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I received a call about a month ago from Stephanie Mitchell, who asked me if I would attend a community event in West Fresno she was organizing in honor of her son, Andrew. Five years ago, Andrew was paralyzed in a senseless drive-by shooting the day after Christmas.  He was just 6 years old at the time.  I had never met his mom, Stephanie, but I came away impressed by her passion and enthusiasm for making a difference in her southwest Fresno neighborhood. The event was today and was a tremendous success.  It was an example of the effort being made by everyday people in Fresno to take back some of our most distressed neighborhoods to provide a better quality of life for residents. The Fresno Bee carried a story of a similar effort underway in Central Fresno.

A few years ago in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Brookings Institution published a report showing that Fresno has the highest level of concentrated poverty of any large city in the United States.  We all recognize that Fresno’s poverty rates are high, but this report really drives home the severity of the situation.  As Mayor, I will take the actions necessary to provide safe, quality neighborhoods throughout our city. Of course, City Hall can't do it alone. It takes neighborhood leaders, like Stephanie Mitchell, along with people of faith, schools, private businesses, and public agencies working together. The commitment of people like Stephanie and Andrew Mitchell gives me great optimism that we can be successful.

Just days after my blog entry about the need for the city to support downtown entrepreneurs with investments in basics like better lighting, pedestrian amenities, and security, the City Council voted to do just that. On a 5-2 vote (Councilmembers Jerry Duncan and Larry Westerlund voting no) the Council endorsed a plan to offer low interest loans for Fulton Mall improvements. Owners of property on the Fulton Mall will pay for the upgrades, so this is a hand up, not a hand-out. It’s a long-overdue step. Sometimes it’s the little things, done well, that pay the greatest dividends.

The Downtown Association held its monthly mixer last night in the old Gottschalk's building on the Fulton Mall. While I was there, I met Leo and Liz, who recently opened Cafe' Corazon on the Mall. These hard-working folks are up way before dawn every day roasting their own coffee and baking fresh breads and pastries for their customers. They are committed to their business and are making a personal investment in our downtown. What can and should the City do to support urban entrepreneurs like Leo and Liz? Well, the City should make it easier for all small business owners to navigate its paperwork and various regulations throughout the city. To support downtown businesses, specifically, the City should focus on providing a clean, attractive and pedestrian-friendly environment with amenities like directional signage, updated lighting, visible security, and sensible parking policies. Blighted buildings need to be brought up to standards to discourage vagrancy and vandalism - which have a negative effect on the image of our downtown. The City's own investment in our downtown is necessary to encourage the growth of more businesses, like Leo and Liz's Cafe Corazon.

Today, my family and I had the pleasure of celebrating the season with many of you by taking part in Fresno's Annual Christmas Parade. It was wonderful to see so many folks coming together in our Downtown to enjoy this outstanding event. There were more than a hundred parade entries from all across the community and thousands of spectators lining the streets. It was terrific to see all the smiling faces of kids, moms, dads and grandparents along the parade route. Thanks to everyone who gave us a smile and a wave as we came by! And hats off to the city's Parks and Recreation Department for a great job coordinating the parade.

From the Swearengin family, best wishes to you and yours for a Merry Christmas, a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year. 

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