In 2018, after ranking dead last among large cities in the U.S. for park quality and availability for several years in a row (and currently ranked 98 out of 100 major U.S. cities) City of Fresno residents took action and wrote, collected signatures, and passed Measure P – a ⅜-cent sales tax to fund improvements and maintenance of existing public parks, build and maintain new parks and trails, and support local arts and cultural amenities.
In November 2018, the measure received 52% of the vote. But, the City of Fresno refused to implement the measure. Fresno Building Healthy Communities sued the City of Fresno on behalf of the people of Fresno to protect our democracy and ensure the will of people did not get ignored. After two years of litigation, the courts affirmed that citizen-driven measures require a simple majority for passage and that, in fact, Measure P had been approved by the voters. The City of Fresno began collecting money on July 1, 2021.