December 2019 - Stop and Move

Central Valley Media Needs Help More than Ever

On December 19, 2019December 19, 2019 By jamesinclair

It’s almost the end of 2019, and you’ve probably seen a bunch of those “10-year challenge” posts (#10YearChallenge) where people look back at 2009/2010 and compare themselves or things with how they are now.

Sadly, it’s not something you’ll really see from local media. If the Fresno Bee did a #10YearChallenge post, it would probably look something like this. with the old Bee on the left, and the current Bee on the right.

A tale of two newspapers: on the left, the $2 Sunday @StarTribune from Dec 1st, 92 pages and 10 sections; on the right, the $3 Sunday @FresnoBee from Dec 1, 42 pages and 6 sections. The cost per page to the reader for the Bee is more than 3X higher than the Star Tribune. pic.twitter.com/XgV4QMDkGX
— Fresno2Minneapolis (@SFGlobeTrekker) December 4, 2019

Unfortunately, even as Central California has continued to grow at a very rapid pace, the fourth estate has been heading in the opposite direction. This year, the decline in local journalism appears to have accelerated, with the Bee ending their Saturday edition and the Fresno State Collegian sounding the alarm that they might only make it one more year. Click to read more!

Categories : Fresno RetailTags : bitwise downtown fresno fulton parklet1 Comment

Fresno Launches Parklet Program

On December 10, 2019December 10, 2019 By jamesinclair

The Business Journal reported last week that Fresno has launched a parklet pilot program. (Header image is theirs).

A parklet is a low-cost, mini park that is built in what used to be a parking space (or two, or three). The intention behind them is to turn a space previously used for private car storage into something that can be used by everybody. In many cities, they are built in partnership with a local business, usually a food-related one, to create new outdoor seating. In most cases, the businesses agrees to maintain the parklet, but they are not allowed to restrict it to customers.

The first one opened by Bitwise as a way to provide some outdoor space for the company. Click to read more!

Categories : Fresno HousingTags : city council Clovis developers general plan madera sprawl suburbs1 Comment

Fresno councilors trying to kill infill general plan again

On December 4, 2019December 4, 2019 By jamesinclair

Developers aching for more sprawl versus everybody else. Sound familiar? It should, because in December of 2014, I published this post: Will Fresno council kill infill general plan? with that exact sentence.

Five years later, here we are again.

As a reminder, the 2035 General Plan Update (enacted in late 2014) directed Fresno to focus on infill development instead of continuous sprawl. Local developers were furious, and pulled every trick they could to block it. Fortunately, the council at the time did listen to the people of Fresno, who throughout the public process strongly preferred curtailing sprawl. Click to read more!