The first President Bush did it. Castle Air Force base will go. It became Merced’s history. The once thriving town, so busy that shopping centers sprang up on farm land, now saw only wind blown newspapers dance sadly down the streets. The old businesses could not attract young owners, and doors one by one closed. But then, with the unlikely efforts of Governor Gray Davis and Gary Condit (whose futures eventually dimmed), Merced, the Gateway to Yosemite was chosen for the expansion of the University of California. I wondered, was there a Mercedian influential in this result? I have read a pre-campus report that Al Gore supported Merced, and Arnold’s vice governor Bustamonte was all for it. Merced had the most open land, and the area around Lake Yosemite was inviting....except for those darned fairy shrimp. Fairy Shrimp, who appeared annually in vernal pools near the lake were one of those little critters deemed Endangered. They were quite effective in endangering the construction of the campus!
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:10:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015