Just a day after she held her first congressional fundraiser, Esmeralda Soria sat next to the man she wants to knock out of office. Soria and incumbent 16th district Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) attended a Fresno State event announcing the expansion of the Maddy Institute (see item below). The interaction...
Rep. Costa: When Will McConnell, Trump Protect Americans?
Rep. Jim Costa took to Twitter to express his outrage Monday over the U.S. Senate's and President Trump's refusals to adopt meaningful gun violence legislation. Costa's remarks followed mass shootings over the weekend in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, that killed 31 people and wounded more than 50. "When...
Costa Explains Vote Opposing the Israel Boycott Movement
In a rare showing of bipartisan agreement, the Valley's congressional delegation unanimously approved a non-binding resolution opposing the Israel boycott movement Tuesday. The tally in the House: 398 for the resolution, 17 opposed. "The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is an overt attempt to isolate and weaken our ally, and should...
Soria: Why I'm Taking on Fellow Democrat Costa for Congress
It doesn’t matter to Esmeralda Soria that she is running for a House seat against a fellow Democrat, and an eight-term incumbent at that. “My goal is to convince every single person in our community, beyond our Democratic party, that I am the candidate that will best represent them in...
Costa 'Disappointed' By Soria's Challenge of His House Seat
Esmeralda Soria officially revealed a poorly kept secret — she is running for Congress against fellow Democrat Jim Costa. Soria made the announcement Thursday with a three-minute video on Facebook. “I am humbled by the overwhelming local support, as I stand up and step up for my family and community,"...
United Fresno Council Opposes Release of 'Tower Rapist'
All six Fresno city council members signed a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, expressing concern about the potential early release of Rudolph Acosta. As reported by others in the Fresno media, Acosta was known as the “Tower District Rapist” and sentenced to 78 years in prison. He was initially charged...
Perdue Comes to Valley, Hears Trade War, Deportation Concerns
LOS BANOS — The parade of plaid-shirted gentlemen sat politely in the octagonal Germino Building at the Merced County Fairground. About 200 farmers participated in a town hall meeting Friday with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and four California congressmen. Perdue answered hot-button ag issues about tariffs and labor with...
Council Increases Fire Fees on New Fresno Construction
A week after balking at raising fire impact fees for residential and commercial construction, the Fresno City Council approved a plan that will raise them 143%. The impact fees, which would help the fire department build new stations, are currently $779 for a single family home. That would climb to...
Valley’s ‘Climate Kids’ to Push Congress on Saving Earth
The world is still waiting to see if a climate case brought by 21 young plaintiffs in 2015 (Juliana vs United States ) will be allowed to continue to trial. Meanwhile, I will have the honor of traveling to Washington, D.C. this week, with three of the Central Valley’s student climate advocates. As...
Costa, Cox Help House Pass Dreamers Bill Despite Trump Veto Threat
Supporters of the American Dream and Promise Act in the visitor galleries roared "Yes We Can" as House Democrats muscled through legislation bestowing a chance for citizenship on an estimated 2 million-plus migrants. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a "No You Can't" the next day. Combined with President Donald...