Mega residential project divides Fresno

In Fresno, California, an urban development and city expansion project is being proposed, but the plan faces strong opposition from the community and local groups, who have expressed concerns. Residents have been urged to participate in City Council meetings that will vote on the controversial project.

Daniela Rodríguez, a UC Berkeley intern and reporter for Radio Bilingüe, brings us the story.

A residential project promoted by the Fresno City Council, in coordination with Mayor Jerry Dyer’s office, called the Southeast Development Area Plan, which would cover approximately 9,000 acres of farmland in southeast Fresno, has generated months of political debate and public pressure.

Karl Andrés Gurney, a community educator with the Neighborhood Alliance organization in Fresno, California, has been informing residents about the impacts this project could have. Here, he explains why many people in the community disagree with this plan.

Every time the city expands, we have more air pollution and more problems with water access. And that process also contributes to the neglect of older neighborhoods in the center.

The plan, also known as SEDA, proposes investing nearly $4 billion to build 45,000 new homes and create between 30,000 and 37,000 new jobs. The city of Fresno says the project seeks to address the housing crisis, as rent increases in the city are among the highest in the country. Karl says that’s not the case, and that the SEDA project could worsen the affordable housing problem.

“We have a workforce that consists of immigrants, and those neighborhoods are more affordable, the rent is lower. So, with every expansion process, there are effects on the cost of living. Resources, especially those of the city, go to other parts of the city.”

Karl explains that the project could take resources away from other areas of Fresno with great needs and that, according to a city map, the SEDA plan would be located in an area that is not yet fully developed, which would mean major changes.

“The character of the streets, the amount of traffic, the displacement of farms, and all the work in the fields will not be normal. So, I immediately imagine the impacts on quality of life and the displacement of people living in this area.”

According to the City of Fresno, the SEDA plan seeks to improve air quality through a design that places homes, schools, and jobs within walking distance to reduce car use and polluting emissions, including other environmental impact reduction plans. But like Karl, experts point out that this mega residential development project would have a severe impact on pollution and air quality.

“That means more private vehicles using the streets, more traffic impacts, more air pollution.”

Reports also highlight that rural residents in the SEDA area could face mandatory fees of up to $100,000 to replace water and drainage pipes. And a report requested by the city of Fresno shows that developer investors would not pay the entire cost of the plan and that a significant portion could come from public funds, financed by taxpayers. This concerns Martha Rodríguez Torres, a resident of Temperance, where part of the project would be carried out.

“There are many other questions about where the money will come from. It seems that those of us who live here will be the ones who will have to pay for all this.”

Martha also doubts that the homes planned for construction will truly benefit the communities in the area, which are mostly low-wage farmworkers.

“What we want to know is how the people, or the community that already lives here in Fresno, will be able to benefit from these projects.”

She adds that the Fresno Planning Commission meetings on this project were not accessible to the public, as many were held during working hours and some were canceled at the last minute.

“We went to protest. There wasn’t even a discussion. They took it off the table immediately when they saw how many people came to speak.”

The Fresno City Council has scheduled a meeting for December 18 at 4:30 p.m., where they will vote on whether to approve or reject this plan.

Both Karl and Martha emphasize the importance of keeping the public informed, as this plan could also lead to the possible closure of schools in Fresno Unified.

Many thanks to Daniela Rodríguez, UC Berkeley intern and Radio Bilingüe reporter, for the information.

That brings us to the end of this news service. I’m Citlali Sáenz. Take care, and we’ll hear you tomorrow.