Good morning! It’s Monday, March 30. This is Rob.
Rain this week? Mostly sunny skies today with temperatures in the 80s. There’s a chance of rain later this week! NOAA
Fresnoland is hiring: That’s right, we’re hiring for our first-ever Senior Revenue Officer to help lead and execute our fundraising strategy with local donors and sponsors. Share with your fundraising friends! Fresnoland
Racial Equity Townhall: California’s Racial Equity Commission with the Governor’s Office will host a town hall in Fresno on Wednesday, April 1 about “addressing racial equity and inequities affecting underserved and marginalized communities.” United Way
The Pope of Trash: Sour Milk’s next group art show — a tribute to filmmaker and artist John Waters — is set for 5 to 9 p.m. May 7 at Sour Milk, 1474 N. Van Ness Ave., in the Tower District. More info
Farmworker Appreciation Day is Tuesday and many government offices will be closed, with the exception of emergency services, among others. Fresno County
1. Fresno says ‘No Kings’
For the third time in Fresno since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, thousands of peaceful protestors lined the streets over the weekend, chanting “No kings, no clowns”; “Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE”; and “Feed the people, not the war,” among other things.
Fresnoland’s Gisselle Medina spoke with Fresno protesters who joined millions marching nationwide in “No Kings” over the weekend. Saturday’s crowds appeared to be the largest yet.
Volunteers with Central Valley Indivisible, a local grassroots group that helped organize the ‘No Kings’ protests, estimated attendance at 3,000 to 4,000 people, the largest turnout they’ve ever seen.
Many “No Kings” protestors cited the ongoing wave of aggressive mass deportations carried out by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that have captured a much higher percentage of nonviolent undocumented people than the so-called “worst of the worst.”
In Fresno, artists are turning fear and anger into anti-ICE art and small businesses are opening their doors to provide a safe space.
2. Pick your strawberries!
With rain on the way, Sunshine’s Farm in Fresno urges locals to come out and pick strawberries before the storms, KMPH reports.
Sunshine’s Farm owner Kevin Yang said the farm has been operating for 30 years and that the business can be unpredictable year to year.
Yang said customers come for both the experience and the taste.
With rain expected to arrive Wednesday, he is encouraging people to pick between now and Tuesday, March 31, to help prevent losses.
The farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and provides buckets, baskets and scissors for picking.
Pricing includes $5 per pound for strawberries customers pick themselves. Pre-picked baskets are three for $15, and pre-picked half flats are $30.
3. Will Fresno fight racism verdict?
The City Council punted last week on whether to fight a $15 million penalty over racist harassment at City Hall, Fresnoland’s Omar S. Rashad reported.
Fresno leaders are considering appealing the ruling and penalty in connection with the multi-million dollar award that a jury awarded two former employees who were subjected to racism by a supervisor, who used the N-word.
If the City of Fresno doesn’t appeal the verdict, it would have to pay only a third of the $15.4 million verdict because the city’s insurance policy would cover $10 million under an excess coverage insurance policy, City Manager Georgeanne White confirmed.
However, White said the City of Fresno would be running the risk of losing insurance coverage. White added that if the city doesn’t obtain insurance comparable to its current coverage, a future insurer for the City of Fresno could make the city’s deductible higher.
White: “I cannot stress how detrimental that would be. If we are not able to obtain excess coverage, the City would be 100% responsible for claims.”
Today’s newsletter was edited by Fresnoland’s Omar S. Rashad.
