What Do Your Think About Roses and Thorns Awards?

I have a proposition for you, dear reader. Help me decide if we should enact a Roses and Thorns Award program to highlight the good and not-so-good development in Fresno. A little history is in order.

When I was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the early 1970's, the local newspaper--The Capitol Times--sponsored an annual Orchids and Onions Award competition. More than 250,000 Madison residents eagerly anticipated the awards that were annually given to the best and worst developments or landscaping. While those receiving the Orchids were understandably very proud, most of the attention was drawn to the Onions, the height of embarrassment for the recipients. The negative characterization that went with the awards often led to the development or landscaping being improved.

My wife and I had an "up close and personal" experience with an Onion. As the on-site managers of a large apartment complex--University Courts--we were surprised when the owners of the complex installed green cement instead of landscaping between the sidewalk and the curb fronting a major street. You guessed it; University Courts received one of the dreaded Onion's that year!

Fast forward to 2001 when I was elected to represent the northwest quadrant of Fresno on the City Council. Taking a small leaf from my experience in Madison many years previous, I established an annual Orchids Awards for commercial properties and residential homes in my council district. A local park was renamed Orchid Park as a permanent recognition of those businesses and individuals that contributed to the beautification of the district.

Similar to my former Orchids Awards is Tree Fresno's Cityscapes Awards that recognize the integration of good building and landscaping in Fresno and Clovis.

My question is this: Is Fresno ready for a new award--Roses and Thorns--that would be far more controversial than current or former recognition programs because it would also shine a light on developments/buildings that detract from that which is good about our community? And if so, would the compliments and crticisms really accomplish anything?

You are encouraged to share your thoughts on the concept of a new Roses and Thorns Award program.

Think of it this way...We can do better than having to settle for the 'no' in Fresno.

Coming Soon. . .

1. Street-legal golf carts in Fresno: Give them the green light!
2. An update on your local community college.
3. Scheduled and Unscheduled Public Communications at a typical City Council meeting.

Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail me at abriancalhoun@gmail
.com.