Quote of the Week
“I’m not sure our job is to make developers rich.”
—Rhonda Dueck, executive director of the Jackson Community Development Corporation
This Week in Fresnoland
Mega-development faces new opposition
A new political coalition delivered an ultimatum to the mayor’s office this week during a large rally on the steps of City Hall, Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver reports.
For years, developers have been pushing hard for city leaders to greenlight a massive 45,000-home construction project on the city’s southeastern outskirts, but funding and prohibitive infrastructure costs have kept the project on ice.
That hasn’t stopped city leaders from trying to piece together a plan that would open up the area to new development, but now local community groups are pushing back hard.
This week, groups rallied at City Hall, demanding the city drop its construction plans or face a potential referendum that could permanently strip city leaders’ authority to approve sprawl development without voter approval.
The long road to a transportation tax
Four years of loggerheads, futility and frustration culminated Thursday in a vote that finally moves forward on a new plan for Fresno County to pay for its crumbling roads and address its public transit challenges.
Fresnoland’s Danielle Bergstrom reports that nearly 70% of the proposed Measure C money would be set aside to improve and maintain local roads, with 25% to address public transit issues.
The draft plan represents a paradigm shift in local transportation policy, which Danielle describes as adopting a “fix-it-first” strategy that could replace the decades-old focus on building new roads — something local residents have identified as a major priority.
Rural city leaders were mostly happy with the plan, which guarantees each city at least $400,000 a year for roads, a massive increase over the current plan.
Fresno County voters very divided on Prop. 50
While Californians by and large were only too happy to temporarily gerrymander the Golden State to counter GOP election rigging in Texas and other “red states,” Fresno voters were much less convinced it was a good idea.
Prop 50, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s dramatic political gamble to further gerrymander California, passed with an overwhelming margin statewide, but just barely cracked the 50% mark in Fresno County. Supporters of Prop 50 just barely edged out opponents locally, with just about 1,300 votes separating the two camps.
Fresno County will pick up two additional congressional seats under the new map, up from our current four seats.
And, as predicted, immediately after their crushing defeat on Tuesday night, California Republicans sued over Prop 50.
Fresnoland spoke with voters this week, who all had a lot to say about whether they supported or opposed the proposition. Find those local perspectives here.
Fresno is about to make it easier to build homes
The Fresno City Council (probably) entered the home stretch on a months-long debate over new rules that would make it easier to build homes next to office buildings as the city combats a neverending housing crisis, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reports.
If the new rule passes a second hearing later this month, it would allow for housing developments in office-zoned districts and near bus stops to be approved ministerially, or, without much oversight from the council.
The matter has been on the Fresno City Council agenda for much of 2025, consistently bogged down in ideological clashes as the council tries to construct a more streamlined building process.
Councilmember Annalisa Perea: “If we are serious about addressing this housing crisis, and if we believe that every family deserves a stable home, then we have a responsibility to remove barriers that no longer serve the public. Ministerial approvals are the answer to achieve that.”
Changing the Measure P process?
The Measure P arts grant program promised a new chapter for Fresno-area art and artists — but the process has been anything but smooth, Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano reports.
The first two years of funding have triggered angry public clashes, policy disagreements over who should qualify for funding — and who should qualify first — have kept artists and art-adjacent groups at odds.
Repeated allegations of bias and at least one call for administrative changes have spilled over publicly, but at the moment, there appears to be little momentum at City Hall for any major overhauls.
But there is no shortage of ideas and the Arts Council plans to host a series of public meetings in the next few months “where the sole purpose will be to accept input from the public on ideas for improving the process.”
Outside the Lines
Be sure to check out and SHARE Fresnoland’s free food and resource guide here for locals in need. Fresnoland
Hundreds of Fresno EOC workers face indefinite furloughs after the New Year, unless the historic federal government shutdown ends soon. Fresnoland
The City Council also approved a construction contract for an eight-story downtown apartment complex neighboring Chukchansi Park. Fresnoland
A new public report card is in the works for Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her that includes a public scorecard measuring administrative performance alongside student achievement. Fresnoland
Fresno County’s ag industry raked in a record-breaking $9 billion in 2024, making it the top producer in the nation. Fresnoland
Fresno County supervisors moved to scrap vehicle entry fees at county parks for veterans and active-duty military. Fresnoland
Fresno County is studying what a regional rail system might look like that would connect Fresno, Firebaugh, Kerman, Mendota, Reedley, San Joaquin, Fowler, Selma, Kingsburg, Sanger, and Dinuba in Tulare County. Find out more about the regional rail study here.
The City of Fresno Recycling Program will host a free paper shredding event at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Department of Public Utilities Operations & Maintenance Building, 1665 G St., Fresno. This service is limited to Fresno residents who pay for City of Fresno solid waste collection services. City Hall
Einstein Bagels prepares for launch at Fresno-Yosemite airport. ABC30
Hanford is losing its Quesadilla Gorilla. Business Journal
What’s ‘Fresno Box Art’? CBS47
Clovis FFA students win top honors — and cash. KMPH
Madera Community College’s new agave program “creates the buzz.” ABC30
Block Beat
TOWER DISTRICT: Sour Milk will host the 8th annual Fresno Zine Fest at their shop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Van Ness Village (1474 N Van Ness). Sour Milk
DOWNTOWN: Fresno’s annual Taco Truck Throwdown returns to Chukchansi Park on Saturday. TTT14
FRESNO HIGH: The Fresno County Bicycle Coalition invites you to break out your “vintage prom wear” (or other “creative bike attire”) for its Bike Prom ride this Sunday, Nov. 9. Cyclists will gather outside Fresno High in their best “funky formal” wear at 2 p.m. before heading on a 5.2-mile ride to South of Shaw downtown. FCBC
KEARNEY PARK: The Kearney Park Renaissance Faire and Marketplace runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until dusk and the park will be open exclusively for the faire. More Info
ROEDING PARK: The public is invited to a Free Community Vaccine Clinic for Dogs & Their Families from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at Roeding Park, 890 W Belmont Ave, Fresno. Instagram
Today’s newsletter was edited by Omar S. Rashad
