Fresno is California's fifth-largest city. Its budget this year is $1.15 billion. But despite all of our hard work and steady population growth, we remain a city with serious challenges — and a huge reservoir of untapped potential. To move Fresno ahead and make it the city we all want...
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...
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....
It's Swearengin vs. Brand, Parks vs. Public Safety, and Much More
Measure P is the heavyweight local issue on the ballot for Fresno city voters. It's a proposal to raise the sales tax by 3/8 of a cent for 30 years to build, fix and maintain parks and trails, and fund cultural arts. But it's also a scrap to decide Fresno's...
Harvesting Green or Inviting Danger? The Clash Over Measure A.
To clear up any confusion, let's start with this: Measure A is not an up-or-down vote on allowing the cannabis industry within Fresno’s city limits. Proposition 64, approved by voters statewide in 2016, permitted recreational use and the right to sell. However, that right comes with caveats — such as...
No on P's Warning: Beautiful Parks, but Deficient Public Safety
The chiefs of Fresno’s public safety departments predict dire results if voters pass Measure P. “The biggest consequence to the citizens of Fresno if Measure P passes — they will have beautiful parks, but they will have deficient public safety services,” Fresno police chief Jerry Dyer said Thursday. The No...
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...
What Does Swearengin Say About Running for Mayor Again?
Ashley Swearengin has extinguished any ember that she may run again for Fresno mayor. “There is no chance! You will never call me mayor again,” Swearengin said, chuckling at GV Wire’s question Friday at a Measure P news conference. “I’ve done my time, I served my community. I’m loving life...
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...
Fresno, Get Ready for Utility Rate Hikes
The Fresno City Council will start the process of raising utility rates at its meeting Thursday (Oct. 11). The overall rate would drop 13 cents next July and then gradually climb in 2020 through 2023. The city says the rates will continue to be among the lowest in the state....