Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

2 hours ago

Clovis Unified Mourns Passing of Former Superintendent Terry Bradley

9 hours ago

Clovis At-Risk Missing Person Found Dead in Fresno Canal

9 hours ago

DOJ Asks California Sheriffs for Names of Inmates Who Aren’t Citizens

10 hours ago

Israel Agrees to Allow Syrian Troops Limited Access to Sweida

10 hours ago

Border Patrol Agents Raid a Home Depot in Northern California

11 hours ago

Man Admits to Killing Missing Bass Lake Resident, Madera County Authorities Say

1 day ago

Trump Diagnosed With Vein Condition Causing Leg Swelling, White House Says

1 day ago

US Seeks One-Day Sentence for Police Officer Convicted in Breonna Taylor Case

1 day ago

Manhattan Prosecutor Who Handled Epstein Cases Is Fired

1 day ago
Fresno Councilmen Continue to Butt Heads Over Reopening Schools
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
February 15, 2021

Share

The battle of news releases continued last week between Fresno councilmen Garry Bredefeld and Nelson Esparza.

It started Wednesday when Bredefeld floated the idea of the city suing Fresno Unified to reopen its schools.

That was quickly met with rebuke from Esparza, who not only vowed that the City Council would not be voting on such a proposal, but that Bredefeld would be removed from the council’s school liaison subcommittee.

“Esparza has no such authority to change that appointment,” Bredefeld responded in a Thursday news release. “He mistakenly believes by being the Chair he has dictatorial powers; he does not.”

On Friday, Esparza was cryptic, but defiant.

“I don’t have the energy to respond to every single tantrum Garry Bredefeld throws. But let me rephrase just this once … Garry Bredefeld will not serve on any education committees at the City Council level,” Esparza said.

Asked how he planned to accomplish that, Esparza just said “stay tuned.”

Bredefeld’s motion to initiate a lawsuit, for now, is on the City Council’s agenda for next Thursday. There is no item, however, to discuss Bredefeld’s potential removal.

“He should concentrate on getting people back to work rather than attempting to throw me off a committee,” Bredefeld responded. “His policies have been destructive and a complete disgrace. Rather than worry about me being on a committee, he should focus his energies on getting students back to school and people back to work.”

FUSD Trustee: I Wish He Talked with Me

Claudia Cazares, Fresno Unified board trustee, said Bredefeld did not reach out to her or other board members before issuing his news release.

“We would have been able to explain how our calculated decisions have been made, how our plans for reopening have been made and approved unanimously by our board, why we’re interested in keeping the health of not only our students, our teachers, but their family members at the top of our priority list,” Cazares said.

Cazares said that when Fresno County is in the orange tier of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan, which will occur when infection rates are moderate instead of massive, students will be able to return to on-campus classes.

The latest map released by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office classifies Fresno Unified as “distance learning only”; neighboring Clovis Unified is in “hybrid” status. The district announced its plan to return middle- and high-school students to campus starting the week of Feb. 22.

Clovis Unified elementary school students are already back on campus in a limited capacity.

Bredefeld’s council district includes both Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified.

Policy Indicates Support for Bredefeld

If the council follows its own policy, Bredefeld could be correct.

Rule No. 25 in its procedural manual states that committee appointments last for two years and the appointments are made at an annual meeting, this year held on Feb. 4.

At that meeting, the council could “consider removal of any appointee for cause, such as for failure to keep Council informed of the Committee’s activities, or for excessive absenteeism without good cause.”

The council voted unanimously to place Bredefeld on the education subcommittee.

Other Harsh Responses

Esparza wasn’t the only elected leader to have a harsh response.

Fresno County Board of Education trustee James Martinez wrote on Twitter: “Maybe if instead of wasting time and resources on a desperate attempt to rally the last of the alt-right voters in Fresno, you spent it on reminding your district to wear masks and stop super spreading at Trader Joe’s, our students would probably be able to return sooner.”

Asked if the rhetoric on both sides is healthy, Martinez said, “It’s an open dialogue. It’s a public forum. Everybody has their right to exercise their First Amendment free speech. … I just hope it stays respectful.”

Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson — known for using the slogan “militantly positive” and to warn students about the effects of social media messages — took to Twitter to compare Bredefeld to U.S. Capitol rioters.

Nelson was not available to comment on the language used in his tweet. The district did send a comment Nelson made earlier about Fresno Unified returning to in-person instruction once it’s safe to do so.


[activecampaign form=25]

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

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

DON'T MISS

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

DON'T MISS

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

DON'T MISS

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

DON'T MISS

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

DON'T MISS

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

DON'T MISS

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

UP NEXT

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

UP NEXT

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

How Many Millions of Dollars Will Fresno Get From Airport Car Rentals?

UP NEXT

DOJ Wants California Jail Data on Noncitizen Inmates. Fresno Sheriff Reviews Request.

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Three in Drug Raid, Recover Firearms and Narcotics

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Lavisha Denise Beard

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified Mourns Passing of Former Superintendent Terry Bradley

UP NEXT

Clovis At-Risk Missing Person Found Dead in Fresno Canal

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

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

2 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

3 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

4 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

5 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

6 hours ago

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

6 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

6 hours ago

What You Need to Know About Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Controversy

6 hours ago

How Many Millions of Dollars Will Fresno Get From Airport Car Rentals?

7 hours ago

DOJ Wants California Jail Data on Noncitizen Inmates. Fresno Sheriff Reviews Request.

7 hours ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were placed on leave following a viral “kiss cam” moment at a Coldplay conc...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

1 hour ago

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

President Donald Trump speaks during the White House Faith Office Luncheon at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
2 hours ago

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

A Fresno man has been arrested on felony charges after allegedly breaking into a home, groping a sleeping woman, and fleeing with stolen items. (Fresno County SO)
2 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

3 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

A juvenile girl was rescued early Thursday, July 17, 2025, after becoming trapped inside a chimney at a Fresno home and was hospitalized with minor injuries. (Fresno FD)
4 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a nuclear cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani (not pictured), at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. (Reuters/Umit Bektas)
5 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

Men work at a makeshift oil refinery site in Marchmarin town, southern countryside of Idlib, Syria December 16, 2015. (Reuters File)
6 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

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

Search

Send this to a friend