Ground has been broken for the final phases of the 24th Street Improvement Project through downtown Bakersfield, which will link Hwy 178 to the 99 Freeway by the Spring of 2020. Former Congressman Bill Thomas pushed to secure the $630-million for several highway projects across the city, and says our longest serving mayor had wanted to be there today’s groundbreaking before he passed…”He made a difference for a long, long time, so let’s remember Harvey Hall as we finish this project.” Thomas also credited other agencies and many Westchester area neighbors, who supported the project despite eight lawsuits filed by a few others. Hall died earlier this year from a sudden brain illness.

Suzanne Grant