Two Fresno councilmembers met with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to cool down any residual angst from a politically volatile video displayed at a Fresno Grizzlies home game. Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Esmeralda Soria visited with the New York congresswoman at the U.S. Capitol. Images from the...
Dyer Plans Leave of Absence as Police Chief to Run for Mayor
Police Chief Jerry Dyer says he'll take a leave of absence from his law enforcement to focus on his campaign for Fresno mayor. Dyer announced his candidacy Wednesday at Manchester Center. He had announced months ago his intention to retire as chief, effective Oct. 15. He said he would step...
Brand Touts Higher Rainy Day Fund In ‘Status Quo’ Budget
Mayor Lee Brand described his proposed 2020 Fresno budget as “status quo.” Not much is different in FY 2020’s $1.187 billion spending plan, a 3.5% increase from FY 2019. “It maintains all the existing services, with only three positions added in the general fund portion. We simply don’t have the...
Community Leaders and Groups React to Brand’s Shocking News
Community leaders and groups had much to say about Monday's announcement by Fresno Mayor Lee Brand that he will not seek re-election in 2020: “During his time as a council member and as Mayor, Lee Brand has been a great friend to the Fresno business community. The effect of his...
Brand Issues First Mayoral Veto in Fight Over Office Space
The City Hall power struggle between the executive and legislative branches continues. Fresno Mayor Lee Brand exercised his first veto since taking office in 2017, overruling a council vote on the reallocation of City Hall office space. The city council on April 25 voted 5-1 to take space used by...
Council Unanimously Raises a Toast to Liquor Store Cap
Tighter regulation is coming to Fresno’s liquor stores. The Fresno City Council unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday to fix what supporters say is the oversaturation of off-sale alcohol dealers, especially in the central and south parts of the city. Championed by councilman Miguel Arias, the regulations would cap new licenses...
'Ghost Town' Council Votes to Take Space from City Manager
Fresno's strong-mayor form of government means most of the city's power is vested in one elected leader. But the city council is waging a floor fight that is testing the limits of that power dynamic. More precisely, it's a "second floor" fight. Council members say they need more space to...
Fresno Liquor License Reform Plan Delayed a Week
A proposal to cap liquor licenses in Fresno will be delayed a week. The city is well above the number recommended by state Alcohol Beverage Control, and some parts of Fresno are saturated with stores selling booze. Councilman Miguel Arias had intended to introduce a resolution Thursday restricting new alcohol...
The Days of Rubber-Stamping Liquor Licenses Are Over
The shameful City Hall ritual of rubber-stamping liquor licenses finally faces its deserved demise. For decades, residents, school officials, and ministers have sought to convince city officials the last thing Fresno needed was another place selling booze. But their pleas invariably fell on death ears. Don't think of these places...
Watch the Video: Did Arias Flip Dyer the Bird? The Parties React.
It was no April Fool’s Day joke. And it’s two-week-old image still reverberating in Fresno political circles. The usual pomp and circumstance took place at an April 1 groundbreaking for a new police substation in southeast Fresno — speeches, smiles, and shovels. But an image, captured on an Instagram account and...