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Subject: Support for the West Area Neighborhood Specific Plan Dear Councilmember Arias,
I am writing to express my strong support for the approval of the West Area Neighborhood Specific Plan. I am the Lead Pastor of Refinery West McKinley which is impacted by this Plan. I am frequently involved with the community that the West Area Neighborhood Specific Plan would empower. I see firsthand the challenges and opportunities in this community. I attended some of the earlier meetings for the West Area Neighborhood sSpecific Plan.
This plan is more than a planning document—it’s a roadmap for smart, inclusive, and connected growth in one of Fresno’s most overlooked regions. It provides the framework needed to:
• Align development with complete streets and safer infrastructure. • Attract investment into key corridors and community-level businesses. • Expand parks and recreational spaces that improve public health and livability. • Focus growth inward through infill, rather than unchecked sprawl. • Position the area for state and federal funding by defining clear priorities and project areas.
This plan reflects years of resident engagement and collaboration through community meetings, advisory groups, neighborhood forums, and partnerships with schools and local organizations. I believe it is time to move forward past the conversation to enable this community to be walkable, livable, and for actions to reflect words.
Approving this plan would send a clear message that Fresno values equitable planning, regional connectivity, and the well-being of every neighborhood west of Highway 99.
Please support the West Area Neighborhood Specific Plan.
Sincerely,
Rev Ben Sosa
Refinery West McKinley
3014 W McKinley Ave, Fresno, CA 93727
From: Alisia Yang
Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2025 1:25 AM
To: Br
andon Vang District5
Cc: Annalisa Perea District1 Mike
Karb
assi District2 Miguel Arias
District3 T
yler Ma xwell
District4 Nick Richards on
District6 ; Nels on Esparza
; District7
Subject: Please Support the West Area Neighborhood SpeciƱc P lan External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Dear Council Member Brandon Vang,
My name is Alisia Yang, and I am a proud resident of the West Area and a parent of young children who walk to and from school every day. As a mother, nothing worries me more than knowing my kids and others have to walk on incomplete roads without sidewalks or safe crosswalks near schools like Harvest Elementary, Glacier Middle School and Justin Garza High. Everyday I see students and parents navigate unsafe streets that should have been Ʊxed years ago — and it breaks my heart that something so basic as safe routes to school is still missing in our community. I see it too often and for too long, I have taken photos to prove and share what is taking place in our neighborhoods.
But it’s not just about the roads. It’s about how forgotten our side of Fresno feels.
We don’t have enough grocery stores to buy simple necessities like fresh food for our families. We don’t have a police station nearby or enough oƯicers on patrol to make us feel truly safe. Many of our streets are cracked and need repaving, our infrastructure is worn down, and access to basic health care — like local clinics and dental o Ưices — is far too limited.
We have beautiful agricultural land here, too — open Ʊelds that remind us of Fresno’s roots and feed our city. West Area is culturally diverse and there are many Southeast Asian farmers who also contributes. The land deserves to be protected, not pushed aside by unplanned growth. For too long, this side of town has been neglected and left behind. We deserve better. Our families deserve investment, safety, and opportunity.
That’s why I am asking you, from the heart, to please vote yes on the West Area Neighborhood SpeciƱc Plan. This plan is not just a document — it is hope. It’s a promise that our children will have safe streets to walk on, that families can Ʊnd healthy food
nearby, that small businesses can grow, and that the West Area will Ʊnally feel connected to the rest of Fresno.
For years, residents like me have attended meetings, parent gatherings, and community events to share what we need and what we dream for our neighborhood. We’ve been patient, persistent, and hopeful. This plan represents our voices — our vision — for a safer, stronger, more vibrant West Fresno.
Please stand with us and show that our community matters. Vote yes on the West Area Neighborhood SpeciƱc Plan and help give our families the chance to thrive right here where we live, work, and raise our children.
Sincerely,
Alisia Yang
Concerned West Area Resident and Parent