Gov. Gavin Newsom changed a series of election-related laws with executive orders related to the COVID-19 emergency.

But one election law left untouched might benefit a Fresno Unified trustee facing recall.

The laws and deadlines dictating how recall petitions work remain unchanged. That means the active recall effort to remove Terry Slatic from office needs 7,388 signatures turned in by May 12. All the signatures must be from registered voters living in Fresno Unified School District Trustee Area 7 — the Bullard High School area.

According to the Recall Slatic website, it has 914 signatures, a number unchanged in a few weeks. Stacy Williams, one of the recall organizers, said an update may be coming shortly.

Slatic, meanwhile, says he’s completely forgotten about the recall.

“If the people of northwest Fresno want me to stop serving, send me that message, recall me,” Slatic told GV Wire. “(It’s a) job for certain people to get themselves on TV. …  I never took (the recall) seriously because I don’t care.”

Williams vs. Barfield

Speaking of Williams, she recently engaged in a Twitter spat with Fresno Transportation Director Gregory Barfield.

Barfield tweeted about new safety precautions for bus drivers, saying they would now wear masks. Williams wondered what took so long.

“You have no clue how fast the FAX team has reposnded [sic] to this crisis & as the Director will not spend any time defending what has happened to date, especially since you justed [sic] followed the FAX account a few hours ago & you don’t rely on FAX. This is a crisis that is changing daily,” Barfield wrote.

you have no clue how fast the FAX team has reposnded to this crisis & as the Director will not spend any time defending what has happened to date, especially since you justed followed the FAX account a few hours ago & you don’t rely on FAX. This is a crisis that is changing daily

— Gregory Barfield (@gregorybarfield) March 30, 2020

FAX buses are operating on their normal schedules. As an additional precaution, only 10 riders are allowed on a bus at a time.

Latest election results

One of Newsom’s executive orders allows for a three-week delay for county election clerks to certify results from the March 3 election.

Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth said that won’t be necessary. She plans to certify by Thursday as originally planned.

No local results have changed since the COVID-19 outbreak started dominating headlines.

To recap: Jerry Dyer won the Fresno mayoral race outright, skipping a November runoff; Tyler Maxwell won his election for Fresno City Council District 4; Democratic incumbent Jim Costa and Republican Kevin Cookingham advanced in the 16th Congressional District to the November election — Fresno City Councilwoman Esmeralda Soria finished out of the running in third place.

Republican David Valadao, in a bid to return to Washington, garnered 50% of the vote for District 21. In the top-two primary system, Valadao faces a rematch against Democratic incumbent TJ Cox, who earned 38.7% of the primary vote.

Devin Nunes, the Republican incumbent in District 22, will face Democratic challenger Phil Arballo.

When it came to school bonds, Measure C for Central Unified received 54.85% of the vote. It needed 55% to pass. That means if 23 people had voted yes instead of no, Measure C would’ve passed.

Fresno Unified convinced voters to pass its Measure M, with 60% of the vote.

Clovis Unified voters rejected Measure A, voting 50.45% no.

City Manager Orders Two More Employee-Centric Measures

Fresno City Manager Wilma Quan has signed two new emergency orders relating to city employees.

Complying with a health directive from the county, city employees will undergo self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms, which includes a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or greater.

The second order signed Tuesday provided details on leave policies for city employees unable to telework or who are taking COVID-19 related time off.

Employees will receive 80 hours (two weeks) of COVID-19 medical time off, at a maximum of $511 a day.

Pay rates are differentiated among worker categories and the reason time off is needed.

Three-day Watering Returns

No fooling, Fresno residents can now water their lawns three days a week.

The semiannual change adds two extra days to the watering schedule starting today through the end of October.

According to the city:

“Residents with addresses ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are permitted to water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.  Residents with addresses ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) are permitted to water on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.  No watering is allowed on Mondays or on any day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.”

The 1 day/week Outdoor Water Use Schedule stars today through March. Remember to reprogram your sprinklers. Odd addresses water on Saturdays. Even addresses water on Sundays. Outdoor water use is not allowed on weekdays or on any day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Yb5JLlA1gQ

— City of Fresno (@CityofFresno) November 1, 2019

Clovis Wants to Help Renters, Too

The Clovis City Council wants to use a state program that helps homebuyers extend to renters as well.

At a special meeting Monday night, the council voted to ask the state Dept. of Housing and Community Development to allow the $1 million already granted last year to apply to more residents.

The program already assists low-income first-time buyers. If approved by the state, low-income renters would receive a minimum of six months of subsidies.

“Having this activity available could greatly assist Clovis’ renter households who have had COVID-19 — related income loss, by assisting with their rent and preventing homelessness of the household due to eviction,” a staff report said.

Also, the city will not shut off water service because of unpaid bills based on an emergency order signed by city manager Luke Serpa.

The order also suspends late fees and penalties for all utility bills and business tax certificates.

Businesses are encouraged to notify the city Finance Department at 559-324-2130.

More Shows Postponed at Save Mart Center

The Save Mart Center continues to clear its calendar thanks to COVID-19.

Jose Ramirez’s May 9 championship boxing fight, already rescheduled Feb. 2 from China, is postponed again for the same reason — COVID-19. His bout against Viktor Postol has not been rescheduled.

“I’m focused and will stay training and ready. Our nation’s safety must come first. We will all get through this,” super lightweight champ Ramirez said.

Crooner Michael Bublé will reschedule his May 3 concert at a date to be announced.

There will be no laughs at the Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias comedy concert on May 8. He will return on Nov. 27.