Trump Does the Deal

Trump Does the Deal
By Mike Rhodes

Yesterday Donald Trump bought the Running Horse development in southwest Fresno for $40 million. Do you think “The Donald" knows that mayor Autry and a group of investors want to put a nuclear power plant in the neighborhood? Another question is - why is it possible to build a PGA golf course and luxury homes in west Fresno and yet there is no general purpose public junior high school in the area. The residents of west Fresno have complained for years that their kids are bused all over town because building a junior high has not been a priority. Why is an 18 hole golf course, luxury homes, and a nuclear power plant more of a priority than children's education?

The problem with busing west Fresno kids to other schools is that it makes it more difficult for them to get to and from school. If they miss the bus and their parents don't have a car, they might miss a whole day of school. They have to start for school earlier than most children and they often times can't stay at school to participate in extra curricular activities (because they would miss the bus home). When kids are bused across town and the parents don't have a car, it is difficult to set up parent/teacher conferences. In short, it is an unfair burden for the children of west Fresno not to have a junior high.

Why is it possible to build Running Horse (the golf course and luxury homes) and/or a nuclear power plant, but not a school?