I'm losing faith...
It's laughable that Autry wants to help downtown and then spends most of his time at Champlain and Perrin or Fort Washington or whatever other place that is closer to Madera than downtown. (That is, the time when he's not kissing the boots of the govanator) He's a perfect example of why downtown is doomed to failure unless there is a drastic change in direction. Sadly, this change is not coming.
Here's a thought. Downtowns are designed for businesses and government and when the mayor wont even do business there, you have a major problem. Slapping up a few parking garages and lofts isn't going to do anything to help downtown. It's all lipstick on a pig.
Autry needs to be a real leader and not just play one on tv. Start by doing business downtown. The next step is to make proposals that will actually work for OUR downtown. Not what has worked for other downtowns. Look at our assets, our needs, and our strengths. Then plan.
Here's a rought outline that Autry could follow...
1. All government employees will work downtown (exceptions being made for people who have to work elsewhere due to the nature of their job - people like garbage men, etc.). All government business will be conducted downtown.
2. Tax incentives/land grants for businesses to relocate downtown. At the same time, take buildings held by absentee landlords who are not making the necessary improvements via eminent domain. This has been done in every other major city with a downtown revitalization movement and the Supreme Court has said it's legal. Landowners cannot delay the project for their own greed or apathy. Property is a bundle of rights - but you can't excercise those rights to hurt others.
3. Remind Zinkin, Kashian, et al, that their power comes with responsibility to the City of Fresno. For too long, they have grown fat off of the city without giving back. They are not being good stewards of the community. Politely tell them that if they don't start behaving, their projects will not be approved. Period. Maybe even consider filing lawsuits against them.
4. Parking meters run only from 9 am to 5 pm. Even on "event" nights.
5. City contracts go only to businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to downtown.
6. Provide a 5 to 10 year moratorium on real estate taxes in certain residential zones in and around downtown.
7. Attract a high-end hotel for business travelers and investors downtown. It's hard to sell the city when the best place to stay is a middle of the road to budget hotel. Even Trump's daughter stayed with friends rather than at a hotel.
8. Slash sales taxes in certain redevelopment zones downtown.
Just a starting point. But no one who is in a place of public service, not Autry, not these uninspired mayoral candidates, is advocating such things. They offer only lip service, but lip service and business as usual is going to leave us behind in the coming decades.
Think about this. Every new "development," every new office complex that is built on the fringe, is a little extra hurdle that is palced in front of any mass-transit plan. And that necessarily leads to increased pollution, and accordingy to the Bee, decreased access to physicians.
A revitalized downtown will not cure all evils of this town. But it will at least be a step in the right direction. And it will be a victory for all of us. Yes, even Zinkin and Kashian.
Appliance Parts
Really, do you have to complain again? Shutting the fuck up isn't an option?
I think may things need to be changed
Downtown is a problem I think because fresno allowed it to become one. If there are people holding off for an investment to pay off then I think it would be best to not gripe personally about it as it is THEIR buildings honestly.
Should there be improvement? of course but at what cost. Should the current owners give up the buildings so it would make a nicer looking and more income generating place?
As far as the bums, personally I think they need to not be given money by anyone so they can't buy drugs and alcohol. Why feed the addiction and if it comes to crime to pay for any addiction then they end up where all the other criminals go in the end.
I think that if they were allowed to actually fall on their face and hit rock bottom they would either have to pull themselves up or starve. Most know there is always a way out whether by begging or by getting a hand out at a shelter.
I think fresno should look at other cities that do not have a homeless problem and see how they were able to accomplish that and if possible if a duplicative scenario could be done.
It should be illegal to stay somewhere that you do not own or pay rent to plain and simple. If homeless want to be in the city then they should have to pay rent just like everyone else.
So many people look for a handout and everyone cries when we have homeless BUT no one really cares if they ever realize that they need to take care of their own just as everyone else has to do.
Why should some get free food, free place to stay, able to drink and do drugs and not have to pay taxes and those of us who do the total opposite get looked down upon when we get mad at people who are just around to live off of other people.
Credentials
Hi and thank you for the questions.
The Jefferson Awards for Public Service list on their website, the people that won in certain categories. If you would like verification, you can check with channel 47's news anchor Ken Malloy as channel 47 is the media partner for our area. They can also verify the congressional award as it was presented to me during a luncheon sponsored by cannel 47 and Granville homes. I earned both awards in 2007. If you look at my myspace site, you can see my wife and I at the Jefferson Awards in Washington D.C. in the pictures section. I am also willing to show anyone interested a copy of the program that has a listing of all of the winners nationwide. The awards were presented in June of 2007 and therefore, are now located in the archives, I am sure. I can also fax a copy, but to be honest, anyone can make up an award. The best thing to do is to either contact channel 47 and tell them that you are trying to verify that Jim Boswell is a Jefferson Award winner or as I said, you can set up a meeting and I can bring the awards to prove what I say.
What you will find with me, is that I sill ALWAYS speak the truth and I answer questions honestly and stright forward. I will never dodge a question like most politician's do.
Thank you and please email me with any further questions at jboswell@comcast.net
Jim Boswell
credential check please
jim, i'd like to ask you about this quote:
"I was awarded the National Jefferson Award for Public Service in Washington D.C"
so, i'm looking at the long list of past winners of the award, in all of the different categories, and i'm having trouble finding your name. what year did you win in? and why did the official site of the award omit your name?
also, on the kmph 26 community correspondent site states that you won a congressional award. can you give more details on this? i have been able to locate any details on what you were awarded, other than the claims you have made here, there, and on your myspace account.
Thank you for your email. I
Thank you for your email. I appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to find out what I have to say and my words instead of believeing everything that is written.
First, please call me Jim. I have said before that I am a regular guy and since you have taken the time to contact me, I would appreciate it if you call me Jim.
As for the answers to your questions:
1. The Bee, although a good newspaper, have writers who tend to paraphrase, get some facts wrong and even add their own take on things. I have unfortunately had to deal with this quite a bit. While working for, at the time, Pacific Bell, I fell from 30 feet. The working height of telephone workers is at about 24 feet or so. Since I am 6' 3" tall, I was actually at about 30 feet up on the pole. I can't help it when writers write what they want or what they remember. However, it is actually on record that the fall was from 30 feet.
The best way to get the real story is to do exactly what you have done. Ask me personally.
2. Let me make this VERY clear. I believe that the United States truly is the greatest country in the world. I do however, feel that some of our people, mostly politician's, are what is wrong with our country. My comment did not reflect that I did not love my country. It reflects my disappointment and frustration with the fact that our politician's are corrupting the idea of the greatest country and the best political system in the world. As for the pay and staffing levels of our police and firefighters, teachers and our people, I have many plans. You can see some of the plans I intend to implement at www.myspace.com/jimboswell2008 and I will forward my "plans and benefits" package for you to read. As I said, these are the plans I will be implementing as well as working with the council and the people of Fresno in order to increase the benefits and pay of the people of Fresno. Of course, I would like you to contact me if you still have questions after reading the plans and benefits package.
3. I have stated more than once and I stand by my statement that one of the first plans I will implement is to cut the pay of the mayor and every council member by 30%. Yes, my own pay as well. This should create a surplus of almost $200,000 annually. Because our mayor and council have created such a mess of our budget, I have come up with specific plans that will create surplus funds. I have done so because I realize that I will not be able to take from a budget that is already in crisis. However, the fact is that the people of Fresno still need financial assitance. So, I figured out ways to creat surplus funds in order to pay for my plans. I have asked every council member candidate why they believe that they are worth so much more than firefighters, police officers, teachers, construction workers and most business people. The fact that the average person in Fresno makes $38,000 per year and the council voted to raise ther own salary to $65,000 is absolutely disgusting to me. It is the epitome of corruption and shows how our politician's have taken advantage of our city. Of course, I have been ignored and not one council member has responded.
4. Again, the Bee writers tend to write what they want. I spent over an hour and a half on the phone with the writer of that article and he still got most of the information wrong. First, I earned my degree from Rochville University. It is out of Maryland. Now, as I have unfortunately found out a couple of years ago, that there is someone or some company that from my understanding, is based out of somwhere in Europe that has one of those "mills" and they are printing out degrees from many different colleges including Fresno State, as I undersatnd it. My degree is legitimate and my wife, a teacher, can confirm the many nights that I was up studying and such. Of course, people will believe what they wish. My belief is that I really don't care if someone has a degree or if they don't. I know doctor's with no common sense and I wonder how they made it through school and I have friends without a degree who work in construction and they are some of the most intelligent people I have met. Never the less, I would appreciate it if you would stay in contact with me as I will asnswer any and all questions you have. You will find that I will answer honestly and straight forward. I am a regular guy and I decided to take this endeavor of running for mayor on because of the encouragement I have received from my family, friends and many Fresno residents. Most of the encouragement came shortly after I was awarded the National Jefferson Award for Public Service in Washington D.C. for my work in making a difference for the people of our city.
I have overcome adversity in my lifeworked very hard and been very lucky as well. I was born and raised in Fresno and like most Fresnans, I have become frustrated, saddened and disgusted by the politician's who have forgotten that they work for the people. I will not forget this and I honestly believe that after you read the plans and benefits I have, you will find that I have thought out in detail, the work I have ahead of me as mayor and I will work dilligently to make positive differences in our city and for our people.
Thank you for your time and please contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Jim Boswell
Jim,
I have looked at your Myspace pages. Thank you for your responses, it is important for a politician to communicate directly with the people who cast their vote. As you are well aware, Autry has not been the most available to the public unless you are drinking expensive coffee in River Park. I will be asking all of the candidates questions as the race goes along, hopefully they will all be as responsive.
I found many of your editorials interesting and they expressed frustration through plain talk.
Again, thank you for your response and good luck with your run for mayor.
Suburban conservatives bitching about "crazy street people"
It is truly the height of irony to hear suburban conservative Fresno-types bitching about the "crazy street people" in downtown Fresno when, first of all, there really aren't that many people AT ALL downtown, let alone street people, and, for another, we all know it was conservative poster boy and "Hollywood Actor," Ronald Reagan who, while governor of California in the 1960's, gutted social services spending that included mental health care and mental institutions.
Mentally ill people were literally led out of these closed facilities, placed on buses, driven to downtowns throughout California and dropped off to fend for themselves, where they added to the decay already induced by racist white flight and conservative-owned oil and auto companies that gutted mass transit spending, funnelling nearly every available public dollar, instead, to highway, freeway and road construction.
They ought to round up all you conservatives and liberal-in-name-only suburbanites and ship your butts off to Guantanamo for some waterboarding!
How about a Mayor committing to keep taxes where collected
Spend tax dollars in the neighborhoods their collected in.
We need a real Christian as Mayor not Bubba.
It's time to condemn and flatten all the old motels and get rid of the Motel drive/Parkway prostitutes/drug houses.
It's time to get rid of the Adult bookstores too.
No family want's prostitutes and condoms in their yard.
Hopefully we can keep the Tower Circle closed permantly.
Atleast it's closing elimanated the drug dealings and violence it attracted to the area.
Hopefully the City can clean up Belmont next.
Bubba preaches love the sinner hate the sin.
But he does nothing about the sin.
Maybe this election will be the election for change.
Maybe Pastor Franklin should run for Mayor.
Mayor race
Mr. Boswell,
I am researching candidates in the upcoming race and would like more information about you:
1. In a Fresno Bee article 3-28-2002 it states you fell from 15 feet above the ground. In recent posts and articles, you state it was 30 feet. Why the change?
2. In a Fresno Bee editorial 1-4-2005 you state "Our police, firefighters and teachers are underpaid and understaffed, yet our government has bombarded us with so many lies that some Americans actually believe we are still a great country." As mayor, what would you do to correct the pay and staffing levels in Fresno and do you believe America is a Great Country?
3. In a Fresno Bee editorial 2-28-2005 you suggested that Fresno's elected officials take pay cuts of 30% to finance their plans. Would you as mayor be willing to take a pay cut to better finance Fresno?
4. In the Fresno Bee article announcing your candidacy, it was stated that you had "a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Maryland-based Rockville University." According to http://www.rockvillemd.gov/residents/rockvilleu/ Rockville University is a free 8 week community awareness program sponsored by the city of Rockwell, MD. Can you confirm what institution you received a bachelor's degree from?
Thank you
I don't Tolerate them
I report them and get their camps torn down.
I also take pictures of them urinating in public.
I also take pictures of them drinking in front of liquor stores and report the stores to the ABC.
www.abc.ca.gov
We have ran most of them out of here.
Have a few stuborn ones but a good hosing of cold water when they dig thru the trash in the fog will scare them off.
For awhile it was so bad they were camping out drinking behind the Boys and Girls club beside south east area police station.
They were drinking and using drugs, and dumpimng and urinating on the grass.
Right where the kids play.
If you haven't noticed the tolarence crowd has tried to infect the pulic schools.
They preach the 6 rainbow pillars of chracter.
Only thing missing is the pink pillar of Tolerance..
The vagrant advocates feel they have the right to do as they please even molest little kids.
Most of your vagrants are felons and perverts anyway.
They tend to loiter in parks, laundrymat and in front of stores near schools.
Dunk perverts playing with themself in public and exposing themself is mentally molesting those school children.
Had a few bug me for money and try to get in my face.
I cracked their ass.
Like Fred Sanford said, "I'll give you five of these".
I'll walk right in the laundry mat where they drink at and snatch the 32's and 40's and throw them on the ground.
Then tell them to get the "F" out.
Something is definatly wrong if it's not safe for children to walk to school.
Just remember Elect Mike Dages Mayor and the whole City of Fresno will look like Butler Ave. between Hazelwood and 7th street
You have been Warned!
Tolerance and the vagrants
Orangebear, I couldn't have said it any better. The so-called "homeless" have made a choice to live their lives on public (and sometimes private) property.
They enjoy the freedom of not having any responsibility whatsoever. They can enjoy, with drug crazed abandon, respect and tolerance of decent people like us who have been shamed into not saying or doing anything to clean up our community. They are vagrants - not homeless.
The vagrants have cheerleaders. The folks who should know better who tell us the vagrants are victims of an unfair economic system that benefits only the rich and we let the "white guilt" get to us.
Are they violent? No, as long as you comply when confronted by them for money. Sounds like I don't doesn't it? I've had my share of run ins with the vagrants because I tell them to get lost when they "ask" me for money. Most folks meekly comply so to say the vagrants aren't violent is true - at least for them.
As long as advocates for the so called "homeless" exist you're gonna have a hard time cleaning up our downtown or any place taken over by vagrants.
I won't listen to people who whine, "wahhhh...you need to be tolerant". Why do decent people have to tolerate the intolerable?
The FAX director told me they have the right to bring them on
It's usually not just one bag.
It's 10 to 15 big black trash bags.
Which they pile on the floor and seats.
Plus the driver has to wait while they load and unload the bags one at a time.
You want gross.
One poor girl from City College had sandals on.
I was sitting near her and the bum dripped (soda?) on her toes.
I told the FAX director if it would have been my foot I'd have thrown the old boy and his bags off the bus.
Then you got the ones with the wheelchairs.
They shouldn't be allowed to bring wheelchairs on the bus if they don't use it.
They have the wheelchair piled with the bags or junk..
So it delays the bus because the driver has to use the ramp so they can get on and off.
Plus it takes up atleast 4 seats.
The 3 seats the wheel chair takes up plus the 1 the bum sits in.
One lady got mad when I said I was not giving up my seat and moving.
People don't understand.
You do not have to give up your seat on the bus for anyone.
There is no law that says you have too.
If someone is really disabled or a senior citizen it's a nice thing to do.
But the driver can't force you too.
Especially not for a load of trash bags filled with garbage driping all over..
Why is that allowed?
I don't understand why they allow anyone to take bags of cans on the FAX bus. This shouldn't even be allowed. That is just plain gross.
Today at the Amtrack station, we were approached multiple times by the same man begging for change and cigerettes. He approached us in the parking lot at our car, then again near the platform where the trains load. It was bordering on harrassment. I don't understand why they allow this behavior to go on as well.
FAX needs to get the smelly bum problem in check
Saturday there was one old boy with a black plastic bag full of recycle stuff in the Tower waiting for the bus.
Bag was as tall as him.
Bag dripping all over.
Why is this allowed?
Soda, beer, and who knows what dripping all over the bus.
The there was anotherone at Fashion Fair yelling Mother F at his invisble friend.
When the bus pulled up he went beside the tree and started peeing on it.
Everyone could see him.
Yes Fresno FAX is safe!
aw jeez...
Tommy, I'm so sorry to have not included you in the orig. Christmas salutation... (please pardon my rudeness, -when I'm feigning dignified society and manners (not that I always feign, but when I feign, I feign thoroughly...)
On behalf of myself, and the staff of the Field Manor,
please allow me to wish you and yours a happy and merry Christmas... (and happy gnu-ear)
-keep'm flying.
-E
So, let me get this
So, let me get this straight. You read, or possibly participate in a "study", and that means that you know what you're talking about? I'm not an engineer, but I know how to turn a wrench. My point? Some things are so obvious that they do not require further study.
Fresno has a serious sprawl problem with no discernable downtown. You can point to the area bounded by 41-99-180 and say that is downtown, and in a technical sense, you are right. But that's not where business gets down. That's not where most people work. So why, then, do all the transit plans have arrows pointed downtown? Shouldn't they be pointed to where people work?
And how are you going to get people to ride a smelly, bum-infested bus/train, when just getting to the train will require either (1) a long walk or (2) a drive? It's been my experience in living in three of the nation's largest cities (all with large public transit systems) that public transportation is an option only when driving presents significant costs (in time, money, etc.)
Since you're so adept at studying, perhaps you can point me to a city that has (1) no centralized core of business activity, (2) subdivisions with single entry/exit points, (3) and a functioning and viable public transit system.
Sure, there will always be greens who think that by riding public transit they are a part of the solution. Maybe they are, but that's not the issue. My point is that Fresno was not designed (at least not development in the last 80 years) to accommodate public transit. That is a serious challenge, one which you are blissfully ignoring.
I'm all for making Fresno a better place. But let's spend our limited resources on plans that actually make sense, given our situation.
I'll wait for that example city...
hmmmmmmm on de wordplay
well,
buggar meant offensively? no... not offensively,
kind of like walking up to somebody and saying, 'george, you crazy bastard, how you doing?'
-We're assuming that George is both sane as sane can be, and that his paternal link to this world is in fact 'known.'
jeux noel
French? Haitian? -one of the new owners of Pelco?
-actually a slight misspelling of french for Merry Christmas (joyeux noel)
(----seemed appropriate with the holiday bearing down on us as it presently is, is kinda classy, and always figured you to be a classy type...)
Roswell...
-actually there champ...
-Roswell (though known on a surface level,) for the 'alien autopsy,' and crashed ufo hoopla
--is actually better known as a developmnet site,
-with all sorts of interesting aircraft occasionally photographed zooming and zipping in and out of it's rather spooky lil runways...
-so they, (much like the Fresno you proposed as 'spaceport,') -might be a good place to check into, (you know, just to see who they have as a distributer for parts and supplies and such,
--and totally for those exciting XFiles-esque window treatments.)
So:
A recap
'buggar,' -well okay, we'll buggar off with buggar,
jeux or joyeux noel: ---not much into French, -but it looked so cool (besides Cinco de Mayo isn't for quite some time (though I may play it as a song while trasnferring planes in Denver.)
and Roswell...
-hey, if Starfleet Academy is your alma mater?
(doing that little spock hand salute,)
'live long and prosper.'
A supporter of my campaign for mayor told me about this.
My name is Jim Boswell and I am running for mayor of Fresno in 2008. Yes. I'm the "little guy that will make a BIG difference by working for the people".
I have been reading the blogs here and I like the great ideas and comments you all have. Although I would appreciate it if you would take a minute to read my plans and solutions on my, my space site, I firmly believe in listening to the people first and foremost. As mayor, I will have constant, "meet and greets" with the public in order to hear what the people have to say,listen to your concerns and then actually act upon your ideas. I have a real world plan for downtown that has been very well received and I have gained major support from the people of Fresno because of my plans and solutions. We all want a mayor that will listen to the people and who will end the personal agenda's of the politicians in our city. I will do just that. I will be adding video to the my space site soon, but you can contact me at any time to discuss my plans, receive a free copy of the dvd's where I speak about my plans for a better Fresno and of course, to offer your support. I am a regular working person. I am not wealthy and I have taken on this endeavor in the hopes of making positives changes to our politics and to work for the people. If you give me the opportunity, I will work for you and I can assure you that I will not let you down.
As I said, I am not wealthy and I would appreciate your support in order to help me win this very important mayoral race I am in against the very wealthy opponents who are backed by special interests and big business.
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Jim Boswell
www.myspace.com/jimboswell2008
orcaoid, you wild crazy
lets define "buggar", not sure thats what you meant, but sounds like an insult, no?
from: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=buggar
According to : http://www2.worldlingo.com/en/products_services/worldlingo_translator.ht...
"jeux noel" means "Christmas plays"
Huh?
I don't believe in aliens, I'm more for space travel & exploration, so "Star Trek" would be more appropriate, so Star Trek Academy in San Fran would be more like it
so, did you really want to say all those things?
my god
they're actually quoting 'jungle book...'
(patrick: start singing 'trust in meeeee,' for me, 'k, just as a christmas present...?
-I'll try to muster up a few lines from 'shut-down.'
-happy Christmas, sir...
(yule-too der hyphenator...)
orcaoid, you wild crazy difficult to define buggar, -jeux noel as well, (or with your propensity towards space travel, -Roswell.)
Looks about right. The
Looks about right. The higher the number the better the mode of mobility. We need a related measurement for time and distance. You may have discovered a new methodology for measuring preshiouusssh.
my prechiouusssh , <i>Part Deux</i>
huh?
so, how do you do the math? would this be considered the co-efficient?
car
170lb/2000lb = 0.085 ?
Schwinn 2008 World City/Commuter
http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/bikes_detail.php?id=979
avg bike
170lb/25lb = 6.8
person walking
170lb/170lb = 1
my prechiouusssh
Weight versus carrying capacity. The non-sustainable automobile is extremely inefficient; the most efficient of automobiles weights a minimum of 2,000 pounds, the average load is around 170 pounds. This inefficiency is reflected in the wasted effort of pushing cars all over the place. The western car culture has created an addiction.
When is it too late to make a shift of social behavior? After the funeral.
$800,000,000 worth of single-passanger cars pass Herndon daily
a couple of months ago, I remember hearing that 50,000 cars passed Herndon & 41 daily
I'm guessing its back & forth traffic
here's the point, if 80% are single passenger, we already have a waste of money, how can any one justify a $20,000 person-moving tin can?
whats the cost benefit ratio of personal freedom not to sit next to someone as you move 10 miles down the road?
we have:
cars * 80% (single-passenger) = x (total)
50,000 * 0.8 = 40000
cars * cost = current cost of 1 transit point of the FS-PTS*
40000 * $20,000= $800,000,000
* Fresno single-passenger transportation system (commonly known as "my car", "my baby" or "my precious")
$800,000,000 worth of cars pass one transit point? what an awful waste of money
Density
Tommy_Tower is correct in that the density of Fresno is a poor fit for transit to work. Our decades of sprawl has prevented a densely packed urban growth from occurring.
The poor air quality and the escalating price of gas may cause people to find driving is no longer inexpensive or healthy. This is the time to start planning for that time and to prevent the congestion that has become Southern California and other urban places.
A PRT (Personal rapid transit)system may help the less populated neighborhoods in Fresno acquire transit due to the cheaper price tag due to smaller employee requirements and smaller vehicle size and weight. The PRT can then be tied into other forms of mas transit like light rail, bus , car pool, walking, etc.
Air quality should be the reason we undertake this project but it will probably be the price of gas that forces the issue. Whether it is too late to plan a system like this is the real question.
Tommy Tower, you obviously
Tommy Tower, you obviously are responding without studying or apparently even the observing the Central Transit website. As you make the declaration that a privately funded and privately built transportation system is not workable in Fresno you speak as though you are one very satisfied with driving your car. That is okay by me and good enough for you; however, some other people are concerned about the environment and economic condition and are working towards an alternative mobility solution. You are not alone in your pessimism.
It is difficult to carry on a discussion from your negative and uninformed advice on how to build a more efficient transit system. Are you participating in COG’s PTIS or otherwise involved in community planning? For all of the others that may read this, COG is the Fresno County Council of Governments, which regulates the transportation issues for Fresno County. The voters passed the half cent sales tax last November (2006) which provides funding of the Public Transportation and Infrastructure Study.
Informed discussion regarding transportation is welcome, uninformed observation without fact concerning mobility displays a lack of serious concern about improvement for the community’s quality of life. Social interaction and economic stability relies solely on mobility capacity. Every part of urbanization in the Western car culture is designed in compliance to the capability of the automobile.
This ten year development has taken in the account of Fresno’s relative sparse population, median income, as well as many other criteria. The Central Transit & Development Corp transportation system is designed specifically to work in Fresno to serve as an alternative to the automobile.
Transportation is an issue,
Transportation is an issue, but I'm not convinced that public transportation is workable in Fresno, especially the newer neighborhoods. Developers have turned them into psuedo-fortresses, with single entry-exit points. If you live in one, it will take you a solid 15 minutes just to walk out to the nearest major road. Then you have to wait for the bus/train. Maybe you then have to transfer...
I think it's probably too much of a hassle for most people to consider. It might work in the older neighborhoods, built on a grid pattern with easy access to major streets.
Still, mass-transit becomes a viable option only when it is cheaper/more convenient than driving. So long as its easy to drive everywhere in town, mass transit seems more like a pipe dream.
It seems like a lot of people look at a light-rail system as some sort of marker that Fresno is officially a big city or something. But, in reality, mass-transit is simply an instrument. And we as a community need to seriously evaluate whether that instrument is appropriate for our own needs. If not, it will just be another white elephant, like the Chunk.
One issue guy: transportation
I’ve said it before and it is appropriate to mention it again: There will be no revitalization of Downtown without a mobility solution. Want to see the plan? http://centraltransit.com/business-summary.htm
Regarding the RDA’s version of revitalization, here is the link: http://www.fresnorda.com/stadium.html According to the explanation of the plan in The Fresno Bee, this project will be started when the City of Fresno purchases $110 million worth of property and gives it to the Forest City Development company. Forest City will then take that procurement to the bank to use as equity and get a loan to develop the property. Sweet deal for them; and the Council is bitching about buying $6mil to $8 million worth of property and then immediately selling that acquired property to Trump? Or am I missing something here?
Okay
Truce.
i agree with much of what you say, just not all of it.
i am from Clovis. funny, huh.
we can just agree to disagree.
its the Christmas season and i dont have the time or energy to fight this fight anymore.
i'd rather be feeding the homeless.
ta ta!
Enough of your Sociallist Tolerance
When the way they live and act affects the health and welfare of peoples right to live, work and do business they need to be sweep away.
They have no right to sit on the side walk in front of my house and drink or camp in my alley.
For alot of them mental illness is just another excuse meaning they want a government check to enable them.
It was even in the Fresno Bee about how some of them were complaining about welfare being cut off after two years and the Government was holding up thier paperwork to get them declared mentally ill so they can get a check.
If they are really nental they should be locked away where they can get help.
But most of them are not mental its all a scam to continue being enabled.
If they wanted help there is help available.
Why not take that welfare check or disability"crazy" check and use the money to build apartments and care facilitys to house them?
Contract with a company to provide meals.
But we can't do that the Socialists scream its their right to get that money and spend it how they choose too!
Your violating their rights.
What about the taxpayers rights to live in safe clean neighborhoods where children can walk to and from school with out old drunks in hanging out urinating in public and touching themself?
Just drive thru Mike Dages District and see what Fresno will look like if he is elected.
As for digging thru the trash, They are not recycling they are stealing from the City and the taxpayers.
They recycle to get money for beer and drugs.
As for respect, they have no respect for other people or property.
They just want their "fix".
But your not suppose to shoot them if they are in your yard stealing.
They have the right to steal because they are poor.
Your proprty can be replaced their life can't.
Thats why school airconditioners get broken into and the school bell was stolen from Scandanavian School.
Why do you think the downtown Stadium has to have 24 hour security?
They try to hop the fence to steal things or if a gates open walk right in.
You have a drug city hanging around outside the Rescue Mission and Poverello House.
Are you going to say that all those drug dealers, prostitutes, police officers involed with the trade, and drug users are all mentally ill?
You go to Clovis you don't see homeless camps and old crackys outside of every store demanding you, "Gives mes a quarter!".
Just look at the Library Downtown.
Librarys are suppose to be safe places and for children.
You have stolen shopping carts full of junk lined up out side and street people using the bathroom to bathe and wash up or shoot up.
But then people like you look the otherway, make excuses for them and allow this to happen.
Once one of them gets away with it, others try it.
Then it goes from one druggie living in the park bushes to a few hundred.
It's time people let the City Council know enough is enough and we don't tolerate illegal or criminal behavior in Fresno.
Actually......
i live in a very well established and safe neighborhood south of Ashlan and homeless people DO roam my hood every week digging thru our trash for cans and other recyclables. im not bothered by it. i dont think you will find any one homeless person on a winter night in Fresno, shivering in 32 degree weather there by choice. bad choices maybe but maybe its something else....
i think you need to take a course in sociology then another in mental illness. drinking doesnt equal homelessness by choice.
MANY of these homeless people are mentally ill, without health insurance and therefore self medicate through drugs and alcohol.
i cannot say i am fully educated on the plight of the homeless but i have taken many courses on mental health and my best friend treats drug addicted adolescents, many of whom often went undiagnosed with mental illness.
people like me dont look the other way, we practice tolerance and genuine respect for other human beings.
just because one doesnt like the way another looks, acts or lives doesnt mean we should then sweep them under the rug.
"Can I control it......."
No you can't but the City can and you can demand City Leaders do.
I bet you'd raise hell if they were sleeping in your front yard or decided they have the right to camp in your back yard.
It's people like you looking the other way that allows it to happen.
Then they think because you let them get away with it everyonelse should.
You said they are drunk.
That proves they are street people not homeless.
They are on the street by choice.
That beer and those drugs are more important to them.
Predators attack when they
Predators attack when they feel they have the advantage, not just when they feel threatened.
UGH!
Okay listen, i work downtown which means i have spent the majority of my life for the past 9 years downtown.
i may be biased but im going to address 2 topics; homeless folks and government buildings.
i come to work, 9-5 for the most part monday thru friday. i drive to work and daily i see at least 4 homeless "looking" people, meaning, they are less than clean, pushing carts, sitting in the freezing cold, looking miserable. they are harmless.
i drive by them.
occasionally i have to ask them to leave the breezeway of my office because i am usually the only person there early in the morning and they sleep there at night to the chagrin of my boss. do we care, yes. is it so dire that we need to poke and prod them like cattle to move away, no.
generally it goes like this:
Me(cute, seemingly harmless and fragile): Hi sir/ma'am, it's 7:30 i need you to pack up and leave now.
Them(dirty, homeless with a reputation for being harmful): blank stare, grumbling then begins to roll up the cardboard and blankets.
Me: walk inside brew some coffee take it out to the kind gentleman/woman
Them: grumbling, grabs the coffee, leaves. no thank you's offered.
sometimes i come to work at 8pm on a Sunday night because i need to use my office printer for schoolwork. this means entering a large building alone that is surrounded by homeless people and no one there to protect me.
am i scared, sometimes, but i'll be damned if i let fear keep me from my place.
it is dark, empty, even if i were to scream, there is no one there to help me. NO ONE! but living in fear is not living. i've encountered many street folks in the 9 years i've worked downtown and none posed a threat. even when they tried to be scary.
Are they always kind, hell no.
does that mean they are in turn mean? hell no.
they just do give a sh*t about me.
at the worst i get a woman who yells at me when i ask her to pick up her 40oz of beer. do i get a little scared? kinda. but really do i think she's gonna hurt me? no.
we all manifest our frustration in many ways. no ones plight looks like the others. i dont know what brought her to this place in life just like i dont know what brings any homeless person to the situation they are in. it is not my place to judge nor is it my place to live in fear.
so my point about this is, there is helplessness everywhere and with that comes the less fortunate and with that comes homelessness and living in an urban area means you are sometimes going to face it. but you keep on living and prospering and taking control of your situation and not letting the prospect of getting mugged, or raped, or murdered by a homeless person keep you from keepin on!
i dont think this whole homeless issue is really a matter of fear. i dont think the good people of Fresno are really TRULY afraid of it. what i do think is the level of snobbery is so high that we hide behind the notion of fear and let that be the arguement. what the issue is really is good old fashioned conceit and contempt for those less fortunate. as if in some way for some reason if our path is crossed by a homeless person we will somehow be infected. God forbid we, or worse, our children be exposed to a realistic fact of life.
This life is not an even playing field. we are not all created the same. its is truly the survival of the fittest or natural selection or whatever you want to call the idea that some come up and some dont. If you are so inclined to be prosperous, great for you. Most arent as lucky or driven. Im not going to get into the what's and why's of homelessness because im not homeless and to try to speak on the behalf of a society i dont know is ignorant.
i will say this, poverty is not contagious. neither is mental illness or drug addiction. use common sense. like any other predatory animal, most wont attack unless provoked.
Fresno's downtown is teeming with homeless people. leave them alone and they'll do the same. Does it make for a less beautiful downtown? yes but ALL large cities have an ugly underbelly. why are we any different?
As for the government buildings being accessed by only govt workers with a security ID or appointment that is false. BLATANTLY FALSE. usually you can walk into any building with as little as a CA DL. this is for the protection of the government workers, rightfully. But to say you cannot enjoy the beauty of the new Federal courthouse, say, or the City Hall is not a fact but an assumption. i walk into both those buildings and others daily with out incident. just try. then talk.
As for me, i love my downtown. the good, bad and ugly. its the mentality of those who are not immersed in it that i dont like and the fear of the unknown that is most ugly. Do i want dirty old men with stinky clothes and beer bottles in their baskets all around me? no i dont. can i control it? no i cant. do i stop giving back to my city because it isnt Stars Hollow? no, i keep giving.( see, Gilmore Girls)
i love Fresno, downtown the most!
You folks go ahead and stick to your River park and Fig Garden village where there are bigger pockets to pick. Check the crime rate in those places compared to the crime rate downtown. i bet you'll be surprised!
Billion dollar tour... blah blah blah
Hey I have this great idea lets spend our time and tax dollars to plan this tour of new government buidings that people can't even get into with out a security ID or court appointment (oh yeah, throw in some that have been around for over a decade). Then we will tell them, look we have spent a billion dollars in downtown the last year and things will be great. Then we can hold some bitch sessions where "leaders" can think about what "should" be done in downtown... blah blah blah....
Maybe we can all drink the Kool-Aid later too...
It did
I was downtown tonite.Things are back to normal down there. Over the course of 3 weeks, I have made several trips to the downtown area. The first time was on a Monday morning 8am. The area was fairly clean and decent. I saw a couple of street people.The next trip was on a Saturday nite 8pm. I didn't see anyone at all. The place was empty, it was spooky. Then I was out there this evening around 6pm. I wasn't impressed.It was dirty and I saw at least 50 street people near the Greyhound station, hanging out near Tulare Ave.
Like others have said. The mayor doesn't even like to go downtown to go to work. So why would business want to locate there. Why would I want to go there to live,work or shop. If the mayor doesn't believe in the downtown, then why should anyone else.
You all got mad when I reviewed Bubba's Shillion Dollar Tour
Just got home from Mayor Bubba's Shill'ion Dollar Tour
What happened to my dirty nasty old Downtown.
It was still there Friday at 5 PM when I was at the Kern Starbuck's.
The streets were swept clean.
Gone were the nasty street people that pester the honest working people.
There were no drunks passed out in Court house Park.
No Drugs were being sold by Bullmutt gangmembers at FAX bus areas.
No crazy nutt case roaming either.
Where were all the stolen shopping carts
During the tour we only saw one street person pushing a stolen shopping cart full of junk.
Another stolen shopping cart full of junk was chained up in front of the County Library.
The Fulton Mall was clean.
The fountains were clean and working on the mall.
The mall statues were clean.
Bubba must have had the City crews working overtime thru the night to get ready.
Downtown is never that neat and nice.
Arriving at the Chuck(Stadium) to catch a bus for the tour I knew something was up.
Mayor Bubba's shills and PR people were out in full force to show us the beauty of downtown.
But I knew somewhere the ugly darkness of Downtown was still there.
There were no big surprise on the tour.
The City buses and trolleys were immaculate.
They looked like they just came out of the factory show room.
Definitely not the puke, urine, and vomit smelling graffiti covered buses that roll thru Fresno daily.
Our tour guide was an older Asian women who claimed to work downtown but she didn't even know what or where most of the places she was talking about were.
The woman couldn't speak properly.
Half the stuff in her preprinted tour propaganda guide she couldn't understand or pronounce.
Yep she was very professional and was tax money well spent.
Most of the stuff on the tour were buildings everyone knows and has seen.
Starting with the Chuck a stadium that still doesn't make enough money to cover the expenses.
Then there was the Hobbs Parson Building being remodeled to house Fire Department Offices.
Why waste that money when the City wants to build a New Complex for Fire and Police.
Which by the way was missing from the tour.
We saw Buildings like the West America Bank which only has the bank the rest of the space in the building is empty.
The only business on that block Coffee Heads is long closed.
We saw the old Water Tower and Eaton Plaza.
Eaton Plaza approed by voters and taxes collected 60 years ago.
Just being ever so slowly built now.
We saw the "New" City Hall.
Why was this included?
It's not new?
Bubba was desperate to find things to add up to a billion.
If Bubba can spell a billion?
We saw the remodeled Santa Fe Depot which still isn't finished according to Bubba's grand plans for a Santa Fe Promenade.
The front of the depot still is empty.
We saw the remodeled Saroyan and spruced up Convention Center where the ice rink "may" be built.
No mention was made of the already cracked inlaid new walkway in front of the Saroyan's front doors or all the dying and dried up plants in front of the Saroyan.
Lots of the things on the tour were just Bubba's grand dreams and schemes.
A 60 million dollar trolley connecting Downtown to the Tower.
We all know it won't work and is a huge waste of money.
The river and lake Downtown that will never get done.
Yet Bubba views it as leaving it as his mark and legacy of Fresno's Mayor.
Since most of the things have yet to be done, it should have been then Billion Dollar Tour of things yet to happen or will never happen.
It was interesting to talk to developers and hear that the same reasons they don't touch Downtown is the same reasons most normal people won't go Downtown.
The parking and safety "AKA" street people issues.
But the main problem the developers cited was City leadership and permit process.
It's easier to build something new or in North Fresno then to renovate a Downtown building.
The City goes over every plan for an old building stricter then plans for new buildings and holds up plans for petty reasons.
Developers said it's not worth wasting money and time on being hassled by the City.
It was interesting to talk to the guy trying to sell the condos in the Security Pacific building.
He couldn't answer simple questions.
If you buy a condo where do you park and is your car safe.
Are you safe?
Parking would be in a locked and enclosed area underground not open to the public.
But you still have to get from that area past the public to get into the building.
How many robberies and stabbings have there been in that underground garage?
If you buy a condo, what happens if the building is not finished like Running Horse?
You lose out and lose your investment.
If you kept your eyes from being blinded by Bubba's shills you could see the dark parts of downtown lurking as clear as the graffiti on the bathroom walls of the stadium.
Why didn't the tour go thru China Town?
It was talked about but not shown.
Would the hookers scare the people on the tour?
Also left off the tour was the Kearny Palms shopping center.
There was a few more million.
The place is newer then "New" City Hall.
Maybe Bubba was scared of all them street people that loiter in front of Rite Aide demanding quarters.
Why didn't they show us the land the city bought for the new homeless that that they decided not to use?
They paid for the land?
What about the money they want to buy sheds and to landscape the area around the Pov and the Mission.
There's a few more million to add to Bubba's total.
By Monday morning it will all be back and the street people Dyer's Blue Shirts swept off the street will be sober and released from Sheriff Maggie's County Dog Pound.
By Tuesday morning Downtown should have reverted to its normal look.
Billion Dollar tour of crap
Yes there are plans to spend a lot of money revitalizing, but most of it has gone to build buildings like the federal courthouse, but who wants to go to a downtown to see a federal courthouse? They need to use the money to build things that will draw people with money to spend to the the downtown area.
Unemployed and have tapped into my neighbors wifi.
The Golden Triangle (downtown redevelopment)
didn't the City's redevelopment agency spend or plans to spend 500 Million Dollars for downtown Fresno projects?
fresnorda.com - Vision 2010
I don't think anyone is
I don't think anyone is saying that Fresnans will flock downtown to follow the mayor.
The point is, how can you take any effort to revitalize downtown when even the mayor wont go there?
There is a difference. Granted, you actually have to comprehend what you're reading, but the distinction is there.
You really think fresnans
You really think fresnans walk in the footsteps of Bubba? That downtown would receive more business of only our mayor set us an example? Sounds like a blame game to me.
Professional kite flier
Autry
After moving here about three years ago I was intrigued to see that Alan Autry or "Bubba" was the mayor. I thought, that is cool my first city I live in California and I have a mayor who used to be an actor, how Californian! Now three years later, holy crap! How can people stand this guy! Have you ever heard his lame one-liners, please quit those Mr Mayor!
How does a mayor get away with spending his day at a gym and starbucks (way to support your local business owners Mr Mayor).
I have been studying poitics and government some time now and I can not understand how a city this size operates with a mayor who pokes his head out only when cameras are around. From recent developments like the zoo and the golf course it is obvious we are lacking some real leadership in the culture of Fresno.
I surely hope Fresno elects a much better qualified mayor next year. Henry Perea may bring a fresh youthful perspective, Ms. Swearengin seems to be involved, but saying she created 10,000 jobs is a little dubious (I would argue the market and employers created the jobs), but who knows, she may be good. Still undecided about the rest, Dages and Duncan seem old school to me.
Anybody has to be better than our current gym going, latte sipping, Govanator following Mayor.
Please Fresno, get involved and challenge your candidates to be a true elected representative!
OH! oh! OH!, I get it
Beautification
Beautification can go a long way to kick-starting redevelopment. Other cities have cleaned up the newspaper stands by building large ones that hold about 10 different papers. It looks a lot cleaner and doesn't get knocked over and all that.
I agree regarding the flea markets. The city is missing out on a lot of tax revenue, not to mention the fact that those places are where you go to fence stolen property.
Ideally, the city would raise (double, triple?) fines city-wide for violations relating to public nuisance issues and then spend the money on beautification, with a disproportionate chunk going downtown. I'm thinking things like the trash can problem, water fines, etc. Not only that, jack up the tickets for speeding, DUIs, red light violations, handicapped violations, etc. It could also step up enforcement of parking violations and charge higher fees to developers. Of course, no one is throwing these ideas around.
I really like the idea of declaring the triangle between 41-99-180 as a redevelopment zone. Slash sales taxes. Eliminate Real Estate taxes for 10 years. Preferential treatment for city contracts given to businesses located within that zone (or committed to relocating there in the immediate future).
If Autry, et al, did something like this, then I would believe they gave a crap about downtown.
Because they aren't (wont), it's up to us.
Sales Tax
I like the idea of a lower Sales Tax in the downtown triangle (99,41,180), I be that would boast businesses, just think that Office Depot would have the lowest prices than any of the other ones in Fresno and Clovis.
Why doesnt the City go after owners of vacant buildings downtown
They sure went after the old owner of the Hotel Fresno.
Was it becuase someone wanted that land and to tear it down?
The city lets buildings sit an rot all over.
The Futlon Mall if left a mall needs to be restored the way it looked whed it was frist done.
Restore the fountains and sidewalks.
If the City bans bikes ban shopping carts put locked trash cans out that bums cant dig thru.
Require all businesses to use locked dumpsters.
Do away with the 2 swap malls.
They are a major eyesore and being all cash businesses the city loss tax dollars day because they don't report all the sales.
Save the Historic buildings and ones that are special design but tear out all the 60's Square boxes.
Mke rules new buildings built must use old style designs.
Get rid of the food carts.
Let some cafes set up some outdoor patios fenced with wrought iron.
Get rid of all the newspaper stands too. They look trashed.
Especially the free newspaper ones.
Get rid of the crazy street preachers and let schedule local bands to play during the day on the stage.
If an owener wont repair or fix thier building take it.
The old JC Penny's would make a great community center and gym.
Imdoor basketball courts and raquet ball courts.
Maybe even an indoor soccor field downstairs..
Here's some more... 9. City
Here's some more...
9. City employees must live in the City of Fresno. And this should be verified every year.
10. Vacant strip malls, factories, etc., should be razed and turned into ag areas and non-profits allowed to grow produce on the land for food banks and local residents of limited means.
not bad
these are good suggestions/ideas. i'm curious to know if any of these are already in use? perhaps one of the city planners that spend time here on f.f. could lend some expertise about the viability of these suggestions as well as if any are currently being done.
i'm pretty sure we've done #2, not sure if we still are.
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