Here are 6 key takeaways from his conversation with The Bee:<\/p>\n
\u2022 ICE enforcement: Dyer said he told the U.S. Conference of Mayors that federal agents need training comparable to local law enforcement. He criticized ICE\u2019s tactics as the same as those local police \u201cabandoned 30 years ago\u201d and said agents should not wear masks when interacting with people<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022 Measure C: Dyer supports the citizen-led measure for Measure C transportation tax renewal, a 30-year half-cent sales tax that generates billions of dollars to support Fresno County roads and transportation. He hopes voters won\u2019t have to entertain two ballot measures, because he thinks they\u2019ll end up voting no on both.<\/a> The city has about $1.2 billion in deferred road maintenance, and recently passed a $100 million bond to pave city roads, Dyer expects to cover about three years of expenses,<\/a> but the city still needs Measure C for road improvements and to run the city\u2019s public transportation system.<\/p>\n \u2022 Homelessness: Since Dyer took office, the city went from zero emergency shelter beds to 830 and has housed over 11,000 people, with 54% making what he called a \u201csafe exit.\u201d The city expects to be involved in about 1,900 affordable housing units between 2025 and 2027, Dyer said.<\/p>\n \u2022 SEDA: Dyer remains committed to SEDA, a proposed 9,000-acre expansion in southeast Fresno with an estimated 45,000 homes and a $4.3 billion price tag, despite the City Council voting 5-2 in December to send the plan back for further financial review. He expects that review to take about six months.<\/p>\n \u2022 South SEDA: The mayor has shifted focus to \u201cSouth SEDA,\u201d which he said reduces the city\u2019s upfront infrastructure cost to about $61 million, down from $267 million. He called the $3 billion shortfall figure cited by opponents \u201cmisinformation,\u201d saying developers would reimburse all infrastructure costs.<\/p>\n \u2022 Advanced manufacturing: Dyer said South SEDA would open 1,547 acres south of Jensen Avenue for advanced manufacturing, which would attract \u201cgood paying jobs\u201d to the city. Dyer said Fresno has only 5% suitable land for industrial development, compared to a state average of 7.5% and Visalia\u2019s 16%.<\/p>\n These takeaways were produced with the help of AI tools, which used information from stories reported and written by Fresno Bee journalists. This content was edited by journalists in the newsroom.<\/p>\n Bullard High School students marched through Fashion Fair Mall on Tuesday Feb. 4, 2026 on the third day of anti-ICE protests across Fresno Unified high schools. Melissa Montalvo mmontalvo@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n
Homeless gather outside the Poverello House entrance on Santa Clara Street Friday, Dec 26, 2025 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer addresses a wide range of topics during a Q&A session with Bee reporter Melissa Montalvo Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 at City Hall in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com <\/p>\n