Fresno announced the hiring of two assistant city managers on Monday. Michael Rogers is the former city manager of Tracy and Nick Mascia previously served as assistant city manager in Visalia.
Rogers’ tenure with Tracy was a rocky one. He resigned in May 2023 under a settlement agreement. As GV Wire reports, Rogers was expected to be fired by the council if he did not resign. He had reportedly had run-ins with city council members and staffers, allegedly showing favoritism to some, while acting “hostile” toward others. In June, SF Gate reported that Rogers had accepted gifts from city contractors “and abused the authority granted to him to resolve the city’s homelessness issue.”
Tracy Mayor Nancy Young supported Rogers throughout the ordeal. As City News reported, Mayor Young believed the attacks on Rogers were racially-motivated. Rogers is Black.
Fresno's other new assistant manager, Nick Mascia, had a more amicable tenure as assistant manager of Visalia — a position he held from October 2021 to December 2023. Mascia had been with Visalia for more than a decade, previously serving as Director of Community Development and then Director of Public Works.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer had nothing but kind words for both of the new assistant managers.
“As our city grows, it’s important that our team grows to meet those needs,” Dyer said in a news release. “Both Nick and Michael bring experience, leadership, and vision to their new roles in the City Manager’s Office, and I look forward to working with them to continue creating a better Fresno for all.”