Explaining why she didn't decide Wednesday whether voters passed Measure P, Judge Kimberly Gaab stated the obvious — no matter what she ruled, the case probably is going to the state's Supreme Court. The question awaiting an answer: If a tax for a specific purpose is placed on the ballot...
Did Fresno Parks Tax Pass? Court Delays Its Ruling.
Update, 7/08/19, 3:15 p.m.: A Fresno County Superior Court judge delayed a tentative ruling expected today on Measure P. Judge Kimberly Gaab pushed back a decision on whether the Fresno sales tax for parks was approved by voters with 53% of the vote. The city contends it needed two-thirds to pass....
SF Judge's Ruling Offers Hope for Fresno Parks Tax Backers
In a ruling that could have implications for Fresno’s Measure P, a San Francisco judge ruled Friday that tax measures there put on the ballot by citizen initiative only needed majority voter approval. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman ruled that two petition-led measures passed in San Francisco in...
Future Parks Tax Could Be in Hands of Fresno Council
Fresno councilman Miguel Arias doesn’t want to wait on the mayor to figure out a successor plan to Measure P. So, he wants the council to take the next step. Now Arias wants to establish a parks and public safety committee, with a focus on determining a new tax proposal...
City Council Candidate Garcia Touts Business, Veteran Background
With six candidates in the Aug. 13 special election for the vacant northwest Fresno city council seat, the campaign season is on. Lawrence Garcia welcomed about 50 guests to his fundraiser Thursday at the Elbow Room. I heard more than one attendee, all veterans of such functions, mention they saw...
Congressmen Deride 'No Match' Letters. Does Farm Bureau Leader Agree?
Last week, Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and TJ Cox (D-Fresno) sounded the alarm about the Social Security Administration reinstating the practice of sending “no match” letters to employers. The letters notify employers that an employee’s name and social security number don't match. SSA encourages corrective action, such as filling out...
Can City Ordinance “STOP” Panhandling?
UPDATE, 3/20/2019: Councilmembers Miguel Arias, Esmeralda Soria and Nelson Esparza formally announced their opposition to the ordinance written about below. They are holding news conference Wednesday (March 20) afternoon. With councilmen Steve Brandau, Paul Caprioglio and Luis Chavez sponsoring the measure, that leaves the seventh council member, Garry Bredefeld as...
Did Fresno Parks Tax Pass? Courts Asked to Decide.
The Fresno City Council wants clarity on whether or not Measure P was approved by voters. Despite a 52% favorable vote for the proposed parks tax last November, city attorney Douglas Sloan interpreted state law as requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. By a 4-3 vote in closed session on Thursday...
Measure P Attorney Asks City to Start Collecting Fresno Parks Tax
Measure P, the 2018 sales tax initiative for parks, may not have failed after all. Last November, 52% of Fresno voters favored it. However, voters were told it needed two-thirds approval to pass. Thus, the measure failed. Or did it? An attorney, on behalf of Measure P advocate Fresno Building...
Council Tackles Big Issues: Cannabis, Homeless, and Pay Raises
The Fresno City Council is saving its best for last. Major items such as cannabis regulation, homelessness, and farmland mitigation appear on this week's agenda. Technically, Thursday's (Dec. 6) meeting is the second-to-last for this council alignment, which includes two termed-out representatives. Still, the city’s governing body will have its...