Fresno's Blackstone merchants betrayed by portable road sign

Hey, Mayor Swearengin, who’s watching the bus rapid transit project?

Occasionally Red Carpet Car Wash goes before the Clovis and Visalia planning agencies. The one stinging comment we repeatedly hear regarding planning and growth is; “Let’s not let Blackstone happen to us.”

I’m a Fresno boy and it stings, but it’s our legacy and we own it. Enter BRT. It portends to “rebalance” the existing disparity of Measure C dollars; reduce traffic generated carbon emissions making breathing easier; citizens will finally get safer, faster and more reliable public transportation and staff even cited studies indicating more private sector investment will result on Blackstone Avenue.

That is democratic political civics in action. We support it.

The city repeatedly pledged its commitment to making this reconstruction as painless as possible for Blackstone merchants. One question: Why the portable road sign on Blackstone asking drivers to “use an alternative route?” Really?

If the city can’t catch something this apparent and contradictory, how can taxpayers expect it to snare the more problematical? Contractors don’t miss charging for change orders, but are they alert to conflicts of interest or emerging possibilities that could potentially save taxpayer money for identical outcomes?

What do taxpayers really know without smart oversight?

This story was originally published September 3, 2016 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Fresno's Blackstone merchants betrayed by portable road sign."