Turlock EDD Office to Close, Property Owner Says

David Fransen|

The State of California plans to shutter Turlock's Employment Development Department branch, forcing unemployed persons to travel to Modesto, Merced or Manteca to receive benefits, the site's property owner revealed Tuesday.

The state has operated an EDD branch in Turlock for 60 years. For the last 35, it has resided at its current 125 N. Broadway location.

But property owner Bill Youngdale said he learned last week that the branch is scheduled to close.

“The real loser is going to be the citizens of Turlock,” Youngdale said. “They're going to have to go for employment services out of town. … I think that's a real shame.”

Youngdale has yet to receive any formal notice of the closure from the EDD or the State. But staff at the branch let slip to Youngdale the closure was imminent, when one employee asked if she could buy the refrigerator once the EDD moved out.

The move will come less than seven years after Youngdale and the state completely remodeled the building to the EDD's exact specifications – at great cost to both – he said.

According to Youngdale, staff said he will receive notice of the branch's closure on Oct. 1. All staff will leave Oct. 15, relocating to Modesto, Manteca or Merced. The building will be empty by the end of October.

“The staff is very disappointed,” Youngdale said. “They don't want to leave.”

Turlock's EDD branch serves about 100 people a day, offering unemployment and disability insurance, paid family leave assistance, and help with taxes for employers.

Most importantly in this economy, the EDD also offers tools for job seekers. The EDD tracks job openings, offers training, and helps place unemployed persons.

Turlock isn't going to let the state shutter Turlock's EDD branch without a fight, City Manager Roy Wasden said. Turlock has been in touch with State Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Turlock) in hopes of stopping the closure, which appears to have been endorsed by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) and rushed through behind closed doors, without public comment.

“This is a decision through the governor's office, it appears,” Wasden said. “We're certainly alarmed by that.”

According to Maryn Pitt, Assistant to the City Manager for Economic Development and Redevelopment, Cannella's office was unaware of the impending fast-tracked Turlock EDD closure.

Brown previously asked the EDD to cut 15 percent from its budget. The closure of the Turlock office appears to be part of the EDD's plan to do so, Pitt said.

Turlock will “take every action,” to stop the EDD from leaving, Wasden said. Letter writing campaigns, phone calls, and visits to Sacramento are planned.

And Cannella might prove a valuable ally in the fight, Pitt said. Cannella was able to save a Los Banos EDD office, previously scheduled for closure. Kristen Olsen (R-Turlock) will also be asked to fight for Turlock's EDD branch.

Turlock's EDD branch is doubly important, Pitt said, because it houses Turlock's branch of the Alliance Worknet, a Stanislaus County jobs initiative. The EDD provides free office space to the Alliance, which sees another 50 people daily.

“In the event we're unsuccessful in keeping the EDD, we're trying to find a new location for the Alliance Worknet,” Pitt said.

Comments 5

  1. Turlockian says:
    Democrat Governor Jerry Brown is stripping the citizens of this State to pay for his political agendas like the high speed rail. This is all to support President Obama. Remember it was Jerry Brown who single handedly took away Turlock's Redevelopment Agency. Democrat's don't care about anything except their political statements. That's why Mary Jackson didn't get reelected to Council and Republican Steven Nascimento beat here as a newcomer.
  2. mother of 5 says:
    And this is why it is important to actually vote but to do it with an educated decision, and to actually read the booklet that comes with the voting ballet and make the decision yourself, with an educated information...
    I did not want Jerry Brown in office again because of his previous outcomes holding office an more than one place and......anytime any bill or law or whatever is going to cost money to start up I vote NO on because, we don't have the money now, then that means less money later tooo.....hello, no money in back acct means no spending.
  3. Ryan says:
    wow Turlock already didn't have any kind of government agencies to assist its people now the very simple one will be shut down?? Going to Modesto even for EDD??? Then why don't just merge Turlock into Modest and set everybody free from commuting??!!!! We have to do something
  4. Guest says:
    They shut down a much needed office in Turlock, while the State just installed new Carpet,paint and A/C in an unoccupied office in Modesto. You hear me right, an office where noone has worked there since last December, almost a year of being empty, and the State renewed the Lease with this full knowlege!
  5. Chris says:
    Turlockian,

    Jerry Brown has taken great steps to turn California's wasteful spending around. Your knee-jerk Republican response belies actual cost cutting that Brown has done in California. The Redevelopment Department was a scam and was used for personal agendas like the money wasted to build a football field that one bring one penny back into the City. You should do some research before just popping off because your not well informed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recent Forum Topics

Recent Forum Replies

  • paul on In what different materials do women’s activewear comes? "You may get a variety of fabrics for the best activewear for women online, including cotton, spandex, synthetic, bamboo fiber, and Gore-Tex. Each of these materials has distinctive properties that set them apart. Since polyester is incredibly light and comfortable to wear, we advise you to utilize it. Athletic clothing frequently uses polyester as a fabric. Shirts for activewear, sweatpants and jogging jackets usually contain polyester blends. Polyester often dries quickly, making it the perfect fabric for intense workouts."
  • PaulWatkins on How does a real estate agency work? "Hi Dans Andrew, I'm glad you have made the right decision because a real estate agency is a promising career. Real estate agency involves dealing with properties either for selling or purchasing. When a client comes to a real estate agency to sell a property, it is the estate agent's job to find a buyer. If the agent finds a buyer and closes the deal at a good price for both parties, the estate agent gets a 1% commission from both buyer and seller. This is how real estate agencies work, and estate agents earn."
  • dans on Where can we find the best kratom capsules? "Hi, sir, I don't know which state you live in because many states in the U.S. have prohibited the sale of the best kratom capsules, but you can still find them online. Many online pharmaceutical stores provide the best kratom capsules at affordable prices. You can look for such online stores on Google or even social media. The store will deliver the best kratom capsule to your home without charging the delivery charges."
  • dans on How to choose the right weight loss clinic? "A reputable weight loss clinic should preferably include counseling while being overseen by a doctor or other qualified medical expert. However, some weight-loss facilities allow clients to quickly obtain weight-loss medications and leave without providing a thorough medical history or seeking a physician's opinion. You should stay away from these types of locations because they're dangerous and probably won't result in long-term weight loss. Find a facility that focuses on the behavioral treatment or lifestyle counseling instead. They can provide you with the tools you need to make healthy decisions and advice on how to fit exercise into your daily schedule. Some of these tactics include keeping track of your meals and keeping a weekly workout log."
  • paul on Why are customer reviews important during online shopping? "The most crucial component of every online store is its customer reviews. Reviews can assist other customers in determining whether or not the business and its items are worthwhile purchases. If you earn positive evaluations, your brand will gain an enormous reputation and rank better on Google. According to Google's recently modified algorithm, a business can increase its performance by obtaining reviews. This is the rationale behind inquiries about reviews on Google, Facebook, and other online clothing stores for women."
ADVERTISEMENT
Skip to content