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Articles by Jerrold Jensen
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor, The latest annual forecast by the California Department of Finance predicts K-12 schools will have nearly one million fewer students in 2031 than they did in 2015. That projected decline is already reflected in current statewide 1st grade enrollment that is already at the lowest level reported in the last 29 years. Blame the loss on young adults called DINKs – “Dual Incomes – No Kids.” Many potential parents need 2 incomes to pay the mortgage and cannot afford to have more children.
Letter to the Editor: Deciding to vote on VUSD candidates
Dear Editor, If there are no consequences for failure – you are going to have a lot of failure. It is a hard lesson often learned by parents and by voters. So how should we now treat admitted failure by two members of the Visalia Unified School Board who are now seeking reelection?
Letter to the Editor: A Shoutout for Taking Action
Dear Editor, Congratulations to The Sun-Gazette and publisher Reggie Ellis for his Feb. 9, 2022, article about Visalia Unified’s terrible results in producing graduates who are eligible for freshman admission to Fresno State or UC Merced. For perspective, in 2021 only 24% of VUSD graduates met admission requirements. Statewide, over half of all graduates qualified. The district ranked 19th out of 20 districts between Clovis and Delano. More details below.
Letter to the Editor: Good Samaritan Bill Whitlatch
Dear Editor, Generous donors and unpaid volunteers are essential parts of Visalia’s community values. The Samaritan Center (clinic) located in Northeast Visalia is a prime example as it delivers free medical care to 200 to 300 patients per month who are unable to access health care through conventional programs such as MediCal. I recently asked my friend Bill Whitlatch for a tour. The clinic provides the last possible health care solution for many and few questions are asked.
Tribute to Mayor Link
Visalia’s retiring Mayor, Bob Link, leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of a lifetime of service to our city. He has been a member of the City Council for the last 21 years – including 3 terms as Mayor. Over the last 60 years he has donated countless hours to non-profit organizations, service clubs, religious organizations and youth groups. Born and raised in Visalia, Bob was a member of Mt. Whitney’s first graduating class.
Letter to the editor: Steve Maaske retires from Exeter Golf Course
He moved on to play for the College of the Sequoias and was named the “Giant Golfer of the Year” after finishing in fourth place in the Valley Championships. He then received an athletic golf scholarship to attend Fresno State University. He began managing the Exeter course immediately after graduating in 1976. Thus began a lifetime of 70-hour work weeks which didn’t leave much time for socializing, but he did serve as V.P. for the board of directors for the Exeter Chamber of Commerce.
Commentary: Attacks on police integrity are counter-productive
Jerrold Jensen, Guest Columnist Published 10:41 a.m. PT July 16, 2020 The attacks on the integrity of our local police create an atmosphere where we may soon suffer from the “Ferguson Effect.” In Aug. 2014, a Ferguson, Missouri police officer killed a young Black man. That city and St. Louis area was then rocked by weeks of protests. A grand jury investigation concluded the officer’s action was justified. But the behavior of police changed.
A 'good news' story from Exeter
The Exeter, California, Cemetery looked like a scene out of the Norman Rockwell paintings that captured the spirit of America on magazine covers for so many decades. Despite the Governor’s orders, over 100 volunteers had gathered to place American flags on the graves of the 2,000 veterans buried there. A few walked patiently and alone as they searched the thousands of grave markers.
Letter to the Editor: Saluting two sisters who honor Memorial Day tradition
To the Editor, The Exeter Cemetery looked like a scene out of the Norman Rockwell paintings that captured the spirit of America on magazine covers for so many decades. Despite the Governor’s orders, over 100 volunteers had gathered to place American flags on the graves of the 2,000 veterans buried there. A few walked patiently and alone as they searched the thousands of grave markers.
Letter: VUSD board should be applauded for tough decision
The public was told this $105 million bond would provide $75 million in local funds that would be matched by $75 million from the state to build a new high school. But school finance professionals immediately knew the state would never provide that much money. Only local—not state—funds can be used to build swimming pools, sports stadiums and performance theaters. As expected, recent news reports revealed the state’s maximum contribution would only be $33 to $44 million.
Letter: Fifth high school plan surpasses public’s budget and population projections
Measure A was supported by $86,400 from a special interest group called “Visalians for Measure A, sponsored by the construction industry.” (If I was personally in the construction industry, I’m pretty certain I would have donated too since there was $200 million in potential total spending on school construction/remodeling).
Letter to the Editor: Is debt from fifth high school worth extracurricular activities?
Dear Editor, What will Visalia students and taxpayers get if Visalia Unified decides to build their proposed $189 million high school? A fifth high school would allow about 60 more kids to play varsity football, about 40 boys and girls probably could play basketball, another 40 could compete in soccer—the list goes on. More kids could participate in cheer leading, theater, swimming, debate and other activities.
CALmatters Commentary: Declining enrollment doesn’t justify $15B school bond
By Mark Fulmer and Jerrold Jensen, Special to CALmatters Declining school enrollment may have an enormous impact on California’s proposed $15 billion school construction bond, Proposition 13, on the March 3 ballot. The California Department of Education’s data show total K-12 enrollment has been dropping for several years. And the Department of Finance projects further loss of 258,000 kids by 2027-28.
California doesn't need $15 billion school construction bond
By Guest Commentary published: February 19, 2020 California’s declining school enrollment doesn’t justify $15 billion Proposition 13 school bond Photo via iStock Declining school enrollment may have an enormous impact on California’s proposed $15 billion school construction bond, Proposition 13, on the March 3 ballot. California Department of Education’s data show total K-12 enrollment has been dropping for several years.
Letter to the Editor: Valley newspapers owe Congressman Nunes an apology
To the Editor, Our congressman, Devin Nunes, deserves an apology. He has been under unjustified and continuous assault by the major news media since January 2018, when he released his four-page letter detailing failures and bias inside the leadership of the FBI as they investigated possible Russian interference in our 2016 presidential election. He was then chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
Congressman Nunes a Historic Figure - A Public Commentary
Our Congressman, Devin Nunes, deserves an apology. He has been under unjustified and continuous assault by the major news media since January, 2018, when he released his 4 page letter detailing failures and bias inside the leadership of the FBI as they investigated possible Russian interference in our 2016 Presidential election. He was then Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
Guest columnist: Devin Nunes deserves an apology from news media
OPINION Jerrold Jensen, Guest Columnist Published 6:00 a.m. PT Jan. 2, 2020 Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) deserves an apology. He has been under unjustified and continuous assault by the news media since January 2018, when he released his four-page letter alleging failures and bias inside the leadership of the FBI. He was then Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
Guest editorial: Reform VUSD discipline or face tragic consequences
Jerrold Jensen, Guest Columnist Published 10:02 a.m. PT Nov. 25, 2019 | Updated 10:09 a.m. PT Nov. 25, 2019 It is a truly frightening book. “Why Meadow Died – The people and policies that created the Parkland shooter and endanger America’s students.” The book is co-authored by the father of Meadow Pollack, who was one of the 17 people killed by another student in the Parkland, Florida, high school in 2018.
Guest column: It's time for biased media to play straight with public
Jerrold Jensen, Guest Columnist Published 9:00 a.m. PT Oct. 12, 2019 When will I finally decide “enough” and cancel my newspaper subscriptions? Will it be one more snarky headline about Devin Nunes? Or perhaps another disgusting editorial drawing of President Trump backed up by law enforcement officers depicted as jackbooted thugs carrying clubs? Or another New York Times accusation against Justice Kavanaugh? Or will it be another hysterical fact-free column endorsing gun confiscation?
No buy-back program or confiscation campaign will get rid of all assault style rifles
On display at a gun shop in Wendell, N.C., an AR-15 assault rifle manufactured by Core15 Rifle Systems in Dec. 18, 2012. Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News and Observer TNS If citizens are eventually prohibited from possessing certain rifles, will politicians be willing to personally serve warrants so SWAT teams can begin searching homes to find the illegal weapons? Before committing, I suggest they watch the YouTube video of actor Charlton Heston as he addressed an NRA convention.
Letter: Local media ignored Visalia Unified failures
“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” – Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. President. He set high expectations for their role as government watchdogs – but editors still choose what stories they will cover or ignore.
Despite Voice’s “liberal opinion viewpoint,” excellent investigative reporting
Catherine Doe, Editor/Owner of the Valley Voice, received a hearty round of applause from a packed house during a recent community forum that focused on “Fake News.” The audience expressed their appreciation for the paper’s coverage of the problems at Tulare Hospital. Sponsored by the Visalia Times Delta and 210 Connect, panelists included both journalists and elected political leaders.
Visalia's support for police bucks national trends
Californians seem determined to outlaw everything but crime. Between the passage of Proposition 47, which reduced thefts of less than $950 to misdemeanors instead of felonies, and Proposition 57, which reduced sentencing requirements and sent many prisoners back to overcrowded local jails, plus marijuana legalization, we have removed many traditional law enforcement tools.
Numbers just don’t add up for secession
Should we secede? Or, should unhappy voters simply work to eliminate the electoral college that chooses our President? Which way will it be, California? But be careful what we wish for – the rest of America may be perfectly willing to cut us loose. Donald Trump won 30 states including 2,626 counties to just 487 for Hillary Clinton. There are a lot of Republicans who are probably willing to kiss California goodbye.
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