Fresno Mayor Lee Brand is opposed to lame-duck City Councilman Steve Brandau's anti-panhandling proposal. The proposal called STOP for "Safe Transfer of Objects to Pedestrians", which will be taken up at Thursday's council meeting, would forbid drivers from handing anything from their vehicle to pedestrians. “I do not support this...
Money Back Guarantee Gets 7-0 Vote, But Fine-Tuning Ahead
A proposal to guarantee that Fresno delivers planning department services on time received a 7-0 vote from the city council Thursday. But council members also made it clear that important issues must be ironed out before the "money back guarantee" plan is adopted. The bill, introduced by Garry Bredefled (District...
Bredefeld's Money-Back Guarantee Gains New Support
Two business-friendly Fresno city councilmen are putting their money where their mouth is. Technically, it’s the city’s money. Garry Bredefeld (District 6) and Steve Brandau (District 2) want a money-back-guarantee program for the planning department (officially called Development and Resource Management, or DARM). The concept: City staff will meet specified...
Is Measure P’s Defeat The End or New Beginning?
To the surprise of many, Fresno's ambitious Measure P ballot initiative not only failed to attain the two-thirds vote it needed to pass, it didn’t even receive a simple majority of votes in favor. With 100% precincts reporting, 51% of Fresnans voted "no" on P. The measure would have raised the...
Should Bus Drivers Get Bonus for Just Showing Up? Councilman Says No Way.
Another union representing Fresno municipal employees could earn extra money just for showing up to work. And, councilman Garry Bredefeld has a problem with that. At Thursday’s council meeting, the body is scheduled to vote on approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the Amalgamated Transit Union, representing...
Water Fine Do-Over. City Council Wants Moratorium.
Fresno’s system that uses computers to detect and fine water wasters may be DOA after only 31 days. Water violation notices sent to customers went up 25 fold since the city implemented its plan to monitor residential users automatically on Oct. 1. Complaints went up at nearly the same rate....
Whose Legendary Voice Backs the Hospital Bond?
It may be one of the greatest chasms, dividing California if not the nation. The bitter dispute has each side clinging to its values, its beliefs, its colors. There is no room for compromise. And, there is only one man who can bridge the gap. One person, so universally loved...
Don't Blame Council Conservatives For Brand's Failed Tax Scheme
With all due respect to my colleague and news director Bill McEwen, he got it wrong in his June 29 column blasting three Fresno councilmen for putting their tax stance over public safety. The blame should be put squarely at the man who sets the budget, and hoped he could...
Next Time a Fresno Kid Gets Shot, Call Your Council Tax Fighter & Give 'Em an Earful
I'm fed up with so-called leaders who complain about Fresno crime but really are more concerned about burnishing their credentials as tax fighters. As tax fighting is an essential element of getting elected in most parts of Fresno, I understand why candidates pledge to do it. But being a real leader and...
Does Brand Have Votes To Put His Police-Parks Sales Tax on Ballot?
(Note: this story has been updated to reflect Councilmen Garry Bredefeld's decision about not supporting placing the Brand sales tax plan on the ballot.) November’s ballot in Fresno could bring a battle of competing sales tax hikes. Mayor Lee Brand announced his plan Monday for a half-cent sales tax, with...