Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Poverty Pimps? Brandau's Low Blow from Dais
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
January 26, 2018

Share


Opinion by
David Taub
Is Steve Brandau worried about losing his conservative street cred?
How else would you explain his excoriating of legal advocates for the poor from the city council dais?
Thursday night (Jan. 25), the Fresno City Council debated whether to approve a 2 million-square-foot industrial park project. The result was so obvious, even the New York Times could accurately predict it.
The only drama that remained was whether it would be a unanimous vote (it was, 7-0).
“To Ashley Werner and the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, which really to me, those are poverty pimps.” — Councilman Steve Brandau
But then Brandau created a new kind of drama that generated one of the most heated arguments seen in a long time on an otherwise congenial city council.
“To Ashley Werner and the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, which really to me, those are poverty pimps. That organization is poverty pimps. They play on people’s fears. They come down here constantly, now, standing in the way of the very thing folks need. And, our community needs more importantly,” Brandau said.
Werner, an attorney for the advocacy group, appealed the city’s preliminary approval of the project on Central Avenue. The location is across the street from the site where Amazon is building its e-commerce facility. Leadership Counsel says the city failed to properly conduct an environmental report.
Talk about kicking the poor when they are down. Disagree with Werner and the other Social Justice Warriors all you want. But calling them “poverty pimps?” It’s not like she is Al Sharpton.
(UPDATE, MARCH 1, 2018
Brandau also said at the meeting that Werner purposely provided the state Department of Justice with incomplete information about the land’s zoning. He also said that Werner asked for that area to be zoned industrial in meetings about the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan.)

Is Compassionate Conservatism Dead?

Whatever happened to compassionate conservatism?

“I apologize for the comments that are disrespectful.” — Fresno City Council President Esmeralda Soria
Council President Esmeralda Soria harshly scolded Brandau, two seats to her right. All Oliver Baines could do in the middle was rest his chin in hand.
Soria termed Brandau’s remarks inappropriate and uncalled for. The two then argued, raising their voices over each other.
“I apologize for the comments that are disrespectful,” Soria said.
“Well, I don’t apologize for those comments,” Brandau snapped back.
Brandau didn’t like that Soria apologized on behalf of the council.
“I’m apologizing on my behalf, because I do represent this council,” Soria said, anger rising in her voice.
“Fine. I represent this council,” Brandau retorted. “She is not apologizing for me.”

Question Put to Werner

After the meeting, I asked Werner if she was a poverty pimp.
“I don’t even understand what that means,” Werner said. “What he did tonight was shameful.”
Brandau, however, felt good about the exchange. In fact, he was darn proud of it. Not since the WWE’s Barry Horowitz has someone patted himself on the back so vigorously.
He either tweeted or re-tweeted GIFs and memes demonstrating his bravery.


But as the wise pro wrestling legend Gorilla Monsoon once said, a pat on the back is 12 inches from a kick in the pants.

Anyone Notice a Trend Here?

Maybe Brandau is taking the lead from Mayor Lee Brand.
He told Tim Sheehan of the Fresno Bee:
“The poor need advocates, but they need to choose their battles, and this isn’t the right battle to pick. These advocates are empowered by poverty. My job is to get people out of poverty. This is an opportunity to get people out of generational poverty.”
Our City Hall leaders like to pick on the people who stand up for the poor.
Who’s next? The crippled?

DON'T MISS

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

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

DON'T MISS

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran

DON'T MISS

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

DON'T MISS

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

DON'T MISS

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

DON'T MISS

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

DON'T MISS

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

DON'T MISS

Global Markets Recover on Iran Ceasefire Reports, Central Banks in Focus

DON'T MISS

Madera Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking

UP NEXT

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

UP NEXT

Trump Says Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran

UP NEXT

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

UP NEXT

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

UP NEXT

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

UP NEXT

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

UP NEXT

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

UP NEXT

Global Markets Recover on Iran Ceasefire Reports, Central Banks in Focus

UP NEXT

Madera Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking

UP NEXT

Touring a Tunnel That Leads Underneath a Hospital in Southern Gaza

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

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

16 hours ago

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

16 hours ago

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

17 hours ago

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

17 hours ago

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

18 hours ago

Global Markets Recover on Iran Ceasefire Reports, Central Banks in Focus

18 hours ago

Madera Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking

19 hours ago

Touring a Tunnel That Leads Underneath a Hospital in Southern Gaza

19 hours ago

Suspect in Minnesota Lawmaker Killing Visited Other Legislators’ Homes, Prosecutors Say

19 hours ago

Spyware From US-Backed Israeli Firm Targeted European Journalists, Report Finds

19 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

A wildfire burning near Raymond Road and Avenue 16 in Madera County has prompted evacuation warnings and road closures, authorities said Mon...

15 hours ago

A wildfire near Raymond Road and Avenue 16 in Madera County has prompted evacuation warnings and road closures as officials urge residents to prepare to leave if threatened on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Madera County SO)
15 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

Sanger police are searching for Kaylani Thompson, 17, who went missing Saturday, June 14, 2025, after leaving her home and was last seen getting into a white sedan. (Sanger PD)
15 hours ago

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

A view of the cityscape in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
15 hours ago

Trump Says Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran

16 hours ago

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
16 hours ago

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

A person was rescued from a Fresno canal Monday, June 16, 2025, near Dakota and Ninth Street, marking the third such incident in recent days, officials said. (Fresno FD)
17 hours ago

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

17 hours ago

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

18 hours ago

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend