Letter to Mayor

Dear Mayor Swearingen,
The recent events with the Forest City Project has served as a catalyst for the urgency in writing you. It disappoints me that another effort or attempt at Revitalizing downtown has become unsuccessful. The potential is there for Downtown Fresno to be as vibrant as other metropolitan cities such as San Jose, Portland, Santa Cruz, and the list is endless. Fresno is not alone in dealing with aged buildings, homelessness, vacant lots, and lack of parking but the above mentioned cities have managed to work on those issues in conjunction with developing their downtown public spaces. Fresno has neglected the downtown area and focused its efforts on urban sprawl. The development north has only exacerbated the downtown problem leaving an abundance of buildings grossly decomposing. I pose this question to you Mayor Swearingen, in today's economic time businesses are suffering and going out of business, Gottschalk's is one of our largest local business and it is inevitably going to fall victim to liquidation, my question is this: What is Fresno going to do with the vacant space in Riverpark? The Fulton Mall used to be a vibrant area for shopping but as the urban sprawl moved north downtown merchants suffered. Time can only tell if Riverpark will meet its demise just as the Fulton Mall has, should Fresno neglect to renovate already existing space.

It is important to me to voice my concern about the revitalization of downtown. Unfortunately my voice as a constituent could not be heard today during the community meeting. I would hope the Mayor's office and City Council will consider having more community meetings for feedback pertaining to the Downtown Revitalization during non work hours so that more constituents voices can be heard.

I thank you for your time Mayor Swearingen and wish you and the council the best in tackling this endless feat!

L. Villanueva
District 7

Fres-Yes

Yesterday the new mayor of Fresno took the oath of office. As the second female mayor of Fresno I hope that Ashley Swearingen will be able to make some advancement in the redevelopment of Downtown Fresno, unlike many of her predecessors. I can't say that is entirely anyone in particulars fault but it is unfortunate that Fresno has not been able to make any strides towards improving the Fulton Mall or redeveloping downtown Fresno.

Unfortunately Fresno has a negative image that constantly precedes itself. When I asked where I am from people usually look at me in disgust and with great sympathy. I often hear "Fresno, gosh I'm sorry. That sucks." I must admit I vowed after leaving for college in the bay area I would never return to this shit kicker town. (That was a common term I've heard used about The No) unfortunately the way the economy is and my huge student loan debt I had to come back. I told people that it would merely be a layover till I figured out what my next destination would be. Here it is 3 years later and I am writing this blog as a registered Fresno voter.