Joaquin Arambula
Candidate for City Council Member, Fresno, District 3 · Doctor/Assemblymember
Joaquin Arambula is a doctor. He was born in Delano and grew up in Fresno's Tower District. He has served in the California State Assembly. He led a budget panel on health services from 2016 to 2023. He wrote a bill that expanded health coverage to undocumented adults. He has also served on the state's High-Speed Rail board. He helped bring a large state investment to southwest Fresno, downtown, and Chinatown in 2017. He also helped fund downtown water, sewer, and parking upgrades.
Positions in brief
Arambula is a doctor. He has served in the California State Assembly. He opposes a plan to build a second downtown and wants stronger renter protections paired with higher-wage jobs.
Arambula's campaign lists four main goals. First, he wants to help small businesses and create good jobs. Second, he wants to build more homes and invest in run-down areas. Third, he wants safer streets and sidewalks, and more parks in his district. Fourth, he wants to finish High-Speed Rail and build the downtown station. He opposes the mayor's SEDA plan for a second downtown on farmland. He says the city should invest in existing neighborhoods first. He also opposes rezoning the Elm Avenue area back to industrial use. He backs the city's eviction protection program. He wants renter protections paired with higher-wage jobs. On homelessness, he wants the city and county to work together. He wants shelters to stay open as transitional housing. He backs a new tax to replace Measure C. He also wants budget meetings to follow the state's open-meetings law. He backs a new ethics commission.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Wants to invest in small businesses, entrepreneurs, and job creation, including in the health workforce.
“My vision for Fresno is a place where everyone can raise their families, grow their businesses, and afford to live.”
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Wants to build both market-rate and affordable housing and invest in distressed neighborhoods.
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Opposes the SEDA plan to build a second downtown on farmland as currently proposed, saying the city should invest in existing neighborhoods first.
“We need to be investing into existing neighborhoods, blighted communities, and ensuring that before we're beginning to create a second downtown.”
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Opposes rezoning the Elm Avenue corridor back to industrial use, citing the health gap between southwest and northwest Fresno.
“I'm against that Elm rezone as we can't continue to pollute into an area that has such health disparities compared to the rest of the city.”
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Supports strengthening the city's eviction protection program and pairing renter protections with higher-wage jobs.
“We need to strengthen programs that help people to stay housed, but we also have to work on creating jobs that pay well so people can make a living wage.”
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Wants the city and county to work together on homeless shelters, keeping them open as transitional housing while the county expands mental health and substance abuse services.
“Shelters should function as transitional housing and should not be closed.”
Source → - Infrastructure & Transportation
Backs the Better Roads, Safe Streets transportation tax measure to replace Measure C.
“I have been supportive and involved with the Better Roads Safe Streets Initiative. It was a process that included the voices of community throughout Fresno County.”
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Supports making council budget subcommittees comply with the state's open-meetings law and backs creating an independent ethics commission.
“As elected officials, we need to be transparent with the budget.”
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.