Quote of the Week

“If that hospital [Kaweah Delta Medical Center] falls, I think we all could fall.”

— Dr. Danielle Campagne, chief of the emergency department at the Community Regional Medical Center, warned the Fresno County Board of Supervisors that the Visalia hospital was teetering on the brink of collapse, on top of the closure of Madera Community Hospital to the north.

This Week in Fresnoland

The hospital crisis is far from over.

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors said that their emergency declaration served its purpose, Melissa Montalvo writes, drawing much needed state and federal attention to overburdened hospitals in Fresno after Madera Community Hospital closed amidst the tripledemic. They voted to end it. 

But reading Montalvo’s report, you’ll be left with the impression that while the declaration has ended, the emergency hasn’t. Fresno County, Saint Agnes and the Community Mental Health System–the organization that owns the Community Regional Medical Center, which has by-and-large taken on the late Madera hospital’s patients–released a joint statement warning that Medi-Cal and Medicare reimbursements are not enough to cover skyrocketing healthcare costs. 

Plus, California’s COVID-19 declaration of emergency is set to expire at the end of February, along with much of the hospitals’ flexibility: like employing nurses with out of state licenses, and treating non-admitted patients in tents that operate as “surge spaces.”

Moreover, a hospital in Tulare County is also facing significant financial hardship. “Given the current trends,” Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County public health officer said, “our county and region cannot afford to lose one more hospital.”  

Councilmember Miguel Arias calls for change at city-funded homeless shelters following bombshell report.

Specifically, Arias said the city needs to find new vendors for their security needs, Meilssa Montalvo reports, after Montalvo’s investigation for the Fresno Bee/Fresnoland exposed uninhibited and excessive force from the security firm tasked with protecting the homeless shelters created and maintained by Project Homekey. 

Arias said the private security (and their shortcomings) were a reflection of the city, “a reflection that I know we would not tolerate if it was being done in any community center, warming center, or in (City Hall) this building.”

Pacific Valley Patrol’s Chief Executive Officer, Cristiano Lopes didn’t come off super great in the report, and, lo and behold, he could finally be reached for comment. He said that the company has and will continue to train its operatives in de-escalation, a culture of humility, and trauma response.

Currently, American Guard Services provides security services to the city’s downtown buildings like City Hall and the Fresno Police Department headquarters, and Arias asked if their services could be rendered at the shelters as well. City Manager Georgeanne White said that they could, theoretically. 

But the story isn’t so simple as replacing one private security company with another. After all, a key issue with the services being rendered was a supposed lack of training and oversight, a private firm with little accountability to anyone. Moreover, the much maligned Pacific Valley Patrol isn’t the only firm providing services to these shelters–though it’s the only one to have garnered these substantial complaints. So far.

Developer Terence Frazier is suing Mayor Jerry Dyer for allegedly interfering in his business practices.

I’m not sure what to make of this report by the Fresno Bee’s Robert Rodriguez, which details the 108 page lawsuit Frazier filed against Dyer and many other current and former city officials, who he says worked at every turn to undermine his business to the tune of $11 million. And why? Because, he alleges, they are racists. 

“No other developer, and certainly not one of another race who has declined to exercise his protected First Amendment rights to criticize and petition for redress, has been treated similarly,” the lawsuit reads.

The story certainly is spicy. Frazier’s beef with the City of Fresno goes back to 2019, when an incomplete audit of Granite Park, owned and operated by his sports foundation, was improperly released. Then, the story goes, Dyer and former City Manager told businesspeople not to get involved with Frazier. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” Dyer is alleged to have said. 

And as a result, the eight-acre lot that Frazier purchased over a year ago remains empty, while similar nearby projects have had no trouble getting off the ground.

As the cliche goes: “Big if true.”  

La Viña, in Madera County, gets some hard-fought wins in their quest against pesticide exposure.

Thanks to some much needed state and federal grants, Gregory Weaver writes. 

Apparently, the grape and almond orchards around the town have taken in more fumigants than just about anywhere else in California. What’s more, their roads fell into disrepair  long ago, the pavement pockmarked and breaking apart, ever encroached on by weeds. 

In general, Madera roads are destined to fail, thanks to primitive 1900s asphalt construction. A public works road study found that 70% of these roads will fall into disrepair by 2028. In this way, La Viña is a bellwether.  

Life’s hard for La Viña, but through the power of determination (complaining), fate just might be turning in their favor. The state and federal government have chosen to invest in the long sought pesticide study and the long needed road repairs: a win totaling $2.7 million. 

My favorite thing about this story is the sheer gumption of it all. The people who call this community home have toxic air, broken roads, and no internet access – and yet. They call press conferences that force reporters to navigate the very roads that need fixing. And they convince the bigwigs in Sacramento and Oakland to leave, as Gregory puts it, “their glass and concrete towers” to breathe the toxic air themselves. 

Show, don’t tell. As they say.

Fresno Unified is investing $3 million in consultancy chef fees to fix their wretched school lunches.

They’re literally bringing in 10 chefs to train their kitchen staff in the fine art of feeding the children. Julianna Morano’s story for the Bee details the new contract with Brigaid, a consultancy firm that will, “provide tailored solutions and expert guidance to help them get where they’re trying to go.” 

Ergo, they’re going to teach Fresno Unified’s food service workers how to prepare and deliver better and more nutritious food for students. They will, reportedly, supervise at even the kitchen level to oversee production and provide quality assurance. They’ll also be taking feedback from students on recipe and menu development. 
Notably, the Biden administration recently updated nutrition guidelines for school meals, so this culinary tune up is even more prescient.

HONORABLE MENTIONS THIS WEEK:

Is a power grab brewing at City Hall over how to spend Measure P’s arts money? The Munro Review

Renters: here’s how to report substandard housing conditions in Fresno. Fresnoland

Block Beat

CANTUA CREEK: Disappearing Teslas have left residents wondering what happened to a ride-sharing system that was meant to solve their transportation nightmares. Fresno Bee

KERMAN: The public won’t be able to attend or participate in Kerman City Council meetings via Zoom anymore, City Clerk Marci Reyes said at the Feb. 8 meeting. Documenters

MILLERTON: The boil water notice for residents near Millerton Lake, who have been dealing with cloudy water since Jan. 19, has been extended to Feb. 23. Fresno Bee

MADERA: Maderans want to know why the Madera County Board of Supervisors gave itself a raise just before the county lost its only hospital – and 700 employees lost their jobs. Documenters

REEDLEY: The Fresno County Blossom Trail has officially launched. ABC30

SOUTH CENTRAL: The city council approved the Community Benefits Fund to mitigate warehouse pollution for residents living near the Amazon warehouse. Documenters

Department of New Construction

JANE ADDAMS: A conditional use permit was filed for a new 2,630 square foot drive-through Burger King on West Olive Ave, between North Hughes Ave and North Crystal Ave. 

FANCHER CREEK: The proposed Sprouts Farmers Market at Clovis and Tulare continues to move through the permit process after receiving zone clearance approval in December 2022.

JANE ADDAMS: The City of Fresno is planning to install a booster pump station and storage tank on property located on West Franklin Ave, east of North Valentine.

CARROZA PARK: Braswell Holdings LLC has proposed construction of a new building on Olive near Chestnut Avenue for vehicle parking, vehicle and equipment maintenance.

Around Town

Shine! Theatre presents Spring Awakening – OK, I won’t lie to you, this one is pure nepotism. My good friend Jayromy has a role in this one. Is it the lead? I don’t know, I haven’t been keeping up with his IG story. But I do know that there are shows through Feb. 18 at the St. James Episcopal Cathedral. CheddarUp 

Strummers has a comedy showcase and open mic on Feb. 16, starting at 8 p.m. And it’s free! I’m not bein’ funny, it really is. @strummersfresno  

The Selma Arts Center presents: “She Kills Monster,” the story of a woman who struggles to understand her late sister through the only thing she left behind – a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Shows will be running through Saturday, Feb. 18.  Facebook 

Today is Valentine’s Day, a national holiday where I look upon my romantic prospects and despair. But lucky for me Tioga Sequoia Brewing Company – who I SWEAR is not a sponsor of this newsletter – have a Love Sux Lotería tonight at 6 p.m. in their Beer Garden. Facebook


Live from The Howlin Wolf: Pato Banton and the Now Generation. Pato Banton is a Grammy nominated reggae legend. The show will be opened by local reggae group, Ceiba. EventBrite

This Week in Public Meetings

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