Quote of the Week
“It’s often disguised as an economic conversation when we know that there’s other political motivations at play.”
—- Assistant Professor Josephine Hazelton-Boyle, speaking with Fresnoland regarding Fresno County’s study of library privatization
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This Week in Fresnoland
Outsourcing Fresno libraries?
Over the last three years, Fresno libraries have faced increased scrutiny and criticism from high-profile right-wing politicians, like Garry Bredefeld at Fresno County and Diane Pearce on the Clovis City Council, becoming one of the frontlines of the culture wars in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Now, behind a push from Bredefeld, Fresno County is studying the feasibility of privatizing its 116-year-old public library system, Fresnoland’s Danielle Bergstrom and Julianna Morano report.
Bredefeld told Fresnoland it was a financial consideration but also acknowledged wanting to make the library what he described as more “a-political.”
Supervisor Luis Chavez says it’s a bad idea.
“Handing over library operations, budgeting and management to a private company is the worst thing we could do, it doesn’t yield savings, pays low wages and benefits if any and reduces the library experience to a simple book-borrowing enterprise where certain books and materials can be censored.”
Fresno incentivizes affordable housing
The Fresno City Council on Thursday approved a construction-approval process for developments that prioritize affordable housing, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reported.
If developers set aside at least 20% of their total units priced for low-income rental prices can be approved ministerially by the city in certain areas of town, meaning those projects can skip past review by the Fresno Planning Commission and City Council.
Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea said Thursday’s proposal is a way for the council to address local cost-of-living issues.
“As electeds, we preach affordability, affordability, high cost of living. What can we do to bring costs down? But we don’t always act upon those statements. This is a policy that allows us to practice what we preach.”
‘Harm reduction’?
Fresno City Council candidate Rob Fuentes says his public stance calling for the abolition of ICE does not conflict with his professional obligations as a federal prosecutor, including working on more than 100 ICE-related immigration cases.
In an exclusive interview with Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina, Fuentes defended his courtroom record and his campaign rhetoric, saying, in part, that the only reason he never mentions his work on ICE cases is because such cases make up only a relatively small portion of his caseload.
“I would reject the premise that I’m taking the opposite position in my campaign life versus my professional life,” Fuentes said.
Fuentes goes on to say that he has considered leaving the Justice Department but still feels he can have a net-positive impact on cases and help “reduce harm.”
Inside Fresno’s newly adopted budget
The Fresno City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a balanced budget of about $2.56 billion for the next fiscal year, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reports.
It’s yet another record-breaking spending plan from Fresno’s two-term mayor, Jerry Dyer, who has seen the city’s budget swell each year since taking office.
The city found the funding for Advance Peace Fresno, the Eviction Protection Program and a one-year pilot program focused on affordable child care.
All budget motions can be seen here.
As Fresno City Hall steps up funding for the program and others at the hands of White House budget cuts, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is calling on other area governments and nonprofits to pitch in more in the coming years.
“I believe we as city officials and nonprofits collectively must challenge the County of Fresno and our philanthropic partners to step up and do their part to fund these agencies in need,” Dyer said.
JD Homes doesn’t want to pay the fines
JD Home Rentals has filed a string of lawsuits against the city of Fresno in an effort to have code enforcement citations voided by the court, The Fresno Bee reports.
JD’s related business entities have filed more than half a dozen lawsuits against the city this year in Fresno County Superior Court challenging fines issued against them in recent years for various alleged violations found mostly at their south Fresno properties.
The company argues that it shouldn’t have to pay the citations for a variety of reasons ranging from claims that inspections were conducted without consent along with claims that officers violated promises to give the corporate housing giant more time to pay.
“We’ve seen JD (Home Rentals) and their representatives go to great lengths to delay any proceedings that would allow tenants to receive some semblance of justice and safe living conditions,” City Attorney Andrew Janz said.
Outside the Lines
As the former poet laureate of Fresno, I’m a dutiful ambassador for my city and one of its harsher critics. Fresnoland
The Fresno City Council also unanimously approved a resolution to pursue a 36-month long pilot program that will see red-light traffic violations enforced automatically through mounted cameras on intersections around the city. Fresnoland
Taste of Tradition is a yearlong, monthly class open to local youth led by Kristy Xiong across two sessions, one for younger chefs from ages 8-11 and for older chefs from 12-18. CVJC
The Fresno County Public Library is inviting residents of all ages to Go Wild for Reading this summer through its annual Summer at Your Library program, presented in partnership with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Instagram
The Fresno County Department of Public Health is promoting education on proper car seat installation and provides free child safety seats to qualifying families. YourCentralValley
Block Beat
Mural District: In an effort to celebrate families and protest Fresno County’s anti-queer “Nuclear Family Month”, Maarte is joining forces with a local photographer from 5 to 8 p.m June 30 at Maarte taking free photos in a project dubbed “This is what family looks like.” Instagram
Kinney Ranch: The Kings River Land Trust invites the public to join them for an evening of star-gazing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16 at Kinney Ranch, 769 N. Piedra Road, Sanger. Kings River Land Trust
Downtown: Cracked Pepper Bistro is expected to open a new location inside Fresno City Hall in the coming months, pending council approval. The Fresno Bee
Downtown: Blue Shield of California and Community Health System announced an agreement that restores in-network access for Blue Shield members at Community facilities. KMPH
Roeding Park: The Fresno County Public Library is inviting residents of all ages to Go Wild for Reading this summer through its annual Summer at Your Library program, presented in partnership with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Instagram
Central Fresno: The Fresno City Attorney’s Office has launched an investigation into the shuttered Horn BBQ restaurant that recently closed. KMPH
Roeding Park: Some Fresno residents are hoping to pressure the Fresno Chaffee Zoo to reverse a recent decision to close the Tropical Rainforest Aviary. ABC30
Downtown: Fresno’s city manager fired back at Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria after the former city councilmember publicly slammed City Hall over its longstanding business dispute with Soria’s husband over Granite Park. YourCentralValley
