We want to hear from you for our upcoming local voter guide this fall! What do you wish you knew about voting and elections? What would you like to know from local candidates? Fill out our survey here.
Good morning! It’s Danielle Bergstrom, policy editor here. We’re going to be getting some relief from the “heat dome” that’s been lingering over much of California this weekend, as temperatures are finally projected to dip into the 90s tomorrow.
Another record year? We’ve had 64 days this year of triple-digit temperatures, nearing the record set in 2021 of 69 days of 100+ degree heat.
The climate scientists did see this coming. While a lot of us can hunker down with our AC on blast (except…when the power grid is stressed out) – it’s especially worse for unhoused people, people who live without AC, and those who work outside.
Two unhoused people were found dead over the record-setting hot weekend in Fresno. Fresnoland/Fresno Bee reporter Melissa Montalvo spoke with the Fresno County coroner who said that while the deaths appeared to not be directly related to heat, the extreme temperatures can exacerbate any number of underlying conditions.
And of course, the prolonged heat isn’t great for your mental health, either. Take care of yourselves.
Good fire news, for once: Firefighters have made significant progress on the Fork Fire near North Fork in Madera County, and expect the wildfire to be out by the weekend.
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For regular Fresnoland readers, you’ll know that we have been covering the renewal of Measure C, Fresno County’s sales tax, very closely for over a year now.
The stakes are high: it’s a nearly $7 billion (yes, billion) dollar investment plan that locks in our transportation future over the next 30 years.
With the ballot measure now officially set to be in front of voters this November, the next fight has arrived: the ballot arguments.
Who actually writes the arguments that are sent to every voter in the county’s guide?
As it turns out, in Fresno County, literally anyone can publish anything.
As Fresnoland environmental reporter Gregory Weaver has reported, the official No-on-C campaign – a coalition of many of the same community organizations that have been slamming what they say has been a process that lacks transparency and real community engagement – was blocked from having their official argument published in the county’s voting guide.
Instead, the Libertarian Party got their words in – a screed of words about corrupt politicians and cheating on elections.
“First come, first serve policy”: This is because Fresno County election clerk James Kus’ chooses ballot arguments based on whoever submits them first, regardless of relevance.
The policy was criticized by many, including two former Fresno County election clerks.
The No-on-C coalition took the county to court, and they’ll get their day in front of Fresno County Superior Court Judge Mark Cullers next week.
We’ll be back next week with Gregory’s story on the court proceedings.
(We want to hear from you for our upcoming local voter guide this fall! What do you wish you knew about voting and elections? What would you like to know from local candidates? Fill out our survey here.)
“Can’t we just resolve this peacefully?” Fresno judge schedules decision on Measure C ballot argument
Central Valley leaders vow to embrace ‘equity’ in $65 million Build Back Better project
“Abuse of his discretion”: Measure C group files court complaint with election official
This week around Fresno
- Fresno leaders announce deal to extend cooling center hours [Fresno Bee]
- The Fresno County Board of Supervisors applied for state funding to build sidewalks in unincorporated communities [Fresno Documenters]
- Cleaner water in Parlier? Leaders approve contract [Fresno Documenters]
- The legal loophole that’s polluted the San Joaquin Valley [Valley Public Radio]
- Small growers apprehensive about a future without ag burning [Valley Public Radio]
- “Squaw” (a derogatory slur to Indigenous women) has been removed from some place names, but not others [Fresno Bee]