President Obama, who up till now has only flown over the Valley, will make his first visit next week. Obama will dedicate the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in Keene, a speck of a village in the Tehachapis east of Bakersfield.
The United Farmworkers headquarters was there.
Obama’s policies have done little to alleviate the foreclosure crisis’ misery in the Valley despite passionate pleas from the likes of Rep. Denis Cardoza. Nationally, Obama arrested the recession’s free fall. He saved the banks. He bailed out the auto industry. But he never championed loan mod legislation that would have kept people in their homes.
I assume Obama will visit Bakersfield. In a way that’s too bad. Bakersfield is leading the Valley’s recovery. It may give Obama the false impression all valley cities are recovering.
But then Obama probably won’t pay attention anyway. He’s there to win Latino votes nationwide.
