Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

6 hours ago

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

7 hours ago

Shaver Lake and Reedley 4th of July Shows Are Wednesday. Who Else Is Celebrating?

10 hours ago

Elon Musk Says Senate Bill Would Destroy Jobs and Harm US

10 hours ago

Israel Strikes Pound Gaza, Killing 60, Ahead of US Talks on Ceasefire

11 hours ago

Trump’s Administration Finds Harvard Violated Students’ Civil Rights, WSJ Reports

12 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

3 days ago
United Fresno Council Opposes Release of 'Tower Rapist'
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
July 1, 2019

Share

All six Fresno city council members signed a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, expressing concern about the potential early release of Rudolph Acosta.
As reported by others in the Fresno media, Acosta was known as the “Tower District Rapist” and sentenced to 78 years in prison. He was initially charged with 29 sex and robbery crimes. He began serving his time in 1992.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub
David Taub
Politics 101
The council members noted that if released, Acosta plans to return to Fresno where many of victims still reside.
“We urge you to take a stand against his early release,” the letter states.
The parole board will hold a hearing for Acosta on July 30 at Avenal State Prison. According to the Board of Parole Hearings website, a two or three member panel will conduct the hearing, withe the board normally making its recommendation the same day.
[tnc-pdf-viewer-iframe file=”https://gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/City-letter-to-governor.pdf” width=”800″ height=”700″ download=”true” print=”true” fullscreen=”true” share=”true” zoom=”true” open=”true” pagenav=”true” logo=”true” find=”true” current_view=”true” rotate=”true” handtool=”true” doc_prop=”true” toggle_menu=”true” language=”en-US” page=”” default_zoom=”auto” pagemode=””]

Arias Lets Circle K Have It

At last week’s Fresno council meeting, developers for convenience store chain Circle K gave a presentation outlining their plans for additional locations.
Councilman Paul Caprioglio praised the company for a Circle K in his east-central district.
Not everyone was equally enthused. Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria said the Circle K at Olive & Palm had generated 500 calls to police. Company representatives said they would work with the neighborhood to make any fixes.
Councilman Miguel Arias also took exception to concerns expressed by Circle K’s representatives about pending regulations restricting new liquor sale licenses in the city.

“(It) is frustrating to sit here and to spend time valuable time on the council hearing a corporate presentation on an item we fully vetted publicly months ago,” Miguel Arias said at the start of his four-minute attack.
Arias blasted them for Circle K’s complaints. He refuted their contention that buying an additional liquor license to operate a store is a financial hardship.
“Your current establishment is a blight and a nuisance to the Tower District. It has been for years,” Arias said of the Olive & Palm location. “If the small businesses in Fresno, that are family owned, can afford to maintain their properties, you shouldn’t have any trouble with it.”
Arias’ critique continued.
“You’re not and you haven’t been a good corporate citizen to the city of Fresno,” Arias said.
I can’t imagine Fresno’s business community being happy with those statements.
Nelson Esparza followed, with a more gentle criticism of Circle K.
“I don’t think any of here are begging Circle K to come into our district as the grand prize development,” Esparza said. He then joked that Caprioglio should be their commercial pitchman.
Maybe Arias and Esparza prefer shopping at AM/PM. The two recently joined their council colleagues in rejecting a liquor license for a proposed 7-Eleven near Roosevelt High.

Will Soria Run?


Fresno councilwoman Esmeralda Soria says she has made no plans regarding her political future. That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill spinning that she wants to run for Congress against fellow Democrat Jim Costa in 2020.
The latest turn came from one-time council colleague Steve Brandau, now a county supervisor. He floated the idea (heard previously by Politics 101 and just about anyone in this town who follows politics) on Twitter.
Soria says she did not meet with Emily’s List, a group that helps Democratic women run for office, when she recently visited Washington, D.C. The Sun’s Alex Tavlian has reported that she did.
For the record, Soria has not opened any federal fundraising committee.
Costa already has a pair of challengers, Republican and former educator Kevin Cookingham and Merced Democrat and educator Kim Williams.
The latest numbers (through the first quarter of 2019), show Costa with $121,000 cash on hand; Williams with none; and Cookingham yet to formally file financial reports.
Soria’s most recent financials from her 2018 city council reelection campaign show $113,000 cash on hand (through the end of 2018).

Trustee Saved By the Bell?

The Fresno Unified school board held a special meeting last Thursday (June 27) to ratify its labor contract with the teachers’ union.
According to video posted on the district website, the scheduled 8 a.m. meeting lasted only seven minutes. Five members showed up on time (Trustee Terry Slatic sat down just as the video started).
Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas showed up a minute later. Veva Islas was not there when the board approved the teachers’ contract, 6-0.
Islas then showed up at the literal last minute of the meeting, just in time to cast her vote to change wages and health benefits for management and other employees.  It passed 7-0.
Islas’ timing didn’t go unnoticed by former trustee Brooke Ashjian on Twitter.


Islas on Twitter replied that “No one gave me 40K. The contract didn’t need my vote to pass because we had already reached an agreement,” and “The real question is why you voted against the contract when you were in office.”
She is partly correct. In her 2018 campaign, the PAC for the Fresno Teachers Association contributed $37,345.02.
I wonder if the trustees had tardy slips.
[Note: the above story has been corrected to reflect Islas missed one vote, but cast a vote on the second item at the meeting.]

Clovis Development Fees Increasing

The city of Clovis hasn’t raised the fee it charges new development for police services in 20 years. That’s about to change.
The council will vote Monday (July 1) to increase police fees from $100 to $726, or 647%. That is just one fee that will increase.
Charges for everything from water, sewer, and even bridges will go up for those who want to build new homes, apartments and commercial buildings. Parks fees will increase by 33% (which will be implemented over three years), and fire fees will rise by 28%.
The city estimates the average fee overall will increase up to 11% for residential projects. The actual increase depends on the acreage size.

Raises for Clovis Employees

Checks will be getting a little fatter for many Clovis municipal employees.
The city council on Monday (July 1) will vote for 2% yearly raises over the next three years for most management and other employees. The raises cover units representing engineers, public safety and many other positions.
The price tag to the budget — $3.6 million in raises over the next three years.

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

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

DON'T MISS

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

DON'T MISS

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

DON'T MISS

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

DON'T MISS

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

DON'T MISS

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

DON'T MISS

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

UP NEXT

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

UP NEXT

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

UP NEXT

Will Valadao Spoil Trump’s Plan for July 4th ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Signing?

UP NEXT

Buying a Home With Solar? Beware of CA Bill Written by Former Utility Co. Exec

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Sues Los Angeles Over Immigration Enforcement

UP NEXT

Catholic Bishops Try to Rally Opposition to Trump’s Immigration Agenda

UP NEXT

Suspect Identified in Ambush Shooting That Killed 2 Idaho Firefighters

UP NEXT

Immigration Raids Leave Crops Unharvested, California Farms at Risk

UP NEXT

CA’s Population Shrank in Trump’s First Immigration Crackdown. It Could Happen Again

UP NEXT

Controversial Climate Rule That Could Raise Gas Prices About to Take Effect

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

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

4 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

4 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

4 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

4 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

5 hours ago

Where Trade Talks Stand With Major US Partners Ahead of Tariffs-Hike Deadline

5 hours ago

Labor Icon Huerta Breaks Ground on Fresno Park Bearing Her Name

5 hours ago

DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme

5 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested in Clovis for Sex-Related Crimes Against Minor

5 hours ago

Dyer’s Lobbying Works. Fresno Gets $100M for Downtown From State

5 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

The Clovis Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating an at-risk missing adult last seen on Thursday. Pathmani Goonawarde...

2 hours ago

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
2 hours ago

Clovis Police Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing 82-Year-Old Woman

fresno
3 hours ago

Fresno Woman Killed in Head-On Collision, CHP Investigating

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Musk Vows to Punish Lawmakers Who Back Trump’s Spending Bill

4 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years for $4.2 Million Tech Startup Fraud

Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., October 26, 2023. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty in Murders of Four Idaho Students, ABC News Reports

The Blanca Fire, burning 12 acres northwest of Lake Madera Country Estates in Madera County, remains active with 0% containment and no reported injuries or structural damage as the cause is under investigation as of Monday, June 30, 2025. (CalFire)
4 hours ago

Wildfire Near Lake Madera Country Estates Burns 12 Acres, Now 100% Contained

Fresno County CHP arrested two on Interstate 5 after finding about one kilogram of suspected cocaine, a loaded ghost gun, and counterfeit money during a vehicle search on Sunday, June 29, 2025. (CHP)
4 hours ago

Fresno County CHP Arrest Two in Interstate 5 Drug, Gun, and Counterfeit Money Bust

Gov. Newsom warns Californians to celebrate the Fourth of July safely, emphasizing zero tolerance for illegal fireworks which have surged to over 600,000 pounds seized this year. (Shutterstock)
5 hours ago

California Seizes Over 600,000 Pounds of Illegal Fireworks. Newsom Calls for Safe Celebrations

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

Search

Send this to a friend