El Chicano 01/26/23

By Manny Sandoval

In N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 2 , S a n Bernardino High School student and football player R

meeting with the organization and practiced

d O

e g a ( p o s i t i o n : center) called upon the community to help raise funds so he could compete in the Dream All-American Bowl at AT&T

December 19-22

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m u n i t y, Ortega’s dream came true and not only did he raise enough funds to compete in the showcase, but he also raised enough funds to bring his dad along, so he did not have to go at it alone

“It was Raymond and I’s first flight It was an awesome experience for both of us Raymond played his heart out on the AT&T Stadium field and had the opportunity to speak with multiple scouts from colleges from across the United States,” said Father Daniel Ortega

Daniel said the pair ’s schedule went something like this:

December 18th: Landed at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and checked into hotel

D

December 20th: Practiced in the morning and attended a seminar at night

December 21st: Practiced in the morning, attended a semin a r a t n i g h t , s p o k e w i t h recruiters

December 22nd: Game Day at AT&T Stadium

December 23rd: Flew into LAX and arrived home in time for Christmas Eve

A t t h e f o u r- d a y s h o w c a s e , R a y m o n d w a s s a i d t o h a v e caught the eye of a couple of recruiters who invited him to p l a y i n a n i n v i t e - o n l y A l lAmerican Bowl in Florida in March 2023, but due to monetary reasons, Raymond had to forgo the opportunity

“But, he will be competing in the All-American Bowl at the Rams’ So-Fi Stadium in April 2023 and after the holidays he quickly got back to conditioning and working with Coach Terrance Smalls at Lab 909 in L o m a L i n d a , ” c o n t i n u e d

Football cont on next pg

West Valley Water District Ear ns Financial Repor ting Distinction, Releases

issued its first PAFR, a document that provides the public with easy-tounderstand information that describes WVWD’s organizational structure, operations, finances and water sources

, w h i c h encourages and assists federal, state and local governments in financial efficacy and transparency, sets strict standards for PAFRs

The organization also issues the PAFR award to government organizations that meet its strin-

PHOTO DANIEL ORTEGA

(From left to right) Daniel and Raymond Ortega standing outside of Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas on December 20th, 2022

Football Daniel

It’s evident that Raymond is stepping into a bright future by the sounds of his forthcoming college and career plans

“My dream college is USC, but I'm also open to other universities I hope to play in the NFL someday, but if that doesn’t

work out, I want to get a degree in sociology or physics and maybe work towards a career in the military and then become a police officer,” said Raymond

In the meantime, the Los Angeles Rams Fan, Raymond, is keeping busy having just competed in the Big Dog Bowl in Grand Terrace on New Year's

Eve, and is actively preparing to compete in Los Angeles’ Rivals Combine Series Showcase in March, right before taking the field at So-Fi Stadium in April

To learn how you can assist Raymond with his football goals, visit register od com/camp/donate/69824-8552401

I-10 Cedar Avenue Pr oject expands interchange to 10 lanes in San Ber nardino County between

By Manny Sandoval

Good news for residents in Rialto, Bloomington, Fontana, and travelers visiting these cities as the three municipalities along with San Bernardino County and its transportation authority broke ground on the I-10 Cedar Avenue Interchange Project on January 13

The project’s scope of work includes widening Cedar Avenue from six to 10 lanes, along with integrating new bridge railings and sidewalks, replacing Cedar Avenue over the train tracks, and adding additional lanes at the on and off ramps

“With 104,000 residents living in Rialto and our region being a hub for the logistics industry, this project is long overdue (almost 10 years in the making) Not only will this project improve our traffic congestion and air quality, but it’ll also greatly elevate our resident’s quality of life in the long run,” said Mayor Deborah Robertson

When asked how this project may improve air quality in the future, Robertson said with less idling truck traffic on the interchange, fewer emissions would be discharged, thus elevating the quality of life of residents in the City

“Mitigating traffic congestion could also lead to less stress on the roads for our residents and allow people to exit the freeway and arrive at their destinations in an adequate time,” continued Robertson

Many dignitaries even suggest that another incentive this project brings to the three municipalities is jobs

“It's a $112 million project, and it’s bringing jobs to our local tradesman to build this bridge over three years Some of the trades that are going to inevitably benefit include operating engineers, laborers, ironworkers, carpenters, and more to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families,” said Baca

At the groundbreaking ceremony, attendees were reminded that the project was initially approved in July 2013, with the final design completed in the summer of 2021, and a start date of late January 2023

On January 23, 2023, Robertson shared that in December 2022, a Spectrum News study found that a whopping 88 trucks traveled through the N Riverside Avenue and Baseline Road intersection

in just two hours

While this brief quantitative study didn’t quite influence the Rialto City Council’s decision for a moratorium on truck routes, the visibility of trucks traveling through non-commercial areas of the city did

“We’re restructuring truck traffic on non-commercial routes We’re eliminating trucks between Baseline Road and Foothill Boulevard on Pepper Avenue and eliminating trucks from N Meridian Avenue to Cactus Avenue on Baseline Road But, if a commercial project arises in those areas, we’ll revisit our 22-month moratorium, which is being affirmed at the council meeting on January 24th,” continued Robertson

In the meantime, over the next three years while the project’s construction is booming Robertson and Baca advise the public to please be patient and understand that in the long run, the inconvenience today will be worth it

“I advise those in our city and neighboring cities to subscribe to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority’s mailing list to receive project updates by visiting gosbcta com/project/i-10cedar-avenue/ and download the Caltrans app to receive alerts on street and ramp closures,” Robertson said

Baca is recommending residents and people traveling through Rialto, Bloomington, and Fontana to start leaving 25 to 30 minutes early to their destinations to ensure timeliness

Back at the groundbreaking, Robertson, who recently lost her Cousin Darnell Calhoun, 30, a Riverside County Sheriff ’s Deputy to a senseless shooting, thanked all public safety

“This project has been on the books for 20-plus years and our public safety has stuck it out responding to incidents at this interchange We don’t always thank our public safety, but I want to thank them for always navigating through the traffic at the I-10 Cedar Avenue Interchange and providing services to those in need,” concluded Robertson

"The I-10 Cedar Avenue Interchange Project Groundbreaking was a great day for the City of Rialto and the City of Bloomington It's truly amazing to see that this project is going to relieve congestion, enhance safety, and improve traffic operations along Cedar Avenue I’m delighted for the residents of Rialto and Bloomington,” shared City of Rialto Commissioner Albert Calderon

WVWD gent guidelines

“This award for our first PAFR submission to the GFOA is a significant achievement for the West Valley Water District It reflects our strong commitment to financial transparency and accountability,” said WVWD Board President Greg Young “On behalf of the board, I commend our finance department for their excellent work on the report and their continued efforts to build public trust through publishing transparent and accessible information ”

The GFOA requires that PAFR Award recipients submit PAFRs that provide required information and also meet high standards for creativity,

presentation, readability, and public appeal On the heels of receiving its award for last year ’s PAFR, WVWD issued its PAFR for the 2022 fiscal year

“Our finance department is committed to providing our customers with easy-to-understand, accessible information I’m honored to see our team’s hard work recognized by the GFOA and excited for our customers to have the opportunity to read about our efforts to maintain high standards for financial good governance and public transparency,” said WVWD Finance Director Jose Velasquez

To view all WVWD Popular Annual Financial Reports, please visit: www wvwd org/transparency

Assembl y Member James R amos and San Ber nardino Mayor Helen Tran issue joint statement on Lunar New Year

Community News

In honor of the Lunar New Year, taking place this year starting Sunday January 22, California Assembly Member James Ramos and San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran have issued a joint statement in celebration of this important holiday in many Asian communities

“The Lunar New Year is a cause for celebration for so many in the Asian community and beyond It is a time to come together, look forward with hope to the arrival of spring, and the promise of a new year,” said Ramos and Tran “In that spirit, we join together in celebration of the new year with a message of unity, joy, and hope for our region and all of California ”

Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among Eastern and Southeast Asian cultures It reflects the new year on the lunisolar calendar It is the most important holiday in

China, and also widely observed throughout Asia and within our Asian-American communities In some countries the Lunar New Year celebration lasts for fifteen days

This year marks the Year of the Rabbit (or Year of the Cat in some countries) Every year, an animal is attributed on a twelve-year rotating cycle with traits and symbols that hold meaning for what’s to come in the new year The rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity

James Ramos represents the 45th California Assembly District, which includes the cities of San Bernardino, Fontana, Highland, Mentone, Muscoy, Redlands, and Rialto He is the first and only California Native American serving in the state Legislature

Helen Tran was elected in November 2022 as Mayor of San Bernardino She is the first Vietnamese female mayor elected in the United States

PHOTO SB COUNTY

The I-10 Cedar Avenue Interchange groundbreaking was held on January 13th in Bloomington, an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County

Rialto, Bloomington, and Fontana

This week, Rep Pete Aguilar presented the City of San Bernardino with $1,400,000 in federal funding he secured to restore the city’s Historic Roosevelt Bowl These federal resources will reignite the Roosevelt Bowl as an important cultural landmark and economic catalyst for the region

“It is my privilege to announce that I secured $1,400,000 to restore this historic venue,” said Rep Aguilar “I will always prioritize our community and our economic growth, and I’m looking forward to working closely with our local government officials to secure more funding for San Bernardino ”

“For 90 years, the Roosevelt Bowl has been a treasured venue that has brought

musical performances, plays, and cultural events to the residents of San Bernardino,” said Mayor Helen Tran “Thanks to the work of Congressman Aguilar, we will be able to restore, renovate, and upgrade the historic Bowl for generations to enjoy ”

"On behalf of all our residents who live in the 2nd ward and citywide, 'Thank You!, Congressman Aguilar for securing a much needed $1 4m to help

SBCUSD announces star t times f or

Community News

After carefully considering the impact that new school start times will have on students, families, and employees, the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education selected the class schedule that most closely resembles the current schedule and is overwhelmingly supported by parents

Current New

Elementary School

8:50 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 8:50 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Middle School

7:40 a m –2:11 p m 8 a m –2:31 p m

High School

7:30 a m –2:35 p m 8:30 a m –3:35 p m

The new start and end times will be effective the first day of school for the 2023–2024 school year and are necessary to comply with Senate Bill 328, which requires high schools to begin no earlier than 8:30 a m and middle schools no earlier than 8 a m

SB 328 made California the first state in the U S to mandate later start times for teens due to evidence that their natural sleep-wake cycle is different from children and adults, making it harder for them to get a good night’s sleep if school starts too early

SBCUSD began studying the impact of later start times for sec

our city revitalize the Roosevelt Bowl at Perris Hill Park ' Our citizens have been patiently waiting for us to bring back the activities the Roosevelt Bowl used to host once upon a time and this funding is going to help us continue with our rehabbing efforts,” said Councilmember Ibarra, Ward 2 “This is a true blessing Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!"

ondary students during the 2018-2019 school year and formed a Late Start Task Force to seek input from students, families, and employees

Families who provided input voiced various concerns, including lack of before and after-school supervision for children and the length of time that younger students would be riding the school bus

That’s why the Board of Education sought input from hundreds of families, students, and employees for two years before selecting the schedule option that would have the least impact

The option that the Board of Education selected in December 2022 and was also widely supported by families has elementary school students attending class from 8:50 a m to 3:30 p m , as they do now, while middle school students will be in school from 8 a m to 2:31 p m

High school students will attend class from 8:30 a m to 3:35 p m , an hour later than this school year

Although there is no impact to elementary school start times, the change to later class times for middle and high school students will cost an estimated $44 1 million dollars in transportation expenses due to additional buses and drivers that will be needed

Community News

C a d e n C e n t e r

NFL Championship weekend pr eview and pr edictions

By Caden Henderson

This installment of the NFL playoffs saw a historically entertaining wild card round before a divisional round that was rather forgettable

But, either way, here we are The final four The Chiefs vs Bengals in a rematch from last year, and the Eagles vs the 49ers, a battle of two of the best defenses in all of football Let’s break down both matchups and predict the winner

Starting with the AFC, there’s one big storyline going into the game; Patrick Mahomes’ ankle The former MVP suffered a high ankle sprain during the divisional round, an injury that normally keeps a player out multiple weeks

Mahomes playing is not a guarantee but, if he does manage to, expect him to be heavily limited, especially in terms of his mobility that makes him so special What does this mean for the Chiefs gameplan?

They will need to establish the run game early, something Andy Reid has shown he can do with this offense Also, in the passing game, expect Juju Smith-Schuster to get more looks as the Chiefs will be looking to get the ball out of Mahomes hands fast

If Mahomes doesn’t play, backup Chad Henne will replace him, and the Chiefs chances of winning will go down drastically

The Bengals, meanwhile, look as good as ever Joe Burrow continues to slice up defenses along with his superstar WR Ja’Marr chase, and RB Joe Mixon was able to finally find the end zone in the divisional round

The Bengals defense will surely be looking to bring pressure considering Mahomes’ circumstances, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson will likely have a big game as a result As for my prediction, I did roll with the Chiefs in my original playoff predictions article, but I think Mahomes injury will ultimately cost the Chiefs their season The Bengals will punch their ticket to a second straight Super Bowl with a 31-21 victory

Old school football fans will absolutely love watching this NFC title bout between the 1 seeded Eagles and the 49ers For the Eagles, they took care of business in the divisional round by absolutely demolishing the Giants, but I don’t think it’s anything to take note of because, well, it’s the Giants Jalen Hurts will have the biggest test of his career with this 49er defense, and he’ll need to not just be good, but be great if Philadel-

Omnitrans CEO/GM Named Woman of the Year

phia wants to win this game

For the 49ers, it’s time to get their core back to the Super Bowl and complete their redemption arc We know about the defense, and it reminded us again how dominant it is when they completely shutdown the Cowboys offense and forced QB Dak Prescott into two interceptions

On the offensive side of the ball, Brock Purdy remains steady He’s not losing the 49ers the game, and that’s all they can ask for I fully expect this game to be a slugfest dominated by both defenses, and I think in the end, the 49ers defense will be just a bit better as they take home a 16-10 win and send themselves back to the Super Bowl

The road to Arizona is almost complete for these four teams, and all it takes is one more win Will the Bengals get a second shot at a ring, or will the Chiefs get one step closer to ring #2?

Will the Eagles continue to dominate, or will Brock Purdy continue his unbelievable run? We’ll find out this Sunday as NFL Championship weekend goes under the spotlight of the sports world

Community News

Omnitrans

Manager Erin Rogers has been named “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) – Inland

“It is an honor to be acknowledged for my work in the industry I have dedicated my career to and have Omnitrans recognized for the strategic and important work the agency is doing,” said Rogers “I am proud of Omnitrans’ initiatives to connect our community, and of our team ”

Rogers was nominated and selected by WTS member voting for

her leadership in transit service innovation and effectiveness, and her development of women in key roles Omnitrans’ senior leadership team is 50 percent female, including the agency’s first female director of maintenance The agency also partners with WTS on events such Classroom to Career days to expose students to professional possibilities in the industry and build the next generation of transit leaders

WTS’s mission is to attract, sustain, connect and advance women’s careers to strengthen the transportation industry “[Rogers] is inspirational,” said WTS Inland Empire Chapter President Stephanie Blanco

CEO/General

Empire chapter

San Ber nardino Names Char les McNeel y as Interim City Mana ger

The City of San Bernardino has announced that former City Manager Charles McNeely will return to the City on Thursday, January 19 to assume the role of interim City Manager The Mayor and Council unanimously approved McNeely’s employment agreement at their meeting on January 18

“Charles knows our community He understands our city He cares about San Bernardino and its success And he knows how to run a city,” said Mayor Helen Tran “That is a skill set that is very important to me and the Council ”

McNeely served as San Bernardino’s City Manager for three years, from May 2009 through May of 2012 He also worked as City Manager in Reno, Nevada for thirteen years, as well as Chief Deputy Administrative Officer for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency and City Manager of Seaside, California

He currently serves as President of MCE Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in international trade, economic development, and government relations

“My time in San Bernardino was special,” said McNeely “It is a wonderful community that deserves the best I am honored to have been selected to come back ”

McNeely’s employment agreement with the San Bernardino is for up to 960 hours through June 30, while the city actively conducts its search for a permanent City Manager

Under California’s Public Employee Retirement System (Cal-PERS) rules, the agreement could be extended for an additional 960 hours on July 1, if necessary

When asked about why he chose to return, McNeely responded, “There is tremendous potential here San Bernardino’s Mayor and Council are strong leaders with a vision We have an outstanding staff in place And we have a dedicated community who know that San Bernardino’s best days are ahead I will work to realize the Mayor and Council’s vision, allow our staff to excel, and be responsive to our residents ”

McNeely replaces Robert Field, who on December 7 announced his resignation effective January 16

CSUSB ‘Augie’ awarded to staf f member Lisa Gordon

APRENDE NUEVAS HABILIDADES

AYUDA A LOS DEMÁS GANA DINERO AYUDANDO

Community News

San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (ATC) Ensen Mason announced that the last day to file a claim for Unclaimed Property Tax Refunds in San Bernardino County is Tuesday, February 28, 2023, for refunds that were issued prior to July 1, 2018

Lisa Gordon, who serves as the administrator support coordinator for the marketing department at the Jack H Brown College of Business and Public Administration, was named the recipient of the Augie Award for her work and volunteer efforts as a member of the campus community member

The Augie was named for the late Augie Hartung, who served as associate director of Facilities Services from 2001-2006 The university created the Augie Award in 2006 to recognize one person at CSUSB who best emulates Augie’s caring spirit, unquenchable enthusiasm for assisting others, and warmth in thoughtfully reaching out to friends and strangers alike

The Augie Award (The Augie) has become among the most coveted prizes the university offers The Augie is in the shape of a popsicle because Augie was well known for giving out free popsicles on hot summer days, just to show that he cared and to see people smile

Gordon, who joined CSUSB in 2004, was described as “a friend of Augie and strives to have a positive impact on those around her,” said Jaime Espinoza, chair of the CSUSB Staff Council Executive Board Espinoza made the surprise announcement at the annual Superstar Celebration held on Jan 13 at the Santos

“This individual is an exemplary campus community member, CSUSB ambassador and dedicated partner to our surrounding community She often help students find housing, employment, and access to other services,” Espinoza said “This individual is a mental health advocate and helps promote awareness and provide support to those in need both on campus and off campus This individual is a social media and marketing expert and provides daily information to positivity and promote student goods and the world before and after graduation ”

Gordon was congratulated by CSUSB President Tomás D Morales, Espinoza and Carrie Hartung, Augie Hartung’s widow

About Cal State San Bernardino

California State University, San Bernardino is a preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in Inland Southern California Opened in 1965 and set at the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, the university serves more than 20,000 students each year and graduates about 4,000 students annually The university offers more than 70 traditional baccalaureate and master ’s degree programs, education credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate program in educational leadership

Every one of its eligible academic programs has earned national accreditation CSUSB reflects the dynamic diversity of the region and has the most diverse student population of any university in the Inland Empire More than 80 percent of those who graduate are the first in their families to do so

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Manuel Student Union North Conference Center