To: Mayor Jerry Dyer of the City of Fresno, Councilmembers Nick Richardson,
Brandon Vang, Nelson Esparza, Analeesa Perea, Miguel Arias, Mike Karbassi, and Public Works Director Scott Mozier
We respectfully ask for an immediate termination of the South Blackstone Smart Mobility Strategy (SBSMS), a city plan that aims to redesign Blackstone Avenue by narrowing vehicle lanes, expanding bike lanes, and adding pedestrian infrastructure in an effort to encourage alternative transportation. While this might sound progressive, it fails to consider the current reality of Blackstone Avenue, where businesses are already struggling to survive.
The 2019 SBSMS does not address the true cause of Blackstone’s decline, the
homelessness crisis, not the lack of pedestrian or bike infrastructure. Numerous
businesses have either closed or relocated because of encampments, crime, and vandalism along the corridor. Since the plan was ratified by the council, the post-COVID-19 economy has seen a precipitous fall in businesses, down 50%. The city’s top priority should be reviving businesses and addressing homelessness, not reducing lanes or disrupting traffic flow.
Moreover, the city must recognize the lessons from failed infrastructure initiatives like the Fulton Street revitalization project in Downtown Fresno, which cost millions but did little to revive the area economically. The SBSMS, despite requiring minimal City investment, would involve nearly nine months of disruptive construction, during which businesses may suffer and risk closure — putting my business and many others in jeopardy.
Because of these factors and countless more, we respectfully ask the city to
terminate the SBSMS immediately.