Josh Pedrozo Merced County Supervisor

Weekly Update

Monday — Back to the grind after a week of vacation. Started with a briefing on a voter education grant initiative. I couldn’t wait to vote for the first time, only to miss the November 2000 presidential election by one month because I was still 17. Even if you don’t think it does, your vote matters.

Then it was off to the GVHC grand reopening in Le Grand. Golden Valley Health Centers provides affordable, accessible health care to communities throughout the Central Valley.

Had a lunch meeting with the Food Policy Network, a working group looking at how we navigate this time of SB 1383. Ended the day watching the City Council meeting, where they unanimously passed a revenue-sharing agreement with the County that the Board will take up Tuesday. I was part of the initial discussion as a City Councilmember, and now as a Supervisor, it’s collaboration at its best.

Tuesday — Parks Improvement Plan briefing. Board policy sets aside $500,000 a year for parks improvement projects, which I think is important to our quality of life. District 2 has a lot of city parks but only one county park. Lighting is something I think should happen, and we are working on a plan. Stay tuned.

Also had a Board briefing on closed session and Planada 2020. Then it was a busy evening with the UCM intern project showcase, Lucy’s back-to-school night, and National Night Out at the park with Owen. One of my favorite events of the year. Great work, and thank you to the City for doing such a great job.

Wednesday — Monthly meeting with the City Manager and then on to the memorial for the legendary Joan Faul. She was a super sweet lady who always had a smile on her face. She will be missed.

Thursday — The Board of Supervisors is very appreciative of and engaged with community input, so we are putting together a video explaining how you can get involved. Stay tuned.

Then it was off to the Indian Chamber of Commerce mixer, followed by the Ana Boyenga for Superintendent root beer float event. Hot, but a great evening. Nothing says campaigning like a root beer float in August.

Friday — Catching up on phone calls and agenda work. We also adopted a new member of the family. Meet Otis, Mac’s little brother he never wanted. We are still working on getting Mac to accept the terms of the adoption.

Saturday — Memorial service for my sister’s mother-in-law.

Sunday — Final day before Lucy starts 5th grade. Wednesday is the first day for MUHSD and MCSD, so please be mindful of the traffic and patient as we all get back into our routines. The school year traffic is coming, folks. Buckle up.

A couple of other quick notes: Roadwork is scheduled to start on McKee Wednesday. Notification has been posted, and I recognize the inconvenience. But progress takes time, patience, and understanding. We will get through it.

Finally, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Wood family. Roger was one of the nicest people I have ever met. Atwater has taken a blow with the loss of two legends.

And one more thing—please continue to support Owen as he prepares to go Over the Edge to raise money for United Way. Apparently normal fundraising was not exciting enough, so he decided the best way to raise money was to climb over the edge of a building. As a dad, I am incredibly proud. As a dad, I also have a few questions.

Please consider supporting him. Every dollar helps a great cause.

Board meeting Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Have a great week, everyone!

I apologize, I don’t have a weekly update. The family and I took a vacation on the coast. I was still handling phone calls and a couple of zoom meetings, but it was a nice break before school starts for Heidi and the kids. I won Yahtzee, Ticket to Ride twice and caught some waves with Lucy and Owen, while Heidi relaxed on the beach. Home today making cookies. Busy week ahead and I can’t wait. Stay safe and cool everyone.

Weekly update:
Monday-Finished my tenure of the Ag and Rural Affairs committee for the National Association of Counties by giving my final report on the resolutions we passed as a committee with no controversy. I am incredibly proud of the work we did and will continue on as a vice chair but I’m happy to see my friend Commissioner Leslie Meyer from Audrain County Mo. take over. Great job Leslie!

T-long day of travel

W-Straight to Stanford. As many of you know Lucy has some health issues and had a procedure done. She’s good but they wanted to check some things.

R-Great to be back in the office. Started the day with a meeting on ECM and all the services they provide for the Alliance. Then had an interview with Univision as they are doing a profile on Merced County. They wanted to tour the Courthouse museum and learn about the renovation work that I helped champion. It’s always such a great opportunity to discuss the work we are doing honoring our past in order to look toward our future. By the way I didn’t think I’d climb out of a window from the top of the cupola but hey when the opportunity presents itself take it. Ended with the MAC’s annual meeting and showcase that Owen performed in. The arts are alive and well in Merced County!

Friday-Zoo re-grand opening ribbon cutting with Lucy. I remember going to the zoo as a kid, and now taking my children there as a parent. It’s a treasure to have in Merced and it truly is a county honor to have something like this that saves animals, and honors the local nature community. Then on to the joint Chamber Mixer where they uncovered the new Hispanic Chamber of Commerce logo. Really proud of that organization and their leadership. Then off to Lion King Jr, to watch our neighbor perform in her first show. Owen couldn’t remember the last time he was in the crowd at playhouse and not on the stage. People saw him and I felt like I was with a celebrity.

Saturday-Beach day before wharf to wharf

Sunday-Wharf to Wharf race a tradition we started after Owen’s first birthday. Heidi and I have ran it every year, even during COVID in Merced. Now, it’s me and Owen, as Heidi has a bad knee.

On a serious note, my thoughts go out to everyone in the Snelling area who were evacuated because of the fire. I’m glad that everyone is okay, and am grateful to our county team that did a great job in protecting and providing services. Special shout out to our CEO, Sheriff, HSA, BHRS, OES, and CalFire for activating quickly and efficiently. I am proud of our team and proud to be a leader in Merced County.

Have a great week everyone!

Weekly recap

Monday: I had a productive water meeting with Merced County’s water expert, Lacey McBride. Water policy is a complex subject, and she does a great job helping us understand it. Later, as Chair of First 5 Merced County, we awarded grants to six organizations using innovative approaches to serve children ages 0-5.

Tuesday: A busy but very productive Board of Supervisors meeting.

Wednesday: I had the opportunity to see Owen in Shrek, and I’m so proud of him. As much as he shines on stage, Lucy puts in the same hard work on the softball field. They just have different stages.

Thursday-Sunday: As I’ve mentioned before, I serve as Chair of the National Association of Counties Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and, as the suburban appointee on the NACo Board of Directors, representing the California State Association of Counties. This year I was also asked to serve as a first-time attendees ambassador, helping new conference participants navigate NACo and understand why it matters. It was a great opportunity to welcome people, answer questions, and help them get the most out of the conference.

I had a productive conversation with a constituent about the concerns people are having with the Housing Authority. While we appoint the board members, the Housing Authority is a separate entity. It is our job to hold them accountable, and I will be asking them to provide a report at a Board meeting in August.

I also had a great conversation with an administration official about transportation projects and potential funding opportunities.

No Board meeting this week. My dad is having a procedure on Monday and Lucy is having one on Wednesday. I’d appreciate your thoughts for both of them. Have a great week, everyone!

Weekly recap:

Monday: I had a great meeting with Swyft Cities about connecting a potential South Merced High-Speed Rail station to downtown. I also received an update on the Victim Resource Center that our District Attorney wants to bring to Merced County, and I’m fully on board. Later, the Bear Naming Committee chose Henry, and I ended the day with an update to the Merced City Council. I appreciate the city-county collaboration that helps build a stronger community.

Tuesday: We had a successful Board of Supervisors meeting with several important Behavioral Health and Recovery Services updates. I’m proud of our team and the work they’re doing. I had planned to stop by Italo, but got pulled into hide-and-seek with Lucy and the neighbors. Hard to say no to that.

Wednesday: I had our monthly meeting with the mayor, city manager, and county CEO. One of my priorities when I became a supervisor was setting up this regular meeting so the city and county could collaborate and stay aligned. We won’t always agree, but the conversation matters. Former Mayor Bill Spriggs stopped me and said he was glad to see the city and county talking. I told him, “All the time.” Later, we met with our Sacramento advocates, Public Works, and the CEO’s Office to discuss High-Speed Rail.

Thursday: I met with Supervisor-elect Lara, had a pre-board briefing with Supervisor Pacheco and staff, and attended Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria’s backpack giveaway at Golden Valley High School. It’s a great event that gives students the tools they need to succeed. Thank you, Assemblymember Soria, for continuing it. I also attended the Cactus Flower Project hosted by YLI, which featured artwork by youth at the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Center. Their talent was incredible, and I’m proud of those young people.

Friday: I joined the California State Association of Counties delegation meeting as we prepare for the National Association of Counties conference. It’s always valuable to connect with colleagues from across California before meeting with county leaders from around the country. Later, I had a productive conversation with Will Kelly of the North Valley Labor Federation over tacos at Marie’s. The place was packed, and it’s great to see longtime local businesses thriving and keeping downtown’s history alive. Also, it was twin day at MAC Theater camp, I had nothing to do with this but Owen and his friends chose to dress like the Founding Fathers. Really cool to see their patriotism.

Saturday: I attended the groundbreaking for General Vang Pao Park, a project that began when I served on the Merced City Council. General Vang Pao was a tremendous leader in the Hmong community, and though he is no longer with us, his legacy and contributions to Merced County continue to have a lasting impact.

Sunday: I attended the funeral for Koua Yang’s son. I didn’t know him personally, but Koua has always been kind to me, and it was important to be there. Later, we watched my nephew Kyren and his team win their tournament in Atwater. I’m proud of that kid and his teammates. I’ll take partial credit since they came over to swim in the pool beforehand—just kidding. Great job, guys!
I hope everyone has a great week ahead and stays cool. We have a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, with closed session beginning at 8:30 a.m.

We have a name for the bear!

Meet Henry.

The name is a nod to our heritage and represents both the east and west sides of Merced County. It honors Charles Henry Huffman, who went by Henry, a pioneer in the City of Merced whose leadership in agriculture and business helped lay the foundation for our community. It also recognizes Henry Miller, the legendary cattle rancher whose legacy shaped the west side of the county.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a name. We received more than 690 submissions, making this a very difficult decision.

I’m proud we chose a name that reflects our history and honors two of the pioneers whose vision helped build Merced County.

Weekly Recap:

Monday: I met with Aubrie Tone, Comcast’s new Government Relations representative, and asked her to help my friend Donna Bradley with the overgrown conditions on Moomjean. Later, I joined our NACo Agriculture and Rural Affairs resolutions call. I’m always proud to represent Merced County on the national stage.

Tuesday: Briefings on TRC and Castle reminded me there’s a lot of good work happening across our county. I also filmed a video for America’s 250th anniversary. The highlight of the day was the MCOE Transitional Graduation. Those students worked incredibly hard, and it was an honor to celebrate their accomplishments. Thank you to El Capitan and the Mainzer for helping make it happen.

Wednesday: I attended the inaugural Contour Airlines flight in Merced, which means more flights and more opportunities for our community. I also toured our new Workforce Development building and saw the great work Erick Serrato and his team are doing. I wrapped up the day in Los Banos at Congressman Adam Gray’s Sportsmen’s event, where I was happy to help with the barbecue. It was also great to spend time with Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco, who is running for the State Assembly. As a dairyman, he understands the Valley, and we need more farmers representing our region.

Thursday: I received updates on a solar project, attended a Sheriff’s Office communications briefing, and met with the Governor’s Office regarding High-Speed Rail. No matter your opinion on the project, know that we are working hard to hold everyone accountable. The best part of the day was Mercado on Main.

Friday: I spent part of the day working on policy before celebrating my dad’s birthday. If your sister says she’s hosting a small family barbecue and your family is Portuguese, Italian, German, and Hispanic, cancel your plans and buy more food. And yes, I was texting our CEO before 5:30 a.m.

Saturday: I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July. The Atwater Parade was another great community tradition with an incredible turnout. Thank you to Heidi for powering through a summer cold. We also randomly got stuck behind a fallen tree limb blocking the road. Two strangers immediately jumped out to help clear it, and I told Owen, “Let’s go help.” Those small moments of neighbors helping neighbors are what make Merced County such a special place.

Sunday: World Cup and unfortunately Giants baseball.

Looking ahead, tomorrow we’ll choose a name for the bear at the park and Tuesday’s Board meeting begins with closed session at 8:30 a.m. followed by regular session at 10. All are invited to attend, participate or submit comments beforehand.
Have a great week, everyone!

Happy 4th of July!! Happy Birthday America!!

Weekly Update

Monday: Started the week with a great meeting of my NACo Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy Committee. As I’ve mentioned before, I serve as chairman, and this was our final check-in before our policy resolution meeting. One of our members from Texas asked about introducing an emergency resolution on the New World screwworm. I spent much of Monday and Tuesday working on a resolution addressing the growing threat of invasive species moving north. Because it was submitted as an emergency resolution, I’m not sure where it ultimately landed, but I left it in the capable hands of my colleagues from Texas.

Later that day I attended the Area Agency on Aging meeting. I really enjoy serving on this committee, and we successfully updated our bylaws to encourage better participation.

Tuesday: More policy work followed by Merced College’s Building Our Roots reception with Dignity Health, welcoming new physicians to our community. Recruiting healthcare professionals is critical for Merced County, so it was great to meet many of the newest members of our medical community.

Wednesday: I had a very productive meeting with Sierra Saving Grace regarding housing issues. While I couldn’t answer all of the questions myself, I invited my friend and Housing Authority board member Robert Dylina to hear the concerns firsthand. Bobby and I have known each other since first grade, and he has always been a tremendous advocate for Merced County.

From there it was the Central California Alliance for Health meeting, followed by the opportunity to meet Secretary Xavier Becerra and attend the Merced Boosters dinner sponsored by Bill Lyons. A little-known fact: Bill’s son and I attended Cal Poly together. I wrapped up the evening at Club Mercedes social night.

Thursday: I met with the Food Para Todos organization about their continuing efforts to feed those in need. I encouraged them to continue working with the Merced County food Bank. The people and that organization do a lot to support the food insecurities in Merced County. It’s always inspiring to see just how many people and organizations are working every day to help those in need throughout Merced County.

The highlight of the day was celebrating America’s 250th birthday at our Historic Courthouse. Thank you to Judge McCabe and Board Chairman Daron McDaniel for their introductions and for reading the Declaration of Independence. If you haven’t seen it yet, the courthouse is lit up red, white and blue through July 6, so be sure to check it out.

Friday: I had the privilege of presenting a certificate to a Drug Court graduate. Stories like these remind us why these programs matter. I also enjoyed coffee with constituents and hearing what’s on their minds.

Lucy got home Thursday from 4-H camp and was exhausted. But played a game and went 1-2. Proud of this girl!

Saturday: We celebrated the groundbreaking for Atwater Feed. Three years ago their business was devastated by a fire, and now they’re rebuilding. Atwater Feed is a local institution based in Atwater that serves customers throughout Merced County. Congratulations to the Fragulia family, and thank you for everything you’ve done for our community.

Later, I celebrated Lloyd Fagundes’ 70th birthday before heading to my good friends the Medefinds’ anniversary celebration.

Sunday: Today marks Heidi’s and my 18th wedding anniversary. They say behind every good man is an even better woman, and that’s absolutely true. In fact, when I first brought Heidi home 22 years ago, both my dad and my uncle told me that if I messed this up, they were keeping her and getting rid of me.

We spent our anniversary at Owen’s closing performance of The Olympians. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew on a fantastic production.

Another busy and fun week ahead.

As we celebrate this holiday weekend and America’s 250th birthday, have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July. Enjoy the fireworks, but remember our pets, our veterans and others for whom the loud celebrations can be difficult.

Huge shout out to the Sunrise Rotary Club for putting up flags to commemorate the United States gaining independence, Happy 250th birthday America. You don’t look a day over 249!