Transportation For All says it just wants people’s voices heard when crafting a new Fresno County transportation sales tax.

On Monday, nearly 200 people gathered at the community room at Parc Grove Commons in central Fresno. They were greeted by a gallery of a history of transportation, funding sources, and an overwhelming amount of information.

After a failed attempt at the ballot box in 2022, and not even making an effort in 2024, at least two factions are vying to get the renewal on the 2026 ballot.

Transportation For All, a coalition of several social justice groups, invited the community to hear about Measure C and what may become of the half-cent sales tax. The measure, first approved by Fresno County voters in 1986 and renewed in 2006, expires in June 2027.

The Fresno Council of Governments, a transportation planning agency associated with official Measure C, is also planning its version of Measure C renewal.

The major difference so far is what types of projects will be on the ballot. Other considerations are when it will go to the ballot (June or November 2026), how much the tax will be and how long the tax will last.

Measure C has generated more than $2.1 billion locally and leveraged $8 billion more in state and federal funding since its inception. For most households, the sales tax amounts to about
$4 to $8 per month through everyday purchases like clothing, movie tickets, and restaurant dining.

Celedon: ‘We Decide’

Sandra Celedon, president/CEO of Fresno Building Healthy Communities, spoke in English and Spanish, encouraging the audience to dream.

“What is the world that you want your children to live in? Right? We’re going to envision that. We’re not gonna be the naysayers,” Celedon said.

Celedon said “politicians and their friends” will no longer decide what projects Measure C will cover.

“That is no longer the case. If you want to dig into our pockets, we decide what gets paid,” Celedon said.

Members of the coalition have a left-leaning tilt — Fresno BHC, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, and Faith in the Valley among many groups.

Celedon said the nonprofit wing of Transportation for All paid for the event, which included a burrito dinner.

Is The Message Reaching?

Kate Zamora lives by the fairgrounds, and generally supports a transportation tax. She calls road conditions, “awful.”

“There’s potholes all the time. Any time it rains you just have to worry about bumpy roads. Then there’s no sidewalks, and I feel like that kind of has to do with transportation as well, right? Not everybody has a car. Some people walk to get around,” Zamora said.

But, she was unclear about who organized Monday’s event.

“I’m not sure who’s hosting the event. Like Transportation for All? I don’t know who makes that up,” Zamora said. “I’m in support and I love that so many community members are here. But it’s definitely confusing right now.”

She is distrustful of local politicians, and “so-called Democrats,” feeling both do not listen to the people.

JePahl White with Faith in the Valley called the meeting “a reflection of the community.” He voted against the 2022 Measure C renewal. He wants more investment in south Fresno.

“The shared mobility hub improved FAX transportation is something that is vitally needed in the community of Fresno. A city this large needs a better transportation system,” White said.

One Measure C or Two?

Several in the community have said that if there are two versions of Measure C before voters, both will fail.

Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld recently told host Alexan Balekian on “Sunday Conversation” on KMJ it would “create confusion”

“It will be a tragedy for this area,” Bredefeld said.

Bredefeld said he would support a Measure C that fixes roads.

One of the region’s largest nonprofits, Central Valley Community Foundation, wants one measure with the two sides compromising.

The group hired former county supervisor Steve Brandau to help broker a deal.

“This is an all-hands moment. Every resident in Fresno County, every business leader, nonprofit leader, community resident, everyone needs to be asking themselves, ‘How can we make sure that we’ve got a good measure in front of the voters and that we get it passed?’ “said foundation leader and former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin at Monday’s event.

Swearengin praised both sides — the expertise and leadership of the Fresno County Transportation Agency, the official government group that operates Measure C; and Transportation for All for reaching out to the community who may be otherwise uninterested.

“Everyone’s just got to respect what others bring to the table,” Swearengin said.

Brandau said if there is a compromise measure, CVCF would help fund gathering signatures to bring the item to the ballot. Doing so would require just a majority vote to pass.

Because it is a specific tax, if a governing body such as the Fresno County Board of Supervisors placed the item on the ballot, it would need two-thirds to pass.

Future Events

Transportation for All holds its next events May 31, 3 p.m. at Selma High School; and June 4, 5:30 p.m. at the Dunlap Community Club in Yokuts Valley.

Fresno COG also has a series of events.

On Tuesday, the group will hold a workshop at Reedley High School at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., the event moves to Roosevelt Elementary School in Kingsburg.

Fresno COG has made several presentations to local city councils. The group is scheduled to present at the Fresno City Council on June 12.