Now City Leaders Want Fresno State to Join Pac-12

Fresh off a Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl victory, talk of Fresno State moving to the Pacific-12 Conference is somewhere between fan fiction and what-if fantasy.

Now, it could become a political passion.

Fresno City Councilman Tyler Maxwell said he will bring a motion to the City Council in support of the Bulldogs moving to a higher profile conference.

“I’ve seen enough, Fresno State deserves a spot in the @pac12. Me & @MayorJerryDyer will bring forward a resolution at the Jan. 5 Council mtg, urging Pac-12 to invite Fresno State and make some history. The City of Fresno is ready to do our part to make this happen. Go ‘Dogs!” Maxwell wrote on Twitter.

It should be noted that Maxwell is a Cal alum, a Pac-12 school. Also, there are whispers that perhaps the Big 12 might be a better option for the Bulldogs.

I’ve seen enough, Fresno State deserves a spot in the @pac12.

Me & @MayorJerryDyer will bring forward a resolution at the Jan. 5 Council mtg, urging Pac-12 to invite Fresno State and make some history.

The City of Fresno is ready to do our part to make this happen. Go ‘Dogs! 🐾

— Tyler Maxwell (@Maxwell4Fresno) December 20, 2022

Also in Politics 101 …

• SD 16 Recount continues.
• Adventure Church sues again over Tower Theatre.
• Warming Centers to expand operations.

Recount Continues

The Senate District 16 recount continues, now on three fronts. David Shepard, R-Porterville, lost to incumbent state Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, by 22 votes.

Currently, Fresno County had to hand-separate nearly 221,000 ballots to find the 4,900 votes cast for the district race. They will be run through a machine again. Earlier this week, the Shepard campaign challenged 12 ballots envelopes with invalid signatures. Only one was granted.

In Kern County, the Shepard team is examining undervotes, when a voter apparently chose neither candidate.

Action is also continuing in Tulare County. Activity in Kings County starts next Tuesday.

Fresno election workers continue to separate ballots for the state Senate District 16 recount. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Church Sues City Again, and Now Terance Frazier

If at first you don’t succeed, sue, sue again.

When a sale of the Tower Theatre to Adventure Church fell apart in 2021, the religious institution sued the city, claiming damages.

The church eventually dropped its lawsuit, but refiled the legal action last week. Most of the claims are the same — mainly the city illegally interfered with its deal.

The city bought the historic property from its longtime owners for $6.5 million, completing the deal in July 2022.

This time, the church has added developer Terance Frazier, also the fiancé of now-former Councilmember Esmeralda Soria, as a lawsuit defendant. The lawsuit claims the city reached out to Frazier “to be part of an investment group to purchase the Tower Theatre.” Frazier allegedly gave advice to Soria and others on how to block the church from purchasing the theater.

Frazier allegedly also reached out to the church, the lawsuit said, offering to “fix all this for you.”

A case management conference will be held April 19, 2023 in front of Judge Stephanie Negin.

Fresno Warming Centers Expand Hours

Fresno warming centers will be open through Jan. 31, regardless of the temperature.

The city manager made the call yesterday. The Fresno City Council held a special meeting Thursday to confirm the decision with a 6-0 vote (Councilman Garry Bredefeld did not attend).

The centers, which will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., are:

• Maxie Parks Community Center, 1802 E. California Avenue
• Mosqueda Community Center, 4670 E. Butler Avenue
• Pinedale Community Center, 7170 N. San Pablo Avenue
• Ted Wills Community Center, 770 N. San Pablo Avenue

The city will also provide free bus service to and from the warming centers.