Downtown Fresno is home to thousands of residents who live, work and invest in our community. Yet, despite its growing importance as the economic and cultural heart of the city, only a tiny fraction of city employees — less than 1% — actually live downtown. This disconnect between who governs and who lives downtown has real consequences.
Decisions about housing, public safety, economic development and cultural programs are often made by individuals who don’t experience downtown life firsthand. Policies intended to improve our neighborhoods can unintentionally miss the mark — not because of bad intentions, but because of a lack of lived insight.
Meanwhile, downtown hosts nearly 10% of Fresno County’s jobs, underscoring its role as a regional employment hub. But when local residents are underrepresented in city employment — especially in departments that shape policy — it creates a civic imbalance. We need to ensure that those who live downtown have a voice in how it evolves…