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Contest for Fresno council District 1 remains a close call
Two City Council candidates hear the same demands as they knock on doors in west-central Fresno: take care of proud old neighborhoods, wipe out graffiti and stay closely connected to the area.
Scott Miller and Blong Xiong have been canvassing neighborhoods for a year during a District 1 City Council race that is eyelash close Miller led Xiong by only seven votes in the June primary.
Miller and Xiong defeated three other candidates in the primary and entered a runoff that will be decided Nov. 7.
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Help with school facilities
The column Sept. 30 by Editorial Page Editor Jim Boren provided a helpful perspective on the Fresno Unified School District facilities-upgrade issue. Those of us who have been working on this for some years find that we now have the benefit of a receptive school board and administration, both essential for addressing facility needs. There also actually appears to be some funds to quickly address some of the more glaring needs, which Mr. Boren identified in his piece. We appear to have a wonderful opportunity to do some good.
It cannot be stated strongly enough that these are community assets, not just school pools and athletic complexes. These facilities are used by Parks and Recreation, Special Olympics and youth soccer and football leagues, among others. Community residents also access these facilities for cost-free exercise. The city of Fresno should consider extending financial support because the entire community will surely benefit from improved facilities. If a community offers a good quality of life
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Some Fresno city spending records clear as mud
Every year, the seven members of the Fresno City Council are given at least $50,000 to spend with few strings attached.
Council members say the money is invested in worthy projects and community activities that might otherwise slide through bureaucratic cracks. Over the past six years, records show, council members have spent more than $4 million.
But good luck figuring out what they bought.
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Council run motivates Hmong
Blong Xiong's campaign for Fresno City Council has received thousands of dollars from fellow members of the Hmong community. About 200 have volunteered to knock on doors in west-central Fresno and make phone calls on his behalf.
The real significance of Xiong's campaign to the Hmong community, however, is that win or lose he's become a role model who will draw many more Southeast Asians into politics, say community leaders and political experts.
"He's showing people in the Hmong community the power of voting and why it's important to get involved," said Mai Summer Vue, chairwoman of the local chapter of the Hmong American Coalition for Human Rights and founder of the Central Valley Hmong Democrats Club.
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Full transcript of Sept. 3 Fresno mayoral debate at The Bee
On Sept. 3, mayoral candidates Henry T. Perea and Ashley Swearengin appeared on the Boren/McEwen political podcast and answered questions from Jim Boren and Bill McEwen for 71 minutes. This transcript contains their complete answers. The questions have been edited for space.
Q: If you become mayor, where does providing basic services rank on your priority list?
Perea: I think the job of the mayor really has to take a couple different views. One is you have to take the global picture, the big picture in looking at issues like how we address our economy, how we address air quality and how we do this from a regional perspective say in transportation. But you’re right, the other part of being mayor means that you have to pay attention to the nuts and bolts; the issues that people deal with everyday as they walk out their door. I can tell you that as a member of the City Council, I have an extremely strong record in fighting for these types of issues, both for my constituency in District 7 and for the
On Saturday, two community treasures -- Rotary Storyland and Playland -- will open for the season, and all of us need to do our part to ensure that they have long and successful futures at Roeding Park. It's been a financial struggle recently, and City Hall has had to help keep Storyland and Playland running the past three years.
In a community with a severe lack of park space and too few investments in our children, these entertainment facilities have helped fill the void. But rising insurance costs and costly upkeep have contributed to the financial problems. The Fresno City Council is requiring that Storyland and Playland begin paying their own way, making this is a crucial year to turn around the nonprofit parks.
But there are reasons to be optimistic. There are fundraising events planned, and they have a bonus attached. The city will match the fundraising this year up to $100,000. There will be increased marketing, as well as a capital campaign for renovation and expansion. That should help.
The City Council wants the parks' board of trustees to run the facilities more efficiently. We agree that is important, and the city should not have to bail out the parks if they are not well run. But the council still needs to guarantee that Storyland and Playland survive. It would be one thing if the City Council had a record of providing enough parks for Fresno's families. That's not the case, and that cuts into the council credibility on this issue.
These facilities are in a major city park and they enhance the experience for families from throughout the Valley. Playland and Storyland have have long provided entertainment at a bargain price, and that should be much more valued at City Hall than it seems to be, judging by comments coming from council members. In addition, during Playland's booming years, it subsidized cultural amenities around our community. In the past 50 years, Playland provided $2 million to the city, and that helped Woodward Park, the Fresno Metropolitan Museum, the Chaffee Zoo and other community facilities.
Now it's struggling, and the community must help. Beginning Saturday, visit both facilities often. Your children and grandchildren will love you for it. Participate in the fundraising events to help the parks get the full $100,000 match from the city. Council members must demand that the operations of Storyland and Playland be as efficient as possible. They also must be willing to help where they can, and that may mean additional funding.
But let's worry about that problem if it arises. The best way to avoid future city funding is to help make Storyland and Playland as successful as possible -- beginning Saturday. We hope the lines are long and there is great joy coming from Fresno's children and their parents.
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