XPost: alt.california, alt.politics.republicans, misc.immigration.usa   
   XPost: sac.politics   
   From: unions-kill-progress@business.org   
      
   For every tough question Miguel Arias asks at a Fresno City Council   
   meeting, he also seems to find a way to get under the skin of his   
   detractors.   
      
   In his eighth and final year representing southwest and downtown Fresno,   
   Arias developed a reputation for pressing staff and diving deep on issues.   
   He will seek information ranging from major policy matters to mundane   
   agenda items, often citing the public’s right to know.   
      
   He also developed a reputation for pushing the envelope — and for ticking   
   people off from the dais.   
      
   His latest stunt was sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance at the Jan.   
   29 meeting. The move drew heavy criticism on social media.   
      
   His explanation to Politics 101 is likely to anger even more people.   
      
   “I’m sorry to disappoint those interested in my posture, but it was just a   
   leg cramp after a long night of home repairs — apparently a normal   
   occurrence at my age. More important than that, though, is the growing   
   number of lives lost in immigration enforcement actions this year,   
   including multiple fatal shootings by federal agents that have drawn   
   national outrage and calls for accountability,” Arias said.   
      
   Arias provided his response via text message, so readers can interpret the   
   context as they see fit.   
      
   Councilmember Nick Richardson, a Marine Corp reservist who usually leads   
   the pledge, said it is Arias’ right not to stand.   
      
   “I’m a firm believer of his right to do so,” Richardson said. “It’s not   
   something I would do. That flag means a lot to me.”   
      
   Arias was not the only person to sit during the pledge. Politics 101 also   
   spotted others in the council audience who did not stand.   
      
   Arias vs. ICE   
   Later at the Jan. 29 meeting, Arias again interjected his opinion on non-   
   council matters, as he has done for the past eight years. This time, he   
   used the term “murder” when describing the deaths of Renee Good and Alex   
   Pretti — two protesters in Minneapolis shot and killed by immigration   
   agents.   
      
   At the Jan. 15 council meeting after Good’s death, Arias used the neutral   
   word “killed.”   
      
   Earlier this year, Arias claimed another immigration raid was imminent in   
   Fresno and Bakersfield. Last year, he claimed a raid would occur at a   
   local swap meet. Neither claim materialized.   
      
   In both instances, Arias provided no source or verification for his   
   information. Most elected leaders avoid spreading unverified rumors. When   
   asked by Fresnoland about his most recent “sky is falling” moment, Arias   
   said “officials changed their plans,” again without elaboration.   
      
   Arias has about 10 months remaining before he is termed out. He recently   
   took a side gig as a spokesperson for Madera Community College — a move   
   criticized by the anonymous State Center watchdog group SCCCD Insiders.   
      
   An immediate political future is unlikely. Arias lost a 2024 primary for   
   county supervisor, and members of his own local Democratic Party declined   
   to select him as a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention.   
      
   Fresno Council Fundraising   
   Naindeep Singh has not only raised the most money for Fresno City Council   
   District 1 — he is the overall fundraising leader.   
      
   Singh, a Central Unified trustee and executive director of the Jakara   
   Movement, reported raising $135,399 during the July through December 2025   
   reporting period. Most of the money came from individual contributors.   
      
   Rob Fuentes, an SCCCD trustee and federal prosecutor, raised $44,500 in   
   the same time frame. Mayra Campa, a staff aide to current District 1   
   Councilmember Annalisa Perea, raised $14,245.   
      
   Perea is running for state Assembly.   
      
   State Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, running for District 3, reported   
   more than double the fundraising of his two main competitors combined. He   
   reported raising $75,512 during the July–December reporting period.   
   Fernando Alvarez, a former staffer at the Fresno Chamber, reported   
   $20,084. Fresno Unified trustee Keshia Thomas raised $9,115.   
      
   Arambula also collected PAC contributions from the International Union of   
   Operating Engineers Stationary Engineers Local No. 39, The Doctors Company   
   PAC, and UFCW Workers 8 Golden State PAC.   
      
   https://gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Fresno-City-Council-   
   candidates-Financial-Reports-2-26-1-600x849.jpg   
      
   In District 5, incumbent Brandon Vang, in effect, raised negative funds in   
   the latter half of 2025. He did not raise new money but forgave a loan he   
   made to himself during the 2025 special election.   
      
   SCCCD Trustee Danielle Parra raised $26,401.   
      
   In District 7, businessman AJ Rassamni has a nominal lead over attorney   
   Nav Gurm. Gurm’s total in the chart does not include the $50,101 he raised   
   in 2024, nor a $15,000 loan he gave to himself this year.   
      
   He also held a fundraiser last week that included Mayor Jerry Dyer. Gurm   
   said the event added $65,000 to his campaign coffers.   
      
   “This campaign has made early investments in reaching voters directly   
   through door-knocking, community events, and grassroots outreach, and it’s   
   clearly paying off,” Gurm said in a news release. “The incredible support   
   we’ve received shows that Fresno residents are ready for a new generation   
   of leadership that puts people first and delivers real results at City   
   Hall.”   
      
   Activist Ariana Martinez Lott raised $19,828 during the reporting period.   
      
   District 7 incumbent Nelson Esparza is termed out and running for state   
   Board of Equalization.   
      
   The next reporting deadline is April 23, covering the period from Jan. 1   
   through April 18.   
      
   What is Deadline for Transportation Tax Sigs?   
   A social justice group, supported by Mayor Jerry Dyer and Clovis City   
   Councilmember Lynne Ashbeck, filed a notice of intention to collect   
   signatures for a successor to Measure C — the Fresno Countywide sales tax   
   for transportation projects that expires next year.   
      
   Moving Fresno Forward filed the notice with the Fresno County Clerk on   
   Jan. 26. The following deadlines were provided by Fresno County   
   Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus:   
      
   County counsel has 15 days to provide an official title and summary.   
   Proponents must then publish the notice, including the title and summary,   
   in designated newspapers. Once proof of publication is delivered to the   
   county clerk within 10 days, the group may begin gathering signatures.   
   Supporters have 180 days to gather signatures.   
   Once signatures are submitted, the clerk’s office has 30 workdays — about   
   42 calendar days — to conduct a random sample review. The process could   
   take up to 60 workdays if all signatures must be examined. If the petition   
   is deemed sufficient, the clerk will certify the signatures and forward   
   the matter to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors for placement on the   
   ballot.   
   The Board of Supervisors has until Aug. 7 to adopt an ordinance placing   
   the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. The last meeting scheduled before that   
   deadline is July 14.   
   Clearly, the petitioners cannot take the full 180 days, as that would put   
   them past the Aug. 7 deadline. If Kus requires the full 60 workdays —   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)