Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
COVID-19 Kills Parks-Safety Sales Tax Effort, Brand Says
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
July 16, 2020

Share

Mayor Lee Brand says there is no chance that a successor to Measure P — the 2018 sales tax measure for parks currently ruled to have failed — will be on the November ballot.

“You’re going to see nothing on the November ballot. The COVID crisis and the consequence, which is this economic calamity that we are all facing, I don’t think anybody has a taste for a sales tax measure,” Brand said.

Photo of GV Wire's David Taub

David Taub

Politics 101


Also in Politics 101:

  • Brand has doubts about school bonds in November as well.
  • Devin Nunes raises millions.
  • Advice to those running for office: file your paperwork or FPPC will be after you.
  • Update on Nasreen Johnson, running for SCCCD trustee.

Measure P earned 52% of the vote, but the city said it needed two-thirds approval because it was a tax measure for a specific purpose. That two-thirds threshold is being challenged in the courts, but it could take years for a final ruling.

In the meantime, community and city leaders met for a possible second-go at a sales tax, this time benefiting parks, pubic safety, and possibly public works.

The COVID crisis curtailed any discussion at the city council level. To place an item on the November ballot, the council — either through a vote or forced to enact by a petition — needs to do so by Aug. 7.

“We were doing early discussions, talking about some sort of combined parks and public safety that may have actually got there. But it’s never going to happen right now. This is going to be Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer’s issue to deal with, probably his first term,” Brand said. 

Other jurisdictions may be reading the same tea leaves as Brand. A transportation tax in Sacramento County was dropped from the ballot for a similar reason — leaders didn’t think it would pass. In San Francisco, four ballot measures were pulled.

School Bonds Unlikely, Too

“You’re going to see nothing on the November ballot. The COVID crisis and the consequence, which is this economic calamity that we are all facing, I don’t think anybody has a taste for a sales tax measure.”Mayor Lee Brand

Brand also has doubts that school bond measures will be on the ballot as well. In the March election, voters in Clovis Unified and Central Unified failed to pass bonds. Voters in Fresno Unified did pass a bond.

“I’d be surprised if the school bonds — take the one in Clovis that failed, or Central Unified — would even put it on there because it’s really, really bad timing,” Brand said.

And, 2022 may not be any easier. Backers of Measure C, the countywide sales tax measure that funds road projects, intend to place another 20-year renewal for voters. It passed initially in 1986 and renewed in 2006.

Brand said competing against Measure C “would make it tough” for other sales tax efforts.

“If we’re still suffering through a recession in 2022, it’s probably gonna be really hard,” Brand added.

Nunes Raised Millions in Second Quarter

Photo of Devin Nunes walking
Devin Nunes

Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) leads Valley congressional candidates in both the second quarter and overall fundraising.

Nunes raised $2.6 million between April and June. His Democratic opponent, Fresno financial analyst Phil Arballo, raised $829,000 for the quarter and $2.6 million overall.

That places Nunes third overall for all House candidates, according to Open Secrets, behind Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), $26 million, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), $12 million.

In the 2018 cycle, the 22nd district congressional race ranked third overall for fundraising, at $22 million. Nunes fended off a challenge from Fresno County prosecutor Andrew Janz.

Jim Costa (D-Fresno) also has a strong fundraising advantage over his Republican challenger, Kevin Cookingham, a retired educator now living in Madera County. Costa raised $128,000 for the quarter, and $1.7 million overall. Cookingham raised $29,285 and $126,682, respectively.

Two years ago, TJ Cox (D-Fresno) defeated sitting congressman David Valadao of Hanford by 862 votes. Based on their fundraising, it shapes up as another close race. For the quarter, Cox raised $939,607 to Valadao’s $701,192. Overall, Cox raised $3.2 million to Valadao’s $2.4 million.

Candidate District 2nd quarter (April-June 2020)

Raised

Spent

Cycle-to-date

Raised

Spent

Cash on hand

Debt

Jim Costa (D-inc.) 16 $127,990

$70,644

$1.7 million

$1.4 million

$427,372

$800

Kevin Cookingham (R) 16 $29,285

$10,419

$126,682

$101,812

$24,870

$10,715

TJ Cox (D-inc.) 21 $939,607

$321.860

$3.2 million

$4.8 million

$2.0 million

$0

David Valadao (R) 21 $701,192

$153,565

$2.4 million

$725,000

$1.8 million

$0

Devin Nunes (R-inc.) 22 $4.6 million

$2.8 million

$16.4 million

$10.4 million

$10.5 million

$0

Phil Arballo (D) 22 $829,689

$657,018

$2.6 million

$2.1 million

$449,126

$0

Want to Run for Office? File Carefully!

Earlier this month, the Fresno County clerk’s office held an online seminar for those running for office. Bottom line, it takes a lot of paperwork to run. One document is the Statement of Economic Interest, known as Form 700.

Politics 101 examined dozens of records from the state agency to enforce campaign finance — the Fair Political Practices Commission — showing that many recently elected officials or those appointed to various boards have not been keeping up with their paperwork.

The action usually starts with a warning letter from either the county or Fresno city clerk’s office. If forms still aren’t filed, the FPPC may get involved.

Among the open cases the FPPC is examining because of non-filing (mostly for Form 700) include Amparo Cid (board member of School of Unlimited Learning — a high school operated by Fresno EOC), Jason Paul (Central Unified trustee), Keshia Thomas (Fresno Unified trustee), DJ Criner (board member for Edison Bethune Academy, although he has filed on time for other Fresno city positions he holds), and Clint Olivier (unsuccessful 2016 run for state Assembly).

Others have already been fined: Terry Slatic (Fresno Unified trustee, $200), Valerie Davis (Fresno Unified trustee, $968), and Terra Brusseau (Fresno Housing Authority, $400).

Update on SCCCD Race

Nasreen Johnson

Earlier this week, Politics 101 reported that Nasreen Johnson was a communications specialist with Fresno EOC. Johnson left that position last month, according to her now-former employer.

Johnson and Sevag Tatetosian are running for State Center Community College District trustee against incumbent Eric Payne.

 

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

Madera County Wildfire Prompts Evacuation Warnings, Road Closures

DON'T MISS

Sanger Police Seek Public’s Help to Find Missing Teen

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Everyone Should Immediately Evacuate Tehran

DON'T MISS

Inside Trump’s Extraordinary Turnaround on Immigration Raids

DON'T MISS

Trump Approval Steady at 42%, Support Weakens for His Immigration Policy, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

DON'T MISS

Person Rescued from Fresno Canal, Third Incident in Recent Days

DON'T MISS

Arias Dodges Questions About His False Fresno ICE Raid Claim

DON'T MISS

Iranian State TV Halts Live Broadcast After Israeli Strike

DON'T MISS

Global Markets Recover on Iran Ceasefire Reports, Central Banks in Focus

DON'T MISS

Madera Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Fentanyl, Meth Trafficking

UP NEXT

Mass Deportations Could Cost California Over $275 Billion, UC Merced Report Warns

UP NEXT

Truck Stuck on Tracks Hit by Train in Tulare County

UP NEXT

Clovis Police Aim to Curb Impaired Driving With Friday Checkpoint

UP NEXT

Musk Shares Negative Drug Test Results, Challenges Media Outlets

UP NEXT

Hurricane Erick Threatens Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Rapid Strengthening Expected

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Peter DA Vang

UP NEXT

‘Who’s Running the White House?’ Trump Brings Back ICE Raids on Farms, Restaurants

UP NEXT

Granite Park Eviction Lawsuit Heads Toward Trial

UP NEXT

Missing Clovis Man Found Dead. No Foul Play Suspected

UP NEXT

Kings County Sheriff Announces Retirement After Nearly 30 Years in Law Enforcement

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

Fed Keeps Rates Steady but Pencils in Two Cuts by End of 2025, Warns of Inflation Ahead

2 hours ago

Putin Says He Does Not Want to Discuss the Possible Israeli-US Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader

2 hours ago

A Little Coffee With Your Whiskey? Downtown Fresno Gets New Craft Cocktail Lounge

3 hours ago

‘Any Illegal Immigrants?’ Trump Quizzes Workers at the White House

3 hours ago

What Is Juneteenth and When Did It Become a US Federal Holiday?

3 hours ago

US B-2 Bombers, Bunker-Busters and Alternatives

3 hours ago

US Social Security, Medicare to Run Short of Funds in 2033, Trustees Say

3 hours ago

Buss Family to Sell Lakers, Report Says

4 hours ago

Trump Administration Resuming Student Visa Appointments, Official Says

4 hours ago

Teen Girl Accused as Getaway Driver in Caleb Quick Murder Appears in Court

4 hours ago

Trump Faces Uproar From MAGA Base Over Possible Iran Strike

WASHINGTON – The prospect of a U.S. strike against Iran has exposed divisions in the coalition of supporters that brought President Do...

1 hour ago

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) hat as he attends the commencement ceremony at West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York, U.S., May 24, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
1 hour ago

Trump Faces Uproar From MAGA Base Over Possible Iran Strike

1 hour ago

Iran Would Accept Trump’s Offer to Meet Soon, New York Times Reports

2 hours ago

Meta in Talks to Hire Former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman to Join AI Efforts, The Information Reports

2 hours ago

Fed Keeps Rates Steady but Pencils in Two Cuts by End of 2025, Warns of Inflation Ahead

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia June 10, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Putin Says He Does Not Want to Discuss the Possible Israeli-US Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader

3 hours ago

A Little Coffee With Your Whiskey? Downtown Fresno Gets New Craft Cocktail Lounge

President Donald Trump talks about the new flag pole being installed on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Wednesday, June, 18, 2025. President Trump decided to check the immigration status of a work crew installing a new flagpole at the White House. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
3 hours ago

‘Any Illegal Immigrants?’ Trump Quizzes Workers at the White House

3 hours ago

What Is Juneteenth and When Did It Become a US Federal Holiday?

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

Search

Send this to a friend