Fresno is once again trying to evict the nonprofit organization that operates Granite Park.
Last week, the city filed an unlawful detainer against Terance Frazier’s Central Valley Community Sports Foundation for not paying rent.
The backstory: Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert Whalen threw out a lawsuit in March that the city filed to evict the foundation from Granite Park.
- The lawsuit was tossed due to a procedural error, since the eviction notice the city sent to Frazier last November expired on a Saturday, which violates the law.
- Whalen allowed the city to re-file its eviction notice to restart the process.
The big picture: According to the court filing, the city sent Frazier a rent notice that expired on April 1 for $81,977.91.
- The city initially said in the first filing that Frazier owed over $700,000 in rent. City Attorney Andrew Janz told GV Wire that the city decided to go after the amount owed for the last year but could still go for the lifetime rent.
What they’re saying: “We believe we have successfully addressed and cured the technical deficiencies in the previous documents,” City Manager Georgeanne White told GV Wire. “As stated, we committed to moving forward once those issues were resolved, and we have done so.”
- Frazier told the publication that the city is trying to weaponize the legal system and has lied about how much rent was owed, saying his organization has made improvements to the property worth millions of dollars, which offsets rent.
- “It’s clear this fight is no longer about facts – it’s about retaliation,” Frazier said. “But I’m not backing down. I will continue standing up for what’s right, not just for myself, but for everyone who believes the truth should matter.”
