Fresno Unified's fledgling Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools got a huge boost with the unexpected — but highly welcome — donation of $20 million by billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Superintendent Bob Nelson announced the unrestricted gift at a news conference Wednesday morning. The funding means that the district's new...
Some on Fresno Council Question New Finance Chief’s Malibu Gig
With her appointment as interim city controller in Fresno, Ruthie Quinto now holds similar jobs in two different cities. Mayor Jerry Dyer's administration says there is nothing wrong with that. "Regarding Ruthie Quinto’s work for (the city of) Malibu, when she came on board as Assistant City Manager, we...
Dyer’s Housing Plan Meets Brick Wall, but Tiny Homes Squeeze Through
The Fresno City Council council approved funding for 24 tiny homes and an extension of the eviction protection program last week. But the council rejected five other housing proposals from Mayor Jerry Dyer, saying that more information was needed on Thursday. The rejected proposals: a voluntary rent stabilization program,...
Former Police Chief Leads Clovis Council Fundraising
Former Clovis police chief Matt Basgall has raised the most money among 10 Clovis City Council candidates. Of the 10 candidates, Basgall has a wide margin in campaign contributions, as well as the most in reserve. Ballots will be sent to all voters in the mail next week. They...
Midnight Moves: Fresno Fires City Controller, Reappoints Previous One
The Fresno City Council, at the direction of the City Manager, terminated City Controller Michael Lima. Although the controller is selected by the city manager at the behest of the mayor, the city charter requires the city council to approve the hiring or firing. Lima headed the city's finance...
Iranian Women to Fresno Cousin: ‘If We Die, Don’t Cry for Me. Be My Voice.’
Shahnaz Tousinezhad left Iran for the United States in 1983, but like many expatriate Iranians, her heart has never left her homeland. She is grief-stricken over the cruelty that Iranians have been subjected to in the decades since the Muslim Shiite cleric-led regime began running the government. That cruelty...
Dyer Will Unveil Voluntary Rent Control Proposal on Thursday
With some housing advocates demanding that Fresno enact citywide rent control, Mayor Jerry Dyer will unveil a voluntary rent stabilization program. Dyer's idea, which will be heard at the city council meeting on Thursday, calls for a one-time allocation of $1 million from the city's American Rescue Plan funds....
Fate of Historic Locomotive Part of Packed Fresno Council Agenda
What happens when the Fresno City Council goes four weeks between meetings? A huge agenda is scheduled for Thursday. One councilmember told GV Wire to expect a 10-hour day at the minimum. The agenda from the mysteriously canceled Sept. 15 meeting will carry over to Thursday. The City Council...
Granville Home of Hope Sells Out, Record $1M for Local Nonprofits
One day ahead of the 17th annual Granville Home of Hope drawing, raffle tickets sold out for the sixth straight year — this time raising a record $1 million for local charities. “I would like to offer a very heartfelt and warm thank you to everybody who purchased a...
Why Does the World Ignore Iran’s Extreme Gender Apartheid?
Unrest continues to erupt across Iran following the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, who died after being arrested and reportedly beaten by Iran’s morality police. The Iranian force took Mahsa (Zhina) Amini into detention on Sept. 16, 2022, for not wearing her hijab according to the rules....