fresno elections 2008

Running Horse type projects are a poor use of city resources and represent the type of low-density development we need to avoid. The city needs to build up instead of sprawling out by focusing more on in-fill development. Furthermore, City Hall needs to do an excellent job of maintaining city land and infrastructure and provide quality neighborhood services in our ailing neighborhoods to increase pride in the community.

To rejuvenate the aging, and frequently ignored, parts of Fresno, direct citizen involvement is a critical element of any successful revitalization project. I propose a program called “Citizen Rejuvenation Project”. This program would be spurred by the city, and funded by grants and some local funding sources; a collaboration of public and private finance. Under this program, a person can qualify for a predetermined amount of money to be directly applied toward resources need to rejuvenate her/his exterior home and landscaping after volunteering at five other rejuvenation projects. This will be comprised of volunteers and one paid staff member from the City. A person will have to meet criteria, i.e. live in an aging part of the community. If meet the criteria, the person will volunteer on five other projects, preferably in the immediate neighborhood. Four of the projects will be at the homes of previous volunteers that have met the criteria. The fifth project will be at a location where the owner does not have the ability to personally participate in the program due to physical or mental limitations. After completion of the five projects, that person will have the financial resources and volunteer labor to complete their own project. “Rejuvenation” can mean installing sprinklers, painting the house, building a wood deck, cleaning up a yard that is over run with weeds and large, over bearing trees. Installing pride in the city, one house at a time!

I believe the city is on the right track with making the downtown area an arts and entertainment district. Free parking should be allowed after 5pm. There should also be a stimulus package put in place where grant monies are allocated that would boust residential revitalization and growth.

The Redevelopment Agency or RDA is the primary vehicle for rejuvenating downtown and older neighborhoods. The RDA is a state mandated agency that is an adjunct to the city council. City council members are the board members who direct this agency. Other methods to improve older neighborhoods include the “no neighborhood left behind” program started a few years. I do believe it is important to maintain our older neighborhoods not only for the residents who live there but also to encourage more infill development. In the next four years, it will be difficult to fund many worthwhile projects in Fresno. I do believe, however, that we need to keep maintenance of older neighborhoods high on our priority list.

Running Horse offered a promise of a PGA golf course and a large, upscale residential development in West Fresno. From my many years of experience in real estate, I knew that the success of Running Horse was problematic at best. In the best real estate market in the past 100 years the luxury homes could not be sold. I believe we need to be more realistic in future developments trying to restore neglected areas like West Fresno. We need smaller, first time buyer home tracts in areas like West Fresno that will offer residents the dream of home ownership at affordable prices.

The City needs to do all it can to rejuvenate its aging—and ailing—neighborhoods, many of which are in District 4. It is unconscionable that some neighborhoods have more access to City services and amenities than others and that we have not been committed to providing the additional services, amenities, maintenance and attention our aging neighborhoods deserve. To rejuvenate these neighborhoods, we need to reallocate our “rejuvenation” resources to the neighborhoods with the greatest needs, place all of our neighborhoods on a regular maintenance schedule, make sure we are diligent with code enforcement in all areas and that our amenities—parks, libraries, schools, public transportation, retail, access to City government, etc.—are similar throughout the City. I support both large-scale projects and smaller-scale projects as long as no individuals have their property taken away from them for the benefit of a private developer. However, in District 4 and in many parts of our City, we don’t need “projects” as much as we need re-attention to providing the City services and amenities we promised to our residents when their homes were first built.

My staff and I have taken a “hands on” approach in our neighborhoods in District Four. Each area has special needs. Currently, we are addressing the needs of El Dorado park area with a Specific Plan that will be a blue print for other neighborhoods around the City. For some neighborhoods, it is simply addressing the needs street by street and house by house. For areas by-passed by development, a large plan may be necessary but allowing for smaller projects within that plan to give smaller builders a chance to get financing and thus a greater chance for success. There are no fast and easy answers to rejuvenate our older neighborhoods. Each takes steady and solid leadership the kind of which I have given of the last three years and will continue in the next term.

Large-scale “Running Horse” projects should be privately financed. The city didn’t ask the right questions about the viability of that project. But City Hall got the answers it was eager to hear and ignored the tough questions.

As to rejuvenating aging and ailing neighborhoods – Some homes, unique in character, when fixed up become gems to a neighborhood. Too often these structures have been ignored and left to suffer demolition by neglect. The refurbishing of existing housing stock can do more for the community than new construction. Fresno’s history of tearing down incredible buildings instead of seeking re-adaptive uses is a practice I do not and will not condone.

Right out of high school I got my first taste of civic participation and preservation when I joined my father on the “Save the Courthouse Committee.” That experience taught me the value of standing up and fighting for preservation. Sadly, it also taught me what it means to lose a very valuable and historic resource.

The No-Neighborhood Left Behind project put thousands of dollars into our neediest neighborhoods and that needs to continue. We also need to revise our Eminent Domain Policies to protect our homeowners and the owners of thriving businesses, and gives us the ability to take action against absentee owners who allow property to sit and deteriorate.

We need to continue our Neighborhood Partnership program that provides grant monies to homeowners who need assistance with crucial home improvement matters.

I believe small is beautiful. Projects like Running Horse are too complicated and run the risk of continuing to embarrass our community. I have a record of improving neighborhoods one street at a time and believe in holding homeowners responsible for keeping their neighborhood clean. We must all play our part by taking responsibility for our own home. I do use and will expand code enforcement to ensure our standards are followed because we shouldn’t let a few ruin it for all of us.