Fresno deputy mayor Matthew Grundy, Dyer’s point person on housing, is leaving City Hall
Matthew Grundy, a “formerly homeless” person who became Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer’s point person on housing issues, is leaving his post as deputy mayor as of Aug. 1.
Prior to his appointment as deputy mayor when Dyer took office in January 2021, Grundy served as the CEO of Habitat for Humanity’s Fresno-area affiliate for five years. In a statement issued Wednesday by Dyer’s office, Grundy said he is “not certain what awaits me” as his next career step.
Grundy, 41, grew up in southern California.
“I stand here at a moment where I’ve heard God yet again,” Grundy said. “This time he is guiding me to depart from my role as deputy mayor. I find this guidance a bit curious. I love the people of Fresno. I love our mayor, our team and my job.”
Grundy is the highest-ranking Black official on Dyer’s mayoral “key staff,” receiving just over $153,000 in pay in 2022, according to the Transparent California public compensation database.
Grundy was the author of Dyer’s “One Fresno Housing Strategy,” a document of almost 150 pages unveiled in April 2022. The series of nearly four dozen policy priorities was aimed at building more affordable housing in Fresno as well as easing restrictions to incentivize developers to build more market-rate housing. Another 24 policies in the proposal sought to address homelessness in the city.
In his profile on LinkedIn, a professional social networking site, Grundy described himself as formerly homeless – an experience he said underscored “the importance of humility to effectively servant-lead others.”
Grundy earned his bachelor of science degree in entrepreneurship studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. According to his LinkedIn profile, he joined Rocket Learning USA in 2008 as a program manager in 2008 and rose through the ranks to become the organization’s West Region director, vice president and, from July 2013 through September 2015, president.
Besides developing the One Fresno housing strategy, Dyer’s office reported that Grundy undertook a study of the city’s building and planning divisions to improve service and efficiency, initiated planning related to the city’s Camp Fresno property near Dinkey Creek in eastern Fresno County; and established a partnership with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for children and parents to visit at no charge.
Grundy headed up the Office of Community Affairs, part of Dyer’s efforts to promote inclusiveness from throughout Fresno’s diverse communities in city programs and decision-making as a component of the mayor’s “One Fresno” mission. He also spearheaded the mayor’s selection of individuals to serve on various city commissions and boards.
In a prepared statement, Dyer described Grundy as “a godsend to my administration.”
“His passion and talents are the very reason why the Camp Fresno, One Fresno Housing Strategy, and Youth Jobs Corp initiatives, as well as the Office of Community Affairs, have been so successful. Matthew has served me and this community with integrity and honor.”
“Matthew and I have formed a forever friendship” grounded in their common Christian faith, Dyer added. “He will be always be welcomed back into my administration should he choose.”
This story was originally published July 19, 2023 at 11:06 AM.
