After the Fresno City Council approved a $2 billion budget for the next 12 months, Mayor Jerry Dyer pumped his fist in excitement. "Another unanimous budget," an elated Dyer said as he entered the lobby to take victory pictures with his department heads. The 6-0 vote Thursday — Councilmember Miguel...
Kern Pistachio Grower Ordered to Pay $30 Million in Groundwater Pumping Case
An Orange County court last week approved an injunction mandating that Mojave Pistachios LLC pay $30 million in back fees owed to the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority for pumping groundwater without an allocation in Kern County’s eastern desert. That $30 million is the accumulation of a $2,130-per-acre-foot fee for...
Former Fresno Council Candidate, Business Partner Convicted in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
Marcus Asay, 68, and Antonio Gastelum, 53, — an unsuccessful Fresno City Council candidate in 2016 and former Parlier city manager — were found guilty of a multi-million dollar fraud scheme on Tuesday. Along with their company Agricultural Contracting Services Association, operating as American Labor Alliance, they were found guilty...
Parlier Political Wars Update: Did the Council Fire the City Attorney, or Not?
Neal Costanzo had a George Costanza moment. Last week, the Parlier City Council fired Costanzo — the city's attorney — on a 3-0 vote in closed session. At a special city council meeting Monday, Costanzo occupied his normal seat, returning to work as if nothing happened. Just like George in...
One of Fresno’s Premiere Art Spaces Closing. Owners, Manager Look for Solutions
What was once of Fresno's premier homes for all things art is being emptied as artists clear out their spaces from the Chris Sorensen Studio. Property owners posted a three-day notice to pay or quit at the downtown Fresno art studio that hosted the first Art Hop. And while a...
No Fresno Unified Superintendent Search Until After Labor Day
The Fresno Unified School Board is postponing its search for a new superintendent until after the Labor Day weekend, when the trustees are scheduled to gather for a board retreat that will include setting student outcome goals, Board President Susan Wittrup told GV Wire on Monday. A consultant from the...
Will Finishing Touches to $2B Fresno Budget Occur in Public?
After the first round of public budget presentations, the Fresno City Council made only 24 budget motions — far fewer than the usual 100 suggestions to change the mayor's spending plan. After a second round of budget hearings, the budget motions swelled to more than 100. The motions added or changed...
Arias Asks the Big Question: Is Benching Chief Balderrama About Race?
Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias is speaking on the sidelining of Police Chief Paco Balderrama — the first of his colleagues to go public with their thoughts. In comments from the dais during Thursday's council meeting, Arias asked the media to leave Balderrama's family out of stories and openly questioned...
Fresno Police Chief Balderrama on Paid Leave, City Manager Says
Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama is now on paid leave as of Wednesday afternoon, City Manager Georgeanne White said in an email to police employees Wednesday afternoon. White also said that Deputy Chief Mindy Casto "will have operational control" of the department immediately. Last week, Mayor Jerry Dyer’s administration announced...
Balderrama: ‘I Plan on Leading This Police Department to Even Greater Heights’
Paco Balderrama said he plans to remain Fresno police chief, despite allegations he had an inappropriate relationship. "I am human. I am imperfect. I work extremely hard. So I plan on continuing to lead this police department to even greater heights," Balderrama said at an impromptu news conference Wednesday outside...