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Tri County’s Only MulticulturalNewspaper Newspaper TheThe Tri County’s Only Multicultural
TRICOUNTY COUNTY TRI
ENTRY ENTRY VOL. XXVI NO. 51
OCTOBER 12, 2018
Denzel Washington Looks Back Fondly on Some Crucial Advice n See page 12
MULTICULTURAL s e t a r b e l e c l a Festiv DIVERSITY IN OXNARD
By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com
A celebration of pride, heritage, music, food, and fun highlighted the 23rd annual Multicultural Day, which came off without a hitch at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard, Oct. 6. The event took attendees around the world in a single day, as people got to learn about different cultures and meet people whose journey started on the other side of the world. The Oxnard Community Relations Commission created the Multicultural Festival, which was Commissioner Cora Ortigerra's vision. The commission wanted something that reflects their vision goal of unity and awareness between different nationalities and cultures. In the beginning, the festival started at the Performing Arts and Convention Center for the first three years and grew from there to the downtown plaza. Administrative Assistant Martha Guillen has been running the Multicultural Festival for the last 16 years and said the group brings an array of food vendors that will please all the attendees. “We also have a lot of poetry this year,”
she said. “There are different vendors throughout the park representing different nations and cultures, this year we have over 18, and they are all volunteers who wanted to come to the multicultural festival and share a little bit of their culture.” Guillen said the festival has been at other venues, like The Collection, which was well attended. “We were also on the other side of south Oxnard at Oxnard College Park, but we’ve found that all the vendors find their heart here in downtown,” she said.
“It’s the best place because we have transportation, a parking structure and you can walk here.” She loves all the arts and crafts n Multicultural, see page 6
Photo by Chris Frost
Neighbors Embracing Multicultural Arts featured dancer Ashley Freie shows off her belly dancing skills to the crowd.
Proclamation generates angry response and bitter feelings By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com In the most controversial part of the Oct. 9, Oxnard City Council meeting, the group designated Oct. 13, 2018, as “Community Safety and AntiViolence Day” in the city. Police Chief Scott Whitney accepted the proclamation and told the crowd the city experienced a horrible tragedy on Oct. 13, 2012, with the death of Alphonso Limon Jr. and there is nothing he could add that would make the experience easier on the family. The Limon family filed a lawsuit against the City of Oxnard and claimed the police force was negligent and wrongfully shot Limon who was an innocent bystander. The family settled the case for $6.7 million. “The City of Oxnard and the Oxnard Police Department will always have the highest sympathies for the Limon family, and I know the community also feels the same way toward the Limon family,” Whitney said. “I can also tell you that the Oxnard Police Department is a learning organization, we learned from this incident, and we’re a better police department after this incident.” The changes were positive, he said, including the
introduction of body-worn cameras worn by the officers. “We’ll also say we are a community policing department and we are committed to finding better partnerships,” he said. On an average Saturday, Whitney said the city will have two or three violent assaults, and if it’s an average weekend, the Oxnard Police Department will recover a gun from someone who is prohibited from having a gun. “Sometimes, when it comes to violent crime, the average person can feel so overwhelmed there is nothing they can do,” he said. “I have the opposite opinion, and I wouldn't be in this business if I felt otherwise, but I feel every one of us can do something. If you see something suspicious, please call 911.” As a society, Whitney said people don’t get second chances, and they demonize people who make mistakes. “We’re never going to change the culture of our society,” he said. “I’m not just talking about the city or the state; I am talking about the national. In the spirit of Community Safety and AntiViolence Day, I challenge all of us. Let’s not have the 2.5 violent assaults on Saturday, Oct.13, let’s move that number down to zero, and we can all play a part in that.”
Mayor Tim Flynn read the proclamation and said the city would commemorate Community Safety and Anti-Violence Day for five consecutive years, in memory of the victim, who was an innocent bystander. During public comments, Alejandra Limon expressed her disappointment with the city and police department. With the help of the city’s interpreter, she told the council that nine police officers killed her son.
Photo by Chris Frost
The Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser filled the patio at Red Robin.
Breast Cancer awareness fundraiser packs Red Robin By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com
Oxnard-- The Oxnard Fire Department Foundation, along with members of the Oxnard Fire Department and the Ventura Fire Department held its Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser to benefit Ribbons of Life, Oct. 4, which brought a massive crowd to Red Robin at the Collection. Red Robin donated 20 percent of its sales to the cause if the customer mentioned the event. Customers also perused silent auction items, took part in a raffle and purchased t-shirts benefitting breast cancer awareness. n Breast Cancer, see page 3