By Manny Sandoval
Arecent survey has revealed a startling truth about the city of San Bernardino, a staggering 73% of residents do not visit local parks because they do not feel safe This alarming statistic was just one of many findings presented to the City Council during a Master Plan update on San Bernardino Parks by Neelay Bhatt, CEO of Next Practice Partners
The survey, which reached 10,000 random households, aimed to gauge community needs and opinions regarding the city's parks and recreational facilities With a response rate yielding 419 completed surveys, the results paint a concerning picture of public perception and park usage in the
area One of the most shocking revelations shared to council on April 3, 2024 was the lack of park access for city residents
According to Bhatt, only 46% of people in San Bernardino have access to a park within a 10-minute walk "This means more than 1 in 2 people in this city do not have access within a 10-minute walk, falling below the national average of 55%," Bhatt stated
The survey also found that only 60% of respondents had visited a city park in the past 12 months, but their experiences were far from positive A significant 46% rated the condition of the parks they visited as poor, with only 1% deeming them excellent
Safety concerns were the primary reason for avoiding parks, with 73% of non-visitors citing this as their reason Bhatt noted, "I’ve done about 300-400 of these surveys and this is the highest response for lack of safety that I’ve found Almost 3 in 4 people said they do not feel safe going there " Criminal activity and poor maintenance were also significant deterrents, with 56% o f r e s p o n d e n t s e a c h p o i n t i n g t o t h e s e issues
Interestingly, 34% of residents reported going to neighboring cities for parks and recreational activities, highlighting a potential loss of community engagement and revenue for San Bernardino
City Parks cont on next pg
n a m o v e t o e l e v a t e h e a l t h c a r e a ff o r d a b i l i t y, U S D e p a r t m e n t o f Health and Human Services
S e c r e t a r y X a v i e r B e c e r r a , alongside Representative Pete
A g u i l a r, a n n o u n c e d g r o u n dbreaking measures to reduce p r e s c r i p t i o n d r u g c o s t s f o r Californians, particularly for the Latino community, which h a s h i s t o r i c a l l y f a c e d c h a llenges in accessing affordable medication
During his visit to the Inland Empire as part of his “National Latino Health Tour,” Secretary Becerra emphasized the posit i v e i m p a c t o f t h e B i d e n A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’s I n f l a t i o n Reduction Act
"We have to remember that t h e r e w e r e d a y s b e f o r e t h e I n f l a t i o n R e d u c t i o n A c t became law and lowered the price of insulin, people were having to ration their insulin and make decisions about what to do in their daily lives if they w a n t e d t o a ff o r d i t , ” s a i d Becerra “Today, people paying
no more than $35 for insulin when on Medicare is a big deal, and the fact that we now have t h e a b i l i t y t o n e g o t i a t e t h e prices on medicine is huge ”
The $35 insulin cost cap is set to benefit 108,164 Californians on Medicare who use insulin, addressing a critical need in a state where one 10-milliliter vial of insulin can cost up to $400; a person usually needs two to three vials a month
“This is the right thing to do for our patient care We are going to continue lowering the cost of healthcare here in the Inland Empire because it matters to people,” said Rep Aguilar
Further emphasizing the Act's impact, Rep Aguilar highlighted that drug negotiations will b e n e f i t m o r e t h a n 8 3 0 , 0 0 0 California Medicare enrollees, saving them between $64 and $4,297 in out-of-pocket costs for the first ten drugs subject to price negotiations
Additionally, the Act ensures that recommended vaccines are now free for the more than 1 2
City Parks
When asked how they would allocate funds for parks and recreation, respondents prioritized increasing safety, park maintenance, and lighting
Despite these concerns, 81% said quality parks are important to them, and 53% expressed willingness to pay between $1-$10 more per month in taxes to improve park facilities
The top overall concerns for San Bernardino residents were homelessness/panhandling (67%), blight (62%), and crime and violence (58%)
Doug Grove, President of RHA Landscape Architects, provided an analysis of the city's parks, revealing that about 75% of them scored low to moderate in terms of access, functionality, safety, comfort, and maintenance He suggested that consolidating the number of aquatic spaces could offer a better experience by focusing on newer and fewer facilities
Councilmember Kimberly Calvin highlighted the importance of community input, stating, "Those were some important meetings and listening sessions that you held (Neelay), and I was happy to be able to attend in multiple wards and to hear what the people of San Bernardino want within walking distance to their home "
Councilmember Damon Alexander questioned the integration of solar canopies and chargers in park parking lots, considering the rise of electric
Healthcare
million Latinos in California enrolled in Medicare, and introduces a $2,000 annual out-ofpocket cost cap, effective in 2025, which will save 203,210 Californians an average of $341 84
Secretary Becerra also noted the historic increase in Latino enrollment in health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, which jumped by 53% from 2020 to 2022, helping more than 900,000 Latinos nationwide gain health insurance than ever before
The press event also featured a fireside chat between Congressman Pete Aguilar and Secretary
vehicles "With Tesla coming to San Bernardino, and thinking ahead, do you think solar canopies in parking lots or chargers is something we should be looking to integrate?" he asked
Councilmember Sandra Ibarra assured that funding had been allocated to address the issues raised by survey participants, stating, "There is a lot of funding that we have allocated to those issues the participants stated they’d like to see improved in the parks when determining for CIPs; there has been lots of funding approved for park repairs and programming "
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was initiated in January 2023, with the goal of engaging the community and guiding the development and management of the city's parks and recreational facilities Throughout the 18-month process, Next Practice Partners, LLC, and city staff have conducted Community Listening Sessions, launched the dedicated website mysbparks com, and engaged with residents to gather input and feedback
The presentation concluded with a promise of future plans, including a comprehensive level of service assessment, GIS-based equity mapping, and a final action and implementation plan As the city looks to its future, the clear message from its residents is that safety, maintenance, and accessibility must be top priorities for San Bernardino's parks and recreational spaces
Becerra, where they discussed important issues like the Affordable Care Act, health insurance, medication prices, and mental health
A SAC Health patient named Sheila provided a poignant testimony on the importance of insulin and the recent struggles faced in terms of cost and accessibility, underscoring the significance of the measures announced
As the Inland Empire and the broader Californian community look forward to these changes, the hope is that the Inflation Reduction Act will pave the way for a healthier and more affordable future for all
Colton's 66-Foot Str eet Widening f or Agua Mansa War ehouse Pr oject Ignites
Contr over sy Amid “Staf f Er r or”
and Developer Favoritism Claims
By Manny SandovalThe Colton City Council's recent decision to approve modifications to the zoning entitlements for the Agua Mansa Logistics Center, located at 1400 and 1500 Agua Mansa Road and led by IDI Logistics, has ignited a firestorm of controversy among local residents and city officials
The modifications, which include changes to the street width and drainage plans for Agua Mansa Road, have raised serious concerns about public safety, infrastructure, and the city's commitment to its citizens
In a contentious council meeting, Resolutions R-15-24, R-1624, and R-17-24 were passed, allowing for a reduction in the originally required street dedication width from 90 feet to a 66-foot half-street width This decision marks a significant departure from the city's initial requirement for a full street right of way, a change attributed to what Development Services Director Heidi Duron described as a "staff error "
"The most the City can require the developer to dedicate is sufficient right-of-way to provide for a half-street width along their project frontage, which is 45 feet," Duron explained "The inclusion of the requirement for full-width improvements was a staff error "
The approved modifications entail constructing missing street improvements along the project frontage, including curb, gutter, sidewalk, asphalt pavement, driveway approaches, handicap access ramps, streetlights, street signs, and roadway striping Additionally, a threefoot landscaping easement will be dedicated along the entire south side of the project frontage
Councilmember Kelly Chastain raised pressing concerns about drainage, especially in light of recent rain and flooding events "What is your plan on drainage? Is it included in your
plan?" she inquired Don Carp, Vice President of IDI Logistics, assured that the plan includes "sheet flowing drainage along the side of the road from the east side to the center," with all water flowing into a public storm drain
Chastain also highlighted the issue of semi-trucks using the shoulder of the street for parking "The shoulder is only 8 feet wide," she noted Carp responded that they could post no-parking signs to address this concern It's worth noting that on average, semi trucks in the United States are around 72 feet long, 8 5 feet wide, and 13 5 feet tall, with a gross weight of up to 80,000 pounds
The modifications have sparked a debate about the future of Agua Mansa Road, with some council members discussing the possibility of eventually turning it into a four-lane road Mayor Frank Navarro acknowledged that collaboration with the County of San Bernardino would be necessary for any expansion According to a UCLA study published on November 9, 2022, residential streets in the United States are typically 50 feet wide, which is much wider than in most other countries The modification to a 66-foot half-street width for Agua Mansa Road is seen as a significant change
Councilmember David Torro emphasized the importance of consistency in the street width "Just to keep things consistent, the number is 66 feet, it’s not 45 So the client does not come back and say oh well the conditions of approval only says 45, so we're just going to do to the center of the road and we're not going to do the other side of the road I think we should say it's 66 with conditions of approval, can I get a legal opinion on that?” he said The legal team confirmed that a 66-foot width would be acceptable, given that the original condition was 90 feet and had been agreed to by the developer
Read
OFourteen drivers were cited, including two cited for hands-free cell phone violations, during a distracted driving enforcement operation on Friday, April 5
Twelve drivers were cited for failure to stop at a stop sign
“Despite repeated efforts to warn drivers about the handsfree cell phone law, some drivers continue to use their phones while operating a vehicle,” Cpl Martin Gonzalez said “Our ultimate goal is to change behav-
F u e l Ta
Community News
On April 2, San Bernardino County
Fire crews were dispatched to a reported traffic collision involving a tractor trailer
Firefighters arrived to find a gasoline tanker truck that had crashed & careened off Interstate 15 approximately 50-75 feet
Upon investigation crews found the truck had spilled approximately 60 gallons of fuel & carrying a load of approximately 8,000 gallons of gasoline
Due to the hazards involved,
By Dr Archana Dubey, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare of CaliforniaApril is recognized by the U S Department of Health and Human Services as Minority Health Month, an observance that brings awareness to health disparities and encourages action through education, early detection, and disease control
Part of this work includes raising awareness about the disproportionate health outcomes among people who belong to racial or ethnic minority groups
The conditions in which we are born, live, learn, work, play, and worship and our age –known as social determinants of health (SDOH) – have important impacts on health
Differences in SDOH contribute to the stark and persistent chronic disease disparities in the U S among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, systematically limiting opportunities for members of some groups to be healthy
Cancer
Black/African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group for
iors that help make our roads safer ”
California has had distracted driving laws on the books since 2008
Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold their phone or other electronic device while driving This includes talking, texting, or using an app
Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine
Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36
the call was balanced to a Hazardous Materials Incident
Multiple #SBCoFD Hazardous Materials Teams were requested to mitigate the fuel leak & transfer the fuel from the damaged tanker
Specially trained firefighters worked closely with law enforcement and the fuel trucking company to offload the product to an additional tanker truck
Firefighters utilized special equipment to safely drill in to each tank and transfer fuel to the new tanker truck Flammability & environmental concerns were a top priority
Despite these challenges fire-
months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver ’s record
If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
fighters successfully offloaded more the 8,650 gallons of fuel from the crashed tanker truck
The process took more than 6 hours to safely complete Once the hazards were mitigated, the scene was turned over to CALTRANS, CHP & tow company for clean-up
No injuries to firefighters or citizens were reported from the hazardous material incident
One party was transported by ambulance from the original traffic collision
San Bernardino County Fire responded with two Engines, two Hazardous Materials Teams, and two Chief Officers
n October 1st, 2023, at approximately 12:13
AM, Colton Police Officers responded to reports of a shooting that had just occurred near 2250 West Mill Street in the city of Colton
Upon arrival, patrol officers located the victim The victim was found to have sustained severe injuries to his lower body The victim was transported to a local hospital to receive treatment for his injuries The suspect in the shooting fled the scene prior to police arrival
Colton PD Detectives were assigned to investigate the shooting During follow up
investigation, the shooter was determined to be Roberto Ruiz (28-year-old resident of Fontana)
On April 3rd, 2024, at approximately 2:20 PM, Colton Police Detectives located Roberto Ruiz in the city of Fontana Ruiz was detained without incident and later transported to Colton PD for processing Ruiz was arrested for attempted homicide and booked into West Valley Detention Center
The Colton Police Department will be continuing the criminal investigation If anyone has any further information on this case, they are encouraged to call Detective Anthony Jaeger or Sergeant Shawn McFarland at (909) 370-5000
S B P D I n v e s t i g a t e s S h o o t i n g
I n c i d e n t N e a r A c a c i a A v e n u e
Community News
On Wednesday, March 27th, 2024, at approximately 3:29 PM, the San Bernardino Police Department responded to a call for service regarding shots fired in the area of 13th Street and Acacia Avenue Dispatch received multiple reports of juveniles shooting in the vicinity, providing crucial information that guided officers to the scene
Upon arrival, officers discovered a juvenile victim with a gunshot wound The victim was
transported to a local hospital for medical treatment; however, he succumbed to his injuries The San Bernardino Police Department's Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation and is actively pursuing leads
The San Bernardino Police Department is urging anyone with information related to this incident to come forward The cooperation of the community is essential If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please contact Homicide Detective T Montez at (909) 3845762 or Homicide Sergeant J Plummer at (909) 384-5613
all cancers combined and for most major cancers
From 2015-2019, African American men were 1 2 times and 1 7 times more likely to be diagnosed with new cases of colon and prostate cancer than non-Hispanic white men
Although Hispanic men and women generally have lower cancer rates than the non-Hispanic White population, disparities do exist in certain types of cancer
Both Hispanic men and women are almost twice as likely to have and die from liver cancer than non-Hispanic Whites
Hispanic women are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 30 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic White women
Mental Health
Black females, grades 9-12, were 60% more likely to attempt suicide in 2019, as compared to non-Hispanic white females of the same age
Suicide attempts for Hispanic girls, grades 9-12, were 30% higher than for non-Hispanic white girls in the same age
group, in 2019
In 2018, Hispanics were 50% less likely to have received mental health treatment as compared to non-Hispanic Whites
Prenatal Care
Although overall infant mortality rates have fallen over time, the 2018 infant mortality rate for infants of non-Hispanic Black women was more than twice as high as that for infants of non-Hispanic white and nonHispanic Asian and Hispanic women
In 2019, Hispanic mothers were 80% more likely to receive late or no prenatal care as compared to non-Hispanic White mothers
This awareness month brings light to differences in the health outcomes of various racial and ethnic minority groups
This awareness can also inform individuals about how groups who have poor social determinants of health and lack of access to high-quality medical care are more likely to be diagnosed with and die from diseases
Now accepting applications for Deputy Director Workforce Development who administer, plan, organize and coordinate activities and programs of the department. Bachelor’s degree with extensive experience in a public workforce or economic development agency. See announcement for details.
Apply: 4/12/24 @ 5 P.M.
www.sbcounty.gov/jobs
909.387.8304 EEO-ADA
CARETAKER WANTED
Wanted Spanish speaking female for Caretaker and some domestic duties for 95 year old Hispanic woman. Room & Board + $250 weekly. 909-677-6984 In Apple Valley.
Community News
Local community members gathered at the Riverside Convention Center on Thursday, April 4 for the 31st anniversary Foundation Gala presented by Laurena and Darrell Bolden with Alaina Mathews, raising more than $1 million to support Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Gala-24 jpg
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the support of our community,” said Peter Baker, senior vice president and administrator for Children’s Hospital “Each dollar raised truly makes a difference and has allowed us to continue in our mission of caring for the most vulnerable patients ”
Under the theme "Saddle Up for Miracles," attendees embraced the spirit of unity and compassion It provided a platform to showcase the Stronger Together campaign, marking a significant milestone This initiative focuses on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services,
with the goal of offering personalized care to every child in need Plans include the acquisition of state-ofthe-art clinical equipment and the construction of a Pediatric Outpatient Specialty Clinic to streamline access to a wide range of specialized services
The gala honored individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to children's healthcare:
Richard E Chinnock, MD, was awarded the prestigious Shirley N Pettis Award, recognizing his exceptional commitment to pediatric care
Dixie Watkins and Eloise Habekost were celebrated as recipients of the Nancy B Varner Lifetime Achievement Award for their enduring contributions to the community
Donald Moores, MD, received the Dr Leonard L Bailey Outstanding Clinician Award for his dedication to clinical care
And Paul Emerson and Emerson Fine Jewelry were acknowledged with the Hometown Hero Award for their commitment to the community
A highlight of the evening was the inspiring story of Oakley Quinonez, a young nature enthusiast who bravely battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia Through advancements in pediatric cancer care, Oakley's journey took a positive turn, symbolized by the regrowth of her hair and the transition to at-home cancer treatment
The gala also featured entertainment by the Fiddle Sisters, Summer and Kadence, from Nashville
Funds raised at the annual Foundation Gala this year will support the new Children’s Hospital clinic and pediatric cancer care as part of the comprehensive Stronger Together Campaign, which launched in February 2024
Community News
Tesla Motors and ViaWest Group have announced that they will be building a state-of-the-art Collision Service Center in the City of San Bernardino This marks the first Tesla Collision Service Center in the Inland Empire, with their nearest collision facilities currently in Aliso Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, and Santa Monica
The 30,000 square foot collision center will be located at 424 West Orange Show Lane near E Street
“Having Tesla in San Bernardino is a big win for the Inland Empire,” said Mayor Helen Tran “There are more and more Tesla’s on the road every day, and not having to travel to L A or Orange Counties is very appealing for local and potential owners ”
The project was approved by the San Bernardino Planning Commission on February 13 However, Tesla’s involvement was only confirmed this week
"We are thrilled to partner with Tesla in developing this state-of-the-art Collision Service Center in San Bernardino,” said Rodney Boden, ViaWest Group’s Vice President of Investment and Development, “This facility not
only represents the growing presence of Tesla in the region, but highlights ViaWest's ability to develop cutting-edge facilities We are excited to play a role in this project, which will bring advanced vehicle repair technology and employment opportunities to the Inland Empire "
The facility will be owned and operated by Tesla Motors with company trained staff performing full structural repair and light collision work to customer ’s electric vehicles Cosmetic repairs on parts including bumpers, trunks, side mirrors, wheels and glass will also be available
The Center will not include a sales office or showroom
When fully operational, the center is anticipated to employ up to 90 employees over two shifts Currently there are two buildings on the site The 30,000 square foot building, previously a furniture store, will be converted into the service center and customer area The other exiting building will be demolished to accommodate additional parking
Tesla and ViaWest envision the facility to open in 2025
Community News
The City of San Bernardino has announced the appointment of Rochelle Clayton as its new Deputy City Manager Clayton, a San Bernardino native, has nearly 30 years of leadership roles with public agencies in the Inland Empire, most recently as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Menifee Her first day will be April 15
“This is a homecoming for me,” said Clayton “I grew up here We raised our kids here Our girls graduated from Aquinas High School I couldn’t be more excited to serve the residents of San Bernardino and be a part of the
great things taking place ”
Having spent the past five years in Menifee, Clayton oversaw the Police, Fire, Community Services, Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources, and City Clerk departments She served as the City’s lead negotiator with developers, businesses, school districts, and labor unions Clayton also led the development and implementation of a fiveyear plan to successfully transition Menifee’s municipal police services under City control and no longer the Riverside County Sheriff ’s Department
“We are very pleased that Rochelle will be joining our team,” said City Manager Charles Montoya “She has ex-
tensive experience in municipal government, county government, and with special districts And she knows the City of San Bernardino well ”
Prior to her time in Menifee, Clayton served as deputy city manager and Administrative Services Director for the City of Banning She also worked as the Chief Financial Officer for the West Valley Water District in Rialto, the High Desert Water District in Yucca Valley, and the Finance Director for the City of La Habra Heights Clayton also spent seventeen years with the County of San Bernardino Finance Department in various finance roles, rising to the level of Deputy Chief
