Neighbors who show their work
United for Fresno is a community advocacy group in Fresno, CA. Neighbors who read the agendas and publish what we find.
A community advocacy group
We hold every position to three pillars: Transparency, Safety and Prosperity. If a proposal fails one of them, we say so, in writing, with sources.
This site carries the articles we publish, lists the meetings and walks we go to, and takes signups for one email a month.
Formerly known as Blackstone Merchants Association.
Three pillars. One standard.
Every position we take has to serve all three. If it fails one, we say so, in writing, with sources.
Transparency
Public money deserves public receipts. We publish sources for every number and ask the city to do the same.
What we ask
- Post every city contract online, with its amount and what it pays for, before the council votes on it.
- Report each year what new tax money bought, project by project, in plain language.
- Publish full agenda packets early enough for residents to read them before the vote.
Transparency · Before You Vote for a New TaxAsk yourself: Are we getting the results we deserve from the taxes we already pay? Families need money for electricity, fuel, rent, and everyday bills. Asking them to pay more does not guarantee lasting solutions.Read the article → · 1 min
Transparency · What If the New Fresno Tax Does Not Pass and Fresnans Keep $65 Million in Their Pockets?Drive through almost any older Fresno neighborhood and the pavement tells its own story. Cracked streets.Read the article → · 4 min
Safety
Lit streets, repaired sidewalks, and response times that match the need. Measured block by block.
What we ask
- Publish the list of open streetlight repairs by council district, with the date each one was reported.
- Publish the sidewalk repair schedule block by block, so neighbors can see when their block is next.
- Report emergency response times by neighborhood, not only as one citywide average.
Safety · Safety Before Scenery: Why you can’t beautify your way out of DysfunctionThe South Blackstone Smart Mobility Strategy is Fresno’s newest transportation and corridor improvement plan, aiming to transform a major stretch of Blackstone Avenue into a more “walkable, bike-friendly, and sustainable” destination. The project promises new bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and landscaRead the article → · 3 min
Safety · From Chaos to Clarity: Why Safe Camps Are Fresno’s Most Practical Path ForwardThere are moments when a city must look at itself, not through slogans, not through intention, but through results. Fresno is in that moment.Read the article → · 4 min
Prosperity
Small businesses that can open, hire and stay. Fewer permits in limbo, more storefronts with the lights on.
What we ask
- Publish how long each kind of permit takes, from application to approval.
- Give every small business applicant one named city contact from start to finish.
- Count the empty storefronts on our commercial corridors and report the number every year.
Purpose
United for Fresno was created to support leaders, policies, and community efforts that place Fresno residents first, uphold conservative values, strengthen public safety, support local businesses, improve education, and demand accountability from government.
Guiding Principles
Fresno Before Politics
We support leaders who place the needs of Fresno residents above political gamesmanship, party pressure, and personal ambition. Local decisions should be guided by what is best for the people.
Public Safety and Law and Order
We support law enforcement, safe neighborhoods, and policies that protect families, businesses, schools, and public spaces. Laws should be enforced fairly, consistently, and responsibly. A city cannot thrive when crime, disorder, vandalism, theft, and illegal encampments harm neighborhoods and businesses. Public safety is the foundation of prosperity, investment, and quality of life.
Business-Friendly Policies
We support policies that help local businesses open, grow, hire, and succeed. Fresno needs less red tape, faster approvals, reasonable regulations, and a government culture that treats businesses as partners in prosperity.
Fiscal Responsibility and Government Accountability
We believe taxpayer money belongs to the people and must be spent wisely, transparently, and efficiently. We support responsible budgeting, clear priorities, reduced waste, and public accountability for how money is used. Government should be transparent, accessible, and measured by results.
Education and Opportunity
We believe every child deserves access to strong education, safe schools, positive role models, and opportunities to succeed. Education should prepare students for life, work, leadership, responsibility, and citizenship.
Compassion With Responsibility
We believe in helping those in need while encouraging personal responsibility and self-sufficiency. True compassion should restore dignity, reduce dependency, and help people move forward.
Neighborhood Prosperity
We support policies that improve streets, sidewalks, lighting, parks, public spaces, and neighborhood conditions. Every part of Fresno deserves safety, cleanliness, investment, and opportunity.
Unity Through Common Sense
We believe Fresno becomes stronger when people work together around practical solutions. We support leaders who listen, seek common ground, respect different viewpoints, and focus on results instead of division.
Civic Engagement and Public Voice
We believe citizens should have a stronger voice in local government. We are committed to staying informed, attending public meetings, speaking on issues that affect Fresno residents, and advocating for policies that reflect common sense and the needs of the community.
Who United for Fresno Supports
United for Fresno supports candidates and policies that defend public safety, respect law enforcement, promote business growth, strengthen education, protect taxpayers, demand accountability, and place Fresno residents and small businesses first.
Show up. Speak up. Follow the money.
Show up
We read the agendas and go to the meetings. Council, boards and neighborhood walks. If a vote changes a block, we want to have walked it.
Speak up
We take our turn at public comment. Then we write up what we saw and publish it under our own name, so anyone can answer it.
Follow the money
One question for every public dollar: what did it buy? Every number we publish links to the public record it came from.