GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi, left, and Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi opine that FUSD's $500 million Measure H bond on the Nov. 5 ballot is premature because the district has yet to name a superintendent and the project list fails the "equity" test. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall). While six...
DARIUS ASSEMI’S MESSAGE ON FARMING CHALLENGES
Central Valley farming operations face unprecedented challenges created by low commodity prices, high interest rates, rising operational costs, and decreased water supply. The Assemi farming group has not been able to avoid these challenges. And, after months of effort and good-faith negotiations by all parties, two banks could not agree...
ENOUGH WITH THE EXCUSES. ARE YOU PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH FRESNO’S PUBLIC EDUCATION?
A quality public education shouldn’t be reserved for deadweight political talk—it's a civil rights matter that is everyone’s business. If you don't see that, you are part of the problem. Look at the statistics: our Black and Hispanic children in Fresno Unified are lagging far behind their peers. How do...
AS THE WORLD’S GREATEST SUPERPOWER, OUR CHARGE IS TO BROKER A LASTING PEACE IN GAZA
The images of death and destruction from Gaza are horrifying. Every picture and video we see — especially those of innocent children being killed or maimed — shakes every caring person to the core. We are not so naïve as to think there will never be a war somewhere in...
A Sneak Peek of the Copper River Marketplace
https://vimeo.com/475642512 Greetings Neighbors, I am so excited to share with you a sneak peek of what’s coming to the corner of Copper and Maple Avenues. The beautiful Copper River Marketplace will be unlike any other shopping center in Fresno and will bring convenient shopping and dining experiences to the residents...
The Responsible Neighborhood Market Act: Our Letter to City Council
An ordinance named the Responsible Neighborhood Market Act is being proposed at City Hall. While this ordinance is intended to reduce the number of liquor stores in Fresno, it actually imposes barriers to bringing quality markets to our neighborhoods, without addressing the current problem. The biggest violators of city code...
Voters Reject Nationalism. Now Let’s Do Immigration Reform.
Originally published on GV Wire, Nov 21, 2018. Whenever there is an aggressive change in direction away from the principles America was founded upon, our country has a way of coming together to restore them. As it has in the past, this process of renewal played out on election night. With a 3.7...
There’s a Better Way to Make Fresno Sparkle. Vote ‘No’ on P.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJCDi-OfQg4 Originally published on GV Wire, Oct 23, 2018. Here’s something I believe people on both sides of the parks tax debate can agree on: We’ve got miles to go to make Fresno a vibrant, safe, and prosperous city for all. For decades, our elected leaders have struggled to make...
These Fixes Will Make America Prosperous For All
Originally published on GV Wire, Sep 10, 2018 If President Donald Trump doesn’t soon resolve the international trade war he started with tariffs, America’s booming economy will be derailed. And what a shame that would be. Unemployment is near record lows across the country and here in Fresno, and American...
Investment in Fresno PD Will Protect Citizens, Boost Economy
Originally published on GV Wire, Aug 31, 2017 Fresno Mayor Lee Brand made good this week on his promises to hire a full-time independent police auditor who resides in Fresno and to appoint a Citizens Public Safety Advisory Board. It is my fervent hope that John Gliatta, a former FBI...