Fresnolandia

Danielle and Jordan talk through the challenges and opportunities that is Thanksgiving. They share their civil dialogue toolkit for surviving the holiday and also what they are loving this week! 

On this week’s Fresnolandia, Jordan and Danielle dive deep into the wonky world of regional planning with Sacramento planning veteran Mike McKeever, former CEO of SACOG and longtime policy advisor to Mayor Darrell Steinberg. Using Sacramento as a point of comparison, Mike unpacks why regions sprawl, how over-entitlement of housing land can stall actual development, and why local governments so often misread real housing demand. The conversation explores Fresno’s hottest planning issue—SEDA—and what decades of Sacramento experience can teach us about urban growth boundaries, infill vs. greenfield development, the role of school districts in planning, and why political pressure, developer expectations, and outdated population projections make long-term growth so hard to get right. If you’ve ever wondered why Fresno grows the way it does—or what smarter growth could look like—this is an episode for the true planning nerds.

In this grab-bag edition of Fresnolandia, Jordan and Dani break down a fast-moving week in Fresno and the Central Valley. From Prop 50’s narrow local margin and its implications for congressional representation, to the breakthrough compromise on Measure C funding priorities, they track how shifting political dynamics may reshape local policy. They also discuss the city’s new ministerial housing approval approach, ongoing City Council procedural turmoil, and the very real consequences of the federal government shutdown for CalFresh recipients, the local food bank, and major service providers like Fresno EOC.

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Danielle and Jordan talk with Fresno City Councilmember and urban planner Annalisa Perea about how planning shapes the way she approaches municipal governance in Fresno. They discuss housing and zoning challenges, regional cooperation, the balance between growth and equity, and what smarter, denser development could look like for the city. Perea also shares her thoughts on NIMBYism, downtown revitalization, and how infrastructure—both above and below ground—defines Fresno’s path forward.

On this episode of Fresnolandia, Danielle and Jordan sit down with Fresno Bee accountability reporter Melissa Montalvo, Fresnoland’s religion, culture, and immigration reporter Giselle Medina, and immigration attorney Armida Mendoza to unpack the shifting landscape of immigration enforcement in California’s Central Valley under the Trump administration. The conversation explores new ICE and Border Patrol tactics—from courthouse arrests to detentions at immigration appointments—and the chilling effects on local families. Together, they examine the human consequences of policy changes, the role of misinformation and notaries in immigrant communities, and how advocates are organizing for “power, not panic.” 

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Danielle and Jordan sit down with journalist Doug Hoagland of The Monroe Review to unpack the growing tensions around Measure P, Fresno’s parks and arts tax. They revisit the measure’s origins as a campaign for park equity, the controversial inclusion of arts funding, and the ongoing struggles over transparency, bias, and equity in how grant money is distributed. From the battles over public meetings and recordings to broader questions about who benefits from public arts funding, the conversation lays bare the complexities of civic trust, process, and power in Fresno’s cultural life. Disclosure: Jordan is a member of the board of the Fresno Philharmonic, a recipient of Measure P Funds. 

On this episode of Fresnolandia, hosts Danielle and Jordan speak with Fresnoland's environmental reporter Gregory Weaver about his new story on the Garnet Fire, which scorched over 65,000 acres in the Sierra National Forest. They uncover how bureaucratic delays and inaction by the U.S. Forest Service may have doomed one of California’s most important old-growth research areas—the Teakettle Experimental Forest—despite years of preparation, funding, and scientific consensus. The conversation traces the tangled history of prescribed burns, the decline of the Forest Service’s capacity, and California’s environmental future.

This week on Fresnolandia, Danielle and Jordan speak with Rob Parsons, Senior Editor, for a wide-ranging news roundup on the biggest issues shaping Fresno and the Central Valley. From the fierce debate over Proposition 50 and its implications for redistricting, to the chilling rise in ICE activity locally; they also dig into Fresno’s cooling housing market, the challenges of building affordability in a changing economy, and the community effort to preserve West Fresno’s overlooked history through a public art project. Rounding things out, the team looks ahead to contentious city council races, major land-use decisions, and the future of transportation funding with Measure C. And, as always, they close with what they’re loving this week.

On this week's Fresnolandia podcast, we're featuring a live event Fresnoland hosted on Thursday, September 25 at Tioga Sequoia Brewing downtown on what Fresno can learn from LA's massive public transit expansion over the last decade. You'll hear Danielle moderate a conversation with former LA Mayor and current candidate for California governor Antonio Villaraigosa, who successfully championed Measure R in 2008, which helped kickstart a new generation of light rail lines across LA County; Denny Zane, the founder of MoveLA and a former Santa Monica mayor and city councilmember; and, Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias.

In this episode of Fresnolandia, hosts Danielle Bergstrom and Jordan Mattox break down Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50 and what it could mean for California’s political future. Guests Blake Zante of the Maddy Institute and Monse Sanchez of Communities for a New California join to discuss how the proposal would reshape congressional districts in the Central Valley, from Adam Gray’s District 13 to David Valadao’s battleground District 22. We explore what these changes mean for rural farm towns, urban communities in Fresno and Stockton, and the balance between agricultural and urban interests. The conversation also looks at how Prop 50 fits into the national tug-of-war over redistricting—especially in light of Texas’ mid-decade mapmaking—and whether California can maintain its reputation for fair elections while engaging in this high-stakes political chess match.

In this special episode of Fresnolandia, host Danielle Bergstrom sits down with government accountability reporter Omar Rashad to unpack Fresno leaders’ unusual press conference following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Together, they explore why local officials chose to respond so quickly, what was—and wasn’t—acknowledged at the event, and how the broader community is reacting. The conversation goes deeper than headlines: Omar and Danielle discuss the complicated legacy of Charlie Kirk, the rise of Christian nationalism, and the journalist’s responsibility to provide honest context when covering public figures after death. They reflect on how political violence, online discourse, and media framing shape our collective memory of controversial leaders, drawing comparisons with figures like Kobe Bryant, Joseph Castro, and James Dobson. This episode challenges listeners to consider whether public dialogue can hold multiple truths at once—and what role journalism should play in navigating grief, accountability, and political rhetoric.

In this special collaboration, Fresnolandia teams up with UC Davis’s Water Talk podcast to explore California’s most pressing water issues. Host Jordan Mattox sits down with Malika Cantor and Charles “Sam” Sanchez, two researchers and educators at the forefront of water science and public engagement, to unpack the stories behind California’s water challenges—from climate change and drought to agriculture, aquifers, and infrastructure. Together, they trace the origins of Water Talk during the pandemic, share how their diverse academic journeys shape the show, and reflect on the importance of bringing fresh voices and community perspectives into statewide conversations. The discussion ranges from the misunderstood role of snowpack and groundwater, to the legacy of dams and aqueducts, to the tension between economic agriculture and environmental responsibility. Along the way, listeners will hear candid insights about interdisciplinary research, the human right to water, and how podcasts themselves can bridge the gap between academia and the public. The episode closes with book recommendations—spanning cli-fi, Indigenous histories, and environmental classics—that inspire new ways of thinking about water, land, and our collective future. Whether you’re a Californian trying to understand your local water supply or a curious listener interested in climate and infrastructure, this episode offers a lively, thoughtful dive into the forces shaping life in the Golden State. This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/

On this episode of Fresnolandia, hosts Danielle and Jordan sit down with the veteran journalist Lois Henry, founder of SJV Water, to untangle the high-stakes debate over AI data centers and water in California’s Central Valley. As high-speed rail leaders float the idea of building energy-intensive data hubs along the route, Lois breaks down what millions of gallons of daily water use really means in acre-feet, how farmland retirement under SGMA could reshape water markets, and why Silicon Valley’s deep pockets could upend long-standing local politics. Together, they explore the possibilities, trade-offs, and power struggles that emerge when Big Tech collides with agriculture, disadvantaged communities, and the region’s fragile water system. This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/

On this week’s Fresnolandia, we’re joined by Diego Vargas, Fresnoland’s education reporter, and Abby Arii, Fresno Unified School District’s Director of Student Services, to unpack the growing challenge of chronic absenteeism in Fresno schools. We explore how federal immigration crackdowns—like the recent Border Patrol raid in Kern County—are affecting student attendance, drawing on new reporting and a Stanford study showing surges in absences across the Central Valley. Abby shares how Fresno Unified is confronting this problem head-on, while Diego breaks down what his reporting reveals about the links between immigration policy, fear in the community, and student success. This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/

In this epsidoe of Fresnolandia, Danielle and Jordan sit down with Fresnoland reporters Juliana Morano and Pablo Orihuela to unpack a week full of Fresno’s political quirks and controversies. From the future of Measure C and its 38-member steering committee, to the naming battles over a new Southeast Fresno park, to a $30 million police headquarters lease, and even holiday culture wars at the county level—this episode takes you behind the scenes of local government. Along the way, we hear about “micro dramas,” power struggles, and what it really means when politics starts to look like an episode of Parks and Recreation. This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Dani and Jordan sit down with Kiel Lopez-Schmidt — architect, organizer, and executive director of the South Tower Community Land Trust — to talk about a series of long-awaited wins for the South Tower neighborhood. From transforming the once-overlooked San Pablo Park under the 180 freeway into a vibrant mural space, to opening Broadway Parque on the former site of a police station, to placing the Land Trust’s first home on the market, Kiel shares how these projects came together through years of persistence and community collaboration. This conversation dives into the power of grassroots organizing, reclaiming public spaces, and building lasting community ownership in Fresno’s South Tower. This episode of Fresnolandia is sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative. Learn more about the organization and register for their two-day housing summit at: https://sjvhc.org/news-events/

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Jordan and Dani sit down with Rick Gustafson, a pioneering urban planner and transit expert from Portland, Oregon to discuss the development and implementation of light rail. Rick played a key role in launching Portland’s first regional light rail system—now considered one of the most successful in the country—and was instrumental in developing the Portland Streetcar. He has advised cities across the U.S. on implementing streetcar systems, drawing from decades of experience as a planner, Oregon state legislator, and the first elected officer of Metro, Portland’s regional planning agency.

In this episode of Fresnolandia, Jordan and Dani sit down with Omar Rashad, Fresnoland's government accountability reporter, to dig into his recent investigation into dark money and its influence on a recent election in Fresno. Omar breaks down the key players, the fines and history of dark money, and what this means for transparency and trust in local politics. Then, Dani, Omar, and Jordan share what they are loving this week. 

Dani is on vacation this week, and Jordan previews our next episode, which will focus on a new Fresnoland investigation exploring the role of dark money in local politics.