Quote of the Week
“After months of negotiations and two strike actions, our movement for a #betterCSU has paid off!”
– The California Faculty Association takes a victory lap after reaching a tentative agreement after Monday’s strike, ending a planned week-long strike early.
This Week in Fresnoland
Fresno’s massive southeast housing project still struggling to get off the ground
Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver confirmed this week plans for a massive new 45,000-home community in southeast Fresno is officially on hold.
The Southeast Development Area, or SEDA, faces financial challenges over its multi-billion-dollar price tag, criticism over its environmental review and new population projects.
Unsolved problems over financing the project’s multi-billion-dollar price tag, and new troubling population projections from the state Department of Finance have deflated the city’s growth machine. In the coming months, Mayor Jerry Deyer’s administration will take a closer look at the feasibility of the 9,000-acre development.
The project’s financial uncertainty and steep environmental costs, a labor advocate said, should push the city to reconsider whether SEDA is the best way to meet its housing goals.
No more ‘secret budget committee?’
In a sprawling interview with The Fresno Bee’s Melissa Montalvo, newly-elected Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea acknowledged that city leaders are “not quite sure how to handle” upcoming budget talks and floated the idea of eliminating the council’s budget committee.
Last year, two community watchdogs sued the Fresno City Council, alleging Brown Act violations in connection with the budget subcommittee’s closed-door meetings. The First Amendment Coalition and the ACLU Foundation of Northern California credited a Fresnoland investigation for exposing the issue to the public last year.
A Fresnoland review of California’s 10 largest cities found that only Fresno claims a Brown Act exemption for its budget subcommittee.
That puts Fresno out of step with Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Anaheim, and Bakersfield — which all have budget committees subject to the Brown Act with agendas, minutes, and attendance made public.
The case is currently working its way through the Fresno County Superior Courthouse.
Fresno State faculty reached a tentative deal, ending their strike.
After more than 100 faculty members and students in Fresno took to the streets for the week-long strike for higher wages, better benefits, more staff and gender-inclusive restrooms in Fresno, the California State University faculty union reached a tentative deal, Julianna Morano reported. Just one day of striking and the union agreed to a retroactive 5% salary increase to July 2023 and another 5% increase next July.
The union’s contract expires in June, and they were demanding a 12% salary increase for the 2023-24 school year. The better benefits I mentioned include an extension of parental leave from six weeks to an entire semester – they won an extension of just 10 weeks of leave.
CSC leaders said they can’t afford the wage increases. CSU Vice Chancellor Leora Freedman said it would require severe program cuts and widespread layoffs.
Fresno City Council passes two resolutions to alleviate the housing crisis.
The council unanimously approved an application from the Planning and Development Department for funds to support the homeless encampment on Highway 41, Pablo Orihuela reports (Fresnoland). Phil Skei, assistant director of Fresno Planning and Development, said the application would allow them to serve 400 people. Those services would include 30 Emergency Shelter beds for the Highway 41 encampment and 65 more for individuals in other parts of the encampment. Plus, 100 Room and Board vouchers to assist with transitioning to permanent housing.
Also, the City Council approved a permanent local housing project in southwest Fresno called Heritage Estates, containing 33 single-family home units in District 3. A $3 million loan to the Permanent Local Housing Authority will help build the project, while an additional $1.4 million will assist first-time buyers.
Fresno Unified superintendent stepping down at the end of the year
After seven years at the helm of California’s third largest school district, Superintendent Bob Nelson is moving on to a tenure-track position in the educational leadership division at the Kremen School of Education and Human Development at Fresno State, the Fresno Business Journal reported. Nelson’s tenure at Fresno Unified included avoiding two teacher strikes and navigating the district through the scary days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Notably, he pioneered an innovative dual enrollment program with a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), a first of its kind for Fresno Unified and likely the state of California,” the district said in a statement to KMJ. “Superintendent Nelson has made Fresno Unified a leader nationally, statewide, and locally in many areas including our social-emotional and mental health investments for students and our incredibly successful extended learning programs.”
Outside the Lines
Do you live in Downtown Fresno? Fill out our survey.
This article from Omar Shaikh Rashad at Fresnoland concerns the $250 million in Gavin Newsom’s state budget for the revitalization of downtown Fresno. We want to know where you – yes you, if you live downtown, but not you if you don’t – would like the money spent. Thanks to state grants adding $43.7 million more, that means we have $293.7 million to spend, and by we I mean the government – still, gathering this data would prove useful in determining what the people truly want.
Again: Please fill out our short survey.
Madera County pays to keep Madera Community Hospital open. Madera County will continue making weekly payments covering the shuttered hospital’s operating costs, Heather Halsey Martinez, and the documenters report for Fresnoland.
Block Beat
NORTH FRESNO: Rivalry, a family owned Jiu Jitsu martial arts school, has opened a second location on Barstow Avenue. Instagram
CLOVIS UNIFIED: A local nonprofit called Parents and Addicts in Need (PAIN) has donated 2100 boxes of Narcan (the medication used to treat overdoses) to Clovis Unified School District. The district plans to put the medication in every single classroom. Fresno Bee
FOWLER: K. Hovnanian Homes will build new homes in Fowler after previous developments in Fresno and Madera. The homes will be located off Highway 99 and Clovis Avenue. ABC30
Department of New Construction
TED C. WILLIS PARK: A development permit is under review for park renovations including installing a new turf playing field, surrounded by a walking loop. The loop will have three shaded seating areas along the west side for use during practices or games that may occur in the new playing field. Trees will be planted along the path to ensure “ample shade” for walkers. A small dog area is planned along the north fence.
SAN PABLO PARK: A development permit is under review for a “complete renovation in which all existing amenities will be removed.” Plans include sidewalk expansion, installation of new fencing, picnic table areas, stepped stage, skate park, gaming areas, multi-use playing courts, among a host of other improvements.
DEL MAR: A development permit is under review for a new senior affordable housing project on a 1.26-acre parcel in the 4300 block of North Blackstone Avenue. The project was submitted by Jake Lingo of Integrated Community Development on behalf of Integrated Community Development and Corporation for Better Housing.
Around Town
Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto is coming to the Selland Arena throughout late January, starting this Thursday. Downtown Fresno
Fresno Parks & Recreation has a bracelet making event at Inspiration Park this Friday, for ages 10-17. Facebook
Next Week in Public Meetings
- Tuesday, Jan 30, 2024 at 9 a.m. | Kings County Board of Supervisors
- Tuesday, Jan 30, 2024 at 9 a.m. | Tulare County Board of Supervisors
- Tuesday, Jan 30, 2024 at 7 p.m. | Reedley City Council
