My September 1, 2009 blog was titled, "Do Kids Ride Bikes Anymore?" As a life-long bike rider, I lamented the decline in bike riding by young people. I did, however, point to the fact that in Fresno and in many other communities throughout the country, biking by adults has been very much on the ascendancy.
Since writing that September blog, I have been exchanging a number of e-mails with Bryan Jones, City of Fresno Traffic Engineer, who has brought me up-to-date with some very exciting bicycle initiatives being taken by the city. The goal is to make Fresno synonymous with "Bike City." Yay! You go, Bryan!
The challenge is difficult. The past decade has been productive when it comes to making American cities bicycle-friendly. This, in turn, has encouraged more bicyclists. Despite this, however, the U.S. Census Bureau's latest American Community Survey had sobering news about bicycling: Only about half of 1 percent of Americans bike to work.
A number of city planners are seeing that statistic as evidence that more radical bicycling strategies are in order. Linda Baker, writing in a recent issue of Governing magazine, says, "It's time to think beyond bike lanes, and start using bike-only traffic signals, traffic-protected 'cycle-tracks,' and other street designs that are common in European cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, where up to 40 percent of all trips are made on two wheels."
City of Fresno staff and bicycling enthusiasts are doing everything they can to meet these challenges. A Bicycle Master Plan for the city was started in 2009 and will be completed this Spring. A series of Master Plan Open House Meetings were held recently with the goal of transforming the city into a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly community. It is important to know that the Measure C half-cent Transportation Sales Tax includes money for implementing these projects over the next 20 years.
There are a number of exciting events coming in May for Bike Month. The main event will be the Million Mile/Corporate Challenge where Fresno challenges you, your friends, your workmates, your school buddies, your neighbor, your grandma...okay, everybody in Fresno, to ride a million collective miles during the month of May.
If you would like more information on The Million Mile May/Corporate Challenge and some other great events visit http://www.fresnobmp.com/, or http://www.ibikefresno.org/.
So, get out of your car and on your bike! It's a great way to have fun and experience Fresno, all while getting exercise and saving money on gas and parking.
When I ride my bike for pleasure or for work by riding it to the FAX stop where I place it on the rack for the ride to and from my teaching at Fresno City College, I always wear my velcro pants-leg ties with the letter motto, "It's never a bad day to ride." That says it all!
Coming Soon...
1. Where are our private sector leaders?
2. Public transportation and the tyranny of the cell phone abuser.
Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com.
The Golden Rule--"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"--is a wonderful guide to live by. But what do you do when you have a pet that you love (and spoil) that "does unto you" to the point where it has to be with you all the time? You know who you are, and you will readily recognize how Beau, the "very needy dog," takes such easy advantage of my daughter and son-in-law.
Beau is a four-year-old Havanese (the name comes from their initial birthplace of Havana, Cuba)--a designer dog. Beau, as you can surmise, is very spoiled and demands to be with my daughter all the time. Beau insists on plopping down on her legs (not lap, mind you, legs!) while she is sitting on the couch or a chair with legs extended to the Ottoman. This position leads to almost instant dozing by Beau. He gets annoyed if my daughter shifts her legs or gets up for some reason. Bed time means the needy dog at the bottom of the bed. My daughter's talking on the phone results in Beau's show of displeasure by chewing on the edge of the rug ("Naughty Beau! Get away from that rug!") When my daughter or son-in-law want to work on the computer as in the picture above, guess who insists on watching from a perch on the desk!
Beau camps in his "house" (Let's be honest; it's really an open cage) with a view of the front door which eventually my daughter and/or son-in-law walks through. My son-in-law even drives home at lunchtime from his job to take Beau for his mid-day beauty walk. They used to have a webcam to check on Beau from their offices but eventually decided to abandon it after watching Beau eat and sleep (probably dreaming of their return when he can again be spoiled).
The very needy dog is a magnet for people wanting to pet and discuss him whenever my daughter and son-in law take a downtown Santa Barbara walk. Beau, of course, eats up all the attention. He is probably saying something to the effect that, "I am cute, spoiled and I expect your undying love and attention."
Beau is not about to go to "doggie jail" when his owners go on vacation. It's either a "take me with you" or leave him with Grandpa and Grandma in Fresno. Then we get to have him on our legs (not lap!), sleep with him at the foot of our bed, have him wait for us by the door until we return and, and....
Beau
You may be thinking by now, dear reader, that needy pets like Beau are a new experience to me and my wife. Not on your life! We foolishly thought, however, that more than two decades of wonderful Yorkies--Pudd'n and Jasmine--had prepared us for needy pets. But Beau is in a special class of his own: A super needy dog!
In closing, I encourage all of you wonderful people with your very needy (spoiled) pets to just remember that you are not alone. Those clever pets are also applying the Golden Rule to you.
Hail to our needy friends!
Coming Soon. . .
1. Where are our private sector leaders?
2. Public transportation and the tyranny of the cell phone abuser.
3. Fresno wants to become "Bike City."
Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com.
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mimms' previous early release of prisoners from the County Jail and recently announced plans to release more due to budget constraints is both bad policy and irresponsible. Statistics on repeat criminal behavior by released felons is irrefutable. Release them early and most return to the same neighborhoods and friends that got them into trouble in the first place.
Throughout most of the United States violent crime has actually been falling for some time. This is also true of the City of Fresno and Fresno County. A major reason for this decrease in crime is the implementation some years ago of community-based policing and the adoption of New York City's ComStat crime analysis system. Equally important, however, is the swift capture, trial and incarceration of bad "boys and girls." Knowing that jail awaits the perpetrator and that release will not come for some time sends a strong message to would-be criminals. Releasing prisoners early defeats the whole purpose of capture, trial and jail. Citizens are put at significant risk.
A number of individuals have raised the concept of a special tax to maintain jail operations, thereby resulting in no early release of prisoners. While this may be an appropriate response to the financial problems facing jail operations, I believe that any consideration of a special tax requires the following actions.
First, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors needs to stop ducking the jail issue under the guise of "this is an issue for Sheriff Mimms." No, this is a responsibility for elected supervisors that make more than $110,000 to make important policy decisions.
Second, a citizen commission needs to be appointed to scrub the Sheriff''s budget and make recommendations regarding the operation of the county jail.
Third, and most important in the long-term, is for the appointed commission to work with elected officials and appointed police chiefs in Fresno County to consider much-needed consolidation of city-county law enforcement activities. For years, the Fresno County and City Chamber of Commerce has attempted, to no avail, to bring these elected officials and appointed police chiefs into a cooperative working environment where efficiencies of law enforcement could be implemented. The Sheriff and Board of Supervisors have managed to kick the issue of consolidation into a convenient dark corner where it can be conveniently ignored.
Yes, we need to have a jail where prisoners stay put until they can be appropriately released into the community. But No to any special tax until Sheriff Mimms and the Board of Supervisors start working together as well as create a special commission to provide an outside perspective to the serious problems facing the county jail and citizen safety.
Coming Soon. . .
1. Surprise! You have a very needy dog.
2. Where are our private sector leaders?
3. Public transportation and the tyranny of the cell phone abuser.
Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com.
The movie Field of Dreams famously said, "Build it and they will come." Guess what? They are already here!
The culmination of ten years of hope and hard work by residents living in Northwest Fresno to build a park complex that included recreation amenities for all ages, but with a special focus on baseball was realized on Saturday when Figarden Park opened to the public. It was a joyous, beautiful day in Fresno with adults and children enjoying the new park. Some, but not all, of the adults there for the opening were veterans of the long-running effort to bring Figarden Park to fruition. It's a credit to these citizens, primarily the baseball enthusiasts, that I can I tell this story of the Fields of Dreams.
As a candidate campaigning door-to-door in 1999-2000 for city council representing northwest Fresno, I received numerous requests for a neighborhood park, particularly one that had a baseball field. These requests were, I soon learned, not just something new. Former Northwest area council members and city mayors had also been asked for a park to serve the fast-growing northwest Fresno area. While I couldn't promise anything, I assured people when they asked about a park that I would do my best and make it a high priority if elected.
When I took office in January of 2001, I told my newly appointed council assistant, Ann Kloose, that we were going to do everything possible to build a park for the residents of Northwest Fresno. Dreaming was one thing; execution and delivering, however, was another.
Ann immediately contacted residents that we already knew wanted a park. An active core of the interested residents were members of or supporters of baseball leagues. We learned that the baseball community was diverse both in the ethnic make-up of its players and coaches, and in the expansive age range of its players. There were Tee-Ball players as young as five and Men's League players as mature as 57, sometimes from the same family. Some played the game in the spring just for fun, while others opted to join summer camps, fall ball leagues or travel ball all year long.
An active park advisory committee was put together and the long process began for making the case for the park, deciding what the park should include, paying for the park, and the actual building of the park.
Because of the rapid development of the Figarden Loop area, it was critical to purchase enough land from the developer or the park would never be a reality. The Southern California developer was told that I would not be supportive of further development of his property unless he sold a multi-acre parcel to the city at a very reasonable price. Negotiations were difficult, but they finally resulted in the very reasonable purchase price of $1.5 million.
Next was the citizen advisory committee reports of 2005-2006 Two citizen committees, one for the Northwest Park and another to recommend a master park plan for the City of Fresno, weighed in with their recommendations. The Figarden Loop Park Project identified the need for a baseball emphasis with one large field for use by older youth/adults and smaller fields of younger youth baseball leagues.
A decision was made to develop the park in two phases: Phase I would be to build four smaller youth fields on the vacant property owned by Figarden Elementary School. The available land was immediately adjacent to the multi-acre Phase II park purchase, would be built by the city and maintained by the Fresno Unified School District. The baseball fields would be used by school children during school hours and available fir general baseball youth leagues after school, holidays and during the summer. A true win-win for everyone.
The four fields were officially dedicated in the summer of 2007 with the first ceremonial pitch thrown out by Mayor Alan Autry and representatives of Fresno Unified. Use of the baseball fields began immediately.
After the dedication of Phase I, Ann and I turned to the final planning and financing of the much larger Phase II park to include a professional-size baseball field for adult youth/adults, playground equipment, picnic centers and a water splash center.
Major credit for helping to make Phase II happen is given to the Fresno Flood Control District that provided financial support for linking the Phase I baseball fields and Phase II park project by landscaping and seeding their flood control basin into a multi-use field, particularly for soccer.
Another generous partner helping to link the Phase I and Phase II park projects was Wathan Castanos Builders. This fine company financed the walkway from one park to the other as well as the walkway around the flood control basin.
A competitive bidding process led to the selection of an outstanding company specializing in the design of parks. After the design plans were submitted, adjusted somewhat, and then approved by the citizen advisory committee and the city's Public Works Department, bids were let for the actual Phase II construction phase. Granite Construction, a superb construction company, was the winning bidder with a bid that came in well under the estimate. Sub contractors were selected and construction was set to begin. A joyous public ground breaking was held in October of 2008. Work on the Phase II Figarden Park began soon thereafter.
The fully-completed Figarden Park was officially opened Saturday to scores of adults and children. The sunshine in January even permitted a "live demonstration" (children were waiting to get wet!) of the splash park section of squirting over sized baseballs, buckets dumping water, and a kiddie "body wash." A giant slide sent children winding down to the bottom, swings pushed by parents sent children into the sky, twisters swung kids around and around.
Only the professional-size baseball field was silent except for parents and their hoping-to-be baseball-playing children checking it out. Sunken dugouts, batting and hitting cages like the downtown Grizzlies waited to feel the cleats and sound of the crack of wood against rawhide.
It was a shame that the Fresno media did not cover the park opening. Good things do happen in these difficult times. The oversize bat and baseballs at the entrance to Figarden Park were a fitting silent welcome message for those entering: Many of you, as well as many of your friends and neighbors asked for this park more than 10 years ago. Your city helped make it possible. Welcome, everyone, to Fresno's fields of dreams.
Coming Soon. . .
1. We should not tolerate releasing prisoners from the Fresno County Jail.
2. Where are our private sector leaders?
3. Public transportation and the tyranny of the cell phone abuser.
Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com.
Perception counts! Just ask someone about Tiger Woods or South Carolina Governor Sanford. What about cars: a Yugo or a Lexus? Food? Would you choose ice cream over, say, arugula? Spain or Uzbekistan as a place to visit? Ask people for their view of Peoria (Illinois), Detroit, Buffalo, Barstow....or Fresno. (I have been to all these cities, and they all have their challenges, but they also have significant attributes). Rightly or wrongly, perception counts.
I moved from Glen Ellyn, near Chicago, to Fresno in 1988. I came for the job at Fresno City College (a first-rate community college), and to return to California which I really missed after an absence of 22 years. Glen Ellyn is a fine community, with a beautiful name, and proud residents. Fresno is a fine community, with a lousy name, and residents down on themselves and the city. The name of our community, particularly with the 'no' suffix, is inappropriate for a fine city of almost a half million residents, sixth largest in California. I would have loved to drag the Glen Ellyn name with me. Even the street I live on--Audubon--is an improvement over Fresno. (I am sure you can come up with a favorite name.)
With tongue only partially planted in my cheek, I used Fresyes during my tenure on the council to describe our city, not because I wanted to name it that, but because the Fresno name and the Fresno pessimism needs to be replaced with another name and a better attitude. Maybe its not completely an apples and apples comparison, but I remember Hangtown, a relatively small community in the foothills of Placer County that many years ago changed its name to Placerville. Yay! While the Hangtown name was kind of clever, would you want that on your drivers license, passport or marriage certificate?
Closely tied to the question of Fresno's name is the method by which Fresno officially touts itself as a place to visit, tour or attend a convention. The recent less-than-stellar performance of the Fresno City and County Convention and Visitors Bureau (FCVB) is a case in point.
While enjoying the holidays in San Francisco, I picked up a U.S.A. Today newspaper to see what was happening in the world. Wrong move, Brian! Inside (fortunately not on the front page) was a lengthy article (with unflattering pictures) reporting on the FCVB's proposed new marketing campaign for Fresno: "World Class!" What? Come again? How could the Bureau have hired a small, relatively new local marketing firm to come up with this goofy over-the-top marketing term? Even Chicago, particularly after the recent snub by the International Olympic Committee to give the Olympics to Rio De Janiero, Brazil instead of Chicago, would be reluctant to call itself "world-class."
That the Bureau's director, Jeff Eben, his board of directors (which includes Mayor Swearingen and Council member Sterling), would permit a reporter to write an article for a national newspaper comparing the "world-class" pitch with the negatives of Fresno is unforgivable. And our taxes are supporting this kind of Bureau management?
Mayor Autry and the former council, of which I was a member, found the Bureau so inept that we replaced the director and board. We also hired the national entertainment company, SMG, to operate Selland and the Exhibit Halls. While a big step in the right direction, it apparently wasn't enough. The Bureau is still gaffe-prone, and I don't see any constructive action being taken by the mayor and council to improve it.
I propose that a Blue Ribbon Commission of community leaders be appointed, chaired by someone like Dr. Bill Stewart (former Chancellor of the State Center Community College District, and chair of the citizen commission that brought the highly effective strong mayor system of government to Fresno), to recommend a new image direction for the City of Fresno. At the top of the to-do list would be a name change followed by taking a close look at the operation of the Bureau.
Finally, I would encourage Mayor Swearingen and council members to get serious about Fresno's image. Of course Fresyes, much less world-class, is not the answer. But let's think 'yes,' and let's permanently banish the 'no' from our name and from our thinking.
Coming Soon. . .
1. We should not tolerate releasing prisoners from the Fresno County Jail.
2. Where are our private sector leaders?
3. Public transportation and the tyranny of the cell phone abuser.
Comments are always welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com.
Last December I wrote that I would be designating areas of Fresno worthy of either a Rose or a Thorn Award. This is my first designation, and I want to thank the many blog readers that took the time to offer suggestions for "candidates" for the awards. While I regret not being able to share all of nominations with you at this time, I promise to periodically post additional Rose and Thorn Awards for your reading pleasure. You are encouraged anytime to e-mail me (abriancalhoun@gmail.com) with your award nominations. There is much to be proud of in Fresyes land as well a numerous 'ughs' that we need to do something about.
Well, folks, here we go: Introducing the first Rose and Thorn Awards!
The picture you see above is one short segment of Ventura/Kings Canyon Blvd between Fresno Street on the west and Willow Avenue on the east. Note the raised river rock-like setting adjacent to a light red brick meandering up to the palm trees in the background. The landscaping varies to include deciduous trees and attractive bushes. Different patterns are used for the rocks and bricks. An attractively designed wrought-iron fence with fair-related metal signs affixed to it is set into the median strip of rocks for the four blocks that front the Big Fresno Fairgrounds.
While not quite "world-class" (Why oh why would you lay that egg, Fresno Visitor and Convention Center?), the median along Ventura/Kings Canyon Blvd. is the kind of strategic, long term thinking that pays dividends over and over through the years. Once installed, it is there to stay for years. It adds to a sense of place, a respite from the boring highway. It gives the community a sense of pride. Visitors are impressed. A well-deserved Rose Award to Sal Quintero, Mike Dages and the City of Fresno Redevelopment Agency!
Mr. Tutelian and his father developed downtown's attractive Civic Center Square many years ago. More recently, he developed the Villagio retail complex across from River Park, and the even more recent high-end commercial development at Nees and Palm. He purchased the old PG&E Building downtown a few years ago, for which he has done some rehabilitation for commercial leasing purposes.
Mr. Tutelian certainly has the experience and ability to improve the Inyo/Van Ness Building. He started work on it years ago and then stopped. Nothing has been done on it for at least four years. I remember scheduling a meeting with Mr. Tutelian a few years ago when I was on the council to explain why nothing was being done. His excuses were unacceptable then; they are certainly unacceptable today.
The Thorn Award for this building that is being given to Mr. Tutelian needs to be shared by others. Since the building is in Council member Cynthia Sterling's downtown council district, what is she doing to get Mr. Tutelian to fix up the ugly building? Does Mayor Swearingen accept the presence of this eyesore in the City's downtown, an area where she made a campaign promise to improve? And where is Craig Scharton, the Downtown Revitalization Division department head appointed by the mayor to improve downtown? Also sharing the Thorn Award for this building is the City's Code Enforcement Division.
A community is judged by many things. Physical features--in this case a road and a building--are only one. What you or visitors see, however, is important since it sends a distinct message about what the community stands for.
Kudos to the Roses in our community and bah-humbug to the Thorns!
Coming Soon. . .
1. What's in a name: "New Frontier? World Class? Fresyes?
2. Where are our private sector leaders?
3. Public transportation and the tyranny of the cell phone abuser
I know a recently married 27 year old Marine living in San Diego with his wife and seven-month old child. He has already had three tours in Iraq and one "mercy tour" to Thailand where he helped recover some of the thousands that died as a result of the 2004 tsunami. After he recovers from a scheduled surgery, he will again be deployed--this time to Afghanistan. Yes, he volunteered for the Marines, but he had no idea that he would spend most of his professional military career away from wife, child and extended family. The strain on his psyche is palpable.
The seemingly never-ending wars involving the United States military requires, I believe, the additional military participation of Americans. Using the same volunteer soldiers over and over again to fight our wars in God-forsaken places is neither fair to the soldiers nor helpful to the ultimate security of America.
While probably a DOA ("Dead on Arrival") proposal, Congress should have a serious discussion about renewing a limited military draft to supplement our current volunteer military. Not only would it provide much-needed additional soldiers to relieve the merry-go-round of deployments abroad, but it would also force Americans to think deeply about the nature and purpose of armed conflict and whether this nation can always be the police force for the world.
As a young Army officer during the Vietnam conflict (let's be honest and call it a war), I remember only too well the negative military feelings engendered by draftees and those worried about the likelihood of being drafted. In some ways, however, this was a healthy aspect of free people living in a democracy. The inevitable tension that develops between military volunteers and draftees can be both good and bad.
Other nations take different approach to military service. Israel, for example, requires all males at a certain age to serve on active duty for a period of time, and then remain in the ready reserves for a number of years thereafter. Their philosophy being that everyone benefits from national security and, therefore, everyone (females are primarily excluded) must sacrifice through limited military service for the common good.
Resurrecting the military draft is somewhat akin to a politician touching the third rail (Touch the electrified rail and you die!). Foolish though I may be, I sincerely believe that the American public would appreciate having our elected leaders discuss the concept and, possibly, implement at least a limited draft. If we can have a vigorous debate about the need for expanding health care in this country, we should be able to ask how much of a sacrifice we can expect our volunteer soldiers--like the young Marine mentioned previously--to make for us.
Coming Soon. . .
1. Roses and Thorns awards (January 12th)
2. Where are our private sector leaders?
Comments are always welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com
Before anything else, I want to wish readers of my blog a prosperous and happy New Year. Let's take the optimistic "glass is half full" FresYES approach to 2010 and this new decade to move our city, county, region, state and country to a new level.
Use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of having the newly refurbished Met available to establish a commitment to bringing more effective and efficient services to the public through the implementation of true city-county consolidation. Located in the heart of downtown, use the beautiful, historic Met for the mayor and county administrator and their immediate staffs. Over time, selected city and county departments would be merged and relocated to the Met. Adding to the theme of cooperation in advancing the common good, the Fresno Economic Development Corporation, with its important mission of bringing jobs to Fresno county, would also relocate to the Met. Continuing to advance the inclusive philosophy of highly effective public service, selected not-for-profits such as the United Way would be invited to make the Met their home.
Another possible tenant in the Met would be public safety providers. For years, a public safety building serving municipal police departments in Fresno County as well as the Fresno County Sheriff's Department has been discussed with few results. Locating some consolidated services to the Met could be a beginning. Just imagine the possibilities of having Fresno's police chief, the sheriff and other public safety officers working together out of the same facility!
The "openness" of the Met adds to the consolidation theme. Instead of a building full of private offices, everyone from the mayor and county administrator would be working side-by-side. People would talk to one another, traditional bureaucratic "turf" issues would slowly dissipate, services would improve as costs decrease.
I have deliberately used the Met as the appropriate name for the rebirth of this building. I would encourage the continued use of art, particularly art that appeals to school-age children. Children would be bused to The Met to learn about aspects of Fresno's history, enjoy traveling child-related exhibits, and receive a proud real-time look at how their innovative consolidated local government operates.
Think big Fresno! Here's your opportunity to truly be a national leader! Think FresYes. Think consolidation at the Met!
Coming Soon. . .
1. Roses and Thorns awards (January 12th)
2. Where are our private sector leaders?
3. How many deployments can we expect from our military? Resurrect the draft?
Comments are always welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail abriancalhoun@gmail.com
