A Fresno community group is calling on the city to stop installing the new signs for Cesar Chavez Boulevard until a judge rules on the matter later this month.
1 Community Compact and the city will appear in court on June 18 for a ruling on a preliminary injunction to stop the name change from Kings Canyon Road.
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Flashback: In March, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jon Skiles denied a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by 1 Community Compact.
- But he left the door open for another try, saying the group had until April 19 to file an amended complaint.
The big picture: 1 Community Compact filed an amended complaint on April 18, requesting a preliminary injunction to halt the street renaming.
- Despite the upcoming hearing, the city sent out address change notifications to residents and businesses with plans to start installing the new street signs in the coming weeks.
What they’re saying: On Monday, 1 Community Compact called on the city to wait until a ruling before installing the new signs for Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
- “1 Community Compact has requested that the City make the decision of the utmost sense and importance and postpone the installation of the new street signs until the hearing and ruling are complete,” the group said in a statement. “Currently, the City looks foolish, petty and spiteful to rush a sign installation, only to be later directed to remove them and incur additional expenses, in the face of a huge budget deficit, all at the taxpayer’s expense.”
The backstory: The street renaming was made official on a 6-1 vote last year by the Fresno City Council to honor the late UFW co-founder.
- The council approved the change for Kings Canyon Road, Ventura Street and California Avenue despite significant opposition from the community.
- 1 Community Compact filed a lawsuit against the city last July, arguing that the city is renaming the streets for ideological and political reasons.
