Quote of the Week
“How long does it take to build and open a decent-sized park in California’s fifth-largest city? Going by Fresno’s recent history, oddsmakers would set the over-under at 20 years.”
-Fresno Bee columnist Marek Warszawski, referring to recent progress made on two decades-in-the-making parks, River West and a new southeast regional park.
This Week in Fresnoland
Fresno’s young voters speak out
Fresno County saw record voter turnout in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, with about 75% of all registered voters turning out to cast their ballot.
However, Fresno County also saw near-record low voter turnout in the recent March primaries. Among young voters ages 18-24 in particular, only 13% showed up. Eligible voters ages 25-34 did worse, with only 12% casting ballots.
Ahead of the Nov. 5 election, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela and Diego Vargas asked young voters about their perspectives on the upcoming race — including whether they plan to vote and what issues are most pressing to them.
As expected, many — and maybe most — people Pablo and Diego approached said they preferred not to discuss the upcoming election publicly. (Some, maybe not even privately. A lot has been written this week about election anxiety).
But those who did speak up, had a lot to say.
And if you’re one of the many still mustering enough willpower to open your ballot, Fresnoland has your back. Don’t forget to check out our free November 2024 Election Guide!
Also, join Fresnoland team members for a “Ballots & Boos” open house at the Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29. Grab a beer, meet the Fresnoland team and other readers, and talk to us about any last-minute questions you have about local elections. Costumes encouraged. The first 20 readers to come through will get a beer on us!
Fight over Costco relocation heads to court
A lawsuit seeks to block the relocation of a Costco to a northwest Fresno neighborhood, and accuses city leaders of ignoring best planning practices, Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver reported.
The Fresno City Council approved a new Costco in April, greenlighting the closure of the Shaw Avenue location to a new spot farther north near the San Joaquin River.
The traffic back-up for the proposed Costco location could be dangerous, said Daniel Brannick, a plaintiff in the suit.
And while city leaders have largely brushed off the claims made in the suit, the debate over frames a larger issue in Fresno. “The new megastore will replace an existing Costco on Shaw Avenue — one that in 1985 represented California’s first venture into the popular warehouse retail chain. Its closure marks another chapter in Fresno’s struggle with disposable development, where yesterday’s retail landmarks become tomorrow’s vacant eye sores.”
Hate group plans rally outside Fresno’s Roosevelt High
Members of a church once described as possibly the “most obnoxious” hate group in America will take their repulsive national road show to a Fresno high school on Monday, Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina reported.
The anti-LGBTQ+ Westboro Baptist Church, a group described by the Southern Poverty Law Center, as a “family-based cult” and “arguably the most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America,” confirmed plans to stage a roughly 30-minute rally beginning just before 4 p.m. outside Roosevelt High School on Monday and at Reedley High School the following week.
To counter the hate speech, LGBTQ Fresno, in collaboration with Parasol Patrol, a national nonprofit, and LGBTQ+ leaders, is organizing a peaceful counter-demonstration called ‘Wall of Love’ on both days the church will be in the Central Valley.
Funding for domestic violence shelters is shrinking
Fresno County has the highest number of calls to law enforcement for domestic violence per capita in California, and Marjaree Mason is the county’s only 24/7 domestic violence shelter and service provider, the nonprofit newsite Mother Jones reported this week.
And like many programs designed to help the survivors and victims of violent crimes, Marjaree Mason’s funding has shrunk dramatically in recent years due to significant reductions in funds operated under federal Victims of Crime Act, more commonly referred to as VOCA.
“VOCA-supported programs helped almost 8 million people in fiscal year 2022–2023, funding nearly 3 million shelter beds and 2.3 million crisis-hotline calls, according to the Department of Justice. Those services have become more critical since the pandemic,” Julianne McShane wrote for Mother Jones, “as rates of intimate partner violence have soared, a housing crisis has made it even harder for survivors to flee, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade has given abusers another way to threaten pregnant survivors. But even as the need is growing, VOCA funding has been plummeting—and Congress has failed to act on what many advocates say may be the best hope for a legislative fix.”
Read the full story from Mother Jones and republished by Fresnoland.
Measure H supporters rally ahead of Nov. 5 election
Fresno Unified’s controversial $500 million bond, Measure H, got a boost from business and civic leaders, Fresnoland’s Diego Vargas reported.
Fresno Unified School District trustees Veva Islas and Andy Levine held a news conference at Norseman Elementary on Tuesday, where the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and League of Women announced their support for Measure H.
If Measure H is approved by voters, it’ll give the district $500 million to address its infrastructure needs, a fraction of its total $2.5 billion it needs in total.
The allocation of Measure H funds is dictated largely by the district’s use of an equity tool that ranks schools in the district into five categories of infrastructural condition. A lower rank for a school means that it does not meet educational standards and requires higher renovations and updates.
Outside the Lines
Through the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, Fresno was awarded a $52.1 million grant award for service expansion and improvements to the Fresno Area Express. Fresnoland
Esmeralda Soria and Joanna Garcia Rose weren’t afraid to disagree with each other on a range of issues discussed at an Oct. 18 election forum for the 27th Assembly District race. Fresnoland
“It’s been one year since Fresno hired its first-ever LBGTQ+ liaison, and city leaders and local advocates say the new role has given a vital voice to marginalized communities inside the city’s halls of power.” The Fresno Bee
Citing an increase in prices and a disagreement with progressive cultural values, some Central Valley Republicans say they understand why Latinos are shifting right. The Fresno Bee
Block Beat
FANCHER CREEK: Fresno County authorities on Friday said a key to a ballot drop box at Fancher Creek Elementary School was apparently left there unattended for around eight hours on Thursday. The box was subsequently removed. Until it’s replaced, voters can drop their ballots at the box nearest the school at the Sunnyside Library. If you placed your ballot in the Fancher school drop box on Thursday, Oct. 24 and want to confirm the county received it, call 844-977-8683. Fresno County
SOUTHEAST: “The site of a former Armenian-owned Fresno grocery store that has been vacant for more than two decades is undergoing a quiet transformation that could mark the first step in a new era for the retail space. Hanoian’s Market located at the corner of Butler and Cedar avenues served multiple generations of Fresnans when it operated from 1956 to 2001.” The Fresno Bee
FIG GARDEN: A holiday tradition is preparing for its return to Fresno. Organizers announced this year’s “walk nights” for Fresno’s famous Christmas Tree Lane. The public’s first chance to stroll along the holiday tradition is Tuesday, Dec. 3, the first day of the holiday tradition. ABC30
FRESNO CITY COLLEGE: FIL FIESTA 559 is a free event, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Fresno City College. The event features food, art, shopping and live music and is funded in part by the City of Fresno Measure P Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Fund, administered by the Fresno Arts Council. It is also made possible through a partnership with CMAC.
FRESNO HIGH: The public is invited to a town hall meeting with Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea to discuss the potential location of a new dog park. Perea will be joined by other leaders from the city’s schools and parks programs. The meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, at the Hamilton Middle School cafeteria, 102 E. Clinton Ave. in Fresno.
Around Town
The Nov. 5 election is coming up fast and Fresnoland has your back if you’re still deciphering local races. Join us for a Ballots & Boos open house at the Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29. Grab a beer, meet the Fresnoland team and other Fresnoland readers, and talk to us about any last-minute questions you have about local elections. Costumes encouraged. The first 20 readers to come through will get a beer on us! Fresnoland
“How long does it take to build and open a decent-sized park in California’s fifth-largest city? Going by Fresno’s recent history, oddsmakers would set the over-under at 20 years.” Fresno Bee columnist Marek Warszawski
Residents are invited to a free drive-thru vaccine clinic for pets from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Fresno Animal Center, 5277 E. Airways Blvd. “The clinic will offer important services for dogs and their families,” city officials said in a statement, “including vaccines for distemper, parvo and rabies, microchips, and information about low-cost spay/neuter services.”
