Quote of the Week
“It’s either a lie or he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
— Omar Altamimi, a policy and advocacy coordinator with the Council on American-Islamic Relations had stern words for Mayor Jerry Dyer after he said that the choice to raise the Israeli flag at the Eaton Plaza across from City Hall wasn’t a political statement.
This Week in Fresnoland
Fresno Unified teachers vote to strike for the first time in more than 40 years.
The teachers voted overwhelmingly in-favor of a Nov. 1 walk-out, if no new deal is reached beforehand, Julianna Morano reports for Fresnoland. As a reminder, the union is demanding salary increases, classroom size caps and a reduction in special education caseloads. As they’ve signaled, the district plans to keep schools open by deploying more than 2000 substitute teachers. Sources say they only need 200 more to cover every classroom, but can deploy management staff to fill the gaps. Which, honestly, I love it. Very “Undercover Boss” when the people in admin have to do actual work.
A new Fresnoland story out this morning answers top questions from parents, covering everything from sports and field trips to student attendance and the latest on contract talks.
In a related story, the union recently filed an unfair practice charge against Fresno Unified for intimidation, referencing written communications from the principal and Nikki Henry, the district’s chief of communications. A message from Henry said that administrators could ask teachers if they planned to come to work in the event of a work stoppage. The union said this is tantamount to intimidation.
Fresno Palestinians question why Mayor Dyer won’t ‘even mention Palestine’
After the Oct. 7 attack that left 1,400 Israelis dead and 200 taken hostage, the ensuing bombing campaign has left 3,785 Palestinians dead, 12,500 injured and 1,200 missing under rubble – Jerry Dyer elected to raise the Israeli flag over City Hall in a statement that he insists was not political, and Palestinian Fresnans have taken to the streets. In this story by Omar Shaikh Rashad, hundreds of Fresno community members gathered at two protests near River Park calling for Palestinian liberation.
Regarding his remarks, Dyer said, “There was nothing in [my notes] to alienate or even mention Palestine.” Protestors say that’s the problem. They feel that Palestine’s plight is being ignored, their dead left out of the conversation.
“You see with one eye when it comes to Palestinian issues,” Ihab Elzaanoun, a Palestinian Fresnan said, “That’s not justice.”
A new affordable housing project for young people is coming to Northwest Fresno.
The joint development fostered between the City of Fresno and Valley Teen Ranch with funding from Project Homekey is promised for next year, Pablo Orihuela reports. The affordable housing units will support at-risk youth thanks to a $21.9 grant and will be located at 6507 N Polk Ave. It will provide 96 permanent affordable single housing units.
There are some concerns from locals about increased traffic in front of the nearby school thanks to the development. Mike Karbassi promised to facilitate ongoing discussions with the community to address these concerns.
Preserving traditional Hmong dance takes work.
Read all about the Hmong Cultural Arts Preservation, a nonprofit in Fresno, in this Fresnoland story by Ntsa lab Vang. The story is familiar: a younger generation has been made to assimilate into American culture, and they have – but their traditional customs are finding a harder time passing from one generation to the next.
The HCAP is an ongoing effort to preserve these traditional dances, and in the future they want to expand their programming to Hmong literature, Qeej musical classes and line dancing to include community members of all genders and age groups. Contributing to HCAP is as easy as emailing them or visiting their Facebook page.
Taco Truck throwdown in Fresno
Saturday’s throwdown was the first one to have a salsa competition (the sauce not the dance) along with standard taco truck competition, Diego Vargas writes for Fresnoland. The event was started in 2011 by good friends Mike Osegueda and Sam Hansen, who worked at the Fresno Bee and for the Fresno Grizzlies, respectively. Osegueda talks in the article about the inferiority complex that some Fresnans have, and how this event represents something we can feel proud of: taco trucks. And I have to confess he’s spot on, we’re super into a taco truck. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been on the way to a class or on the way home from a club and had my life SAVED by a bunch of chefs in a truck. God bless them.
Outside the Lines
More and more community colleges are offering bachelor’s degrees.
Block Beat
North Fresno: Planet Pumpkin Patch has been closed by the City of Fresno due to permit and electrical concerns. They are awaiting city approval to reopen and are losing a reported $20,000 a day. KMPH
CLOVIS: Candi Brows, a permanent makeup studio, is offering areola tattoos to breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomy. ABC30
Department of New Construction
BELLEVUE: A conditional use permit has been issued for Verizon Wireless to construct a new 80-foot-tall “wireless facility disguised as a monopine” in the 300 block of North Fresno Street.
Around Town
The Rosé Presents: Boss Ladies Halloween Affair featuring Eric Bellinger this Friday. Downtown Fresno
Speaking of things that can make you vomit: demonic possession. The Crest Theatre will be screening the Exorcist this Friday at 8 p.m. Downtown Fresno
Next Week in Public Meetings
- Tuesday, Oct 31, 2023 at 9 a.m. | Tulare County Board of Supervisors
- Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 at 6 p.m. | Fresno Planning Commission
- Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 at 6 p.m. | Madera City Council
