An open letter from Chris Daniel to Salt Lake City...
For all of our lives, and those of the past 4 generations, Fresno and the surrounding San Joaquin Valley have fed this country. Your fruit, your grapes and raisins, your peaches, plums and nectarines. Most of your citrus. All of your almonds and walnuts. A large majority of your dairy. Even a great deal of your cotton and meats.
How was that tangerine in your Christmas stocking? Fresno grown, I'll bet.
Fresno feeds America...but America just makes it a punchline and wonders if there's a beach.
Now, with EPA-created drought, Sacramento ineptitude and a crushing business climate (with regulations galore no Utahan would tolerate), Fresno finally needs food for herself. Neighboring city Mendota has 44% unemployment. FORTY-FOUR percent. Fresno's food banks are bare.
I know it's hard to believe that America's #1 food producing area needs food. But we truly do. That's 2011 America.
It is wonderful that you want to support your excellent city's hungry people. But, before you vote for Salt Lake, please consider this:
Fresno has always fed you. Now Fresno needs food. I hope you'll step up for all of the years you shared her bounty and vote for Fresno.
-CD
