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Are Fresno Politicians Treating Measure P Like a Slush Fund?

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The city's purchase of the Tower Theatre "demonstrated total disregard for the spirit of Measure P," writes Doug Hoagland in a special report for The Munro Review. (GV Wire File)
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Former Fresno Bee reporter Doug Hoagland did a three-month deep dive into how City Hall is spending Measure P sales tax revenues.

Unsurprisingly, he ran “into a mostly wall of silence from City Council members.”

Still, Hoagland poses legitimate questions about the city’s purchase of the Tower Theatre and the city council’s efforts to do whatever it pleases with Measure P funds.

For the record, thanks to this dedicated sales tax, the city has $75 million to spend on parks, recreation, and cultural arts this fiscal year

We’re not surprised that some councilmembers ducked Hoagland’s questions. A majority of them lack the backbone to answer anything but the most innocuous queries.

Hoagland’s story is well worth your time if you care about the arts, parks, or bringing sunlight to backroom deals involving taxpayer monies.

You can read it at The Munro Review, which is always worth your time.

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