Quote of the Week
“One Fresno cannot be achieved until you deal with justice. Justice has to run down like water, righteousness like a mighty stream. You can’t be equitable with me when you are treated better than I am.”
— Pastor Booker T. Lewis speaking to Fresnoland about the importance of local Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations
This Week in Fresnoland
Another twist in Fresnoland’s council contracts investigation
In the latest, explosive chapter of Fresnoland’s investigation into how the city hands out some of its contracts under the radar, Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz is now saying he advised a former councilmember that he was required to bring additional contracts with the same political consulting company before the council for public approval.
But that statement, made from the dais at the Fresno City Council meeting Thursday, directly contradicted what former-councilmember-turned-supervisor Luis Chavez told Fresnoland’s Omar S. Rashad earlier this week.
Chavez, who finally broke his silence days after Omar’s two-part investigation published, said the City Attorney’s Office endorsed all his contracts with political consultant Alex Tavlian’s company and he was never advised to bring the contracts before the full council, even though they crossed over the threshold required for council approval.
You can hear Omar break down his reporting in this week’s episode of Fresnolandia.
Was this avoidable?
After days of increasing public pressure from Fresno Unified leaders, Community Health System abruptly restored partial services to about 1,500 retired FUSD employees on Medicare after a two-week disruption the hospital operator has not explained, Fresnoland’s Diego Vargas reported this week.
The temporary deal announced late Wednesday allows affected retirees to return to their doctors’ offices and refill their prescriptions through Feb. 20.
Some Medicare-aged retirees lost access on New Year’s Day amid deadlocked contract talks between the hospital system and insurance company Aetna. Angry district officials accused Community Health of using the retirees for leverage during the stalled talks.
Community Health officials have yet to explain why they chose to cut off access to FUSD retirees on Aetna’s Medicare Advantage PPO Plan. Beyond increasing public pressure from Fresno Unified leaders this week, it’s unclear how the situation changed for the hospital system between Jan. 1 and Wednesday.
The deal came one day before the district’s Joint Health Management Board voted to give the retirees the option of remaining on the Aetna’s Medicare Advantage PPO Plan or switching to a plan similar to the retiree’s old PPO, a request supported by several outspoken retirees.
‘The work isn’t finished’
Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic visit to Fresno in 1964 is a point of great pride for many locals.
But as Americans prepare once again to honor the iconic civil rights leader, the unity MLK sought remains elusive — even among locals dedicated to honoring his legacy, Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina reports.
In recent years, Fresno has had two separate MLK committees after a rift split the group. Both Fresno committees have planned activities this weekend.
MLK celebrations this week are also taking place amid President Donald Trump’s anti-diversity campaign.
Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Booker T. Lewis says the fight for justice is as important as it has ever been.
“We’re still living in the shadow of Dr. King’s dream,” Lewis said. “The work isn’t finished.”
Cities break away from county supervisors to gather signatures for transportation tax renewal
An effort some had declared dead appeared quickly revived this week as local community groups and elected officials announced the launch of a signature-gathering campaign to place a renewal plan for Measure C, Fresno County’s transportation tax, on the upcoming November ballot, Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano and Danielle Bergstrom reported this week.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, west-side county mayors and nonprofit leaders led a large news conference Wednesday near Bulldog Stadium, endorsing Measure C’s latest renewal plan — the half-cent sales tax that has funded transportation projects for 40 years, though it’s set to expire in 2027.
But not everyone is on board with the plan, including leaders with the Fresno County Board of Supervisors who have called it unacceptable and suggested an alternative renewal plan could also be in the works.
“If they do put together another measure, it’s going to be just to help their own groups,” said Mendota Mayor Victor Martinez Wednesday, “their own people, not for the entire county of Fresno, not for every city, not for every community, but just to serve themselves. And that’s not what Fresno County residents deserve.”
Pro soccer eyes downtown Fresno
Fresno announced an exclusivity agreement with the United Soccer League this week in a potential major step toward bringing professional soccer teams — and a stadium — downtown.
The deal carves out a year to conduct due diligence on site selection, funding models and ownership groups. City officials said they hope to have a team playing by March 2028, Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver reported.
The proposed stadium would seat approximately 5,000 with a minimum standing capacity of 7,000, and room to expand.
“When we saw the amazing progress that’s been made in bringing infrastructure for a real vibrant district in downtown Fresno,” explained Justin Papadakis, USL’s chief operating officer, “we said, we want to be part of that story.”
Outside the Lines
Councilmember Miguel Arias walks back a claim he made Thursday about ICE raids coming to Fresno and Bakersfield. Fresnoland
Under a recent rule change, Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi unanimously received a second consecutive year with the council president’s gavel. Councilmember Nelson Esparza will serve as council vice president in 2026. Fresnoland
The last of a $250 million commitment from the state toward Fresno’s downtown revitalization efforts is in the governor’s recently announced budget for the next fiscal year. Fresnoland
A group of conservative Fresno County leaders held a news conference on Tuesday morning calling on local leaders across the country to condemn “attacks” on Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Fresnoland
Final preparations are in the works for the upcoming “point in time count,” the Fresno-Madera region’s effort to estimate the number of unhoused residents living on the streets. Fresnoland
A Fresno judge grilled Caltrans officials during a hearing on Jan. 9 over the state’s plans for an interchange expansion on the 99 freeway as neighbors and community groups urge the court to block more industrial truck traffic to a community already choked by pollution. Fresnoland
Valley Children’s Healthcare is one of many institutions across the country whose pediatricians will not follow new childhood vaccine recommendations published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. KVPR
Fresno County health officials on Monday reported the first influenza-related death of the season and urged the public to vaccinate. ABC30
A Fresno-area hospital was fined for the “avoidable death” of a patient. The Fresno Bee
Yosemite National Park says you can see the annual Firefall event without reservations this year. ABC30
Orange Cove residents are pushing back against a hydrogen blending test project. KVPR
The Fresno animal shelter has eased overcrowding — for now. KSEE24
Block Beat
DOWNTOWN: Do you know about Johnny Quiroz and Fresno’s Jazz Tuezdayz events? You should. You really should. Fresnoland
RIVER PARK: Hundreds gathered Jan. 11 to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement to protest the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Fresnoland
DOWNTOWN: Nelly will headline the upcoming Tequila Fest. The Business Journal
CENTRAL FRESNO: Craft club launches at the Politi Branch Library (5771 N. First) starting Thursday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. Supplies will be provided. Fresno Library has details on that and other clubs at other branches this semester. Fresno Library
FRESNO CITY COLLEGE: Actor Danny Trejo is coming to Fresno to give a talk at Fresno City College’s Old Administration Building auditorium on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m. Admission is free. FCC
TOWER: This year’s Mardi Gras parade in the Tower District will be disco-themed — get ready to boogie down Sunday, Feb. 15 on Olive and Palm, rain or shine! TDBA
