Quote of the Week
“The National Forest Service leaders put in charge of these local ranger districts have no urgency to their actions. They’re not moving at a pace that’s going to result in forests that are resilient to these big wildfire events.”
— Matt Hurteau, director of the Center for Fire Resilient Ecosystems and Society at the University of New Mexico, on Forest Service inaction that worsened the Garnet Fire
This Week in Fresnoland
Northwest Fresno apartments get approved, to the chagrin of locals
A highly-contested market rate apartment complex was reluctantly approved by the city this week after a court order, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reported.
The City Council approved an 82-unit housing development in northwest Fresno on the northeast corner of West Herndon and North Prospect Avenues. The council and planning commission rejected the housing development last year, but a state judge ruled over the summer that the city must reverse their decision.
The council voted to approve the project 4-2. Among the opposing votes was Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi, who represents the northwest and has been a longtime opponent of the project.
The development will be built by local developer LandValue Management, owned by James Huelskamp.
The Forest Service’s tragic blunder
The loss of centuries-old Giant Sequoias to the Garnet Fire this fall followed years of inaction by the U.S. Forest Service, despite plans — and full funding — for prescribed burns in the area that experts say would have saved more of them, a Fresnoland investigation revealed this week.
The investigation led by Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver shows that the forest service ignored warnings from scientists and experts for years, who long championed a prescribed burn around the Teakettle Experimental Forest, an ancient grove near Fresno experts said was a high risk for wildfire danger.
The prescribed burn project had a full plan and funding — for years — but never happened.
When the ancient trees burst into flames this fall, they fueled the blaze’s dramatic surge into the Dinkey Creek Basin and reduced the Giant Sequoias of McKinley Grove to ashes.
Greg also sat down this week with Dani and Jordan to discuss his investigation on our Fresnolandia podcast. Listen here.
Is Fresno’s west side about to ‘boom’?
It took seven years plus four hours on Thursday, but Fresno’s west side residents finally have their long-awaited development plan.
Fresnoland’s Julianna Morano broke the news this week after the Fresno City Council unanimously approved the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan. Residents and supporters of the plan say it opens the door for badly-needed new blood on the west side, including grocery stores and doctor’s offices, as well as new and improved city parks.
The plan’s future was at least a partial question mark entering Thursday’s council debate. Council President Mike Karbassi, who represents many of the west-area neighborhoods covered by the plan, raised questions about whether developers and business owners in the area were fully aware of changes in the planning document.
But by the end of Thursday’s discussion, Karbassi was on board and the plan sailed through on a unanimous vote.
Sharing stories for Día de los Muertos
Arte Américas’ exhibit for Día de los Muertos, “Figuras Monumentales” or “Monumental Figures,” is on display now through Nov. 23.
Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina reported that the exhibit marks the first time the museum has invited participants from diverse cultural backgrounds to join in the Mexican tradition honoring passed loved ones.
One of the exhibit’s ofrendas, or altars to honor the dead, was created by local Filipino artist Racquelle Mendiola and is made to evoke the memories and sights of Filipino culture.
“We wanted people to feel like guests in our space, to feel our hospitality,” said Mendiola. “There are different versions of us, but we all share the same story.”
Alongside the ofrendas is the “Alebrijes y Nahuales: Fantastic Animals from Mexico” exhibit, which features sculptures based on Oaxaca’s nahuales and central Mexico’s alebrijes on display at the museum as well as Fresno State and Fresno City College.
A $5 million gift brings residents of a Fresno mobile home park long-awaited relief
The California Department of Housing and Community Development granted the City of Fresno $5 million toward the acquisition and preservation of La Hacienda mobile home park, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reported.
The money came on Thursday as part of the state’s larger announcement of over a quarter of a billion dollars being invested toward their Proposition 1 efforts.
As part of the effort, 17 new mobile homes will be built and introduced to the Fresno park — all set aside for veterans.
The addition of the new homes will help invigorate the 60-unit park, which has seen about half of its tenants displaced following a years-long battle between the residents and park owner.
Outside the Lines
At Thursday’s meeting, the Fresno City Council took a first look at amendments to a controversial ordinance regulating the city’s sidewalk vendors that would ban them from the Tower District on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Fresnoland
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed California’s second attempt at a transnational repression bill this week. The bill, supported by Fresno advocates, would have mandated training for law enforcement officers to help them identify and respond to threats connected to foreign governments. Fresnoland
In a familiar battle, residents of south Fresno and environmental advocates are urging the Fresno City Council to reject a project that would relocate an industrial facility closer to an elementary school. Fresnoland
ICE arrests are up almost 60% in the Central Valley compared to last year. The Fresno Bee
A $150,000 Fresno Unified investment into permanent housing for about 20 local families is already hinting at promising results. KVPR
Clovis High’s marching band won a spot in the 2027 Tournament of Roses Parade. GV Wire
Five years after the Creek Fire, some still haven’t started rebuilding. The Fresno Bee
Some Central Valley students are rethinking their college plans amid heightened immigration enforcement. Merced Focus
The City of Fresno is accepting applications for its 0% down-payment assistance program for low-income homebuyers. GV Wire
Plans for a new 12-acre park are in the works in Clovis, located at Barstow and Agua Dulce avenues. The Fresno Bee
Block Beat
TOWER DISTRICT: LitHop returns to the Tower this Saturday, Oct. 18, from noon to 5 p.m. The LitHop website has a full schedule of authors and themed readings taking place across multiple neighborhood venues that day. LitHop
CALWA: Supervisor Luis Chavez announced a Calwa Community Clean-up & Drop-off Day from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 18 on East Kaviland between 9th and 10th streets. Calwa residents can dispose of unwanted household items and yard debris. Instagram
CHINATOWN: The first-ever Chinatown Vintage Flea Market comes to Yoshi Now/Yoshi World at 1410 Kern Street this Sunday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect vintage vendors, arts, crafts, food, drinks, music and fun. Yoshi Now Vintage
FASHION FAIR: Fashion Fair Mall is hosting a “Fall Flicks Series” this month in the Outdoor Village. KMPH
FIREBAUGH: Fresno Housing secured nearly $10 million from a state farmworker housing program to add 28 units to an already 68-unit project for farmworkers in Firebaugh. Business Journal
TOWER DISTRICT: Fresno Zombie Society’s annual Zombie Pub Crawl will haunt Tower District bars this Saturday, Oct. 18. Participating zombies will have to purchase tickets in advance and collect wristbands to access free cover and special cocktails at participating bars. Fresno Zombie Society
DOWNTOWN: Visit Fresno County donated more than $600,000 to replace the nearly two-decade old scoreboard at Selland Arena. City Hall
CLOVIS: The City of Clovis has endorsed a local author’s book as the city’s first official children’s book about the community’s history. The Fresno Bee
FRESNO STATE: Dunkin’ Donuts will open on Fresno State campus later this month. KSEE
FRESNO HIGH: Jazz on Van Ness will take place at the Big Red Church from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. Facebook
