Board of Supervisors - Special Meeting

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Okay, madame clerk, roll call, please. Supervisor Chavez, absent. Siser Magsik here. Siser Mendes, here. Sisero, here. Chairman Bredfield, here. Present. Thank you. Good morning everyone and welcome to the Monday, March 23rd, 2026 special meeting of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Uh we will begin with the invocation by Supervisor Magzig and then a flag salute. The invocation um after the invocation. Please remain standing for the flag salute. Supervisor Magzig.

Our heavenly father, we thank you that we can gather here today to do your business. And I pray right now for wisdom and guidance for our decisions. And I also pray for a blessing over our crops, a blessing over the people of Fresno County. and again give us wisdom as we make decisions. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Supervisor Mig. Agendas are on on the back table for anyone wanting to follow along. Uh the first item I will read the item. Under Chairman Bredfield, approve an amendment to salary resolution section 900 holidays to rename March 31st Caesar Chavez birthday to March 31st Fresno County Agriculture Appreciation Day.

Thank you very much. And uh we're here of course to rename uh our our day off uh that has been Cesaro Chavez. I had proposed uh it being agricultural appreciation day. Uh Supervisor Chavez had requested that we uh make it farm worker appreciation day. I have no problem and I want to know what the board feels uh calling it agriculture and farmworker appreciation day. Fresno County agriculture and farm worker appreciation day. But I'm open to whatever the board would like to do. Any comments from the board?

No. I'm Are you okay incorporating uh aggra Fresno County agriculture and farmworker appreciation day? Hear public comment and then Okay. Well, I didn't know if people wanted to comment first. Okay. Um any members of the public wish to speak on this item?

Hi Good to see you today. I really like suggestion better. Um, I would like to read a little bit of what I've uh been thinking about. Um, and I'm not good at public speaking. I can tell you that right now. But getting things named took so much hard work and time and effort. Yet to destroy them and to elevate those who have been trampled upon us, they do it overnight. I know that each and every one of you understands the nature of the struggle because the vast majority of you have stood with us in our right in our fights in our lucha. So many hours spent fighting to improve countless things for the people through phone calls, knocking on doors, informing the public and the workers and so on. They work the work there uh that is being erased is our work getting things um I know sorry lost my place getting I'm not here to defend him it's but it's not just him it's not just um it took hundreds hundreds of thousands of people to fight for worker rights and we're still fighting them. As we saw the other day, we had a court hearing that has to do with uh the visas. The people who come on visas, their wages are being lowered. I believe it's like $23 billion that it will be lowered. But for the average uh the

person who's trying to come legally, it's not working. And so um but the work has not been just his. Remember these things were named after him, not by him. He was gone. He had passed. So whose work are you destroying? you know, and I, you know, I appreciate the way you are thinking of naming the the the the day because it brings us both together because when I grew up, it was about the ranchers versus the workers and it shouldn't be that way because the workers work for the ranchers and who who should care about the their workers more than the ranchers and I understand that some of you are in that kind of industry. But we have to see that the work wasn't just his. It was for the people. He woke us up. He he was he woke up the people to see about the rights. And I appreciate you thinking of the second uh suggestion on the naming of the of the day because it includes both of us and that's what the the lucha was about.

Okay. Thank you ma'am. Thank you. Anyone else from the public?

Hello, sir. participle as best I can.

Yeah, you certainly can. In 1983 he started he was a volunteer for the radio campina and he learned to be to the the skills to work in the radio. Cesar, what has occurred with Cesar Chavez?

It's a tragedy for our community, his our Hispanic community. We have cried. We're destroyed. But there's there's no proof,

but Fresno Boulevard are also going to rename the street Ces Chavez Boulevard. He understands that this meeting today that took us by surprise.

He's uh hearing that your work Cesar Chavez. The day of Cesar Chavez, agricultural day. One thing and another thing is the ranchers. The ranchers who not have not traded the worker right and also have enriched themselves.

If you if you why not change it to the day of the campinos, the day of the farm workers much gracias. Thank you. Thank you. And I apologize my No, that's okay. Up to date.

Thank you for doing that. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak to this item? Good morning everyone. It's a time that's very painful and with a lot of feelings. I have worked in the fields. It's very hard work for me. I'm okay with what you're saying about agriculture and farm worker. We should always be united. I like to be first farm worker then agriculture and I hope that it works out that way. Whatever's happening here in this town, there's going to be things that we like and we don't like. What we need to do is work harder to unite each other and unite together, not be like this crazy pres president that we have of the United States. Gracias. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak to this item? Seeing none, I'll bring it back to the board. Uh any comments? Um, Supervisor Mag.

So, um, I have the utmost respect for our two farmers who are on this uh, board and I will say that, um, everything I know about them, they love the people that they get to work with on their respective farms and I've been able to tour both of their farms and, uh, so I'm looking to them for guidance on this. I'm okay if we were to uh rename it and do as the last gentleman said, say call it Fresno County Farm Worker and Agriculture Appreciation Day. I think that's very appropriate. We need to recognize the significant contributions of both the workers as well as the the the farmers and and farmers work their own farms, too. There's some of the hardest working people out there, but both need each other. And here in Fresno County, I think we need to elevate both equally. So, if my colleagues are okay with that, I'm willing to make that in the form of a motion, but I'm also willing to yield to either one of you to make that motion. Just recognizing that lane of agriculture is clearly um what the both of you do. So, let me know what you'd like.

Yeah. You want me yours? No, I'm fine with that. Uh I've always, you know, agreed with that. you know, especially in California, if you don't uh because we're not, you know, like they are in the Midwest where a lot of times they're owner operated ranches and like Manuel Kun has always said, you got to have both. You got to have farmers and farm workers or you're not going to get So, if you make that a motion, I'll second it. I'll make that a motion that Fresno will rename the day to u Fresno County Farmworker and Agriculture Appreciation Day.

Is that fine with you?

Yeah, I um I appreciate the words spoken by Supervisor Magsig. Um, without a doubt, we cannot have the farms that we do without our people that that help us. And they provide a very necessity um part of our of our operation. And without them, we simply cannot do uh what we do. And I think things have changed now. And and as the speaker said, um maybe 30 years ago, things were more adversarial, the farmers versus the farm workers. And that has completely changed now. Today you see a partnership together and I think the farmers do a better job of taking care of the people and we definitely appreciate those that help us um do the work that's so vital and again it's it's very very hard work as the speaker said. Um and again we're here today because of the issue that has come to light um and changing the name. And again, I would like to convey my heartfelt sadness for for those victims. Um, the speaker, one of the speakers said there's he needs proof, but I think the victims coming forward is proof enough. And while we may not always agree with him, I think our colleague across the street um Councilman um Arius said it best is that it's our duty to listen and then to take action. And so I can appreciate you chairman willing to take action. Um, and I believe it'd be appropriate to change that. I believe we should do both. However, I would just ask county council before we take this action. It's my understanding that this is a a state holiday and we are under the state constitution as Supervisor Maxig always says we follow the rules. We're a nation of laws and rules. Is it

is it appropriate or is it even legal that we're changing the name of a state holiday? Because to me, what's the difference of this or changing the name of Thanksgiving, the 4th of July, or if a body wants to come in and change a name? How do you unilaterally do that? If we're under the state charter, doesn't the state have to take the action first and then we adopt it next? How are we getting in front of the state on this? Well, uh I'm not aware of any state prohibition on changing a local name of a holiday. This is the local name. Uh if but it's a state name.

It's on the calendar as a state name. It's not a local name. We we adapted adopted the state name. We did not create this on our own. We did not unilaterally make this a holiday. the state did and as a division of the state then we adopted that. So how can we go backwards is my question. Like I said I'm not aware of a prohibition on naming it locally. If there were a concern I mean we will continue to look at that. It you could insert language to say locally known as then the name if if you wanted to be extra uh careful you understand and you you're on point. Yeah.

Uh the I believe the state is looking to change it as well. Yes. And and again I'm just I think you're putting the cart before the horse and again I understand the sensitivity and you want to do that and I have no issue with that and and we need to take appropriate steps and again in honor of those victims. I I think we're safe in doing this. Um but I appreciate as always your uh attention to detail and uh you're appropriate in doing that. But I think we're obviously safe in moving forward with this state is I think is already initiated or because what my only concern what if the state chooses a different name and then how do we address that?

I what do you think? Yeah. I think it's just the day, right? Okay. that's already be been a negotiated holiday to all state workers, all counties had to do the same thing

because I believe it technically it's not recognized as a federal holiday. Correct. I think the mail's still going, the banks are open and all that. It's only a state holiday. So, I'm just How do you avoid the confusion like we had when the city wanted to change the name and we chose not to and had nothing to do with the individual? Again, I will reiterate today um I believe the majority of this board did not want to put one culture over another and in changing the name the residents of Southwest Fresno um their culture was being put down in place of this and they didn't want to erase their history. So again, had nothing with the individual. And again, it's ironic because in less than two years, all those businesses that had to spend all that money to change everything and all that within a heartbeat. Now they're going to change it all back.

Yep. Change it all back. Yeah. If they which for us we we held. So we're we're we're good. So I'd be wondering is the city going to pay for all that again or how do you help these businesses that didn't want it in the first place? And I always said it should have been named in front of city hall so they could change their letter head easy and now they can change it all back and instead they're forcing all this upon all those poor businesses that are struggling already. But that's a side note, Mr. Chairman. All I'm trying to do is avoid confusion for the future.

And and uh Brian, I think you're uh on point for this how this was agendaized and with my motion. Really what we're changing is the salary resolution. And so how the county recognizes this holiday, we will recognize it at least if this if the motion passes as Fresno County Farm Worker and Agricultural Appreciation Day because if we don't take this motion come the 31st and that holiday shows up, it's still in our salary resolution as Caesar Chavez Day, which we're recognizing now uh because of the victims that are coming forward. Uh there's a lot of people who are experiencing pain and so anything that we can do to uh stop revictimizing the victims out there. I see this as being

uh we're not changing the name of the entire state. We're changing our salary res resolution and what we're going to call this holiday is no longer Caesar Chavez holiday. It's going to be this new name. So uh call it just semantics. But at the very least, as our employees recognize this holiday, we're going to rename it in accordance with whatever we pass up here today in our salary resolution. That's really that's a very very good logical explanation for that. And Mr. Chairman, obviously I can support that as long as we take our colleague who isn't able to join us today, his suggestion, and we put the two entities together because it is a partnership in order for us to do what we do. Uh, Supervisor Mendes and I

Yeah. And I and I would like to add, you know, as you mentioned the city, I wasn't going to do it, but since you mentioned it, uh, it was a 6-1 vote and I voted no. And I voted no because all of those people, the businesses, the residents, church leaders came and said, "Don't erase our history. We don't want to do this." And unfortunately, the city council had a political agenda, so they moved forward anyway. And uh yes, now they're costing people more money uh to have to revert back to what they did. So it was wrong then. Uh number one. Number two, uh I also feel for the for the many victims um of Mr. Chavez. Um, and I'm troubled by people who uh knew about this um didn't say anything in order to uh as as was said protect uh the agenda, the movement. And as a result of that, there were innocent uh children and girls that were further victimized. And I hope there's lessons in that that when this kind of thing when people are aware of this that it needs to be reported, it needs to be exposed so there aren't more victims. and a lot of people got hurt and uh my heart breaks for those young girls who were victimized by uh this man. And lastly, uh I share the same sentiment. Uh agriculture, farm workers, farmers, it all it's all all one. It's only successful when everybody is is working together. And um I respect uh the work and the hard work of farm workers and the hard work of farmers. And that's why I like um the way we've titled this uh Fresno County Farm Workers and Agricultural Appreciation Day. It's unified. One without the other just does not work. So with that, there's a a motion and a second. All those in favor say I.

I. Any opposed? There are none opposed. Passes unanimously. Is there a motion and a second to adjurnn? So moved. Second. Second. All those in favor say I. I we are adjourned. I just want to thank Thank you.