC Merced building, has now been christened the Larry E. Reider Education Center. A fitting tribute to a longtime leader in Kern County education.

 * ... SPOTTED: Candace Bunes contributed this nugget from a day in the life of our city. "Sitting at a stop light on Truxtun and Coffee there is a lady in front of me drinking coffee, smoking a cigarette and talking on her cell phone. Beside me is a lady using a curling iron and putting on mascara. And behind me is a man doing nothing but waiting with his hands on the wheel!"

 * ... KINDNESS: Wendy Wayne, the former director of the First Five Commission who is battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, shared a wonderful story of a random act of kindness done on her behalf. The person, who Wendy did not name, was able to help a disabled veteran get a complete dental makeover. Turns out the veteran was born with a cleft pallet that required multiple surgeries. The good Samaritan found an organization called Soldiers Smile which found a dentist in Los Gatos who helped.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You may be from Bakersfield if you only use your turn signals once you are well into the turn.

Cal Radio puts the spotlight on spiritual healing and Karen Goh makes the rounds for reelection

* ... HEALER: Have you ever entertained the idea of consulting a "spiritual healer?"  Before you dismiss it as a passing fad from the Bay Area or Santa Monica, you might want to hear from Debbie Charles, a local resident who works in spiritual counseling and dealing with energy sources. She has even - get this - performed house and office "clearings" to define negative energies. Intrigued? Debbie will be my guest on Monday's Californian Radio KERN 1180 at 9 a.m. Tune in and join a fascinating discussion.

* ... KAREN GOH: It's hard to imagine anyone working harder for reelection to public office than Fifth District county Supervisor Karen Goh. She seems to turn up about everywhere, knocking on doors to introduce herself, participating in Saturday's downtown cleanup day, and seemingly taking it all in stride. "I'm trying to meet as many people as I can," she told me when I ran into her at the Crabfest fund raiser recently. "I do it every day if I can." She was appointed to the position to replace former Supervisor Michael Rubio, who went on to the State Senate.

* ... OVERHEARD: A reader writes that she overheard a woman on her cell phone at Tony's Pizza "discussing her kindergartener Joelle's poopy panties. Apparently it has been going on for a few nights now. Wonderful thing to listen to when you are trying to eat."


* ... GOOD DEED: Tina Stout wrote to thank a couple of good Samaritans who helped push her stalled car out of traffic at the intersection of California Avenue and Stockdale Highway.  "I always wave at the gentleman who works at that corner who dances and holds a pizza sign.  I rolled down my window and said I needed help. He and three other young men pushed my vehicle through that intersection and into the Mexicali parking lot before the light turned red on us. They were truly my angels."

 * ... BENHAM: Congratulations to Thomas Benham, son of Californian columnist Herb Benham and City Council member Sue Benham, who was recently promoted to prep cook at the famous organic restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Thomas graduated from Bakersfield High in 2008, attended UC Berkeley and is now following his passion in the culinary arts. I visited Thomas this past week, working as an unpaid "intern" at the legendary Berkeley restaurant founded by Alice Waters. It's nice to see young people find their passion and work so hard to fulfill their dreams.

* ... VEGAS BABY: Ben Ansolabehere dropped me a note to weigh in on the Las Vegas sports writer who ripped Bakersfield after UNLV beat CSUB recently. "He should check out his historical facts about UNLV and its connection to Bakersfield. When UNLV put together its football program it thought that Bakersfield was a treasure trove of players. There were no less than 14 starters from Bakersfield on their first three teams ever. Many of these athletes helped UNLV to three winning seasons the first three years of that program, prompting the Californian to refer to the UNLV Rebels as the Rebelgades. This connection was established by three coaches coming from the same small mining town in Nevada, Elly. These coaches were Turk Eliades (North), Jerry Collis (BC), and Bill Ireland (UNLV). The next time that this young man talks about Bakersfield, he should at least know his history or he and Las Vegas 'may be destine to repeat it!'"

McCarthy: Obama's State of the Union speech disappointing, but it's time to work together

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill. In his own words:

"As I was waiting to be ushered onto the House Floor before the State of the Union Address Tuesday night, I had a chance to briefly speak with President Obama. After exchanging pleasantries about our families and holidays, I expressed my hope that we could work together to move this country forward.

"While there were parts of the President’s speech where there is common ground, I was disappointed by its political nature. I have difficulty reconciling the fact that the President called for an all-of-the-above energy approach after he just rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have created 20,000 jobs and increased our energy security. In fact, it was an issue I addressed when responding to some of the comments and questions posed by Twitter followers. I also responded to tweets about the Senate’s failure to pass a budget, the importance of empowering small businesses to grow jobs and the need for tax reform. I’m a big believer in new media as an effective way to connect directly with you, and I hope that you will follow me on Twitter @GOPWhip and Facebook, if you’re not already.

"On Wednesday morning I participated in a panel with my whip counterpart, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, and our colleagues to further discuss the President’s State of the Union Address. It’s always good to sit down with members from both sides of the aisle and get different perspectives. The bottom line is we need to get this country working again, and to do that we need to open the door for innovation and investment. Uncertainty about taxes, regulations and what the next policy coming from the Obama Administration might be is driving businesses to hold on to capital and delay investment. We need to unshackle our economy and allow it to grow again.
 
"That’s exactly what I witnessed on Friday in Mojave. I met with commercial space flight entrepreneurs at the Mojave Air & Space Port and visited the construction site for Stratolaunch Systems. 25 percent of all the jobs at the Mojave Air & Space Port are in commercial space flight. That’s a massive jump over the past decade, and one reason for that is smart legislation passed in 2004 that gave this industry room to grow while still protecting the safety of crew members and the public. However, the legislation is set to expire this year. The commercial space flight industry has great things ahead of it and has the potential to create even more jobs right in our backyard, so I am fighting to extend the provisions in this legislation that have proven effective over the past eight years. 

"I want to hear your thoughts on the President’s speech.  What did you agree with, what did you wish you’d heard more of?  Also, if you have any other comments or suggestions for me, please don’t hesitate to send me an email, call my office at 661-327-3611, or reach me on Facebook and Twitter.

Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame to honor the "Bakersfield Sound" and more bad news for the local jobless rate

* ... BUCK: The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville is opening a new exhibit dedicated to the late Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and others who helped create the 'Bakersfield Sound.' The exhibit opens March 24 and will run for two years. Said CMT: "Narrated by Dwight Yoakam, the exhibit will explore the roots, heyday and impact of the Bakersfield Sound, the loud, stripped-down and radio-ready music most closely identified with the careers of Country Music Hall of Fame members Buck Owens and Merle Haggard."

* ... WORST CITIES: In a reflection of just how bad the housing collapse hit California's Central Valley, a new list of the 10 worst cities for finding a job includes six from our valley. USNews compiled the list and noted that "the list of cities where housing prices remain depressed has striking similarities to a list of the cities with the worst employment problems." The top five were Merced, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton and Visalia-Porterville. Rounding out the list were Atlantic City, N.J., Bakersfield, Hickory-Lenoir, N.C., Riverside and Brownsville, Texas.
* ... TOO RISKY? Maybe it's just a sign of the economic times, but since when did U.S. Savings Bonds become "too risky" to cash? That's what an employee of the Bank of America told Anthony Finochhiaro the other day when he went to the Oswell branch by Country Club Liquors to cash six bonds. First he was told they would only cash 10 or fewer for non-account holders but later - even though he only had six - "the woman told me they were too risky and they wouldn't cash them. What is this, Greece?"

* ... SPOTTED: A couple runs out of gas and is struggling to push their 1980s-era Chevrolet Blazer into the gas station at Mount Vernon and Columbus while a dozen people non chalantly look on. A U.S. Army soldier in fatigues then pulls up, spots the couple and hops out to help push the Blazer into the gas station.

* ... CONVENANT: Covenant Community Services, the group that does so much to help put foster youth back on their feet, needs just $33,000 more to complete the remodel of its new headquarters and coffee bar at 1700 North Chester Avenue. The non-profit has managed to raise $50,000 so far, transforming the former bank building into an impressive center to help foster youth. Drop by sometime to buy some of Covenant's outstanding coffee and support this worthwhile project.

* ... OBESITY: Obesity and the factors that lead to it - poor diets, lack of exercise etc - are some of the biggest challenges we face not only here in Bakersfield but also in the country as well. So I suppose it's good news that the latest research shows obesity rates have stalled, but they remain extremely high. Overall, almost 36 percent of the adult population and 17 percent of children are obese. In Kern County, the rates are much higher, with as many as half of all adults overweight. With statistics like this, it's little wonder the number of people coming down with diabetes remains stubbornly high.

Terry Phillips edges closer to running for Congress and fans of Bear Pascoe give him a shout out

* ... POLITICS: It looks like longtime broadcaster Terry Phillips is getting closer to deciding to run for Congress in the 23rd District against House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy. A press release said friends are gathering signatures to nominate him and he has created an exploratory committee. Phillips worked for Valley Public Radio and was a former news correspondent for CBS News. On a side note, Phillips spoke to the downtown Rotary Club in 2008 and created a stir when he declined to participate in the flag salute during the Pledge of Allegiance. His explanation - that as an American he can choose to opt out - fell flat with the Rotary crowd. "Can you imagine doing that before a group of conservative Rotarians?" one Rotary member told me. "It was a nightmare. We've never had so many complaints about a speaker." VPR later apologized to the club and Phillips was fired in 2011. We'll see how this plays in the election if he decides to run. Phillips is not a member of any political party and is registered as "decline to state."

 * ... BEAR PASCOE: Dina Ligari dropped me a note to remind me that Kern County was represented when the New York Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers. "The Giant win ...  brings up the issue that I have not read in this paper of the long generational connection to Bakersfield and Kern County of New York Giants No. 86, McKenna 'Bear' Pascoe. .. Bear’s parents Sean and Julie Pascoe were married in Bakersfield and lived much of their newly wed life here before eventually raising their kids on the family lease outside Woody. The Pascoe contingency in this town is very strong. In fact we were surprised there were no Richter scale reports from Sunday right after Bear’s first pro touchdown. The family was whooping and hollering from Bakersfield to Kazakhstan. Needless to say we are all so very proud and love Bear for all his accomplishments…..but will be glad when the Super Bowl is in the bag, cause the calves need to be branded. Life goes on. Go Big Blue!" Pascoe went to high school in Porterville and played for Fresno State before being drafted by the 49ers and later traded to the Giants.

* ... SPOTTED: A reader spotted this bit of bad form in front of Stockdale High School around 2 p.m. recently. "At least eight cars parked in the 'no parking' zone in front of Stockdale High School on Buena Vista Road. One lady double parked on Buena Vista forcing the traffic in the right hand lane to come to a complete stop."

 * ... WALMART: Reader Frances Quiroz shared this experience while shopping at the Walmart at East Hills.  "I was shocked when a Walmart employee who was working on 'the floor' was unable to help me because she did not speak English. Are you kidding me? I think anyone who gets paid with American money should at least know the language."

 * ... PETS AND SPEEDING: Kristen Bellue lives in one of downtown's charming homes on 21st Street and is pleading with commuters to recognize the 35 mph speed limit. Last week she came home to find her cat dead in the street. As she tried to retrieve the cat, drivers refused to slow and "some disgusting person hit my cat again. He flew through the air and landed in front of my neighbor's house. The sound was horrendous and as you can imagine I was hysterical!" Downtown is one of those areas where there are many indoor-outdoor cats, and Kristen is pleading with drivers to observe the speed limit. "I have even witnessed people passing down the center lane of 21st Street to pass the drivers that are going the speed limit."

 * ... ON THE MOVE: Bryan Burrow has joined the Kern Community Foundation as director of non-profit outreach. Burrow earned his MBA from CSUB, where he was a 2010 Alumnus of the Year,  worked for the Bank of America and is a member of the Rotary Club  of Bakersfield. He will report to Foundation President and CEO Jeff Pickering.

James Dean's last autograph came on the Grapevine to a CHP officer, and Cal Radio looks at downtown Bako

 * ... JAMES DEAN: Two hours before the great young actor James Dean died in a 1955 car crash he was ticketed for speeding coming down the Grapevine. That little bit of trivia comes from Bakersfield resident Jack Skaggs, a retired California Highway Patrol officer who has a copy of the original ticket. "It was the last time James Dean ever gave his autograph, and it was to a CHP officer," he told me. The ticketing officer was O.D. Hunter, who stopped Dean for going 65 mph in a 55 mph zone. The time was 3:30 p.m. on Friday,  September 30. Two hours later his Porsche 550 Spyder flew off the road near Cholame and he was dead a half an hour later.

* ... CRABFEST: I stopped by "Crabfest" Friday evening, the annual dinner that raises money for the St. Francis Parish School, and it proved to be another hit. Almost 500 people showed up at the fairgrounds to dine on crab, potatoes, salad and pork ribs and participate in a silent and oral auction. Monsignor Craig Harrison was working the room, encouraging the crowd to open their checkbooks for a good cause. This is one of the most difficult tickets to score on the long list of our community's fund raisers, and the ribs alone are worth the price of admission. Among some of the people I spotted were Kay and Harold Meek, Jim and Beverly Camp, Tracy and Brian Kiser, Jay Rosenlieb, Annalisa and Trevor Townsend, Dan and Miki Hay, Karen Goh and so many others.

 * ... CITY LIFE: Behind every great movement are the true believers who make things happen, often against enormous odds. The resurgence of downtown Bakersfield is no different, and on Monday on Californian Radio KERN 1180 I will be talking with two of the change agents who bear a lot of the credit for the downtown renaissance. The first is Donna Kunz, who heads the city's ambitious economic development effort that until recently used redevelopment money to spur renovation and growth. With Donna will be Don Martin, who with little money but a lot of marketing savvy has helped transform parts of downtown from a gritty danger zone to an arts district. Join us at 9 a.m. for a discussion on what the future holds for downtown.

* ... SPOTTED: Man driving a green Dodge Stratus with no plates speeds through a red light on F Street while his small white dog sits on his lap.

 * ... CYCLOCROSS: Hats off to Sam Ames and his amazing group of volunteers who put on a successful cyclocross state championship this weekend out at Hart Park. While cyclocross is certainly a niche sport with a small following, the races provided a spectacular venue for spectators to take in some amazing racing. Peter Wonderly provided the "voice" and Hart Park afforded a world class course that challenged even the most fit athletes.

* ... OVERHEARD: A woman telling her friend she hopes that DressBarn's remodel includes a ladies' room.  The woman said she made a sizable purchase  there recently, then asked to use the ladies' room. She was told to go next door to Target. Susan Schwartz, DressBarn's manager, said customers can use a restroom located in the stockroom but it is not clearly marked and is not sure this will change in the remodel.

* ... BAKERFIELDISM: Vincent Bertolucci wrote that you might be a Bakersfield "old-timer if you remember the La Granada Ball Room at the corner of Eye and 16th Streets with music by Bob Sisson's Band during the late 1930s or early 1940s."