Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez and his wife, Fresno Unified trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, are being investigated for alleged improper votes while on the school board. An anonymous complaint on Oct. 17, 2019, to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, alleges that Chavez and Jonasson Rosas, by approving improvements for...
How Far Should Fresno Help Evicted Renters? Council Debates.
The Sixth Amendment of U.S. Constitution provides the right to counsel in criminal cases. A group of advocates — and at least one city councilmember — want that privilege to extend to Fresnans facing eviction. Last week, Fresno City Council President Luis Chavez introduced his Rental Mediation Program. His plan...
Should Grocers Pay Workers More During COVID? City Council Will Decide
Update, 4/08/2021, 1 p.m.: Fresno City Council President Luis Chavez pulled his bill that would mandate "hero pay" for grocery and drug store workers at the start of Thursday's meeting. He said that "there are some last minute amendments that didn't get distributed on time." He intends to hear the...
Changes Possible to Fresno Hazard Pay for Grocery Workers
Councilman Luis Chavez is working on a compromise for his hazard pay ordinance for grocery store workers within the city of Fresno. The legislation is set to return to the council for a final vote on April 8. Chavez' ordinance would mandate an extra $3 an hour for most grocery...
Fresno Offers Landlords 80% of Past Due Rents to Prevent Evictions
The city of Fresno is now taking applications to distribute $31 million in federal and state aid to residents who need help with rent or utilities. "We know that our community is hurting. It's been a very, very tough year. As many of you know, 2020 can be categorized as...
Mayor, Council Appear Split on Hazard Pay for Local Grocery Workers
Luis Chavez wants to make sure businesses are treating their workers fairly. He wants to start by mandating hazard pay for grocery workers. Chavez's plan is to require larger grocery stores to pay their workers an extra $3 an hour. They can't Zoom to work, and they have limited access...
Grocery Worker ‘Hazard Pay’ Proposal Heads to Fresno Council This Week
Grocery store employees in the city of Fresno could see a $3 an hour bump in pay. The city council on Thursday will debate whether to require stores to pay employees a hazard premium. Councilman Luis Chavez is pushing the idea. "I was approached by grocery store workers about a...
Fresno Business Shut Down Plan Still a Work in Progress, Author Says
When could the Fresno City Council debate an emergency ordinance closing down all businesses? "We will flag options and likely not vote until we get to zero ICU beds (literally) in Fresno," said Councilman Luis Chavez. Chavez has been floating the idea a complete shutdown of retail businesses in the...
Give Kids Better Options or ‘Gangs Will Give Them Something To Do,’ Local Leaders Say
The kids spoke and the Fresno City Council reacted, promising to invest nearly $10 million dollars to support youth in the coming year. A Wednesday night summit involved several dozen young people who spoke directly to leaders at the Fresno Fairgrounds. Councilmembers said the meeting helped peel back layers and...
Fresno Rolls Back Shelter-In-Place, Readies for Tuesday Reopen
As soon as the Memorial Day weekend ends, Fresno residents will be free of the city's shelter-in-place order. Mayor Lee Brand announced the rollback — effective 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26 — at a noontime news conference Thursday at City Hall. Listen to this article: However, dine-in restaurants will...