Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Dyer Calms Protester, Invites Him to Panhandling Discussion
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
April 10, 2019

Share

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer demonstrated his leadership skills Wednesday at a street corner news conference unveiling a plan to discourage panhandling.
While city councilmembers Garry Bredefeld, Miguel Arias, and Paul Caprioglio announced their plan, a truck pulled around the corner of Blackstone and Herndon avenues where the news conference was taking place. The man stopped and blared his horn, temporarily disrupting the event.

City council will consider installing these signs to discourage panhandling (GV Wire/David Taub)

Dyer In Action

Dyer, a supporter of the “Help Us, Help Fresno” initiative, approached the truck. He explained to the motorist, Brian Bobbitt, what the ordinance does and doesn’t do.
“Trust me … I opposed the other one because it was enforcement against the people asking,” Dyer told Bobbitt about the defeated STOP ordinance.
He convinced Bobbitt to pull around so he wasn’t blocking traffic and join in the news conference, which he did. Dyer also agreed to meet with him later.
Bobbitt said that the homeless issue affected his family, and he had concerns about the barriers some shelters have in taking in the homeless.

Council Sign Plan

As far as “Help Us, Help Fresno,” the plan is to spend $20,000 to distribute 150 signs at busy intersections and requesting businesses. They ask that motorists don’t give to panhandlers and, instead, donate to charities.
Bredefeld said this solution was proposed after the council voted down “STOP,” the Safe Transfer of Objects to Pedestrians ordinance March 21. That plan would have fined drivers for transferring anything (money, water, etc.) from their car to a pedestrian.
The council will debate the resolution Thursday (April 11) at 2 p.m.

Watch Video of Dyer’s Interaction with Protester


 

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

Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy

DON'T MISS

Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump

DON'T MISS

US Defense Secretary Warns Indo-Pacific Allies of ‘Imminent’ Threat From China

DON'T MISS

Hamas Responds to the US Ceasefire Proposal for Gaza While Seeking Amendments

DON'T MISS

No. 15 Overall Seed UCLA Eases Past Fresno State Behind a Season-High 22 Hits

DON'T MISS

Judge and Ohtani Light Up the First Inning With Historic Homers in Yankees-Dodgers Rematch

DON'T MISS

Chapman Homers, Harrison Pitches Five Scoreless Innings as Giants Beat Marlins

DON'T MISS

General Is a Good Boy — in English and Spanish

DON'T MISS

Two Renovated Tot Lots Promise Family Fun at Roeding Park

DON'T MISS

Visalia Police Hand Out 55 Citations During Motorcycle Safety Crackdown

UP NEXT

Two Renovated Tot Lots Promise Family Fun at Roeding Park

UP NEXT

Visalia Police Hand Out 55 Citations During Motorcycle Safety Crackdown

UP NEXT

Authorities Seek Help Finding Relatives of Deceased Fresno Man

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Felecia Johnson

UP NEXT

How in the World Did Fresno End Up on Trump’s Sanctuary Cities List?

UP NEXT

Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner Who Played Houlihan on Pioneering TV Series ‘M.A.S.H.,’ Has Died at 87

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Release Video of Officer-Involved Shooting

UP NEXT

1 in 4 US Children Have Parents With Substance Use Disorder, Study Finds

UP NEXT

Dozens Sickened in Expanding Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Cucumbers

UP NEXT

Ray Appleton Set to Resume His KMJ Show. E Curtis Johnson Retires

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

Hamas Responds to the US Ceasefire Proposal for Gaza While Seeking Amendments

3 hours ago

No. 15 Overall Seed UCLA Eases Past Fresno State Behind a Season-High 22 Hits

3 hours ago

Judge and Ohtani Light Up the First Inning With Historic Homers in Yankees-Dodgers Rematch

3 hours ago

Chapman Homers, Harrison Pitches Five Scoreless Innings as Giants Beat Marlins

3 hours ago

General Is a Good Boy — in English and Spanish

4 hours ago

Two Renovated Tot Lots Promise Family Fun at Roeding Park

4 hours ago

Visalia Police Hand Out 55 Citations During Motorcycle Safety Crackdown

5 hours ago

Chronic Stress Linked to Higher Dementia Risk, Experts Warn

5 hours ago

How Gentrification Is Killing the Bus: California’s Rising Rents Are Pushing Out Commuters

6 hours ago

Authorities Seek Help Finding Relatives of Deceased Fresno Man

19 hours ago

Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy

CLOVIS — A transgender teen will compete in the California high school track-and-field finals on Saturday, one day after advancing in the co...

2 hours ago

2 hours ago

Trans Athlete Competes in California Championships in Clovis Despite National Controversy

3 hours ago

Tim Walz Urges Democrats to Fight Back Harder Against ‘Bully’ Trump

3 hours ago

US Defense Secretary Warns Indo-Pacific Allies of ‘Imminent’ Threat From China

3 hours ago

Hamas Responds to the US Ceasefire Proposal for Gaza While Seeking Amendments

3 hours ago

No. 15 Overall Seed UCLA Eases Past Fresno State Behind a Season-High 22 Hits

3 hours ago

Judge and Ohtani Light Up the First Inning With Historic Homers in Yankees-Dodgers Rematch

3 hours ago

Chapman Homers, Harrison Pitches Five Scoreless Innings as Giants Beat Marlins

General, a lovable 90-pound bilingual pup in Fresno, is fixed, vaccinated, and ready to find his forever home through Mell’s Mutts. (Mell's Mutts)
4 hours ago

General Is a Good Boy — in English and Spanish

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

Search

Send this to a friend