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By Mike Rhodes
Big Sue. Photo by Dixie Salazar
This fall and winter, the City of Fresno spent more than $200,000 to destroy the shelters and property of people living in downtown homeless encampments. This was done as freezing weather arrived and city representatives told homeless advocates that they did not have enough money to open warming centers at community centers. Somehow they found money to destroy homeless people’s shelters, but they could not find any money to help keep the homeless warm.
Not only did the city fail to open the warming centers, police …[Read the details]
By Stan Santos
The Brown Berets are strong advocates for police accountability. The Central California Criminal Justice Committee (www.cccjc.org), another active community group in this area, has long lobbied for an Independent Police Auditor.
The decision was contained in three plain sheets of paper with a simple set of questions and check boxes. The questions appear straightforward but are carefully worded to satisfy precise legal requirements. Sadly, they also convey the end of life’s journey for 32-year-old Steven Vargas and the finality of his loss to his wife and five children. They are a product …[Read the details]
Comments by Les Kimber at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day March on January 16:
Dr. King would warn us that although we have come a long way, we can’t stop now. We can’t stop as long as there are those among us who are attempting to turn back the clock to the pre–civil rights days. We can’t stop as long as there are those among us who would turn back the clock to the time when voting was the exclusive domain of a select few.
We can’t stop now as long as there are …[Read the details]
Those of us in Fresno who are on the left side of the political spectrum have generated an absolutely dizzying amount of activity in recent months. The Peace and Social Justice calendar is packed with events, taking up two pages in this month’s newspaper. You could go to one or two events a day and still miss some of the fun and excitement.
Last month (January), progressive activists held a meeting to build unity, hoping to amplify our voice and potentially build political power that would manifest itself into public policy changes. One of the exercises that day was …[Read the details]
City of Fresno Sends Holiday Greetings to the Homeless
Great article regarding the mistreatment of homeless Fresno residents, especially during this time of the year. If you’re covering this topic again in February, I think it’d be great if you also inform readers that the city is supposed to have warming centers (specifically the Frank H. Ball) available for homeless and those in need when the temp reaches below 36 degrees, and a free ride via the FAX to the warming center. I believe the center has been open fewer than three times this winter …[Read the details]
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