Quote of the Week
“When was the last time you truly saw Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association stand alongside each other in principle and purpose?”
— Former Fresno Unified trustee Brooke Ashjian, speaking at an anti-Measure E news conference on Monday.
This Week in Fresnoland
Four Democrats sound off in the Fresno County Supervisor, District 3 race.
Three challenges squared off against longtime incumbent Sal Quintero they hope to unseat on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors at a candidate forum hosted by Fresnoland, Valley Public Radio, the League of Women Voters, and CMAC on Monday night.
Quintero found little common ground between himself and his opponents — Fresno City Councilmembers Luis Chavez and Miguel Arias and EJ Hinojosa, a music teacher seeking public office for the first time.
He said building more highways and interchanges should remain a top transportation priority and also said he would support paying IHSS workers more money if they could “find me two more votes.”
Read more in Omar Shaikh Rashad’s deep dive with the candidates here.
This is good news for Madera residents, right?
More than a year after the Madera Hospital closed its door amid bankruptcy, residents this week learned new hospital operators could reopen the facility as soon as this summer, reported Omar Shaikh Rashad.
But not everyone was happy with the news.
Community groups joined Madera County leaders this week to ask the bankruptcy court judge to delay a decision on a reopening plan from Modesto-based American Advanced Management, Inc . The groups asked the judge to give them more time to examine a last-minute takeover plan submitted by UCSF and Adventist Health.
The 11th-hour bid from UCSF and Adventist might be a better long-term option for the community, supporters argued – but the judge said his hands were tied.
The reopening plan includes an emergency room, intensive care, and medical imaging – but it doesn’t include labor and delivery services, Rashad reported on Monday.
Measure E is back on the ballot again – and the opposition is ramping up.
Less than two years after voters rejected a new tax to benefit Fresno State, residents are once again being asked to come out of pocket for the region’s largest university.
Fresnoland’s deep dive by Danielle Bergstrom and Diego Vargas goes into the weeds.
This time around, supporters say, the proposal is much more detailed – and much more expensive for voters. In an unusual move, Measure E 2.0 would also establish a project committee that could come with a salary of around $80,000.
Measure E also faces much more significant organized opposition this time around – from Democrats and Republicans. An anti-Measure E news conference this week featured prominent local politicians from both sides of the aisle; an odd moment of political unity during an otherwise aggressively partisan election year.
Critics say the latest version of Measure E remains fundamentally flawed – from outrageous salaries for project committee members and a lack of spending guardrails to an apparent disconnect between the university and the local community.
But supporters say Fresno State is a growth engine in a region that famously struggles to grow. They also argue that the university is critical for so many first-generation college students, particularly from lower-income backgrounds and communities of color.
Can Fresno force a property owner to remain open for business?
Residents of an embattled mobile home park could hear as soon as Friday whether a court ruling will allow them to remain in their homes at least until legal battles are sorted out, reports Pablo Orihuela.
The owners of the La Hacienda Mobile Estates are urging the judge to revoke a temporary injunction preventing them evicting residents without a court hearing. Harmony Communities, the company that owns the park, argues that it’s going out of business and that orders from the City of Fresno to remain open are illegal.
The company insists it’s not trying to repurpose the land – which they acknowledge would require government approval.
“The government cannot stop someone from going out of business,” Harmony attorneys argued in a recent court filing. “The government may impose conditions and require a permit when the owner wishes to redevelop the park into something else.”
Harmony Communities has faced heavy criticism from park residents and city leaders since taking over operations in 2022. From allegations of overly-aggressive evictions and rent gouging to bad management and a bizarre episode where the company apparently used a crude sexual reference to respond to questions from the public, the real estate company has taken heat from a long list of local critics.
The legal battle between Harmony and the City of Fresno could soon come to a head.
Alarm bells raised over San Joaquin Valley farmland loss at World Ag Expo
With surface water shrinking from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta shrinking and more pumping restrictions in the works, San Joaquin Valley Water reports that “more than 900,000 acres in the Central Valley will have to go out of production” in the coming years.
Kern, Kings and Tulare counties will likely face the heaviest losses.
Critics blame “hostile state water policies” that they say curtailed imported surface water from the State Water Project. Regulations now require more water to run through the delta, cutting the amount of water sent to farmers.
“I want to help you all understand the magnitude of the problem we are dealing with,” Consultant Ann Silva said during a seminar this week at the World Ag Expo in Tulare County.
Read the full report from SJV Water.
Outside the Lines
Project Survival Cat Haven is running out of red meat for its 40 large cats, including lions, tigers and cougars, among others, The Fresno Bee reported. The private big cat zoo has been operating in Dunlap for many years but recently had to find new meat suppliers as food costs skyrocketed. Cat Haven is seeking donations of food and money.
California’s mental health system “isn’t working” for most people, a new survey from the California Health Care Foundation reported. “The survey shows a strong appetite for change in mental health policy as voters get ready to mail in ballots and head to the polls for the March 5 primary,” the Merced FOCUS reported.
Block Beat
FIG GARDEN: City crews have begun work to fill potholes on a six-mile stretch of Shaw Avenue, from Freeway 99 to Blackstone Avenue. ABC30
McLANE: Dutch Bros has opened a new drive-through on Clinton just east of Cedar Avenue. Fresno Bee
WEST CENTRAL: City Council President Annalisa Perea invites the community to a “Neighborhood Blitz” cleanup event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Freshco Food Center, 3750 W. Shields Ave. Beautify Fresno
WOODWARD PARK: The city is hosting Woodward Park’s BMX Race Track on March 17 for a St. Patrick’s Day bike race. BMX Race
WEST CENTRAL: West Avenue remains closed at Ashlan Avenue as crews continue work on the BNSF train tracks. Work was expected to last four days beginning Feb. 5, but the road remained closed Wednesday. City Hall
Department of New Construction
WEST CENTRAL: A conditional use permit is under review to convert a Johnny Quik Food Store to a General Market and upgrade the site’s liquor license to allow the business to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises at 4385 W. Clinton Ave.
Around Town
The Fresno community is invited to celebrate emergency first-responders during the Community Heroes event from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 8 at Quigley Park, 808 W. Dakota Ave. Connect with resource vendors, meet first responders, and enjoy thrilling carnival games. It’s a day of community, safety, and fun for everyone! All are welcome. No registration required. Community Heroes
Splash Fresno hosts a Soulful Mixer from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25 at the club on Olive Avenue in the Tower District. The event aims to bring the community together in celebration of Black History Month. Come discover all the local music, arts, and commerce the black community of Fresno has to offer. Splash Fresno
A new exhibit, ‘From China to Fresno: A 150-Year Cultural Journey,’ is on display at the Kearney Mansion Museum & Gallery in Fresno. The Gallery is open for viewing as part of the Kearney Mansion Museum Tour on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. or by appointment. Fresno Historical Society
A BMX Bike Skills clinic is set for Feb. 16 and Feb. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Mosqueda Community Center, 4670 E. Butler Ave., Fresno. Children ages 5 and older are invited to ride with bike park staff to practice “pumping, jumping, and carving skills.” No registration required and the events are free to the public. Helmets are required and elbow and knee pads are recommended. Questions? Call 559-621-PLAY. Bicycle skills clinic
Next Week in Public Meetings
- Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. | Sanger City Council
- Thursday, Feb. 15 at 9 a.m. | San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
- Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. | Clovis City Council
- Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. | Visalia City Council
- Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 9:30 a.m. | Fresno County Board of Supervisors
- Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. | Madera County Board of Supervisors
- Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. | San Joaquin River Conservancy Board
- Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. | Fresno Planning Commission
- Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. | Madera City Council
