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...
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...
Council Asks Why It Wasn’t Told of Audit Before Spiral Garage Sale
A Fresno City Council subcommittee wondered aloud why it didn’t have access to an internal audit of the city’s parking program before selling the spiral garage last December. The council's Finance and Audit Committee heard two hours of presentations from city staff Monday on the parking audit released last month....
Daren Miller Appointed to Esparza’s Former School Board Seat
In a 3-1 vote, the Fresno County Board of Education appointed Daren Miller on Wednesday night to fill a vacancy left by Nelson Esparza, who won a seat on the Fresno City Council last year. "I have been doing this for the last 30 years as an actual practitioner on a...
Fresno Parks Tax: Dueling Lawsuits But Ultimately One Winner
Dueling lawsuits in Fresno Superior Court ask the same question: Did Measure P pass with 52% of the vote? As instructed by the Fresno City Council last week, the city attorney filed suit asking a judge to settle the controversy. Did the measure that would raise the city sales tax...
Arias Will Resign Fresno Unified Post on Friday
Miguel Arias and Nelson Esparza are officially Fresno city councilmen, assuming office Tuesday, as prescribed by the city charter. They will be ceremonially sworn in Thursday (Jan. 10). For Arias, he will focus his time and attention fully on City Hall. He tells GV Wire he is resigning his position as...
Arias, Esparza Win Spots on Fresno Council. Chavez Wins Re-Election
The next Fresno city council will be more left-leaning and majority Latino. Miguel Arias has defeated Tate Hill in the District 3 race, 58%-42%, with 100% precincts reporting. In District 5, Luis Chavez won his case for re-election to represent southeast Fresno, with a 62%-38% win over Paula Yang, with...
Face-Off for District 7: Brian Whelan and Nelson Esparza
View the video above to see the debate between Fresno City Council District 7 candidates, Brian Whlean (left) and Nelson Esparza.
Who's a Bully? Who's Owned by Special Interests? Council Hopefuls Debate.
Four of the six Fresno City Council candidates met at GV Wire’s forum Tuesday (Oct. 16) night, answering questions about the future of Fresno. While they appeared in lockstep on some issues, such as support for Measure P, things at times got heated on stage in the Fresno City College...
City Council Candidates Forum: Arias vs. Hill, Esparza vs. Whelan
Candidates vying for two Fresno City Council seats debated issues in a lively forum Oct. 16Â hosted by GV Wire. Miguel Arias and Tate Hill are seeking to represent District 3 in southwest Fresno while Nelson Esparza and Brian Whelan are battling in central Fresno's District 7 race. All four...