Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Price Gouging Ordinance on Tap for Emergency Fresno Council Meeting Today
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
March 16, 2020

Share

The Fresno City Council has a tentative emergency meeting today at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a news release from Council President Miguel Arias, the council will discuss declaring a state of emergency and an anti-price gouging ordiance.
As of time of publication, no agenda has been posted. Normally, this is not allowed without at least 24 hours notice. But, as part of the Brown Act — the state’s laws on open meetings — emergency meetings are exempt from the notice period.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub
David Taub
Politics 101
On Sunday, the Fresno County Health Dept. announced a second case of COVID-19 in the county and declared a state of emergency. The city also shut down the zoo.

In Other Council Action

Pastor D.J. Criner (Image: St. Rest Baptist Church)
At its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, the Fresno City Council will discuss whether they should delay implementing security screenings for employees out of COVID-19 concerns.
The screenings went into effect for the public in January and are supposed to start for employees on March 26.
Councilman Nelson Esparza, along with City Manager Wilma Quan, are asking for a delay until April 27. The concern is that crowded lines would not allow for social distancing.
“There are concerns that the process of screening employees and their baggage, as well the time waiting to be screened in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), may expose employees to additional transmission risk,” the city staff report says.
The staff report does not address the potential COVID-19 risk to members of the public, who are currently required to wait in line to be screened.
In other action, the council will vote to approve Pastor D.J. Criner to the planning commission. Criner serves as the Senior Pastor at St. Rest Baptist Church, and is a frequently-heard voice on municipal issues. Mayor Lee Brand picked Criner to replace Serop Torossian, who resigned earlier this year.

Cox Holds Virtual Townhall on Coronavirus

Congressman TJ Cox (D-Fresno) will hold a virtual town hall meeting over the telephone to discuss coronavirus issues. The representative will be joined by Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County’s interim health officer. The 90 minute discussion starts tonight at 6 p.m.
The meeting can be accessed through this link or call in at 855-962-0969.

Clovis Moves Meeting, Discusses Water Fee

The Clovis City Council meeting is still scheduled for tonight at 6 p.m. However, in the interest of public safety, the meeting has been moved from its usual City Hall chambers location to the Clovis Senior Center (850 4th Street) a few blocks away.
Citing the coronavirus threat, the city said the move will allow for “social distancing.” The floorplan of the Senior Center offers more seating space than the relatively cramped chambers.
At the meeting, the council will vote to establish a water supply fee on developers for new projects. Last year, the city made a $35 million deal to receive up to 7,000 additional acre-feet of water annually from the Fresno Irrigation District over the next 25-years to support the city’s future growth.

Devin Nunes Talks About China, Just Not Coronavirus

Perhaps it makes sense that the topic of this week’s podcast from Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) focuses on China. After all, that’s where the latest strain of coronavirus originated. And COVID-19 is the top issues on the news and in Congress.
Nunes instead took a “deep dive” on Chinese President Xi Jingping and his rule. Gordon Chang, an author and commentator on Chinese leadership, joined Nunes for a 15-minute discussion on Xi, Chinese corruption, and Chinese politics.
In a separate email to followers, Nunes did post a link from the Dan Bongino Show talking about coronavirus information with Dr. Christopher Centeno of Regenexx.

Geragos to Fundraise for State Center Candidate

Sevag Tateosian is enlisting some star power in his run for State Center Community College District trustee.
Celebrity attorney Mark Geragos will hold a fundraiser for Tateosian in Los Angeles on April 2.
Tateosian is challenging current District 2 SCCCD Trustee Eric Payne in November.

 

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

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

DON'T MISS

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

DON'T MISS

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

DON'T MISS

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

DON'T MISS

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

DON'T MISS

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

DON'T MISS

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

DON'T MISS

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

DON'T MISS

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

DON'T MISS

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

UP NEXT

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

UP NEXT

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

UP NEXT

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

UP NEXT

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in 2004 Cold Case Rape and Murder

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Willie Ray Butler

UP NEXT

California’s Economy Ranks Fourth Worldwide, Surpasses Japan

UP NEXT

Fresno Ranks Fourth in US for an Affordable Night Out

UP NEXT

Exclusive: US Congress Republicans Seek $27 Billion for Golden Dome in Trump Tax Bill

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

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

8 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

8 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

9 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

9 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

10 hours ago

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

10 hours ago

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

10 hours ago

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

10 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

10 hours ago

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

11 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

Virginia Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a te...

4 hours ago

Virginia Roberts Giuffre speaks to reporters in New York on Aug. 27, 2019. Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a teenager to rich and powerful predators, including Prince Andrew of Britain, died on Friday at her farm in Western Australia. She was 41. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)
4 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

8 hours ago

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

8 hours ago

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

8 hours ago

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

Selma Mayor Scott Robertson (left) has been charged with misdemeanor electioneering for allegedly campaigning near voters at a polling place during the November 2024 election. (Facebook)
8 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

9 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

9 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

10 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

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

Search

Send this to a friend