FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
A Fresno man claims the city is wasting tax dollars on a sidewalk that didn't need to be repaired. The sidewalk taken near Downtown Fresno wasn't even four years old.
The 200 block of North Fulton Street is lined with big trees that can bust a sidewalk when their massive roots rise to the surface. But Jack Fletcher says a long stretch of cement didn't need to be replaced in front of his home. "It boggles my mind why they would tear up new sidewalks and spend this money this way. We're talking about thousands of dollars here."
Fletcher's historical home was moved there by Caltrans to make way for the 180 Freeway. He says the contract included adding fencing, landscaping and sidewalks. "It was a brand new cement sidewalk that was signed off by the city. It was inspected. They even brought surveyors to make sure the draining was right."
Fletcher says there was noting wrong with this three-year-old sidewalk. He tried to communicate that to Fresno City Hall, but so far no one will return his call. "I've tried to contact the mayor's office, the city councilman, nobody's getting back to me."
Fletcher has complained to city hall that a cement channel in the alley behind his house needs to be fixed. He was told there's no money. "I'd like them to set up some kind of way that they oversee projects don't get twice and the money thrown away. When we can't even get our trees pruned and we can't get the cement in the alley fixed."
Fletcher is determined to talk to someone at Fresno City Hall about what he calls wasted tax dollars.
A spokesperson for Fresno City Hall says the person in charge of the sidewalk project is off Friday so the city had no comment.
