The makeup of the Westlands Water District board will change this election – shifting power to a coalition of growers with a list of new actions, at the top of which appears to be ousting longtime General Manager Tom Birmingham. “There needs to be a change of leadership, that’s a...
Fresno Councilman Pleads Not Guilty in Extortion Case
Fresno City Councilman Nelson Esparza pleaded not guilty Thursday to two criminal charges related to an ill-fated conversation with the city attorney. Esparza is charged with one felony count of attempted extortion and one misdemeanor count of violating the city charter. Both are related to a conversation with then-city attorney...
Council Quietly Cancels $600K in Contracts to Educate Voters
The city of Fresno quietly canceled contracts to educate the public on two upcoming ballot measures. At its Sept. 29 meeting, the Fresno City Council approved $600,000 to provide public information about Measure C, the countywide transportation tax renewal, and Measure M, a new sales tax addition to benefit city...
Unions Exempt From New State Law Taking Big Money Out of Fresno Politics
Starting Jan. 1, local elected leaders need to double-check their campaign accounts when voting on specific legislation. A new state law will significantly affect the size of contributions. "The goal was to sever the tie between pay-to-play politics that unfortunately occurs in different parts of California," said the bill's author,...
Brazen Mail Thieves Strike Fresno and Cities Across the Nation
Residents in an east-central Fresno neighborhood woke up Sunday morning to find their community mailbox hauled off by brazen thieves. They're not alone in feeling angry over the fact that something as simple as mailing — or receiving — a letter no longer comes with a virtual guarantee of...
Fresno State Sales Tax Ballot Effort Still Has Only One Donor
Local builder Richard Spencer has single-handedly bankrolled the campaign for Measure E, the proposed sales tax to benefit Fresno State, donating nearly $1.5 million as of Monday, according to campaign finance reports. Thus far, all the reported donations for the "Yes on Measure E, Good to Great for Fresno State...
City Council Must Reveal Its Vote to Tap Taxpayers for Esparza’s Defense
Even if the Fresno City Council won't admit it, it is well known that taxpayers are funding Nelson Esparza's legal defense. But how much is unknown. The city is keeping the people in the dark about the bill accumulated thus far as attorney Mark Coleman and his team go about...
Fresno Council Cuts T-Mobile Lease Short Amid Spiral Garage Debate
The Spiral Garage may be old, but is it a historical landmark? Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias floated the idea at last week's City Council meeting. The discussion came under the item to extend a lease for cell phone provider T-Mobile to use the garage for its equipment. "The city...
Time for Change or Status Quo? FUSD Trustee Candidates Weigh in on Issues
Voters in four of Fresno Unified School District's seven trustee areas will decide in the Nov. 7 election who will be at the political helm of the state's third-largest school district. The candidates include four incumbents — longtime Trustee Valerie Davis, with nearly two decades on the School Board, and...
Rikishi Is Coming to Fresno. Why He Didn’t Want to Be a Headshrinker, and the Stinkface!
Pro wrestling Hall of Famer Rikishi went from being dead for three minutes to a legendary career. Part of the Samoan wrestling dynasty — which includes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson — Rikishi will be in Fresno on Saturday, part of the CVC card and memorabilia show. He will sign autographs...