Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska Coast. No Danger to California

8 hours ago

Federal Immigration Crackdown Threatens California’s Historic Housing Reforms

12 hours ago

US House Clears Procedural Hurdle on Cryptocurrency Legislation

12 hours ago

Fresno County Lifts Evacuation Order for Max Fire Near Pine Flat Lake

13 hours ago

Newsom Calls Trump a ‘Son of a B***h’ Over ICE Raids and Guard Deployment

14 hours ago

Trump Indicated to Republican Lawmakers He Will Fire Fed’s Powell, CBS Reports

15 hours ago

Wall Street Steadies as Investors Assess Inflation Data, Earnings

15 hours ago

Trump Administration Sued by US States for Cutting Disaster Prevention Grants

16 hours ago

Open Mic Contest Offers Fans a Chance to Perform at Outside Lands 2025

17 hours ago

PBS and NPR Mount Last-Ditch Fight to Save Federal Funding

2 days ago
Will Council Override Brand Veto? Would be First in 12 Years.
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
August 14, 2019

Share

After five years of a mayor not executing a veto, Lee Brand in 2019 issued three. And, he may suffer his first veto override at Thursday’s council meeting.
If the council is successful, it would be the first veto override since 2007. The council reversed then-mayor Alan Autry’s plan to save his downtown riverwalk proposal. That same year, the council overrode a veto to protect workers’ compensation rights for public safety employees, and also restored funding for Storyland and Playland.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub
David Taub
Politics 101
Last week, Brand vetoed the council’s decision to ban retroactive raises for employees on the way out of City Hall. That passed with a 6-0 vote.
The council needs five votes to override the mayor.
In his Aug. 5 veto message, Brand said the council’s action went too far.
“I do not believe this new amendment complies with the spirit of the City Charter and I do not believe this amendment has been thoroughly discussed with the city manager and other members of my administration to fully understand and address its long-term implications,” Brand wrote.
Support for the original bill is unlikely to change. The override measure is sponsored by Miguel Arias and Garry Bredefeld. Esmeralda Soria said she still supports the original bill as well. So does Nelson Esparza.
Luis Chavez offered a more nuanced tone, saying he is open to all options.
Brand issued two other vetoes this year that were sustained: a May veto on the allocation of office space — which was eventually worked out between the administration and council, and a July veto on the budget involving the “Advance Peace” initiative.

Costs of Soria and Arias’ D.C. Trip

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, center, poses with Fresno Councilmembers Esmeralda Soria, left, and Miguel Arias, along with Fresno Grizzlies merchandise they gave to the New York congresswoman, on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
In June, Fresno councilmembers Miguel Arias and Esmeralda Soria booked a last-minute trip to Washington, D.C. They said it was to lobby congressional leaders on issues important to the Valley such as water and immigration.
The trip became best known for a photo op with New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, replete with Fresno Grizzlies swag. That followed the Memorial Day mishap where the team inadvertently disparaged AOC via a video attempting to inspire patriotism.
The total charged to taxpayers for the D.C. jaunt: $2,616.71.
According to documents provided by the city in response to a Public Records Act request, Arias and Soria charged $882.16 each for the flight, purchased just a day before their two-day trip in early June.
The taxpayer cost for two rooms at the Washington Court Hotel: $413 apiece.
Perhaps others bought their meals for them. The only other expense was a charge from the hotel for $26.38, listed as “facility fees.”
So, the total charged to taxpayers for the D.C. jaunt: $2,616.71.


Downtown Project Needs More City Help

For five years, developer Noyan Frazier Capital planned a mixed-use building with retail on the first floor and housing above it in downtown Fresno. Known as the South Stadium Project, it is an empty lot at the western intersection of Fulton and Inyo streets, adjacent to Chukchansi Park.
Now, the developer is asking the city to fill a shortfall, to the tune of $659,298. The request goes to the Fresno City Council on Thursday.
Developer Mehmet Noyan says rising construction costs and flattening rental rates have created the shortfall.
“It goes back to getting an acceptable rate of return. We’re putting equity out of our own pockets into this project,” Noyan said. The project would also utilize funding from a number of state funds and tax credits.
Of the 54 housing units, 20% would set aside as affordable housing.
Technically, the council will act as the Housing Successor to the former Redevelopment Agency, the legal entity that disperses money from the former RDA (that Gov. Jerry Brown shut down in 2011).
This particular request for money will come from the RDA successor agency’s affordable housing funds, executive director Marlene Murphey said.
Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria said she will recuse herself from voting based on her relationship with the other namesake developer, Terance Frazier.
Noyan said the project remains on track to meet its timeline, with groundbreaking anticipated for spring 2020.

Redistricting Meeting

In California, citizens draw the political boundaries for the state Legislature and Congress.
The deadline to apply for the Citizens Redistricting Commission has been extended to Aug. 19.
Power California, an organization focused on engaging young voters of color, will hold a meeting about how to apply to join the commission.
The meeting is Wednesday (Aug. 15), 6 p.m., at the Bitwise Hive (2600 Ventura in downtown Fresno).

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 Says He Is Ending Government Funding California’s High-Speed Rail Project

DON'T MISS

Bakersfield Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty in $25 Million Fraud Scheme

DON'T MISS

Congressional Hopeful Lorenzo Rios Says No to PBS Funding. Once Led Local Station

DON'T MISS

US Attorney Beckwith Dismissed by Trump Admin, Replaced With Sanchez

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He Would Love for Fed Chair Powell to Resign

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Coca-Cola Agreed to Use Real Cane Sugar in US

DON'T MISS

7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska Coast. No Danger to California

DON'T MISS

US Renewable Power Transmission Project Under Fire From Farmers

DON'T MISS

Fresno Detectives Nab Murder Suspect With Help From Riverside Sheriff’s Deputies

DON'T MISS

Bains Is Challenging Valadao. An Early Look at Fundraising.

UP NEXT

Age Is Just a Number: 80-Year-Old Conquers Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Ultramarathon

UP NEXT

Is US Democracy Threatened? Majority of Californians, Including Republicans, Say Yes

UP NEXT

US Senator Seeks Safety Reforms After Fatal Collision Between Army Helicopter, Regional Jet

UP NEXT

PBS and NPR Mount Last-Ditch Fight to Save Federal Funding

UP NEXT

Elmo’s X Account Gets Hacked, Posts Antisemitic and Racist Messages

UP NEXT

Fire at Boston-Area Senior Living Facility Kills at Least Nine

UP NEXT

Arizona Governor Wants Investigation of Federal Handling of Grand Canyon Fire

UP NEXT

Record Numbers of Americans Say Immigration Is Good for Country: Gallup Poll

UP NEXT

Skydance in Early Talks to Acquire The Free Press, NYT Reports

UP NEXT

State Department Starts Firing More Than 1,350 Workers

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

US Attorney Beckwith Dismissed by Trump Admin, Replaced With Sanchez

7 hours ago

Trump Says He Would Love for Fed Chair Powell to Resign

7 hours ago

Trump Says Coca-Cola Agreed to Use Real Cane Sugar in US

7 hours ago

7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska Coast. No Danger to California

8 hours ago

US Renewable Power Transmission Project Under Fire From Farmers

8 hours ago

Fresno Detectives Nab Murder Suspect With Help From Riverside Sheriff’s Deputies

10 hours ago

Bains Is Challenging Valadao. An Early Look at Fundraising.

11 hours ago

Trump, White House Race to Stem Epstein Conspiracy Fallout

11 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Judge Gives Green Light to 4-Story NW Fresno Apt. Complex

12 hours ago

Federal Immigration Crackdown Threatens California’s Historic Housing Reforms

12 hours ago

Trump Says He Is Ending Government Funding California’s High-Speed Rail Project

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he is ending government funding for California’s High-Speed Rail...

6 hours ago

A drone view of a California High-Speed Rail Bridge where it crosses through Fresno, California, U.S. June 8, 2025. (Reuters)
6 hours ago

Trump Says He Is Ending Government Funding California’s High-Speed Rail Project

6 hours ago

Bakersfield Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty in $25 Million Fraud Scheme

7 hours ago

Congressional Hopeful Lorenzo Rios Says No to PBS Funding. Once Led Local Station

7 hours ago

US Attorney Beckwith Dismissed by Trump Admin, Replaced With Sanchez

President Donald Trump looks on at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. (Reuters/Umit Bektas)
7 hours ago

Trump Says He Would Love for Fed Chair Powell to Resign

Coca-cola soda is shown on display during a preview of a new Walmart Super Center prior to its opening in Compton, California, U.S., January 10, 2017. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

Trump Says Coca-Cola Agreed to Use Real Cane Sugar in US

8 hours ago

7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska Coast. No Danger to California

Windmills line a hillside in Palm Springs, California, U.S., November 29, 2019. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

US Renewable Power Transmission Project Under Fire From Farmers

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

Search

Send this to a friend