Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
As Voters Decide on Support Tax, How Does Fresno Rank for Veterans?
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 2 years ago on
October 31, 2022

Share

Fresno is one of the worst places for military veterans to live, according to a survey released Monday by a personal finance website.

WalletHub rated Fresno 92nd for veterans among the 100 largest U.S. cities.

The report — which comes as Fresno voters weigh in on the Measure M veterans sales tax support proposal — rated the cities in 20 categories, including housing affordability and skilled employment opportunities.

If passed by voters on Nov. 8, Measure M would increase Fresno’s sales tax by 1/8th of a cent and generate an estimated $19.5 million annually for 20 years. The measure’s spending plan calls for one-third of the new revenue to go to veterans services, one-third to facilities, and the remaining third to either services or facilities.

Measure M Could Fund Housing, Job Training for Veterans

Examples of how the facility funds could be spent include affordable housing for veterans and facilities such as the Fresno Memorial Auditorium. Potential services include job training and job placement assistance, and medical and mental health care.

I think we frankly are way overtaxed as a society. But there’s clearly a need for veterans,”  said Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld after the council voted unanimously to put Measure M on the ballot. “This is something we’re also going to be very proud of as we continue to support veterans.”

And, in an example of a rare agreement between the council’s conservative and progressive wings, Miguel Arias is wholeheartedly supporting the sales tax.

“This is long overdue. Our veterans … deserve nothing but the best,” said Miguel Arias.

Homelessness, Poverty Challenge Fresno Veterans

The survey dinged Fresno hard for having a high number of homeless veterans relative to its population (86th) and the percentage of veterans living in poverty (76th),

“How good or bad a city is for veterans depends on various factors, from the quality of the city’s VA facilities and its retirement-friendliness to the rates of poverty, unemployment, and homelessness. All cities should make taking care of veterans’ needs a priority, considering how much veterans have sacrificed to serve the country and keep it safe,” said Jill Gonzalez, a Wallet Hub analyst.

“We spend a massive amount of money on national defense and military operations, yet a comparatively small amount on helping veterans once their service is done. It is unacceptable that there are tens of thousands of homeless veterans; that number should be reduced to zero.”

Read the full survey at this link.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Top 10 Songs of 2024: ‘Texas Hold ‘Em,’ ‘Not Like Us,’ ‘Igual Que Un ÁNgel’ and More

DON'T MISS

High Schools Moved on From College for All. Will Trump Come Through for Job Training?

DON'T MISS

Will Juan Soto Top Shohei Ohtani’s Deal? It Depends on the Accounting Tricks

DON'T MISS

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Announces Bid for Top Oversight Job as Democrats Push for Generational Change

DON'T MISS

Biden Is Considering Preemptive Pardons for Officials and Allies Before Trump Takes Office

DON'T MISS

Cher’s Fresno Connections Revealed in Superstar Entertainer’s New Memoir

DON'T MISS

Could Dark Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

DON'T MISS

Fresno Video Cameras Help Detectives Arrest Road Rage Shooter

DON'T MISS

Who Are the Winners in Local Close-as-a-Whisker Political Races?

DON'T MISS

USDA Orders Nationwide Testing of Milk for Bird Flu to Halt the Virus

UP NEXT

High Schools Moved on From College for All. Will Trump Come Through for Job Training?

UP NEXT

Will Juan Soto Top Shohei Ohtani’s Deal? It Depends on the Accounting Tricks

UP NEXT

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Announces Bid for Top Oversight Job as Democrats Push for Generational Change

UP NEXT

Biden Is Considering Preemptive Pardons for Officials and Allies Before Trump Takes Office

UP NEXT

Cher’s Fresno Connections Revealed in Superstar Entertainer’s New Memoir

UP NEXT

Could Dark Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

UP NEXT

Fresno Video Cameras Help Detectives Arrest Road Rage Shooter

UP NEXT

Who Are the Winners in Local Close-as-a-Whisker Political Races?

UP NEXT

USDA Orders Nationwide Testing of Milk for Bird Flu to Halt the Virus

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Sergeant Injured While Taking Down Suspect. Two Arrested.

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Announces Bid for Top Oversight Job as Democrats Push for Generational Change

13 hours ago

Biden Is Considering Preemptive Pardons for Officials and Allies Before Trump Takes Office

13 hours ago

Cher’s Fresno Connections Revealed in Superstar Entertainer’s New Memoir

14 hours ago

Could Dark Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

15 hours ago

Fresno Video Cameras Help Detectives Arrest Road Rage Shooter

15 hours ago

Who Are the Winners in Local Close-as-a-Whisker Political Races?

15 hours ago

USDA Orders Nationwide Testing of Milk for Bird Flu to Halt the Virus

15 hours ago

Fresno Police Sergeant Injured While Taking Down Suspect. Two Arrested.

16 hours ago

Police Found No Evidence of a Threat at California Capitol After Evacuation

16 hours ago

Fresno State Signs 10 Football Recruits Same Day It Hires Matt Entz

16 hours ago

Top 10 Songs of 2024: ‘Texas Hold ‘Em,’ ‘Not Like Us,’ ‘Igual Que Un ÁNgel’ and More

NEW YORK — Ten of the best songs of the year, as determined by Associated Press Music Writer Maria Sherman, in no particular order. Related ...

9 minutes ago

9 minutes ago

Top 10 Songs of 2024: ‘Texas Hold ‘Em,’ ‘Not Like Us,’ ‘Igual Que Un ÁNgel’ and More

14 minutes ago

High Schools Moved on From College for All. Will Trump Come Through for Job Training?

13 hours ago

Will Juan Soto Top Shohei Ohtani’s Deal? It Depends on the Accounting Tricks

13 hours ago

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Announces Bid for Top Oversight Job as Democrats Push for Generational Change

13 hours ago

Biden Is Considering Preemptive Pardons for Officials and Allies Before Trump Takes Office

14 hours ago

Cher’s Fresno Connections Revealed in Superstar Entertainer’s New Memoir

A study suggests that consuming dark chocolate may lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, though causation remains unproven. (Shutterstock)
15 hours ago

Could Dark Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes?

A 27-year-old Selma man, Julian Angelo Gonzales, was arrested for a road rage shooting that injured a woman after a brief verbal altercation on December 3, 2024. (Fresno PD)
15 hours ago

Fresno Video Cameras Help Detectives Arrest Road Rage Shooter

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

Search

Send this to a friend