Clean Energy Development
In September, AB 2661 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. AB 2661, introduced by Assembly Member Esmeralda Soria (D–Fresno), advances clean energy development projects in the Central Valley while minimizing the negative impacts of scarce water supplies on the farmworker communities and farmers who drive the region’s agricultural economy.
The bill authorizes projects to convert fallowed farmland to solar farms, which will create jobs, help farmworkers retrain and transition into skilled trades and spur economic development.
“AB 2661 better positions the Central Valley to play a larger role in helping our state meet our ambitious clean energy goals,” says Soria, “while finding productive solutions for water-constrained lands and ensuring our farmworkers are not left behind.”
Specifically, AB 2661 authorizes Westlands Water District—an agricultural water district serving farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties—to broaden its current abilities to oversee energy projects to include the generation, storage and transmission of solar energy.
The new law will help California achieve its climate goals while simultaneously providing an opportunity to uplift disadvantaged communities in places such as west Fresno County where the need for skilled and well-paying jobs is critical.
The bill also directs Westlands Water District to develop a community benefits plan with input from local communities.
Prison Farmers Market
Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF), the largest women’s prison in California, hosted a first-of-its-kind farmers’ market in September for both incarcerated women and staff at the facility. The farmers market, organized by the Insight Garden Program (IGP), included produce donations from nearby farms and farmers’ markets as well as donated fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers from the IGP’s prison gardens at CCWF and Avenal State Prison.
The market served approximately 470 women housed at CCWF. Incarcerated volunteers also delivered bags of produce and flowers to women in the hospice care unit, and approximately 50 CCWF staff took home bags.
The farmers’ market was designed to increase access to fresh, organic produce for one of the nation’s most food insecure populations and, at the same time, help reduce food waste at nearby Central Valley farms. The IGP plans to carry out future farmers’ markets at CCWF and other California prisons where it runs their garden programs.
In addition to improving the nutritional health of incarcerated people, the IGP designed the farmers’ market model, like their prison garden programs, to support participants’ emotional well-being and to improve the overall prison environment and quality of life for incarcerated people and prison staff. In addition to stalls with free fruit, vegetables and herbs, products such as locally made soaps and fresh flowers were distributed.
“Street Race” Equity-Minded Policy Category
The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) has published “Latino Is Not a Race: Understanding Lived Experiences through Street Race.” The report examines the complexities of racial and ethnic identification within Latino communities in the United States, focusing on the concept of “street race,” or the race a stranger would assume you to be based on your physical appearance.
The report finds that current Census and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) methods for collecting and analyzing racial and ethnic data do not accurately reflect the lived experiences of many Latinos, especially Afro-Latinxs.
To address these challenges, the report proposes including a street race/perceived race question in federal data collection instruments, which would capture how individuals are perceived racially based on physical appearance. The authors argue that adding the question is crucial for understanding and addressing racial discrimination and disparities within Latino communities, as well as for other racial minorities.
“The current methods of data collection used by the OMB fail to accurately reflect the realities of racial discrimination faced by Latinos,” notes Cecilia Nuñez, a co-author of the report and a dual-degree graduate student at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy and policy fellow at UCLA LPPI.
“These oversights have significant implications for policy development and resource allocation.”
Dr. Nancy López, also a co-author of the report and a professor, director and co-founder of the University of New Mexico’s Institute for the Study of “Race” and Social Justice, says, “Our report underscores the necessity of understanding the complex and varied lived experiences of Latinos, particularly those who are often marginalized due to how they are racialized…
“The policy recommendations we present are not just suggestions—they are essential steps toward creating a more equitable and just society for all Latinxs.”
Furry Friends: A Lifeline for Homeless Animals
Fresno Furry Friends (FFF) is a beacon of hope for the Central Valley’s homeless and vulnerable pets—rescuing and rehoming countless animals in need. A dedicated nonprofit, FFF is committed to reducing animal overpopulation, networking animals to Animal Rescues in other states, and providing ground and air transport.
One of the most pressing challenges in the Valley is the sheer number of stray and abandoned animals. The region’s shelters are often overwhelmed, leading to the heartbreaking decision to euthanize healthy, adoptable pets simply because there isn’t enough space or resources to care for them. FFF steps in where it can, working tirelessly to reduce these numbers through rescue and transport operations.
The organization has established strong partnerships with shelters and rescues in multiple states, including Oregon, Washington and Utah. FFF organizes biweekly ground and air transport to these partner states, ensuring that as many animals as possible find their way to safety.
Each ground transport carries an average of 60 animals, while air transports can accommodate around eight. These life-saving journeys are often the last hope for many animals, particularly large-breed dogs and cats, which are less likely to be adopted locally. By relocating these animals to areas where there is a higher demand for pets, FFF significantly increases their chances of finding permanent homes.
Moreover, through community outreach and education, FFF encourages responsible pet ownership and helps to dispel the myths surrounding spaying and neutering. The organization understands that many people hesitate to have their pets spayed or neutered due to cost concerns or misconceptions about the procedures. By addressing these barriers, FFF is working to ensure that fewer animals are born only to face abandonment or euthanasia.
