Last month, I spoke at the Metro Ministry’s 40th anniversary celebration. It was an honor to share some of my thoughts with the 300+ people at the event. Metro Ministry is one of those progressive [...] Continue Reading
Science & Health
Progressive News Briefs
Fresno Police Officers Beat Homeless Man In February 2009, Fresno police officers Jeff Gross and Scott Payn were caught on videotape beating Glen Beaty. Beaty, who was homeless at the time, had been [...] Continue Reading
State Report Fails to Find Underlying Cause of Kettleman City Birth Defects; Activists Demand Further Action
After nearly a year of investigating the cluster of birth defects in Kettleman City, state environmental agencies have completed a draft report on the cause of the problem. Their conclusion was that [...] Continue Reading
Fresno’s Next Boondoggle
On December 9, a divided Fresno City Council voted in favor of privatizing the city’s commercial solid waste operations. Now, 100 drivers represented by IUOE [International Union of Operating [...] Continue Reading
Church Sanctuary versus NIMBY
It has been more than two months since homeless encampments in the City of Merced were forcibly closed and the “No Camping Ordinance” strictly enforced. Homeless people have been scattered throughout [...] Continue Reading
Homeless No More
(As told at the Human Rights Day event held in front of Fresno City Hall on December 9, 2010) I didn’t exactly come from a warm and loving family, as much as I hoped for one. I left home at 18 years [...] Continue Reading
Human Rights Day at City Hall
A hundred or so people participated in the action at City Hall on the eve of Human Rights Day in support of city aid for three requests by advocates for the homeless people of Fresno. The overnight [...] Continue Reading
Opinion and Analysis from the Grassroots
Agent of Change or of the Government?? By Ernesto Saavedra “Mr. Moderator, Brother Lomax, brothers and sisters, friends and enemies: I just can’t believe everyone in here is a friend, and I don’t [...] Continue Reading
Fresno Landlord Nominated for Hall of Shame
For years, tenants have tolerated landlord harassment, illegal evictions, hazardous living conditions and other forms of abuse with little recourse. Irresponsible landlords get away with these [...] Continue Reading
Progressive News Briefs
Valley Vineyard Targets Indigenous Workers “Stupid Indians.” “Indians are of no use.” “Indians don’t understand anything or how to do anything.” According to the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, [...] Continue Reading
How Corporate America Is Pushing Us All Off a Cliff
When someone talks about pushing you off a cliff, it’s just human nature to be curious about them. Who are these people, you wonder, and why would they want to do such a thing? That’s what I was [...] Continue Reading
Electric Cars: The Future Is Rolling into Fresno
Plug-in all-electric cars are now affordable, and they may be a great deal if you are in the market for a new car. These automobiles are not the golf carts or the $100,000+ roadsters that were the [...] Continue Reading