Other council action: yes to BRT ticket machines, no to writing off bad loan

By David Taub, Senior Reporter

Published 8 years ago on

January 13, 2017

In other council action on Thursday:

The council voted 6-1 in favor of a $4.2 million purchase of 55 ticket vending machines for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The debate sometimes got way off the bus, when Clint Olivier, known as one of the more conservative members made a suggestion that the bus line going up and down Blackstone should be no charge. Olivier surmised that if fares were free, there would be no need to hire anyone, like a law enforcement officer, to make sure people are paying.

While that idea was rejected, it did stimulate conversation as to whether various departments can hire law enforcement and pay for it out of there departments, thus putting more cops on the streets.

Steve Brandau was the lone no vote.

-The council rejected a city request to write off nearly $69,000 in a bad loan for this home near Cedar & Dakota as part of a now-defunct city program. The owner claimed hard times in his effort for the city to okay his short sale.

The 4-3 vote saw Olivier, Brandau, Garry Bredefeld and Luis Chavez vote no. Paul Caprioglio, Oliver Baines and Esmeralda Soria voted yes.

-The council also agreed unanimously to sell a 14 acre property at Herndon & Brawley to a developer for $1.7 million.

E-mail David Taub

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

Free Food, Haircuts, and Rapid HIV Testing Friday in Fresno

David Taub,

Senior Reporter

Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email