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Widespread fear lingers in the immigrant community...after the Trump Administration announced it would allow immigration enforcement arrests in locations including churches and schools.

“In January, when I saw Border Patrol vehicles up here, it got my attention,” says Bishop Joseph Brennan with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno. “It didn’t feel right, it didn’t look right. And my immigration status is good.”

While the uncertainty lingers, the Diocese of Fresno is meeting with government leaders, law enforcement, and the Central Valley Industrial Areas Foundation to brainstorm on how to build – and repair-- community trust....

[Photo Credit: Byron Solorio, FOX26]

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This may look like an ordinary stop sign.

However, for residents of Southeast Fresno, it represents a hard-fought victory in making their community safer.

Before this week, the intersection along South Avenue—a busy road cutting through city and rural farmland—was only a two-way stop. It was a dangerous crossing, and last summer, Alex Burgos, a young parishioner from St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic church, learned that firsthand when his car was T-boned by another vehicle.

“At first, I thought it was just bad luck,” Burgos said. “Then I started talking to other people in my church, and I realized I wasn’t the only one....”

The Central Valley IAF Sponsoring Committee made a significant stride as over 300 people from across Fresno County gathered for a bilingual community assembly—the largest action that local leaders have organized thus far. 

Conducted in both English and Spanish, the event drew residents, faith leaders, and local officials, reflecting the rich diversity of the area.

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...the city’s own 2023 draft Housing Element (page 1E-2-36) concludes there is capacity within city limits for 46,392 new homes — on land with ready access to water, sewer, roads, and schools, and available right now to build the housing Fresno needs. We urge the [Building Industry Association] BIA and its member developers to take advantage of these opportunities to fill the gaps in our city with attractive housing for all families in Fresno.  This situation creates opportunity, too, for the City Council:

it’s time to focus on getting housing built in vacant and underused sites in all parts of Fresno.

That new focus should include supporting developers with the improved infrastructure and other incentives that will inspire them to build so that every Fresno family has a good roof over its head.

[Photo Credit: Craig Kohlruss, Fresno Bee]

Fresno May Grow to its Southeast, But At What Cost and Who Pays? This Needs More Study, Fresno Bee [pdf]