Good morning! It’s Thursday, May 7. This is Rob.
Hot: Sunny and clear with highs in the upper 80s today, but triple-digit heat is just around the corner. NOAA
Roll ‘em out: The Fresno City Attorney’s Office hosts a Waste Tire Amnesty Day at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 9 at 1805 E. California Ave., giving residents the chance to dispose of unwanted waste tires free of charge.
Local ICE update: The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office will present its annual Truth Act forum at 9:30 a.m. May 19 at the Hall of Records. Fresno County
Go Big! Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is coming to the Fresno Fairgrounds for the first time ever with an outdoor show. More information here
1. Fresno City Hall’s really good news
Wednesday wasn’t a bad day to be the mayor of Fresno.
At a swanky, mid-day $100 per plate lunchtime Chamber of Commerce fundraiser, Mayor Jerry Dyer announced big news.
After more than a year in the penalty box, the City of Fresno reestablished its pro-housing designation with the state, a wonky and critical classification that immediately qualifies the city for tens of millions in housing grants, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reports.
The mayor also announced the return of the city’s minor league hockey team, the Falcons, which is expected to play its home games at Selland Area.
2. Planning commish OKs Costco’s latest relocation plan
And the mayor’s Wednesday victory laps continued into the evening as, hours after the ritzy, grip-and-grin lunch, the city’s planning commission OK’d a Costco relocation plan that has been in the works for years.
A court ruling last year set aside the City Council’s prior approval of the relocation from Shaw Avenue to a lot at Herndon and Riverside in northwest Fresno. After cobbling together a new greenhouse gas analysis and other paperwork, the project received the commission’s formal recommendation.
The project now goes before the City Council once again on May 21.
3. Show of hands: who’s ready to vote?
It’s election season in Fresno County and ballots began hitting local mailboxes this week ahead of the upcoming June primary.
This morning, Fresnoland began rolling out our detailed candidates guides for the June 2 election. Today, Julianna Morano takes you inside the four-way race to fill the City Council’s D1 seat (westside, Tower District, Fresno High) and Pablo Orihuela examines the three-candidate contest for the city D7 chair (Blackstone, and Fresno High to Sunnyside).
With dozens of races on the ballot and key issues on the table, we’ll take you past the politics and into the actual policy positions, breaking down where they stand on everything from SEDA development and school closures to housing and homeless policy.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Danielle Bergstrom.
