At the end of Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Doni's presentation to the city council on Monday, council president Miguel Arias apologized. What was the apology for? The arguing that ensured after the council learned Fresno Mayor Lee Brand's administration never filed for an important federal grant. The grant would have...
Fresno Moves Ahead On Budget Hearings, Despite No Budget
Budget hearings start Tuesday in Fresno, but the city council will have limited information on how much revenue is available. Mayor Lee Brand has not submitted a budget, saying there is too much uncertainty because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He asked the council to pass a continuing...
Local Leaders Praise Fresno Protests, Denounce Floyd’s Death
Here is a sampling of what Central Valley elected leaders said about the George Floyd death, and rallies taking place in Fresno: Lee Brand, Fresno Mayor On the weekend protests in Fresno: To the thousands of people who gathered along the streets of Fresno over the past three days to...
With City’s Finances Uncertain, Brand Calls for Budget Delay
The COVID-19 pandemic may have claimed a new victim — the city of Fresno's budget process. Mayor Lee Brand wants Fresno's budget to remain status quo beyond the June 30 deadline to pass the spending plan for the next fiscal year. Listen to this article: On Wednesday, Brand announced his...
City Warns of ‘Criminal Prosecution’ for Defying COVID Orders. Restaurant Owner Faults Mayor.
Dave Fansler hoped to reopen Pismo's Coastal Grill on Thursday. While the popular seafood restaurant wouldn't be packed — Fansler said seating would be restricted to 38% in the name of physical distancing — it would help the restaurateur get his business reopened. Fansler scrapped those plans when he received...
Brand ‘Surprised’ by County’s Objection to Shelter-in-Place Extension
At his news conference Tuesday evening, Fresno Mayor Lee Brand expressed surprise that Fresno County officials objected to his extension of the city's shelter-in-place through May 31. "This was a complete surprise to me and everybody else. And I simply don't understand it," Brand said. "We have to work as...
Shirinian Quits as Brand Advisor: I Don’t Think He is a Good Leader
Fed up with the way Mayor Lee Brand announced his shelter-in-place extension, restaurateur Mike Shirinian resigned from Brand's advisory committee in dramatic fashion on Friday — live on Ray Appleton's show on KMJ radio. Shirinian, owner of The Elbow Room in Fresno and Riley's Brew Pub in Clovis, was one of...
Brand: ‘We Will Be Opening up Businesses We Think Are Low Risk’
Fresno's shelter-in-place order will extend through May 31, Mayor Lee Brand said Friday morning while also revealing plans for the phased reopening of closed businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the mayor said that residents will be required to wear masks while shopping and entering other public places. "We...
Mayor Brand Will Make Shelter-in-Place Announcement Friday
Mayor Lee Brand will announce news regarding the city's shelter-in-place ordinance Friday morning. The order expires at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6. Also in Politics 101: Could golf and tennis return? Gov. Gavin Newsom says its OK. A look at Fresno crime stats. More federal money coming to...
After ‘Crazy’ Fines, City Explains Nonessential Curbside Pickup Ban
The city of Fresno is being criticized for levying fines against a furniture retailer for curbside pickup of online sales. Crazy Bernie Furniture, known for its zany TV ads, received a $5,000 fine Wednesday — its second since the city's shelter-in-place order deemed furniture retailers nonessential. The criticism came quickly,...