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Lawsuit Over Fresno's Plan To Privatize Trash

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It took months of public debate, but a divided city council voted to hand over Fresno's trash contract to a private company.

Unions fought on, and sent the issue to a special election.

Now…another bombshell.

Fresno city manager Mark Scott files a lawsuit as a private citizen challenging language in the sample ballot. Acting as a private citizen, the city manager is suing to clear up misleading and false statements, which he claims are being made by opponents of the city's plans. 

“This is all a question about whether or not that ballot statement that publicly filed document lives up to a measure of truth,” said Chris Collier.

Chris Collier's "Measure G" or ‘yes on outsourcing’ campaign is funding the lawsuit. 

Scott's suit says opponents falsely claim the trash contract was a back-door deal.

“The truth is- the city went through a open and public bidding process like it does for other contracts...many private haulers bid in the process...mid valley was selected by the city council. They had the best deal for Fresno County Residents,” he said. 

Scott also wants the courts change the part in the argument that claims there is no way for the city to cancel the contract with mid-valley if haulers fail to live up to their end of the bargain.

Fresno County Clerk Brandi Orth is named as one of five defendants in the suit, simply because she's preparing the sample ballot. 

“I need to have the court make a decision in this case by April 15th so that I can meet all of those legal mandates and get those materials to the voters accurately and so I have opinion in the merits of the case at all,” said Orth.

Former Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson is also named and says it's an opportunity for voters to go back to debate before June 4th special election. 

“This whole thing is about money I mean this is a $26 million dollar contract so it’s big business,” said Anderson.


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