Frank Lopez<\/a><\/p>\nCentral Valley elected officials and community advocates rallied Monday in support of the Better Roads, Safe Streets transportation measure, urging the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to advance the proposal toward the November 2026 ballot.<\/p>\n
The event, hosted by Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability in Downtown Fresno, came one day before the board was scheduled to consider certifying the campaign\u2019s petition signatures Tuesday \u2014 a required step before the measure can go before voters.<\/p>\n
Supporters said the initiative has collected more than 22,000 signatures.<\/p>\n
The proposed half-cent sales tax would extend transportation funding after the expiration of Measure C, directing revenue toward road repairs, street improvements, public transportation, sidewalks, trails and traffic safety projects.<\/p>\n
Speakers included Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua, Mendota Mayor Victor Martinez, Fresno City Councilmember Nick Richardson and Veronica Garibay, co-founder of Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.<\/p>\n
Supporters said nine of Fresno County\u2019s 15 incorporated cities have endorsed the measure.<\/p>\n
The campaign released an economic analysis prepared by PenberaParis, LLC, a Fresno-based economic advisory firm, projecting that the measure would generate more than 68,190 jobs, $13.46 billion in total economic output, $7.71 billion in value added to the Fresno County economy, more than $5.06 billion in labor income and nearly $2.9 billion in local household spending over 30 years.<\/p>\n
Joseph Penbera, chairman of PenberaParis, said transportation infrastructure is essential for both residents and businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you come into a business environment and you see good infrastructure, you can get from one place to another pretty easily, you don\u2019t have to fight traffic or road conditions \u2014 then you\u2019re one step ahead. Nothing can happen without the ability to reach the customer and the customer to reach you,\u201d Penbera said.<\/p>\n
He said improved streets would help businesses by making commercial areas more accessible to customers.<\/p>\n
Dyer said the measure represents an opportunity to strengthen Fresno County\u2019s transportation network.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter Roads, Safe Streets represents an investment in every part of Fresno County, urban and rural alike. It will help us to repair neighborhood streets, improve major corridors, strengthen public transportation and make our roads safer,\u201d Dyer said.<\/p>\n
Dyer also urged supervisors to set aside what he called personality conflicts and political rhetoric and do what is right for the people of Fresno County.<\/p>\n
Mouanoutoua pushed back against criticism of the coalition supporting the proposal, saying opponents have labeled the effort radical despite its community outreach and signature-gathering campaign.<\/p>\n
He contrasted Better Roads, Safe Streets with the competing Fix Our Roads initiative, unveiled earlier this year and projected to generate about $3.9 billion in revenue over 20 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a second measure from our opponents. They had no coalition and had paid no attention to process. Is it radical to invite thousands of residents \u2014 more than 70 ZIP codes? Is it radical to listen to them and to gather legally necessary signatures and to earn the right to have this measure in front of all the voters in Fresno County?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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![\"rally](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/transportation-tax-rally.png\")
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