Quote of the Week
“The Democratic Party is a bygone institution that needs to be jump started or completely burned down, in my opinion.”
— Dillon Savory, the executive director of the Central Labor Council, speaking on Fresno’s participation in recent national protests
This Week in Fresnoland
Fresno County healthcare workers lose their jobs after Trump’s CDC cuts
Fresno County healthcare workers weren’t spared in the Trump administration’s move this week to cut $12 billion in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That translated to the slashing of $11 million in federal grants to nearly a dozen Fresno-area nonprofits and at least seven layoffs, Fresnoland’s Danielle Bergstrom reported.
Organizations are now scrambling to plug the funding gaps for healthcare services that have helped ensure people with disabilities, the elderly, farmworkers and people of color get preventative care for chronic diseases.
“I feel sorry for the government. They’re so naive. They [farmworkers] feed all of these people and they’re stiffing their faces,” said Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers’ League, whose $340,000 grant to deliver testing kits and education materials to farmworkers was cut short.
‘This burden is unacceptable’
A billion-dollar blast mine planned along the San Joaquin River’s prime salmon spawning habitat faces its first major political challenge.
Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula recently introduced a bombshell bill aimed at stopping global mining giant CEMEX from blasting along the San Joaquin River’s planned parkway near Fresno.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer called the CEMEX blast mine an “unacceptable” assault to the region’s river and roads and threw his support behind Arambula’s proposal, citing estimates showing over $60 million in road impacts that city taxpayers would have to pay in connection with the project.
Arambula’s bill, AB 1425, would cut Fresno County supervisors out of the CEMEX approval process, a point of contention that didn’t sit well with Supervisor Buddy Mendes.
Read the full exclusive report from Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver.
‘We are in a housing crisis’
At least four Fresno City Council members signaled support this week for keeping the lights on next year for the city’s last renter protection program — but finding the money for it is far from guaranteed.
The program, the last of the city’s COVID-era initiatives protecting renters, nearly collapsed just last month when it ran out of money about halfway through the fiscal year.
Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela was on hand Thursday for the city’s budget workshop examining the Eviction Protection Program, with an estimated cost next year of $2 million to $2.5 million.
The presentation detailed the additional burdens placed on the EPP program and city code enforcement officers as other renter protection and assistance programs have gone by the wayside in recent years.
Fresno joins national protests against Elon Musk’s cuts
Fresno protesters joined the national outcry against dozens of President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders and Elon Musk’s efforts to slash public service programs.
More than 100 protesters gathered in Fresno last week, speaking out against cuts to the U.S. Postal Service and Medicaid, which would disproportionately affect thousands of people in Fresno County who rely on the government-backed health program.
And while protesters focused on the policies of the party in power, Fresno residents also slammed the Democratic Party’s disorganized opposition effort and incoherent leadership.
More protests and rallies are planned, including a worldwide campaign against Musk today (Saturday, March 29). A march for immigrants is slated for April 5 at the Fashion Fair Mall.
Reporter Diego Vargas has the full story for Fresnoland here.
Fresno’s neverending landslide victory
It’s been nearly two weeks since candidate Brandon Vang blew away his three opponents in a Fresno City Council special election — but despite an insurmountable double-digit lead over his next closest competitor, the 52-year-old southeast politician still can’t claim victory.
An update this week from the Fresno County Elections Office added just 47 votes to the District 5 race’s total tally, inching Vang closer to winning with 50.16% — but just seven votes above the threshold needed for an out-right victory, Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano reported this week.
Should he fall under 50% as more ballots are corrected and added to the race over the next week, Vang would head to a summer runoff election with the second-place candidate, Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, who continues to hover just below 35% of the vote.
On this week’s edition of the Fresnolandia podcast, Dani and Jordan breakdown the latest on Fresno’s still-too-close-to-call-it-over special election. Check out Fresnolandia on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Another update on results is expected April 4.
Outside the Lines
Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela stopped by KVPR’s Central Valley Daily podcast to discuss recent progress in Clovis on the city’s affordable housing front. Pablo pulls back the curtain to show readers how Fresno County’s least affordable city is poised to allow more lower-income residents to move in. KVPR
At a budget hearing in the state assembly this week, the California Legislative Analyst Office told lawmakers the High Speed Rail project is $7 billion short of what it needs by June 2026. There’s no plan in place to address the shortfall, meaning the project could grind to a halt next year. KMPH
The Central Unified School District’s board of trustees appointed former Clovis Unified superintendent Dr. Eimear O’Brien to the role of interim superintendent, about two weeks after Central cut ties with former Superintendent Ketti Davis without explanation. ABC30
It’s strawberry season! And the Fresno County Office of Tourism has an online map showing you where to find the area’s best fresh strawberries. The Fresno Bee
“Hundreds of teachers and parents gathered at the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) board meeting on Wednesday, voicing their strong opposition to proposed cuts that could affect multiple schools in the district.” KMPH
“Reports of catalytic converter thefts in Fresno dropped by 60% after federal authorities arrested a man who was selling thousands of the stolen car (parts) for a profit of more than $2.5 million.” The Los Angeles Times
“More than one year after a car crash killed seven farmworkers in Madera, the U.S. Department of Labor has sued their Fresno County employer, alleging a company supervisor ‘organized and coordinated’ worker transportation by an unlicensed driver.” The Fresno Bee
“The first pediatric flu and RSV deaths for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season were confirmed Tuesday by the Fresno County Department of Public Health.” CBS47
“The owner of one of Fresno’s most iconic businesses has died. John Shafer of Whitie’s Pets passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at the age of 71.” KMJ
Block Beat
DOWNTOWN: Central Valley Community Foundation and Fresno DRIVE invite the public to ‘Envisioning a Solidarity Economy in Fresno,’ featuring Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor, co-authors of “Solidarity Economics.” The event is set for 1 p.m. Monday, March 31 at The Grand, 1401 Fulton Street, No. 212. CVCF
FASHION FAIR: “The Armenian Museum of Fresno will present ‘Stone Dreams,’ an interactive sound installation by composer and sound artist Joseph Bohigian, Ph.D. This immersive experience will be open to the public throughout March and April, offering a powerful, interactive way for visitors to engage with memory, history, and culture.” KMJ
WEST FRESNO: “Schools in west Fresno are taking another step to ensure the safety of their students amid increased speculation of immigration enforcement activity in the Central Valley.” The Merced Focus
TILLEY: Councilmember Miguel Arias invites the public to participate in upcoming District 3 Town Halls where residents can share priorities for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The first is set for 6 p.m. Monday, March 31 at Tilley Elementary, 2280 N. Valentine Ave. Food will be provided. Spanish interpretation is available. Instagram
EINSTEIN PARK: Councilmember Tyler Maxwell and the City of Fresno’s PARCS Department invite the public to “a fun, free way to get your kids involved in sports, dance, camps, programs, activities,” with more than 40 local organizations on hand to provide information about their programming. The event features food, entertainment, bounce houses and demonstrations. The 2025 Fresno Spring Fest starts at 11 a.m., April 5 at Einstein Park, 3566 E. Dakota. Instagram
HANFORD: Superior Dairy, one of the town’s most popular locations, officially has new owners. Just who the buyers are hasn’t been publicly revealed, but an announcement is anticipated soon. The Fresno Business Journal
CLOVIS: “A 1% tax increase is on its way to shoppers in Clovis next week, helping to preserve the ‘Clovis way of life.’ Effective April 1, the sales tax rate will rise to 8.975% and apply to all purchases made in the city, meaning a consumer should expect to pay $8.975 in sales tax on a $100 purchase.” The Fresno Bee
RIVER PARK: “Fans of television shows like ‘The Office,’ ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ and ‘Pokémon,’ as well as Hollywood films like ‘Lady and the Tramp,’ ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Elf’ will have the chance to taste the magic behind the movies, with vendors at Tuesday’s River Park Farmers Market featuring the Blockbuster Bites Food Festival.” The Fresno Business Journal
