In his May budget revise, Gov. Gavin Newsom pitched spending $250 million on infrastructure and transportation improvements in downtown Fresno.

The money will fund much of the city’s decade-long plans to revitalize its decaying water and sewer systems and improve amenities such as parking and sidewalks, to ultimately attract residential development.

The announcement comes as many California city centers are still trying to rebound after the pandemic.

Fresno is one of five US cities whose downtown foot traffic rebounded since the pandemic, according to a recent University of Toronto study that periodically compared cell phone data to track foot traffic from 2019 to February 2023.

While city centers in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento were still struggling to regain their pre-pandemic bustle, Fresno and Bakersfield’s foot traffic rebounded above 2019 levels, the study shows. A Los Angeles Times report pointed out both Central Valley cities experienced population growth, often from more expensive California cities.

Newsom’s administration has long identified Fresno as an anchor to Central Valley’s economy and thus important to California’s future. This new proposed investment would tackle several projects city leaders say are necessary to spur a renaissance in downtown housing development.

About $70 million is earmarked for new parking structures and spots, while the rest would pay for sidewalk improvements, green spaces, new water and sewer systems and other investments. The goal is to attract housing development for 10,000 more residents downtown.

Local leaders also have a broader five-year plan called Rebuild Fresno. Community members say the proposed city budget won’t invest enough in Fresno’s poor neighborhoods.

CalMatters spoke to Elliott Balch, who recently left the Central Valley Community Foundation to become CEO of the Downtown Fresno Partnership, a business improvement district. He managed Fresno’s downtown revitalization efforts from 2009 to 2014, during former Mayor Ashley Swearingen’s administration.

Like many born and raised in the valley, Balch left for college and returned with a broadened perspective, he said. He recognized patterns in Fresno that could impede its future success. For instance, he said, people’s reliance on cars as the city grew outward makes it hard to improve air quality, and an underinvestment in transportation options prevents a more accessible downtown.

“It really seemed very clear to me that you would never expect the city to change how it allocates resources and grows, unless there’s a very attractive alternative,” Balch said. “And that means we need to have a lively, engaging, fun downtown.”

Elliott Balch, CEO of Downtown Fresno Partnership, stands on the sidewalk along the Fulton Street Mall in downtown Fresno on May 31, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Here is an edited version of the conversation.

Q: What do you know about how this proposal of the governor’s came about? Why is the governor interested in downtown Fresno?

A: The time is right. We’ve had years of work — which I’ve been a part of some of it — to create new land use plans, a new development code for Fresno … policies that make sense for the oldest part of our city.

We’ve already seen that you get results from investments in infrastructure. When we rebuilt Fulton Street, for example … since that happened you’ve seen increases — many-fold increases — in taxable sales that have occurred in that area. You’ve seen smartphone-driven data on where people are going. And we have one of the few downtowns … that’s seeing an increase of about 20% (in traffic) from 2019, pre-pandemic. We’ve fully rebounded and then some.

Not only are we seeing more people downtown, but the people who are coming downtown really are reflecting our region. It’s a cross-section of our community, where the median age of Fulton Street visitors in the last year was 32.6, 56.2% Hispanic, median household income of $55,000 … You have a place that our region is embracing.

Q: What do you think an investment in downtown like this could do for the city of Fresno, and for what the city of Fresno wants to be moving forward?

A: Bottom line is, our city and our valley — like our state — have a real housing shortage, and we see the results of that housing shortage show up in lots of different ways. People challenged with eviction. Folks paying too much for bad housing. Overcrowded housing that impedes student learning. Having to move out to different housing but then having transportation challenges as a result … We are one of the largest cities in the country with the lowest rental vacancy rate, so we’re a very tight market.

Now, how does investment in our Central San Joaquin Valley solve our housing shortage? One way is what we’ve done for generations, which is just only continue to invest in building out, out, out.

The alternative is that at least a significant portion of that growth happens internally. When you see housing units downtown, you see them contributing to, and being part of, the story and the reality of downtown.

Another piece of the data that we’ve learned is that the median distance of a Fulton Street visitor from home is six miles. So, if you’re a small business without a huge marketing budget, half of your people are coming from beyond six miles. If we can bring thousands more people within walking distance, it greatly lowers the barriers to bringing folks in the door.

Q: Do you think this investment could have a broader impact on the region?

A: It’s already the case that this is the downtown for the central San Joaquin Valley. The reality is that the region and its counties and cities need to house more people in a way that reduces the incremental addition of vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions. And our downtown can help with that.

We’re zoned for 75,000 housing units. And we’ve got the desire to see development. What we also have is 125-year-old infrastructure. And so unlocking the potential to really help the valley meet its housing goals — economic inclusion goals, sustainability goals — downtown is here for that.

Q: What does an influx of money to Fresno’s downtown do for racial and economic equity?

A: When I talk to small business owners of color, one of the recurring themes that I hear is the need to have more of a market that is within walking distance. There needs to be continued investment. There needs to be continued growth and progress. Fundamentally, they established their business downtown because they believe in downtown and the belief is that there will be continued investment … They didn’t invest in a business downtown and put all of their livelihood into a business, only to see the area around them stagnate.

I think the beautiful thing is that we have longtime families who’ve been invested in downtown for generations, as property owners or as business owners. And we have a downtown that for generations and decades has been a place for immigrants and refugees to get a foothold, to establish a business. We have the greatest concentration of black owned businesses anywhere in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Q: Like many California cities, Fresno is struggling with homelessness. Do you see any portion of this investment helping impoverished residents of Fresno, particularly those struggling with homelessness?

A: Homelessness is driven in a big way by housing supply, by housing prices. And so the absolute best thing that downtown can do for homelessness is to provide more housing in the market, so that folks who may be struggling with poverty aren’t seeing huge price increases year to year. Or if they do have an eviction, that it’s not completely calamitous, that there’s not (any) other place for them to go … Not every homelessness situation is just about housing, but it’s amazing how the dominoes can fall when somebody’s stable housing is lost.

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Kassidy Bertoldi (Gangl)
August 1, 1992 – April 20, 2023

Long time Elk Grove resident Kassidy Bertoldi and her friend Emerald West were killed in a motor vehicle accident on Highway 299 in Humboldt County on April 20, 2023. They were on their way to join their families at Shasta Lake.

Kassidy was born and raised in the Elk Grove area. Her family moved from in town to their current residence on Sloughhouse Road when Kassidy was three. Kassidy attended Pleasant Grove Elementary, right next to her Dad’s fire station. Kassidy’s class was the first class to go through all grades at newly constructed Albiani Middle School and Pleasant Grove High School. She graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 2011. Kassidy took her general education courses first at CRC and then Butte College. She then transferred and graduated from California State University Chico in 2016. During this time she also worked for Elk Grove Ford, and World Market. She interned with Double Tree Hotel and the City of Elk Grove. Kassidy loved to travel and was lucky enough to go to Canada, Mexico, England, France, Australia and New Zealand, as well as many states across the United States.

Kassidy met Brian Bertoldi in FFA and they started dating in 2011, after Kassidy’s senior year. They dated all through college until in June of 2017, best friends Brian and Kassidy were married at his family’s estate. They started their married life in Paradise, California. Brian worked for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Kassidy worked in HR for Feather Falls Casino.

They moved to Eureka in 2018 about a month before the Camp Fire hit the town of Paradise. Kassidy worked for Blue Lake Casino in Human Resources, but wanted and finally was offered the position of event planner at Lost Coast Brewery. It was not the dream job she had hoped it would be and she left to become the executive assistant to the owner of Timber Ridge Elderly Care Facility. Last year Kassidy was offered a grant position with Human Resources of Humboldt County. She became full time and because of her previous HR experience was given a step raise. Best of all, she had the federal holidays and vacation to match Brian.

Kassidy is survived by all who knew and loved her, but mostly her husband Brian Bertoldi, her parents Ron and Mary Gangl, her sister Kayla Gangl, her mother-in-law Cindy Bertoldi and father-in-law Anthony Bertoldi, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A memorial will be held for friends and family at Phatsy Kline’s Parlor on June 18, at 1 pm. Color and floral patterns are encouraged to wear in honor of Kassidy.

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Jim “Jimmy” Ober passed away on June 2, 2023, exactly two months after his 75th birthday.

Born to Elizabeth and Douglas Ober, he was one of six brothers and sisters. He was a big fan of fishing, hunting, and abalone diving and passed this love on to his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. He went to school at South Fork, where he met his longtime friend, Joe Rogers. After high school, he reported for duty to the Army and spent time in Germany. After his stint in the Army, he returned to Humboldt County where he eventually lived in Scotia, working at Pacific Lumber Company for several decades, and helping raise his three children, Heather, Ryan and Kurt.

In 1988, he married Sandra Ober, whom he affectionately called “Mrs. O.” This added two stepchildren, Angie and Marc, to the family.

After working at PL as a grader and eventually as an assistant foreman in the factory where so many employees said he was “the best boss ever,” he worked at Bear River Casino as a shuttle driver. The family often joked about the stories he shared. Through the years, he enjoyed hunting with his buddy, Harvey Holt, carving and painting duck decoys, checking his wood duck boxes, collecting his Oregon Ducks memorabilia, picking blackberries and making his popular pies that he shared with all to enjoy, and just working around his home in Rio Dell.

He will always be remembered with much love and is survived by his heartbroken wife, Sandra Ober, his daughter Heather Bryan (Steve), his son Ryan Ober (Traci), his son Kurt Ober (Heidi), his stepdaughter Angie Rocha (Kenny), and stepson Marc Barsanti (Jesse); his grandchildren whom lovingly called him “Grampy”: Makenzie Franks (Jordan), Skyler Ober, Parker Bryan (Gracie), Kamrin Ober, Tiara Brown, Tierney Mobley, Maddy Rocha, Hunter Barsanti, Gage Barsanti, Bearett Barsanti; and great-grandchildren: Zayden, Ainsley, Ariella and Deluca; his sisters Kathy Goodell, Judy Wharton (Mike), and Penny Owens; his sisters-in-law Cindie Kelley (Neil) and Phyllis Ober; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Ober, his father, Douglas Ober, his brothers, Doug and Richard Ober, brothers-in-law, Barney Goodale and Dana Owens, his father and mother-in-law, Joe and Gloria Masini, and good friend, Kevin Primofiore, with whom he spent weekends hunting and at his cabin in Ruth.

While there will be no formal service per his request, on the day of his passing many of his family members were by his side. We laughed, cried and shared stories and memories. We feel fortunate to have had the time we had with him. It was the perfect day to honor his memory.

Rudolph William Santsche
January 17, 1930 – May 28, 2023

Rudolph William Santsche, 93, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Sunday, May 28, 2023. Rudolph went by many nicknames, including Rudy, Bill, Santsch, Papa, and Unc. He was born in the family home in Bucksport on January 17, 1930. He was the third of seven children born to Rudolph G. Santsche and May Matilda Ford Santsche.

After receiving his high school diploma in 1948, Bill began working for the Pacific Bell Telephone company. After working for two years, he joined the Army’s communications division and served twenty months in Korea during the Korean War where he earned two bronze service stars. After his stint in Korea, Bill received an honorable discharge and returned to his job with the telephone company, where he was employed for 42 years, retiring in 1990. Prior to his retirement, Bill received the Driver of the Year Award from the California Telephone Association for remaining accident-free during his employment with the company.

On July 3, 1953, Bill married Arte Lee Roberts and together they had two daughters, Shelley Ann (Moore) and Loreen Lee (Farrell). Later, when Bill remarried Judith Ann Bertelsen in 1980, he gained a bonus daughter Tina (Conti) and two bonus sons, Kipp and Robert (Bertelsen). Raising five children, combined with growing up in a large family, family traditions were very important to Bill. He made sure the family carried on traditions such as Sunday family dinners, making home-made noodles at Thanksgiving, “hunting” for Christmas trees, camping and sport fishing with friends and family for clams, surf fish, perch, salmon and his favorite, abalone ‘rock-picking’ because he never learned to swim.

Bill was a wonderful brother, father, grandfather great-grandfather and friend. He doted on his family and was happiest when he was surrounded by family and friends. Over the years he attended countless baseball, basketball, football, track, 4-H, FFA, ballet, orchestra, band, and cheerleading events to show support for both his children and grandchildren.

After he retired, Bill enjoyed traveling with friends and family to many wonderful destinations, including Disneyland, Disneyworld, Hawaii, Branson, Nashville, Cabo San Lucas, the Grand Canyon, Reno and Arizona. He enjoyed making new friends and becoming a member of the Swiss Club, Moose Lodge and attending numerous Golden State Accordionaires functions and performances.

Bill was well-known for having a large vegetable and flower garden. Gardening was always a family activity, whether it was separating garlic cloves, placing bean seeds perfectly within well-tilled rows, harvesting zucchini, or shucking snap peas, it was done with pride and love. Bill continued to tend to his garden up into his 90s.

Special thanks go out to his wonderful, supportive neighbors, family and friends who went above and beyond to provide him the opportunity to live independently until the age of 93. We also want to thank the staff at Frye’s Residential Care Home, St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Veteran’s Clinic for their kindness and compassion during the past several months.

Bill is proceeded in death by his parents Rudolph and May Santsche, brother Ed Santsche, and sisters Margaret, Marjory, Evelyn and spouses Arte Hardisty and Judith Santsche. He is survived by his sisters Eva Rainbolt, Mae Tibbet (Ray), children Shelley Moore (David), Loreen Farrell (Robert), step-children Kipp Bertelsen (Katrina), Tina Conti, Robert Bertelsen (Jennifer), and grandchildren Katie Wells (Matt), Amanda Maciel (Michael), Dr. Kelsea Breese (Jon), Kira Cosio (Bryce), Megan Dutra (Jonny), Michael, Matthew, and Missie Mae Bertelsen, Travis and Kylie Conti, Devin Bertelsen and great-grandchildren Franchesca Lopez, Sephora and DaisyLynn Maciel, Braden and Mason Dutra, and Carson Cosio, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and ‘adopted’ family members.

Funeral arrangements will be held at the Ocean View Cemetery Chapel on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 11 a.m. located at 3975 Broadway Street in Eureka, California. Please join us for a Celebration of Life to be held immediately following at the Wharfinger Building located at 1 Marina Way, in Eureka. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in our father’s name to your local Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter.

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Kevin Patrick Coyne of Eureka passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Though taken from us too soon, Kevin lived a robust life for 73 years.

Kevin was born on February, 27,1950 in Bethesda, Maryland to Raymond and Margaret Coyne. With three older sisters and dozens of cousins, there was rarely a dull moment when the family gathered. Kevin’s father, Raymond, was in the US Marine Corps and by the time Kevin was six, they moved to Ray’s new station in San Diego. After a brief stint in San Diego, the Coyne family moved to the Bay Area where Ray retired from the Marines and taught law at the University of San Francisco. Burlingame was where the Coynes put down roots and where Kevin would grow up and always consider his home, and where their younger sister, Kelly, was born.

Kevin graduated from Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, where he excelled in athletics, mainly baseball. He went on to graduate from the University of California at Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. While at Cal, Kevin dove deep into music, playing in regional bands. He could often be found playing his saxophone around the Bay Area as a vagabond type of busker, and of course, cheering on his beloved Giants.

Kevin met and married Sally Coyne in 1978. They welcomed their son, Brendan, in 1982 and their daughter, Natalie, in 1984. The Coyne crew eventually moved to the Midwest and settled in Columbia, Missouri. Once their children had gone to college, Kevin and Sally moved to Humboldt County to enjoy an active life where the redwoods meet the Pacific. Kevin was a woodworker by hobby and even made wooden sea kayaks that he and Sally used in Humboldt, Baja, and Vancouver Island. A lover of the outdoors, Kevin found such peace in the beauty of the North Coast.

In January of 2020, Kevin became the beamingly proud grandfather to Natalie’s son, Quinn Elliott. The profound joy he had for Quinn was so tender, so pure. Quinn will miss his “Anpa.”

Kevin is preceded in death by his father, Raymond, mother, Margaret, and sister, Kelly. He is survived by Sally, his son, Brendan, his daughter, Natalie, his grandson, Quinn, his sister, Meg, his sister, Betsy, and his sister, Kathy. Kevin is also survived by many nieces and nephews, who miss him dearly, and many friends. A Humboldt service will be planned for early August.

We’ll all miss you, Daddy. As we always said when I was a little girl, I know you loved me more than fishing, and I’ll always love you more than strawberries.

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Ed Whitten peacefully passed at the age of 86 with his family at his side on May 28, 2023. Ed was one of six children and grew up Sonoma, Calif. He served two years in the United States Army before going to work for the California Department of Forestry for over 30 years. His favorite part of his job was flying in the helicopter. He had been retired for 26 years, spending time with family, hunting, gardening and helping anyone in need.

Ed met the love of his life, Jackie Andersen, and married on June 15, 1970, settling in Fortuna for 53 years. He had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Ed will be greatly missed. He leaves a legacy that will continue to live in the hearts of many. His leadership style, kindness and good humor gained the admiration and respect of many of the men he led.

He and his wife attended the Presbyterian Church in Fortuna for the last several years, where he looked forward to eating his wife’s good cooking and the cooking of other members of the church at their weekly Sunday potlucks. Ed and Jackie were very faithful and devoted many hours at keeping the grounds of the church very neat and beautiful.

Ed is preceded in death by his parents Bert and Frankie, his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Ken Noel, brothers, Bob, Henry and Charles Whitten. He is survived by his wife Jackie Whitten, wife of 53 years, brother James Whitten, sister, Carole Jackson, daughter, Sheri (Don) Jewett, son, Randy (Kendra) Andersen, grandchildren, Krista Viggers (Ryan McKenzie), Chad Viggers, Melissa Demello, Steffanee Andersen (Brett), great-grandchildren, Asa, Layla and Shawnessy Mckenzie.

To a live well lived. We love you so much, Ed. Celebration of Life: Saturday, June 24, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Fortuna Fire Hall, 320 South Fortuna Blvd.

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News time! Armed robbery at Three Corners Market, tightening public agency budgets, free lunches for kids, courses for elderly caregivers, gun violence awareness, bike share survey, and more miserable weather ahead!

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