Aggressive panhandlers and human waste on the sidewalk are tarnishing San Francisco’s image as America’s most beautiful city. Dumping homeless patients on the street sullied Los Angeles’ reputation as the "City of Angels." Critics bashed Fresno’s ordinance banning outdoor camping as cruel and heartless. The homeless issue is central to...
Arias and Hill Share District 3's Values. Who Will Voters Pick?
Tate Hill and Miguel Arias, the two men running for Fresno City Council District 3, have much in common. Both are 40-years old, Democrats, and share a similar vision for Fresno. Both served on many boards and are active in the politics of west Fresno. And both share common experiences...
Odds Improve For Parks Tax Vote in November
Give credit to the efficiencies of Fresno's election clerks. Fresno for Parks turned in 34,999 signatures to the city clerk on Wednesday. The parks advocates want to add a 3/8ths of a cent sales tax measure for the November ballot. City Clerk Yvonne Spence said it would take two days...
Those Long DMV Waits Should Finally Shorten
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) is known for fighting for issues he strongly believes in, but his efforts are usually greeted in Sacramento with partisan indifference. Whether it's his pro-life stances or water rights issues, Patterson uses his bullhorn, but few Democrats listen. But now Patterson has found an issue Democrats...
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...
Finding No Support, Brand Drops Public Safety-Parks Tax Plan
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand withdrew his plan Thursday morning to place in front of voters a sales tax measure equally benefiting public safety and parks. The plan, announced Monday, called for raising the sales tax by a half-percent. Brand needed a super-majority, or five of the seven council members, to...
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...
Mayor Lee Brand's 2018 State of the City Address
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand gave his 2018 State of the City address on June 20 at the Fresno Convention Center. The luncheon event is organized annually by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. Brand talked about a variety of issues including water, homelessness, public safety, fiscal challenges and economic development. You...
What's Motivating AG Becerra to Get Involved in Fresno Case?
Update: This story includes an additional response from Attorney General Xavier Becerra's office that came in after the story was originally published. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit attempting to reverse the approval of a major industrial project by Caglia Environmental. In...
Recreational Cannabis Shops? Mayor Brand Says No Way.
The top story out of Thursday’s (June 14) Fresno City Council meeting was the approval of a November ballot measure taxing cannabis sales. Regulations are still needed before there is anything to tax. And two-thirds of voters would have to approve the tax for it to become law. But based...