The rise and fall of Bitwise Industries: was it a good idea that got off the track or something more sinister? Plus more on the slow, insidious demise of downtown thanks to crime and vagrants and celebrating our local eateries

 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.

 * ... BITWISE: The rise and fall of Bitwise Industries, the so-called Fresno-based tech company that promised to convert underserved communities into tech hot spots, may prove to be a cautionary tale for communities in search of economic revival. And now that Bitwise seems to be imploding before our very eyes, we are left wondering if it was a good idea that went astray, an age old story of corporate greed or a ponzi scheme that went undetected for too long? One thing is for sure: Bakersfield has had its share of "too good to be true" stories, including the once high flying real estate firm of Crisp and Cole (remember when they were going to build a high rise at CSUB?) and the dramatic fall of a once wildly popular monsignor accused of sexual abuse. So what happened in the case of Bitwise and should we have seen it coming?

The best reporting on this story is being done by a Fresno reporter named David Taub of GVwire.com, whose work has proved indispensable now that traditional sources of reporting like newspapers have been muted as the industry has shrunk and local radio seems uninterested. So what do we know now? Bitwise is about to be evicted from three buildings in Fresno, it has fired its co-CEOs, it has furloughed some 900 employees, it is behind on rent and taxes and it was bouncing checks as it shut its doors. Looking back, a casual cruise through the Bitwise website may hold a few clues. For example, did you know there are 67 vice presidents and senior vice presidents listed for the six communities where Bitwise is located? That's right, sixty-seven executives. vice presidents for everything from traditional fare like marketing and strategy to more new age titles like VP of "well being and VP of "new economies." That is an average of 10 VPs for each location. A tad on the beefy side in terms of payroll ya think? (photos courtesy of David Taub and GVWire.com)

 * ... MORE BITWISE: Meanwhile, there are plenty of unanswered questions regarding Bitwise and how we found ourselves in this mess. Here are some questions we should address:

 a) Everyone from Mayor Karen Goh to the entire City Council (particularly Councilmen Bob Smith and Andrae Gonzales) bought into the pitch, and that led to the city doing business with Bitwise. We need a forensic audit to determine how the city got involved, what kind of due diligence we did, and how we can avoid a similar fate in the future?

 a) Exactly how much money did the city and county grant Bitwise, either for contracts to train people or in outright grants? In other words, how much did the Kern County lose on this ill fated endeavor? 

 b) In the spirit of full disclosure we need to know if anyone on the City Council, or in government, benefit in any way by doing business with Bitwise? Are there any conflicts of interest in real estate dealings, sales, leases or contracts that involve people in city and county government or their close friends or relatives? What was the role of Sage Equities (run by Bob Smith's son and daughter in law) in the Bitwise real estate moves, in any? The public lost money in this deal and it's time to let the sun shine on all the details, legal or illegal.

 c) If Bitwise goes away, what is the plan for the Bitwise buildings, many of which have already been upgraded?

 * ... WARD 2 PROBLEMS: Each week seems to bring new misery to business people and homeowners downtown as the city shows little ability to control the bad elements bent on destroying our city. So it was nice to see what the owners of Breaking Bad Hair did the other day after a vagrant smashed their front window.

 * ... STOLEN GUITARS: Take a look at this picture of some classic guitars that were stolen from Front Porch Music in downtown Bakersfield, yet another victim of the lawlessness of Ward 2. Front Porch is among dozens of downtown businesses who has suffered the indignity of random break-ins as crime explodes.

 * ... PICTURE THIS: Today's picture of the day comes from one of our favorite local photographers, JoJo Paredes Butingan. The picture was taken May 17 in the Kern River Valley. Enjoy.

 * ... DINNER FOR TWO: Two of our iconic and favorite restaurants in town -  Luigi's Delicatessen has Uricchio's Trattoria - have slick marketing campaigns on social media, showcasing some of the well known dishes that make these places a fan favorite. Check out this first post from Luigi's and the second by Uricchio's and tell me it doesn't make your mouth water.

 * ... MEMORIES: Enjoy these goodies from our friends over at Kern County History Fans.

 

Bitwise Industries furloughs its employees and misses paychecks, California declares war on Skittles and the exodus of businesses from downtown continues

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.

 * ... RIP BITWISE? In the end, it all seemed like a too-good-to-be-true sales pitch: high tech firm comes to town, an attention starved community rallies around it like a savior, governments provide contracts and loans and then - puff - it is gone. Bitwise, the Fresno based company that swept into town with great fanfare and a business plan that few understood, has furloughed all its employees amid financial problems. The tech incubator announced on Memorial Day that it was furloughing its employees and it set no date when it might be back in

business. The SJV Sun reported issues with employee payroll checks and questions over whether the company had made its 401(k) contributions. In other words, the company is in a mess of trouble and it's safe to say Bitwise never lived up to its lofty goals of training our workforce for the next generation. In fact, the whole Bitwise story has been curious to some, including the fact that Bitwise trumpeted that it recently received an $80 million infusion of investment cash from the likes of Goldman Sachs and Citibank. Shortly after that, Bitwise listed three of its properties in Bakersfield were up for sale with a leaseback. Was it a matter of too much growth too soon? Or a business plan that simply didn't live up to its billing? Or a little of both? Stay tuned.

* ... RIP SKITTLES? So did you hear the California legislature has taken aim at the popular candy Skittles? That's right, the state has moved to ban some food additives that are found in Skittles - a coloring agent and Red 3, commonly used in packaged candy. The bill has been called the "Skittles ban" and has triggered a debate over precisely how dangerous the additives are. Opponents of the bill think this is the turf of the Food and Drug Administration, while critics argue that Skittles has plenty of alternatives if it wants to keep the snake in the market.

 * ... NAP TIME: You just never know what you will see on the streets of Bakersfield these days. Longtime reader Patsy Ann Ary submitted this photo of someone catching a nap, on a mattress, on South Union. Seriously. And there you have it.

 * ... DOWNTOWN EXODUS: There is a slow but steady exodus of businesses out of the downtown area, which remains a haven for vagrants, the mentally ill, the homeless and criminals despite the city's best efforts to restore some sense of order and safety. Stories of businesses spending hundreds and thousands of dollars to repair broken windows or report lost merchandise are simply too many to count. Add to that dangers at the local theater, where a patron at the Maya Cinemas downtown came back to his truck to find the tailgate stolen. One of the latest victims: Front Porch music where thieves made off with custom guitars and amplifiers. Below is a list of some of the guitars and other gear stolen from Front Porch music. Good look finding this stuff.

 * ... IN-N-OUT:  The beloved burger of the Golden State, In-N-Out Burger, is planning to expand to Tennessee by 2026. The Baldwin Park based company also said it would establish a corporate office in Tennessee. “We get a lot of requests in different states to open, and I’m very happy to meet the customers here and make their dreams come true,” said Lynsi Snyder, the company’s owner and granddaughter of founders Harry and Esther Snyder, at a news conference with Tennessee’s governor.

 * ... PICTURE OF THE DAY: Another couple of outstanding pictures from local photographer JoJo Parades Putingan.

 * ... MEMORIES: And finally a picture of flooding from the old days thanks to our friends at Kern County History Fans.

Have we dodged the bullet when the Big Melt comes in June? One top official says flooding will be minimal in most places, a prominent businesswoman battles an illness and some really bad behavior in Old Town 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.

 * ... BIG MELT FLOODING: We are finally hearing some good news on the fears of local flooding during the Big Melt of the historic seasonal snowfall. And the reasons for hope came from Ryan Alsop, the county Chief Administrative Officer, in a wide ranging and candid interview with host J.R. Flores on

KERN talk radio this week. Alsop said the area of town west of Manor Street, meaning all the way down through town to Beach Park and all the way west past the Park at RiverWalk, should be spared major flooding when we hit the peak snowmelt in mid to late June. For folks living off the Kern River up Highway 178 and the riverfront property homeowners off Goodmanville Road, Alsop predicted there would be some issues with rising water, but nothing catastrophic. That's the best news we have had in a long time.

 

 * ... EL NINO: And speaking of the weather, forecasters say we may be in for another El Nino year, and that could mean yet another wet winter. More specifically, forecasters say there is an 80 percent chance we will transition to El Nino between May and July. Once that happens, the El Nino is expected to strengthen in the fall and winter. El Nine typically brings a lot of rain to California, even though we gave see plenty of that already.

 * ... MARY CHRISTENSON: One of the most prominent and visible Realtors in town, Mary Christenson, has been diagnosed with Rapid Onset Alzheimer's, her family has announced. Christenson is one of most successful Realtors in town, working for Watson Realtor for four decades by specializing in high end property and homes in the Southwest. The family made the announcement on Facebook and is asking for contributions on a GoFundMe page to help offset expenses. Forever positive and upbeat, Mary built a business based on customer service and personal care. She was also known for her lavish Easter decorations at her Seven Oaks home, which she opened to the public for pictures. Keep Mary and her family in your thoughts.

 * ... SPOTTED: East Bakersfield and Old Town Kern are home to some of our tastiest and most unique restaurants - Woolgrower's, Pyrenees Cafe, Arizona Cafe, Luigi's among others - but make no mistake the streets belong to the vagrants and homeless. Check out this post from some who spotted a street woman mistreating a dog.

 * ... FLOOD ZONE: The county of Kern has put out some preliminary maps predicting which areas are most likely to flood, and for now the danger zones seem to be for those living near the river or off the low spots on Highway 178. For your neighborhood, check out the Kern County flood maps here.

 * ... MEMORIES: The La Cresta neighborhood is one of the most desired in town, anchored by both Garces Memorial High School and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH). Check out what one house on El Cerrito sold for years ago. Thanks to the group Kern County History Fans.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And who remembers Larson's dairy? This picture of his old Larson's milk jar was spotted on the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

Petty crime, vandalism an break-in mar a Mother's Day weekend, California ranks at the eighth most healthy state and celebrating a picture of Lake Shasta reservoir filled to the brim

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.

* ... MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND: You could have spent Mother's Day at brunch, with the family at the beach or just hanging around the pool on a sunny Sunday. Or, perhaps less glamorously, you spent it dealing with the seemingly never ending chaos caused by vandalism, drugs and homelessness. For one homeowner on 21st Street, her weekend was ruined when she awoke to find her wood fence virtually

destroyed by vagrants who made off with lawn furniture. "When will it end"? she asked me. "Who do we call? We all feel so helpless." If you were the CPA Andrea Rutherford Hill, whose neat, tidy office is on 19th Street, someone smashed the front window to her office. It was the fifth time this has happened since last Oct. 31. And then there was the newly wed couple in Riviera Westchester, who spent part of Sunday afternoon watching a homeless man light a series of fires along the bike trail along the Kern River, igniting a large area of brush and trees until fire units arrived. And so it goes.

 

 * ... FREELOADER: And then I spotted this post about a random woman in the Olive Drive area who allegedly walked into someone's home in the middle of the night, had a snack and even showered before leaving. This note was left by a resident on the Ring network: "This girl tried to walk into my daughter's home at 3xam. She then broke into her car, ate her kids snacks, and went to the neighbors home, walked in their front door, stole an Xbox, Apple Watch, and a laptop all while the family slept.She then went into another homes doggie door. Ate food, and showered. Walked right out their front door!! Keep an eye out!! Stay safe!"

* .... FITNESS: It's no secret that California makes a lot of lists: it ranks as one of the most expensive places to live in the nation, we house the lion's share of the nation's homeless and we have some of the most liberal criminal sentencing laws in the country. But here's a list we can be proud of: California is ranked No. 8 on the list of the most healthy states. We were helped because we aren't as fat as other states even with bad air, but it does reflect the Golden State's fondness for a healthy lifestyle. The top ten list was led by Hawaii, followed by Colorado, Vermont, Utah, New Hampshire Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Rhode Island and New Jersey. The most unhealthy states? Kentucky and West Virginia.

 * ... PHOTO GALLERY: Here are two remarkable post storm pictures from California, featured in the MHIC (My Home Is California) Facebook page. The first picture of Avila Beach is taken by Angela Churchill and the second of the Lake Shasta dam by Paul Kim. Enjoy.

* ... MEMORIES: The Kern County History Fans is a local group dedicated to sharing our common history, and its Facebook page is a treasure trove of goodies. Here are a couple of items that appeared on its page. Enjoy.

Are you sick of being asked to tip at self-serve checkouts? Plus the Oakland Diocese declared bankruptcy amid hundreds of sexual abuse claims and the number of injured and lost dogs grows

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.

 * ... SELF-SERVE TIPPING: Are you among those people who wince and recoil when asked to provide a tip at self-serve checkouts? It's happening more and more - at Starbucks, at your friendly independent

breakfast place etc - when people are asked to provide healthy tips to people who often do little more than simply ring up your bill. Critics call this "emotional blackmail" and they say retailers are reducing costs with self-serve checkout but now are expecting full service tips. Said The Wall Street Journal: "Tipping researchers and labor advocates said so-called tip creep is a way for employers to put the onus for employee pay onto customers, rather than raising wages themselves."

 * ... DIRTY PRIESTS: Lawsuits charging that Catholic priests routinely targeted, groomed and molested hundreds of young Californian men over the decades are making their way through the courts but one diocese (Oakland) has responded by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Lawyers for Anderson and Associates, a Minneapolis firm that specializes in holding dirty priests accountable, called the move "an attempt by the bishop to harbor perpetrators, conceal assets, and shield the truth from survivors of sexual abuse. Historically, organizations such as Catholic dioceses and religious orders have used Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as a shield to prevent embarrassing jury trials, allowing the institution to continue 'business as usual' while continuing to hide its secrets. Bishops use this legal tactic to prevent survivors of child sexual abuse from pursuing legal action, exposing predators, and holding the Diocese accountable." The law firm's website contains a list of more than 300 former and current priests who have been accused of sexual abuse and it also identifies priests in the Diocese of Fresno who face similar allegations. One of them is Craig Harrison, a former Bakersfield priest who has been accused by multiple young men of sexual grooming and abuse. Harrison left the church, which found that the charges against him were credible, and he has since tried to resurrect a career as a religious counselor an spiritual adviser. He does not face criminal actions because the statute of limitations has expired, but he does face liability in the civil lawsuits.

* ... SNAP RESPONDS: The organization SNAP (Suvivors Network of those Abused by Priests) took little time to respond. "Everything about this bankruptcy is improper. It is all about keeping money and secrets. From one coast to the other, the same ruse is being used by Catholic bishops. Deny the reality while rearranging the molesters. Fight against changes to the statute of limitations. When secular laws act against them, they go to federal bankruptcy courts and pretend that they're bankrupt." It went on to charge that the Oakland Diocese was "morally bankrupt... We'd like to know if Bishop Barber considers the 330 innocent victims who have filed lawsuits against his Diocese. He never admits that these wounded souls were members of the Oakland Diocese. They had been baptized and confirmed, served as altar servers, or went to Catholic schools. Their families trusted the priests who assaulted their children, and those families donated time and money to the Diocese. They effectively compensated the clergy who had damaged their children's life. There are 80 parishes in Oakland, and there are 330 victims so far, although not all the lawsuits have been logged at this time. That could well mean every single parish and school in the Diocese harbored abusers."

 * ... HEARTBREAK: Did you see the heart breaking picture of the large white dog that had been hit by a car in Delano? The picture was circulated on social media (Facebook and other websites) in the hope the owner could be found, but now we learn it is all a scam. Click on the photo and you learn it is a way to trick you our of your money.  The second photo of the dog appears to be real. It was found near west Shaw and Highway 99 in Fresno.

 * ... PICTURE THIS: One of my favorite Facebook groups is called My Home is California (MHIC) which displays some amazing citizen photographer. Enjoy this incredible shot of the Bay bridge shrouded in fog.

 * ... THE FOX THEATER: The historic Fox Theater in Bakersfield celebrated an anniversary the other day, the 70th anniversary of the Fox's interior remodel to Art Deco. The Facebook group devoted to the Fox said this: " In the late 1940s and 1950s Fox West Coast Theatres, headed by Charles P. Skouras, initiated a remodeling campaign of its theatres to attract audiences back to their big screens. On May 1, 1953, we opened our doors with a fresh new Art Deco design by architect Carl G. Moeller. The theatre went from an atmospheric Spanish Colonial design to an Art Deco one featuring gold scrollwork on theleft and right sidewalls of the auditorium with fanciful drapes. Now 70 years later, the Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater is one of the last remaining and best-preserved examples of this unique "Skouras-ized"  style! Photos by Mike Hume of historictheatrephotos.com."

Give Big Kern raises close to $1 million for local charities, Nordstrom and Whole Foods flee San Francisco and remembering the late Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens

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.

* ... GIVE BIG KERN: The countywide drive to support non-profits called Give Big Kern is over and it raised more than $919,000 for some outstanding organizations and programs. Topping the leaderboard as the top fund raiser was the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which raised an impressive $226,487 from 345

donors. Independence Through Grace ran second with $126,593 and Bakersfield Pregnancy Center was third with $57,312. My favorite was SJVWater.Org, the non profit run by former Californian investigator editor Lois Henry, which pulled in $7,345 for its work covering the politics of water in California. (Full disclosure: I serve on SJV's board of directors) Interesting, some groups did poorly, reflecting a  disorganized fund drive or a disengaged board of directors. For example the HUB of Bakersfield, which bills itself as a group that hopes to redefine and revitalize downtown Bakersfield (Ward 2 Councilman Andre Gonzales is a big supporter) raised a meager $50 from two donors, meaning some of the HUB's 16 board of directors likely failed to rally to the call to donate. The same was true with American Cancer Society which didn't raise a single dollar. Despite the spotty results, Give Big Kern has evolved in a major positive force in our community and non-profits who choose to participate should take this opportunity seriously.

* ... WHOLE FOODS LEAVES SAN FRANCISCO: Do you remember when Whole Foods made a big gamble on San Francisco, opening a huge new store in a blighted area? Well it is now closed after just a year, and critics are having a field day saying 'I told you so.'" The market has been the scene of just about everything: a machete wielding customer threatening others, vagrants defecating in the aisles, people overdosing on fentanyl in its bath rooms and the mentally ill harassing others. And then there is this: Nordstrom, or what is left of the once influential department store, is also leaving San Francisco. Is anybody surprised by this?

 * ... RIP SEAN MCKEOWN: A popular longtime high school teacher and coach, Sean McKeown, has lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and has passed away. The notice of his death was made by Kati McKeown, Sean's wife who works for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the district home office. McKeown worked as a teacher and coach at Bakersfield High, Independence and Stockdale high schools, earning legions of admirers along the way. He was diagnosed with cancer just a few months ago and fought bravely to the end. Services are are set for Saturday, May 28, at St. John's Lutheran Church. (file photo from 2016 courtesy of Kati McKeown)

 * ... PADRE HOTEL: There is nothing quite like opening The Wall Street Journal and bumping into a feature story on the iconic Padre Hotel, the grand dame of downtown Bakersfield. Built in 1928, just two years after the nearby Bakersfield Californian building, the eight-story building was the largest in town at the time and withstood multiple earthquakes over the years. The review mentions the Prairie Fire Grill and the poke nachos, but it recommends the classic Padre burger for the road weary.

 * ... REMEMBERING MERLE: Country singer David Frizzell penned a lovely short tribute to the late Merle Haggard and his wife Bonnie, leaving this entry on Facebook: "Remembering Bonnie Owens today. We were just talking about Bonnie and Merle on the way home from Illinois... I was sitting with Merle one day and he was telling me he went and seen Bonnie at the care facility where she was living at the time (due to Alzheimers)... he was having a great visit with her when she asked 'Do you want to see my room'? Merle of course said yes and they got to the room and walked in and Bonnie pointed up to a poster of Merle hanging on her wall and said, 'You see that guy right there? That is my favorite singer! '

Miss them both!" (photo courtesy of the Kern County of Old Facebook page)

 * ... WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY: How fat are our children today? Well check this out: The Wall Street Journal reports that the number of children undergoing bariatric weight surgery has skyrocketed, multiplying five fold to total more than 500 surgeries. a year Before the pandemic, some 20 percent of all American children were deemed obese, and that number is expected to rise.

 * ... OUR WILDFLOWERS: I just can't resist sharing the incredibly stunning wildflower pictures from my friend Pam Taylor, whose travels have taken her to some of the most spectacular blooms. Check out these two Pam Taylor shots.

 * ... MORE WILDFLOWERS: And one of my favorite local photographers, JoJo Paredes Butingan, submitted this incredible shot of a field of red flowers.

* ... MEMORIES: Do you remember this scene with Jack Nicholson in the movie Five Easy Pieces (1970, dir. Bob Rafelson)? It was shot on Highway 99 at the 53 off ramp to Shafter and Wasco.  Thanks to the Kern County History Fans for this timely nugget.