Fresno Protests Planned at GOP Sanctuary State Law Meeting

Protesters vow to show up tonight (May 7) at a Republican meeting to discuss Senate Bill 54, the “California Values Act” that some call the “Sanctuary State” law.

According to a Los Angeles Times story last week, the Fresno County Republican Party is hosting the meeting with county officials to discuss strategies against the law, including a possible lawsuit.
Local governments, including the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and other cities (mainly from Orange County), have voted to resist SB 54 in some form or fashion.
 
The Times reports that Shawn Steel, a member of the Republican National Committee, along with Susan Tully, national field director of Federation for American Immigration Reform, will be among the guests.
The meeting starts 5:30 p.m. at the offices of Der Manouel Insurance Group (548 W. Cromwell Ave., Suite 101, in north Fresno).
Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig said he plans to attend. Supervisor Andreas Borgeas says he is “unlikely” to make it.
A third Republican supervisor, Buddy Mendes, told the Times and GV Wire he would not attend, as to avoid any Brown Act (state law preventing official government business in private) problems.
He also told the Times that laws such as SB 54 “are ‘Seinfeld deals’ — political shows about nothing because federal law will overrule state law, and state law will overrule local law.”
A group called ICE Out of Fresno, which includes the ACLU and SIREN, a Bay Area group advocating for immigrants, posted on social media that they plan to be there to protest.
Jennifer Rojas, a local organizer for SIREN, expects 20 protesters.
“It is not OK to decide what laws we should and shouldn’t be a part of. This is a very obvious attack against our immigrant community. California has led the way to be the pro-immigrant state. We are trying to set an example as a sanctuary state,” Rojas said.
The group plans to peacefully protest and not shut down the meeting, Rojas said.
“Our goal is let them know we are on to them. We are watching.”

Via @siren_bayarea “Central Valley we need you! Elected officials meeting Mon vs SB54. We need to show up & fight back! Valle Central, necesitamos de su apoyo. Este lunes habrá una junta para planificar contra la ley SB54 y necesitamos estar presentes y pelear contra esta junta.” pic.twitter.com/AZOxwez0Bo

— Community Alliance (@FresnoAlliance) May 5, 2018

Clovis Council to Consider Relaxing RV Parking

The Clovis Police Department is asking the city council tonight (May 7) to relax enforcing RV parking in neighborhoods from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Residents are allowed to park RVs in driveways for only a 24-hour period. The police department said it received numerous requests from RV owners to let them park at their homes for a longer time.
If the council approves, such restrictions would not be enforced in the summer months as part of a pilot program. It could become permanent if it is successful. Each home would be allowed to park one RV or boat less than 25 feet in length in the driveway. The vehicle must be registered, kept clean, and not spill into the sidewalk or roadway.
“If the suspension works and is a convenience for recreational vehicle or boat owners and does not significantly increase the number of complaints, staff would return with a recommended change to the current municipal code to allow,” according to the staff report.
Also tonight, the council will vote on starting negotiations to sell a small piece of land to the Harland Ranch Homeowners Association. The HOA wants the parcel at Harlan Ranch Boulevard and Leonard Avenue to expand its recreation center. A staff report did not list a purchase price.

Charter School Seeks Central Unified Approval

The Central Unified school board will vote on the petition of the Augustus Academy for Creative Arts and Technology Charter School on Tuesday (May 8). Staff recommends denying the charter.
The school hopes to offer pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade classes in the next school year and start with 120 students.
According to the staff report, “the Charter is deficient in a variety of respects and that approval of the Petition would not be consistent with sound educational practice.”
Specifically, the district finds issues with the proposed school’s special education budget, teaching English learners, and complying with the new state law to offer feminine hygiene products. Staff also expressed concerns with the school’s budget outlook.
On its website, the school says its learning plan would be tailored to the student’s individual needs, including such tools as “Accommodated Instructional Design” and “Learning Pods.”
The school plans a rebuttal, according to Kelly English, the school’s executive director. She said the focus is helping non-traditional students, such as English language learners, and dyslexic or ADD/ADHD students.
Why does English believe Central staff recommends denial?
“I know Central is experiencing a lot of upheaval over these past few months,” English said. “To keep status quo, I think they trying to not do anything new to see how everything pans out in the long run. It is unfortunate because this charter will not cost the district one dime.”