Fifty vendors from various markets throughout the Central Valley are calling on Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias to resign.
Arias said at a June 12 City Council meeting that an ICE raid would take place at the Cherry Avenue Auction swap meet that weekend. ICE agents never showed up, but general attendance dropped significantly. Vendors at the swap meet said the rumor hurt their income, and business still hasn’t returned to what it used to be because many people remain too scared to visit.
“We started collecting signatures because his statement killed the flea market businesses,” said Susana Osuna, a produce vendor who started the petition June 15. “Miguel Arias claims to have had the interest and ‘protection’ in mind for the people. Yet he irreparably put all those he claims he wants to help out of business.”…