Mayor’s Planned Parenthood Veto Faces Override Vote Thursday

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer followed through with his threat of a veto to deny Planned Parenthood $1 million of state funding approved by the City Council.

The council is scheduled to vote on overriding the veto at its meeting on Thursday. It takes five votes, which the council appears to have.

The initial vote on Aug. 18 for state pass-through funding for Planned Parenthood, $7 million Arte Americas and $1.5 million Neighborhood Industries, was 5-1. None of the five affirmative votes will seemingly waver, based on councilmember comments at the time.

In his Aug. 25 veto message, Dyer wrote he wanted another agency to administer state funds to Planned Parenthood.

“The matter of abortion brought hours of impassioned public comment and divisive public debate, causing further division in our community,” Dyer wrote.

Councilman Miguel Arias supports the override.

“It is disappointing that the mayor chose to place his religious views above our city’s public health interests,” he said in an email statement.

Also in Politics 101 …

• Fresno City Council holds special Wednesday meeting.
• Did Dem group tweet about the right Bredefeld?
• Anti-Measure C group organizes.
• Casto promoted in Fresno Police Department.

Fresno City Council Meets Wednesday to Extend Deadline

The Fresno City Council will meet in a special session Wednesday at 9 a.m. It is a single-item agenda — to approve an extension with Noyan Frazier, L.P. to develop the South Stadium project.

The same item was on the Aug. 18 agenda, but only received four votes to pass when it needed five. Since then, businessman Terance Frazier said he will divest from the project.

His presence dissuaded Councilman Garry Bredefeld from going along with the extension.

However, in the resolution to be decided Wednesday, there is no mention of Frazier’s leaving. If the city council does not grant more time to the project, several million in state funds may expire.

Related Story: Delayed for 13 Years, Downtown Project Likely to Get Another Extension

Did Young Dems Tweet About the Right Bredefeld?

Fresno Councilman Garry Bredefeld disagreed with President Joe Biden’s decision to forgive student loan debt. A local Democratic group is calling Bredefeld out.

In a Twitter post Saturday, Fresno Young Democrats posted a screen shot of Bredefeld and Associates receiving approximately $50,000 in federal PPP funds.

“Was forgiving this loan a burden on the middle class too?” the tweet asks.

Garry Bredefeld is a retired psychologist from Fresno; Mitchell Bredefeld, Garry’s brother, is an accountant in Malibu, the recipient of the PPP loans. Garry has no ownership in his brother’s firm.

Neither Garry Bredefeld nor the Young Democrats responded for a comment.

The Fresno Young Democrats questioned Garry Bredefeld in a Tweet. (Screenshot)

Familiar Name Behind Anti-Measure C Group

Formal opposition formed last week to oppose Measure C, the 30-year Fresno County sales tax extension for transportation projects.

No on Measure C 2022 filed its statement of organization with the Fresno County Clerk. The principal behind the organization is Sandra Celedon, head of social justice group Fresno Building Healthy Communities.

Celedon was outspoken against placing the renewal on the November ballot.

Casto Promoted to Deputy Chief

Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama promoted Mindy Casto to deputy chief earlier this month, to replace Mike Reid.

Casto started her career as a cadet in 1996 with Fresno PD and has worked her way up in rank, from officer to sergeant, to lieutenant, to captain, and now deputy chief.

Reid accepted a new position as police chief of Fowler.

The Fresno City Council will honor both Casto and Reid with days in their honor, at Thursday’s city council meeting.

Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama promoted Mindy Casto to deputy chief. (GV Wire File)

Related Story: Deputy Chief Leaving Fresno PD to Lead Neighboring Agency