FRESNO (KMj) – Fresno’s Mayor deliver’s the ‘State of the City’ address Wednesday, June 15th.
“Struggle” is the word Mayor Ashley Swearengin chose to describe her last 8 years.
The Mayor said long-delayed proposals like the water infrastructure, and Fulton Mall Reconstruction projects, Bus Rapid Transit, the Blackstone corridor, and Restore Fresno finally launched.
She initiated work on a citywide parks and trails master plan.
The Mayor claims 51% drop of chronic homeless during her tenure.
Public safety staffing got a nod, and she spoke of Police Chief Dyer’s effort.
She says there’s work left to do for the next administration.
The key to the city went to Artie Padilla, the Executive Director of the non-profit Every Neighborhood Partnership
From The Mayor’s Office:
Mayor Swearengin’s reflection on the City’s accomplishments over the past year included:
- Increasing staffing levels for police for the second consecutive year, and opening a fifth police district in Manchester Center to better serve Central Fresno and the Tower District;
- Increasing the Fire Department’s budget by 11% and increasing minimum staffing levels to 77, a dramatic improvement over our lowest staffing level of 63;
- Breaking ground on the Fulton Mall Reconstruction Project in March;
- Increasing staffing and resources for Code Enforcement and the Neighborhood Revitalization Teams to improve the quality of life in our urban core;
- Launching the Bus Rapid Transit project to provide riders with better service, increased safety and more amenities;
- Seeing a 51% reduction in chronic homelessness since 2009; and funding the Homeless Engagement and Resource Outreach (HERO) team to our communities outreach resources to work toward a “functional zero” homeless population by the end of 2018.
- Launching the joint use program with Fresno Unified and Central Unified School Districts to provide weekend recreational and green space opportunities on school campuses across our City and add almost 400 acres of green space for a fraction of the cost;
- Initiating work on a citywide Parks Master Plan and a Trails Master Plan update.
Video of the Mayor’s “State of the City” address will soon be available on the City’s website. A transcript of her remarks is attached.
