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The news came quickly through a bulletin on Fresnobee.com: Saddam Hussein was executed about 7 p.m. California time on Friday. (It was Saturday morning in Iraq). Defiant as usual, Saddam refused to wear a hood as the rope was put around his neck, according to news reports.
I'm still a bit stunned that this murderous dictator is gone. After getting away with killing so many people for so long, I almost thought he'd never see justice. Here's a New York Times' story about the execution. Saddam's last words were: "Down with the traitors, the Americans, the spies and the Persians."
I say good riddance.
This is a great all-you-can-eat weekend. For you letters-to-the-editor lovers, there's a page and a half filled with letters from Valley readers on Saturday. The usual Valley Voices page will return next week.
On the editorial page, we talk about drinking and driving and the drastic drop in the rate of domestic violence.
For all you editorial cartoon lovers, Sunday and Monday are like eating dessert first. There's a full page of cartoons by Fresno's own SW Parra on Sunday. And on Monday, it's the Sacramento Bee's Rex Babin.
In Sunday Vision:
Editorial Page Editor Jim Boren and E.J. Dionne join forces to cover the state and national political scene. Jim predicts this little bipartisan honeymoon the politicians are selling won't last long.
Our Sunday lead editorial takes a look back at 2006 and what made us glad and mad.
Victor Davis Hanson explains why the Iranian president is far weaker in his own country than he'd like Americans to know.
Maureen Dowd checks in with Donald Trump, getting his two cents on a lot of issues.
Thomas L. Friedman says Time's cover story should be the color green -- everyone wants in on the action.
The Valley's Top 10 list contain's the Valley's New Year's resolutions.
And on Monday, we take a look at 2007.
Enjoy!
I've been wondering, when Saddam is executed,  how many newspapers will run photos showing his hanging? With news this morning that his execution is likely to happen by tomorrow, it's a decision editors around the world will face today.
Generally our newspaper has a policy not to show dead bodies in our photos. But that's not a hard and fast rule, as executive editor Betsy Lumbye wrote in a column in August, when several readers questioned the use of an aerial photo that showed the dead body of Joaquin Figueroa, the man suspected of shooting a Fresno police officer and committing numerous other violent crimes:
"We'll continue to avoid pictures that show bodies and bloodshed, especially on the front page," Lumbye wrote. "But I will consider exceptions for compelling reasons or when the picture is not graphic."
Do you think The Fresno Bee should publish photos of Saddam's hanging? Is there some news value in that? Or does it depend on the photos? And are newspaper Web sites bound by a different set of guidelines? Is it not OK in print, but all right on the Web?
UPDATE, 2:13 p.m.: The Associated Press just moved a bulletin that a top Iraqi official says Saddam Hussein will be executed before 6 a.m. Saturday, Baghdad time, or 7 p.m. Friday PST, so this will be a factor in newspapers published tomorrow.
There is much talk in recent years about the "Creative Class" and how it will lead the "new urbanism," which has great pertinence for downtown Fresno as it struggles toward renascence. There's no question young, bright, creative people are the yeast of this new loaf, and a driving force in urban revitalization, with their demands for entertainment, recreation and work options that are not usually available in the suburbs.
But they're not the only driving force. The New York Times reports a trend that could have just as much significance for downtown Fresno and other urban cores: the return of the baby boomers.
The Times says that increasing numbers of aging boomers -- full disclosure: yep, that includes me -- are not satisfied with the traditional "retirement" communities, with their golf and bridge games, carefully manicured grounds and no kids allowed. Instead, they want the same things the "creative class" seeks: a vibrant social scene, access to theater and the arts, music, interesting dining choices, life-long education -- in short, the sort of things one finds in a downtown full of vitality.
I attended a funeral today for Don George, who I have known for almost 40 years because I grew up with his nephew. Don was a high school baseball coach and teacher for 35 years. He also was top-notch baseball player in his own right. He was part of the much-acclaimed 1951 Fresno State baseball team that went 36-4 and featured some of the region's best athletes. Don, who led the '51 team in hitting, was inducted into the Fresno State Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Jake Abbott, onetime Fresno Unified superintendent, gave the eulogy for Don at a chaopel packed with friends and famiily. Abbott pitched on the '51 team, along with future major leaguer Truman Clevenger. Clevenger, by the way, looked like he could still go nine innings for the Yankees. Members of the 1951 team served as honoray pallbearers.
Don started his teaching career at Fowler High School. He retired in 1992 while at Hoover High School. Don made his mark as a baseball coach at Roosevelt Hgh School.
The last time I saw Don was in May at the funeral of his sister-in-law, Mildred George. It seems that we see too many longtime friends only at funerals these days. That must change in the new year. I'm hoping for fewer funerals and more quality time with friends.
It makes sense that parents who have children with mental illnesses should have an array of therapeutic choices to choose from -- but according to a recent article in the New York Times, that's not always the case. For reasons of philosophy -- or cost -- sometimes only medicine is offered as a solution. Other times only therapy is suggested. Sometimes the blame is placed on the parents and that is the end of the story.
The best therapy for the child may be any of the above, none of the above or a combination of the above. Just as our physical ailments can be a combination of genetics, nutrition and lifestyle, mental illnesses also can have complicated solutions. Here's the story in full.
Holding their husbands' hands in stressful moments helps women cope, according to a new study published in the journal Psychological Science. The San Francisco Chronicle reports today that "Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assess how the women's brains responded. Holding any hand helped relax the women, they found, but holding the spouse's hand had an especially powerful effect."
Makes sense. But the study apparently didn't say whether the husbands felt a similar effect. Nor did it address whether unmarried couples could derive the same benefits.
Thus many questions remain unanswered about the impact of premarital interdigitation. Let's get the scientists on that burning issue right away, OK?
I just came across a review of a book that sounds interesting -- and potentially useful in places like Fresno, where an abiding respect and affection for our past is often hard to find.
The book has the unglamorous title, "The Politics of Historic Districts: A Primer for Grassroots Preservation," but writer Bill Schmickle, chairman of the Annapolis (Maryland) Historic Preservation Commission, has a good point to make: Historical preservationists must have considerable political savvy if they are to succeed, because there are many powerful forces arrayed against them.
I guess this would be a good chance to use some of those book store gift cards I racked up at Christmas.
The Valley is everywhere. I love these stories. My friend and former colleague, Steve Griffiths of Tulare, just got back from an around-the-world trip to celebrate a major birthday. He said he thought of me because a couple of years ago, while traveling in Prague, I wrote about finding almonds from the Valley attracting a crowd of people on the street. He couldn't wait to tell me that when he was in Asia, cheese from Los Banos was on the menu. I love when that happens.
We editorialized last week on the need for more funding for the arts in California and the Valley. The numbers are in: Non-profit arts activities in California "add $5.4 billion to the state's economy; support more than 160,000 jobs; generate nearly $300 million in state and local taxes; rank California as the nation's leader, with more arts-related businesses and more people employed in the creative industries than in any other state; and are the equivalent of 10,000 small businesses."
That's from a new study commissioned by the California Arts Council. Yet arts funding has slipped badly in recent years.
We're missing a good bet here. The arts aren't simply about enrichment and fun -- though they certainly provide that. They are also a significant economic engine for California. Funding the arts isn't wasteful spending, it's an investment that pays big dividends.
What was up with the holiday pajama parties in the South Valley this year? The weekend South Valley carried not one but two notices of pj parties on Friday. One was Lane Bryant Outlets of Preferred Outlets in Tulare from 5-8 p.m. You could probably just buy your pajamas there if you didn't have any nice ones! The owners served cider and and collected toys for the Tulare Police Toy Drive. The second was at pottery studio Clay Café in Visalia. The owners invited painters of all ages to come in their pajamas to nibble snacks while they painted gifts. Well, it sure saves on party clothes!
The road trip back from San Diego was uneventful. Now it's time to get that Christmas shopping finished. I still have a few more things to pick up, but I have a good idea of how to get this chore accomplished efficiently. How many of you will be out there today competing with me for that parking place?
It's already been a busy day. . . church, meeting friends, and now shopping before Christmas Eve with my family beginning about 6. I'm supposed to bring a "heavy hors d'oeuvres." Any ideas? Would biscuits and gravy be heavy enough?
Merry Christmas!
I decided to take Amtrak to San Diego to meet my daughter and drive with her back to Fresno for Christmas. As I have written previously, I make this trip a lot, mostly by car, but sometimes by airplane. Flying is a hassle, but driving in the winter has its problems, too: fog in the Valley, and you never know whether you'll be able to make it over the Grapevine because of snow or ice or both. So I took the train, which means train to Bakersfield, bus to Los Angeles, train to San Diego.
I'm happy to report that the trip was wonderful, although it took nine hours instead of the typical six if you drove. I love the train through the Valley, and when we got to Bakersfield, the bus was trackside and whisked us to L.A. No traffic or weather, so we made it in an easy two hours. I had a two-hour layover in L.A. so I walked across the street from Union Station to Olvera Street, which was decorated beautifully for Christmas.
One of my favorite children's books is by Leo Politi called "Pedro: The Angel of Olvera Street." It was one of the first things that I saw when I got to my daughter's apartment in San Diego. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
After browsing on Olvera Street, I went back to Union Station to catch the Surfliner train to San Diego. I upgraded to business class for $14, meaning you get a snack, newspaper and plug-ins for your computer. The total cost of the trip, by the way, was $59, which included a AAA discount.
The ride to San Diego was swift and interesting -- quick stops (quick means four minutes to get on and off the train) at Fullerton, Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, Oceanside, Solana Beach and then San Diego. Because of downtown traffiic, I told my daughter that I would meet her in Old Town, and took the San Diego Trolley for $1 to Old Town. She picked me up there and we drove to her apartment in La Jolla near the UC San Diego campus where she goes to school.
The next time you go to San Diego, consider the train. It takes a third longer to get there, but the hassle is so much less than driving through L.A. traffic.
In Saturday's Valley Voices, a page reserved for local columnists, Armen Bacon, senior director for communications and public relations for thefresno County Office of Education, writes about a mysterious pink building in downtown Fresno that fascinates her; Dr. Linda Halderman, a general surgeon practicing in rural south Fresno County, frames the Israel-Palestine question in local geographic terms; painter Jessica Keller Huebschwerlen suggests we make the very most of our time with loved ones because we ... just ... never ... know ... who won't be there next Christmas.
In Sunday Vision:
David Mas Masumoto writes his farewell (sort of) letter. He has been writing essays in letter form for The Bee for years and he has decided that format has run its course. The good news is he and artist Doug Hansen will continue to collaborate on Vision covers every month, but it will be in a more general essay format.
Our Sunday lead editorial reprints the classic letter from the New York Sun, where the editor answers a question from a little girl who asks, "Is there a Santa Claus?" Take this opportunity to share his classic answer with the next generation.
Marilou Judy-Moore is profiled by Pam Rowse in Meet Our Letter Writers.
Columnist Ellen Goodman writes about Mary Cheney and wonders why all the fuss is about the two mommies, rather than who's the daddy?
We debate two views on free trade addressing the question:"Will tougher labor and enviornmetnal rules in free-trade agreements hurt the U.S. economy?
Victor Davis Hanson explains why radical Islam is taking over so many unstable places.
Maureen Dowd says that the lack of "intellectual urgency" regarding the Middle East Wars is chilling, with only 33 Arabic speakers -- just six who are fluent -- in our embassy of 1,000 employees.
Thomas L. Friedman lays out a list of Mideast rules to live by.
The Valley's Top 10 list of people who should get coal in their stockings includes "Devin Nunes for trying to dam the San Joaquin River settlement" and "those spanking fools at Alarm One."
Enjoy!
As if I don't have enough of a challenge trying to talk my husband into NOT shaving his balding head, now both my brother and Police Chief Jerry Dyer are on his side. 
Although he once had locks longer than mine, my youngest brother, Mark Dorman, has shaved his head for years.
Then, a few months ago, my husband, Denny, saw Dyer at a news conference and commented on the chief's new do, or lack of one. Dyer told Denny "you're not that far behind me" and encouraged him to shave his head as well.
I'm not opposed to the cueball look. On some men, it looks great -- others, not so much. I'm just not sure I'm ready for that drastic of a change on my own hubby.
When it was just him talking about it I could hold my own, but now the odds are really stacking up against me.
Astronaut Suni Williams sent an unusual package back to earth this week -- her ponytail. According to a report on the ABC News Web page, Williams arranged in advance to send her ponytail back to earth from space on Day 11 of the flight.
This astronaut definitely lives up to her name. Like girlfriends at a slumber party, astronaut Joan Higginbotham, Williams' colleague on the space shuttle, cut her hair for her on Sunday. Williams' hair is coming back on the Space Shuttle Discovery because she made plans before her launch to donate it to a program that uses hair to make wigs for cancer patients. What a wonderful idea.
This woman is sending more back far more than just a ponytail. She's sending out self-esteem for cancer survivors and inspiration to young girls everywhere. From the ABC news story:
Williams is also a Navy commander who has flown helicopters and logged more than 2,700 hours in 30 different aircraft. Does she consider herself a role model for young girls?
"I hope so. I wasn't always the sharpest tool in the shed, the smartest kid on the block, but I think there was a lot of persistence," Williams said. "And I hope kids understand it is OK to fail, if you learn something from failing."
Williams wants young, aspiring female astronauts -- and young girls in general -- to realize the value of persistence.
"I tell little girls about the story of when I started flight school. 'Top Gun' came out, so of course everybody wanted to fly jets," she said. "That was the cool thing to do, and I put that down as my first choice but I got helicopters because there weren't that many jet billets."
"I did pretty good at that. You just sort of take what you get. Maybe you don't get the first thing that you want, but if you are good at what you do, and you try hard, some things sort of fall into place," she said.
"I hope that message comes across clearly, that if you want something, you can obtain it," Williams said. "Maybe not the path you thought you were going down, but it will work out if you try hard and are persistent."
Williams' persistence paid off. She finished her first space shuttle flight, and she is staying behind to become the flight engineer on the International Space Station for the next six months.
So her hair will have some time to grow back.
With apologies to an unknown colleague, but the headline on today's obituary for Chris Hayward, "'The Munsters' creator dies at 81," really misses the point.
Mr. Hayward was one of the creators of a vastly more important TV icon: Dudley Do-Right. He worked for the legendary Jay Ward, whose studio produced the beloved-by-baby-boomers show, "Rocky and His Friends," which later morphed into "The Bullwinkle Show."
The flying squirrel and his squirrelly sidekick moose were joined by Mr. Peabody, the cerebral dog, with his pet boy, Sherman; Fractured Fairy Tales and the dastardly duo, Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale. The show had its heyday in the 1960s.
I had a chance back in the 1980s to meet Jay Ward at his studio in West Hollywood. The studio wasn't doing much beyond Cap'n Crunch commercials, but Ward and his wife ran a little gift shop, selling Rocky and Bullwinkle memorabilia and trinkets. I did my Christmas shipping there for several years when I lived in L.A., and was first taken to the shop by my very dear friend, the late political cartoonist Randy Wicks.
Randy, like many cartoonists of our generation, worshipped at the feet of Ward and the others. Ward, for his part, was as gregarious and generous with his time as just about anyone I ever met. He'd invite Randy and me into the back of the shop, make coffee and talk for hours about the fine, heady days when Rocky and Bullwinkle were riding high, and we youngsters -- and most of our parents -- were riding with them. Lovely days.
"The Munsters'? Feh.
Brrrr. It's cold out there! We are hosting an exchange student from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tiago Oliveira. This has been an upside down holiday season for him, since Christmas falls in the middle of summer in South America.
Tiago has never seen snow, so he was excited to see the first white peaks covering the distant Sierra a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday morning, he asked why the lawns were white. "Is it snow?" he asked. No, I explained, it's ice. Actually, we call it frost. He looked a little doubtful about that and wondered how it got there, since he hadn't seen anything falling from the sky. I explained the difference between snow and frost. He was quite fascinated about what we consider this small and ordinary thing. We are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to show him the fun and beauty of snowplay. Of course, he cannot wait to try snowboarding and skiing. The snow playgrounds also should be big fun for him.
This is just one more way that we appreciate the diversity of our region, something I didn't really think about. We have diversity of climate, as well as just about everything else! Aren't we lucky?
In the category of keeping up with the kids, pay attention to odd things in your kids' backpacks and pockets. Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute refers to a link from the The Berkeley (Calif.) Police Department . Its Web site explains graffiti and details, among many other items, favored tools of the graffiti vandals:
"Spray paint is the traditional tool ... Today's youth have been known to use paint, shoe polish rolls, etching tools, rocks, pens almost any instrument that can leave a distinctive mark on a surface. 'Slap Tag' is another method of graffiti. This form entails writing out the Tag Crew's name or the individual's tag name on a sticker. The sticker is then slapped onto poles, walls, newspaper bins or any surface. The tagger will often times carry on their person sheets of stickers ready for slapping onto any surface."
Great, so now do we have to lock up the stationery department behind wire doors?
Boy, this zero-tolerance stuff is getting out of hand. School officials in Plainfield, Ill., have expelled a 13-year-old boy, Ryan Morgan. His crime: He found a pellet gun in a school bathroom -- and turned it in.
His parents are fighting the decision. The boy's father, Roy Morgan, is proud of his son. "He said 'I'm going to turn this in' and you know what, I commend my son for making that decision. It was the right decision," Morgan said.
Amen. And thumbs down to officious zealots in the school administration.
I had a terrible experience the other night with traffic leading up to Christmas Tree Lane. Not the Lane itself -- if anything, that seemed more nicely decorated than ever before -- but with the traffic.
One of my sister-in-law's Christmas wishes was to have someone else drive her and my brother down the Lane, so she could enjoy the sights. After picking up Starbucks and kettle corn in Clovis we embarked on our adventure. We got off Freeway 41 at Shields and immediately hit the traffic, backed up all the way from the entrance to the Lane, at Shields and Van Ness.
I am not kidding -- it took us over an hour and a half to get a half a mile. Driving my zero-emissions Prius, I watched as the miles per gallon on my dashboard gauge crept lower and lower, to depths I had never before seen in this car. I thought about all the cars around us, which likely weren't so low-emission, and also wondered how all the flares put down by Fresno Police Officers doing traffic control (for which I am grateful) contributed to our air quality.
By the time we finally decided to call it a night and head home for dinner (a very late dinner!), we had literally been in the car for over three hours -- and we cut the Lane short, getting off at Ashlan, which is only the halfway point! I could have driven to the coast more quickly.
It seems like there should be some way to smooth out this process, both to reduce its impact on our environment and to make it more enjoyable for families trying to experience a holiday tradition with wriggly, impatient little ones in the car. Any suggestions?
Over the last, impossible week, my husband, Rich, and I have experienced an overwhelming appreciation for the warmth, the love, the compassion of this community. On Sunday, as we celebrated the life of our son, Scott, along with our friends and family, we have never been so grateful that he lived his 33 years of life among such wonderful people. We are humbly thankful to be a part of this great place.
I'm looking forward to seeing the movie about the Marshall University football team that was decimated after a 1970 airplane crash took the lives of 75 players, coaches and boosters. "We Are Marshall," which opens Friday, has a local connection. Jack Lengyel, who was Fresno State's athletic director from 1983-1986, was the coach in charge of rebuilding the team after the tragedy. Matthew McConaughey plays Lengyel in the movie.
Here's Rick Bentley's interview with Lengyel. It gives an excellent insight into Lengyel, one of the best athletic directors to come through Fresno State.
Tomorrow in Valley Voices, retired teacher Larry A. Smith gives some tips on the appropriate -- and polite -- way to act at a public function, like a movie or concert. Jorge A. Aguilar, assistant to the chancellor at UC Merced, talks about minorities making an impact in their professions. And education professor Scott Key talks about the dropout crisis in our public schools.
This week's Meet our Letter Writers features interviews a retired druggist who came to the United States from Austria more than 50 years ago. And our lead editorial on Sunday addresses the health-care crisis that California -- and especially the Valley -- faces.
For the following weekend, we're working on a special collection of letters from readers. We want to know what's on your mind, what challenge you think we face as a community and as a nation as we enter a new year. Please send us your letters, on that topic or any other that strikes your fancy. We'd love to hear from you!
You can send your letters to letters@fresnobee.com.
I agreed to try out Nintendo's Wii, a new interactive gaming system, as part of a review of the game by The Bee. The newsroom's version of Don King (Will Albritton) put together a Wii boxing match between me and Executive Editor Betsy Lumbye -- sort of a match between the opinion pages and the newsroom. . . Well, she easily whipped me, scoring a knockout in the second round. I just seemed to flail around, mostly punching the air, while Betsy nailed me several times in the noggin. Of course, my big old head was quite the target.
Here's some video of the match.
I thought video games were supposed to be couch-sitting, fast-food-munching affairs. You actually have to work at this game. . . There are three-minute rounds. Try punching the air for three straight minutes. I was exhausted. Where's Jenifer Alcorn when I need her? Of course, the first thing she'd do would have me running the stairs at Gold's Gym.
Maybe next time I'll try the bowling version of Wii. . . You don't have to be in shape to bowl do you?
OK, this is what I want for Christmas: The latest Swiss Army knife has 85 different tools, weighs more than two pounds and costs nearly $1,000.
The Giant is supposed to feature every blade that has ever been incorporated into Swiss Army knives as made by Wenger, one of the two firms that make them . "We've sold 20 to retailers so far, and we can't get them in fast enough," says Garry Woodhouse of Whitby and Co, sole importer of Wenger knives into Britain. "They're assembled by hand in Switzerland, and I'm told that the man doing it is working his fingers to the bone."
Read the whole story here.
It's been great visiting with you online. 
I value all of the questions, input and suggestions. Any questions that I did not answer because of time constraints will be answered shortly and posted on this blog. Although we agreed on some things and disagreed on others, this kind of give-and-take is extremely important for me as a person and as a mayor. Keep 'em comin'!
Mayor Autry
If it is only a one shot deal, what difference does it make if it puts the division in shape to avoid a rate increase for a long period of time? How long will it take for the rate increase to amount to the million dollars needed?
Leonard E. Goldberg
Leonard,
We looked at all options for this one-time windfall. If it would have made a long-term difference in the rate increase, we would have considered it seriously. But after a thorough analysis, it was determined that it would not only not have a significant long-term effect on rates, it would even have a minimal short-term effect. But I do appreciate your thoughts on this issue as rate increases are an extremely important decision and not to be taken lightly.
Mayor Autry
If the city manager resigned tomorrow, what would you do? How would that disrupt the daily business of the city? Is there a short list of candidates, or someone who could cover the position on an interim basis?
Scott Martin
Scott,
We are very blessed in the city of Fresno to have Andy Souza as city manager. When he decides to move on, he will definitely be hard to replace. However, one of the things Andy has been committed to is creating a structure at City Hall called "The New Normal" that ensures that the development of talent at the city be a main component of our policy. Good people in any business are hard to get and hard to keep. But the people of Fresno deserve the best services possible, and people like Andy Souza are critical in achieving that goal.
Mayor Autry
What does the mayor think of the traffic fees that are collected? Don't they go into the city's general fund? Let's really consider the traffic officers as revenue officers, as I'm sure the city does not donate the ticket revenue to the Poverello House or other nonprofit charity!
George Berz
George,
I would like nothing better than to not receive one single penny from speeding violations in this city. It would allow us to deploy officers to fight crime throughout our city. But as long as individuals continue to use their vehicles as deadly weapons by breaking the speed limit and endangering others, we will continue to come down on that type of behavior. A little known fact is that up until a few years ago when we first implemented this policy, deaths caused by speeding in the city of Fresno had surpassed the murder rate. I've got a deal for you: Let's all work together and do our best to put this aspect of law enforcement out of business by driving safely and never getting behind the wheel after drinking too much. What do you say, George? Deal or no deal?
Mayor Autry
Thank you for your response, sir.
My concern is that If the city supports, but does not moderate, or hold accountable those heading up the initiatives (results), how do we determine progress or success ? And how do we then protect new innovations/innovators from programs, or heads of programs, whose program/personal gains become the goal, instead of those of our community ?
Jeff Gerlitz
Jeff,
You bring up good points. Measuring outcomes and accountability are extremely important in any successful endeavor. Innovation and progress in our economy is no different. That's why Pete Weber at the Regional Jobs Initiative made sure to incorporate in the structure of the RJI ways to monitor and measure success within the initiative. Although this is just one initiative, it is one that has a broad coalition backing it. I believe its commitment to accountability has been a model for many other initiatives seeking to improve our quality of life.
Mayor Autry
Doesn't the city make enough money off checkpoints and traffic tickets? I'm tired of our city government making its money off the poor. Your Police Department is corrupt, as in the recent article in the newspaper on one of our finest crashing his car into a tree after drinking and partying with other cops. I'm sick of this.
Sal Fernandez
Sal, I'm going to answer the first part of your question. First of all, the city doesn't make any money off of tickets. We're not a for-profit entity. We work on behalf of you and the rest of the citizens of Fresno. The insinuation that we only ticket poor people is as silly as it is inaccurate. The fact of the matter is, you drive the speed limit and don't endanger yourself or others, you won't have anything to worry about. But if you seek to use your vehicle as a deadly weapon and endanger everyone else by speeding, you can rest assured, as long as I'm mayor, I'm going to do everything I can to pull your butt over. The reality is, that over the last several years that this policy has been in place, we have over a 40% reduction in traffic fatalities. In real terms, that means that 60 people are walking around living their lives today that would otherwise be dead. Sal, that could be you, me, our children or anyone else in this city. It's pretty simple: If you get in a car and you don't drink and you don't speed, whether you're rich or poor, you have nothing to worry about, except those who choose to do the opposite. As far as the second question about the loss of one of Fresno's finest, I'm not gonna dignify it with a response. I have too much respect for the Sanchez family.
I strongly support John Hutson's idea for a nuclear power plant in Fresno. The more I read [about them] on the Web, the safer they look. He tells me individual Fresnans would see the maximum decrease in their electric bills if a municipal electric district were created for the nuclear plant. The Prop 218 process would in that case guarantee lower rates for Fresnans. Are you aware of this, and do you support a MUD in connection with the nuclear plant idea?
Loran Harding
At one point, the idea of building a nuclear plant at the city wastewater plant was floated. (http://www.fresnobeehive.com/opinion/hutson/ ) Do you have any plans to explore a power plant of some type (solar, nuclear, etc.) operating in conjunction with the water facilities?
Scott Martin
Loran, I firmly believe that it will be extremely difficult for this Valley to move forward, unless we become, in some way, energy self-sufficient. Energy bills have become burdensome to Valley families and businesses to the breaking point. I strongly support John Hutson's laser beam focus on this issue. Nuclear energy is, by every measure, the safest form of energy available today. Producing our own nuclear power would make us not only self-sufficient, but a supplier to the grid as well. The safety concerns have been met, the economic advantages are being analyzed, so full-speed ahead.
Scott, the existence of the wastewater treatment plant is one of the reasons that many people who are looking at nuclear energy get excited about its possibility. One of the requirements to produce nuclear energy is large amounts of water. The wastewater treatment plant would provide that.
Mayor Autry
Mayor, bearing in mind that the council and yourself were well aware that the Utility Division needed an infusion of approximately $1 million to put it in good shape, thus negating the need for a large increase in rates for the people in Fresno, why didn't you and the council use approximately 10% of the $10 million windfall to make that infusion? The projects you spent on, while commendable, could certainly have been scaled back just a bit!!
Leonard E. Goldberg
Leonard,
I am extremely sensitive to any utility rate increase. It's an increase we all have to bear. But our most vulnerable citizens, specifically seniors and the disabled are hit the hardest. That's why I appointed a commission to examine the need for increases. Having said that, I don't think it is sound economic policy nor in the best interest of the ratepayers to use one-time funding for an ongoing utility bill.
Mayor Autry
Mayor, there was a proposal made last week to the Fresno City Council to build a nuclear power plant in Fresno. Do you think this proposal should be seriously considered? Do you support building a nuclear power facility in this community? If you support the idea of a nuclear power plant, do you think it should be located near the bluffs in north Fresno or on the Westside?
Mike Rhodes
Mike,
I believe nuclear power holds great promise for the entire San Joaquin Valley. We must find a way to become energy self-sufficient. High energy costs are crippling households throughout the Valley.
The nuclear power plant being discussed is very small. The size being discussed, which is small enough to operate a nuclear submarine, could provide enough power for the entire city of Fresno.
As for the Bluffs or Westside, it makes no difference to me since it is the safest source of energy around. Mike, by the way, how big is your back yard?
Mayor Autry
Dear Mayor: You have stated over and over that you support the Independent Police Auditor. We have observed you attempting to obtain funding for the IPA only to get shot down. We have even met with you to discuss your "proposal," which time and time again has the mayor or the city manager appointing or terminating the IPA instead of allowing the City Council to have the final say on this. Can you please tell us why you think the IPA would be independent if you or the city mananger appointed the IPA instead of the City Council? How independent can the IPA be if you and the city manager also hire and fire the chief of police? Is this really an empty gesture, knowing full well you won't get the votes?
M. Gloria Hernandez
To accept your premise would accept as true that there is no honesty and integrity at City Hall. I not only think that this is wrong, I believe that we have some of the most honest and trustworthy individuals working at the city. I don't see how putting the authority in the hands of the council can make the IPA more effective. After all, wouldn't we want the overseer of the Police Department to answer to someone who has the authority to make changes in that department? The city manager does have that authority, not the council.
Mayor Autry
Mr. Mayor:
Why doesn't City Council conduct its meetings in the evening? There's no way I can make a daytime meeting, and the council members get this "holier than thou" attitude, especially mine (District 2). They complain about the public not attending meetings, yet schedule them when the majority of the public can't.
Paul Rete
Paul,
That's a pretty good idea. I would suggest you run it by the Council and see what happens.
Mayor Autry, on Nov. 14, the Fresno City Council passed a resolution for Fresno to join the U.S. Mayors Climate Control Agreement. Since the Mayor did not veto this resolution in the allotted time period, the City Clerk says it is in effect right now. My question is: Has the Mayor's office actually signed and sent off the paperwork to have Fresno join this group?
If not, does he expect to do so in the near future?
Thank you.
Franz Weinschenk
The city of Fresno is on the cutting edge of clean air technologies. We have one of the cleanest fleets in the country and have received several awards reflecting our commitment to the environment, including: the EPA's Green Power Award for our solar energy project installed at our Municipal Service Center, and the 2006 EPA Pretreatment Program Excellence Award - Best in the Nation for our Wastewater Treatment Facilities. In addition, in 2005 I was honored to receive the American Lung Association's Good Government Award.
In addition, I have been working to establish an Air Quality Empowerment Zone for our region to assist us in receiving incentives and funding from the federal government. While the U.S. Mayors Climate Control Agreement has many good things in it, there are also blatantly political statements that create too many questions for me to either support or oppose the agreement. I will look forward to seeing answers to my questions as the whole global warming discussion continues.
I did not veto the Council's action because I am not going to stop them from expressing their opinion. We must be mindful as we work to clean our environment that people should not have to choose between clean air in their lungs and food in their bellies. A strategy that balances the needs of the environment with our economy is one I can support.
Mayor Autry
Why does the city do such a poor job of planning? I ask this because there are so many areas of poorly planned roads, yet other areas where there are great roads to nowhere?
An example that I can give you is the new Del Taco at Blackstone and Barstow. They had to make new gutters, but why didn't the city require Del Taco to build back a few feet, for a right-turn lane on Barstow? On West Ashlan, which is an absolute mess in the morning/evening commutes, why didn't the city require a bus turn out on West Ashlan and Blythe? I could go on and on with examples.
Paul Rete
Paul,
We have a blanket policy at City Hall never to argue with a criticism about planning. In fact, I ran on a "Tale of Two Cities," and one of the main reasons that created this tale was not poor planning, but a total absence of comprehensive planning. That's why I made a new General Plan one of the No. 1 priorities of my campaign.
The bad news is it took so long for this to finally get done. But the good news is that we now have had a plan in place since 2002, which will not only allow us to grow at a smart and healthy manner, but begin to rectify some mistakes of the past. I share your impatience. I share your aggravation. But if future administrations stick to this plan, we can get the job done.
Mayor Autry
How much impact does the lack of Fresno's recycling have, if any, on the proposed rate hikes?
Mike Kobata
Although recycling has no direct impact on utility rates, we do face $10,000 a day in fines if we do not meet our state-mandated recycling levels. I believe, as a community, we should do everything we can to be a leader in recycling. It makes good sense environmentally and we sure can't afford $10,000 a day in fines.
Mayor Autry
How can the city of Fresno take the lead in heading up programs designed to incubate innovation and attract talent to our city? Right now, we are deferring these issues to the University and associated entities, which don't appear to be producing any results.
Jeff Gerlitz
Jeff,
I don't feel it is the role of the city to operate an incubator. We do financially support several extremely successful efforts to improve innovation and attract talent such as the RJI [Regional Jobs Initiative], Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber Business Incubator. In addition, I serve on the board of the Governor's California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, which is focused on improving the economy of the San Joaquin Valley. I believe all of these efforts are doing a great job, as evidenced by our unemployment rate being at the lowest level in decades.
Mayor Autry
If Council Districts are to be modified -- 1) why was this not advertized to general public? And 2) why only 11 days (Dec. 16) to respond to City Planner Nick Yovino?
Jeanne Larson
Jeanne,
Council Boundaries are an administrative action instituted by the City Manager. The boundaries are put together through an elaborate process that takes into account past growth trends. I believe the boundaries will be coming before the City Council after the first of the year. Although there is no legal notice to the public required, the Development Department did put a notice in the Bee inviting the public to call with comments. In addition, I will encourage the City Manager to publish a notice in the Bee so the public is aware of the date of the Council Meeting where the boundaries will be voted on.
Mayor Autry
The Gospel is quite clear about the necessary response to those who are hungry, thirsty, naked or homeless. Yet the city policy has caused the deliberate and illegal destruction of the homes and possessions of many homeless. Jesus describes the consequences of this type of sin in Chapter 25 of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. As a Christian have you considered this? The St. Benedict Catholic Worker worked with a team of lawyers, headed by Paul Alexander of Heller Eherman, to stop the city's most egregious practices in federal court. From what you said on the Ray Appleton program, it appears that you were not correctly briefed by city staff about the evidence that was presented in court. You accused the federal judge of not knowing what is going on, but it appears that you don't know what your own staff is doing or understand what the evidence demonstrated beyond any doubt in court. . . Would you like a to have a real briefing and discuss real solutions? If so, please let me know.
Bryan Apper
St. Benedict Catholic Worker
Bryan,
I respect and share your concern for the homeless. However, your grasp of the facts leaves a great deal to be desired. First of all, I doubt you were there before this sweep occurred. I was. And what I saw was a situation that was more of a disease factory than a place to live. To allow people to live in these kind of circumstances is not only bad for the community, it is also bad for the people who are staying there. What I saw was unlike anything I'd ever seen in my life.
The things I spoke of on Ray Appleton's show were true. If you would have been there you would have seen it. There were no new tents. There were no wheelchairs destroyed. In fact, I find it kind of curious, where was the individual [who owned] this so-called wheelchair? I dispute your recounting of the actions and would like also like to remind you of something else Jesus said. Jesus spoke very clearly of his love for children and said, "He who harms one of these little ones, does the same to me." I would like to hear some of the same passion you have for these poor souls on the street be given to those children right across the street who have had to watch all of the sex in public, men and women relieving themselves in their view and being forced to stay inside all day rather than be exposed to this. I feel with all my heart that to have let this situation continue would have been mistreating, not only the homeless, but especially those children.
Mayor Autry
The City Council has the five votes to over-ride your veto of the utility rate increases. I attended the last nine meetings of the Utility Commission, addressed the Council three times and gave the rate hike schedule to the media on Nov. 2. I suggested a life-line rate to the Commission, they recommended it in their final report, the Fresno Bee has called for it editorially, and you have directed the City Manager to draft such a rate to be proposed to the Council. What will you do if the Council does not adopt a life-line rate for persons of moderate income in Fresno? I think you should caution the Council that Fresno will hurt its image if it gives the back of its hand to persons of moderate income and rejects the life-line rate proposal.
Loran W. Harding
Loran,
I appreciate your heart for those who will hurt the most from these rate increases. However, there are clear laws that preclude utility rate funds used as a lifeline. However, we're doing everything we can to put together a plan to mitigate as much as possible the impact of this rate increase on our most vulnerable, in particular seniors on fixed incomes and the disabled on fixed incomes.
Mayor Autry
If you want to improve the image of Fresno just repaint those city buses that carry those ugly advertisements. One look at those monstrosities and you get the idea that we are living in a very poor Third World country. Visitors to this city must think we are really hard up for money to allow such nonsense.
Bill Tait
Bill,
Most large cities sell bus advertising as a way to generate revenues to then put back into the bus service. Rest assured, if any Third World country had our quality of bus service, they certainly wouldn't be a Third World country.
Mayor Autry
I just do not understand how the city planning commission or whoever would allow the traffic mess we have at Willow and Nees, especially on the west corner. Why did they (?) allow a left-turn lane but not a right-turn lane?
The roadway is wide enough to have allowed a left turn, right turn and a throughway going east on Nees. I guess we will have to have someone killed or numerous more traffic accidents before something is done. Let's use some of the Measure C funds to purchase the easement from the home owner on the southwest corner or just domain it before something serious happens because of the traffic congestion on that corner.
Mike Brown
Mike,
I've been to that location many times and agree that it's a mess. It's an example of what can happen when we don't have a comprehensive planning strategy. We're looking at any and all ways to fix this situation. After years of development fees not covering the cost of necessary infrastructure, I supported these fees being revised. Street feels will be voted on by the council on Jan. 23. The new fees should prevent this situation from repeating itself.
The Associated Press moved a bulletin as I arrived at work this morning. Actor Peter Boyle has died at New York Presbyterian Hospital at age 71. 
His portrayal of the crusty father, Frank Barone, was the best thing about the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond." He was also unforgettable as the Monster in "Young Frankenstein" and many other roles during his 50-year career.
We'll miss you, Peter.
Photo: Associated Press
What's your favorite holiday TV show or movie? 
My youngest daughter, Katie, LOVES "Frosty the Snowman." Shayna, our 10-year-old, likes "The Santa Clause." Growing up, my favorite was always the clay-mation classic, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." These days I like "A Christmas Story."
Narrator from "A Christmas Story": Over the years I got to be quite a connossieur of soap. Though my personal preference was for Lux, I found that Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor -- heavy, but with a touch of mellow smoothness. Life Buoy, on the other hand ... YECCHH!
What puts you and your family in the holiday mood?
(Photo: Associated Press file)
The oldest school bus in the state has been retired as part of an effort to clean up the state's air by getting older, less efficient diesel-powered vehicles off the road.
School Bus No. 1, which first entered service in 1951, has been put out to pasture -- or rather a museum -- by the Mojave Unified School District. It's the first of what is hoped will be hundreds of older buses to be retired, using, in part, $200 million from Proposition 1B, part of the infrastructure bond package approved by voters last month.
The Valley is home to the largest number of such polluting dinosaurs and -- not coincidentally -- the some of the filthiest air in the nation. Some of the folks down in Mojave waxed poetic about the old bus hitting the silk, but as far as I'm concerned, the sooner these things are off the road, the better.
Chess' world governing body introduced drug testing at the Asian Games this week, although the sport's top official in Doha, Qatar, said he had no idea how drugs could enhance chess performance, Reuters reports.
"I would not know which drug could possibly help a chess player to improve his game," competition manager Yousuf Ahmad Ali said.
"But, yes, there will be official monitors who may demand that players undergo a drug test after the rounds."
Drug testing is the latest move by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) to raise international standards in the hope of making chess an Olympic sport in the future.
Chess is making its debut at the Asian Games, where more than 60 players will compete for the medals. The Asian Games take place through Dec. 15.
And Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star Telegram chimed in on the controversy surrounding Mark McGwire's first appearance on the ballot for baseball's Hall of Fame.
Galloway's one of the national baseball writers who vote in such matters. He won't be voting for McGwire, whom many suspect of using steroids to enhance his record-setting performance as a home run hitter.
He adds: "Do I know, say, [Tony] Gwynn and [Cal] Ripken [also on the ballot] were totally clean? No, but in the case of Gwynn, you have to think that was a body fueled by cheeseburgers, not steroids."
I was checking the Internet for the hot toys for the season, and surprise, surprise, there is Barbie -- again! -- on the list. I'm amazed at the diversity of collector editions of this doll. There's NASCAR Barbie, Wonder Woman Barbie, Harley Davidson Barbie, Star Trek Barbie, L.A. Dodgers Barbie, Patriot Barbie, Kwanzaa Barbie, Boho Barbie, Lounge Kitties Barbie and even Citrus Obsession Barbie, just for starters. Now doesn't that last one make you think there should be some collector Barbies from the Valley? Here's a start off the top of my head -- now send us your ideas! Artists out there? Post your sketches!
* Measure C Barbie: in Spandex with her own road bike and water bottle.
* Chaffee zookeeper Barbie: dressed in khaki, includes monkey.
* Friant Dam Barbie: complete with thigh-high waders and salmon-fishing gear
* Gangbuster Barbie: rough and ready to arrest Bulldog gang members in her authentic Fresno Police Department uniform
* Tower District Barbie: comes with her own artist's paint set
* Downtown Barbie: dazzling in sequins and faux fur with tickets to the Fresno Grand Opera
* Volunteer Barbie: in an apron with the Poverello House logo
* Kids Day Barbie: ready in her hat and apron to sell special editions of The Bee to benefit Children's Hospital
* Lock 'em up Barbie: ready to work for Elizabeth Egan, district attorney, in her pin-striped suit and leather briefcase
* Blackstone Barbie: this one could go a lot of directions
The city of Fresno's administration has come up with several new excuses for not raising developer fees for streets. That has angered the City Council, which is ready to double fees immediately. The council was supposed to vote for the fee increase on Tuesday, but the mayor's office has pushed that vote off until Jan. 23.
Instead of determining the proper level of fees, city staff has been allowing the development community to run the show. The fees have not been raised for nearly 15 years. But now even the developers want the fees to increase, but the city can't figure out how to get it done in a timely manner.
City officials say the paper work for the fee increase has not been completed. So what have these people been doing? "I'm fine doubling the fees, but it's not automatic," said Assistant City Manager Jon Ruiz. "You can't just decide to double the fees and just do it."
Not if your heart really isn't into it. This is one more example of the city being cozy with the building community. This won't get done until the developers say it's OK. They call the tune at City Hall.
Here's Matt Leedy's story in today's Bee.
In Saturday's Valley Voices, a page for local columnists, Tal Cloud writes about the San Joaquin River settlement, George B. Kauffman marks the 100th anniversary of the FDA and Judith Reposo writes about her commitment to providing solar cookers to the people of Darfur, Sudan.
In Sunday Vision:
Pyotr Romanov, a political commentator for the Russian News and Information Agency Novosti writes about the passing era of Castra, what he's done for the country and how he has let it down.
Our editorial looks at the heavy agenda ahead of the air district this year and Paul Adams, 84, is profiled in Meet Our Letter Writers.
Ellen Goodman writes about the death of her mother and what she brought to their family.
Jim Boren, editor of the editorial pages, explains why "bias" and "point of view" aren't a bad thing on the Opinion pages.
Victor Davis Hanson compares Pearl Harbor with a more recent tragedy, Sept. 11.
David Brooks tells the touching story of how Jackie Kennedy helped her brother-in-law, Bobby Kennedy, resolve the grief of losing his brother to an assassin by studying the work of the ancient Greeks.
Maureen Dowd writes about the refreshing honesty of Robert Gates, whom she says gave the Senate panel a cold shower.
Kathleen Parker says the world's gone Barack over Obama -- everybody wants to know more about this man.
The Valley's Top 10 qualifications to serve on the Valley air board: 10. Must be without scientific or medical training and 9. Drives SUV with "Save the Air" bumper sticker.
Enjoy!
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata say the public doesn't care about redistricting reform. Judging by my phone calls and emails, that isn't true. But it's not me you must persuade, it's them.
So if you believe in competitive legislative and congressional elections, let them know.
You can call Nunez at (916) 319-2046, or email him at Assemblymember.Nunez@assembly.ca.gov
You can call Perata at (916) 651-4009, or email him at Senator.Perata@sen.ca.gov
Here's today's editorial talking about this issue.
California now has its very own Hall of Fame. The charter inductees are an eclectic group: Ronald Reagan, César Chávez, Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, Clint Eastwood, architect Frank Gehry, AIDS researcher David D. Ho, tennis great Billie Jean King, John Muir, astronaut Sally Ride, writer Alice Walker and the Hearst and Packard families.
The new institution is the brainchild of Maria Shriver, wife of Gov. Ahnold. It's located in Sacramento at the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.
Who else belongs in the new hall? I'll start the bidding with Fresno's own William Saroyan, and raise with John Steinbeck. Got any more nominees?
All kinds of odd behaviors have been known to occur at Christmas parties, but this is a new one: A camel by the name of Gus with a fondness for Guinness and mince pies crashed a Christmas party at an Irish riding school.
Robert Fagan, owner of the Mullingar Equestrian Centre in central Ireland, told Reuters the 11-year-old camel's actions were a surprise. "He's really a very gentle, docile sort of camel."
Gentle, docile, and filled with a craving for a six-pack of stout and 200 pies. A real party animal.
We've been trying to find ways of bringing younger readers to The Bee's opinion pages, and we're getting help from about two dozen local high school students. They make up our student advisory board, which is in its third year. The group met last night at The Bee and we discussed issues of importance to them. including school dress codes, teen drinking and drug use, the popular MySpace Web site and online bullying and abuse.
These are extraordinary young people, and we'll learn a lot from them. But I don't know where they get the time to do all that they do. They are honor students, volunteer in their communities, participate in plays and concerts, are active in sports, play musical instruments and sing. In their spare time, they hold down part-time jobs. Whew.
We asked each to introduce themselves last night. A common passion among these star students is reading. They love it and it started at an early age. There's a message for all the parents out there. Introduce reading to your children early and open the door to the pleasures of reading. It will pay off. To state the obvious: Students can't be successful in school if they can't read.
For those of you who are fans of Molly Ivins, you have probably noticed that her column is missing for the moment. Here's a November story about her from Editor & Publisher magazine.
OK, here's some good news -- I guess: 10 "bad" things that are good for you, at least in moderation. Check out livescience.com for the complete discussion -- including some important caveats.
10. Beer
9. Anger
8. Coffee
7. LSD
6. Sunlight
5. Maggots
4. Marijuana
3. Red Wine
2. Chocolate
1. Sex
And thanks to progressive.org's Dennis Best for this advice: "For the most interesting results we suggest trying them all at once."
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