Is it the ultimate in government bureaucracy? The Fresno Measure P Parks Commission will decided whether to spend $7,000 to hire a consultant to hire a consultant. The contract is to consult with the Fresno Arts Council to hire an arts facilitator to advise on the Cultural Arts Plan of...
400 Mask-Wearers Will Get $100 Gift Card in Five Valley Counties
This is a story of what will happen if you're "caught" wearing a face mask. The Central Valley Community Foundation is randomly seeking out 400 people in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings, and Merced counties to receive a $100 Visa gift card. It's part of a $50,000 campaign to encourage mask...
Swearengin Says VMT Is Tool to Build Fresno’s Economy. Others Disagree.
Former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin said "something definitely needs to change" when it comes to meeting Fresno's housing needs. And the state's controversial new VMT law, she said, "is a tool" for fixing what she describes as the city's history of unsustainable development. Swearengin made the comments in a statewide...
Ashley Swearengin Joins Caltrans for Virtual Town Hall on VMT Plan
The first words on the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) virtual town hall announcement tell the story. "Taking full effect this summer, SB 743 will ensure that new development projects are built in a way that allows Californians to drive less." OPR and Caltrans will host the town...
Powerhouse SoCal Agency Urges Newsom: Delay VMT Law
A powerful Southern California government agency is asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to delay the controversial VMT law. The Southern California Association of Governments — which represents six counties and more than 19 million people — spoke of housing shortage concerns and immediate negative impacts on minorities. Making separate requests of...
Gov. Newsom Targets Fresno Needs With Big Bucks in Budget
Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed $222 billion budget for 2020-21 includes tens of millions of dollars to improve efforts to boost economic development and medical education efforts in Fresno and the Valley — investments that local officials said Friday are highly welcome and will be put to good use. Listen to...
Financial Struggles End Cal Food Expo's 9-Year Run
The California Food Expo is no more. In a news release Wednesday, event leaders cited financial challenges for closing up shop effective Jan. 31. With a big push from then-mayor Ashley Swearengin, the annual food and beverage showcase began in 2011 as the Fresno Food Expo. Event Strived to Increase...
Santa Has Gifts for Nunes, Newsom, and More
Jolly old Santa Mac is heading down the chimney with a bag of gifts for: — The seven Fresno Unified trustees, in the words of Toby Keith, "a little less talk and a lot more action" on student achievement. — Mayor Lee Brand, one last successful campaign (Keep Fresno Beautiful)...
Swearengin Named to State Committee on Housing, Econ
Ashley Swearengin, Fresno's former mayor and current president/CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation, will serve on a new state economic committee. Organized by California Treasurer Fiona Ma, Swearengin is part of the 12-member Housing, Economic Development, Jobs and Opportunity Zone Ad Hoc Committee. Listen to this article: "I sought creative...
Is Fresno Ready to Talk About Race? If Not, Shame on Us.
Is Fresno ready to honestly talk about race with willing ears and open minds? If not, the economy of our metropolitan region will never truly hum and scores of residents in poor neighborhoods will continue to be left behind. That was the bottom line emanating from the kick-off meeting Wednesday...