Why is it that there are so many young people in Fresno who do nothing to make it a better place? By young, I don't mean high schoolers, cause obviously they are getting activated, pounding the pavement for what they believe in (immigrants rights), and I applaud them for being one of the most courageous generations of Fresnans in a long while. I'm talking about the 20 somethings. Where are you? When I go to the San Joaquin Valley Air District meetings, or City council meetings or to testify to the Department of Business, Transportation and Housing and the Cal EPA, where are you? I don't see many people my own age, granted there is a group of 4 or 5 of us who work on air quality issues in Fresno, but where are the rest? When we are hiring for environmental justice advocates, and we can't find anyone, does that mean it isn't a problem? There are so many opportunities in Fresno in the "non-profit" sector, not just doing charity work, but really trying to make change happen, but very few people seem interested. I know the brain drain is a real thing, when I think of the brilliant people I went to school with I remember that they left Fresno for college and most will never come back. If they do come back, it will just be to make money and stand complacent while the Central Valley is taken over by mega-dairies and gated communities. Fresno has so much potential. I know there are people who are interested in seeing it become more like SF than LA, but what are we doing to stop it? Everyday our city councils, county supervisors, and "planning" commissions sell their souls to big business. Is downtown going to be a great, artist friendly, walkable community, or is it going to be one huge conglomeration of National chains like Starbucks and Old Navy? What about local business? I feel very guilty that I wasn't there to help the small business owners of Chinatown, and now eminent domain has been given. I plan to get involved. There are things we can do to stop the corporate "gentrification" of our city. We don't need a Riverpark on each side of town! As it stands our elected officials are moving ahead with plans to duplicate that concept in Sunnyside, Downtown, at Fresno State and who knows where else. Are we going to sit by and let Fresno develop without any cohesive plan that explains why and how these projects relate to each other and compliment each other. All growth is not positive growth, we need to remember the history of Fresno, our history of building new and forgetting the old. It happened with Fulton mall, then Tower district (somewhat), then Manchester Mall, Fashion fair is kicking and screaming, but how long can they fight? Go to Art hop this Thursday, and support our local artists, buy fruit from the guy on Fulton mall, and get your coffee at Kern Street Coffee. Have you taken the bus lately? You should try, they look just like New York City buses and they're cheaper. This is just a random gathering of rants and raves, maybe next time I'll organize myself more.