Pete Weber is the founder of Fresno Bridge Academy, a program at the community-education organization Reading and Beyond in Fresno, California that helps people find long-term employment. Before joining a Zócalo/The California Wellness Foundation panel discussion on his city’s struggle with inequality and homelessness—“Can Fresno Win the War on Poverty?”—he talked in the Zócalo Green Room about Fresno’s quietly growing tech scene, the future of robots, and his all-time best Halloween costume.
Bicycles or motorcycles?
Motorcycles. I used to have one.
If you had to choose one musician’s oeuvre to be the soundtrack to a movie about your life, whose work would you choose?
Jim Croce’s.
What’s one thing people should know about Fresno?
We have a burgeoning software industry. It was ranked as the third-fastest growing tech hub in California.
What’s the craziest amusement park ride you’ve ridden?
There was a roller coaster on the Santa Cruz boardwalk called the Wild Mouse. It was indeed wild. We took my mother-in-law on it once. That wasn’t a good idea.
What’s the best Halloween costume you’ve worn?
Peter Pan. I was 7.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Ice cream.
If you could change one thing about Fresno, what would it be?
I would want to massively accelerate a change in our self-image. Right now, we’re better than we think we are.
You’re a native of Peru. What’s your fondest memory of growing up there?
It’s all fond. I had a great group of friends—the gang, probably about 50 kids. That was when hanging out was wholesome.
You were once CEO of an artificial intelligence software company. Are the robots going to win?
They’re going to win in certain areas. But we shouldn’t be concerned—not in our lifetime.
What’s the best way to stay cool on a hot day?
The obvious answer is staying indoors.