Government roundup: Coffeehouse brings Florez, Parras together
| Wednesday, Nov 11 2009 05:10 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Nov 11 2009 05:10 PM
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Got this fun tidbit from a friend Tuesday:
Rival political powers found themselves sharing the comforts of Dagny's Coffee Co. in downtown Bakersfield Tuesday afternoon.
Shafter Democrat Fran Florez was sitting with a group at an outside table when up walked Nicole and Pete Parra, who took a table inside. Pete Parra, Nicole's father, and Florez will duke it out for the Democratic nomination to represent the state's 30th Assembly District next year, setting up what promises to be a doozy of a race. (Nicole Parra used to hold the 30th seat).
The two families maintain a long-running political feud, though not necessarily between Fran Florez and Pete Parra.
It wasn't exactly like the Hatfields and McCoys showing up at the county fair. Nevertheless, the two parties were observed making occasional glances in the other's direction. After some 20 minutes, Florez left her table, heading across Eye Street for parts unknown, while the Parras welcomed guests for what appeared to be a meeting.
- From the "Politics, anyone?" blog at Bakersfield.com/blogs
TEA PARTIERS RALLY
Tea Party Patriots are holding a "Farmer Relief and Freedom Relay" event from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 21 at Pandol and Sons Farms/M&L Cold Storage, 33164 Pond Road in Delano.
Speakers, music and food will be part of the agenda as farming groups and others opposed to "radical environmental regulation" gather, the release says. The rally in Delano is one of a series of stops between Nov. 8 and Nov. 22 that will end in Fresno.
The effort involves Tea Party groups and farmers building in part on interest created by Sean Hannity's recent broadcast from the Central Valley, "The Valley Hope Forgot."
Participants say they want to pass a bill suspending biological opinions destroying west-side farmers and a bill that abolishes the San Joaquin River settlement.
For more information, go to www.savingthevalley.org.
- Californian staff
WASCO NABS STIMULUS CASH
The city of Wasco has received more than $7 million in federal stimulus funds for various projects, officials announced Tuesday.
They include:
$4.1 million to install 2,850 water meters throughout the city. The contractor Halopoff & Sons Inc. will employ approximately 10 people for this project. This project will complete in September 2010.
$2 million to install a sludge centrifuge at the city's wastewater treatment facility; the contractor Spiess Construction will employ a minimum of six and up to 20 people for this project. This project will complete in September 2010.
$937,195 to resurface one mile of roadway, install curb ramps, replace damaged curbs and gutters and install new sidewalk along Poso Drive between Highway 43 and Palm Ave.
The contractor, Bowman Construction, will employ between 10 and 20 people per day. The project construction completion date is Feb. 9, 2010. The project is currently ahead of schedule and may be completed in December 2009.
- City of Wasco press release
