California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, told the Fresno City Council to delay their approval on Measure C’s renewal until the council takes steps to “incorporate adequate public input and carefully develop this critical measure.”
Dated Aug. 10, Bonta’s letter comes mere hours before the Fresno City Council is scheduled to vote on the plan today.
With the Fresno Board of Supervisors scheduled to vote on Friday to give the $7 billion spending plan its final approval to go on the November ballot, Bonta’s letter is a strong message to local leaders to hold off on Measure C’s renewal until at least 2024.
His letter cites local concerns about the cuts the $7 billion spending plan makes to public transit, “a lack of adequate public process” in creating the 30-year transportation spending plan, and the city’s “lack of clarity” to review the environmental impacts of interchange and road-widening projects that would increase diesel truck traffic in downtown Fresno.
“I ask that you consider ways to address residents’ concerns regarding lack of adequate public process undertaken to develop the Renewal Plan,” Bonta’s letter states, “and to meaningfully engage those residents left out of the process to date.”
The letter follows a visit from Attorney General Bonta on Tuesday this week in Calwa where he listened to local residents and environmental justice advocates about concerns related to local air quality, warehouse development, and land use planning.