Built in 1926 and nestled among the classic homes of Fresno Old Fig Garden District, Van Ness Auto Repair -- also known as the old Russ Clements station -- is the oldest operating service station in California, and second oldest in the country. The station is listed with the California State Historical Society and the Fresno Register of Historic Resources.

Over the years, the station has had its ups and downs, from its friendly early days with Russ Clements, to its dark days as a shuttered, unoccupied property plagued by vandals and vagrants. It was a blight on an otherwise beautiful neighborhood.

Jim Medina purchased the property in 1999 and restored it to its original beauty, and breathed new life by continuing the long tradition of quality workmanship and personal service. The neighborhood welcomed the return of the old service station.

However, not everyone was pleased. Since Medina became the new owner, three residents have continually made life hard for him through racist threats, hateful notes, vandalism, and unreasonable demands. They use local city code like a billyclub, forcing Medina to follow code to the point where he must pay a fine whenever he is on his own property after 6:00 p.m. -- even by one minute.

Medina has made every effort to comply with their many demands, each time at his own personal expense. However, these three residents do not have any interest in compromise. They simply want Jim Medina and his crew out, and the historic property to be shuttered again.

Please help support historic Van Ness Auto Repair. Urge the Fresno City Council to allow Jim Medina time to remain on his property after hours to wait for late returning customers, clean up, and prepare for another business day. Let us stop the short-sighted residents from continuing to harass Jim Medina and his crew.

Van Ness Auto Repair is a piece of Fresno history. Don't let the protests of a few narrow-minded, hateful residents take our heritage away from us.