Measure P failed. Mayor Lee Brand acknowledges the ball is now in his court. Brand led the effort to defeat the city sales tax initiative that would have specifically benefited parks and cultural arts in Fresno. The city's voters said no, with 51% rejecting the 3/8 of a cent tax...
A Quick Look at Fresno Voter Turnout
There are still 77,000 ballots in Fresno County left to process, and many of those will be within the city of Fresno. But, early numbers show a disparity in turnout based on geography. In the latest results update released Friday (Nov. 9) afternoon, Fresnans cast 86,687 ballots, or 36% turnout....
Measure P Spending Passes $2M. McDonald Loans 'Yes' $450K.
Total spending on the Measure P parks sales tax vote is now over $2 million, according to the latest campaign spending reports. Heading into the Nov. 6 vote, supporters have significantly outraised and outspent their opponents. Yes on P raised $1.5 million compared to $343,000 by opponents through Oct 20....
The KMJ Measure P Debate: Both Sides Square Off
Leading figures on both sides of the Fresno parks sales tax proposal debated their positions this week on KMJ580 in a conversation moderated by talk-show host Ray Appleton. No on P advocate and housing developer Darius Assemi squared off with David McDonald, former CEO of Pelco and a Measure P...
Step Up, Fresno: Vote 'Yes' on Measure P!
I am a new reader of GV Wire, so it was with great interest that I turned to your Voter Guide. I was quite shocked to see the content of the “No” commentary on Measure P. First, the opponents of Measure P are not giving Fresno residents much credit: They...
Measure P Ballot Error Could Wind Up in Court
Fresno’s city clerk erred when she sent the wrong ballot language to the county clerk regarding Measure P, the proposed sales tax to benefit parks, City Hall said Monday. What voters see on the ballot omits a few lines specifying areas the initiative would benefit. Now the proponents of the initiative...
No on P's Warning: Beautiful Parks, but Deficient Public Safety
The chiefs of Fresno’s public safety departments predict dire results if voters pass Measure P. “The biggest consequence to the citizens of Fresno if Measure P passes — they will have beautiful parks, but they will have deficient public safety services,” Fresno police chief Jerry Dyer said Thursday. The No...
GV Wire Measure P Forum
On October 11, 2018, advocates and opponents of a new tax to support public parks in Fresno met to debate the issue in a public forum. If approved by voters on November 6, Measure P will raise the sales tax in the city of Fresno and generate close to $38...
Whelan, Esparza Compete to Represent the Heart of Fresno
The ideological balance of the Fresno City Council hangs in the district carved out of the city’s center. Brian Whelan is a Republican. Nelson Esparza is a Democrat. Many of their views are consistent with their party ideology. Both want to succeed termed-out Republican Clint Oliver to become the District...
Dyer Talks Staffing, 911 Calls, Atlantic Article, Parks, and More
Earlier this year it appeared to me that Mayor Lee Brand had teed up the perfect sales tax proposal for Fresno: a half-cent divided between parks and public safety. But the Fresno City Council majority shot down the idea and now voters have a single option — a 3/8 of...