When Lance Canales walked in for our interview, I hardly recognized him. He had shed a bunch of pounds and his trademark long hair was shorn into a handsome short-and-wavy style. As we talked, though, [...] Continue Reading
Politics
Fresno Candlelight Vigil Responds to Tucson Tragedy
Dozens of individuals from communities throughout Fresno, Madera, Tulare and Kings counties joined together in a peaceful vigil on January 11. Individuals held candles and signs with the names of the [...] Continue Reading
Afghanistan—Killing Peace
Despite a White House declaration that “progress” is being made in Afghanistan, by virtually any measure the war has deteriorated significantly since the Obama administration surged troops into [...] Continue Reading
Martin Luther King Day in Fresno 2011
An Antiwar Speech, a Strange Pronouncement by the Police Chief, and more. . . [...] Continue Reading
Letters to the Editor
Help for the Community Alliance from Inside the Prison Industrial Complex I am writing in regard to your request for help, so that you can continue printing the Community Alliance. Enclosed you will [...] Continue Reading
Friant Ranch a Disaster in the Making for Lost Lake Park and Fresno County
Virtually unknown to the citizens of Fresno County is the impending decision facing the Fresno County Board of Supervisors on February 1. The Board is being asked to approve a zoning change that will [...] Continue Reading
In the Small Isle of Stop-Time
It’s 1 p.m., and the sunlight bleakly concedes to a relentless overcast. In my pickup, I keep my daughter company as she eats her Taco Bell Steak Burrito, its aroma a warming bouquet against the [...] Continue Reading
Merced Homeless Couple Declared Heroes—Given $5 Reward
In the early morning hours of December 21, a homeless couple huddled together for warmth beneath an overpass at Bear Creek Drive and G Street in Merced. The couple, Joseph Edwards and Bernice [...] Continue Reading
2011: A Brave New Dystopia
(Reprinted with permission. This article originally appeared at Truthdig, www.truthdig.com/ on December 27, 2010.) The two greatest visions of a future dystopia were George Orwell’s 1984 and [...] Continue Reading
Opinion and Analysis from the Grassroots
Fresno Could End Hunger Here, Now By Edie Jessup The fallout of Walmart’s ploy with poor cities, in a pretense of addressing hunger, is a case study and an expose of Walmart’s co-opting the City of [...] Continue Reading
A Tale of Two Cities
The voting precinct map (below) illustrates why there is a gap between the political power of north and south Fresno. Voters north of Shaw Avenue are more conservative and have a much higher voter [...] Continue Reading
Dream Act Event Held in Merced
On December 10, the California Central Valley Journey for Justice hosted an event to celebrate the 62nd Anniversary of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNUDHR). The event was held in [...] Continue Reading