Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

18 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

18 hours ago

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

19 hours ago

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

19 hours ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

22 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

23 hours ago

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

23 hours ago

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

24 hours ago
Does NW Fresno Need Homeless Shelter? Council Candidates Weigh In
GV-Wire
By Jody Murray
Published 6 years ago on
August 2, 2019

Share

The pervasive problem of homelessness reaches well beyond the shelters and soup kitchens in downtown Fresno. Four men who want to represent the city’s northwest region on the city council agree to that.
They disagree sharply over what specifically should be done in District 2 to deal with homeless people. They’re also divided over what the city is doing already.
Candidates for Fresno City Council’s District 2 expressed their views at a forum presented by GV Wire and Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC).
Business attorney Jared Gordon and special needs therapist Oscar Sandoval both assert that some form of shelter should be opened in northwest Fresno. Business owners Lawrence Garcia and Mike Karbassi both say that isn’t necessary.

What About a Shelter?

The city has more money than ever to spend on homelessness, thanks to its share of a one-time injection of $500 million in state funds approved last year by then-Gov. Jerry Brown to address homelessness. The community’s share of that money is $13 million; the city of Fresno received $3 million and $9 went to Fresno Madera Continuum of Care, which manages homeless programs on a county level. Even more funding is forthcoming from the state budget shepherded by current Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“I think we can’t keep doing the same old, same old where we put all of our services for the homeless downtown,” said Gordon, who added that he has talked to homeless people in District 2 who told him they don’t can’t access transportation to downtown services, and they fear their belongings will be stolen if they go.
Gordon it would take “a lot more community input” to determine where a northwest Fresno shelter would be located. He said it could be a secured lot for tents and other amenities, or an empty storefront.
Sandoval said he understands residents’ opposition to a local shelter; he hears the reticence when he campaigns door to door. “The thing is,” Sandoval said, “would have rather have (the homeless) walking around in your neighborhood or in a place that’s close by, where we can actually save on transportations costs?”

What Do the Experts Say?

Easier access to services is crucial, said Sandoval, a former behavioral therapist for children. He supports improving mental-health resources, addiction rehabilitation, and job training. Sandoval said those seeking work opportunities to escape homelessness need access to resources such as a cell phone and email to succeed.
Karbassi said he also supports improved mental health services and other assistance, and would lobby state lawmakers to send more money to the Valley to help the homeless. But he was emphatic about not supporting the creation of a homeless shelter in District 2.
 

Fresno City Council candidate forum
Participating in GV Wire’s candidate forum, co-presented by CMAC, were Fresno City Council District 2 hopefuls, from left, Lawrence Garcia, Jared Gordon, Mike Karbassi, and Oscar Sandoval. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)
He said he has spoken to leaders of numerous community agencies that deal with the homeless, and no one told him a shelter is needed in northwest Fresno. “I’m not going to tell the experts that they’re wrong,” Karbassi said. “It’s irresponsible to have the added cost of transportation by putting (a shelter) in northwest Fresno. Our residents don’t want that.”

Divided on No-Camping Ordinance

Garcia didn’t directly address the question of a shelter in northwest Fresno, saying he wanted to focus on getting the homeless the help they need, irrespective of location. “We have to address underlining issues, which is the drug addiction, the alcohol addiction, and the mental health status of these people,” he said. Until those problems are addressed, it doesn’t matter where the shelters are, Garcia said.
Forum moderator Randy Reed asked candidates to raise a hand if they supported Fresno’s no-camping ordinance, which was put in place last year to control urban homeless encampments but led to only 15 arrests in 2018. All but Sandoval put their hand up.
“We need to actually give them the means to help themselves and not criminalize poverty, because that’s what the anti-camping ordinance does,” Sandoval said.

A video recap of the GV Wire candidate forum:

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

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

DON'T MISS

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

DON'T MISS

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

DON'T MISS

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

DON'T MISS

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

DON'T MISS

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

DON'T MISS

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

DON'T MISS

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

DON'T MISS

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

DON'T MISS

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

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

UP NEXT

Riverdale High School Coach Arrested for Allegedly Arranging to Meet Minor

UP NEXT

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

UP NEXT

Could Cuddly Colby Be the Darling Gem for You?

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Sandra Neredia Jaquez

UP NEXT

Trump Impounds Billions in Education Funding. For Fresno Unified, It’s $7.1 Million

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

15 hours ago

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

15 hours ago

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

16 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

16 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

16 hours ago

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

17 hours ago

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

17 hours ago

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

17 hours ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

18 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

18 hours ago

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

The Fresno Police Department will step up enforcement efforts this Fourth of July, deploying additional patrols and setting up a DUI checkpo...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

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

2 hours ago

July 4th Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the Founding Fathers

A crash causes a traffic jam in northwest Fresno on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (GV Wire/Paul Marshall)
14 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned 52,593 acres with 5% containment, prompting evacuation orders in several San Luis Obispo County zones as of Thursday, July 3, 2025, afternoon. (CalFire)
15 hours ago

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

15 hours ago

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

16 hours ago

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

An ICE agent talks with migrants about their scheduled appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Father’s Day, to learn about their immigration status, in Chicago, Illinois., U.S., June 15, 2025. (Reuters File)
16 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

Boeing logo and miniature satellite model are seen in this illustration taken, March 10, 2025. (Reuters File)
16 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

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

Search

Send this to a friend