Many don’t seem to understand that many farmers are not rich, especially the ones I know. We have a few here in Tracy who are rich, but we don’t want to mention their names, for fear of reprisal.
Farmers have had some windfalls over the past 20 years, but only for a few in this area who have owned land for the past 85 years or more. The bottom line is that many landowners sold to developers, or became developers themselves, with the help of most of the same elected office-holders that are still in office.
Soon, we will see some changes in the elected officials who will be termed out, but we will not see any changes in the policies carried over from past administrations going back 20 years.
The concerns I have are that no matter where I go, I hear comments such as, “those Bay Area people have caused this mess.” With that in mind, I wonder if those who criticize those who moved here from other areas realize that if it were not for those transplants, Tracy would still be alfalfa fields.
The amount of money that was generated by homes for the past 20 years has put Tracy on the map. The only thing that has hurt Tracy has been its transportation links to other communities.
Along with that issue, Tracy never generated the jobs that were promised to the people who bought homes here, and some ask why. There are no high-paying jobs in Tracy. All we had here was housing and construction labor, and transient workers who would come and go.
Now the city is hurting for funds. Where do the city officials think the money will come from to run the city?
Let’s go back and inventory the mess. No jobs, no help for small business, home foreclosures, tax reduction for the city and county, and this equals bad times ahead. We must understand that businesses need tax relief, as do the home owners and other service-orientated business.
To sum up the issues, the home foreclosures and the short sales do not help those that are underwater. Businesses move on, but families can’t do that without stress to the family unit. Let’s hope that things get better for the sake of those who moved here who just wanted a chance for home ownership and a better quality of life.
• Thomas A Benigno is a Tracy resident, former business owner and farmer. He has also campaigned for numerous elected positions.
Coldpepper is a plant, he continues to change the subject matter to address issues and create arguments or dialog.
That causes people to post in his favor so that people argue on his agenda, away from the topics of the issue of the articles. Bye Bye.
That's not so convincing either. I already pointed out we have TWO canals - already. We don't need a third. Soon there will be the need for a forth, to fix the next recession. That's bad economics.
You could fall in the canal, and you would still insist that it was not a canal. I'm not here to convience you of anything.
You haven't convinced me that a canal is necessary. We already have two canals. We need the rain.
The largest dirt pile in California that you talk about comes from your agenda, and that dirt is manure.
We still need the canal.
There is plenty of dirt in California. The dirt you want to use would fill the entire Delta.
I think its novel that uou want to save money, but use the leftover dirt at the Joe Wilson pool. It's free. And it won't cost a dime.
I'm finished with you, you don't get it. The dirt from the canal will fix those levees that you say we need fixed.
I never said the High Speed rail had anything to do with the canal. I was pointing out that the rail is a waste of tax payers money.
I think you are either loosing your mind or you are trying being cute. As for problem solving that is for elected officials, none to date have the vision to complete that task, State or locally.
It's raining cats and dogs as i type.
I never said I wanted the "water" idea to go away. Keep it on your backburner if you want, but you haven't solved anyone's problem. Don't confuse the issue. If you recall, the Peripheral Canal issue is about water. I wrote, we already have canals. My point is, if you can't use the existing canals what good is building another. That's why this issue is called,'the third rail'. Nobody wants to touch the Peripheral Canal. It has nothing to do with high speed rail. I thought you already knew that.
Besides, with the record rainfall we've been getting the issue is not rainfall, but flooding.
If we simply fix the levees you could solve both your problems.
Why do people like you oppose the canal,and want the idea to dissapear? Yet you support the bullett train, just because some special interest officials told you it would help Tracy.
The most important issue here is that the Peripherial Canal will bring 10 billion dollars to the valley,and another 50 billion over 10 years. and the needed jobs. The canal will come sooner or later and hire some 8,000 people to start. The Bullett Train was estiminated to cost 30 billion when they started the campaign to build it 10 years ago.
It is now approaching 80 billion just to get it started. FOR WHAT 700 PEOPLE TO TRAVEL UP AND DOWN THE STATE?
THESE ARE THE THINGS I WROTE ABOUT WHEN I WROTE THE ARTIClE, "THE TOWN IS IN NEED OF SOME CHANGE".
You could use it to fill up the pool?
Punt or gain?
I had my wife read your comments and she was just as confused, about your analogy as I am. Why do you say people travel to work from those locations you mention? It doesn't make sense. I have tried to bring jobs to the valley and I'm not an elected official.
Everytime I support the solution to the problem it is opposed by a few special interest lobbyist who govern the media and those who oppose.
Support the Peripheral Canal. Go to benignofor supervisor.com And read my thoughts about the canal the site might still be up.
Thanks
60% of the workforce, not population, are commuters.
If you ran for state, federal, and local office please tell us how you might bring private sector jobs.
Your for-sale idea might not even make the morning news.
Someone is running for a spot you once declared. She used to be the CEO of eBay do you think she can bring jobs to California?
I don't think it works that way, Tom.
If people oppose big companies for farms how do you expect Gateway would want to be here?
You have to first POC what companies you want to bring to Tracy - and then add the elements.
Can you do that, Tom?
I mean just because someone can buy, sell, and geographically deliver to the eBay office, doesn't make you a business magician.
Your thinking is wrong sir: Maybe most of the great paying jobs are over the hill. You had better read what you wrote. People live here and commute over the hill to work.
If we had jobs here those commuters could buy these forclosed homes here and work here. Why are you saying 60% of the people move to Tracy, Lathrop, Mountain House, Banta, and Patterson?
I'm not sure if you are saying the people are moving or commuting. You are a little confused on the issue.
Sixty percent of the workforce population commute. They move to Patterson, Lathrop, Mountain House, Banta, and Tracy.
Before you bring jobs you need the elements to support it. You cannot just bring jobs.
Only a nearby company could help. But people oppose that and they voted against growth.
People only wanted to preserve farms and shutdown Carnegie Park.
I thought you would have already understood that.
If that's what you read out of my statements, then you must draw that conclusion.
Is it possible your comments highlight the precursor to socialism in what's happening in America?
Please lets get back to what the city needs. We need jobs in the private sector. As we watched last week on channel #26 the Livermore Rad Lab used our facility, to explain how to bring jobs to the area.
The jobs they discussed were Rad Lab or Government funded jobs. Heres the key words " EARMARKED MONEY". The private sector don't have that advantage.