Measure P is the heavyweight local issue on the ballot for Fresno city voters. It's a proposal to raise the sales tax by 3/8 of a cent for 30 years to build, fix and maintain parks and trails, and fund cultural arts. But it's also a scrap to decide Fresno's...
Fresno Parks Tax Advocates, Foes to Meet in Public Forum on Thursday
Advocates and opponents of a new tax to support public parks in Fresno will debate the issue in a public forum Thursday night. Measure P would raise the local sales tax by 3/8 percent and generate close to $38 million per year to build, upgrade and maintain parks across Fresno for...
With Crime This Bad, Now Is Not the Time for a Parks Tax
This is the reality of life in Fresno, and it doesn't matter where you live. Every time you park your car, you wonder if a window will be smashed and everything inside will be stolen. This has happened to me twice in the last year. You go to work every...
Janz Is One of Many Dems Who Want to Ditch Pelosi
If the Blue Wave washes over Republicans in November, will Nancy Pelosi return as Speaker of the House? First, Democrats have to take control of the House of Representatives. Second, those Democrats would have to stick with the San Francisco liberal stalwart as their leader. Vox reports that Pelosi’s party...
Parks Sales Tax Measure Is on Ballot. Earning Voter Support is Next.
And now the next challenge begins. After months of fundraising, signature gathering and verifying by Fresno for Parks, voters will have the opportunity to vote on a sales tax benefiting parks, trails, and related programs. In the City Hall lobby, supporters of the sales tax celebrated. Central Valley Community Foundation...
Is a Simple Majority Vote Enough to Pass Parks Tax?
(Update, 8/08/18: an interpretation from City Attorney Douglas Sloan is now included) After months of signature gathering and deadline hustling, the final decision on whether Fresno voters will decide on a parks tax takes place Thursday (Aug. 9). But questions have emerged on just how many votes are needed in...
Odds Improve For Parks Tax Vote in November
Give credit to the efficiencies of Fresno's election clerks. Fresno for Parks turned in 34,999 signatures to the city clerk on Wednesday. The parks advocates want to add a 3/8ths of a cent sales tax measure for the November ballot. City Clerk Yvonne Spence said it would take two days...
Parks & Public Safety Advocates Work Behind Scenes on Sales Tax
In what one City Hall insider described as a game of chicken, two sides advancing sales tax plans are attempting to work out a deal. Multiple sources tell GV Wire that Fresno for Parks, the Ashley Swearengin-led group advocating for a 3/8ths of a cent sales tax plan, has met...
Is Anti-Parks Tax Ad Evoking Randa Jarrar Fair? Listen and Decide.
A conservative activist is fighting a tax plan to benefit Fresno parks. And he's raising the specter of controversial Fresno State English professor Randa Jarrar in a bid for success. Tal Cloud of Common Sense Information, a 527 political organization, released an audio advertisement Monday denouncing the Fresno for Parks plan,...
Finding No Support, Brand Drops Public Safety-Parks Tax Plan
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand withdrew his plan Thursday morning to place in front of voters a sales tax measure equally benefiting public safety and parks. The plan, announced Monday, called for raising the sales tax by a half-percent. Brand needed a super-majority, or five of the seven council members, to...