Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,

I am writing to respectfully urge you to reconsider and vote yes on the proposed ministerial approval for office-to-dwelling conversions without watering it down. This amendment, as originally proposed, is a necessary step to unlock Fresno’s potential and address our growing housing needs.

As President of the Blackstone Merchants Association, and someone who has spent years helping businesses navigate City Hall, I’ve witnessed firsthand how the development process in Fresno often stalls. While you proudly claim to roll out the red carpet, that carpet is lined with Velcro, slowing down progress and, in some cases, delaying final approvals for years.

This amendment offers a smart and responsible fix. It removes bureaucratic bottlenecks and gives the actual experts the authority to apply the existing rules objectively and consistently across the city and to do the work they were hired to do. The Planning Department is not influenced by special interests or political agendas.

This amendment does not eliminate council oversight. You retain the ability to appeal or call any project forward for review. What this amendment does, is create a streamlined business-friendly environment that encourages infill development, reduces costs, and makes Fresno a more attractive place to invest, and accelerate the delivery of desperately needed housing. If companies like Tesla, Google, and Facebook trust subject-matter experts to make big decisions, why doesn’t Fresno?

Fresno Is Growing, Desperately Needs More Housing

Fresno is a growing city in desperate need of housing solutions. Fresno builders meet about 26% of the city’s housing demand per year. We cannot afford to let inefficient processes continue to hold us back. This amendment will ensure our compliance with state Housing Element requirements. Failing to pass this ordinance, in many ways, will perpetuate the same barriers that have historically kept underserved communities from accessing opportunity. Frankly, it is a modern form of redlining.

Bureaucracy should never block an opportunity. In 2017, as president of Big Brothers Big Sisters, I saw this impact firsthand when we took local kids to Fresno State. Many of those kids saw students who looked like them and they asked, “You mean I can go to college?” That’s the kind of transformation this text amendment can bring. That’s what better housing and better neighborhoods provide.

In conclusion, this text amendment is a win-win: It safeguards transparency, enhances efficiency, meets legal obligations, and delivers real solutions to our housing crisis. You should allow those with planning expertise to carry out our city’s housing and development goals, while the council maintains critical oversight.

I respectfully urge you to put people before politics and vote yes.

About the Author

AJ Rassamni is president of the Blackstone Merchants Association and a candidate for the Fresno City Council District 7 seat, which is on the ballot in 2026.

Make Your Voice Heard

GV Wire encourages vigorous debate from people and organizations on local, state, and national issues. Submit your op-ed to bmcewen@gvwire.com for consideration.