On Wednesday, three city councilmembers — Miguel Arias, Garry Bredefeld, Paul Caprioglio — publicly supported the “Help Us, Help Fresno” proposal. Their idea? Place signs discouraging motorists from giving to panhandlers at busy intersections and instead ask for donations to charities helping the homeless. Arias strongly endorsed the signs at...
Dyer Calms Protester, Invites Him to Panhandling Discussion
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer demonstrated his leadership skills Wednesday at a street corner news conference unveiling a plan to discourage panhandling. While city councilmembers Garry Bredefeld, Miguel Arias, and Paul Caprioglio announced their plan, a truck pulled around the corner of Blackstone and Herndon avenues where the news conference...
Politics and Splash Pads. Observations on Grizzlies Opening Night.
The buzz is back. Baseball returned for the 17th Opening Night at Chukchansi Park, and with it a renewal of hope and optimism. It applied to Fresno Grizzlies on the field, in their first year as an affiliate of the Washington Nationals, as well as the politicians involved in the pre-game...
Black Community Blisters Brandau for 'Reparations' Remark
Leaders of Fresno's black community on Thursday publicly criticized city councilman Steve Brandau's comparison of extra gas tax road repair funding for the city's southern districts to slavery reparations. After they spoke out during the council meeting — and some of his own colleagues suggested that apologize — Brandau only...
Brandau and Bredefeld Deserve to be Read the Riot Act
Can I just call in Jack Nicholson to give Steve Brandau and Garry Bredefeld the full "You Can't Handle the Truth" treatment? If anyone deserves a big-league butt-chewing from the fictional Col. Nathan Jessup, it's the north Fresno councilmen who find themselves buffeted by the city's newly liberal political winds....
After War of Words, Mayor Orders Street Fight Delay
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand on Tuesday pulled a controversial spending plan for the city’s roads off this week’s city council agenda. “In light of recent rhetoric, I have decided to pull the Administration’s proposed SB1 project plan from Thursday’s Council meeting and schedule meetings with Councilmembers as soon as possible...
Council Progressives Draw a Hard Line on Gas Tax Dollars
On a Monday afternoon, Lee Brand and Miguel Arias stood side by side, shoveling dirt at a police station groundbreaking. Hours earlier, Arias was anything but smiles with Fresno’s mayor. He, along with three other council members, criticized Brand’s plan on how to spend $12 million in state funding for...
Mayor Brand Comes Out Against Anti-Panhandling Proposal
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand is opposed to lame-duck City Councilman Steve Brandau's anti-panhandling proposal. The proposal called STOP for "Safe Transfer of Objects to Pedestrians", which will be taken up at Thursday's council meeting, would forbid drivers from handing anything from their vehicle to pedestrians. “I do not support this...
Hot Dog! Former Intern Franks Buys a Piece of Fresno Grizzlies.
Derek Franks is now part owner of the Fresno Grizzlies. Not bad for a guy who started with the team as an intern in 2004 and dressed as a hot dog. The Pacific Coast League team announced it offered Franks, currently the team president, the opportunity to buy stock in...
Fresno Airport Labor Deal Signals Major Shift in Policy
Fresno, which once banned Project Labor Agreements on public works projects, will now engage in them. “Elections have consequences,” Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias succinctly noted. And, thus a historic shift may have occurred when it comes to labor power at City Hall. Historic Shift The council’s 7-0 vote to...