There was a time when the Facebook group Avenal Concerned Citizens sounded like exactly what Avenal needed—a place where concerned citizens could exchange ideas, debate issues, and maybe even solve a problem or two.
Then somewhere along the way, it apparently took a wrong turn and became Avenal Confirmed Conspiracies.
Membership now seems less about caring for the community and more about earning your merit badge in Olympic-level outrage.
Question the narrative?
Straight to the comments section.
Disagree politely?
Clearly you’re part of “the conspiracy.”
Ask for evidence?
Well now you’re obviously working for somebody.
The group’s greatest magic trick wasn’t exposing corruption—it was disappearing behind privacy settings the moment the conversation became uncomfortable. Public when throwing punches. Private when someone throws one back.
That’s not transparency.
That’s digital hide-and-seek.
Meanwhile, every week brings another episode of “As the Facebook Turns.”
Breaking News!
Someone smiled at a council meeting.
Exclusive!
A city employee breathed suspiciously.
Developing Story!
Someone’s cousin’s roommate heard from a guy who knows a firefighter who maybe once thought about saying something.
Stay tuned…
What really makes the page entertaining isn’t the politics.
It’s the cafeteria energy.
Imagine the Mean Girls table in high school—except everyone has Wi-Fi, unlimited time, and a profile picture with an American flag.
The conversations often read less like civic engagement and more like:
“Do you think the firefighters still think we’re cool?”
“I heard they looked in our direction.”
“No… they definitely miss us.”
It’s giving less “investigative journalism” and more “please validate me.”
The irony is almost poetic.
A group created around being “concerned citizens” now often seems mostly concerned with who they can be upset with next.
Today’s villain.
Tomorrow’s villain.
Next week’s villain.
Eventually you start wondering if running out of enemies would create an existential crisis.
Here’s a radical proposal.
What if…
Just once…
Everyone logged off.
Touched some grass.
Had a taco.
Watched a Little League game.
Complimented somebody they voted against.
The city would probably survive.
Maybe even improve.
Until then, we’ll keep watching from the sidelines with popcorn, because if Avenal has taught us anything over the past year, it’s this:
Reality was already satire.
We just decided to put a logo on it.
– The Editorial Board at AvenalPress.com
“All the news fit to rePress.”
“Todas las noticias bien refritas.” 🍳📰