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Good morning! It’s Wednesday, June 17. This is Rob
(Kinda) Cooler: Daytime highs could slip below 100 today, if just barely, with a slight and gradual cooldown over the coming days. NOAA
Little help? Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi led the charge Tuesday to find enough money to fully staff Advance Peace. Do other agencies need to ‘step up’? Fresnoland
‘Fearlessly’: From Tice Park to the World Cup stage, Max Arsften is proud to represent Fresno. ABC30
‘Life is cool’ Lee’s Air, Plumbing & Heating is taking its community outreach on the road this summer with a new branded ice cream truck that will deliver free treats at schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and community events throughout the summer. The Business Journal
1. ‘Heavy lift’
Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea recently got behind a grassroots effort to establish a public library in the city’s most walkable neighborhood, Fresnoland’s Omar S. Rashad reports.
Tower resident Brooke Payton launched the grassroots effort to establish a county library three years ago.
Given that local libraries are operated by Fresno County, Perea said she was already in talks with Supervisor Luis Chavez about potential options.
Perea: “This will be a heavy lift for Fresno County as well, so we’re hoping that they will continue to work with us and collaborate. We know we will get this done.”
2. ‘Hateful demagoguery’
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors adopted a contentious resolution Tuesday declaring June as ‘Traditional Nuclear Family’ month, which is also Pride Month, Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver reports.
Supervisors Brian Pacheco and Luis Chavez opposed the resolution, which was backed by supervisors Nathan Magsig, Buddy Mendes and the resolution’s author, Board Chair Garry Bredefeld.
During Tuesday’s debate at the Hall of Records, Chavez urged the board to include LGBTQ couples raising children under the definition of “nuclear family”, but was rebuffed and he ultimately voted “no.”
Plenty of local residents spoke out on the resolution, both in favor and against.
Madison Neild: “This is not governance, this is hateful demagoguery. This is one man’s obsession with a community that had never done him or anybody harm.”
3. Fresno residents speak out against second HART team
Every year for the last several years, the HART team has consistently been criticized by members of the public who bring up concerns about how it treats unhoused people, throws away their belongings and hasn’t so far led to a reduction in homelessness.
Over the last week, members of the public have criticized Dyer’s administration for seeking to expand the HART team — which costs hundreds of thousands from the city’s discretionary general fund.
Those concerns were raised again Tuesday.
Luke Pretz is part of a group of local residents called Fresnans for a People’s Budget and attended some of last week’s budget hearings and shared feedback with city officials.
Pretz: “I hope they do take us seriously. I hope they do take our concerns about transparency seriously.”
Today’s newsletter was edited by Fresnoland’s Omar S. Rashad.
