Good morning! Today is Tuesday, Sept. 15. This is Rob.
Fresno history: Join us at October ArtHop to talk about the legacy of freeways in Fresno’s historic neighborhoods. Fresnoland
All politics is national: A Fresno City Council candidate faces criticism over his one-time for Trump appointee Harmeet Dhillon. Nandeep Singh says he no longer supports Dhillon. His opponent in the race, Rob Fuentes, has faced criticism over his work on ICE-related cases for the Trump administration. The Fresno Bee
Lost in the mail? A Fresno County mail carrier kept more than 8,500 pieces of mail he was supposed to deliver. He was arrested Friday. ABC30
You fancy: Another gated community rolls out in Clovis. This one’s the results of a partnership between Bonadelle Neighborhoods and former Fresno State quarterback David Carr. ABC30
Just add ice: Fresno Falcons tickets went on sale Monday for the first time in years. YourCentralValley
Cost effective: Fresno State ranks among the best schools in the nation for tuition and tax dollar value, according to a new study. The Fresno Bee
Is we dummy’s? Fresno apparently ranks near the bottom of the nation for something called “intellectual life.” GV Wire
1. Fresno County OKs record budget
Fresno County managed to close a $15 million budget hole and avoid layoffs in its record-breaking $5.5 billion budget approved Monday, but local-level governments say they are running out of options amid Trump administration cuts.
“We’ve managed to get to this point,” said Fresno County CAO Paul Nerland, “but that maneuverability will be less going forward.”
Not a single resident spoke during the public comment section.
Board Chair Garry Bredefeld is set to give the annual State of the County address as part of the budget’s rollout. The speech is set for noon Sept. 24 at the Fresno Convention Center.
The year’s budget theme is “Building A Safer and Stronger Fresno County.” The theme was chosen by Board Chair Garry Bredefeld, who will also host the state of the county Sept. 24 at noon at the Fresno Convention Center.
Read the full Fresnoland story here.
2. ‘It doesn’t make any sense’
More than 237,000 people in Fresno County rely on CalFresh benefits and dramatic cuts to the program by the Trump administration have only made a tough problem worse. The California Budget and Policy Center estimates that cuts to SNAP/CalFresh could cost the state up to $5.1 billion per year.
Sadly, food insecurity in Fresno is nothing new, despite living in the nation’s greatest food-producing state.
And with fewer options and resources available for families in need, local groups and community members are stepping up to fill in the gaps. But the process is anything but simple.
Chef Xef Zubia of My Homies Kitchen: “We are an industry that brings in billions of dollars in every surrounding county around us, yet, millions of dollars of food goes to waste every year. Fresno being the breadbasket of the world, it doesn’t make any sense that people are food insecure here.”
Read the full Fresnoland story here.
3. Your guide to Greek Fest
The organizers behind Fresno’s 63rd annual festival this weekend say it’s not just bigger than sister festivals in questionable places like Los Angeles or San Jose — it’s also better.
“And we have the most fun,” says Peter Vallis, chairman of the Fresno Greek Festival.
The difference, according to Vallis, is the food.
“You can’t buy a real gyro between LA and San Francisco. It’s even arguable if you can get one in San Francisco,” Vallis says. “You can get one in Sac, but you can’t get one between LA and San Francisco except at Greek Fest. Every one of the rest of them, they all use SPAM and it’s gross. We make our own gyro meat from the same cut of pork that they use in Greece.”
Fresno’s Greek Fest kicks off Friday and runs throughout the weekend. Fresnoland Food Editor Vince Mancini has the full breakdown of the upcoming event, which has squirreled away more than 3,000 pounds of chicken, 1,600 pounds of lamb and 900 pounds feta cheese!
Read the full Fresnoland Food story here.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Danielle Bergstrom.
