Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Olympic Officials Bar Transgender Women From Women’s Competitions

5 hours ago

Gabbard Releases New Documents Targeting Obama Administration

6 hours ago

US Existing Home Sales Fall More Than Expected in June

7 hours ago

Trump Strikes Tariff Deal With Japan, Auto Stocks Surge

7 hours ago

Storyland Will Sparkle for All Visitors With $1 Million City of Fresno Grant

23 hours ago

Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath’s Bat-Biting Frontman, Dies at 76, BBC Reports

1 day ago

Fresno County Authorities Seek Help Locating Missing Woman and Infant

1 day ago

US Justice Dept. Asks Epstein Associate Maxwell to Speak to Prosecutors

1 day ago
Is Measure P's Defeat The End or New Beginning?
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
November 8, 2018

Share

To the surprise of many, Fresno’s ambitious Measure P ballot initiative not only failed to attain the two-thirds vote it needed to pass, it didn’t even receive a simple majority of votes in favor.

With 100% precincts reporting, 51% of Fresnans voted “no” on P.

The measure would have raised the city’s sales tax 3/8 of a cent for parks and related programs. It had a broad range of support from former mayors Ashley Swearengin and Alan Autry, to advocacy groups like Fresno Building Healthy Communities.

The “Yes on P” campaign raised more than $2 million in contributions, giving it a nearly a 5-to-1 fundraising advantage over the “No on P” side. That advantage did not carry over to the ballot box.

Brand and Others React to Vote

“I agree that Fresno’s parks need to be improved and expanded, but a 30-year tax with a $2 billion price tag was not the answer.”Mayor Lee Brand

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, a Measure P opponent, expressed mixed feelings the day after the local measure was defeated.

“The results for Measure P are bittersweet for me.  I agree that Fresno’s parks need to be improved and expanded, but a 30-year tax with a $2 billion price tag was not the answer,” Brand said in a City Hall news release. “I respect the hard work and passion of everyone involved with the Yes on P campaign and I believe once we’re able to move past the results, we will come together for the benefit of the people of Fresno.”

Sandra Celedon, Fresno BHC executive director and Yes on P consultant, was less conciliatory on Twitter.

“While Measure P didn’t make it the threshold, half of Fresnans still voted in support of clean, safe parks inspire of the lies spewed by @FresnoPolice @MayorLeeBrand and their cronies. I am inspired by all of the young people that worked on this campaign,” she said, vote totals aside.

She continued, “These young people will forever remember that Chief Dyer denied our young people parks because of greed and that @MayorLeeBrand stood with developers at the expense of their future. They know what leadership looks like and that there is none at city hall at this moment.”

Advocates Not Giving Up

“…Measure P’s dedicated advocates will not give up…”Yes on P supporter David McDonald

David McDonald provided $850,000 in funding to the Yes on P effort through a combination of contributions and loans. He was frustrated by the election night result.

“Measure P’s defeat is obviously a big disappointment for all Fresnans who care about our city and who want to see Fresno emerge as one of California’s truly great cities. It was unthinkable, and very confusing for voters, to see something this overtly positive being so vehemently opposed by Fresno’s so-called city leaders,” McDonald told GV Wire.

McDonald notes that Measure Z, the zoo initiative he spearheaded, failed twice before finally passing.

“Now, with our amazing Chaffee Zoo, hardly anyone thinks this relentless effort was a mistake. I’m sure that Measure P’s dedicated advocates will not give up either. Our embarrassing parks cannot be left to further deteriorate. A new approach must be developed, and implemented, to save and fix up Fresno’s green space.”

“The two-thirds vote threshold is a hard obstacle to surmount, especially with some powerful political figures in opposition to it,” said Fresno State political science professor Jeff Cummins. “Measure P proponents probably should have considered a presidential election year for the measure.” The next presidential election will take place in 2020.

Bredefeld: Work Within Budget

Fresno councilman Garry Bredefeld expressed his opposition to any future effort to pass a similar tax measure. He wrote on his Facebook page:

“Congratulations to the citizens of Fresno for wisely rejecting the fiscally reckless, thirty-year tax increase, Measure P, which would have been a monetary albatross for decades to come. Now City of Fresno leaders must get back to working within the budget that our citizens give us to meet the needs of our city, and stop trying to figure out ways to tax them and take more of their hard earned money. This must first begin with ending the wasteful spending that is definitely occurring at City Hall.”

John Ostlund, radio station owner and P opponent said “I take no pleasure in the result of yesterday’s vote. I’d like to see Fresno’s parks greatly improved and expanded, but clearly, the public agreed that Measure P was not the answer.

The businessman anticipates Brand working on a plan to “develop solutions for many of Fresno’s problems.”

Seeking Consensus on Next Steps

Throughout the campaign, Brand called for a combined tax measure to be split between public safety and parks.

“This wasn’t necessarily a victory for Fresno. The FPOA shares some of the goals that were in Measure P, just not the way they were going about it.” — Damon Kurtz, FPOA President

“Now the real work begins.  Starting today, I will call on my friends on both sides of this issue to join me in developing sensible solutions for Fresno’s biggest problems with the first of many meetings starting in January.  This means parks and public safety, but could also include homelessness, blight, job creation and infrastructure.  We need a broad-based approach to address all of our city’s priorities reasonably and fairly.

“As Mayor, my first and foremost job is the safety and well-being of the people of this great community.  I will continue that focus today and every day that I am your Mayor”

Fresno Police Officers Association president Damon Kurtz also wants to see what happens next. His group also opposed the parks tax.

“This wasn’t necessarily a victory for Fresno. The FPOA shares some of the goals that were in Measure P, just not the way they were going about it. We share the idea that we need more parks, but not at the expense of important services.”

Kurtz says there have been no formal plans for the combined tax, but “we’ll have to sit down and do it the right way and focusing on the community as a whole.”

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

Trump Announces Trade Deal With Japan, Including 15% Tariff

DON'T MISS

Why American Jews No Longer Understand One Another

DON'T MISS

Visalia DUI Operation Nets 17 Arrests Over Weekend

DON'T MISS

Storyland Will Sparkle for All Visitors With $1 Million City of Fresno Grant

DON'T MISS

Former Madera Charter School Executive Charged With Embezzling Federal Funds

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Doesn’t Respond to Public Records Requests. Is District Hiding Something?

DON'T MISS

US Appeals Court Will Not Lift Limits on Associated Press Access to White House

DON'T MISS

Feds Award $93 Million to Key San Joaquin River Salmon Restoration Project

DON'T MISS

With Backing From Dyer, Ashjian Reinstated to Measure C Panel

DON'T MISS

Fresno Shooting Leaves One Dead, Authorities Looking for Witnesses

UP NEXT

With Backing From Dyer, Ashjian Reinstated to Measure C Panel

UP NEXT

NPR’s Top Editor Edith Chapin to Step Down

UP NEXT

Less Than 400 EV Charging Ports Built Under $7.5 Billion US Infrastructure Program

UP NEXT

California Voters Say State Is Off Course. Housing Emerges as Top Concern

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Seek Help Locating Missing Woman and Infant

UP NEXT

Americans’ Confidence in Institutions Remains Low. Divides by Party Widen

UP NEXT

US Judge Sentences Ex-Police Officer to 33 Months for Violating Civil Rights of Breonna Taylor

UP NEXT

Fresno Costco Project Killed by Judge’s Decision

UP NEXT

Brother of Army Ranger and NFL Star Pat Tillman Crashes Into Post Office

UP NEXT

How Will KVPR and Valley PBS Deal With Loss of Federal Funding?

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

Karbassi Fears Costco Could Move to Madera After Fresno Project Halted by Court

1 hour ago

White House Says WSJ Report on Trump Being Told Name in Epstein Files “Fake News”

2 hours ago

Visalia Police Arrest DUI Driver on Probation After Early Morning Chase

2 hours ago

Clovis Police to Hold DUI Checkpoint on Friday

3 hours ago

Henry Thompson Did Wonders for Fresno Airport, Leaves ‘Incredibly Big Shoes to Fill’

3 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Sentenced to Life for Idaho Killings, Declines to Make Statement

3 hours ago

US Judge Rejects Bid to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts From Florida Probe

3 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Why Did Judge Block a New Costco for NW Fresno?

4 hours ago

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Dangerous Felony Assault Suspect

4 hours ago

US Republicans Continue Push to Override California Animal Welfare Law

4 hours ago

White House Not Denying That Trump’s Name Appears in Epstein Files, Official Says

The White House is not denying that President Donald Trump’s name appears in the files associated with financier Jeffrey Epstein, an a...

12 minutes ago

President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn as he arrives at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 13, 2025. (Reuters File)
12 minutes ago

White House Not Denying That Trump’s Name Appears in Epstein Files, Official Says

A general view of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 20, 2025. (Reuters File)
27 minutes ago

White House Taps Mining Expert to Head National Security Office, Sources Say

Palestinians gather to receive aid supplies in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
45 minutes ago

Protesters in Tel Aviv Call for Israel to End Hunger and Gaza War

1 hour ago

Karbassi Fears Costco Could Move to Madera After Fresno Project Halted by Court

President Donald Trump speaks to the media as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche listen in the Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington D.C., June 27, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

White House Says WSJ Report on Trump Being Told Name in Epstein Files “Fake News”

2 hours ago

Visalia Police Arrest DUI Driver on Probation After Early Morning Chase

3 hours ago

Clovis Police to Hold DUI Checkpoint on Friday

Henry Thompson Fresno Airport
3 hours ago

Henry Thompson Did Wonders for Fresno Airport, Leaves ‘Incredibly Big Shoes to Fill’

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

Search

Send this to a friend