How Fresno passed reforms after a city contracts scandal, and why some leaders had objections
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Fresno Budget Tracker
Fresno leader proposes transparency reforms after city contracts scandal
Fresno leader went against legal advice in handing out political consultant contracts, attorney says
Fresno leader breaks his silence on old city contracts. Here are 5 things he said
Former Fresno councilmember used $30K in taxpayer funds for Facebook ads during election year
HOUSING
City Council closes spending ‘loophole’ exposed by Fresnoland, but there’s still more work to do
The Fresno City Council unanimously approved a proposal from Councilmember Miguel Arias reforming the city’s public transparency on contracts, and also closing what he had referred to as a “loophole” in the city’s contracting laws. After heated debate on the dais Thursday, Arias amended his item to require the Fresno City Clerk’s Office — instead…
Fresno County prepares to count its unhoused residents
The Fresno-Madera region launches its Point In Time Count on Tuesday night — a routine federally required process that sees the country take stock of its local homeless population on a given night in January. Tuesday night’s count will be the first managed by Fresno’s County Administrative Office. It will also be the first to…
Fresnolandia Podcast: Unraveling Fresno’s housing density problem
On this week’s Fresnolandia podcast, Jordan and Danielle speak with Jennifer LeSar, ounder and CEO of LeSar Development Consultants, a housing consulting firm based in San Diego, where she and her team advise state and local governments on how to create more resilient communities – and solving our housing crisis. They talk about Fresno’s unique…
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Independent.
Values-driven.
Public service.
Resources
Resources for Renters
How to report substandard housing conditions in Fresno
If you are a renter who thinks your housing might be in need of repairs that your landlord is refusing to fix, the City of Fresno’s Anti Slum Enforcement Team may be able to help.
ENVIRONMENT
Fresno County supervisor challenges local coalition’s efforts toward a new county transportation sales tax
The possibility that Fresno County voters will have to choose between rival transportation tax measures this November could be one step closer to reality. At a Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, the board’s chair, Garry Bredefeld, instructed county staff to complete a legal and fiscal analysis of placing a countywide general sales…
WORK
Thousands of Fresno-area truck drivers in limbo amid legal fights with California and the Trump Administration
A December lawsuit filed by the Sikh Coalition and others on behalf of the Jakara Movement and five anonymous immigrant drivers challenges the DMV’s planned cancellation of nearly 20,000 commercial driver’s licenses.
‘We should be the best in the Valley.’ State Center faculty union pushing for big salary boosts
Instructors at State Center Community College District are seeking hefty raises in a move they say is needed to stay competitive with neighboring school districts. The State Center Federation of Teachers (SCFT) Local 1533 has been in contract talks with the central San Joaquin Valley community college district for almost a year. Union leaders say…
Did a Fresno homeless shelter break the law when it laid off its workers?
State officials in charge of protecting workers’ rights said that a recent local mass layoff incident may have violated federal law, potentially resulting in future fines and legal trouble. Some recently laid off workers could potentially be owed some money. Soul Housing, an LA-based recuperative care facility operator, abruptly laid off employees at their facility…
Community
Fresno bracing for massive cuts to child care programs
The Trump Administration effort to freeze billions in federal child care funding could cost Fresno County millions, and leave hundreds of infants, children, and families with even fewer options in a community where finding reliable childcare has never been easy. As the White House battles with the courts over the order, Fresno-area child care specialists…
Fresno holds protest against Trump to mark one year of presidency, amid concerns of more immigration enforcement
“One struggle, one fight, all unite for immigrant rights!” “Money for jobs and education, not for war and deportation!” These chants rang out Tuesday evening as more than 50 people gathered outside of the Immigration and Customs (ICE) office in downtown Fresno. The protest, Stop ICE Terror, was one of many across the country marking…
Fresno councilmember reverses claim of large-scale immigration raids coming to Central Valley
Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias shared during Thursday’s city council meeting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has publicly posted about large-scale ICE raids coming to Fresno and Bakersfield.
‘We’re in a divisive world.’ Fresno always proudly celebrates MLK, but even locally, unity remains a dream
While Dr. King celebrations are taking place nationwide, this year’s events unfold amid federal actions under President Donald Trump targeting diversity, equity and inclusion.
