Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

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

7 hours ago

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

7 hours ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

1 day ago

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

1 day ago

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

1 day ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

1 day ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

1 day ago

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

1 day ago

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

1 day ago
Fresno's Immigration Affairs Committee Launches. Who's On It?
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
May 14, 2019

Share

Three months after creating an Immigration Affairs Committee, the city council and mayor have named the 15 members who will serve. Many names are familiar to immigration advocacy in Fresno.

The council is scheduled to vote to approve the appointees Thursday (May 16).

The committee’s bylaws allow each councilmember to appoint two members. However, the appointee does not have to live in a councilmember’s district, or even within city limits.

List of Appointees

Name (district lives in) Position Appointed by
Nancy Key (1) Key Writing Concepts Esmeralda Soria (District 1)
Hugo Morales (1) Radio Bilingue Esmeralda Soria (District 1)
Manuel Cunha (4) Nisei Farmers League (District 2)
Deepak Ahluwaila (2) Immigration attorney (District 2)
Naindeep Singh (3) Jakara Movement/elected trustee with Central Unified Miguel Arias (District 3)
America Hernandez (3) Kids in Need of Defense Miguel Arias (District 3)
Jessica Smith Bobadilla (1) Immigration attorney Paul Caprioglio (District 4)
Maggie Thao (4) SEIU Paul Caprioglio (District 4)
Samuel Molina (3) Mi Familia Vota Luis Chavez (District 5)
Evelyn Gonzalez (3) EOC Luis Chavez (District 5)
Guillermo Moreno (3) Senior Citizens Village/ radio talk show host Garry Bredefeld (District 6)
Elizabeth Heng (6) Cencal Holdings/ former congressional candidate Garry Bredefeld (District 6)
Thomas Hernandez (1) Retired; member of Fresno Immigration Coalition Nelson Esparza (District 7)
Margarita Rocha (7) Centro La Familia Nelson Esparza (District 7)
Pao Yang (5) The Fresno Center Mayor Lee Brand

Hugo Morales recently spoke at a forum on searching for the next police chief. He spoke about qualities he wants to see in the new chief, including a belief in community policing. Morales added the next chief should not work with federal immigration enforcement (ICE).

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub

David Taub

Politics 101

Manuel Cunha and Deepak Ahluwaila were Steve Brandau’s preferred choices before the former District 2 councilman resigned his city office to take a seat on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

Naindeep Singh, executive director of the Jakara Movement, looks to offer a broader perspective based on his Sikh heritage and as the child of immigrants.

“We have a diverse array of opinions on the committee. I want to make sure we have different perspectives from the many communities,” he said.

He added that he wants the immigrant community to be heard.

“Sometimes the outreach isn’t always there,” Singh said.

Singh could be pulling triple civic duty. In addition to serving as an elected member to the Central Unified school board, Arias appointed him to the newly re-formed District 3 implementation committee (see item below).

America Hernandez

America Hernandez is a social services coordinator for KIND, which advocates for unaccompanied child immigrants. She is a native of Jalisco, Mexico now living in Fresno. Hernandez also is a DACA recipient.

Conservatives Picked, Too

Councilman Garry Bredefeld chose two well-known conservatives as his appointees. Guillermo Moreno hosts a daily talk show on AM 1680, often talking about immigration issues. Elizabeth Heng ran for Congress last year as a Republican, losing to incumbent Jim Costa (D-Fresno). During her campaign, she told the story of her immigrant parents fleeing from war in Cambodia.

“Immigration continues to be an ongoing challenge for our community,” Heng said. “I am happy to serve on the board and seek solutions to address the challenges our city continues to face.”

Mayor Lee Brand appointed Pao Yang, CEO of The Fresno Center, which support services to Southeast Asian refugees in Fresno County.

Brand appointed Yang to the city’s planning commission in 2017. However, Yang had to resign because of a residency issue.

Yang also ran in 2106 against Eric Payne for the State Center Community College District board. Payne won. However, a Yang associate filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission. That investigation has led to $66,000 in potential fines against Payne for allegations of campaign finance violations.

Veto Flipping

Council will also vote Thursday on overriding Mayor Lee Brand’s veto over the office space resolution passed last month.

Five councilmembers voted to pass the resolution, which took away space from the city manager’s office and reallocated it to council staff.

“I do not believe this resolution is in the best interest of the people and the taxpayers,” Brand wrote in his veto message.

Five councilmembers are needed to override the veto, which means Brand needs one member to flip.

Sources told Politics 101 the mayor is meeting with councilmembers this week to further discuss the office space issue.

District 3 Implementation Committee Returns

After nearly five years of dormancy, the District 3 plan implementation committee is back.

The council will vote on approving seven nominations from their colleague, Miguel Arias.

“It’s a commitment I made (while running),” Arias said about restarting the committee.

Each district has one, and committee members often are the first neighborhood voices to weigh in on proposed development projects.

Naindeep Singh looks forward to serving. “Anything that can help my neighborhood, I’m in,” he said.

Other nominees include Nancy Gray, Debbie Darden, Jan Minami, Robert Fuentes, America Hernandez and Ivanka Saunders.

Inspection Program

Motels will be added to the city’s rental inspection program.

Council will vote to initiate the process at Thursday’s (May 16) meeting.

Councilman Miguel Arias is concerned about substandard conditions and sex trafficking at the city’s motels.

Motels with frequent calls for emergency services, a history of complaints or code violations, or with lodgings over 40 years old would be prioritized for inspection.

If the plan is approved, the council would need to establish what fees it will charge motels for inspections.

LeMay Takes Over Fruit Association

Ian LeMay

Ian LeMay will take over as president of the California Fresh Fruit Association, the Fresno-based trade group.

He’ll succeed former congressman George Radanovich. Radanovich is leaving to lobby for agriculture policy in Washington.

“The challenges that face us are many,” LeMay said in a news release. “These have not been easy years for our industry, but I remain confident in the future of California agriculture and our opportunity to advocate for meaningful policy with a unified voice.”

Prior to joining CFFA in 2015 as its communications director, LeMay worked as a district staffer for congressman Jim Costa.

LeMay officially takes over June 1.

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 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

DON'T MISS

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

DON'T MISS

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

UP NEXT

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

UP NEXT

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

UP NEXT

Fresno Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint on Fourth of July, Boost Holiday Patrols

UP NEXT

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

UP NEXT

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

UP NEXT

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

UP NEXT

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

UP NEXT

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

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

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

6 hours ago

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

7 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

7 hours ago

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

7 hours ago

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

7 hours ago

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

7 hours ago

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

7 hours ago

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

7 hours ago

Markets’ 90-Day Tariff Pause Rollercoaster Nears an Uncertain End

7 hours ago

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

7 hours ago

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

President Donald Trump is scheduled to sign a massive package of tax and spending cuts into law at a ceremony at the White House on Friday, ...

6 hours ago

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)
6 hours 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)
6 hours ago

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

6 hours 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)
6 hours 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)
7 hours 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)
7 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

Israel Builds a Fence Around the West Bank
7 hours ago

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

A view of the site of Thursday's Israeli strike that damaged and destroyed residential buildings, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City, July 4, 2025. (Reuters/Mahmoud Issa)
7 hours ago

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

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

Search

Send this to a friend