Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Arambula Uses Facebook Live Town Hall to Battle Fresno County Supervisors
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
July 24, 2020

Share

A battle of approaches is playing out in Fresno County over how COVID-19 money is used.

And, the fight is being waged in hallways of public buildings and through mainstream and social media while lives hang in the balance at crowded hospitals and ICU units.

“We’re keeping Fresno County going. We’re keeping the state going. We’re keeping food on your table, and we’re keeping your Amazon packages there. So, the least you can do is ensure that we have the basics for our health.” — Leslie Martinez, policy advocate, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability

On one side, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Their philosophy is to spend funding slowly in the event the pandemic drags on until year’s end.

On the other side, Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula. The Fresno Democrat believes checks need to go out immediately because people are hurting now.

Friday morning, just a few days before a scheduled city-county meeting to discuss funding, Arambula continued his criticism of supervisors by hosting a live Facebook town hall meeting.

Arambula Facebook Town Hall

“Our people are hurting, and our healthcare system is exhausted,” said Arambula at the beginning of his virtual town hall.

“As a doctor and public servant, I cannot stand by and see people suffering or dying while Fresno County supervisors don’t do everything in their power to combat this.”Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno

Arambula, who is a physician, sent a letter last week to the Board of Supervisors asking how they intend to spend nearly $81.6 million dollars in Federal CARES Act funding.

So far, he hasn’t gotten the answers he wanted.

“As a doctor and public servant, I cannot stand by and see people suffering or dying while Fresno County supervisors don’t do everything in their power to combat this,” said Arambula.

One of the speakers Arambula invited was Leslie Martinez, a policy advocate for the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. She spoke passionately about some areas she says are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 fight. She said that residents in rural communities such as Cantua Creek, Riverdale, and Lanare are seeing rates of death much higher than other areas.

“I really challenge the board of supervisors in Fresno County coming into this workshop on Tuesday, that we dedicate some funds to communities that are keeping this county going,” said Martinez. “We’re keeping Fresno County going. We’re keeping the state going. We’re keeping food on your table, and we’re keeping your Amazon packages there. So, the least you can do is ensure that we have the basics for our health.”

No Supervisors Were Part of Arambula’s Event

None of the supervisors appeared during Arambula’s town hall.

“I still don’t know exactly what he (Arambula) wants. He may have a disagreement with how we’re spending some of our funds. But, I mean, we’re supervisors. We’ve got to make decisions that we believe are in the best interest of the county.” — Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig

A representative of Supervisor Buddy Mendes’ office said Friday that Mendes received an invitation late Thursday night, but he wasn’t able to attend because he was scheduled to chair the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority meeting.

On Monday, Mendes told GV Wire℠ by phone, “We spend federal dollars every day. Billions a year. We have to account for everything. Even in the CARES Act, there’s an accounting process.”

Mendes also said that he and other supervisors were worried about state money that’s paying for things like the three COVID-19 testing centers running out. He said it costs $1.5 million dollars a month to operate the testing centers.

“How long is this going to last? We still could be doing this in November and December,” said Mendes.

Supervisor Nathan Magsig told GV Wire℠, “I still don’t know exactly what he (Arambula) wants. He may have a disagreement with how we’re spending some of our funds. But, I mean, we’re supervisors. We’ve got to make decisions that we believe are in the best interest of the county.”

Radio Ad Slams Arambula Over Run-in with Supervisors

Arambula’s confrontation last week with several supervisors has made him the target of conservative activist and campaign consultant Tal Cloud.

Image of Nathan Magsig and Joaquin Arambula
Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, left, and Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula trade heated words over how to address the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, July 17, 2020. (Facebook/Nathan Magsig)

A 60-second radio ad voiced by Cloud references a plan from local nonprofits on how to spend some of the CARES Act dollars, as reported by Alex Tavlian of the San Joaquin Valley Sun.

“My brother, Diego, last worked for GO Public Schools Fresno in August 2018. He left the Leadership Council in early June and is not part of Go Public Schools Fresno’s decision-making.” — Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula 

According to an updated proposal, which can be viewed here and here, the plan would allocate $653,285 to Go Public Schools Fresno. Arambula’s brother Diego Arambula previously was the group’s CEO and served on the nonprofit’s leadership council.

“My brother, Diego, last worked for GO Public Schools Fresno in August 2018. He left the Leadership Council in early June and is not part of Go Public Schools Fresno’s decision-making,” Arambula said in an email Friday after the town hall.

City-County Meeting Still Scheduled

The county and city are supposed to meet Tuesday for a public workshop discussing federal stimulus spending. The county sent a news release about the event, and it’s on the official agenda website.

County Public Information Officer Jordan Scott tells GV Wire℠ the meeting is moving ahead as planned. However, the meeting’s details are still being discussed by city and county officials.

[covid-19-tracker]

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

Elon Musk Exiting Trump’s Team After Criticizing the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

DON'T MISS

Tulare Student Will Compete in Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals

DON'T MISS

Federal Trade Court Blocks Trump From Imposing Sweeping Tariffs Under Emergency Powers Law

DON'T MISS

Why Did the California Senate Shunt a Cost-Cutting Housing Bill?

DON'T MISS

Fresno Teachers Call for Probe After Superintendent Orders Up Dossier Against Union

DON'T MISS

US Court Blocks Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says US Will Start Revoking Visas for Chinese Students

DON'T MISS

CA Man’s 378-Year Sentence Overturned After Judge Rules Accuser May Have Made Up Charges

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Faces Life in Prison for Fentanyl, Gun Charges

DON'T MISS

Tiger’s Son, Charlie Woods, Wins Team TaylorMade Invitational in Claiming 1st AJGA Event

UP NEXT

Federal Trade Court Blocks Trump From Imposing Sweeping Tariffs Under Emergency Powers Law

UP NEXT

US Court Blocks Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs

UP NEXT

Rubio Says US Will Start Revoking Visas for Chinese Students

UP NEXT

Harvard Agrees to Relinquish Early Photos of Slaves, Ending a Long Legal Battle

UP NEXT

Silence on E. Coli Outbreak Highlights How Trump Team’s Changes Undermine Food Safety

UP NEXT

COVID’s New Variant May Be Driving Up Cases in Some Parts of the World, WHO Says

UP NEXT

California Opens Track-and-Field Finals to More Girls After Success of Trans Athlete

UP NEXT

Elon Musk Criticizes Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ a Fracture in a Key Relationship

UP NEXT

Soria Replaces Attorneys In Middle of Defamation Case

UP NEXT

High School Dropout to Five Decades in Congress: Charles Rangel Dies at 94

Why Did the California Senate Shunt a Cost-Cutting Housing Bill?

13 hours ago

Fresno Teachers Call for Probe After Superintendent Orders Up Dossier Against Union

14 hours ago

US Court Blocks Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs

14 hours ago

Rubio Says US Will Start Revoking Visas for Chinese Students

14 hours ago

CA Man’s 378-Year Sentence Overturned After Judge Rules Accuser May Have Made Up Charges

15 hours ago

Fresno Man Faces Life in Prison for Fentanyl, Gun Charges

16 hours ago

Tiger’s Son, Charlie Woods, Wins Team TaylorMade Invitational in Claiming 1st AJGA Event

16 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: The Human Side of Law Enforcement

16 hours ago

CIF Expands Field, Changes Medal Rules for State Track Championships Amid Trump Pushback

16 hours ago

Get Ready for Several Years of Killer Heat, Top Weather Forecasters Warn

17 hours ago

Elon Musk Exiting Trump’s Team After Criticizing the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

WASHINGTON — Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump after spearheading efforts to reduce and ov...

12 hours ago

Elon Musk listens as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Alex Brandon)
12 hours ago

Elon Musk Exiting Trump’s Team After Criticizing the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

13 hours ago

Tulare Student Will Compete in Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals

13 hours ago

Federal Trade Court Blocks Trump From Imposing Sweeping Tariffs Under Emergency Powers Law

13 hours ago

Why Did the California Senate Shunt a Cost-Cutting Housing Bill?

14 hours ago

Fresno Teachers Call for Probe After Superintendent Orders Up Dossier Against Union

President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
14 hours ago

US Court Blocks Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (not pictured) at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
14 hours ago

Rubio Says US Will Start Revoking Visas for Chinese Students

15 hours ago

CA Man’s 378-Year Sentence Overturned After Judge Rules Accuser May Have Made Up Charges

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

Search

Send this to a friend