Most people in Fresno like their city
-
12/15/2007
Fresno is a city of contrasts. It is unlike most metropolitan areas, in the sense that its downtown, its older communities, its sprawling suburbs, its very wealthy enclaves, and its poverty, are all within the boundaries of the city. No city in California has the diversity of Fresno. It has Armenian, Sikh, Mexican, Laotian, and many other ethnic communities. You could meet a person here named Mary Wang Gonzales, really. Fresno has excellent restaurants, and a thriving dinner theater scene that produced Audra McDonald. Most people in Fresno have very short commutes to work. Yes, it is hot and dry in the summer. This is the reason that most middle class homes have a pool in the back yard (check it out on Google Earth). Because the core city and suburbs are mostly within the city limits, the school district does not score well overall. However, many of the public schools are excellent. Fresno’s housing is affordable compared to other major California cities, and it has several lovely, well-to-do neighborhoods (notice the pools and tennis courts along Van Ness Extension on Google Earth). One commentator advised educated people to avoid Fresno. This is ridiculous. Many neighborhoods have a large number of college and post-grad degree holders. Check out the demographics for 93711. There is a surprising (for those who do not understand agriculture) amount of wealth in Fresno. The BMW dealership is absolutely huge. Sure, Fresno has problems. It attracts new poor immigrants because of the cost of living and available work. Its air quality is like LA, until the rains come. You will have to judge whether being so close to sailing, fishing, hunting, back-packing, camping, etc., is an advantage. The people of Fresno enjoy beautiful spring days, and warm summer evenings by the pool. This is why it continues to grow.
Larry | Fresno, CA