Reopening 2: Electric Boogaloo + Introducing the Community Bulletin Board
Okay, let's try this reopening thing again. Here's what to know around Fresno, Aug 24-30
☀️ Good morning, Fresno! It is Sunday, August 30, 2020
Welcome back to the newsletter. I hope you followed my advice and took a break last weekend. Because, unfortunately, we must face reality and do some work.
You'll notice in this issue we are introducing a new part of the newsletter: The Community Bulletin Board. I’m hoping to provide a resource that will help you get involved—basically a list of community action items for you, our readers. I’ll be on the lookout for more of these throughout the week, but don’t hesitate to DM me your suggestions for the bulletin board on Twitter or Instagram or email contact@fivebyfivenine.com
Also, if you haven’t already, fill out the feedback survey and let me know how to improve the newsletter.
Have a good week!
-Ram 🧡
📌Community Bulletin Board
Help the Fresno Police Reform Commission
The Fresno State Sociology Department is seeking community input on how to reform the Fresno Police Department. Take the survey here.
Support Local Tacos
Tacos La Piedad was recently robbed at gunpoint. If you’re hungry, why not support your local taco stand? They’re located at 2709 N Hughes Ave, Fresno, CA. | Yelp
Grocery Funds Needed
A 20-year-old disabled, nonbinary lesbian needs your help with funds for groceries. They’ve been recently houseless and cannot find secure employment due to their disabilities. All their savings are going to rent. They wish to remain anonymous. Please help out by venmoing @TomaeH. You can message Tomae for more information. | Tomae’s Instagram / Twitter
Fresno Community Fridge
The Fresno Abolition Book Club is starting a community fridge! Right now they are looking to talk to Fresno businesses and restaurants to receive food donations or volunteers for upkeep with the fridge. If you would like to get involved email: abolitionfresno@gmail.com or follow them on Twitter / Instagram @abolitionfresno
Happy Indie Bookstore Day!
1418 Fulton, a small bookstore in downtown Fresno, is having a book giveaway! Go RT/share their post on Twitter & Instagram to be entered. It ends Aug. 31.
Fresno By Five
🟣 Reopening 2: Okay THIS time for real
Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday his new plan to reopen California dubbed “A Blueprint for a Safer Economy.” And it involves a simple, easy-to-understand system on a county’s safety level. Fun!
Here is the chart with purple being the worst and yellow being okay. Green for normal is not feasible right, according to the governor. Fresno County and the surrounding counties (Merced, Madera, Tulare and Kings) are all purple, meaning most non-essential indoor businesses will still be closed.
Most importantly though is that barbershop and salons can now reopen indoors. Yep, that’s right folks, we can finally get haircuts inside. Nail salons and bars that don’t sell food will still be closed and restaurants still can’t offer dine-in service. For the full details of what can and cannot reopen, search Fresno County on here.
Despite the Covid hazard, I think I will be going to my barber. I miss him so. And my hair looks so, so whack right now.
🏫 The Immanuel Saga As Short As Possible
On Aug 13, the Immanuel School, a private Christian school, opened it’s glorious doors to all the kids. The Fresno County Department of Public Health later that same day issued an order to stop in-person instruction and requested a temporary injunction to prevent teachers from teaching on campus.
Judge D. Tyler Tharpe later denied that injunction allowing Immanuel to continue to operate classes. This was after parents and students had a rally outside the B.F. Sisk Courthouse in downtown Fresno.
I do want to point out the sign that says “COMPUTERS do NOT TEACH!” I mean… They know like it’s not JUST the computers teaching right? There’s a teacher on the other end.
Immanuel is also part of a lawsuit that is currently before the California State Supreme Court that could decide if the state and county have the authority to order schools to close for public health.
The Immanuel situation has gotten the attention of both state and local leaders. Gavin Newsom expressed disappointment over Immanuel’s decision to open and Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias called those attending the rally “selfish.” Only Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, loud advocate of reopening schools, said anything of support for Immanuel. Good ‘ol Garry, that rapscallion.
🎒 CUSD Needy Students Can Come to School
About 300 disabled Clovis Unified students will be able to return to school on Monday as distance learning is not a viable option for them. These children will come individually to campus no more than two days a week and no more than 90 minutes per day. New state policy also permits small groups of no more than 14 people and two supervising adults to be in-person. Other school districts such as Fresno Unified have not announced any plans for in-person classes for special needs students.
😋 Some Food News
Despite the pandemic, new restaurants are still opening! L’Aperitif Bistro Fusion opened earlier this month and is a fusion of Asian and French cuisine. It is headed by the former owner of Tower Sushi, Chef Thomas Nouantanouvanh. Check out their hours on their Yelp page.
A new soul food restaurant called Rhapsody will be opening on Sept. 4. Its owners Oscar and Bukola Okin hope to, “bring Louisiana to Fresno.” Once it’s open, it will be located on 3209 W Shaw Ave, Ste. 105.
The Fresno Greek Fest will be a drive-through event this September. The first event will be on Saturday, Sept. 19. You can reserve your tickets here.
🏠 Homelessness in Fresno
New numbers were released that indicated a 45% spike in the homeless population from 2019 in Fresno and Madera. The total homeless in Fresno and Madera increased from 2,508 people in 2019 to 3,461 people in 2020. This count is from the pre-Covid era and has almost certainly grown since.
Mayor Brand, noting a silver lining, said that the number of individuals placed in shelters and housing increased by 150%. Advocates think otherwise as the rising cost of rent and formal and informal evictions continue to happen.
Fresno Bee’s Manuela Tobias also profiled the Dream Camp and how longtime homeless advocate Dez Martinez has kept up the homeless encampment under Highway 41 and issues with city and state officials. Read it here.
🏥 Coronavirus Updates
As of Aug. 19, the most recent data available at the time of writing, there have been a total of 24,612 total confirmed cases and 263 deaths in Fresno County. Currently, there are 201 hospitalized. A total of 11,906 people have recovered.
Testing is available around Fresno. Visit lhi.care to set up an appointment. It’s free even without insurance. If you have insurance, you can also try these other testing sites here.
Fresno senior citizens can get assistance for food through Fresno’s new pilot program.1,500 food boxes a week are available for delivery or pickup as part of the Fresno City Council’s initiative to help seniors. Call 311 for information on delivery or pickup.
🎧 On the pod this week
The First Fresnolanders feat. Danielle Bergstrom
Danielle Bergstrom, the founder of the nonprofit Fresnoland and the director and policy editor of the Fresnoland Lab in association with the Fresno Bee. They talk about the birth of Fresnoland, raising consciousness, and why Fresno is like... That.
Follow Danielle @DaniBergstrom on Twitter, and keep up with Fresnoland @fresnoland on Twitter and Instagram.
🔗Links to the episode:
SPOTIFY
ANCHOR
This newsletter was written by Ram Reyes (@vibesradiator) and edited by Tommy Tribble (@tomiiwrites) | Follow Five By Five Nine on Instagram & Twitter