Parks can unify the city | Fresno Bee

Parks unify — support Measure P

I went for a run this morning with my 4-year-old daughter and felt grateful for the tree-lined streets of our Fresno High neighborhood. Just a few nights ago, there was someone in a car shooting at another car driving down the street next to our house. The contrast between the beautiful and the scary in Fresno is not lost on me, but I refuse to surrender our neighborhood and move to a “safer” one because I know this a problem everywhere in Fresno.

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Crime, poverty doesn’t stay in certain areas. We are all affected by the problems of our city, and we need to do our part to help out people who are struggling. Parks are unifying places. Parks can provide programs for kids, teenagers and seniors. They can be safe places for social gatherings and community events. We need more money to maintain the parks we have and money to build new parks in areas that are missing those key gathering places.

Measure P includes money for maintenance, programs, and safety — like hiring park rangers and police officers to patrol the parks. We need everyone to lean in and ensure a better future for Fresno.

There is a real voting threat

There is a threat to the voting system of the United States far more alarming than reported “outside influences.” The correction of this threat rests in the hands of the electorate of the United States (both natural born and naturalized citizens). Unless those eligible to vote accept the responsibility of registering, studying the proposed federal and state candidates for office, state propositions and local ballot measures; then, appearing at their local polling station, or send for, complete, and mail an absentee ballot, election results are the “property” of the minority number of eligible/registered voters who “show up.”

Many vote out of “blind” allegiance to a particular political party or issue. There are those who vote out of malice towards a candidate, party, or issue. Then, there is the eligible voter who just doesn’t give a darn about who or what governs us.

One should at least give appropriate consideration to the issues that may affect the population and not leave the governments, to which we are all accountable, swinging on the responses of a few.

Homeless with uncontrolled dogs

Homeless people and dogs. City law requires citizens to license their dogs and get rabies vaccinations every three years, and if you care, neuter your pet. Everywhere I go I see homeless people with dogs that are not vaccinated or licensed. This is a requirement for owning a pet. If you walk your dog in any park you come across the homeless, who not only litter the areas, but have vicious pets who keep guard while their owner sleeps. The mayor wants to improve the looks of this tattered city, but no one is enforcing these ordinances.

Please improve weather page

I realize The Bee editorial staffers have a lot on their plates advising people who to vote for, but their choice of changing the weather map needs some attention. It show the weather in San Jose, Delano and Pismo Beach, but what about the Fresno County communities of Huntington, Shaver Lake, Auberry, Dunlap and Orange Cove. I think those who are driving to fish Shaver Lake or ski China Peak may want to view the local weather report before their departure.