Fresno doesn’t take care of business
A small family business wanted to serve beer and wine to grow their business. The owners applied to the city of Fresno for a permit. They then endured over six months going through a process where they were told one thing one day, something else the other. It ended up costing nearly double their budget. The “Oh yeah, there’s one more thing” surprises just kept coming.
Another small business wanted to improve their handicap access. The city then told them they would have to improve city sidewalks and repave nearly a quarter mile of a city-owned public alley at their expense.
When this flawed process was made public, did the city try to find out what happened to improve their process?
Nope. A key adviser to the mayor has been going on local media viciously attacking the person who brought it up, saying he led a committee that fixed the permitting issues, and he has proudly declared Fresno a superior business-friendly city.
As a former Fresno City Council member, I am constantly asked for advice from small business owners on how to work through the maze of City Hall.
Wake up, City Hall, you’re not business-friendly just because you say so.
Jerry Duncan, Fresno
This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Fresno doesn’t take care of business."