Despite an appeal from a city councilmember, the Fresno Planning Commission denied approval for a convenience store to sell beer and wine.

The planning department denied A’s Family Market, at 2717 N. Hughes Ave. between Clinton and Shields avenues, a conditional use permit. Owner Yeslam Haimed appealed to the planning commission, which upheld the original decision at its April 2 meeting.

“It’s become harder with rent going up, with PG&E going up, it’s hard to survive without beer and wine,” Haimed told the planning commission.

The city cited many reasons for the denial, including its location — in an area with other liquor stores and high crime — and that the license would not meet transfer rules established by the city’s Responsible Neighborhood Market Act.

The location used to be Primo’s Family Market, which had its liquor license revoked after a shooting there several years ago. Haimed bought the store and wants to re-establish the right to sell beer and wine.

District 1 Councilmember Annalisa Perea intervened, writing in a letter to the planning commission, “This is a family-owned small business, and I’m confident that, with approval of this ABC (California Alcohol Beverage Control) Beer and Wine license, they will be able to keep their doors open and continue investing in revitalizing that corner of District 1.”

Another elected official, Fresno County Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos, spoke at the meeting in support of Haimed.

Haimed said he already invested $14,000 in the CUP application. He installed more cameras and lights to deter crime.

Peter Vang, Kathy Bray, Monica Diaz and Gurdeep Singh Shergill voted to deny Haimed’s appeal. Jacqueline Lyday recused herself, as she has business interests in the surrounding area. DJ Criner and Linda Calandra were absent.

Vang said he empathized with the business, but it was “difficult” to override the findings of the planning department. Bray, Diaz and Shergill agreed.

Only Perea and Mayor Jerry Dyer are permitted to appeal the decision to the full city council.

Perea said she would review her options before making a decision.

After initial reluctance commenting publicly, a spokesperson for Dyer said he would support the councilmember’s wishes.

Beltran Files for Supervisor

Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran filed to run for Fresno County Supervisor in 2026.

The Republican would be the second challenger to incumbent Buddy Mendes in District 4 — which covers the southern end of the county, with the borders stretching east to west.

Beltran first won election in Parlier in 2014, winning new terms in 2018 and 2022. Her road as leader of the city of approximately 15,000 has been rocky at times, clashing with the city council over issues of keeping a city attorney.

State Center Trustee Danielle Parra filed to run earlier this year. She is a Democrat.

Mendes, a Republican, first won elected to the board of supervisors in 2014. He had nearly $117,000 in the bank for his campaign as of Dec. 31, 2024.

Neither Beltran nor Parra posted supervisor fundraising figures.

The primary is June 2, 2026.

Now Pitching for the Fresno Grizzlies …

The Fresno Grizzlies opened the 2025 season Friday, which meant members of the Fresno City Council threw out ceremonial first pitches.

Some were close, but no strikes were thrown.

Although they left this year for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, former councilmembers Luis Chavez and Garry Bredefeld donned their Grizzlies jerseys and posed for pictures with their former colleagues on the field.

Fresno County Superior Court Judge Glenda Allen-Hill threw out the first pitch for Saturday’s game. The team honored the military, and Allen-Hill is Grand Marshall for this year’s Veterans Day parade, having served previously as a Judge Advocate General in the Air Force.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Councilmember Nelson Esparza (@d7esparza)