Merced DA's office takes up the Father Craig case, frustrated business people consider vigilante justice to combat the drug addicts and looking into the horrific death of young Sara Hudson

Friday, August 30, 2019

 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. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... FATHER CRAIG: The Merced District Attorney's office is now reviewing the allegations of

sexual abuse against Monsignor Craig Harrison. The Merced police ended their probe and passed it onto the DA's office, which will now conduct its own review to determine if the case is worth prosecuting. Bakersfield police recently closed their investigation into a decades-old allegation, saying there was no "corroborative evidence" to support formal charges. No matter what the Merced DA's office rules, the most important ruling on Father Craig's fate will come from the Diocese of Fresno, and there is no word on when that might come.

 * ... VIGILANTE JUSTICE: If there is one thing downtown business owners can agree on, it is this: we do not have a homeless crisis. Rather, we have a drug crisis. That was the consensus of a group of downtown business owners who discussed our crisis on my radio show (KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM) this week. Among those we talked with was Dixie Haley Brewer, a downtown retailer whose business - In Your Wildest Dreams at 19th and Q streets - has been vandalized and targeted by thieves multiple times over the past year. Haley said if things continue to spiral downward, it will only be a matter of time before vigilante justice kicks in as people take their safety into their own hands. What that means, and how it is handled, is unknown at this time but it reflects the extreme frustration business owners feel as this situation spirals out of control.

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: Speaking of the drug addicted homeless, a business owner downtown posted this on Facebook: "Now we've got these 'animals' pounding on windows and breaking them in broad daylight. This little white chick with very short bleached blonde hair, in a grey hoodie and black shorts just walked up 19th Street pounding our windows with her fist as she walks by. She shattered a window at Mill Creek Antiques and kept on walking. Then proceeded to hit ours.  I currently have a boarded window and a boarded door. I guess we're "blessed" to not have another broken one ourselves. Watch for this little hoodlum.  Usually has a 'girlfriend' with her. They like to try and get inside and divide employees so one can steal.'"

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "No matter how nice I ask random people, nobody will take me to Funkytown."

 * ... THEFT: And finally, now that it is a misdemeanor to steal anything merchandise valued under $950, businesses are witnessing a wave of shoplifters simply walking out the door with stolen goods. Check out this post from 23ABC: "The Bakersfield Police Department is asking for help in finding two people wanted for questioning regarding a petty theft on July 15 at an Albertsons on Brundage Lane. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dunn at (661) 326-3876." In many cases, thieves will steal items like cases of diapers and then sell them individually at the transient hotels scattered about town.

 * ... SARA HUDSON: Did you hear about the terrible death of 22-year-old Sara Hudson in Dallas? Hudson, who attended Garces Memorial High School and later the University of Arkansas, was killed in Dallas on her 22nd birthday. Her body was discovered in a burning SUV and authorities believe she was the victim of a car jacking that led to her murder. Arrested in the case was Glen Richter, 49. Hudson has relatives in Bakersfield and she was well known in the Garces community.

 * ... ALLISON GARGARO: Congratulations to 23ABC weather forecaster Allison Gargaro, who has become a certified meteorologist. The Arizona State graduate received her credentials from Mississippi State University.

 * ... ANNIVERSARY: Happy 27th wedding anniversary to House minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy and his wife, Judy. Check out this adorable picture of the two back in the day. The couple met in high school and have been inseparable since.

* ... MEMORIES: More old photos from two Facebook pages devoted to local history, Kern County History Fans and Kern County of Old. Do you spot Dewar's n the first photo?

We will explore the homeless crisis all week on The Richard Beene Show, Kern County leads the state in hemp production, it was move-in day for CSUB students and remembering the night that Jimi Hendrix came to the Civic Auditorium

Monday August 26, 2019

 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. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... HOMELESS: I am turning over the airwaves this week to local business owners who have suffered at the hands of our homeless crisis, and there are a lot of them. All week on The Richard

Beene Show (KERN NewsTalk 96.1 FM/1180 AM from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) I will be chatting with people whose businesses have suffered at the hands of the free-range homeless and vagrants who now move about our streets with virtual impunity. We will hear from Diana Klawitter and her daughter Amanda, who run House of Flowers on 19th Street. We will chat with Dixie Brewer Haley from the In Your Wildest Dreams consignment shop, which has been broken into and vandalized numerous times. We will hear from Shawna Haddad of Muertos and Crash Lounge, who will give us the perspective of someone who has been in business downtown for decades. And yes we will talk solutions, but not before we understand what individual business owners are contending with on a daily basis. Tune in and join the discussion.

 * ... VISUAL POLLUTION: And here is something you don't want to witness.

* ... HEMP: Here is some rich irony: despite the fact that the city and county have banned the retail sales of marijuana, Kern County has emerged as the top hemp producing county in California. That's right, John Cox of The Californian reported that we have 33 different groups planning to grow hemp on 76 different sites in Kern, covering an astonishing almost 7,000 acres. So how do we justify this while banning retail sales? The county has an open arms policy toward growing commercial hemp, leveraging our deep knowledge of agriculture, water and distribution to make Kern County an ideal place to grow hemp for multiple purposes, including the manufacturing of CBD oil.

 * ... CSUB: It was "move in" day at CSUB over the weekend as hundreds of students settled into their dorms for the start of the semester on Monday. CSUB president Lynette Zelezny and men's basketball coach Rod Barnes were there to lend a helping hand, as well as dozens of upper classmen ambassadors who welcoming the incoming freshmen and returning students. CSUB expects a record enrollment this year topping 12,000 students.

 * ... WHEN JIMI CAME TO TOWN: Here are some pictures to feast your eyes on. Jimi Hendrix appearing at the Civic Auditorium on Oct. 26, 1968. Photos by Ron Raffaelli.

 * ... MEMORIES: Some more pictures from our past thanks to the Kern County of Old Facebook page. Do you recognize the Garces Circle?

The drug addicted and homeless take over our parks, In-N-Out faces a boycott after its owners donate to the GOP, and attorneys for Father Craig slap a lawsuit on a critic who follows abuse cases

Friday, August 23, 2019

 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. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... VAGRANTS: If you want to know how fed up, sickened and angry the general public is over this addiction and vagrant issue, just spend some time on social media. Check out this post and

accompanying pictures from 23ABC anchor Tim Calahan: "A complete failure. It’s the only way I can describe this. How have we let this become our downtown? Our place where kids play?
Less than two years ago I would take my daughter to this park quite frequently... notice the slide she would go down is now occupied by a tent, and two individuals sleeping. I’ve interviewed Kevin McCarthy here at this park. (I could almost guarantee capitol police would deem the park a security risk.) I’ve shot PSA’s there for 23ABC dozens of times. This park is no longer a park. It’s a visual display of the failures in policy and conscious, both at the state and city level. This is not acceptable. The fact that our police can do nothing about this, I just don’t accept. The fact that our city leaders are waiting for funding to deal with this, I just don’t accept. We can do better Bakersfield. Consider who is leading our city, stop them today, politely and ask if they’ll let this go on for another year or so...'until funding comes through, or until a plan can be approved.'” Meanwhile, there is scarcely a public park in town that has not been seized by the homeless, including Jastro Park downtown, Patriot's park, Qualwood park and the park in Oildale.

 * ... BURGER BOYCOTT: In-N-Out Burger, the Irvine-based burger chain so beloved by Californians, has found itself in hot water with some consumers after it donated $25,000 to the California Republican Party. And yes, you guessed it, it has led some to call for a boycott, even though the chain has donated to Republican causes before. By the way, good luck with that boycott.

 * ... FATHER CRAIG: Did you hear about the lawsuit that attorneys for Father Craig Harrison filed against a Roman Catholic organization that tracks priests accused of sexual wrongdoing? Local plaintiff's attorney Craig Edmonston, part of Father Craig's legal team, filed the lawsuit against Stephen Brady of the Roman Catholic Faithful, an organization that tracks allegations of sexual abuse against Catholic clergy. It's a curious strategy on several levels but it may speak volumes about the effort to clear Harrison's name. First, and I found this puzzling, but the lawsuit came at a time when the case had died down publicly. Its filing only serves to revive the chatter about the abuse allegations by providing lurid details about Harrison's alleged behavior, and I am not sure that serves the embattled priest. Second, there is the merit - or lack of merit - to the lawsuit.  Did Brady actually slander Harrison as the lawsuit alleges? At least to my eyes, Brady simply echoed what was already made public by the Diocese of Fresno, police agencies and numerous news outlets across the state. And the target of the lawsuit - Brady - is not exactly a big fish in this case, but rather a one-man show who likely works out of his basement. So is this simply a way to try to silence and scare off Harrison's critics by forcing them to pony up thousands of dollars to defend themselves? One thing is for sure: I am told dozens of well-heeled Bakersfield Catholics have pledged tens of thousands of dollars for a Harrison defense fund. My question: why don't they file a lawsuit against the Catholic Church, since it was the church that first raised these allegations? Stay tuned.

 * ... MORE FATHER CRAIG: Word on the street is that Harrison has told people he expects to be reinstated to the clergy by the Diocese of Fresno, but without the title of monsignor. I for one hope that is not true. If the Diocese cannot prove the allegations, then it should return Harrison to his old position as a monsignor. Anything less would be grossly unfair to a man who has endured a difficult period of his life. Meanwhile, I am also told that those close to Harrison are advising him to become a private counselor if the Diocese does not reinstate him.

 *... FISH FERTILIZER: Here's a novel way to get rid of the drug addicts and vagrants from your local business: use fish fertilizer around your building so it stinks so much even the homeless will go somewhere else. That was the solution one downtown businessperson came up with, as seen in this post on Facebook: "So far it’s been a quiet August on California and S. Had some junkies shooting up across the street this morning and that’s about it. No homeless sleeping around the funeral home since I sprayed the ally and side with fish based fertilizer.

 * ... MEMORIES: And wow, take a look at these old photos from the Kern County of Old Facebook page.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And lastly, check out the old Washington School that I spotted on the Kern County History Fans Facebook page.

The public is at a boiling point over the crime, lawlessness and drug use that has become the norm on our streets, a huge fire adds to our already filthy air, some good news art the animal shelter and a walk down memory lane with the old Plunge on Union Avenue

Monday, August 19, 2019

 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. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... BOILING POINT: When government fails the people, and the people lose hope in the institutions that are there to protect them, some will choose to take matters into their own hands. And that is exactly what a lot of people are considering as they watch our city devolve into a cesspool

of addiction, crime and homelessness. People are talking amongst themselves, quietly frustrated that our city leaders and police seem incapable of doing anything but watch the situation get worse. The city council seems to be suffering from paralysis, the police have been stripped of their authority to do their jobs, the Downtown Business Association is a joke, and business owners and homeowners are left to fend for themselves. This is an old story we have seen countless times across the world; when institutions fail, people step into the vacuum to protect themselves, however they deem appropriate. This is a quiet movement now, but at some point it will manifest itself in perhaps a violent or aggressive way, and those who cling to their jobs on the City Council or Board of Supervisors will be held accountable. One well connected local business person told me she was frustrated with the way the city is approaching the new revenue from Measure N, shocked that improving a soccer park is on the list of the city's projects when we are inundated with crime and drug addition. "Yeah, they're like a bunch of kids with this found money. Pet projects, fluff, their first job is the public's safety. They're failing miserably. The downtown public is at a boiling point." That boiling point is near.

 * ... FIRE: Did you catch that nasty fire off Manor Drive and North Chester on Saturday? Apparently a welding torch triggered a grass fire that ended up burning a dozen or so vehicles. It was a bad addition to the already bad air we have every August.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I don’t like to talk about my issues because the last time I told a guy that I felt empty inside, he got me pregnant. "

 * ... CLEAR THE SHELTER: Cheers to Julie Johnson and the folks at the Bakersfield Animal Care Shelter for a successful "clear the shelter" day this weekend. More than 100 dogs and cats were adopted in the first two hours, clearing the shelter and making room for more animals.

 * ... MEMORIES: Who remembers visiting The Plunge on a hot Bakersfield afternoon? Thanks to the Facebook page Kern County of Old for these memories.

 * ... MORE MEMORIES: And who remembers the Monkey Den on Baker Street across from the Arizona Cafe? This picture after the 1952 earthquake.

Neighbors rally to help Slice of Italy pizzeria after vandals strike for a second time, more on the drug addicts that roam our streets, Jay Tamsi gets a state award and Rep. Kevin McCarthy visits Israel

Friday, August 16, 2019

 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. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... GOOD NEIGHBORS: Did you hear about the vandalism at the Slice of Italy pizzeria on F Street? It has been hit twice in three days by teenagers who have been randomly throwing rocks

through the windows. What is happening to our community? The sense of lawlessness (and hopelessness with the homeless) is overwhelming, particularly downtown where dumpsters are set on fire, businesses are vandalized and street people use the public sidewalks as their personal urinals. But there are good people in the world, and I was thrilled to see the folks at Providence Strategic Consulting across F Street rally to help a neighbor. CEO Tracy Leach's staff have been lining up to buy pizzas there while encouraging the owners to hang tough. Now that is what you call a good neighbor.

 * ... OUR TIMES: So Slice of Italy is vandalized, a dumpster is set on fire and our parks have turned into camps where the addicted and homeless buy, sell and use drugs, sleep, defecate and trash. On Thursday, during a break while playing pickle ball at the new courts at Jastro Park, I came upon two young men and a young woman, seemingly homeless, using a syringe to shoot up in the public restroom. This has become a new norm. Think about that for a minute.

 * ... MORE CRIME: Meanwhile, it was heart breaking to read a post on Facebook about some items that were stolen during a break-in of a car downtown. The post: "Yesterday afternoon my vehicle was broken into and a white 3 ring binder containing my father's original military paperwork (DD214), 8 death certificates, life insurance policy documents, marriage certificate, funeral home paperwork including his thumbprints that were on a white card the funeral home did just for me, and the Social Security Administrations award letter! It was stolen in the area at Truxtun and N. Please! Please! Please! Contact me if you find any of these documents discarded anywhere! The last name on all of the paperwork is Beckwith. Yes, my car was locked and the alarm was armed. My windows have limo tint and u cannot see into the backseat area floorboard where the binder was located. I had just returned to work from accompanying my mother to an appointment at the VA service center and that’s why it was in my car. We have notified all 3 credit bureaus, the banks etc.. I just need these documents back!

 * ... JAY TAMSI: Congratulations to Jay Tamsi who has been named executive of the year by The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. Tamsi has served as CEO of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber for the past eight years. He will be honored at the statewide convention in Stockton next week.

 * ... ISRAEL: A few more pictures of House Minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy's trip to Israel, where he renewed his pledge to support the Jewish state even as it comes under attack by a group of progressive Democratic congresswomen. Israel, meanwhile, has informed Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) that they will be barred from visiting Israel during a trip scheduled to start Sunday.

 * ... MEMORIES: Some more great historical shots thanks to Art Moore and the Kern County History Fans Facebook page. Enjoy.

Marie Callender's closes, Fatburger comes to town, more frustration over our homeless crisis and Rep. Kevin McCarthy takes a trip to Israel to boost ties

Monday August 12, 2019

 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. Send news items to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... RIP MARIE CALLENDERS: The local Marie Callender's on California Avenue is closing, the latest in a string of "legacy" eateries that has gone out of business. The company is in bankruptcy and we

learned last week that Marie Callender's, known for its holiday pies, would not make it. Meanwhile next door the old Mimi's Cafe has been demolished to make room for a Raising Cane's fried chicken franchise. And so it goes.

 * ... FATBURGER: Meanwhile Los Angeles-based Fatburger will open its first Bakersfield location on Sept. 4 at the corner of Oswell and Bernard. The chain announced last year that it was coming north and its legions of fans have been eagerly awaiting its opening.

 * ... HOMELESS: More rantings on Facebook about our vagrant problem: "Today I experienced an incident downtown that left me sad, disappointed and dismayed. Not as scary as Kyle’s but still a citizen in need. We were working an estate sale at 18th and Myrtle and about 2:30 p.m. I noticed a nicely dressed young woman that appeared to be passed out on the grass right at the NE corner of Jastro Park bear the curb. It didn’t look right so my co-worker and I went to assist. She was unresponsive to verbal communication and shaking her arm. She did have a pulse so I called 911 as my partner kept working with her. I thought Fire Department or Hall’s would be there any minute to check her vitals and make sure she okay. Not the case. Twenty minutes later nothing and I ended up flagging down a BPD cruiser for help. My gut feeling is that 911 blew it off and didn’t send it out to our emergency responders. Luckily she woke up/came to and we were able to talk with her. It appeared to us she may have suffered some heat stress and passed out. Our society has become so numb to people sleeping all over that we have forgotten how to care for those truly in need. It ended for us giving her water and money for a bus ride home. That lack of response by those who are supposed to be helping us blew my mind and put me in a funk for the rest of the day."

 * ... MORE HOMELESS: And then there was this, accompanied by a short video: "This is slightly graphic. When I pulled up this lady was masturbating nude in a ride’um cowboy pose and urinating at the same time while screaming rape in a bloodcurdling scream behind the Rite-Aid next to the GET bus station.  Then she continued to punch herself in the face. After she was done she walked over to the bus station and proceeded to smoke crack. If I could post the graphic videos that I’ve taken downtown on the streets, I would be kicked off of Facebook. This is not homelessness out of need, this is craziness because of drugs."

 * ... ISRAEL: House minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy is in Israel for a fact finding tour, an important statement as some freshmen Democrats express concern about the long friendly relations between the United States and Israel. Enjoy these pictures from his trip.

 * ... MEMORIES: And how about this picture of Memorial Hospital in its early days, compliments of Art Moore and the Kern County History Fans Facebook page: