Were Republicans trying to sew confusion by promoting their own candidates on a Democratic mailer? Democrats cry foul, the candidates take cover and things heat up across the board, plus Amy Travis takes over as director of First 5 KERN

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.

 * ... ELECTION SHENANIGANS: If you cover enough elections over the years you will learn one simple truth: always expect to be surprised. Candidates will lie, or deceive, supporters will do equally stupid things, 11th hour revelations can change everything and until every vote is counted, the race can go any way. And so it goes locally here when, with just a week until the June 7 primary, a candidates mailer is causing all kinds of problems for some of the most prominent and well known candidates this election cycle. The mailer targeted Democratic voters and if you didn't know better, the piece would seem to come from the Democratic Party itself: the images of Presidents Roosevelt, Kennedy and Obama (all

Democrats) are at the top of the ballot followed by what looks like a list of Democrats running for office. Except for - and this is what it is all about  - some of the candidates listed are prominent Republicans, including District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, Sheriff Donny Youngblood, Assessor candidate Todd Reeves and county supervisor candidate Jeff Flores. Kern County Democrats immediately cried foul, claiming the mailer was a naked attempt to confuse voters by including Republicans on a Democrat mailer. And who is responsible for the mailer? Well that would be Cathy Abernathy and Western Pacific Research, her company that is in the business of grooming and promoting the conservative echo chamber that runs much of local politics. (Zimmer is not represented by WPR but Flores is). Zimmer, Youngblood and Flores all told me they did not approve of the mailer and had no idea it was even coming out. "I can say that I never saw nor did I approve this piece of mail," Zimmer told me. "Neither did the sheriff. We are very unhappy our image was used." Youngblood confirmed that with me, saying he "did not pay, agree or authorize" the mailer. Flores, for his part, also denied knowing the mailer was being sent out but did concede he works with Western Pacific to reach out to non Republican voters. "These are what are known as 'slates' so I don't approve the layout or content or see it for that matter," he said. "And WPR did purchase all my slates this cycle which I approve and pay for the sales package. I sign on to as many slates as I can afford for voter contact. Republicans, Democrats, seniors, Hispanics, law enforcement, taxpayers, many categories, especially in non partisan races." But in no way, Flores insisted, did he know his name and image would be included on a mailer that seemed to imply that all the candidates were Democrats. For candidates like Zimmer and Youngblood, who are both running unopposed, something like this can amount to little more than an irritating nuisance. But for Flores, who faces tough competition in the primary against retired CHP officer Brian Smith and former homeless executive Louis Gil, the stakes are far higher. For her part, Abernathy told KGET she was simply reaching out to Democratic voters and doing her job to promote Republican candidates to all voters. So was this an egregious (if slightly heavy handed and over the top) attempt to sew confusion among the voters? And even if it is not illegal, at the very least it's an attempt to sew confusion and that reflects poorly on candidates like Flores, Youngblood and Zimmer. And finally, will it change the outcome of the elections? Probably not, but you can bet some folks on that mailer will be dealing with the fallout for months.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "My girlfriend's cat died and someone suggested I get her an identical one to cheer her up. Doesn't make any sense. How will two dead cats cheer her up? "

* ... AMY TRAVIS: After serving as executive director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Amy Travis has accepted a position to run First 5 Kern program. Travis will start her new duties on July 18, succeeding Roland Maier who is retiring. Travis began her career with CASA in May 2012, and has been instrumental in the organization’s restructuring and development, securing new funding streams, and increasing the number of children served yearly. Travis is not only a business person but in 2019 she was honored and selected by Bakersfield Magazine as a “20 Under 40 to Watch.” She graduated from Fresno Pacific University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership, studied at Loyola University Chicago, and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Strategic and Organizational Leadership at Fresno Pacific University.  “On behalf of my fellow Commissioners, we could not be more thrilled in the selection of Amy for this critical position in our community,” said First 5 Kern Commission Chair John Nilon. “Amy embodies all the qualities that we wanted, including executive leadership, community presence, and experience in the delivery of services to our most vulnerable children. The expectations for First 5 Kern are at their highest, and we have every belief that Amy will exceed those expectations.” First 5 provides funding to organizations that work to strengthen and support children up to 5 years old and their families.

 * ... MEMORIES: This is about as good a picture you will find of the old Beale clock tower after it was partially destroyed in the 1951 earthquake. You see it here at 17th and Chester with the Sill Building in the background. Courtesy of Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

Bakersfield residents scramble to deal with rising crime as the city becomes numb to a higher level of violence, Jax the retired BPD canine dies in retirement and are you ready to take "Navy showers' to deal with new water restrictions?

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.

 * ... HIGH CRIME: How bad is crime in your neighborhood? Well the statistics tell us it is much worse than just a year ago, and common sense tells us why: California has decriminalized many felonies as 

misdemeanors, police are overworked and stretched to the limit and local officials have taken a hands off approach to vagrancy and homelessness for the most part. (Their solution is on finding permanent housing for those on the streets, not keeping them from breaking into your cars, your home or your business.) As a lark, over the Memorial Day weekend I monitored crime by looking at the Ring video camera online alerts for Ring customers who live near me. The results: I counted at least six car thefts (including one on my own street, thank you), two home burglaries, countless alerts to people checking car and home doors and a frightening number of petty crime incidents in virtually every neighborhood. Residents are at the breaking point and there is a consensus - fair or not - that our City Council has failed us and those who should care are instead busy taking and posting self congratulatory "selfies" while the city burns. As one frustrated neighbor told me: "And my city councilman (Andrae Gonzales) wants to spend millions on the old train depot on Baker Street while we are left to deal with crime on our own?" Unfair? It may be but it's the political reality when a public's cry for help is met by paralysis.

 * ... CAR PRICES: Thanks to the skyrocketing prices of used cars and the lack of availability for new cars, the average age of vehicles on U.S. roadways has reached 12 years. According to research, this is the fifth straight month that the average age of a vehicle has increased. "With the drivers hanging on to vehicles longer, the percentage of cars and trucks scrapped - or taken out of use - each year fell to 4.2 percent in 2021, one of the lower rates in two decades," the Wall Street Journal said. Two factors are in play here: cars and trucks are made better so they last longer, and the shortage of new cars and parts has led the price of new and used cars to spoke to record high levels.

 * ... INFLATION: And speaking of your personal vehicles, have you noticed your auto insurance premiums are going through the roof like everything else? Thanks to the insidious nature of inflation, homeowner insurance policies have spiked and now car insurance is doing the same. During the first quarter, All-State increased rates in 28 states an average of 9.3 percent. Insurance industry experts believe that about 61 percent of its base personal auto insurance policies have seen price increases since the middle of last year. 

 * ... RIP JAX: Here's some bad news: Jax, the accomplished and loyal German Shepherd who served in the canine unit of the Bakersfield Police Department, has passed on not long after he officially retired. From the city of Bakersfield website: "It is with heavy hearts we share that, after almost a year and a half of retirement, K9 Jax passed away. Senior Officer Ashby and Jax were partners from July of 2012 until Jax retired in January of 2021. Jax never met a water bottle or traffic cone he didn't like, and when off duty, he loved playing in the water and sleeping on the couch. Jax will be deeply missed by the Ashby family and forever appreciated for his years of dedicated service to his partner and this community."

 * ... SAVING WATER: Californians are being encouraged to save water now that we are well into the third year of a long drought. The drought is so bad, in fact, that Gov. Gavin Newsom warns that if conservation efforts don't work, we could be in for mandatory restrictions. Already starting June 1, nearly four million customers in Los Angeles will face new restrictions. So what does that look like? Researchers say the average Californian uses between 70 and 80 gallons of water per day - inside and out - and they say we need to reduce that to about 55 gallons per day. One way is to take shorter showers, and Newsom says if we all shorten out showers to just five minutes and switch away from baths, we can save up to 2.5 times as much state water.

 * ... MEMORIES: This is an interesting shot looking west on 19th Street from L Street. The photo is from 1890, according to the Kern County of Old website.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And finally, we have this old postcard promoting Paul's Diner on California and K.

Southern Baptists, following the lead of the Catholic Church, routinely ignored sexual abuse allegations and instead attacked the victims as opportunists, the Western swing band The Soda Crackers is the hottest ticket in town and CSUB loses Logan Belz to another university

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.

 * ... SEXUAL ABUSE: Just when you think the Catholic Church has a monopoly on sexual abuse claims, here comes the Southern Baptist Convention. It turns out the world's largest Protestant denomination has been experiencing an abuse scandal eerily reminiscent of the Catholic Church: sexual abuse allegations have soared in the past 20 years and like the Catholic church, the SBC ignored the signs and went into crisis mode to deny the allegations. And just like with the Catholics, true believer Baptists did their best to shame the accusers, protect the abusers and say it's all about people out for money.

(Remember all the "We Believe Father Craig" signs posted at businesses and in front of homes?) All this would be sad were it not so predictable. Do you recall what defense attorney Kyle Humphrey said when then Monsignor Craig Harrison was accused by multiple men of manipulating them for sexual favors while serving as a priest? Humphrey likened the accusers to pigs at a trough, and while the language is not exactly the same, Southern Baptist leaders did the same to denounce dozens who came forward to accuse Baptist leaders of a long pattern of abusing parishioners. It always seems to go like this: rally around the accused and attack the victims as low life money grubbers. The damning report from the SBC pointed to the groups past indiscretions. "In service of this goal," a SBC report said, "survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved or met with the constant refrain that the SBC could take no action due to its policy regarding church autonomy - even if it meant that convicted molesters continued in ministry with no notice or war ing to their current church or congregation." 

 * ... ARE YOU RICH: Do you consider yourself rich? And if you do, are you also happy? Those are some questions posed by researchers who were studying the effects of being rich in America. Called Capitalists in the Twenty-First Century the research identified data of all taxpayers to determine who  dominated the top 0.1 percent of earners. The study revealed some interesting things including the fact that there are about 140,000 Americans who earn more than $1.58 million a year. That person, typically, is the owner of a "regional business," meaning anything from a car dealership to a beverage distributor. That's right, rich people get rich by owning unsexy businesses, like auto repair shops, gas stations and contractors. But does all that money make you happy? The study found that the rich are constantly setting the bar higher so "you have to keep doubling your income to get the same happiness boost." Another survey, by two British economists, found that the activities that make people happy include sex, exercise and gardening. "People get a big happiness boost from being with a romantic partner or friends but not from other people, like colleagues children or acquaintances, " it noted. So there you have it. The lesson here: be kind to your spouse and if you are single, take up gardening.

 * ... COVER ART: Ever since he retired from The Bakersfield Californian, award winning photographer Feliz Adamo hasn't missed a beat. Instead of devoting his time to shooting subjects like crime or politics, Adamo is showing off his talent in magazines, this time taking over the cover of Food & Beverage magazine featuring a bowl of warm French fries from potatoes grown locally by Chipperbec potatoes out of Arvin.

 

 * ... SODA CRACKERS: When Felix is not shooting cover art for national magazines, he can be spotted chronicling the emergence of one of the hottest local bands, the Western swing group called The Soda Crackers. It turns out two of Adamo's boys, Cooper and Zane, play in the band which pays tribute to the rich musical legacy of Bakersfield and iconic singers like the late Bob Wills. Check out The Soda Crackers next time somewhere about town. (all photos by Felix Adamo)

 * ... ADIOS LOGAN: Cal State Bakersfield lost another talented employee this week when Logan Belz announced he was leaving to accept the position as associate athletic director for the University of Evansville. If that school in Indiana sounds familiar, it is where CSUB Athletic Director Kenneth Ziggy Siegfield went just recently. Belz, a dynamo of a young man who oozes with enthusiasm, energy and professionalism, penned his farewell in a personal note sent to supporters. "It has been an honor to serve as the Athletics Assistant Director for Special at CSUB. It has been truly an amazing ride ranging from our Education Days, NCAA births, NIT Semifinals, WAC Championships, sell-out crowds, rowdy bus trips and watching our 300 student-athletes compete at the highest level of college athletics," he said. In the past month CSUB has lost Seigfield, Belz and Victor Martin, head of development. Martin went to the University of the Puget Sound.

 

 

 * ... MEMORIES: Here are a couple of just amazing old photos, taken around 1890, showing Chester Avenue when it was a dirt road. These photos are courtesy of the Kern County of Old Facebook page. The second photo was taken from the old Kern County Courthouse that stood where the police station does today. 

California is running a huge budget surplus but don't expect to see any of that money back, Bakersfield Observed lists some candidate endorsements and a big shoutout to KGET for airing political debates

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.

 * ... CALIFORNIA SURPLUS:  California's state government is enjoying a record year with revenues so strong they are expecting the surplus to balloon to $97.5 billion. Sounds good, right? But if California is bringing is so much more than it budgeted, don't you think Gov. Gavin Newsom would be thinking about giving some of it back? There are plenty of options: the state could reduce vehicle license fees, permanently lower the tax on gasoline or

temporarily cut taxes, and yet none of this is being considered. Why? Well if you live in Democratic controlled California, you know lawmakers never run out of things to spend money on. The new budget estimates $300.6 billion in total spending during the fiscal year that begins in July — a $14 billion increase from what Newsom proposed to lawmakers only four months ago. The governor’s plan asks lawmakers to devote billions of dollars to a raft of new items: an inflation relief package for Californians, more money to address dangerous drought and wildfire conditions, subsidies for low and middle-income healthcare plans and the highest per-pupil school funding levels in the state’s history. So here we are, amid a record money making year for California, and taxpayers won't see any of it back. Welcome to the Golden state.

 * ... KUDOS KGET: Thank goodness for KGET TV, the lone mainstream media outlet that has the time, money and resources to air debates this election year. The Californian has sponsored debates before, but print publishers are facing falling circulation numbers and tough times. So it has been left to KGET who recently focused attention on the Third District race to succeed retiring Supervisor Mike Maggard. With no incumbent in the race it was an interesting evening featuring former homeless shelter director Louis Gill (who looked stiff initially but was well prepared), retired CHP officer Brian Smith (a seemingly good natured man who appeared befuddled at times trying to answer questions) and Jeff Flores, the longtime Maggard aide who was the smoothest, most articulate and well informed of the bunch. Look to KGET to re-air some of the candidate debates.

 * ... BAKERSFILD OBSERVED ELECTION PICKS: Here are a few of my picks for the election this year - not a complete list of endorsements to be sure - but choices based on my own research and how effective these candidates might be:

 - District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer has proven she is the right person for the job at a time when we need a District Attorney who is not afraid to throw the book at the bad guys. Zimmer is no nonsense, she is unapologetically tough on crime and she will not sell her soul or position for political expediency. This one is easy because he is running unopposed. Vote Zimmer for DA.

 * ... SHERIFF DONNY YOUNGBLOOD: The sheriff is also running unopposed but it doesn't mean we don't enthusiastically endorse him. Like Zimmer, Youngblood is the right person in the right job for an era when we need crime fighters, not wishy washy politicians. This may be Youngblood's last term in office, so let's send him to another term. Vote Youngblood.

 - Assemblyman Vince Fong deserves to be returned to the 32nd Assembly District for another term. Fong its intelligent without being an ideologue, a proven rising star in the California GOP and an assemblyman who has proven he can do more than simply vote "no." Vote Fong for state Assembly.

 - Leticia Perez deserves your vote to go to Sacramento to represent the newly drawn 35th Assembly District, the old Rudy Salas seat. As a Kern County Supervisor, Perez has not served without controversy but her deep knowledge and connections in Sacramento, coupled with a realistic, Valley-based agenda that balances the conservatism of her district with more liberal Sacramento, makes her our choice. Perez sees the future of a much more diverse state and has worked tirelessly to bring disparate groups together. Vote Perez for the 35th Assembly District.

 - Jeff Flores stands above a field of three candidates and deserves your vote to succeed Mike Maggard on the Board of Supervisors. Flores has proven himself to be a reasonable conservative who has pledged to make fighting crime and cleaning up homeless encampments his top priority. In the KGET-sponsored TV debate, Flores pledged a "zero tolerance" policy on homeless encampments, a refreshing and bold statement from someone who clearly has his ear to the ground. Flores has worked for years as Maggard's chief of staff and he also serves on the Kern High School District board of trustees. Of his opponents, former homeless shelter manager Louis Gill wanted to run against Rep. Kevin McCarthy but changed his mind at the last minute, and retired CHP officer Brian Smith also had his heart set on running for sheriff. Elect Jeff Flores and free up Gill to run for Congress another year while Smith can wait for Sheriff Donny Youngblood to retire.

 - Congressman David Valadao is a Republican who represents the 22nd Congressional District which leans Democratic. He has served the district making courageous stands, including being one of a handful of Republicans in Congress to vote to impeach former President Trump. Valadao has worked hard for the district and he deserves your vote. Those running against him include Republican Chris Mathys, Republican Adam Medeiros and Democrat Rudy Salas.

 * ... MELISSA HURTADO: The 16th state Senate district is a newly drawn one, so this race is wide open in a sense. Our endorsement goes to Melissa Hurtado, who represented the 14th District before redistricting. Hurtado is a Democrat but carries a lot of the more conservative positions that Valley Democrats often hold, and she has proved herself worthy for another term. Also running are Democrats Nichole Parra and Delano Mayor Bryan Osorio and Republicans David Shepard of Porterville and Gregory Tatum of Bakersfield. Vote Hurtado.

 * ... GENERATIONAL PASSINGS: A whole generation of Bakersfield leaders is passing before our eyes, men and women who helped build this community and who no doubt will be remembered for their contributions. Among them was Dallas Grider, who enjoyed a wild and successful run as a football coach at West High and Bakersfield College. Grider was 77 and was inducted into the Bob Elias Hall of Fame in 2008. Also dying was longtime CSUB professor Dr. Louis Wildman who was inducted into the CSUB Hall of Fame in 2021 and was known as truly one of the nice people to work on the campus. (He was known as a regular at pickup basketball games at the old gym on campus) And, can you believe it has been two years since we lost Bob Hampton, the larger-than-life Taft businessman who epitomized the swagger and hard work that defines Kern County? Hampton was a graduate of Taft College where he played basketball, and he went on to his beloved USC where he played basketball from 1957-1960. He was 82 when he died. (file photos of Grider, Wildman and Hampton)

 * ... OLD MEMORIES: This old photo of Granite Station near Woody was taken back in 1903. Courtesy of the Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And finally feast on this old shot from the 1940s of a gas station around town. Thanks to the Kern County History Fans for this photo.

The case of a transgender charged with sexually molesting a minor draws scrutiny, local radio host Scott Cox suffers a personal loss at home, the downtown eyesore Greyhound bus station is set to be demolished, and grocery stores lock up baby formula amid a nationwide shortage

 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.

 * ... SEX OFFENDER: Have you heard the story of James Edward Tubbs, the transexual who goes by the name Hannah Tubbs and has been charged with murder and robbery in Kern County? It's an eye opening case, covered locally only by KGET and KBAK TV stations, less so for the case here than a

sexual assault charge he faced in Los Angeles a few years back. In that case, Tubbs was charged with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in a Denny's bathroom in Palmdale. (A DNA match in 2019 linked Tubbs to the 2014 sexual assault which Tubbs admitted to and said it happened in the restaurant's bathroom.) The violent crime happened just before Tubbs' 18th birthday, and Tubbs remained free of charges until the DNA match. But was expected, uber liberal LA District Attorney  George Gascon refused to try Tubbs as an adult and instead Tubbs received a two year sentence in a juvenile facility. And to make matters worse, Tubbs was caught on a monitored jail phone line bragging about how he would only be given a slap on the wrist given his transitioning sexual identity, which he implied was a ruse. Gascon is under fire in Los Angeles for his lax stand on crime. Meanwhile, back in Kern County, Tubbs will face a different kind of justice in the murder case with District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, who has never been accused of being soft on crime.

 * ... SCOTT COX: Longtime morning talk radio host Scott Cox has been off this week, but you can bet he will have plenty to say when he returns. It turns out the KERN (96.1 FM and 1180 AM) morning host is scrambling to find a place to live after his house caught fire because of a grease fire. Cox said it could be six months before he is back into his east Bakersfield home, which firefighters saved after extensive damage to the kitchen, entranceway and roof. Known for his acerbic dry wit and enclyclopedic knowledge of music, Cox will no doubt have plenty to say on the matter but let this be a lesson: be careful in the kitchen. And to make matters worse, Cox and his wife had just completed a remodel of their home - except for the kitchen.

 * ... BAKERSFIELD SOUND: So have you heard that City Councilman Chris Parlier has won approval from Caltrans to create a new "welcome to Bakersfield" sign on the Hoskings Avenue overpass on Highway 99? The new design will greet cars on the south side of town with a huge overpass sign touting the Bakersfield Sound, replete with images of Buck Owens' famous red, white and blue acoustic guitar.

 * ... BABY FORMULA: The latest item caught up in supply chain issues is baby formula, and it is running out of stock just about everywhere. At the FoodsCo on Haley Street there was some formula left, but it was safely locked up to prevent thefts. In fact, with the wave of brazen thefts throughout California, have you noticed grocery stores and pharmacies are locking up more items than ever to prevent theft? A sign of the times.

 * ... HOFFMANN HOSPICE: The folks at Hoffmann Hospice hosted a day-long pickleball tournament that drew more than 200 players, underscoring once again the popularity of this relatively new sport that emerged just a few short years ago. The tournament was named in honor of Tori Hoffmann, the daughter of Beth and Tom Hoffmann who passed away in June 2020.

 * ... ADIOS GREYHOUND: The old Greyhound bus station downtown, long the scourge of residents wanting to gentrify the area, is getting ready to be demolished by its new owners. According to KGET the new owners are thinking of replacing it with a multi story apartment complex.

 * ... GIVE BIG KERN: Well here is some good news: it looks like we have set a new record in Give Big Kern, the annual philanthropic day of giving that benefits so many non profits about town. Organizers of Give Big Kern raised more than $880,000 in 2022, the program’s most successful year on record. A total of $884,835 was pledged for 132 organizations from 2,396 donors. The Dolores Huerta Foundation collected the most out of all the nonprofits with $236,347.80 from 64 donors. Independence through GRACE, a faith-based group helping those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, raised the second-highest amount, totaling to $118,322.10 from 142 donors.

 * ... MEMORIES: From the files of The Bakersfield Californian comes this picture of the intersection of 19th Street and Chester on Jan. 1, 1940. Thanks to the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

 * ... MASON JAUSSAUD: And check out this old postcard for the old Mason Jaussaud restaurant on Union Avenue, another member from Kern County of Old.

Restless downtown business owners and residents say the recent bike path mugging of a cyclist is indicative of a crime wave not being addressed, former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner to speak at Hoffmanns Voices of Inspiration and remembering the old Joss House

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.

 * ... CRIME AND SAFETY: The recent mugging of a local businessman on the Kern River bike path, coupled with the unrelenting wave of petty crime, theft and vandalism downtown, is leading many people to wonder if we have lost the war on homelessness, crime and vagrancy. The story of Frank Marr, the 57-year-old man mugged last week by two young men on the bike path, is illustrative of how ineffective our policies and rhetoric have become. The only place where Marr's mugging has been mentioned is on this

blog, begging the question: are we so immune to violence now that our local TV stations, our local newspaper and our city officials no longer deem a bike path mugging newsworthy? And did Marr hear from Ward 2 City Councilman Andrae Gonzales after he was sent to the hospital with his injuries? Did Gonzales, whose ward has the worse homeless and crime problem in the city, even address it publicly? The answer is "no" to both. (To be fair we can't expect the councilman to check on every crime victim but it would have shown good form here) For Gonzales, his cross to bear is representing the ward most impacted by crime and homelessness. No one blames Andrae for the crime wave, but they do judge how he reacts and what he does, and many frustrated downtown businesses are weary of hearing about affordable housing and "having patience" when they are losing their livelihoods. The real issue here is this: yes we have a housing issue but we also have a very serious crime issue, and a one-size-all approach is not working. The young men who mugged Frank Marr likely do not need housing, nor do the vagrants who break out windows, defecate on sidewalks or harass passersby. So while we work the affordable housing angle, crime continues to spike and stories like the one involving Frank Marr may become more common. When you are Frank Marr, you might see it as exactly what it was: a midday mugging at the hands of two young criminals. Sometimes things are just as simple as they look.

 * ... POLITICAL BLOWBACK: One thing seems certain, and that is local business owners and residents are long past being weary over the crime and filth that has descended across town. While many of these issues were born in Sacramento when the Legislature passed laws making many crimes misdemeanors, the responsibility of safe streets remains with local government, in this case our City Council. Listen to some of the voices from residents in response to the Marr bike path mugging.

---  "It doesn't surprise me. I also experienced group of guys on small motor bikes and quads try to push me to the shoulder. When I wouldn't move out of the way they got pissed. Thankfully they didn't pursue me I stood my ground. Things could of ended differently. In Dallas officers patrol the bike paths on bicycles or in this instance an ebike would work as well."

 ---  "Shame on the Supervisors, city officials (Mayor Goh) and the Governator for allowing one of the few recreational options we have to become unsafe. I see the tents snd vagrants everyday when I cross the river bridge at Chester, along the river at Golden State Highway. and have thought to myself, there is no way I would go on the path like I used to. It makes me sad and angry to see what the officials have allowed to happen in our community. "

--- "The city council keeps assuring us that we don't have a homeless problem. This is getting completely out of hand. Westchester and downtown are overrun with them. They are allowed to take over our city parks and everyone turns a blind eye. They build bonfires, throw trash everywhere, defecate and urinate, discard drug paraphernalia, and wander our streets at all hours of the night screaming and shouting obscenities. A few well-meaning organizations disperse toiletries, water and food to them while they are trespassing and committing these criminal acts. The BPD's hands are tied and the agencies that are supposed to address these issues never return phone calls. Unless we want our city to become like the dredges of SF, LA, Washington DC and Seattle, we need to get a handle on it."

 --- "If this was in Haggin Oaks, or any other nice area of town, I guarantee it would be taken care of so fast your head would spin."

 --- "I wish Andrae (councilman Gonzales) was as enthusiastic about fighting crime as he is about buying that train depot on Baker Street. I mean, really Andrae?"

 --- "We have to advocate for ourselves. Our leaders don’t care."

 --- "Not too sure what the Board of Supervisors can do since almost all of these incidents are almost exclusively within the city limits of Bakersfield. What happened to all of the Measure N money that was going to keep Bakersfield safe? All one has to do is drive through downtown during the day or in the evening and you drive right through not wishing to stop due to the things you see. Drive across the Kern River on Golden State Avenue and look to the north and to the south and you can see warming fires throughout the riverbed and there's no response from the city of Bakersfield. Try lighting your fireplace in the house you pay taxes on and the air quality resources board will be giving you a ticket."

 * ... VOICES OF INSPIRATION: Hoffmann Hospice has announced that former National Football League quarterback Kurt Warner will be the keynote speaker at this year's Voices of Inspiration gala set for Sept. 22. Last year's event was canceled due to Covid (former president George Bush and wife Laura were set to appear) and in the past Hoffmann has featured such luminaries as actor Mark Wahlberg, swimmer Michael Phelps, Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell and actor Michael J. Fox.

* ... GOODBYE PEP BOYS: One of the landmark businesses downtown, Pep Boys at the corner of F Street and 23rd Street, has been sold to Advance Auto Parts. The building is currently undergoing renovation. No date yet for the opening of the new business.

 * ... MEMORIES: The Kern County History Fans group has a Facebook page that is a gold mine for history lovers. Enjoy these two nuggets I saw on their Facebook page, and enjoy our local history.

 * ... JOSS HOUSE: And finally there is this little piece of history from the Kern County of Old Facebook page celebrating the old Joss House. "On April 19, 1903, a tragic shoot out between town marshals and outlaw Jim McKinney, took place at the Chinese Joss House, on L Street between 20th and 21st Streets. Two marshals and McKinney were killed as a result of the action. The Joss House was a religious shrine, clubhouse, tong headquarters, and rooming house. It was an awkward looking building with porches on first and second floors. The building in the foreground of this picture was a general merchandise store, with the Joss House in the background. This photograph was taken immediately after the shooting.