Fresno City Councilmembers Mike Karbassi and Annalisa Perea have sent a letter of support on behalf of Psalm Behpoor.

Behpoor is the manager of Pismo’s Coastal Grill, currently detained by immigration authorities. He immigrated to America, fleeing Iran in the 1980s. In 2002, at age 18, Behpoor was convicted of non-aggravated felony burglary. He served time, but by agreement, was not deported.

He also has a 2019 DUI on his record that was later vacated.

On June 23, ICE took Behpoor into custody. He is awaiting a court hearing while detained at a Bakersfield facility. He once held a green card giving him legal status, but it has since been revoked.

It is unclear when Behpoor may appear before a judge, or what the consequences will be for his actions 23 years ago.

In a letter to the immigration court, Karbassi and Perea offered their “full support” for Behpoor.

“His actions over the past two decades show a man who has matured and dedicated himself to living productively and lawfully in our community,” the letter says.

In a news release, Karbassi called Behpoor “the very spirit of the American Dream.”

As of June 29, 71.7% of the nearly 57,861 people detained by ICE had no criminal convictions, according to the Associated Press. Of those with criminal convictions, only 6.9% had committed a violent crime.

Ashjian Quits Measure C Advisory Group

Brooke Ashjian is off a citizen advisory committee to make suggestions on the Measure C transportation sales tax renewal for a second time.

This time, it is of Ashjian’s own volition.

Speaking Tuesday on “Broeske and Musson” on KMJ radio Ashjian said he quit the group because it was pointless. The Aug. 14 meeting was filled with bickering on process on determining Measure C spending categories.

He criticized officials who expanded the group — officially known as the Measure C Steering Committee — to 12 members representing social justice group Transportation for All.

Ashjian singled out Lynne Ashbeck, a Clovis city councilmember who is on the committee that helped establish the steering committee — there is plenty of bureaucracy setting up the renewal process — “sold Clovis down the river.”

Fresno Council of Governments, which helped establish the renewal committee, recently fired its consultant, and appointed steering committee member Mark Keppler as the new facilitator.

Ashjian said Keppler set up longer meetings and a condensed timeline to earn more of his hourly rate.

“Now I know why he wanted go from two-and-a-half to four hours,” Ashjian said.

Keppler did not immediately respond for comment.

The next steering committee is Wednesday, to set up how much to spend in each renewal category.

Any recommendation from the steering committee needs to be approved by the Fresno County Transportation Authority, local governments representing a majority of county residents, and eventually the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to place the item on the agenda.

Catching Up in Clovis

There will be no changes to Clovis’ governance for now. The city council publicly discussed Aug. 11 term limits, becoming a charter city, and changes to protocols.

The city council will take a wait-and-see approach.

Already, the city changed to district elections starting in 2026 — after threat of a lawsuit. Currently, there are no term limits.

Councilmember Drew Bessinger said it takes four years just to understand land use.

“I don’t want to see the Clovis City Council becoming a running board for somebody to run for board of supervisors or state elected positions, because I just think it’s bad,” Bessinger said. He would rather wait to see how the district elections work.

Matt Basgall, who previously announced he will not seek a second term in 2026, suggested a poll.

Becoming a charter city would give the city more control on land use policy. It would need to be approved by voters. The council voted 3-2 to take no action, remaining a general law city. Councilmembers Vong Mouanoutoua and Diane Pearce voted no.