Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

2 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

2 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

3 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

3 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

3 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

3 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

3 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

3 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

3 days ago
Johnson's 'Small' Donors? They Include Big Labor.
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
February 15, 2019

Share

At Monday’s (Feb. 11) Board of Supervisors forum, candidate Nasreen Johnson criticized Steve Brandau for taking developer contributions.
“My campaign comes from folks like you, writing small contributions. That’s how I’m running my campaign. I’m not tied to any developers, and I truly have the voice of the people and the health of the community in mind,” she told about 100 audience members at the BWOPA/BAPAC hosted event.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub
Politics 101
David Taub
She also encouraged people to examine her political contribution reports. So, I did.
Recent campaign documents show Johnson accepting special interest contributions. Since Jan. 1, she’s collected $48,500 from six different labor groups. SEIU Local 521 is the largest contributor at $20,000. The union represents approximately 4,200 county employees. It also contributed $5,000 in a separate transaction.
The next two largest Johnson supporters are Dignity California SEIU 2015 ($12,500) and the UA Local 246 Plumbers and Pipefitters COPE Committee ($6,000).
Johnson said the donations were in-kind contributions for polling the union conducted unbeknownst to her. Then the unions shared the results with Johnson, requiring the need to report the contributions.
“The two labor organizations (SEIU 521 and 2015) are made up from working class people. There’s a difference there,” Johnson said about the distinction between receiving union support and developer money.
“The two labor organizations are made up from working class people. There’s a difference there.”Supervisor candidate Nasreen Johnson
[Watch her comments and Brandau’s defense in the video above.]
Nonetheless, all the contributions were listed as coming from a recipient committee or small contributor committee.
In the same time frame, Brandau has accepted approximately $29,050 from developers and the real estate industry.
Last year, Granville Homes contributed $25,000 to Brandau. Granville CEO and president Darius Assemi is the publisher of GV Wire.
A third candidate, Steve Hosey, barely has any money from labor or developers —  just $5,000 from Noyan Frazier Properties.

Immigrant Affairs Committee Approved

Sukaina Hussain (right) supports the formation of a Fresno immigration affairs committee at a news conference at Fresno EOC headquarters on Feb. 13, 2019 (GV Wire Photo/Jahz Tello)
The Fresno council unanimously approved forming an immigrant affairs committee with a 7-0 vote. The committee will allow citizens to vet and opine on policies that affect the immigrant community.
Friendly amendments offered slight changes from the original proposal. The committee will be 15 members, with the mayor getting one selection. The remaining will be chosen by the council. Also, members are open to anyone interested in serving, not just those tied to immigration advocacy.
Luis Chavez, the resolution’s co-author, said citizen status is also not a deterrent to serve.
“We’re not going to discriminate whether they are documented or undocumented. We certainly don’t that when we collect their property taxes or sales taxes. So, we’re not going to do that for this process,” Chavez said.

Alonzo Enters District 4 Race

Nathan Alonzo
Nathan Alonzo filed paperwork to run for Fresno City Council District 4 (east central Fresno). The election is in March 2020.
Alonzo, 26, is vice president of government affairs with the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. He is the son of Mexican immigrants and grew up on the family farm in Firebaugh. Alonzo matriculated at Fresno State and Fresno City College, where he served as student body president.
“I believe I’m uniquely qualified to represent our neighbors and the families of District 4 given my experience, and my ability to reach out to all sides in order to come to both equitable and workable solutions. I’m passionate about serving and eager to continue talking with our residents throughout our campaign,” Alonzo said.
He also worked in the office of former state Sen. Andy Vidak. Alonzo is registered as no party preference.
One other candidate has pulled papers to run: Tyler Maxwell, an aide to Fresno councilman Nelson Esparza. The current holder of the District 4 seat, Paul Caprioglio, is termed out.
Update, 2/19/2019: The Fresno Chamber tells Politics 101 that Alonzo amicably ended his tenure there on Feb. 8.
 

River Access Vote Rescinded

For a moment, it appeared that the plan allowing Fresnans to access the San Joaquin River went back to the drawing board.
The agency in charge of the project, the San Joaquin River Conservancy board, initially approved the controversial access point in Dec. 2017, through Spano Park at the north end of Palm Avenue.
The other option was through Riverview Drive, in the middle of a neighborhood along the bluffs.
At the Jan. 9 meeting, after a contentious debate, the board asked staff to come back with a plan to reconsider the Riverview Drive option.
There was only one problem —that vote violated the state’s law on open meetings, the Brown Act. This past Monday (Feb. 11), the board voided its January decision.
That came in response from a letter by attorney John Kinsey, representing the San Joaquin River Access Corp. He argued that the January item was put on the agenda as discussion only.  Any vote had to be placed on the agenda beforehand.
The 14-member board (there is one current vacancy) voted unanimously to rescind its prior vote.
John Shelton, the conservancy’s executive director, said staff would return with a properly noticed item on the river access at the Feb. 27 meeting.

Bill of the Week: Lower CSU Parking Rates for Students


“Students should focus on learning, not scrambling for money to pay excessive — and often unjustified — fees.”Assemblywoman Shirley Weber
Fresno State students could pay less for on-campus parking.
That’s the goal a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), Politics 101’s Bill of the Week.
AB 532 would require the CSU campuses to make the student parking permit price lower than what they charge campus employees.
“When CSU students are already struggling with food, housing and other necessities, parking fees in excess of $300 per semester is financially debilitating,” Weber said. “Students should focus on learning, not scrambling for money to pay excessive — and often unjustified — fees.”
Weber does not have an estimate on how much such a plan would cost the CSU.
Student permits at Fresno State are $93 per semester (or $186 for two semesters, summer not included). Faculty/staff rates depend on the union representation, ranging from $13-18 a month (or $160-216 a year).

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

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

After Record Democratic Speech, House Republicans Begin Final Vote on Trump Tax-Cut Bill

UP NEXT

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

UP NEXT

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

UP NEXT

Who is Running for Fresno Area Offices in 2026? An Updated Look

UP NEXT

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

UP NEXT

Check Out Newest Downtown Mural. It’s a Spectacular Tribute to Fresno Artisans

UP NEXT

Bryan Kohberger to Plead Guilty to Murders of Four Idaho Students

UP NEXT

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

UP NEXT

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

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

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

2 days ago

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

2 days ago

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

2 days ago

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

2 days ago

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

2 days ago

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

2 days ago

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

2 days ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

2 days ago

Russia Pounds Kyiv With Largest Drone Attack, Hours After Trump-Putin Call

2 days ago

Boxer Chavez Jr Expected to Be Deported to Mexico to Serve Sentence, Mexican President Says

2 days ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

Can you hear it — that loud roar coming from the East? It’s the sound of 1.4 billion Chinese laughing at us. Thomas L. Friedman The New Yo...

22 hours ago

Solar Farm in Riesel, Texas
22 hours ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

Caitlin Clark Signs T-Shirt
22 hours ago

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 days ago

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

The Madre Fire burning near New Cuyama has scorched 70,801 acres as of Friday, July 4, 2025, afternoon, making it California’s largest wildfire of the year, with only 10% containment and multiple evacuation zones in place. (CalFire)
2 days ago

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

2 days ago

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

A pumpjack operates at the Vermilion Energy site in Trigueres, France, June 14, 2024. (Reuters File)
2 days ago

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

Palestinians gather to collect what remains of relief supplies from the distribution center of the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, June 5, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 days ago

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

Billy Wayne Sinisgalli, a 54-year-old transient known locally as Wayne, was found dead along a rural Fresno road Wednesday in what authorities are investigating as a suspicious death. (Fresno County SO)
2 days ago

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

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

Search

Send this to a friend