R I A L T O R E C O R D e eekkllyy

By Manny Sandoval

set to open a second location at 501 Orange Street in downtown Redlands

The new shop will commence construction in the Summer of 2023 after being vacant for a decade, promising to deliver the same unique atmosphere, amenities, and commitment to the community that has made its San Bernardino location a local favorite

Owners David Friedman and Tansu Philip, both residents of Redlands, have played a significant role in bringing new energy and life to downtown San Bernardino since opening Viva La Boba in March 2019 They aim to bring their success and positive vibes to the Redlands community while maintaining their dedication to the original location

"It's a trauma response when people ask if we're closing the San Bernardino location; because so many businesses up and leave or close down in this city So we want to assure everyone that we're not closing that location," said Philip

By Manny Sandoval

In a significant move, the S a n B e r n a r d i n o C i t y Council voted unanimously on Wednesday, May 3, to terminate its exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with the San B e r n a r d i n o D e v e l o p m e n t Company (SBDC) to redevelop the 43-acre Carousel Mall site

This decision is expected to clear the way for the city to r e s u m e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t process, addressing concerns r a i s e d b y t h e C a l i f o r n i a H o u s i n g a n d C o m m u n i t y Development Division (HCD)

I n M a r c h , S a n B e r n a r d i n o received a notice from HCD alleging multiple violations of the Surplus Land Act This state law mandates public agencies to first offer property intended for sale to affordable housing developers The city, however, disputes these claims

According to an official press release issued by the city, recent conversations with HCD staff have concluded that terminating the agreement with SBDC w i l l r e s o l v e t h e o u t s t a n d i n g i s s u e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e March letter

"We are committed to working c l o s e l y w i t h H C D o n t h e Surplus Land Act process as we proceed with the disposition of t h e m a l l p r o p e r t y t o a v o i d potential delays and litigation," said Public Information Officer

Jeff Kraus

Te r m i n a t i n g t h e a g r e e m e n t w i t h S B D C a l s o a d d r e s s e s HCD's concern about potential conflicts of interest when evaluating new proposals for the Carousel Mall site As a result, the March Notice of Violation will not apply to future dispositions

T h e t i m e l i n e f o r S a n Bernardino to seek new development proposals, particularly those that include affordable housing at the Carousel Mall Mall, cont on next pg

The purchase of the Redlands location was highly intentional as it's in a walkable area, helping the business reduce its carbon footprint In addition, plans in the forthcoming shop include solar panels and operating as a net-zero property, reflecting the owners' commitment to sustainability

Their previous environmentallyconscious efforts in San Bernardino included using biodegradable straws made from sugar cane and hosting community cleanups

In addition to serving its signature bubble tea creations, the Redlands location will offer food options such as empanadas, grab- and-go salads, sandwiches, cookies, and brownies Regarding aesthetics, the design will differ from the Mexican-inspired elements seen in San Bernardino, pushing boundaries and offering a fresh vibe

"We plan on bridging the two locations by collaborating and coordinating art events, open mics nights, etc Both locations will be given equal love," said Friedman

Friedman and Philip hope the Redlands location will become a welcoming meeting place for all, from students to city council members and everyone in between Like the San Bernardino location, it'll be a hip spot for non-drinkers to grab boba, tea, coffee, etc , in the morning, afternoon, evening, and at nightmaybe even until 2 AM Philip and Friedman said they would continue encouraging patrons to stay and enjoy the space without pressure to keep purchasing from the menu

With their expansion to Redlands, Viva La Boba's commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and unique offerings will delight new patrons and foster connections between the two cities The opening of the new location is an exciting step forward in the continued growth and development of San Bernardino and Redlands

Popular Omnitrans Fr ee Far es f or School Pr og ram to Expand Countywide in 2023-2024 School Year

Community News

Omnitrans is pleased to announce that the success of the agency’s Free Fares for School program, which offers kindergarten – 12th graders free rides to school and has provided more than 1,000,000 free rides for students since its inception, will be expanded county-wide for the 2023- 2024 school year

“We are grateful that SBCTA (San Bernardino County Transportation Authority) has decided to fund Free Fares for School for the next school year, given its use and the need for such an initiative in our region,” said CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers “Omnitrans is pleased to do its part to build the next generation of transit ridership ”

The Free Fares for School program allows community members 18 and under unlimited rides on Omnitrans’ 29 routes with a current student ID card The program was designed to allow students in Omnitrans’ service area to get to school, extracurricular and recreational activities, encourage school attendance and promote equity The expansion of the program will allow students to continue to use Omnitrans service, as well as Basin Transit, Mountain Transit, Needles Transit, and Victor Valley Transit Authority bus services

To learn more about Free Fares for School, visit omnitrans org/buy-a-pass/free-fares-for-school/ and for more information on Omnitrans routes and services, please visit www omnitrans org

Feeding America River side & San Ber nardino Br ushed Up For Its 2nd Annual Paint the Bank Event!

Community News

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) added a splash of color this spring during their 2nd Annual Paint the Bank Event on Saturday, April 8th, and Friday, April 28th

This year we wanted to do something different Something with a touch of our community

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians painted a large FARSB “butterfly” with orange slices as its wings for a fun social media wall for all visitors and volunteers to take photos with Molina Healthcare painted an orange tree to represent our region and its local orange groves Special thanks to our wonderful sponsors, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and Molina Healthcare, for completing the two new murals within our food bank

Comic Con Revolution to Bring Together Unpr ecedented Cast of Avatar : T he Last Airbender & Power R anger s, Massive 12K Per son Experience in the IE

By Manny Sandoval

The Inland Empire’s premier family-friendly comic convention, Comic Con Revolution (CCR), is gearing up for an unprecedented, star-studded event at the Ontario Convention Center on May 20 and 21, 2023

The event promises a diverse, action-packed weekend featuring comic book legends, actors, wrestlers, voice actors, celebrities, cosplayers, writers, and more all in the Inland Empire’s backyard

“We wanted to build a family-friendly show and bring the best of the industry to the Inland Empire

So we settled upon the IE in 2017 after doing shows in Long Beach, Chicago, Florida, and New York

It’s a way for fans to come out and express themselves, and it’s right in the heart of Southern California,” said Drew Seldin, co-founder, and co-owner of Comic Con Revolution

Headlining the event is the first-ever reunion of the entire cast of the critically acclaimed animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender This groundbreaking gathering has fans flying in from all over the world to witness this historic event In addition to the cast reunion, attendees can expect panel discussions, photo ops, and an unforgettable experience

“The panel will be packed out,” Seldin shared “We have people coming in from as far away as

Australia, and it’s just inspiring to see someone that much of a fan of something ”

The event features a stellar lineup of first-time attendees, including Mercedes Varnado, better known as WWE superstar Sasha Banks and Koska Reeves from the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian; Scott Grimes and J Lee from The Orville; and Sean Kanan, the bad boy of karate from Cobra Kai In addition, comic book royalty like John Romita Jr , Chris Claremont, Jim Starlin, Whilce Portacio, and Marv Wolfman will also attend

“We’ve carefully curated a guest list that not only celebrates the best of the industry but also provides a truly unforgettable experience for fans of all ages In addition, our family-friendly focus means everyone can enjoy this incredible event,” added Seldin

Comic Con Revolution’s commitment to a familyfriendly environment is apparent in its ticketing policy, which allows up to two children aged 12 and under to attend for free with every adult ticket purchased “

The event also boasts appearances from Power Rangers stars Catherine Sutherland and Walter Jones and Carla Perez, who portrayed the villainous Rita Repulsa With such a diverse guest list, fans are sure to find something to suit their interests

Learn more by visiting iecn com

Mall site, remains to be determined

Meanwhile, the mall's demolition, which began in April, will continue as the city evaluates nearby infrastructure improvements that may expedite the site's future development

Previously, Donald Monti, CEO of Renaissance Downtowns USA and ICO Real Estate Group, now SBDC, expressed frustration with the council's handling of the matter during a council meeting on April 5, 2023 Monti, who has been involved in the development project for 12 years, passionately addressed the council, stating, "I've been doing this job for 40 years and have never been treated in this manner " He urged the council to be more collaborative and transparent, emphasizing that solutions could be worked out without restarting the overall process

In April 2023, Monti shared with the council, "Our ENA is pretty clear It says that if there is a hiccup in the SLA process, our agreement should be TOLLED (put on hold) until the issue is resolved "

While the development agreement has ended, it is still being determined how quickly San Bernardino will seek development proposals that include affordable housing at the Carousel Mall site

San Ber nardino County Par tner s with Cities to Incr ease Housing and Reduce Homelessness

Community News

The Board of Supervisors this week launched a partnership with the county’s cities to invest a sizable share of the $72 7 million Homeless Initiatives Spending Plan approved by the Board of Supervisors in March toward increasing housing for the homeless throughout the county

The plan sets aside $32 7 million specifically for partnerships between the county and cities to increase housing and system capacity, specifically by the creation of shelter beds with onsite services open to all homeless residents, permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing options as well as by addressing systemic barriers that prevent housing connections and placements

The Board convened a meeting with representatives from 16 of the county’s 24 cities on Tuesday and key county government agencies and service organizations to discuss ways in which the county and cities could partner on solutions

“We must increase capacity as this housing is clearly not sufficient to house the current unsheltered homeless population,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Dawn Rowe “The county wants to work with the cities because they are closest to our homeless individuals and are in the best position to know what will work in their communities ”

“Collectively the County Board of Supervisors has taken a major step in addressing some of the challenges of homelessness by making key investments to build treatment facilities that will provide supportive services and resume our street outreach,” said Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr “We want to continue collaborating with our community cities and partners to work on this issue for our county residents ”

“The time to act is now,” said Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez “Cities including Fontana have proposed key projects that will help stop the bleeding on homelessness It’s clear from one end of the county to the other that we need to address this head on ”

The results of the 2023 San Bernardino County Homeless Point in Time Count, announced last week, showed homelessness had increased 26 percent during the past year A total of 4,195 homeless individuals were counted of which 2,976 individuals were unsheltered

However, there are currently only 797 emergency shelter beds in the county, only 192 of which are available to the general population There are also 489 transitional beds and 1,654 permanent supportive housing units

Present were representatives from Adelanto, Big Bear Lake, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Fontana, Highland, Montclair, Needles, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Yucaipa, and Yucca Valley

In response to the need for additional housing options and other services for the homeless, on March 28 the Board of Supervisors approved the Homeless Initiatives Spending Plan, which will leverage $72 7 million in federal, state and county resources to support the landmark 2022 Homeless Strategic Action Plan approved by the board in June The funding plan includes:

$32 7 million for city/county partnerships that increase housing and system capacity

$36 6 million for existing and expansion projects that provide immediate sheltering and service-enriched housing, including:

Pacific Village Phase II Expansion

Kern Street Adult Residential Facility Expansion

Project Roomkey Continuance

$3 4 million for outreach and engagement services for the unsheltered street population to support the Sheriff ’s Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement (HOPE) team, County Behavioral Health, and County Aging and Adult Services