Everything old is new again, at least when it comes to punching loopholes in state tax laws to benefit corporate interests. As noted in a recent column, legislation is moving to re-establish “redevelopment” in California cities, albeit with a new name, just a few years after the program was eliminated. It’s...
Walters: Old Tax Loopholes Live Again
Everything old is new again, at least when it comes to punching loopholes in state tax laws to benefit corporate interests. As noted in a recent column, legislation is moving to re-establish “redevelopment” in California cities, albeit with a new name, just a few years after the program was eliminated. It’s...
Impact of Trump's Tariffs on Americans Explained
President Donald Trump's international trade war might have made sense from an American perspective in the 19th century. Certainly, Trump is to be commended for trying to protect U.S. patents, trade secrets, and intellectual properties. China, as we know, doesn't always play by the rules. He's also trying to support...
California Supreme Court Throws Cities, Including Fresno, Into Chaos Over Local Taxes
The California Supreme Court has some explaining to do. Late last year, the city of Oakland put a new land parcel tax on the books, after 62 percent of voters turned out to boost funding for public education. Now a local business group is suing the city, arguing that the new tax...
Brand: The Public Spoke on Parks-Only Tax
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...
Measure A: Dream for Corporate Marijuana, Nightmare for Community
The fight against legalized marijuana is far from over. With Measure A on this November’s ballot, we get an up close and personal look at what deceptive, dangerous and detrimental politics look like as the well-being of Fresno residents is discarded in favor of corporate profits. Measure A is a...
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...
Harvesting Green or Inviting Danger? The Clash Over Measure A.
To clear up any confusion, let's start with this: Measure A is not an up-or-down vote on allowing the cannabis industry within Fresno’s city limits. Proposition 64, approved by voters statewide in 2016, permitted recreational use and the right to sell. However, that right comes with caveats — such as...
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...