As a beaver and children played in the San Joaquin River, a Fresno assemblyman talked about changes he wants to see on the state board that governs access to the local waterway. During a news conference to celebrate a $15 million allocation in the state budget for the San Joaquin...
Fresno Council Votes to Add More Cannabis Business Licenses
Update, 6/10/2021: The council voted 4-3 to approve increasing the available cannabis retail licenses to 21, up from 14. Garry Bredefeld, Luis Chavez and Mike Karbassi voted no. Only Chavez made a comment, saying he heard concerns from his constituents. Original story: Before awarding even one retail marijuana license, the...
Costco Wants Herndon Ave Change for NW Fresno Move
Costco wants to move its warehouse in northwest Fresno three miles away to vacant land along Herndon Avenue. The warehouse retailer also wants major changes to the expressway. In documents filed with the city, Costco asks for a change of Herndon from an expressway to a less-restricting super-arterial roadway. That...
Bill Would Change Board Overseeing SJ River Access. Is Update Needed?
The San Joaquin River Conservancy Board could expand under proposed legislation from Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula. The 15-member board — its membership comprised of elected officials from Fresno and Madera, along with appointees from state agencies and the public — sets policy and manages lands for the river parkway from Highway...
Karbassi Says He Can’t Trust Arias Anymore After Committee Vote
Harsh words and hard feelings emerged as the Fresno City Council discussed assignments for 33 different committees on Thursday. "I tried my best to avoid a food fight out here," Councilman Mike Karbassi said at the start of discussion. He initially sought to remove the entire item from the agenda, but was...
‘Friendship’ at Risk as Council Votes to Repeal Money Back Guarantee
The Fresno City Council voted Thursday to repeal a program designed to make the planning department more efficient. But, councilmembers sparred again over accusations of impropriety and meeting procedure. The vote reverses an ill-fated city program that attempted to address charges that Fresno is unfriendly to businesses. After years of...
Bredefeld Leads Call for School Reopenings. Hospital Urges Caution.
Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld says schools should reopen based on the data. Valley Children's Hospital says schools should remain closed, based on the data. In fact, "data" was uttered at least 34 times by the speakers at an hour-plus City Hall news conference organized Thursday morning by Bredefeld. Bredefeld...
After Arias Family COVID Diagnosis, City Staff Getting Tested
COVID-19 testing is now available to City Hall staff after Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias announced that he is going into quarantine because his 8-year old son contracted COVID-19. Arias presided over the city council meeting last Thursday, held in-person at council chambers. It was the first time the...
Gun Ban Remains in Place at Fresno City Hall
Update, 6/25/2020: Councilman Mike Karbassi pulled his motion to allow elected officials to carry concealed weapons at City Hall. "It was simple. It seems that I didn’t have the votes. I hope my colleagues will reconsider in the future rather than spend $250,000 of taxpayer funds during a recession on...
Los Angeles Leaders Want Unarmed Agencies Responding to Non-Violent Calls. Fresno Mayor Responds
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on a new emergency response model to use non-law enforcement agencies to respond to non-violent calls for service. Council Member Herb Wesson writes on Facebook, "We have gone from asking the police to be part of the solution, to being the only solution for...