Mike Karbassi's special election victory Tuesday is particularly notable. Not only did he win, but he crushed a crowded field. With six names on the ballot, and four of them running serious campaigns, the odds weren't on Karbassi's side for avoiding a November runoff. Yet he did. As of the...
Karbassi Takes Fresno District 2 Council Seat in Runaway Win
Jump to Results ↓ Perhaps the most joyous person in the room at an election return party was the elder Mike Karbassi. Neither a cane nor a stoop in his walk prevented him to going around from guest to guest telling them how proud he was of his son, the...
Karbassi Takes District 2 Council Seat in Runaway Win
Jump to Results ↓ Perhaps the most joyous person in the room at an election return party was the elder Mike Karbassi. Neither a cane nor a stoop in his walk prevented him to going around from guest to guest telling them how proud he was of his son, the...
District 2 Candidates Aim to Make Fresno More Business-Friendly
OK, let's have a show of hands: Is Fresno City Hall not sufficiently business-friendly? That was the question posed to four men who want to represent northwest Fresno on the city council. All four raised a hand at a July 31 candidate forum presented by GV Wire and CMAC. It's...
Affordable Housing in NW Fresno? Candidates Respond.
Californians are long past the point at which affordable housing can be written off as somebody else's problem. Last year, the Golden State had the 49th lowest ratio of housing units per residents among the 50 states. Fresno is a tranquil harbor for housing when compared to the roiling seas...
Does NW Fresno Need Homeless Shelter? Council Candidates Weigh In
The pervasive problem of homelessness reaches well beyond the shelters and soup kitchens in downtown Fresno. Four men who want to represent the city's northwest region on the city council agree to that. They disagree sharply over what specifically should be done in District 2 to deal with homeless people....
Karbassi Keeps Fundraising Lead in NW Fresno Council Race
Less than two weeks from now, voters in northwest Fresno head to the polls to elect a new councilmember. Four of the five candidates campaigning met during a GV Wire debate, which can be viewed here. And the latest financials show that businessman Mike Karbassi has done well for himself...
NW Fresno Council Candidates Clash Over Police, Homeless
Candidates to represent northwest Fresno on the city council sparred over opinions about police protection, the homeless, and the previous seat holder during a candidate forum Wednesday. The four candidates also addressed questions about Fresno business-friendliness, affordable housing, and the balancing act of standing up for northwest Fresno while supporting...
'Tower Rapist' to Stay in Prison at Least 3 More Years
Facing broad opposition to his release from prison, the man known as the "Tower rapist" was a no-show at his parole board hearing this week. As a result, he will remain behind bars for at least three more years. Rudolph M. Acosta, 53, waived his right to a full parole...
NW Fresno Traffic is a Horror Show. How Would Council Candidates Fix It?
In northwest Fresno, "traffic" is a dirty word. Decades of piecemeal planning and years of rapid growth have spawned long lines of vehicles on major avenues during rush hour. There's a release valve planned for the plugged-up traffic surrounding Shaw and Herndon avenues, but it's been on the drafting board...