Supervisor tells Assemblyman ‘go back to Sacramento’ in Fresno hallway meeting
In video posted to Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig’s Facebook page Friday, he tells state Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula to “go back to Sacramento” as Arambula continues to press county leaders on their response to the pandemic.
The confrontation Friday was an ongoing effort by Arambula, D-Fresno, to request an emergency public meeting in Fresno County to address soaring numbers of coronavirus infection.
Earlier this week, Arambula delivered the supervisors a letter requesting the meeting. The letter also was sent to the county’s health directors and many community organizations.
The supervisors accused Arambula of politicizing the county’s response to the virus, while Arambula said he wanted to discuss a public meeting.
Arambula said he wants public input in how the county has so far responded to the pandemic, including responding to risk of infection for frontline workers and spending millions in aid from the federal government.
Fresno County has 9,124 positive cases of the coronavirus and 91 deaths, according to the latest numbers from the California Department of Public Health. The central San Joaquin Valley’s numbers have also continued to climb, reaching 22,266 cases through Thursday and 324 deaths.
The county has laid out a plan, which as of Friday was still preliminary, on how to spend the funds from the CARES Act as well as how to potentially reach out to rural and ethnic communities to address challenges during the pandemic.
Chief Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau requested that supervisors get going on finalizing contracts with local community organizations who could help to conduct outreach and education to rural residents and farmworkers. The groups would have a share of funds to do so.
The contract discussions are ongoing and the plans are not yet firm, Fresno County spokesman Jordan Scott said Friday. He said the spending has also not yet been fully finalized since the county is waiting to hear more on whether a new federal stimulus package could be approved. The county expects to know more by the end of the month.
In all, the county received $81.5 million from the federal government and $16 million from state-issued grants from the CARES Act. Rousseau told the supervisors that at least $69 million of the remaining funds could be spent on things like expanded testing, contact tracing and personal protective equipment.
Supervisor encounter
Arambula’s push to hold a meeting with local leaders stems from what he says are challenges being faced by minorities and frontline workers in the county. He said in his letter that he’s met and heard from workers who pick crops and staff packing houses and thinks more urgency is needed in addressing their situation during the pandemic.
“I don’t think they’re doing enough in paying attention and providing the urgency that is needed to directly address this crisis,” Arambula told The Bee.
On Friday, Arambula showed up at the Fresno County Hall of Records, where the supervisors meet, and caught up with supervisors in the lobby. Board Chairman Buddy Mendes first addressed Arambula and later Magsig spoke to him.
Magsig said the health emergency has given the state the ability to create rules to responding to COVID-19 that local governments can enforce. Magsig then told Arambula that the supervisors know how to run the county, and Arambula should help them do it.
“Go back to Sacramento, empower us at the local level. We know how to handle issues in Fresno County better than the governor,” Magsig said.
Mendes shocked by Arambula approach
In a statement, Mendes said he and vice-chair Steve Brandau agreed to meet with Arambula following Friday morning’s encounter. But Arambula is still interested in a public meeting that involves resident input.
Mendes said that following the meeting with Arambula, he’s still confused about Arambula’s requests. He also said he was shocked at Arambula’s approach, since the supervisors did not get direct calls from the Assemblyman before receiving the letter requesting the meeting. Mendes said the county has shared spending plans on previous occasions.
“Every COVID-19 program we approve is vetted by the County Administrator’s Office on behalf of the Board of Supervisors and in cooperation with the Fresno County Department of Public Health,” Mendes said. “Assemblymember Arambula does not seem to understand that.”
This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 2:29 PM.
