El Chicano 10 08 20

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EL CHICANo Weekly

Vol 58, NO. 42

October 08, 202 0

Measure U will significantly cut County Fire ser vices

By Maryjoy Duncan

T

www.iecn.com

he League of Women Voters hosted an informational Zoom meeting on “Measure U the Repeal of Fire Protection Distrit 5” with speakers who oppose the measure County Fire Chief Dan Munsey and Fire Captain and president IAFF Local 935 Jim Grigoli, and in favor of the measure - Natalie Zuk from the Red Brennan Group on Thursday, Sept. 24. Background of FP-5: Helendale and Silver Lakes residents introduced and approved special tax FP-5 in 2006 to fund their own full time fire station. The Board of Supervisors in 2018 approved the expansion of FP-5 to all unincorporated areas of the county and cities that subsequently annexed fire services to the County - Needles, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms and Upland.

Tr i b a l y o u t h r ecog nized f or a d vo c a c y e f f o r t s with 30 Under 30 Pg. 5

According to Munsey the expansion of FP-5 was to maintain a sustainable funding mechanism to County Fire that was underfunded by property taxes. FP-5 comprises over $41 million of County Fire’s $201 million total revenue. Munsey’s presentation illustrat-

PHOTO SCREEN SHOT

The League of Women Voters hosted an informational Zoom meeting on “Measure U the Repeal of Fire Protection Distrit 5.” Pictured clockwise from top left: LOWV Program Chair Helen Tran, Fire Captain and president IAFF Local 935 Jim Grigoli, County Fire Chief Dan Munsey, Natalie Zuk from the Red Brennan Group, and LOWV board member John Longville. ed the repeal of FP-5 would cause closures of up to 19 fire stations across all county districts that include the Valley, Mountain, North Desert and South Desert regions, compromise effective response times and reliability, and decrease the number of firefighters from 623 to 457. Secondary impacts include the decrease of ISO rating (homeowners insurance rate increases due to lack of nearby fire services), fewer public education/prevention outreach,

elimination of technology platforms used to provide crew safety and situational awareness, and a decrease in the ability to respond to all 911 calls and firefighter safety training.

measure on the ballot argued that FP-5 is illegal because voters did not have the opportunity to vote on it, and the annual $157 fee causes undue financial burden to the disenfranchised population.

“Responding to calls isn’t our only job, it’s preventing the calls,” explained Munsey. “If we only respond, there’s no time for business inspections, education and awareness campaigns.”

“Over 350,000 voters did not get to vote on it… and residents in Grand Terrace already pay 10% of property taxes to the County on top of the $157.26 fire service tax,” Zuk presented. “$157 is the cost of monthly groceries for one person and equals

Zuk from the Red Brennan Group responsible for placing the

Fire Services, cont. on next pg.

Or tega named CSU Tr ustees’ Award recipient

C

al State San Bernardino student Nora Nickoel Ortega has faced quite a few challenges in her personal life, but instead of letting them hinder her, she faces them headon.

Annual Scouting f o r Fo o d e v e n t this Saturday Pg. 6

H OW TO R E AC H US

Inland Empir e Co mmunity Newspaper s Of fice: (909) 381- 9898 Editorial: iecn1@ mac.com Advertisin g: sales@iecn.com Legals : iecn legals@ hotmail.com

“Many people choose to use their challenges as an excuse to give up, but I have learned to use my challenges as fuel for overcoming them,” said Ortega, a graduate student earning her master’s degree in counseling and guidance with a Pupil Personnel Services credential. And with that unwavering determination, Ortega, who lives in San Bernardino, has been named the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Scholar for the California State University Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement for 2020-21, the CSU’s highest recognition of

success. Only one student from each of the CSU system’s 23 campuses is selected for this honor, which is based on superior academic performance, exemplary community service and significant personal accomplishments. A first-generation Latina, daughter of immigrant parents, and the youngest of 10 children, Ortega grew up moving consistently between Northern and Southern California so her parents could work seasonal jobs planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables for less than minimum wage. “I witnessed, first-hand, the labor and dedication my parents put into providing just the basic needs of our family,” she said. Despite her parents’ efforts, Ortega, cont. on next pg.


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