Miguel Arias has a habit of criticizing Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp while delivering his city council reports. He did so again at the Fresno City Council meeting on Thursday.

While five city councilmembers stood with police for a proclamation of National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, Arias remained seated at the dais. He proceeded to use his councilmember report to attack Smittcamp.

Arias reacted to a California Judicial Council survey that had Fresno County low among counties statewide filing Proposition 36 theft and drug cases. The state referendum, overwhelmingly approved by voters last November, makes it easier to prosecute drug and theft cases.

Related Story: How are Fresno County, Valley Prosecutors Using Prop 36 in Drug and Theft

“We’ve added the most police officers in the city’s history and yet we see rampant drug use, open drug use in major corridors, in small corridors and streets in our city. And we don’t seem to be making arrests. And definitely, as the data demonstrates, we don’t seem to prosecute in these cases,” Arias said.

Arias asked the city attorney to “get ahold” of Smittcamp to find out what is the prosecution plan.

Earlier this week, Smittcamp told GV Wire since the survey — covering the time period Dec. 18 through mid-February — her office filed a total of 136 drug and theft cases.

Reacting to Arias, her office said the updated numbers speak for themselves.

Mayor Jerry Dyer did respond to Arias, defending Smittcamp and the police department.

“There’s a learning curve for those folks (Fresno police). So we’re going to be making sure with our police chief that that learning curve is overcome quickly,” Dyer said, who was the city’s longtime police chief before he was elected mayor.

Fresno County’s Top Attorney Leaving

After 11 years, Daniel Cederborg is leaving his position as top legal adviser for Fresno County.

Cederborg told Politics 101 he turned in his letter of resignation as county counsel last week, effective June 30.

He said he is leaving partly because he needs to take care of an elderly family member in Northern California. He said the time is right to leave now.

City Council Hears SEDA Plan

A plan to dramatically grow the city of Fresno to the southeast will benefit all residents, a presentation from city staff said.

Known as SEDA — the Southeast Development Area — it involves long-term plans to grow the city by 45,000 housing units on 9,000 acres.

Planning department director Jennifer Clark said Fresno is in a “housing crisis” and needs to build more. She said demand is there, and the city needs to plan for it.

The presentation said it will not lead to urban sprawl, will improve the environment, and assured that the city could handle the water demand.

Building a town center style would reduce vehicle miles traveled — a newer metric used to determine the effect of growth — from 45 per person to five.

Developments, Clark said, will pay for their own way. SEDA would add to city services without taking away from current neighborhoods, staff said.

Water demand will only increase 1.7%, staff said.

Where is SEDA?

SEDA would expand the city generally between Temperance and McCall avenues, the Gould Canal, and Jensen Avenue. There is also another area south of Jensen Avenue, between Temperance and Minnewawa avenues.

Several speakers in the last several weeks expressed concerns about SEDA during public comment time. Thursday, Ashley Mireles-Guerrero, a Chinatown bookstore owner, worried the city may shift focus away from Chinatown and downtown investment.

She called SEDA “urban sprawl.”

“Honor the neighborhoods like mine that have waited patiently for real change. We don’t need another shiny development on the outskirts. What we need is meaningful, equitable progress here at the core of our city,” Mireles-Guerrero told the council.

Clark said neighboring communities are growing just as fast, if not faster, than Fresno.

Three Madera County projects since 2014 added more than 16,000 units, Clark said. Those homes are “dependent on Fresno jobs and infrastructure for their existence.” Five Clovis projects since 2005 added more than 15,000 units.

SEDA will be discussed by the planning commission on May 21, and by the city council for a potential vote on June 12.

Perea Officially Declares for Assembly

Annalisa Perea officially announced her run for state Assembly District 31 — first reported in these pages weeks ago.

Perea, D-Fresno, listed support from several of her colleagues on the city council — Tyler Maxwell and Mike Karbassi — and Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (whom Perea succeeded on the council) and state Sen. Anna Caballero. The building trades union is also behind Perea.

In her news release, Perea said she raised $200,000. Her official reporting shows $11,800 from the Fresno police union; and Karbassi contributed $5,900 from his campaign account.

Also filing to run in the district is nonprofit leader Sandra Celedon, D-Fresno, and James Polsgrove, R-Fresno.

Joaquin Arambula is not running, termed out after 2026. He is backing Celedon.

Honoring Fallen Law Enforcement