The Fresno City Council approved the necessary permits, allowing for a Starbucks in southwest Fresno. The developers agreed to build only one drive-thru instead of two, a source of the holdup.

Councilmember Miguel Arias balked at approval at the March 18 meeting, citing traffic and pedestrian concerns.

“You can’t come to southwest Fresno, and not be held accountable,” developer Sylvesta Hall said.

As part of the agreement, a right-hand turn lane will also be extended.

“Unbelievable. Inspirational,” an excited Hall said after the vote.

The Starbucks is part of a larger West Creek Village development, around the relatively new Gaston Middle School, and Fresno City College west campus. The project also includes residential and retail. Earlier this week, the city broke ground on a new 10-acre park.

Developer Jim Shehadey expects construction to start in the fall, with an early 2025 opening.

The item passed 6-0. Annalisa Perea, Mike Karbassi, Miguel Arias, Tyler Maxwell, Luis Chavez, and Nelson Esparza voted in favor. Garry Bredefeld had to recuse because he received political contributions from the developer more than $250.

Fresno to Require Bars, Restaurants to Have Narcan

Saying it could save lives, the Fresno City Council approved a plan, 5-2, mandating bars and restaurants in the city to stock naloxone, aka Narcan.

The drug helps victims of opioid drug overdoses survive.

“This is a public safety bill,” the bill’s author, City Council President Annalisa Perea, said.

Locations with alcohol licenses will be required to carry Narcan. For now, the Fresno County Health Department will distribute it free of charge. The city will also provide training.

Bredefeld was concerned about an unfunded mandate on businesses. Arias wanted the Narcan provision to apply to city buildings as well. Both voted against the bill.

Perea, Mike Karbassi, Tyler Maxwell, Luis Chavez, and Nelson Esparza voted in favor. The item will return for a final vote at a future meeting.

A state law would shield businesses from civil lawsuits from administering aid in most cases.

Costa Calls for Israel-Gaza Ceasefire

Congressmember Jim Costa is now advocating for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“For months, many of us have called for a ceasefire and the return of all the hostages. This week, we saw the horrific attacks against aid workers of the World Central Kitchen, who lost their lives, and I mourn their loss. The status quo must change.

Notwithstanding Hamas’ brutal attacks on October 7th, we have to achieve an immediate ceasefire, return all the hostages, and at the same time hold Hamas accountable. President Biden has for months been working with Israel and other partners involved to negotiate a peace agreement and this week increased pressure on the Israeli government to do the right thing. As our ally, Israel must do its part.”

Costa has been criticized by members of the local pro-Palestinian community, for not meeting with the group.

Bonta in Fresno on Saturday

California Attorney General Rob Bonta visits Fresno on Saturday, delivering a keynote speech at the United Against Hate Summit.

Several social justice groups are organizing the event, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Fresno City College Forum Hall 101.

“As a leader in combating hate crimes and incidents, Attorney General Bonta’s presence underscores the urgency and importance of addressing hate and extremism in our communities,” a news release promoting the event said.

Pride Flag to Fly in Selma Again

In a 3-2 vote, the Selma city council on Monday approved a fee waiver for a community group to display a Gay pride flag at a city building.

No one from the public or the council spoke about the fee waiver request from gay rights group Fresno PFLAG. The flag will fly in June at the Selma Arts Center Building. The regular fee is $500 ($235 for the flag permit and $265 for a light pole banner hanging fee).

The flag has flown before in Selma.

Mayor Scott Robertson and councilmembers Beverly Cho, and Sarah Guerra voted for. Blanca Mendoza-Navarro and John Trujillo voted against.

Trujillo told Politics 101 that his vote “had nothing to do with the actual Pride flag,” but rather the fee waiver.

Also, the council reviewed potential new city logos. No decision was made, but there wasn’t much support for the “Where Good Things Grow” slogan.

Three Hurtado Bills Advance

Three bills by state Senator Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, passed committees this week.

In the Senate education committee, Senate Bill 1248, known as “Yahushua’s Law” advanced 6-0. The bill would establish protocols for schools exposed to extreme weather conditions. Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student in Lake Elsinore, died in 2023 after extreme heat-related illness during a PE class.

Robinson’s family provided emotional testimony during the hearing.

“The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school,” Hurtado said in a post-vote news release.

Also passing in education was Hurtado’s bill, SB 1183, to ease acceptance for local nursing students, in places like College of the Sequoias in Visalia. That bill passed in the committee’s consent calendar, 6-0.

Both bills head next to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

And, in the Senate judiciary committee, SB 1366, passed 10-0. The bill would require property sellers to disclose any water well issues receiving tank assistance.

“Access to safe, clean, and affordable water in rural regions of California, particularly communities in my district dependent on well water for household needs, is important. This is why it is important that property sellers and buyers should be on the same page understanding the full scope of any potential well water issues associated with a property for sale,” Hurtado said.

The bill heads next to the Senate floor.

Orange Cove Recount Set

Needing to flip two votes to pass, Fresno County election officials will recount votes of Measure O — the Orange Cove public safety tax measure.

The recount, requested by the city of Orange Cove, takes place next Wednesday, April 10, starting at 9 a.m.

Measure O  would have levied $95 per parcel, raising about $263,000 a year and extending a current tax.

The measure received 352 yes votes and 178 no votes out of 530 total. That is 66.4151%. It needed two-thirds (or more than 66.6%) to pass. If two votes went the other way, it would pass.

City Manager Daniel Parra said he first wants to examine votes received by mail after the March 5 election — ballots could come in through March 12 as long as it had a March 5 post-mark.

Orange Cove will call the shots, deciding which ballots will be recounted, as long as it pays for the recount. Fresno County Election Clerk James Kus estimated a cost of up to $6,000.