Fresno council candidates trade barbs. One slight: He ‘lives with his mommy and daddy’
A pair of Fresno City Council candidates are taking to the mail to malign one another, a week before the conclusion of the primary election.
In District 7, composing of east-central Fresno, Nav Gurm and AJ Rassamni are trading barbs.
Gurm is questioning Rassamni’s slogan of “People Before Politics.” Rassamni said the accusations make Gurm a hypocrite, and countered with personal attacks.
Gurm, Rassamni and Ariana Martinez Lott are the three main contenders in the election for the east-central Fresno seat. Voting is ongoing, concluding June 2. Jason Keomanee will also be on the ballot, but has not actively campaigned.
Gurm: Rassmani homeless safe zones ‘half-baked’
Gurm’s mailer leads with “Warning: AJ Rassamni wants a homeless ‘safe zone’ next to your neighborhood.
The mailer claims Rassamni’s homeless plan “dumps the problem in our backyard.” Rassamni has proposed “safe zones” for the homeless, moving them out of encampments.
The Fresno City Council approved an anti-camping ordinance in 2024 that made it easier to clear homeless in parks and other public areas, such as sidewalks.
Rassamni called Gurm’s assessment “a lie” and taken out of context. Rassamni would not specify where he would locate his safe zones when asked by The Bee.
“I cannot discuss them until I am in office, because we need to create a win-win for everybody. But the condition on the safe zones, they have to be away far from residents, far from businesses, far from parks, and away from schools too. We cannot keep them in the middle of the city,” Rassamni said.
Gurm pressed on the unstated locations of potential ‘safe zones’ in Rassamni’s plan.
“It’s a half-baked plan, and it’s not what this district deserves,” Gurm said. “I’ve asked him would he put it next to his own neighborhood, and even there he dodges that question.”
In a District 7 forum held by The Bee, Gurm said he supported the city’s anti-camping ordinance.
Gurm mailer criticizes Rassamni’s lobbyist role
Gurm accused Rassamni of lobbying for a group of smoke shop owners, the California Smoke Shop Association, that sued the city of Fresno over regulations imposed by the city council. A judge ruled in favor of the city.
In his mailer, Gurm said Rassamni worked “to allow new smoke shops near our parks and schools.”
Rassamni downplayed his role as a lobbyist, claiming he registered as required by the city to advocate for his Blackstone Merchants Association, not the smoke shops.
“It’s a lie, because I never registered as a lobbyist for the smoke shop, I was never a lobbyist,” Rassamni said.
Records filed with the Fresno City Clerk’s office show Rassamni registered in 2024 and 2025, under the company name “AJ Rassamni.”
Rassamni made a distinction between lobbying which he denied, and consulting, which said is a more accurate representation of his work. He said he supports a fair permit process, known as conditional use permits at City Hall.
Gurm said he didn’t buy that reasoning.
“When you are being paid by a group to influence policy and contacting council members, the mayor, city leaders on public policy, it requires you to register as a city lobbyist,” Gurm said.
Rassamni responds
Rassamni countered with his own mailer, questioning Gurm’s life experience.
“Nav is 26 years old, he still lives with his mommy and daddy, he doesn’t understand the struggle that we have to put food on our table, to have the kids walk safely to school, to have a job, and, and, and to pay the mortgage or the rent end of the month,” Rassamni told The Bee.
Gurm confirmed that he lives with his parents after returning home from college — he attended UCLA for undergrad, and UC Davis for law school.
“I’ve paid rent my whole adult life. Sure, I currently do not pay rent, but I’ve had to balance my own budget. I’ve had to build a business. It’s a complete non-issue,” Gurm said.
Rassamni also threw the smoke shop accusation back at Gurm, accusing his parents of owning a liquor store that sells vapes.
Gurm’s family operates a convenience store in Fresno County, west of Selma. He says it is not a conflict of interest because it is outside the city limits.
“It’s a funny accusation, but to me, it’s a complete nothingburger,” Gurm said.
Martinez Lott commented on the spat between her opponents.
“The timing of this exchange is no coincidence, it is deflecting attention away from the questionable practices at Youth Save Democracy, which my opponent founded,” Martinez Lott told The Bee. “I encourage every District 7 neighbor to look up each candidate, what they spent their time doing prior to running for office, and with whom. That will offer the best clues as to how they would govern if elected.”
What a neighbor thinks
Joey Gil lives in an east-central Fresno neighborhood. His home is politically unique, with the front lawn carrying signs for both Rassamni and Gurm.
He supports Rassamni; his parents support Gurm.
“They have their own decisions, and I have my own decisions under one roof,” Gil said.
Gil called Rassamni, “a really cool guy. He’s really nice.”
His parents said they support Gurm because “it is nice seeing a Sikh Indian person running for office.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 12:25 PM.
