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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 10:25:40 AM

Title: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 10:25:40 AM
You know all have wanted to and now your long wait is over.  Post your queries about the most under the radar city in the United States with a population over 500,000.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: SkyPesos on October 28, 2021, 10:32:57 AM
Does the city enjoy its status as the largest without an interstate?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on October 28, 2021, 10:37:14 AM
Do you know Trent Dilfer?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 10:37:52 AM
^^^

No

Quote from: SkyPesos on October 28, 2021, 10:32:57 AM
Does the city enjoy its status as the largest without an interstate?

It does but yet shuns it's US Route heritage.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: webny99 on October 28, 2021, 10:50:05 AM
Somewhat road-related... is bad traffic common there?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 11:05:10 AM
Quote from: webny99 on October 28, 2021, 10:50:05 AM
Somewhat road-related... is bad traffic common there?

It can be on CA 99 at any time of the day.  CA 41 has a lot of traffic backups during rush hour north of CA 180.  The McKinley Avenue Exit on CA 41 is placed too close to the CA 180 interchange and is the root cause of much of the backups.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: nexus73 on October 28, 2021, 11:10:29 AM
Back in 2013 my friend and I stopped at an El Pollo Loco in Fresno.  That city is apparently so dangerous that the El Pollo Loco had an armed security guard present.  What is your take on the level of criminality in Fresno Max?

Rick
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 11:17:23 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on October 28, 2021, 11:10:29 AM
Back in 2013 my friend and I stopped at an El Pollo Loco in Fresno.  That city is apparently so dangerous that the El Pollo Loco had an armed security guard present.  What is your take on the level of criminality in Fresno Max?

Rick

It's tame for a city of this size.  Example; the murder rate is far lower than other large cities Ive lived in like Detroit and Chicago.  There is a lot of homelessness centered around; downtown, the Warehouse District, Kings Canyon, Highway City and the Tower District.   I think the homelessness situation being prominent coupled with a couple areas of being in decline gives a false impression about the violent crime rate in Fresno.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: kurumi on October 28, 2021, 12:02:58 PM
Were there other freeway proposals besides the Big Four?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: thspfc on October 28, 2021, 12:07:12 PM
What are the most popular sports teams in Fresno?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 12:14:13 PM
^^^

Overwhelmingly the Los Angeles professional sports franchises.

Quote from: kurumi on October 28, 2021, 12:02:58 PM
Were there other freeway proposals besides the Big Four?

The closest would have been the unbuilt segment of CA 65.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: DTComposer on October 28, 2021, 04:57:35 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 11:17:23 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on October 28, 2021, 11:10:29 AM
Back in 2013 my friend and I stopped at an El Pollo Loco in Fresno.  That city is apparently so dangerous that the El Pollo Loco had an armed security guard present.  What is your take on the level of criminality in Fresno Max?

Rick

It's tame for a city of this size.  Example; the murder rate is far lower than other large cities Ive lived in like Detroit and Chicago.  There is a lot of homelessness centered around; downtown, the Warehouse District, Kings Canyon, Highway City and the Tower District.   I think the homelessness situation being prominent coupled with a couple areas of being in decline gives a false impression about the violent crime rate in Fresno.

FBI statistics on the 100 largest cities put Fresno in the middle of the pack (56th in violent crime, 38th in property crime).

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 12:14:13 PM
^^^

Overwhelmingly the Los Angeles professional sports franchises.

My sister-in-law lives in Fresno, and the impression I got from her is that the Raiders were the most popular NFL team. Has that shifted with the return of the Rams and Chargers to L.A. and the Raiders' move to Las Vegas?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: kevinb1994 on October 28, 2021, 05:00:44 PM
Why does Fresno sound like something from a Chili Peppers song?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: JayhawkCO on October 28, 2021, 05:02:50 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on October 28, 2021, 05:00:44 PM
Why does Fresno sound like something from a Chili Peppers song?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_chile

Chris
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: kevinb1994 on October 28, 2021, 05:06:45 PM
Quote from: jayhawkco on October 28, 2021, 05:02:50 PM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on October 28, 2021, 05:00:44 PM
Why does Fresno sound like something from a Chili Peppers song?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_chile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_chile)

Chris
Never heard of that. But it makes sense now. I guess. Haven't been to SoCal.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 05:25:09 PM
Quote from: DTComposer on October 28, 2021, 04:57:35 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 11:17:23 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on October 28, 2021, 11:10:29 AM
Back in 2013 my friend and I stopped at an El Pollo Loco in Fresno.  That city is apparently so dangerous that the El Pollo Loco had an armed security guard present.  What is your take on the level of criminality in Fresno Max?

Rick

It's tame for a city of this size.  Example; the murder rate is far lower than other large cities Ive lived in like Detroit and Chicago.  There is a lot of homelessness centered around; downtown, the Warehouse District, Kings Canyon, Highway City and the Tower District.   I think the homelessness situation being prominent coupled with a couple areas of being in decline gives a false impression about the violent crime rate in Fresno.

FBI statistics on the 100 largest cities put Fresno in the middle of the pack (56th in violent crime, 38th in property crime).

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 12:14:13 PM
^^^

Overwhelmingly the Los Angeles professional sports franchises.

My sister-in-law lives in Fresno, and the impression I got from her is that the Raiders were the most popular NFL team. Has that shifted with the return of the Rams and Chargers to L.A. and the Raiders' move to Las Vegas?

I would say "middle of the pack" is probably an accurate assessment.  Definitely not the safest large city in the U.S. but definitely not anywhere close to being the worst. 

Pertaining to professional sports most people I know are Rams and Dodgers fans.  The Bay Area teams (plus the Raiders) have a following but it is decidedly smaller compared to the Los Angeles teams.  I think the Los Angeles market tends to just play better with the more blue collar demographic of the Fresno area.  My wife's family are all Rams fans (even when they were in St. Louis) and for some reason follow the Red Sox.  For what it's worth I didn't live here prior to the Rams moving back to California but I get the impression that a lot of people around here were hugely excited to have them nearby again.  I haven't found that the NBA is followed much locally which I think is odd considering how big Fresno State Basketball used to be.  I found say the Raiders or the Bills (courtesy Josh Allen of Firebaugh) are close to a tie for second most popular NFL franchise followed by a large drop to the 49ers.  I haven't found the Raiders move to Las Vegas has had much of an effect on their fan base regardless of the locale.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: webny99 on October 28, 2021, 06:09:54 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 05:25:09 PM
I found say the Raiders or the Bills (courtesy Josh Allen of Firebaugh) are close to a tie for second most popular NFL franchise followed by a large drop to the 49ers.

Nice! I like to hear it! That brings up another question, is there any sense of "community" among all the parts of California outside the Bay Area/LA area? We have something like this here in NY because NYC gets all the attention and is the part of the state everyone knows/talks about, so there's some sense of togetherness among the rest of the state since we're "not NYC", and that's something we can all relate to... so I'm wondering if a similar dynamic exists in CA. I imagine that if it does, it's probably a bit different since there are two prominent metro areas/regions instead of just one.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 06:15:17 PM
Quote from: webny99 on October 28, 2021, 06:09:54 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 05:25:09 PM
I found say the Raiders or the Bills (courtesy Josh Allen of Firebaugh) are close to a tie for second most popular NFL franchise followed by a large drop to the 49ers.

Nice! I like to hear it! That brings up another question, is there any sense of "community" among all the parts of California outside the Bay Area/LA area? We have something like this here in NY because NYC gets all the attention and is the part of the state everyone knows/talks about, so there's some sense of togetherness among the rest of the state since we're "not NYC", and that's something we can all relate to... so I'm wondering if a similar dynamic exists in CA. I imagine that if it does, it's probably a bit different since there are two prominent metro areas/regions instead of just one.

There is a dynamic like that which I would largely attribute to the largely agricultural driven economy.  It runs so against the grain of the big cities that it kind lends towards life in the Central Valley being in line with one would expect out of the Midwest or Great Plains.  Most aspects day to day life tend to run opposite that of the larger cities.  The NYC versus Upstate New York would be a good analog comparison.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: tolbs17 on October 28, 2021, 06:17:36 PM
When will Fresno get an interstate?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 06:21:28 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on October 28, 2021, 06:17:36 PM
When will Fresno get an interstate?

Likely never.  The fact that CA 99 has to be fully brought up to Interstate standards between Wheeler Ridge and Sacramento coupled with having to bother petitioning the AASHTO will make it a likely no-deal. 
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: tolbs17 on October 28, 2021, 06:23:10 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 06:21:28 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on October 28, 2021, 06:17:36 PM
When will Fresno get an interstate?

Likely never.  The fact that CA 99 has to be fully brought up to Interstate standards between Wheeler Ridge and Sacramento coupled with having to bother petitioning the AASHTO will make it a likely no-deal.
And I guess it's no problem with it not getting an interstate.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 06:25:31 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on October 28, 2021, 06:23:10 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 06:21:28 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on October 28, 2021, 06:17:36 PM
When will Fresno get an interstate?

Likely never.  The fact that CA 99 has to be fully brought up to Interstate standards between Wheeler Ridge and Sacramento coupled with having to bother petitioning the AASHTO will make it a likely no-deal.
And I guess it's no problem with it not getting an interstate.

That's a deep rabbit hole with that subject but it definitely isn't easy for a lot reasons.  Personally I would settle for just getting Wheeler Ridge-Sacramento to fully to six lanes or more. 
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: webny99 on October 28, 2021, 07:55:19 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 06:15:17 PM
Quote from: webny99 on October 28, 2021, 06:09:54 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 05:25:09 PM
I found say the Raiders or the Bills (courtesy Josh Allen of Firebaugh) are close to a tie for second most popular NFL franchise followed by a large drop to the 49ers.

Nice! I like to hear it! That brings up another question, is there any sense of "community" among all the parts of California outside the Bay Area/LA area? We have something like this here in NY because NYC gets all the attention and is the part of the state everyone knows/talks about, so there's some sense of togetherness among the rest of the state since we're "not NYC", and that's something we can all relate to... so I'm wondering if a similar dynamic exists in CA. I imagine that if it does, it's probably a bit different since there are two prominent metro areas/regions instead of just one.

There is a dynamic like that which I would largely attribute to the largely agricultural driven economy.  It runs so against the grain of the big cities that it kind lends towards life in the Central Valley being in line with one would expect out of the Midwest or Great Plains.  Most aspects day to day life tend to run opposite that of the larger cities.  The NYC versus Upstate New York would be a good analog comparison.

Interesting. I wonder if that factors in to why Josh Allen is so popular in his home region, more so than he would be in a huge metro area like LA or the Bay Area.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 08:20:37 PM
Quote from: webny99 on October 28, 2021, 07:55:19 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 06:15:17 PM
Quote from: webny99 on October 28, 2021, 06:09:54 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 28, 2021, 05:25:09 PM
I found say the Raiders or the Bills (courtesy Josh Allen of Firebaugh) are close to a tie for second most popular NFL franchise followed by a large drop to the 49ers.

Nice! I like to hear it! That brings up another question, is there any sense of "community" among all the parts of California outside the Bay Area/LA area? We have something like this here in NY because NYC gets all the attention and is the part of the state everyone knows/talks about, so there's some sense of togetherness among the rest of the state since we're "not NYC", and that's something we can all relate to... so I'm wondering if a similar dynamic exists in CA. I imagine that if it does, it's probably a bit different since there are two prominent metro areas/regions instead of just one.

There is a dynamic like that which I would largely attribute to the largely agricultural driven economy.  It runs so against the grain of the big cities that it kind lends towards life in the Central Valley being in line with one would expect out of the Midwest or Great Plains.  Most aspects day to day life tend to run opposite that of the larger cities.  The NYC versus Upstate New York would be a good analog comparison.

Interesting. I wonder if that factors in to why Josh Allen is so popular in his home region, more so than he would be in a huge metro area like LA or the Bay Area.

It probably doesn't hurt that he's in a blue collar industrial city like Buffalo.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Concrete Bob on October 29, 2021, 12:35:57 AM
Will SR 180 ever be extended west to Interstate 5 from Mendota?  If so, will it be extended as a four lane expressway or freeway.

Will SR 41 south of Fresno ever be completely upgraded to to four lanes to I-5?  How much of that stretch will be upgraded to freeway?

Also, what do you think of the Armenian restaurants throughout the city? 
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: bing101 on October 29, 2021, 12:55:21 AM
When did Fresno overtake Sacramento as the largest Inland City in California.
In the case of Sacramento it has suburban sprawl from Vacaville to the Roseville area that makes the Sacramento area look larger than Fresno.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 29, 2021, 07:51:37 AM
Quote from: bing101 on October 29, 2021, 12:55:21 AM
When did Fresno overtake Sacramento as the largest Inland City in California.
In the case of Sacramento it has suburban sprawl from Vacaville to the Roseville area that makes the Sacramento area look larger than Fresno.

Fresno overlook Sacramento around 2000.  The Sacramento Metro Area has more than double the population of Fresno though.

Speaking of the Sacramento Metro Area why is Truckee and South Lake Tahoe part of it when it when belong more with a consolidated Reno-Carson City?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: nexus73 on October 29, 2021, 10:34:39 AM
Is there a rivalry with Bakersfield?

Rick
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 29, 2021, 10:40:20 AM
Quote from: nexus73 on October 29, 2021, 10:34:39 AM
Is there a rivalry with Bakersfield?

Rick

Not really, it hardly ever comes up in conversation.  There is a thing with Boise though because of Fresno State and Boise State. 
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: bing101 on October 30, 2021, 09:27:44 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 29, 2021, 07:51:37 AM
Quote from: bing101 on October 29, 2021, 12:55:21 AM
When did Fresno overtake Sacramento as the largest Inland City in California.
In the case of Sacramento it has suburban sprawl from Vacaville to the Roseville area that makes the Sacramento area look larger than Fresno.

Fresno overlook Sacramento around 2000.  The Sacramento Metro Area has more than double the population of Fresno though.

Speaking of the Sacramento Metro Area why is Truckee and South Lake Tahoe part of it when it when belong more with a consolidated Reno-Carson City?
Might be a carryover of the Gold Rush days as a factor why Truckee and South Late Tahoe are a  part of Sacramento area and not Carson City/Reno Area.
What are Fresno's other industries besides agricultural processing and livestock. I heard of people from the Bay Area and Los Angeles moving to the area for "Affordable Housing".


Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 30, 2021, 09:53:29 PM
Quote from: bing101 on October 30, 2021, 09:27:44 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 29, 2021, 07:51:37 AM
Quote from: bing101 on October 29, 2021, 12:55:21 AM
When did Fresno overtake Sacramento as the largest Inland City in California.
In the case of Sacramento it has suburban sprawl from Vacaville to the Roseville area that makes the Sacramento area look larger than Fresno.

Fresno overlook Sacramento around 2000.  The Sacramento Metro Area has more than double the population of Fresno though.

Speaking of the Sacramento Metro Area why is Truckee and South Lake Tahoe part of it when it when belong more with a consolidated Reno-Carson City?
Might be a carryover of the Gold Rush days as a factor why Truckee and South Late Tahoe are a  part of Sacramento area and not Carson City/Reno Area.
What are Fresno's other industries besides agricultural processing and livestock. I heard of people from the Bay Area and Los Angeles moving to the area for "Affordable Housing".

That's part of the problem, the agriculture sector by far is the largest economic driver in the Fresno Area (all eggs in one basket economy).  To that end I don't see Fresno taking off in the white collar sector given it doesn't really cater to that workforce.   Places like Tracy are generally "close enough" to drive to the Bay Area from and draw from it's workforce residentially.  Fresno State has a large presence which kind of sorta makes Fresno (more so Clovis) a college town.  There is a fairly large military presence in the general area with NAS Lemoore and the Fresno Air National Guard at FAT.  FWIW the DOD is why I've moved around so much across the country this past decade, I was asked to come here.
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: bing101 on October 30, 2021, 11:01:07 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 30, 2021, 09:53:29 PM
Quote from: bing101 on October 30, 2021, 09:27:44 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 29, 2021, 07:51:37 AM
Quote from: bing101 on October 29, 2021, 12:55:21 AM
When did Fresno overtake Sacramento as the largest Inland City in California.
In the case of Sacramento it has suburban sprawl from Vacaville to the Roseville area that makes the Sacramento area look larger than Fresno.

Fresno overlook Sacramento around 2000.  The Sacramento Metro Area has more than double the population of Fresno though.

Speaking of the Sacramento Metro Area why is Truckee and South Lake Tahoe part of it when it when belong more with a consolidated Reno-Carson City?
Might be a carryover of the Gold Rush days as a factor why Truckee and South Late Tahoe are a  part of Sacramento area and not Carson City/Reno Area.
What are Fresno's other industries besides agricultural processing and livestock. I heard of people from the Bay Area and Los Angeles moving to the area for "Affordable Housing".

That's part of the problem, the agriculture sector by far is the largest economic driver in the Fresno Area (all eggs in one basket economy).  To that end I don't see Fresno taking off in the white collar sector given it doesn't really cater to that workforce.   Places like Tracy are generally "close enough" to drive to the Bay Area from and draw from it's workforce residentially.  Fresno State has a large presence which kind of sorta makes Fresno (more so Clovis) a college town.  There is a fairly large military presence in the general area with NAS Lemoore and the Fresno Air National Guard at FAT.  FWIW the DOD is why I've moved around so much across the country this past decade, I was asked to come here.

Yes I remember seeing a Lemoore Exit when I was going back to Sacramento for Work after going to LA to visit with family. I knew parts of California had in the past or currently dependent on defense just regional bias got me on this one.

I knew Travis Air Force Base gets in my area and Camp Pendleton gets more attention for military presence.


https://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-099nd.html (https://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-099nd.html)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Lemoore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Lemoore)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_Yosemite_International_Airport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_Yosemite_International_Airport)
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: index on October 31, 2021, 08:29:02 PM
How do you feel about Fresno's (terrible) flag?
Title: Re: Ask me anything about Fresno
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 31, 2021, 08:37:40 PM
Quote from: index on October 31, 2021, 08:29:02 PM
How do you feel about Fresno's (terrible) flag?

It is horrible but it also reminds me of the taco truck we hired to cater our wedding, so mixed feelings.