Could too many regulations for the burgeoning cannabis industry deter entry into the market? That's the question the state agency in charge of regulating cannabis grapples with. “We’re not pleasing anybody with our regs, whether it’s the industry, the city or the police chiefs, not everybody is happy,” Lori Ajax,...
Arias, Esparza Win Spots on Fresno Council. Chavez Wins Re-Election
The next Fresno city council will be more left-leaning and majority Latino. Miguel Arias has defeated Tate Hill in the District 3 race, 58%-42%, with 100% precincts reporting. In District 5, Luis Chavez won his case for re-election to represent southeast Fresno, with a 62%-38% win over Paula Yang, with...
Baines Reflects on Eight Years at City Hall
Oliver Baines admits just because he and his colleagues hold the title of council member doesn’t make them smarter than anyone else. “We're really just some pretty average folks that decided to run for office and ran a campaign good enough to win. So, I don't want to make it...
Face-Off for District 7: Brian Whelan and Nelson Esparza
View the video above to see the debate between Fresno City Council District 7 candidates, Brian Whlean (left) and Nelson Esparza.
Chavez Makes His Case for Four More Years on City Council
Luis Chavez wants another term on the Fresno City Council. The incumbent southeast Fresno representative won a special election in 2016 to fulfill the remaining two years of Sal Quintero's term after Quintero won a seat on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Chavez formerly represented the area as a...
Who's a Bully? Who's Owned by Special Interests? Council Hopefuls Debate.
Four of the six Fresno City Council candidates met at GV Wire’s forum Tuesday (Oct. 16) night, answering questions about the future of Fresno. While they appeared in lockstep on some issues, such as support for Measure P, things at times got heated on stage in the Fresno City College...
City Council Candidates Forum: Arias vs. Hill, Esparza vs. Whelan
Candidates vying for two Fresno City Council seats debated issues in a lively forum Oct. 16 hosted by GV Wire. Miguel Arias and Tate Hill are seeking to represent District 3 in southwest Fresno while Nelson Esparza and Brian Whelan are battling in central Fresno's District 7 race. All four...
Fresno Council Says 'No' to Utility Hikes, For Now
Any rate hikes for Fresno utility customers will wait. The Fresno City Council rejected starting a process Thursday that would raise the bill for water, sewer and trash by about $22 through 2023 to a base rate of $118. Council president Esmeralda Soria led the way during the debate, unhappy...
Yang Wants to Take Advocacy From the Streets to City Council
Paula Yang hopes to take her background in advocacy into the District 5 seat on the Fresno City Council, representing southeast neighborhoods. Yang also works as an anchor for a Hmong-language TV network based in Fresno. She is challenging incumbent Luis Chavez. Take 5 In this edition of Take 5,...
Whelan, Esparza Compete to Represent the Heart of Fresno
The ideological balance of the Fresno City Council hangs in the district carved out of the city’s center. Brian Whelan is a Republican. Nelson Esparza is a Democrat. Many of their views are consistent with their party ideology. Both want to succeed termed-out Republican Clint Oliver to become the District...