Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth spoke with students at California State University, Stanislaus on Tuesday to discuss the City’s desire to build a growing bond with the University, as well as tackling key issues.
“Our council is committed to working on the relationships between the campus and the City,” said Soiseth on Tuesday.
For many years, there seemed to be a disconnect between the City of Turlock and CSU Stanislaus, as two separate entities simply sharing a town. However, recent moves have begun to create a budding relationship.
Perhaps most excitingly, the CSU Stanislaus recently announced that the popular Fourth of July firework show will be returning to the University this year.
The firework celebration was hosted at the University for 24 years before being cancelled. The Stanislaus County Fairgrounds hosted the show for a few years, although it was never as popular as the University’s show, which attracted more than 200,000 people to CSU Stanislaus.
In addition to the fireworks, CSU Stanislaus recently opened a student art gallery in Downtown Turlock, the “Art Space on Main.”
“One of the things we’re trying to do is not only lure you out from campus through the public-private partnership that is the art exhibit Downtown — which is a great thing for all of you to be apart of,” said Soiseth. “But also, what can we do around the campus that makes it more attractive for you to come work, play, recreate, and enjoy Turlock.”
The mayor, who taught at CSU Stanislaus as an adjunct professor, has also promised to give back to students in the way of a scholarship.
According to Soiseth, he will be putting his monthly stipend into a fund to create a public policy scholarship, around $1,000 to $2,000, for students to compete for and help tackle Turlock’s key issues with fresh, new ideas.
“I’m very, very excited about this scholarship opportunity,” said Soiseth, adding that more details will be released in the future.
While the students in attendance were interested in the scholarship, they were more interested in one of the biggest issues facing current students: parking.
Currently, students must pay $180 per semester to park on campus; the high cost of parking permits have led many students to park in surrounding neighborhoods, which cause problems for the City, residents, and students.
“I will just do as much as I can to assist President Sheley and make sure you have a good, affordable option to park here on campus,” said Soiseth, who mentioned that the parking issue is multifaceted.
Soiseth hopes to return to CSU Stanislaus regularly to continue talks with students and the University and keep growing their relationship with the City of Turlock.
“I want you guys to know that your City Council really does care about the campus and the City coming together and working toward some common goals,” said Soiseth.
This is an important initiative from the City Council. I’m happy that my little sister will be able to apply and, hopefully, receive the scholarship as well as hundreds of other Turlock students!
So the Kid Mayor is fair & not beholden to special interests. I guess I will connect the dots because Fransen is in Swanson’s pocket as well. Peter Cipponeri is married to Mia “Swanson” Cipponeri now (is that what she calls herself)? Mia’s Daddy, Matt is Kid Sosieth’s BIGGEST financial contributor. Sosieth will do WHATEVER Swanson/young, inexperienced, or non-college educated Cipponeri tells him to do. Fransen you are a waste of time.
So, if I marry a rich girl with a rich mother & a controlling, condescending religious right father, I can tell a volunteer board of directors to go fly a kite, I want to take over the farmers market in downtown Turlock. Sosieth is full of $hit & Swanson (that would be the father), is his boss. Sosieth doesn’t work for Turlock residents, Matt Swanson tells him what to do.
hi yes i would like to let the mayor know that right now we are having many issues on my street and the police are not helping we need potholes to be fixed and when i called police they were not helping mayor please fix this issue
Oh, but there is more. Eric Gonsalves is VP of Brownstone Equities, Matts property company. He and his wife gave $3,000 maximum, pretty good for a young realtor, and Gary appointed him to the Planning Commission shortly after being elected. Eric is the son of Curt Andre’s cousin, another major contributor and supporter. Dave and Corrie Young, Young Veterinary Services with the controversial animal testing operation are applying to the City to build a new testing facility with hundreds of cats and dogs used for animal research testing in the westside industrial park. They were also major contributors. Gary said he wanted to attract new business. I’m sure Blue Diamond will like their new neighbors.
If the campaign reforms proposed by Steve Nascimento in 2014 had passed, Gary would not be able to vote on any of these projects due to conflict of interest. Candidate Gary said he didn’t need a City ordinance to tell him to be transparent in his relationships between contributors and those wanting to do business (or get special treatment) with the City. Right. And now this whole business of putting up the RFP as a smokescreen before they hand over the Farmers Market to Matt’s new son in law. Gary’s ethical compass appears to be broken.
Yes, Sosieth’s ethical compass appears to be broken. In fact, I don’t think he was born with one. Thanks for giving us even more information about the Sosieth-Swanson-Andre connection. Andre seems to “love” this kid Mayor, did anyone hear his invocation during the state of disrepair of the state address?
Don’t forget how Soiseth appointed Eric Gonsalves to the planning commission and then voted to ban taco trucks downtown. Eric worked for Matt Swanson’s real estate company called brownstone. Then Eric’s company had purchased the old Hauck’s pharmacy building across from memo’s restaurant that Matt Swanson also owns. The new old pharmacy building is now going to be a restaurant too. So now you know what Soiseth broke the law and appointed his biggest dollar contributor’s real estate employee to the planning commission and both voted and paid for others to vote to ban taco trucks downtown.
Soiseth is still collecting donations as payback money from Matt Swanson and all his employees.
Look it up on the city website.
Soiseth is corrupt and taking money from developers and the fire department.
For a political novice, Gary really has come in with a “good ol boys” understanding of “pay to play” politics. Go to the City website and word search this: (“Form 460” + “Soiseth” ). See for yourself. Virtually [u]every[/u] major contributor ($1500 – $3000 max) (except a farm in Hilmar) is actively asking for or getting something from the City: Mayoral appointments, special permits, planning commission approvals and land use variances. Oh, except for John Ferrari…..and I bet his wife is now telling him to go ask for his contribution back as it was likely obtained under false pretenses. This is why the public really learns to hate politicians. Present one face and image to the public with the almost daily picture in the Journal of Gary doing good works. The conduct and character of the person the public doesn’t see (unless you learn how to follow the money trail) is something else
I may have to add a correction. I said every major donor to
Gary Soiseth’s ’14 campaign had a connection to business or expectations from the City, or the Swanson family, except the Vierra Dairy in Hilmar. Now I’m being told the Vierra (dairy) is Matt’s wife’s family . I didn’t verify if this is correct, but i don’t want to miss the opportunity to claim that [u]100%[/u] of the major money in the ’14 election has the taint of political influence: family (with direct business and financial interests in the City), contributors, and people who want “favorable treatment” from the City.
Let me say that again if you missed it: 100% payback in the first year. I give these folks credit: they know how to pick their politicians. You can’t get that kind of ROI in the stock market. But hey, Matt knows that. Why buy stock when you can buy a Mayor, and one who will horsetrade for two additional votes? It’s a much better investment and way, way, easier to control. That’s huge gratification for a puppetmaster. What was that old slogan: “Try Turlock First”. Buy local. Including {certain) public officials.
And if I am wrong, and the Vierra’s are not”family”, my next question would be, why did a dairy in Hilmar donate the $3000 maximum to a Turlock mayoral campaign? Again, when things are unclear in politics, go back to square 1 and follow the money. Go to the 640 disclosure forms and see for your self. Pander to the .5% and the rest of you fine 99.5% of the citizens of Turlock can be deluded by a succession of good deeds (as a single man, you pretty much can show up any place at any time, so long as the photographer is there to document for the future campaign portfolio. Sleep well Turlock. Most of your fellow citizens could care less because he seems like such a nice boy.
The new Swanson (Brownstone LLC) restaurant will be called Haucks Grill. The ancestors of the Hauck Family are still around (in California) No attempt was made to contact the family about using the Hauck name on the restaurant. There is a whole, rich history of Hauck’s Pharmacy (ask any old timer about the counter crew, the scale, etc etc). But for Matt and Co, it is “that’s a good, historical name. Lets use it” Did I miss something? Will you hang a few photos of the “old” Hauck’s in the new grill and call it good? Sigh. We will gain a “vibrant downtown restaurant scene” and lose our soul.
Elwood would be sad.
P.S. Reopen the Brown Jug on Main and all is forgiven
Yes, Matt Swanson’s wife is Maria Vierra Swanson. Have you ever seen her away from Matt? She has quite the personality. What do Matt’s brothers do? I heard one hangs out a lot in Las Vegas, interesting. Hauck’s is owned by the Gallo’s…am I wrong about any of this? Nope, how is the good/bad doctor Rob Santos connected?
It’s time to start the recall for Sosieth, Bublak, and anyone else who votes to cipponeri the farmers market contract. I called City Hall, you have to gather signatures, why not do it Saturday at 1 pm, I heard it’s going to be a packed house!
DJ is a flip flopper. He couldn’t get enough @ Soiseth, talk about a man-crush, it was past that point. The Chamber situation is a joke, it is obvious Bublak, Soiseth & Davoodian/Jacobs want to go after Sharon Silva & the Chamber gang because they were too stupid to get the endorsement. Giving your largest donors son-in-law the right to run the downtown farmers market…is anyone else thinking recall the three of them?
How many signatures does one need to get rid of a council member or the mayor. Does anyone know how the process works? Someone get it started, there were at least 100 people at the city council meeting on Saturday. Why is this website not covering any stories anymore? Did Rob Santos stop paying all of the bills, including David’s rent payment.
“Never as popular as the University’s show, which attracted 200,000 people to CSU Stanislaus”? 200,000 people? Are you kidding? The fairgrounds stepped up because the University didn’t want it, and was putting on a tired, unsuccessful show. The fairgrounds shows drew 7,500 people, and this year’s University show drew maybe 4,500, and was a horrible event. The only reason the University got the show back was because there was, finally, a core group of people who had made it work, and Sharon Silva pulled money from her CVB slush fund to pay for it. Jesus, at least TRY to get your facts straight.
Don’t waste your time, recalling Soiseth, let’s recall the one who says nothing, Matthew Jacobs, needs to get booted off the council. It is apparent he doesn’t read his background information, pay attention & it looks like he’s falling asleep!
SC Justice Clarence Thomas who has not asked a single question in nearly 10 years, (two days short of Feb. 2, 2016), asked 9 questions in the Supreme Court today. Do you think Matthew Jacob might mutter something intelligent Tuesday night March 1st? I’m not holding my breath. I think mayor soiseth pulls the puppet strings, wakes Jacob up, and low and behold, like Thomas, he just might speak. Unbelievable!
It should take much if you figure out the 130 people in the City Hall meeting last Saturday each collect 50 signatures, I bet that would be enough to put a recall of the Nasty & Mean Gang of Three, Soiseth, Bublak & Jacobs. Would that get their attention or would Swanson wave more $$$ big bills at them & poof, the threesome votes the way Ole’ Man Swanson wants?
First the Kid mayor tries to screw the Chamber because the board didn’t endorse him or his partner in crime, Amy Bublak. Next, the kid goes after the Turlock Farmers Market because Matt Swanson, (one of his largest donors besides the Turlock Fire Dept.) son-in-law got kicked out of the Bay area farmers market for being a jerk. Now he’s trying to stop the TIN CUP ordinance which another council member suggested & was quickly forgotten because how else would soiseth, Bublak & Jacobs-Davoodian get elected anyway. The final straw is soiseth’s pathetic attempt to make Turlock, “the city of kindness”. My sons brought home these cards, I encourage all of the Turlock public school students (did he send them to TC where it’s probably need more since Swanson runs the show there as well?) to send in their kindness cards to our kid mayor. It’s why you don’t vote for a 30-year-old to run a city of 72,000 people!
Are you really going to start a recall? If so, maybe you should ask for signatures at the March 15 meeting, it’s going to be a full house.