Fresno is fortunate to have Oliver Baines heading its police reform commission. He has the temperament, brainpower, and experience to lead a group with divergent personalities (and expectations) in a successful effort. Most important: He knows what's at stake because he's lived it. "I think this is something that we're...
Fresno Approves Permanent Ban on Carotid Restraint Use by Police
The Fresno City Council voted to outlaw the carotid restraint hold by police at its Thursday meeting. It was one of several significant items on the council's meeting agenda: Also in Politics 101: City Council approves carotid restraint ban. Hold would still be allowed under certain circumstances. Could there be a...
Fresno Considers Permanent Ban on Carotid Restraint Use by Police
The Fresno City Council will consider immediately outlawing the carotid restraint hold by police at its Thursday meeting. It's one of several significant items on the council's meeting agenda: Also in Politics 101: City Council considers carotid restraint ban. Hold would still be allowed under certain circumstances. Could there be a...
Deputy Chief Hall Named Fresno's Next Top Cop
Andy Hall, a deputy chief with the Fresno Police Department for the past three years, is Fresno's next police chief. Mayor Lee Brand and city manager Wilma Quan made the announcement in a morning news conference. Hall takes over as acting chief immediately. Chief Jerry Dyer will begin utilizing leave...
Does Karbassi's Dominant Win Offer Clues to Key District 4 Race?
Mike Karbassi's special election victory Tuesday is particularly notable. Not only did he win, but he crushed a crowded field. With six names on the ballot, and four of them running serious campaigns, the odds weren't on Karbassi's side for avoiding a November runoff. Yet he did. As of the...
Does Karbassi's Dominant Win Offer Clues to Key District 4 Race?
Mike Karbassi's special election victory Tuesday is particularly notable. Not only did he win, but he crushed a crowded field. With six names on the ballot, and four of them running serious campaigns, the odds weren't on Karbassi's side for avoiding a November runoff. Yet he did. As of the...
Brand's New Initiative Would Take Out the Trash
Mayor Lee Brand wants to take out the trash. Speaking Wednesday to nearly 900 people at his State of the City address at the convention center, Brand announced an initiative he called Keep Fresno Beautiful. As the name implies, the goal is to pick up trash in and around the...