Fresno may spend $30M in its poorest neighborhoods. Who’s behind the plan may surprise some
South Fresno neighborhoods could get $30 million in upgrades if Councilmember Garry Bredefeld’s motion is approved later this week.
Bredefeld motioned to use nearly a third of the city’s $92.8 million in federal COVID-19 relief on the city’s neediest neighborhoods. The motion was a joint effort with Councilmember Mike Karbassi.
The plan to spend the money in south Fresno may surprise some, given that those two council members represent some of Fresno’s most wealthy and northernmost neighborhoods.
His idea is to use $20 million in southwest Fresno and $10 million in southeast to improve technology infrastructure, sidewalks, sewers, parks, public transit, air and water quality, and other efforts, including attracting grocery stores and others business.
“All of these factors contributed to having a greater and disproportionate impact on southwest Fresno residents and minority groups,” Bredefeld said.“As we all can recognize, our southwest Fresno residents too often have been ignored at City Hall.”
The Center for Disease Control found that Black people die from complications related to the coronavirus at a higher rate than any other group. They are also hospitalized because of the virus at a disproportionate rate, according to the CDC.
The CDC report pointed to issues like living conditions, proximity to grocery stores and hospitals, and historic segregation as factors that lead to the higher rates of COVID-19.
The city previously laid out a plan for spending the coronavirus relief dollars. It was not immediately clear which items on the list would not be funded to use the money in south Fresno.
The council would still need to approve the south Fresno investment when the members vote to approve the budget, which could be done on Thursday.
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 3:36 PM.
