A California attorney specializing in housing law says that unless the city of Fresno can overwhelmingly demonstrate a proposed luxury apartment complex violates city code, it will be hard-pressed to defeat the developer's lawsuit. The Fresno City Council in July rejected developer James Huelskamp's plan to build a 4-story luxury...
Fresno Unified Taxpayers Are Paying for 5 Bond Measures Already. When Will Those Taxes Expire?
Fresno Unified taxpayers are now paying taxes on five separate bond measures that were approved starting in 1995 and totaled more than $1.2 billion in bonds sold to pay for school improvements. But the cost to taxpayers has been considerably higher because of debt service costs, which includes interest and...
Will Newsom Block a Merced Killer’s Parole? Officials, Victim’s Family Hope Governor Will Hear Their Pleas
Joseph Romero was barely a teenager when his mother Diane Lynn Reid Romero was murdered on Sept. 16, 2010. A beloved teacher at Peterson Elementary School, Diane was stabbed to death by her husband Rodolfo Romero at the family's Tioga Court home in north Merced. Rodolfo Romero was eventually sentenced...
Notoriously Slow: Lengthy Investigations Into California Politicians Leave Voters in the Dark
A $1,044 outing at a glitzy Hollywood nightclub. A $1,316 meal at a Los Angeles steak and seafood restaurant. A $4,500 experience to see the L.A. Dodgers. Isaac Galvan paid for them all — with campaign cash, a state probe found. In his nine years on the Compton City Council,...
Special Report: Avian Flu Is Devastating Dairies in California’s Central Valley
Landon Fernandes has heard the number of Central Valley dairies with cows infected with highly pathogenic avian flu may have surpassed 100. His own dairy got hit by the disease and he's working full time to keep his cows hydrated, fed, and healthy. "The first day on your farm you...
Poor Performing Fresno Unified Has Some Nerve Asking Us to Take on $1 Billion in New Taxes
While six of the seven Fresno Unified School Board trustees try to put a happy face on the district's new $500 million Measure H bond, voters deserve the ugly truth behind the facade. For starters, what's advertised as a $500 million bond will cost property owners more than $1 billion...
‘Extortion’ and ‘Bullying’ Accusations Fly: Who Should Pay for Sinking the Friant-Kern Canal?
A last-resort attempt to shore up funding for ongoing Friant-Kern Canal repairs has run into a buzzsaw of opposition from several irrigation districts that were stuck with the bill – up to $295 million. A letter disputing the fees accuses the Friant Water Authority, which operates the canal, of, among...
Costa Tells Maher to Take Down ‘Defamatory’ Campaign Ad
Congressmember Jim Costa is telling his election rival to take down a video ad, claiming it is filled with lies. The ad from Kingsburg businessman and Republican Michael Maher posted on YouTube on Oct. 1, and has also aired on Fresno-area TV stations. Entitled "Costa’s 50 Years in Washington: Time...
City Will Plant New Trees Free of Charge for Fresno Residents
Fresno residents could soon request a tree to be planted by the city at no charge. The city council approved a plan for tree maintenance, 7-0 on the consent calendar without discussion at Thursday's meeting. Requested trees would be planted on a median strip, and the property owner would be...
Fixing California’s Housing Crisis Starts With Rejecting Flawed Prop. 33 Rent Control
California has a housing shortage, and it has caused rents and home prices to soar. What's the answer? Increasing the housing supply is the most effective way to make prices affordable for the greatest number of people. Unfortunately, while we await the legislative policies that will produce more housing, we...