There were two outstanding personal essays on the Vision cover page Sunday. If you had a busy weekend, do not miss them:
Armen D. Bacon of Fresno wrote a poignant memoir about growing up as an Armenian girl in Fresno, including a couple of run-ins (quite literally) between her and William Saroyan when they were on their bicycles. To read Bacon's commentary, click here.
Bruce J. Janigian also contributed a wonderful sense of the fun his cousin brought to their family life in a personal memoir. Janigian, a lawyer, also represented Saroyan in some of his New York publishing deals. Read Janigian's piece by clicking here.
I am afraid if Ashley Swearingen becomes the next mayor of Fresno, our community will digress. I think she’s failing Fresno with her leadership role at the Regional Jobs Initiative. It’s strange that nobody questions her effectiveness.
Locally ABC 30 news reported “The Regional Jobs Initiative says 8,800 new jobs were created between 2003 and 2005. That's far from the 25,000 to 30,000 new jobs above normal growth they were hoping to create by the year 2009.”
Fresno Bee’s Jeff St. John reported March 27, “…as the real estate downturn and a spreading mortgage and credit crunch have unfolded, jobless rates in Fresno County have climbed -- most recently to 10.6% in February, up from 9.8% in the same month last year.”
These reports worry me. The job market in Fresno is worsening, not improving under the direction of Swearingen – that’s not effective leadership. I’ve been unemployed since graduating from Fresno State in December. I’m a qualified worker with more than 20 years of experience. I don’t see how her leadership has a positive influence on our labor force, economic outlook, or job growth potential more than is currently on record.
Jerry Duncan is the more qualified candidate for Mayor of Fresno because of his practical leadership. He takes a proactive role and has strong opinions opposing Mayor Alan Autry’s plans for our community.
I reside in Duncan’s District [6]. Our neighborhood has undergone great improvements. Duncan has worked directly with neighborhoods like mine, to reduce crime, and increase safety.
Duncan teamed up with Fresno County and City Parking Enforcement officers to create a new abandoned vehicle statute. Together they led the way to boosting real estate values.
Duncan uses his leadership to work with code enforcement on issues that have helped our neighborhoods becomes cleaner through accountability - the residents who make it unsightly have to clean it up or the homeowners are fined.
Under Duncan’s leadership parents, kids, and pedestrians are safer by the increase of traffic patrol officers, especially near Eaton Elementary School where speeders pose a high risk of collision and injury. And according to the Fresno Bee’s own report Apr. 27, “Fresno police say they've improved road safety by dramatically increasing their presence on city streets and citing far more motorists for speeding and other violations.” I attribute this to Duncan working closely with police to ensure the safety of everyone.
Aware neighbors notice that registered sex offenders are relocating after people have reported their residential proximity to Eaton Elementary, another locales within Duncan’s District.
I’m a registered Republican voter, but officially have no political party preference. My voting for Duncan boils down to what he has done, and what I believe to be the truth about his character – that he is a stand up person for businesses, homeowners, neighborhoods, and people in his precinct.
It’s only because of state voting party declaration laws that I have to cast my vote for a Republican in the primary, but I plan to vote for Clinton, a Democrat, in the general election, and Jerry Duncan as Fresno’s Mayor.
I hope that others will follow my lead, go against the Bee’s recommendation of voting for Swearingen, and vote for the stand out candidate. From my personal experience and through demonstration of Duncan’s leadership while representing District 6, I believe that he is the best candidate for Mayor.
I remember back in '75, ol' uncle Bill came out to our ranch for some muscat grapes, they had become rare,as most growers pulled them out to plant the thomson seedless, and we had the only certified organic grapes in central california at that time,...we were honored.