From: D SIMPSON
To: Clerk
Subject: Agenda Item ID 24-682
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 6:18:49 PM
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City council members,
HOPE...Four letters, one syllable, one simple word that has the ability to create so much power, and overcome the insurmountable.
Fresno was built on hope and dreams, it put us on the map, and made a barren land flourish to where we are today.
Fresno is in my blood, I've lived here my entire 64 years, and I'll die here. I've seen a small town grow to unbelievable proportions, some good, some bad, but I still call it home.
See, my family and I were extremely poor, we didn't have two nickels to rub together most times, but my fondest memories were going to the Fresno Fair on Ventura/Kings Canyon Ave (we couldn't afford anything like rides or games, we just went to see the animals, free concerts, etc and it gave us hope).
Special days were stopping at McDonalds and getting
frosties and sharing large fries between all of us. On Independence day, our family would go to the fairgrounds and watch free fireworks, because that is what America does.
The best memories were driving down Ventura, to Kings Canyon, to Kings Canyon/Sequoia Park, and rough camping 2 weeks out of the year.
When I say rough, trust me it was rough,
but my fondest memories are there because they created...Hope.
Hope made my family strive for more, work hard, invest and grow. It took a generation, but my parents would be proud.
Yet, here we are. I never thought a few people would ever have the power to tarnish my memories of Fresno, and yet here we are.
I'm being told a few people can tarnish and eventually erase memories of several thousand,, memories of the entire Central Valley, memories that go back generations to the present, because they say so, and yet here we are.
Honestly, it makes me grieve because my hope, my dreams, others don't seem to matter...Yet here we are.
We do matter...Shame on all of you for the pain you have caused, and will continue to cause, should you pursue what we the people are definitely opposed to.
Here we are and here we will stay-I do not support the California, Ventura or Kings Canyon name change agenda.
From: Chantelle Crossland
To: Clerk
Subject: Agenda Item ID 24-682
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 8:10:09 PM
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Dear Council,
I work downtown, and I love it. But the evidence is everywhere - just look.around- that renaming city streets is not where your focus and money should be spent.
When your house budget is upside down, you tighten your belt, cut back, cut out the frivolity.
Renaming ANY street, let alone streets steeped so deelpy in the history of this city/county...some of its earliest days, in fact, is a travesty and completely irresponsible spending of tax dollars!
There certainly have to be more creative, privately funded, ways to honor Mr Chavez, who, I have been told, would be rolling over in his grave over this.
You are entrusted to be responsible with not only the city's money, but it's history! This act of wasteful spending shows you are only interested in votes and NOT the best interests of the community you serve.
Renaming these streets is a DISSERVICE to this community. ALL it does is saddle small mom and pop shops and local residents with added costs...and divides the community even more.
Signed,
C Crossland
Concerned Citizen
From: Heidi Nakayama
To: Clerk
Subject: Save money on budget
Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024 8:42:49 AM
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Please do not rename our historical named streets in Fresno. It is a waste of money. Reverse your decision on the Caesar Chavez road naming. It is a waste of money.
Keep the Kings Canyon, Ventura and California Street names!!! Heidi Nakayama
From: Pauline Sahakian
To: Clerk
Subject: Renaming Streets a waste of money and community insult Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024 12:29:24 PM
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Fresno City Council Members:
I am appalled that you are stubbornly continuing with your determination to change the names of Ventura, California Ave, and Kings Canyon Blvd, even after such strong community opposition. Are you not supposed to listen to the community you serve? Are you so self-righteous that you feel you can bulldoze this action with no consequences? Are you so disrespectful of the history of our town as to erase it with this action?
You have neglected to consider that the names of these streets had and continue to have historic meaning to many lifelong residence in this city, in particular the Black community and the Armenian community.
Thus, your actions are clearly a
cultural grab whether you intended this or not. Chavez had no historic connection to any of the proposed street renames, but others of us do. Others of us feel this renaming is an erasure of our history whether you intended this or not.
Think about it: To spend a million dollars on something that so many oppose because it erases our history in this city is an insult to the community that elected many of you. Surely you can find other ways to honor Chavez. Perhaps the street in front of the school that carries his name?
Do not make this mistake.
Pauline Sahakian, Ed.D.
LRetired Educator
From: Ron Johnson
To: Clerk
Subject: Kings Canyon rename
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 6:26:11 PM
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Please do not change the street names. It is a very wasteful use of taxpayer’s money.
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