Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria speaks at a "no on Measure E" news conference Monday in Fresno. Photo by Ben Hensley

Opponents of Measure E — the $1.5 billion sales tax measure going before Fresno County voters once again in March —  voiced their positions Monday, arguing it places an unfair burden on residents.

Opponents of the measure, including Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, former Rep. George Radanovich, Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias and others, expressed their support for Fresno State during a news conference at Valley Children’s Stadium while at the same time calling on university officials and local leaders to hold the state accountable for underfunding the university.

“Too many of our residents are living paycheck to paycheck, imposing a billion-dollar tax increase to cover a State responsibility is simply wrong,” said Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria. “In my first term I secured more than $300 million dollars in state funding to reopen Madera hospital, build Merced college student housing and flood recovery, proving that the State is capable and willing to help our local communities.”

Opponents of the measure levied blame for deteriorating facilities at Fresno State to its leaderships’ neglect to seek state assistance; University President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval has never requested assistance for improvements to facilities, according to former Fresno Unified School District Brooke Ashjian.

Ashjian also accused other local political leaders of neglecting to advocate on behalf of Fresno State.

“Assemblyman Jim Patterson, who served our area for 12 years and now is finishing, has never entered a bill or anything else that could help Fresno State,” Ashjian said. “Where the hell have you been, Jim?”

Included in the proposed measure is a seven-member committee, for participants will receive $14 million over the course of 25 years while serving on the committee, according to opponents.

Arias noted that for district improvements through bonds, as well as tax increases like Measures Z and C, a tiered system identifies projects that will be done throughout the lifetime of the measures.

“In this case, with Measure E, they put everything in the bucket without any real commitment to do any projects on any specific timelines,” Arias said. “That means that the seven members of that oversight committee will have complete flexibility on whatever project they want and whatever they wish.”

Among the supporters of Measure E is the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, saying the tax “is a necessary investment.”

“Fresno State has been a cornerstone of our community for decades, producing graduates who go on to be leaders in our community, and expanding the pipeline of skilled professionals that local businesses depend on,” said Blair Smittcamp-Martin, marketing and special projects manager for Wawona Frozen Foods.

Update:

Monday afternoon, 23rd district Assemblymember Jim Patterson issued a response to criticism levied by opponents of the measure.

“Since 2016, every time the CSU System of Fresno State has asked for augmentation to its budget, I have emphatically spoken out in favor of this funding,” Patterson said in a press release Monday afternoon.

Patterson — who supports Measure E — added that each budget request was denied by Sacramento Democrats.

In the release, Patterson included several examples of request for funding to the California Legislature.