Former city manager for Exeter and Visalia, Randy Groom, joins Paul on the podcast today. 

As Paul notes, Randy became an archtype of sorts for how he viewed the role of city managers. Since Randy left city administration in 2021, there have obviously been a revolving door of city managers in cities throughout Tulare County. Some good, some bad. 

So on this episode the two talk about the role of a city manager, and how they are expected to implement the council's chosen direction. They also dive into the recent issues that seem to be self-inflicted in Visalia: i.e, Rawhide, housing, homelessness, Tootle's wall, new logos, etc. etc.

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Political science professor Nick Hernandez joins the podcast today. Nick lectures at Fresno City College. Nick's been a follower of the Paper Trail Podcast for years, and has been an avid reader of The Sun-Gazette. 

As a professor he's invited Paul to lecture his students on the importance of media in politics. On today's pod Nick and Paul talk about whether grades truly gauge what students learn, whether ChatGPT matters when it comes to student outcomes and how Gen Z views politics today. Spoiler alert: it's not encouraging. 

In this episode, Paul and Ryan delve into two significant stories impacting local communities. First, they explore the controversial hydrogen blending project proposed for Orange Cove, discussing the community's backlash and safety concerns. Next, they turn their attention to the financial and operational challenges facing the Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA), and the potential implications of Tulare County's possible withdrawal from the agency.

Topics Covered:

1. Orange Cove Hydrogen Project Faces Local Backlash

   • Background: Months after the Orange Cove City Council approved a partnership with SoCalGas for a hydrogen blending project, residents and advocacy groups are voicing their concerns.
   • Community Concerns: Residents feel uninformed and apprehensive, fearing safety risks associated with hydrogen blending, such as increased flammability and potential gas line damage.
   • Advocacy and Opposition: Local organizations like Cultiva La Salud and the Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability are educating residents and advocating for their involvement in decision-making processes.
   • City and SoCalGas Stance: While city officials and SoCalGas representatives support the project, residents question why their rural, predominantly Latino community is being used for this demonstration.

2. Tulare County Contemplates Withdrawal from TCRTA

   • Financial Struggles: The Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA) is facing significant financial transparency issues and budget deficits, operating mainly on loan funds.
   • Board of Supervisors' Concerns: Supervisors express concerns over the agency's fiscal management and sustainability, debating whether to remain part of the TCRTA or seek alternative transit solutions.
   • Potential Implications: With six out of nine participants contesting financial allocations and one city already withdrawn, the future of TCRTA hangs in the balance, with a decision expected by September.

Key Quotes:

• Cultiva La Salud Executive Director Veva Islas on the Hydrogen Project: "We simply want to educate the community and let the community decide what's in their best interest."
• TCRTA Director Abul Hassan on Financial Issues: "Without the loan, the TCRTA would have an available balance of negative $1,777,113."

Strathmore Spartan head football coach, Jeromy Blackwell joins the podcast. Jeromy is a two-time state championship winning head coach. However, one of his biggest fights wasn't on the gridiron or with X's and O's. It came after he collapsed in his backyard and aspirated in mud for hours, sending him into an 8-day coma while doctors fought to bring him back to health.

Jeromy's story turns from one of health, to one of triumph, when he takes his team and wins the Division VI Valley Championship against Mendota. Even more, his team turns around and wins their second state championship, the second in Tulare County history. 

Paul and Ryan talk about Terra Bella residents' concerns over Ever Well's attempted expansion plans and Dinuba's successful avoidance of legislation that threatened its sales tax agreement with Best Buy.

Paul's realtor, Jordan Mulroony, joins the podcast to talk about the local realtor market. With housing inventory tight in Tulare County (but also all over California), realtors are feeling the pressure to help potential home buyers find a home. Where most realtors expirement with cheesy social media marketing, Jordan has taken the much longer road of crafting long term relationships in his community.

Jordan talks about his community engagement projects, the lengths he'll go to work with another realtor for a client, and how the lack of housing leads to homelessness. 

Jordan can be found on social at jordan.mulrooney on Instagram.

He can also be found on his Re/Max website here.

Paul and Ryan discuss the follow-up to the TCRTA debacle and the potential for a Visalia Cannabis Tax.

Richard Tree, Porterville Transit Director, and Porterville City Management respond to the accusations made by the TCRTA, stating that Tree disclosed his family involvement with subcontractors under Transdev's bid. They also address the concern about Tree's relationship with SM Transit while being the Transit Director of Porterville.

Visalia is considering a cannabis tax in anticipation of a potential state mandate requiring cities to allow for cannabis deliveries. The city council is debating the rate that tax should be and voted unanimously to continue developing a ballot measure to tax cannabis, which could appear on the November 2024 ballot.

Rock Yard Tavern owner Landon Wilcox joins Paul on the podcast today.

Landon has been a fellow Exeter-ite his whole life, but he became a local business stakeholder since he opened the Rock Yard Tavern in 2017. He named the business after his father's landscaping business. Landon's father, Nick, would collect large rocks for people to decorate their yards with. But where he would store them became affectionately knowns as the "rock yard." Landon remembers playing in the rock yard with his brothers as kids. 

On this episode though, Landon and Paul talk about the business end of running a small town bar in Exeter. They talk about the hurdles that face small businesses, how Landon made a pivotal suggestion to Paul prior to the pandemic and how much of a grind it is to have a day job plus his business on the side. 

You can learn more about Landon and his wife Janie (co-owner of the tavern) here.

And follow the Rock Yard Tavern on IG here, and on Facebook here.

Paul and Ryan discuss the backlash over the City of Visalia's new logo, which residents have called ugly and uninspired. They also cover the results of the California Congressional District 20 special general election, in which Vince Fong is leading Mike Boudreaux by a significant margin. They break down the fundraising and spending numbers for both candidates and analyze the factors that may have contributed to Fong's success.

Paul introduces KVPR's (Valley Public Radio) News Director Cres Rodriguez on the podcast. Cres has been a reporter all over the Valley in several different mediums and outlets. He took his first management role with KVPR, but he's been angling for an editorship since the beginning.

Cres tells Paul where he's found leadership so far in his short career, what diversity does for a newsroom, the recent push for DEI in journalism and what makes for a good journalist.

You can find out more about Cres @cres_guez on X and you can check out KVPR for more Valley News.