Unpacking the Fresno City Contracts Investigation

In this episode of Fresnolandia, hosts Danielle Bergstrom and Jordan Mattox sit down with investigative reporter and assistant editor Omar Rashad to unpack a major two-part investigation into Fresno’s “under-threshold” contracts—city contracts under $100,000 that can be executed without City Council approval.

Rashad walks listeners through months of reporting that revealed how millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts have been distributed with little public visibility, including repeated contracts awarded to the same consultants and vendors. The conversation explores how Fresno quietly doubled its under-threshold limit in 2024, why tracking these contracts is so difficult for the public, and how Fresno compares to cities like San Diego and Oakland that offer far greater transparency.

The episode digs into the mechanics of how these contracts are approved, billed, and paid—raising thorny questions about oversight, pass-through expenses, public records delays, and the use of taxpayer dollars for services like Facebook advertising during election seasons. Bergstrom and Mattox also examine the policy trade-offs between government efficiency and democratic accountability, and what reforms could restore public trust.

Finally, Rashad reflects on the reaction to the investigation at City Hall, including a rapid and controversial press conference by councilmembers and the broader implications for how Fresno governs itself.