Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Dyer Says Improved Public Safety & More Housing Make Fresno a 'City on the Move'
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 2 years ago on
May 25, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer’s State of the City on Wednesday was light on news, but heavy on citing his accomplishments.

Dyer repeatedly told the audience of 950 — a sellout for the Fresno Chamber-hosted luncheon — that Fresno was a “city on the move.”

In his 40-minute speech at the Convention Center Exhibit Hall, Dyer touched on decreased crime rates, increased housing opportunities, and downtown growth.

Watch: Highlights of Dyer’s State of the City Address

Police and Homeless

Praising Police Chief Paco Balderrama, Dyer said significant crime is down, including homicides down 54% (21-to-10) from last year. The police force will soon be at full strength with 900 officers, the mayor also noted.

“Sounds like a great investment to me with your tax dollars,” Dyer said, answering arguments made by social justice groups that the city spends too much on public safety.

Dyer also enthusiastically talked about removing homeless people from the street and into shelters through the Project Off Ramp program. He says by June 30, the city will have re-houses 350 people from the city’s freeways.

“Where did the homeless go when referring to our freeways? That is the exact same question I hope people will ask four years from now when they drive through our city,” Dyer said.

Dyer Touts New Affordable Housing

Dyer talked about several housing projects either already completed, or in the process along Blackstone Avenue.

“The future of our city lies in the spine of our city, which is Blackstone,” Dyer said.

This includes 600 units that will be built at the Manchester Center, which will be called “One Fresno at Manchester,” playing off Dyer’s city unity slogan.

By 2025, the city will have added 3,200 affordable housing units, he said.

“Increasing the housing supply in our city is the key to stabilizing rents in Fresno and reducing homelessness in our city,” Dyer said.

Dyer also launched a new program that will provide $100,000 in mortgage assistance to first-time home buyers that meet income-eligibility guidelines. He said only 40% of Fresnans own their home. The $4.1 million for this program comes from the state.

Other Notes

  • Both Dyer and Pastor B.T. Lewis — who delivered the invocation — honored the late H Spees, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. Spees worked in Dyer’s administration, working on homeless issues.
  • All seven Fresno City Council members attended. Meanwhile, the state attorney general is contemplating an opinion on whether it is a Brown Act violation for a majority of a council to attend such a private event.
  • Although it was a Fresno Chamber event, the city of Fresno occupied 25 tables. Chamber member prices were $600 for a table of 10.
The Dyer administration proclaims Fresno as No. 1 following the mayor’s State of the City address on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Former Porterville Librarian Accused of Stealing Thousands From Elderly Friend

DON'T MISS

As Fresno Files First Case, Maxwell Vows to Protect Wage Theft Unit

DON'T MISS

Fowler Felon Jailed After Officers Find Assault Rifle, Drugs in Home Search

DON'T MISS

Young People Drive Fresno to CA’s Top Job Growth: Wells Fargo Study

DON'T MISS

Judge Rejects Claim That Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Was Treated Differently Because of His Race

DON'T MISS

Rapper Tory Lanez Attacked at a California Prison as He Serves Time for Megan Thee Stallion Shooting

DON'T MISS

Grapevine Fire Forces Full Closure of Southbound I-5

DON'T MISS

Fresno’s New Economic Development Leader Has Boomtown Expertise

DON'T MISS

KMJ’s Ray Appleton Is Off the Air as He Deals With ‘Rare Condition’

DON'T MISS

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming Laser at Sheriff’s Helicopter

UP NEXT

Fresno’s New Economic Development Leader Has Boomtown Expertise

UP NEXT

Erika Sandoval Faces Life Sentence for Murder of Former Exeter Police Officer

UP NEXT

Fresno County School Boards Need Ethics Training: Grand Jury

UP NEXT

Pentagon Halting Gender-Affirming Healthcare for Transgender Troops, Memo Says

UP NEXT

Top Justice Department Official Is Now Also Acting Librarian of Congress

UP NEXT

Trump Tower Damascus? Syria Seeks to Charm US President for Sanctions Relief

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Cite 140 During 10-Hour Weekend Operation

UP NEXT

Trump Plans to Accept Luxury 747 From Qatar to Use as Air Force One

UP NEXT

Trump Orders Drugmakers to Cut Prices in 30 Days

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Derick JC Miller

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Young People Drive Fresno to CA’s Top Job Growth: Wells Fargo Study

1 hour ago

Judge Rejects Claim That Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Was Treated Differently Because of His Race

1 hour ago

Rapper Tory Lanez Attacked at a California Prison as He Serves Time for Megan Thee Stallion Shooting

2 hours ago

Grapevine Fire Forces Full Closure of Southbound I-5

2 hours ago

Fresno’s New Economic Development Leader Has Boomtown Expertise

2 hours ago

KMJ’s Ray Appleton Is Off the Air as He Deals With ‘Rare Condition’

3 hours ago

Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming Laser at Sheriff’s Helicopter

3 hours ago

Erika Sandoval Faces Life Sentence for Murder of Former Exeter Police Officer

3 hours ago

US Car Prices Higher in April After Tariffs Hit

4 hours ago

Fresno County School Boards Need Ethics Training: Grand Jury

4 hours ago

Former Porterville Librarian Accused of Stealing Thousands From Elderly Friend

A former librarian for the city of Porterville is facing felony charges after police say she stole thousands of dollars from an elderly woma...

17 minutes ago

https://www.communitymedical.org/thecause?utm_source=Misfit+Digital&utm_medium=GVWire+Banner+Ads&utm_campaign=Branding+2025&utm_content=thecause
A former Porterville librarian, Vikki Ann Cervantes, 50, faces felony charges for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from an elderly friend over the course of a year while managing her finances. (Shutterstock)
17 minutes ago

Former Porterville Librarian Accused of Stealing Thousands From Elderly Friend

39 minutes ago

As Fresno Files First Case, Maxwell Vows to Protect Wage Theft Unit

Fowler police and sheriff’s deputies arrested two residents Monday, May 12, 2025, after finding illegal firearms, drugs, and stolen property during a search of their home. (Fowler PD)
1 hour ago

Fowler Felon Jailed After Officers Find Assault Rifle, Drugs in Home Search

1 hour ago

Young People Drive Fresno to CA’s Top Job Growth: Wells Fargo Study

Sean 'Diddy' Combs, far left, looks on from the defense table with his attorneys, as a prospective juror, far right, answers questions posed by Judge Arun Subramanian, center, at Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 5, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
1 hour ago

Judge Rejects Claim That Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Was Treated Differently Because of His Race

Singer Tory Lanez returns to the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center for his trial, Dec. 13, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP File)
2 hours ago

Rapper Tory Lanez Attacked at a California Prison as He Serves Time for Megan Thee Stallion Shooting

A fire has shut down all southbound lanes of I-5 at Grapevine Road on Monday, May 12, 2025, prompting major traffic delays as crews work to extinguish the flames. (CHP)
2 hours ago

Grapevine Fire Forces Full Closure of Southbound I-5

2 hours ago

Fresno’s New Economic Development Leader Has Boomtown Expertise

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend