C O L T O N C O U R I E R WWe e eekkllyy

H O W T O R E A C H U S H O W T O R E A C H U S

I n l a n d E m

By Manny Sandoval

The Bloomington High School baseball team made history this season a s t h e y e m e rg e d a s t h e S a n Andreas League Champions, making it to the CIF and State semifinals, a feat the school has yet to accomplish in the past 40 years

Under the guidance of Varsity Head Coach Carlos Contreras, now in his sixth season, the team's 2022-2023 season was nothing short of exemplary Comprising twenty players, they broke records and redefined the culture and spirit of baseball in the community

" T h i s s e a s o n , w e p l a y e d s i x g a m e s through the CIF and State Tournament We are proud of our boys for their grit, determination, and team spirit," said Contreras

The Bloomington Bruins' journey ended in the CIF semi-finals against Castaic High School on May 16th with a final score of 6 to 1, and they lost to Ganesha High School

(Pomona) in the state semifinals on June 1st

"The support from our coaching staff, grounds crew, parents, and community have been instrumental in our success," Contreras added "When the field looks good, and players feel good, they perform better This is our first year with immense parental involvement, and they've been vital in facilitating uniforms and other l o g i s t i c s M o s t i m p o r t a n t l y, o u r b o y s

Baseball cont next pg i g h - s p i r i t e d C o m m u n i t y M e m b e r s

By Manny Sandoval

Th e S a n B e r n a r d i n o J u n e t e e n t h Committee hosted its second annua l J u n e t e e n t h C e l e b r a t i o n o f

Freedom: Stomp the Yard Edition, drawing approximately 1,000 attendees at the San Bernardino Valley College on Saturday, June 17, 2023

The event filled four parking lots with vehicles and saw a bustling outdoor event space featuring live performances, artisan and food vendors, and free clothing distrib- ution for those in need The vibrant atmosphere was filled with high spirits and hope for the future

" I t ' s o u r S e c o n d A n n u a l J u n e t e e n t h

Celebration of Freedom and our Stomp The Yard Edition There are many vendors, tons of people, and lots of food, and we're out h e r e r e c o g n i z i n g a n d c e l e b r a t i n g Juneteenth," said CEO and Founder of Sista's Making a Difference Ronnie Miller Juneteenth, celebrated nationwide every year on June 19, acknowledges the emanci- pation of African Americans The holiday provides an understanding of the Black community's past struggles and triumphs that continue to bring hope today

The Celebration of Freedom Committee, founded by Edwin Johnson, the Committee President, and co-founded by Lue Dowdy, Operations Director, aims to raise awareness about the Juneteenth holiday The event began with a libation ceremony led by Reverend Bronica Martindale and a s o

Baseball believed in themselves and worked relentlessly towards their goal "

The team's impressive season saw them rack up 26 wins against just five losses, a record Contreras believes can be improved next season With 16 players returning and the entire pitching staff, the team has a robust foundation for another successful season Their overall run average of 2 21 and a defensive percentage of 945 kept them in every game they played

The community rallied around the team Mike Ashman, a Bloomington High School Alumni who played on the CIF team in 1975 and is now a coach for the Los Angeles Angels, offered his support before each game "The community must support because it keeps everyone together and provides opportunities for interaction," Contreras emphasized Andrew "TJ" Tejada, a senior and the team's star pitcher, re- flected on the season's highs and lows "The most impactful memory was our game against Rim of the World at San Manuel Stadium for County Clash," he recalled "At one point, we were down 7-2, but we didn't let it get to us We battled to the end; the final score was 7-8 That's a testament to our spirit and resilience We're all looking forward to the next season and hope to go beyond the semi-finals and win it all "

The team's achievements were also reflected in the numerous awards they received With a 30-scoreless inning streak, Tejada was named league MVP and selected as All Inland Empire David Barajas, a senior first baseman, was chosen as the League MVP for the San Andreas League A junior and right fielder, Dylan Buzard made All League, All CIF, and was All Inland Empire

Seven team members made All-League, All-CIF, All-Inland Empire, and the California Baseball Coaches Association Southern California Second

Team Assistant Coach Alexander Estrada praised the team's cohesive spirit, "This team played for each other They all understood their roles, and everyone contributed It was their combined efforts that brought us this success "

Contreras received the Coach of the Year award in recognition of the team's achievements Looking forward to the next season, Contreras added, "Our 2023-2024 baseball season will start in August We'll start doing pre-tryout workouts, and the official tryouts will be held in September, which will coincide with the start of fall ball "

Historically, this victory holds significant importance for Bloomington High School, where sports have always been a focal point for student engagement This achievement refers to the glory days of the mid-'70s when the school's sports teams were dominant, instilling renewed pride and energy into the school and the wider Bloomington community

Juneteenth

Performers included Yaddida Page, Amore the Songstress, The Bromatics, D D C , and more

The celebration also recognized fathers within the community who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and integrity in an awards ceremony Natasha McPherson, UCR History Professor, facilitated an educational seminar, with Ms Tanya Humphrey, Chair of the Black Women's Leadership Forum, and keynote speaker Dina Walker, founder of BLU Educational Foundation DJ Muda hosted the event with cohost Jae Chanel

The event was sponsored by a wide range of organizations, including Health Net, Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), First 5 San Bernardino, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), San Bernardino Valley College, Chase Bank, The City of San Bernardino, Empire Talks Back, The Competitive Edge, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Westside Story Newspaper, and Lue Productions Community Umbrella Services

The San Bernardino Juneteenth Committee is a community effort consisting of organizations like CHORDS, Sista's Making a Difference, Young Visionaries, Lue Productions, San Bernardino Valley College, Inland Congregations United for Change, Southern California Black Chamber of CommerceInland Cities East Chapter, First 5 San Bernardino, Off The Chain Alliance, San Bernardino Pacesetters, 123 Mobile Training, San Bernardino (CA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, The Conquerors Insurance Advocates for Families, SoCal Trash Army, Bryce Hudson, The MAR M Agency, DGK, Empowering Girls Network, Dream Nycce, and Jae Chanel Productions

The Celebration of Freedom offered an educational experience for all attendees, regardless of race, age, and ethnic and cultural differences, reinforcing the spirit of unity and understanding inherent in the Juneteenth celebration

By Inland Empire Water Partnership

After a multi-year drought, record winter storms have brought California back from the brink of catastrophic drought conditions but uncertainty still remains – how long will this new water need to last us? Just until next winter? Two years? Three years?

Most of the state is now considered to be out of drought, as our reservoirs are full to the brim and we begin replenishing our groundwater basins This is exactly what we needed this winter season, and it will be essential in supporting our communities, farms, and businesses throughout the year However, we cannot count on record-setting wet years as the state's longterm water supply management plan, especially as the Colorado River supplies, which are essential to Western States and Southern California, remain uncertain

California will continue to experience longer, hotter, and drier weather conditions, punctuated by intense, fast-moving storms that overwhelm the state's existing water systems Boom or bust weather extremes – such as rainstorm flooding and long droughts – create unpredictable scenarios for the State's water systems that can no longer count on a steady pace of water replenishment throughout each winter For the last 40 years, average temperatures have steadily increased and will continue to do so, causing a multitude of issues for our water supply, including shorter bursts of intense rainfall, earlier snowpack melt, an increased need to take from groundwater reserves, and more

It will become all the more important in the coming years to couple individual water efficiency efforts with regional and statewide infrastructure investments to make the Inland Empire more resilient in the face of future droughts

Water efficiency is a way of life for Southern California throughout all weather and all seasons Our region has proven it can collectively work together and rise to the occasion to stretch supplies and ensure water for future generations We want to acknowledge and send our appreciation to our local water super-savers who have worked diligently to help us meet our goals, preserve our water supply for current and future generations, and successfully get through the drought As local water providers, we are calling on residents to keep up the water efficiency efforts that are now a symbol of Southern California culture The Inland Empire took initiative during the drought and, while the urgency isn’t as dire today, we need to continue to embrace a water-efficient lifestyle year-round Implementing a water-efficient lifestyle when it rains helps prolong our water supply when it is dry Water use efficiency, especially outdoors where 60% of water use occurs, is crucial to extending water supplies captured during wet years

We also need to make investments to ensure our regional and statewide infrastructure are able to meet the future water supply needs of the region In an effort to capitalize on these intense weather conditions, Inland Empire water agencies are collaboratively investing in significant infrastructure projects and initiatives to capture precious water when it’s available and we are urging our state counterparts to do the same

We continually work to advance large-scale stormwater, recycling, and water quality programs to further our water supply goals For example, Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) completed work on its Mountain Avenue West Groundwater Replenishment Facility, which will serve as the home for EMWD’s Water Banking program as part of its Groundwater Reliability Plus initiative

In addition, Western Water is advancing water supply reliability through a series of efforts, including preparing to purchase excess water available this year and storing it in its local groundwater basins for future dry years Western Water is also taking action through investments in innovative infrastructure projects, including groundwater wells, treatment and conveyance facilities

Similarly, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency is growing its recycled water supply with multiple projects and partnerships including the expansion of its Re- gional Water Recycling Plant No 5 and the development of the innovative Chino Basin Program (CBP), a water banking program that will address challenges caused by climate change As a part of this effort to increase local supply reliability, through the CBP, IEUA and its partners will design, construct, and operate an Advanced Water Purification Facility, groundwater injection facilities, pump stations, new wells, and connection lines

The Inland Empire Water Partnership is united in our commitment to maintain and build reliable, high-quality water supplies that are more resilient against an uncertain water future

Our partnership has come together as the regional voice of the Inland Empire to raise awareness about the conditions impacting your water supply, advance solutions, deliver high-quality, clean and safe water supplies, and promote water efficiency as a way of life

As we continue highlighting the need for water solutions, advance statewide infrastructure improvements and water quality programs, we rely on and thank our customers for embracing efficiency to ensure a collective approach is taken to resolve these larger-than-life issues

Joe Mouawad, General Manager of Eastern Municipal Water District; Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager of Inland Empire Utilities Agency; Heather Dyer, General Manager of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District; and Craig Miller, General Manager of Western Water, unite as the regional voice of water issues in the Inland Empire through their partnership, The Inland Empire Water Partnership

The Inland Empire Water Partnership consists of four unified water districts – Eastern Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and Western Water –representing the water resources of 3 4 million Southern Californians To learn more about the partnership and its efforts, visit: iewaterpartners com

By The Red Brennan Group

In a May 25th ruling, the 4th District Court of Appeal (4DCA) ruled San Bernardino County Measure K valid in every major aspect

Measure K, an effort to reform both compensation and term limits for San Bernardino County elected supervisors, was overwhelmingly approved by county voters in November of 2020 The measure proposed a single fouryear term, along with setting elected supervisors’ compensation on par with the county’s median household income

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors ignored this clear message from voters Rather than aggressively implementing the voters’ will, the board circled the wagons and sued the county’s Clerk of the Board in order to halt implementation of Measure K and ward off the voters’ intent

While San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Ronald Alvarez agreed with the Board of Supervisors, the 4DCA was having none of it Justice P J Ramirez’s opinion:

• Upheld the voters’ right to establish a single, four-year term

• Upheld the voters’ right to establish compensation limits for elected supervisors via initiative

• Ruled Measure K was valid as of December 18th, 2020

• Orders the

lower court to ensure certification and filing of Measure K

The appeal court also ruled that AB 428, a bill designed and sponsored by Assemblyman Chad Mayes to torpedo Measure K via state law, does not apply to charter counties AB428 altered state law to ensure voters could set no less than two, four-year term limits for county supervisors Despite being approved by Governor Gavin Newsom, Justice Ramirez’s ruling limits AB428 to general counties only San Bernardino County is a charter county and is therefore exempt from AB428

In a statement released Monday The Red Brennan Group, a local non-profit dedicated to “Big-Hearted Communities and Small Government” said “It has been our privilege to support Measure K’s sponsor Nadia Renner While this ruling solidifies San Bernardino County voters’ right to initiative, the status of real political reform in the county remains clouded because of Measure D This measure was placed on the 2022 ballot by the five sitting supervisors and was specifically designed to target Measure K Every aspect of the county supervisors’ initiative was designed to trick county voters Presented to voters as tax reform,

Measure D instead guaranteed continually increasing compensation for county supervisors, reset the baseline for the current supervisors allowing them to serve an additional 12 years if reelected, and overturned the voterapproved Measure K The supervisors partnered with local developers, public unions, and a variety of other special interest groups to spend over $1 2 million to pass Measure D Despite being labeled as “The most despicable, deceptive campaign we’ve seen in a long time,” by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the immense amount of money invested by the county political elite successfully carried the deception and Measure D was approved by the voters ”

The Red Brennan Group spokesmen went on to say “Our organization has challenged Measure D on the basis that it was intended to mislead county voters While the trial court ruled against us, we trust the Appeal Court will be as equally clear-eyed when considering Measure D as they were with Measure K The California Constitution states

‘All political power is inherent in the people Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require ’

For far too long the county ruling class has misused and abused both the legal and political process to stymie real reform of government County voters must hold local government accountable and ensure the political class acquiesces to voter-approved reform ”

For more information please visit https://redbrennan org/court-agrees-with-sanbernardino-county-voters