Photo Credit: Alex Burgos
[FRESNO, Calif.] This may look like an ordinary stop sign.
However, for residents of Southeast Fresno, it represents a hard-fought victory in making their community safer.
Before this week, the intersection along South Avenue—a busy road cutting through city and rural farmland—was only a two-way stop. It was a dangerous crossing, and last summer, Alex Burgos, a young parishioner from St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic church, learned that firsthand when his car was T-boned by another vehicle.
“At first, I thought it was just bad luck,” Burgos said. “Then I started talking to other people in my church, and I realized I wasn’t the only one.”
Among other parishioners who experienced collisions at the same intersection was Consuelo Cruz, who recalled the moment of impact.
“It was a life changing moment. My health continues to be affected with headaches and back pain. My disposable income has also been affected. I had to buy another car to replace the one that was totaled. ”
Determined to make a change, Burgos reached out to his IAF organizer. Over the following months, he and other leaders with the Central Valley IAF Sponsoring Committee (CVIAF) had conversations with farm owners, school administrators, Sikh religious leaders, and dozens of families who had experienced close calls or worse.
Their efforts led to a public action where over 300 residents turned out—the largest assembly yet for the growing sponsoring committee. Assembly co-chair Martha Rodriguez—another St. Anthony Mary Claret leader—recalled a particularly compelling moment in the program: “Those who had accidents were asked to stand. It was a cross section of people. All ages, ethnicities, and economic statuses.”
The action secured commitments from a county supervisor, the Sheriff's Department, and California Highway Patrol to support installing four-way stop signs at the intersection.
But the fight wasn’t over.
California High-Speed Rail Authority, which had diverted traffic due to construction, was ultimately responsible for installing the stop signs. Yet bureaucratic delays threatened to stall progress.
Rodriguez continued calls and follow-ups. Her persistence paid off. After several weeks of pressure, the High-Speed Rail Authority followed through. Stop signs were finally installed at not one, but two dangerous intersections along South Avenue.
Said Rodriguez, “I vote, I pay taxes, and I have a civic duty to voice concerns that affect our community. You can’t do it alone, but with the power of multiple institutions, we were heard.”
These stop signs will undoubtedly help prevent more collisions and may even save lives. But for CVIAF leaders, this win is about even more than that—it’s about the power of ordinary people to hold officials accountable and win real change.
The effort also sparked an unexpected alliance between immigrant families and local law enforcement, who share a common concern for road safety. That relationship is continuing to grow. Just last week, community leaders met with the assistant sheriff, assistant chief of police, a county supervisor, and the local bishop to discuss ways to build trust, especially during this moment of fear and concern in the immigrant community.
