Seems like we should have had those meetings in October after all.

Because no City Council Meetings were held in October due to the Election we had a stacked calendar tonight.

They had the Utility Users Tax on the end of the agenda and choose to address that TAB item first. What that TAB item was for was city staff laying out the ground work for the workshop that will be held November 20th. What seemed the hardest was getting the council on board to attend the workshop, the biggest problem maker was Joe Baca Jr. I’m not sure if he was still licking his wounds from November 6th or if he really only cares about parks and that’s it but he had a scheduling conflict with that day and refused to adjust his schedule.

What the UUT (Utility Users Tax) is the 8% tax on all the utilities you use in the city of Rialto and amounts to a little more than 11 million dollars for the general fund. The way it was sold 5 years ago was a tax to help pay for Police and Fire operations looking back it was probably sold the same way Measure “V” was if you don’t vote for this the police and fire will suffer. I was young and not living in the city back then so I was listening to what my parents, in laws & friends were telling me about the UUT.

What’s scary now is they began floating the idea of raising the percentage to as high as 12% as a way to punish voters for not falling for their lies with Measure “V”. I don’t like this tax but if they are straight with the community and don’t raise the percentage because it means such a big piece of the general fund.

What also was annoying was the fact that things are changing with the sale of Rialto’s water and waste water systems to Viola and West Valley Water. The deal was for 30 million dollars, tonight it was brought up that there is an additional 5 Million the city can borrow, that we have to pay back. There was talk of your 100 percent increase in rates over 4 years would be more if they borrowed that money.

City Staff brought up bringing back the Per’s Tax. I’m not familiar with this tax but Council was scared to death of another lawsuit from our friends the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Apparently Howard Jarvis stopped Rialto from doing this long ago. If they bring it back and Jon Coupal wants to sue on a residents behalf I will be first in line.

Everyone kept saying we don’t want to raise taxes then talked about a new way to tax the community. Also Transparency is the buzz word right now all of the Council People want to provide it even though they have been hiding things from us for years. Even June Hayes RUA Committee member was blown away by the new talk of 5 million in available borrowed money.

Ed Scott tried to equate the 5 million to a homeowner who buys a house then finds out they qualify for more money and takes it. A homeowner can only take more money if the value of the house meets the desired loan amount. Also its not free money it does raise the interest and principle monthly payment.

So 5 million is what percent of 130 million its 3.84 percent almost a filth of the entire loan and when your talking millions that’s not chump change.

So lets re-cap:

*Water and Waste Water rates will go up for the next four years.

*Rialto wants you to possibly pay 12% on your UUT (up from 8%).

*Rialto pays 8-10 cents more per gallon than cities like San Bernardino that have higher sales tax than Rialto.

*Late fees were increased largely in part to Mr. Everyone Else Is Doing It Why Not Us.

So what should we do?

First off plan on being at the UUT Workshop on 11-20-12 at 6pm.

Second call, email and ask him in person if given the opportunity. Him I mean Joe Baca Jr. who for some reason refuses to attend the UUT workshop on 11-20-12 he claims to have plans. So do I Mr. Baca my parents will be in that week from out of state yet I will be there and I am not a paid member of the city of Rialto just a concerned resident.

Joe Baca Jr.

Email: Bacaj@rialtoca.gov

Phone: 909-820-2525

Second attend the Council Meeting on 11-27-12 because there they will make the final vote to officially sell off the water and waste water, vote on whether to put the UUT on the ballot in March and at what percent and its the last day for Ed Scott, Mayor Grace Vargas and Deborah Robertson’s last day as a council member so there may be some interesting exchanges at this meeting.

Tomarrow I will Re-cap the rest of what I stayed for.

Coffee with the Chief was held at Coffee Nuttz at 8am.

Chief Farrar talking with the attedees

Rialto pd staff in attendace Chief Farrar, Captain DeAnda and Lt. Karol and Volenteer Cordinator Judy Roberts.

Captain DeAnda and Lt. Karol and Volenteer Cordinator Judy Roberts

Chief Farrar began with showing off the new Ford Taurus police units.

Coffee with the Chief

Local area residents and leaders come together to learn and diologe about Police services in the city of Rialto.

Tuesday November 13, 2012

8:00 to 9:00 am

Coffee Nutzz, 119 E. Foothill

“Coffee with the Chief” offers resident’s an opportunity to personally meet their Police Chief and other representatives in a casual setting. At “Coffee with the Chief” community members will learn about the police department, special projects, and other related events. Please join Chief Tony Farrar for “Coffee with the Chief”.

http://careervisionbyjamie.com

I have attended Jamie Becks workshops they are fun and interactive also SHE WILL BLOW YOUR MIND. Be prepared to be energized and empowered to hit the ground running in the job market.

Career Vision: Employment Boot Camp!

Presenter: Jamie Beck, MS

Date: February 20, 2013

Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Rialto Senior Center

To RSVP, please call (909) 820-2540 … Seating is limited to 60!

About the Workshop:

“Whether someone has been searching for a job for two weeks or two years, this workshop provides imaginative ideas to turn their job search process from reactive to proactive and puts them in the driver’s seat. Participants will learn how to NOT be their own worst enemy and find a job based on their passion and interests, using innovative search techniques and learn effective resume writing and interview techniques.” – Jamie Beck, MS

Presenter Bio:

Presenter, Jamie Beck, has a Master’s Degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Social Systems and a concentration in Family and Work and She has worked for California Department of Education and First 5 funded programs in the public and nonprofit sector, has been a CSU Career Counselor, owns and

operates Baby Elephant Books, presents career education workshops and trainings at libraries, high schools, colleges and community organizations, keynotes at conferences and offers private career coaching.

Member: Edgar Montes
email: emontes@rialto.k12.ca.us

We would like to introduce Mr. Edgar Montes to those of you in Rialto that may not know him. Mr. Montes is one of our School Board Members here in Rialto. I have had the privilege of speaking and interacting with Mr. Montes over the last 2 years and have found him to be someone that cares for the children and the community. Mr. Montes has made it his job to stand in the GAP for our schools and children. Something else less involved people may not know is the riff that exists between the City Government and the Rialto Unified School Board and no one knows why this is, it’s like the Hatfield’s and Mac Coys. Mr. Montes has begun slowly interacting in various city functions and answering questions in reference to Rialto Unified School District when he can. You can find Mr. Montes attending Coffee With The Chief, Area Command Meetings, Rialto’s Farmers Market & the occasional City Council meeting.

He is an honest and open Board Member and works as a peace maker when the situation allows. One thing with Mr. Montes that I have come to experience is you wont ever agree 100% on everything but with Mr. Montes you know where he stands, and in the end its on the side of our kids and schools. Don’t be afraid of disagreeing with Mr. Montes because that won’t hurt or hinder the relationship but make it stronger and give it a solid foundation on where everyone stands.

I would like to thank Mr. Montes for his time answering our questions:

RIALTO NOW – Tell us a little about yourself were you raised here in Rialto? What’s your story?

EDGAR MONTES – I was born in the summer of 1979 in Upland, CA. I have lived in Rialto since 1988. At that time I attended Maple Elementary in Fontana, my parent’s house although it was within Rialto city limits was actually within the FUSD boundaries. Much like today were Rialto Unified School District boundaries cut into parts of Fontana, Colton, San Bernardino and Lytle Creek. I attended Alder Middle School and A.B. Miller High School also in Fontana. So although I attended public school in Fontana, I was indeed raised in Rialto.

RIALTO NOW – What was the driving force behind your desire to run for School Board for RUSD?

EDGAR MONTES – My wife and I bought our home in Rialto in 2002. With 20 years left on our 30 year mortgage we have no plans of leaving Rialto anytime soon. I love my community. I grew up here and have seen first-hand the ups and downs and all the good and bad about our tiny 4 miles wide 8 miles long city.

Going to school in Fontana and having friends and family all through-out the Inland Empire I saw many similarities in some of our public schools. For example; the loss of public school funding over the years, and how that loss of funding and mismanagement of public tax-payer’s dollars affects kids from “socially-economically-challenged” backgrounds. The switch from Junior High Schools to Middle Schools and with that the loss of Junior High Sports teams. Arts and music programs cut or reduced. Increased focus on test scores. Decreased focus on the development of “the basics”like reading and writing, math and science. Above all as a parent and a product of our public schools, I understand the many challenges parents, students, and schools face in these tough economic times.

RIALTO NOW – Have you ever run for any elected office in the past?

EDGAR MONTES – No. I was elected in November of 2010. It was my first time running for elected office, but not the first time I ran for something. In High School at Fontana A.B. Miller High, I ran for A.S.B. President my senior year and won. I also ran for school site council at A.B. Miller after graduating from there and was also elected.

RIALTO NOW – What is your background in regards to education?

EDGAR MONTES – As far as my college education goes, I have put that on hold for now. With 11 year old twin boys, a 3 month old baby boy, a small family-owned business to run, and a democratically elected position as a Rialto school board member, I want to wait a little before going back to school. I am the kind of person that if I will not be able to commit myself 100% to something, than I won’t even bother wasting anybody’s time. I was attending San Bernardino Valley College and the University of Phoenix Ontario Campus before that at the time I ran and got elected to the school board.

It’s important for me to point out that I have been criticized by some as a college student on the public school board for not being a college graduate. Some people have even gone as far to criticize me for the community college I was attending. For example at a time when our school district was laying-off many teachers and cutting programs for students because of the loss of funding, I took a stand against the wasteful spending of $70,000 (public tax-dollars) to send 30 school district employees and two school board members to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for a supposed “one week leadership training.”My fellow school board colleague Michael Ridgway said “there is nothing like this locally. If you want a Harvard education, you go to Harvard. You don’t go to (San Bernardino) Valley College. These are world-class presenters. Education is expensive. The only thing I have found more expensive than education is ignorance.” My response to him was this “I have also met my share of “educated fools” and that I don’t undermine anyone or judge anyone by their level of education or where they went to school.”

The San Bernardino Sun Newspaper wrote an article about the issue of the Gettysburg trip and even wrote an editorial supporting my stance on the issue. What matters most to me on a school board or any elected office is “common sense.”

RIALTO NOW – With school district budgets getting slashed every year what are your ideas on still offering a quality education?

EDGAR MONTES – I believe that even with the loss of revenue for public schools it is still possible to give a quality education to ALL students. I am a strong supporter of grant writing, I asked for grant writers for our school district on a contingency contract, meaning they would only get paid a percentage if they got us grants. Unfortunately, at the recommendation of our superintendent the board opted to go with a grant writing company that charged $5,000 per month for six months that did not produce any grants. I also am a strong supporter of partnering with local businesses in the community. If we reach-out to the local businesses in our school district, they can help us by donating to our schools, sponsoring our students, and working with us to build bridges not burn them. I also believe the city of Rialto would be a great partner in the education of our students. There was a time when our school district and city worked together on many things and you and I both know that is no longer the case. But I remain optimistic and will continue to push for rebuilding that relationship, because what is good for our city is good for our parents and students and what is good for our parents and students is good for our communities.

RIALTO NOW – How important are sports programs and the arts to you within the confines of public education?

EDGAR MONTES – I am a strong supporter of sports programs and arts, and I can say that because you can find me and my sons at school games, art competitions, and at school district talent shows. Many children don’t know they have a gift or special talent for something and it’s important that we help all students find what interests them, what drives them and tie that into their education. Some kids are great leaders, others make awesome drawings. I saw a student from Rialto High School free-style spoken word poetry, powerful and moving.

RIALTO NOW – The current school of thought is to prepare every student to enter college. Do you agree with the thought that every student should and can go to college?

EDGAR MONTES – I believe that every child should be given support, guidance, and encouragement to go to college. The sad reality is that only about 15% of high school graduates actually go. Many people know that if you constantly, repeatedly tell a child that they will “never amount to anything” most likely, not always, but most likely they won’t. And vice versa, if you constantly and repeatedly tell a child that “they can and will be successful in life and do something great”, most likely they will.

RIALTO NOW – As someone who studied education, I know that not every student is college bound, yet through our Regional Occupational Programs we can prepare those students to be successful in the work force. What value do you place on RUSD and its Regional Occupational Program?

EDGAR MONTES – I place a very high value on any ROP at any school district. Preparing students for the workforce is critical to any family and community as a whole. ROP is a great way to give students the resources and skills needed for many vocational careers. Aside from the ROP offered to students at the high schools like ROP Jr. Navy and ROP Jr. Marines, etc., through our Adult ROP high school graduates and adults can enroll in our Adult Education Program. Through our Adult School we offer Career Technical Courses like Word Processing/Keyboarding, and Intro to Computers. In adult ROP students can take specialized courses like Office Operations and Technology, Business Technology Lab, Pharmacy Technician, and Pharmacy Clerk. I not only want to continue these much needed programs, but would to like secure funding to expand them.

RIALTO NOW – What is the biggest factor that can help ensure quality teaching? Is certification a measure of quality?

EDGAR MONTES – I think certification is good, but I don’t think it’s the best way to measure quality teaching. I think quality teaching can be measured by pro-activeness, the ability to adapt to new technology and the ever changing times. Most Hispanics/Latinos/Chicanos have native-indigenous roots, and we use many metaphors when speaking. There is a saying in Spanish I would like to share with you. Here it goes “La vaca que da leche, de lejos se ve” which is difficult to translate but I will try, “the cow that gives milk, you can see from far away.” School principals, parents, and students know quality teaching when they see it.

RIALTO NOW – One of the jobs you have listed on Face book is an education advocate, can you explain what this is.

EDGAR MONTES – An Education Advocate is anyone involved in advocating for student’s education in any way. I have advocated for students education since my sophomore year in high school when me and a group of students organized a student walk-out to protest awful treatment of students, unfair discipline practices, and a hostile learning environment to name a few. Regardless of what anyone says, that walk-out brought many changes to Fontana A.B. Miller High School that by my senior year our high school was award the “California Distinguished School Award.” Did I mention I was elected A.S.B. President that year? As an education advocate I have advocated for students and parents all across the Inland Empire from Big Bear to Perris, and for everything from unfair suspensions/expulsions to speaking at public board meetings. As an education advocate I also attend rallies organized by activist, school employee unions, and community organizations against the state budget cuts to education. Now I am an education advocate for parents, students, and employees as a member of the Rialto school board.

RIALTO NOW – I have had many friends in the city of Rialto remark on the state of your special education programs here in Rialto Unified School District. The biggest complaints are that this department seems to miss the mark more and more frequently. Are you aware of this issue, and if so what are some steps to fixing this?

EDGAR MONTES – The problems of Special Ed in our district are something I became aware of when I was running for school board in 2010. I witnessed parents and students along with Special Education advocates speak at school board meetings many times. Their complaints and their concerns regarding Special Ed were never responded to or addressed. After I got elected I took on the problems head on, I’ve been fighting for the children of Special Ed and their Parents ever since.

For the record let me first say that there are many good-hearted employees working in Special Ed. Many employees of Special Ed give 110% of themselves to the students and need full support of the RUSD leadership starting with the board of education first, and the superintendent second. Without the full support of RUSD leadership how is Special Ed staff supposed to help the students and parents. Recently a group of about 40 parents and members of the community held a protest in front of the school district office; it came out in the Sun Newspaper back in May I believe. I am only 1 vote on a board of 5. I can only keep speaking up and hope that we get some new board members that will “truly” listen to parents, staff and the community, otherwise nothing is going to change.

One of the arguments made by Dr. James Wallace former Assistant Superintendent Deputy Chief of Staff, then Assistant Superintendent of Student Services which oversaw Special Education, now Assistant Superintendent Deputy Chief of Staff again, is that RUSD spends the most amount of money compared to neighboring school districts. Whether or not that is true, the question is how much of the revenue spent by RUSD for Special Ed has actually trickled down to students and the classrooms? For example, how much money has RUSD spent on attorney’s fees for fighting parents and Special Ed advocates instead of giving the students the services they deserve. I believe in accountability, where is it? We can’t blame the Special Ed teachers, Speech Therapist, Psychologist, or any one from our Special Ed department. We need to hold accountable those at the top.

RIALTO NOW – How can our readers reach you to get more information?

EDGAR MONTES – I can be reached anytime 909-202-2485 or emontes@rialto.k12.ca.us

Looks like the winners for city council are:

Shawn O’Connell and “incumbent” Ed Palmer

Looks like the winner for Mayor is:

Deborah Robertson

We are proud to see Shawn and Deborah win their perspective elections. Its exciting to see some change finally taking hold.

	Vote Count	Percent
ED SCOTT	6,888	43.22%
DEBORAH ROBERTSON	9,050	56.78%
Total	15,938	100.00%

Rialto – City Council

46/46 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
SHAWN P. O’CONNELL	5,693	24.44%
SARMAD ”SAM” SYED	894	3.84%
JUNE D. HAYES	3,500	15.02%
RAFAEL TRUJILLO	4,438	19.05%
JOSEF ”JOE” BRITT	2,382	10.22%
ED PALMER	6,389	27.43%
Total	23,296	100.00%

Also we would like to anounce what appears to be the end of the BACA DYNASTY. Joe Baca Sr. & Joe Baca Jr. both lost in this open election to well know democrat contenders. We also learned alot via dirty mailers about Joe Baca Jr. and his past, must watch him as he still sits on our City Council.

Congressional – District 35

245/245 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
DEM – GLORIA NEGRETE MCLEOD	46,627	53.96%
DEM – JOE BACA	39,788	46.04%
Total	86,415	100.00%

State Assembly – District 47

284/284 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
DEM – JOE BACA JR.	31,811	43.77%
DEM – CHERYL R. BROWN	40,871	56.23%
Total	72,682	100.00%

Also Our Congressional District 31 here is the winner:

Congressional – District 31

443/443 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
REP – BOB DUTTON	55,940	44.81%
REP – GARY G. MILLER	68,892	55.19%
Total	124,832	100.00%

Also Measure “V” seems to have lost!!!!!!!!!!

Measure V – City of Rialto

46/46 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
YES	7,585	47.10%
NO	8,518	52.90%
Total	16,103	100.00%

The Democrat-on-Democrat contest in San Bernardino County’s 47th Assembly District is awash in independent money from charter school supporters, teachers unions and a group of tribes with casinos, among others, spending more than $1.1 million since mid-September.

Rialto Councilman Joe Baca Jr. is running against Cheryl Brown, a Rialto businesswoman and an aide to Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter, D-Rialto.

More than $753,000 of the independent expenditures has gone to support Brown or oppose Baca and $403,000 has gone to support Baca or oppose Brown through the weekend.

The main groups pushing Brown’s election are the Sacramento-based California Tribal Business Alliance political action committee ($480,000), the San Rafael-based Parents and Teachers for Putting Students First ($228,000), and the California Black Political Action Committee ($34,000.)

The main organizations behind Baca are the California Teachers Association ($163,000), the Alliance to Get California Working PAC ($119,463) and the Golden State Leadership Fund PAC ($67,000).

The parents and teachers group gets its money from StudentsFirst, the Sacramento-based group led by former Washington D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, who clashed repeatedly with the DC teachers union. In addition, the tribal business alliance has received $100,000 from the California Charter Schools Association.

In the case of the pro-Baca Jr. IE’s, the Golden Leadership Fund’s biggest donor is the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians near San Bernardino. The Alliance to Get California Working PAC has a variety of donors, including the private prison company CCA.

By: Jim Miller

RIALTO: Officials saving ambulances for emergencies

STAN LIM/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Rialto Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Marcus Lynch helps guide in the cities ambulance after finishing up a call on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 in Rialto. Starting Monday the fire department will be reserving its ambulances for true medical emergencies.

BY RICHARD BROOKS

BY RICHARD BROOKS The Press EnterpriseSTAFF WRITER

rbrooks@pe.com

Published: 04 November 2012 03:10 PM

Anxious to keep his city’s three paramedic ambulances available for medical emergencies, Rialto’s fire chief no longer is sending them to treat broken fingers and other minor problems.

“I’m still going to send a paramedic to every call,” Chief Mat Fratus emphasized. “But I’m not going to send multiple paramedic units to every call.”

Beginning Monday, Nov. 5, dispatchers will assign only a paramedic fire engine to minor medical calls in Rialto. The aim is to keep the three Fire Department ambulances available for more serious emergencies, including heart attacks, strokes, injury traffic crashes and violent crimes because studies show that saving time reaching those calls tends to save lives.

Other agencies around Inland Southern California will track the new program in Rialto and assess its effectiveness.

The heart of the new system is San Bernardino County’s regional dispatch center, where call-takers have undergone more than 18 months of re-training to enable them to question callers more quickly and thoroughly.

“If you know more accurately what the problem is, you can more accurately assign the proper units,” said Rick Britt, director of the Confire communications center.

And the dispatching happens fast. Based on the new training, dispatchers ask specific questions in a specific order, beginning with the caller’s address and phone number — so if the call gets interrupted, they can still send firefighters or police to the correct location.

Then, the caller is asked the nature of the problem. If it’s a medical situation, the dispatcher immediately sends the nearest available paramedic fire engine.

If the patient’s not breathing, the dispatcher begins offering CPR instructions. Dispatchers also have a list of instructions for callers reporting, for example, suffocations, or attempted suicide-by-hanging.

And for all serious-injury or illness calls, an ambulance or additional fire engines will be dispatched.

“My dispatchers are the true first responders because they stat helping the caller immediately,” said Britt, whose staff serves 12 fire agencies, including San Bernardino County Fire Department and municipal fire departments ranging from Barstow south to Colton and from Redlands west to Rancho Cucamonga.

At least some of those agencies will be studying the results of Rialto’s experiment.

“What I’m picking up from the chiefs is that they’re all interested in it,” Britt said. “They want units available for the serious calls that require them.”

Traditionally, fire departments have sent two paramedic units to each 911 medical-aid call, regardless of how minor the injury or illness. In Rialto, a fire engine and an ambulance were dispatched. In other communities, the mix varies – sometimes two fire engines, or a fire engine and a paramedic squad, for example.

Fratus is confident that the so-called Medical Priority Dispatch System will work. He implemented the same system in San Bernardino, where he previously worked as Deputy Chief. His responsibilities included emergency medical service for that city’s fire department.

By cutting down the number of paramedic units sent to minor incidents in San Bernardino, response times to the most critical medical emergencies improved by roughly 30 percent, he said.

Britt’s dispatchers took the process one step farther, becoming the 169th emergency communications center to obtain full accreditation by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatchers.

“My chiefs wanted us to be accredited before they take the risk in liability and modify the response,” Britt acknowledged. “There is some risk to it.”

By cutting back on the number of units assigned to a call, the door is open to criticism and legal liability, he said. But he believes the risk is minimal to patients and taxpayers. Under the new system, dispatchers have been trained to triage calls, in much the same way newly arrived patients are triaged at a hospital emergency room, he said.

“You only have so many (paramedic) units to put out there,” said Britt, who emphasized that officials simply want to avoid dispatching multiple fire engines to calls where they’re not needed. “In days of shrinking budgets, you can’t afford to do that anymore.”

LYTLE CREEK – There’s a man on the ground cradling a long rifle with a fat barrel topped with a hulking telescopic sight.

When the trigger is pulled, the mild crack doesn’t hurt the ears – even without ear protection shooters customarily wear.

And the gun didn’t even quiver slightly from recoil.

Both these characteristics don’t seem right for the powerful .30-caliber round just fired.

But this isn’t Lytle Creek’s public gun range, Lytle Creek Firing Line, at the top of the road. Nor is it the private West End Gun Club down below.

Well hidden from the public – with no signs announcing its existence – is the Fontana Police Department’s firing range.

This day is a training day for the recently

SWAT teams practice the correct way to enter a hallway during their training. ((Rachel Luna / Staff Photographer))

formed Inland Regional SWAT team, which combines the Special Weapons and Tactics forces of three area police departments: Fontana, Colton and Rialto.

The rifle, fired by a SWAT officer, has a $1,300 suppressor – illegal for civilians to own – which muffles sound and helps to tame recoil.

That huge telescopic sight can magnify a target 14 times and has grooves to attach a night vision device.

In an era of ever-tightening budgets, the consolidation of the three specialized units forms a single group with big numbers, diverse skills and great equipment, officers assigned to Inland Regional SWAT say.

“It’s half the money and twice the protection,” Fontana Lt. Obie Rodriguez, who heads Inland SWAT team, said in-between bursts of distant machine gun fire.

“We have been able to reduce staffing each department contributes to SWAT, yet increased the team,” Rodriguez said.

The effort has created unity.

“The team has come together so easily because members have a similar mindset and dedication,” said Sgt. Jim Jolliff, assistant tactical supervisor with Inland SWAT and a 21-year veteran of Colton’s SWAT team.

For Fontana, the merger has meant that 30 officers assigned to SWAT has become 16 – yet the combined force is 39.

Training demands are another burden SWAT programs place on their department, Rodriguez said.

The state of California mandates that SWAT teams practice core skills 20 hours per month.

During those periods, officers are pulled from their routine functions, be they patrol, traffic, detective, narcotics or some other area of police service.

Since the merger in July, Rodriguez and other officers say they have been pleased with the merger and what it’s brought – a chance to learn from other’s expertise.

In one scenario, a team of officers practices building entry techniques in the “live fire shoot house” which was built several years ago by Fontana SWAT officers in their off-duty time.

Entering the shoot house, holding a pistol – not a short-barreled machine gun like the other officers, is Dr. Michael Neeki, an emergency room physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

Neeki has been a member of the Rialto SWAT team for several years and with the merger, became the team doctor for Inland SWAT.

“The team benefits and so does the public,” Rodriguez said – because Neeki brings the most current lifesaving technologies to every call.

And he’s upgrading the skills of the team’s medics.

Each department in Inland SWAT had their own armored vehicle.

But in a worst-case situation, one vehicle could only accommodate a few team members from their respective department.

Being able to muster three vehicles to a scene gives protection to just about everybody, Rodriguez said.

“Many times, seeing a force like that show up is about all we need to do,” said Sgt. Jim Burton, an 11-year veteran of Fontana SWAT.

Since its formation, the team has been called up for 11 barricade situations, two high-risk arrest warrants and its negotiations have been summoned for one suicide attempt, Rodriguez said.

Most voter guides begin with the BIG TIME regional elections then work down to the local stuff, if you haven’t noticed were a little different.

Also be advised “NONE OF THESE ENDORSEMENTS HAVE COME AT ANY FINACIAL GAIN TO THIS BLOG OR ANYONE DIRECTLY CONECTED TO THIS BLOG”

We put out feelers to people running in local elections to obtain the information they feel you should know about them but we have nothing more to gain that passing along our advice and opinion to people on this monster election. We get our reward from having knowledgeable readers that are energized and ready to cast their ballots.

We are taking a diffrent stance on this election. To often our School Board Members think that they dont have to answer to the community. That ends now right here, every canidate was given the oportunity to answer a series of questions and here is what we got:

Mirna Ruiz

I have a resident of Rialto for the last 14 years. I grew up and was raised in Hollywood.

The driving force that made me run for School Board for RUSD are my children.

I have two kids with special needs. I have experienced limitations that have been given to

my children and other children with special needs. I have experienced how children with special needs

are ignored, isolated and discriminated . I have also seen it in regular education classes.

I have experienced how teachers want to help children and are limited to do so in fear of retaliation.

I have experienced how due to wasteful spending students are not given the proper education they deserve.

We have to make sure that all staff have the proper training, that way teachers do not get burned out and overwhelmed

with not knowing how to teach and help students.

I again know for a fact some teachers have asked for help and have been denied the help or training.
I have never run for office before. I was told that I am new to politics and I agree, however

I am not new to the issues parents in special ed. go through. Not new to problems the community has,

Not new to being affected with the financial problems we are having.

I do believe that sports programs and the arts are very important also. As I mentioned before if we

stop all the wasteful spending sports programs can happen.

Also by improving communication between the city and school district some programs can happen.

I know that parents, students and community members want changes to be made, they have the power

to make those changes by voting on November 6,2012.

I can be reached at mruizddh@aol.com I have been having issues with my campaign email.

Thank you for your time

Sincerely,

Mirna Ruiz

Joe Ayala

#1 Born in Upland Ca.

Lived in Rialto about 10 years

Married 39 years

3 daughters and 10 grand kids

#2 Helping people at all levels

My wife and I are both retired teachers and we wanted to continue to help

out.

#3 I’m running for my second term as RUSD Trustee

#4 HS teacher 34 years

#5 Teach to the level of the child and not the test

#6 Very important ! They keep our kids from dropping out and helps them to find

their passions.

# 7 Finding “balance” and “timing” in one’s life can also pay off with big

benefits later on in life. Finding ways to nurture a

child when they are not ready can be as good if not better than pushing a

child to go to college who is not ready!

#8 What’s missing with many of our ROP classes is an infusion of how to use

what they learned to become entrepreneurs.

#9 We need to empower our parents first. Secondly, they need to learn the

parameters of what can and can’t be done.

This is all comes together after building trust first. Perhaps this needs

to be our the first priority!

#10. Quality teaching comes from caring teachers. It comes from caring

administrators. It also comes from receptive students

and supportive parents. It’s like a 3 legged stool… remove one of the

legs it simply will not hold up!

#11. A house divided will not stand. I too thought that this position was not

required but with 28,000 kids and 3000 staff it’s

a great service to have someone coordinate many of the events that help

our school district look good to others. Too

much at stake during uncertain times.

#12. Just have them call me and make sure they leave a clear message. I promise

to call them back!

-Joe Ayala (909) 234-2884

Joe Martinez

Mr. Joe Martinez claims he used my interview questions for a template for his website, he sent the following:

Sorry about the link sent from my cell. It should read www.joemartinez.org which forwards to www.joema.net. either link will get you there. I used.many of your questions as a template.

Edgar Montes is not up for re-election but he felt it important to let you know what he thinks on the issues before the community.

If your looking for direction on who would make a good choice for school board his brain would be a good one to pick.

Mr. Edgar Montes

Thank you for taking the time to have this interview conducted. I will not change anything when its posted I’ll just make adjustments for spelling and grammar. This interview is to give the Residents and Readers a better prospective of those working in public service. Feel free to remove any question you don’t want to answer.

* Tell us a little about yourself were you raised here in Rialto? What’s your story?

I was born in the summer of 1979 in Upland, CA. I have lived in Rialto since 1988. At that time I attended Maple Elementary in Fontana, my parent’s house although it was within Rialto city limits was actually within the FUSD boundaries. Much like today were Rialto Unified School District boundaries cut into parts of Fontana, Colton, San Bernardino and Lytle Creek. I attended Alder Middle School and A.B. Miller High School also in Fontana. So although I attended public school in Fontana, I was indeed raised in Rialto.

* What was the driving force behind your desire to run for School Board for RUSD?

My wife and I bought our home in Rialto in 2002. With 20 years left on our 30 year mortgage we have no plans of leaving Rialto anytime soon. I love my community. I grew up here and have seen first-hand the ups and downs and all the good and bad about our tiny 4 miles wide 8 miles long city.

* Have you ever run for any elected office in the past?

No. I was elected in November of 2010. It was my first time running for elected office, but not the first time I ran for something. In High School at Fontana A.B. Miller High, I ran for A.S.B. President my senior year and won. I also ran for school site council at A.B. Miller after graduating from there and was also elected.

* What is your background in regards to education?

As far as my college education goes, I have put that on hold for now. With 11 year old twin boys, a 3 month old baby boy, a small family-owned business to run, and a democratically elected position as a Rialto school board member, I want to wait a little before going back to school. I am the kind of person that if I will not be able to commit myself 100% to something, than I won’t even bother wasting anybody’s time. I was attending San Bernardino Valley College and the University of Phoenix Ontario Campus before that at the time I ran and got elected to the school board.

* With school district budgets getting slashed every year what are your ideas on still offering a quality education?

I believe that even with the loss of revenue for public schools it is still possible to give a quality education to ALL students. I am a strong supporter of grant writing, I asked for grant writers for our school district on a contingency contract, meaning they would only get paid a percentage if they got us grants. Unfortunately, at the recommendation of our superintendent the board opted to go with a grant writing company that charged $5,000 per month for six months that did not produce any grants. I also am a strong supporter of partnering with local businesses in the community. If we reach-out to the local businesses in our school district, they can help us by donating to our schools, sponsoring our students, and working with us to build bridges not burn them. I also believe the city of Rialto would be a great partner in the education of our students. There was a time when our school district and city worked together on many things and you and I both know that is no longer the case. But I remain optimistic and will continue to push for rebuilding that relationship, because what is good for our city is good for our parents and students and what is good for our parents and students is good for our communities.

* How important are sports programs and the arts to you within the confines of public education?

I am a strong supporter of sports programs and arts, and I can say that because you can find me and my sons at school games, art competitions, and at school district talent shows. Many children don’t know they have a gift or special talent for something and it’s important that we help all students find what interests them, what drives them and tie that into their education. Some kids are great leaders, others make awesome drawings. I saw a student from Rialto High School free-style spoken word poetry, powerful and moving.

* The current school of thought is to prepare every student to enter college. Do you agree with the thought that every student should and can go to college?

I believe that every child should be given support, guidance, and encouragement to go to college. The sad reality is that only about 15% of high school graduates actually go. Many people know that if you constantly, repeatedly tell a child that they will “never amount to anything” most likely, not always, but most likely they won’t. And vice versa, if you constantly and repeatedly tell a child that “they can and will be successful in life and do something great”, most likely they will.

* As someone who studied education, I know that not every student is college bound, yet through our Regional Occupational Programs we can prepare those students to be successful in the work force. What value do you place on RUSD and its Regional Occupational Program?

I place a very high value on any ROP at any school district. Preparing students for the workforce is critical to any family and community as a whole. ROP is a great way to give students the resources and skills needed for many vocational careers. Aside from the ROP offered to students at the high schools like ROP Jr. Navy and ROP Jr. Marines, etc., through our Adult ROP high school graduates and adults can enroll in our Adult Education Program. Through our Adult School we offer Career Technical Courses like Word Processing/Keyboarding, and Intro to Computers. In adult ROP students can take specialized courses like Office Operations and Technology, Business Technology Lab, Pharmacy Technician, and Pharmacy Clerk. I not only want to continue these much needed programs, but would to like secure funding to expand them.

* What is the biggest factor that can help ensure quality teaching? Is certification a measure of quality?

I think certification is good, but I don’t think it’s the best way to measure quality teaching. I think quality teaching can be measured by pro-activeness, the ability to adapt to new technology and the ever changing times. Most Hispanics/Latinos/Chicanos have native-indigenous roots, and we use many metaphors when speaking. There is a saying in Spanish I would like to share with you. Here it goes “La vaca que da leche, de lejos se ve” which is difficult to translate but I will try, “the cow that gives milk, you can see from far away.” School principals, parents, and students know quality teaching when they see it.

* One of the jobs you have listed on Facebook is an education advocate, can you explain what this is.

An Education Advocate is anyone involved in advocating for student’s education in any way. I have advocated for students education since my sophomore year in high school when me and a group of students organized a student walk-out to protest awful treatment of students, unfair discipline practices, and a hostile learning environment to name a few. Regardless of what anyone says, that walk-out brought many changes to Fontana A.B. Miller High School that by my senior year our high school was award the “California Distinguished School Award.” Did I mention I was elected A.S.B. President that year? As an education advocate I have advocated for students and parents all across the Inland Empire from Big Bear to Perris, and for everything from unfair suspensions/expulsions to speaking at public board meetings. As an education advocate I also attend rallies organized by activist, school employee unions, and community organizations against the state budget cuts to education. Now I am an education advocate for parents, students, and employees as a member of the Rialto school board.

* How can our readers reach you to get more information?

I can be reached anytime 909-202-2485 or emontes@rialto.k12.ca.us

* I have had many friends in the city of Rialto remark on the state of your special education programs here in Rialto Unified School District. The biggest complaints are that this department seems to miss the mark more and more frequently. Are you aware of this issue, and if so what are some steps to fixing this?

The problems of Special Ed in our district is something I became aware of when I was running for school board in 2010. I witnessed parents and students along with Special Education advocates speak at school board meetings many times. Their complaints and their concerns regarding Special Ed were never responded to or addressed. After I got elected I took on the problems head on, I’ve been fighting for the children of Special Ed and their Parents ever since.

For the record let me first say that there are many good-hearted employees working in Special Ed. Many employees of Special Ed give 110% of themselves to the students and need full support of the RUSD leadership starting with the board of education first, and the superintendent second. Without the full support of RUSD leadership how are Special Ed staff supposed to help the students and parents. Recently a group of about 40 parents and members of the community held a protest in front of the school district office, it came out in the Sun Newspaper back in May I believe. I am only 1 vote on a board of 5. I can only keep speaking up and hope that we get some new board members that will “truly” listen to parents, staff and the community, otherwise nothing is going to change.

One of the arguments made by Dr. James Wallace former Assistant Superintendent Deputy Chief of Staff, then Assistant Superintendent of Student Services which oversaw Special Education, now Assistant Superintendent Deputy Chief of Staff again, is that RUSD spends the most amount of money compared to neighboring school districts. Whether or not that is true, the question is how much of the revenue spent by RUSD for Special Ed has actually trickled down to students and the classrooms? For example, how much money has RUSD spent on attorneys fees for fighting parents and Special Ed advocates instead of giving the students the services they deserve. I believe in accountability, where is it? We can’t blame the Special Ed teachers, Speech Therapist, Psychologist, or any one from our Special Ed department. We need to hold accountable those at the top.

rialtonow

First Council Meeting Since the October Election Blackout

Coffee with the Chief overview

Coffee With The Chief Of Rialto Police

Coffee with the Chief

Tuesday November 13, 2012

8:00 to 9:00 am

Coffee Nutzz, 119 E. Foothill

Career Vision Bootcamp in Rialto!!!!!!!!!!!!

Career Vision: Employment Boot Camp!

Presenter: Jamie Beck, MS

Date: February 20, 2013

Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Rialto Senior Center

“Spotlight” Interview with Rialto Unified School Board Member Edgar Montes

City of Rialto Election Update

47TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT: Gusher of independent expenditures in final days