By Gary Lasky Opponents of the City of Fresno’s residential garbage privatization contract with Mid-Valley Disposal filed a lawsuit in Fresno Superior Court on Jan. 22, alleging that the contract [...] Continue Reading
Economy
Fresno City Hall Says “Cut Back,” the People Say “Fight Back”
By Mike Rhodes The conservative right-wing majority of the Fresno City Council (Andrea Borgeas, Lee Brand, Clint Olivier and Larry Westerlund) voted on Dec. 20 to privatize another essential [...] Continue Reading
Pay for Play Good for the Kids?
By Lloyd G. Carter Loathe to propose new taxes, school districts around California, including the Clovis Unified School District (CSUD), are using bond measures to raise capital, triggering criticism [...] Continue Reading
Last of the “Wild West”: Tulare County Planning
By Gary Lasky Fresno County Los Angeles Times press clippings from Mark Arax’s investigative reporting recall the days—just 15 years ago—when the FBI conducted a sting operation in Fresno. Operation [...] Continue Reading
The Valley Is Forging a Sustainable Food System, Starting at Home
By the Fresno Food System Alliance On Oct. 14, the New York Times Magazine published a feature article by Mark Bittman titled “Heavenly Earth,” which highlighted the relationship between farmers and [...] Continue Reading
Musicians’ Strike Settlement
By Larry Gardner On Oct. 24, Fresno Grand Opera (FGO) management and the musicians’ negotiating committee for the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 12 came to a tentative agreement. The [...] Continue Reading
Where Have the “GMen” Gone?
By Stan Santos A conservative cabal of Fresno City Council members and city executives, including Mayor Ashley Swearengin and City Manager Mark Scott, are determined to privatize traditional city [...] Continue Reading
Students Support Campaign to Refuse Payment on Loans
By Montse Reyes In a time when education has become a contentious topic of political debate, the subject of rising tuition costs and student loan debt has found itself at the heart of the [...] Continue Reading
Letters to the Editor – Oct. 2012
The Importance of Voting Yes on Measure B As voters peruse their ballots for the Nov. 6 election, it is really important to scan to the end of the ballot and vote Yes to renew Measure B. This measure [...] Continue Reading
Atwater’s Financial Crisis
By Montse Reyes Atwater maybe well on its way to bankruptcy, according to some City Council officials, placing among the ranks of other Californian cities such as Stockton and San Bernardino. With [...] Continue Reading
The Lessons of History and Privatization of Public Services
By Matthew Ari Jendian The Fresno City Council voted 4-3 to hire a Walnut Creek firm to investigate outsourcing residential trash service on Aug. 16. The majority of the City Council was led by Lee [...] Continue Reading
Fresno City Council Takes Next Step Toward Privatizing Residential Garbage Collection
By Stan Santos On Aug. 16, the Fresno City Council approved a motion to hire a consultant, identified as Robert Hilton, to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) that would open residential garbage [...] Continue Reading