Do We Want Honesty In Elected Officials All The Time?
31 Jan 2016 Leave a comment
in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Bad Commerce, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, Rialto, San Bernardino, scott beard
Right now their is a lot of covered dishonesty going on right now in the realm of local politics. One thing that is standing out to us is how much covered dishonesty are you willing to stomach just because the person being dishonest is on your side or team? First let us explain what we mean by covered dishonesty:
- Local elected officials are not acting right and are breaking rules. The policing powers ( Fair Political Practices Commission, District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit and The Press) refuse to hold elected officials accountable where does that leave us?
Now if someone listed the wrong ID number on their campaign mailers making it impossible to determine who the mailer belonged to would that be ok? So were wondering where do you fall when it comes to honesty in local elected officials? Do you hold your candidates to the same standards as their opponents?
Hundreds of People Come Out to Support The Rialto Police Officer Fallen Hero Memorial 5k Fundraiser
30 Jan 2016 Leave a comment
Early Saturday morning while others are wrapped up snuggled in their beds Rialto Police Officers, Volunteers and City Workers were up closing streets and setting up for a memorial 5K to raise funds for a future Fallen Officer Monument to Honor the Three Men who have died in the line of duty.
The crowd stacked up up waiting for the start of the 5K
Turnout was a little lower than last year but things that may have attributed to this was a change in person in charge of the event promotion, change of venue and the threats of winter weather conditions including a severe wind warning. Participation from fellow officers was lighter this year than last year and one of those reasons probably was the Battle of the Badges boxing match that is slated for later on this evening.
Tonight
Chris “The Makau” Sellig from Rialto Police will be boxing
Abarham “ABE” Adame from the California Department of Corrections in Bout #3
and
Robert “Don’t Doubt Me” Morales from Rialto Police will be boxing
Jerry Magoffin from Pachenga Department of Public Safety in Bout #11
The weather was made for running but many runners commented that this years course was too difficult and much more difficult than last year. Also a major difference from last year was the fact that NONE of your elected officals came out to support this year and we only saw two department heads (Police Chief Deaanda & Parks & Rec Manager Perry). With this year being an election year it is odd to see none of the elected leaders than will be vying for your vote out this year.
Probably the coolest part for the Rialto Now team who had 2 runners this year was the Sheriffs Academy class were out once again running in a group chanting their cadence check it out below.
Check out all the cool photos and videos by going to Rialto Re-Entry, Rialto Network or Rialto PD Facebook
Local Police Agencies Across the Region Will Look Very Different In 2016
22 Jan 2016 Leave a comment
Credit Fontana Police Facebook Page
No matter what the city or population having the right leader is key to finding success. As we usher in 2016 two local cities will have new faces running their police departments. Last December Rialto Police Chief Tony Farrar retired handing off the reigns to former Police Captain Randy Deanda. Today we learn via a Press Release that Fontana Police Chief Rodney Jones will retire effective February 5th handing off the reigns to Captain Bob Ramsey who will serve as Interim Chief of Police.
Police Chief Rodney Jones has had a ruff couple years with the creation of the Fontana Police Regional Air Support program and the rising costs of providing police services to the city of Fontana. The air support program began with Rialto, Fontana and Colton. After its creation Redlands joined in offering the services of its fixed wing aircraft. Just a few days ago news hit that cash strapped Colton would not be participating in the air support program leaving an estimated $90K that needed to be covered by the three remaining agencies, couple that with the recent tension in city council in regards to the budget and how much of that budget the Police Department used.
In the Press Release Cindy from Fontana said “it sounded like the Chief wasn’t ready to go but it was Ken Hunt’s decision”. She is right many have asked why the Press Release was framed this way? “I fully support and appreciate the decision of the City Manager,” said Chief Jones “The timing is right because there are a number of candidates in the department’s command staff that could take over leadership of this great department.”
Kathy from Fontana said that she sees through the smoke and says “it feels like Chief Jones is being fired but is being given the chance to save face and retire.”
Other sources say that City Manger Hunt was made to look bad by Mayor Warren when she asked City Manager Hunt if he was part of the air support program negotiations. Ken Hunt said that he wasn’t part of the negotiations and Mayor Warren thanked Chief Jones. Days later the Chief is announcing his retirement without city council knowledge. Sources say that this was done because there wasn’t majority approval on the council to fire the current police chief.
Chief Jones accomplishments were listed in the Press Release as:
- $12 million building expansion of the Fontana Police Department
- Implementation of the Fontana Leadership Intervention Program (FLIP) with the Fontana Unified School District
- Implementation of the Fontana Re-entry Support Team (FRST)
- Implementation of the Fontana PD Rapid Response Team (RRT)
- Jointly Implemented the Inland Valley SWAT (IVS) team with Rialto and Colton
- Developed the Fontana PD helicopter program proudly serving Rialto and Redlands
Only time will tell how much of an issue this decision will be for the clearly fractured City Council and how much input City Manager Ken Hunt will have. Lets not forget the portion of the community that wasn’t entirely happy with some of the choices that were made under Chief Jones leadership. This promises to be a wild ride of an appointment.
West Valley Water District Cuts Rates & Approves Rebates
18 Jan 2016 4 Comments
In a post to the Bloomington MAC Facebook Group newly elected Board Member Gregory Young announced that the board had voted to reduce rate payers rates and rebate the money they saw as excessive. Here is his statement:
“I am pleased to introduce my new after meeting report on what actions were taken this evening. I will be doing this for every meeting I am at in the future. The big news from tonight’s meeting is that we voted unanimously to rescind the scheduled rate increases for 2016 and 2017. Having run to repeal these increases, I am so pleased to have fulfilled my promise to you to stop these increases. Additionally, we also voted unanimously to rebate back to you the increases from 2015. A big night for you the ratepayers of the district!”
According to Director Young we found out the following:
“The total amount to be refunded is ruffly $3 million.”
“The rebate will come in the form of a check that should be mailed out sometime after March 1st.”
“The exact amounts will vary as will the exact time people will receive it.”
We also asked about people who payed for water in West Valley Water District in 2015 and have moved if they would see a refund?
“In terms of those who may have moved, staff is working on addressing that situation. Obviously, most people who move don’t tell us where they go so that makes it difficult to provide the rebate to the appropriate party. The public affairs committee will be looking into the whole process in the coming months.”
As we watched the many City of Rialto rebate programs avoid looking to include people who paid and struggled avoid looking to repay everyone it is nice to see West Valley Water working to repay those who may have moved.
Moves like this bring up more questions because of the rules on raising water rates under prop 218. Prop 218 is used as a way to limit rate increases that are not needed to provide utility service. So why were the rate increases approved? Why were the necessary?
According to sources the Water District operates with a $25 million surplus in the bank but really only $15 million cushion for unknown expenses. If we had a major earthquake or if a Natural Gas well started spewing toxic gasses into the air driving people from their homes and businesses waiting on the Federal Government isn’t going to work in the short term. So having a buffer to work from is vital.
Previous board members looked at the Bond Rate Governance and the fact that homes were going empty at alarming rates during the housing crisis they decided that a rate increase was needed to make sure the District could continue to provide water services to its customers. Some on the inside at the time say that previous board members may have gone a little bit overboard but their overall intention was to make sure the Water District remains solvent.
Clearly this is a win for rate payers that paid some of the highest water rates in the area but what is unclear is where this leaves the district with a emergency fund in which to provide for residents water needs in the midst of a crisis.
Don’t forget to sign up for the Rialto PD Officer Memorial 5k/3k Run/Walk
17 Jan 2016 Leave a comment
Political Game Playing Caught On Camera
10 Jan 2016 Leave a comment
So yesterday January 9th 2016 we were covering the SCAG Regional Transportation Q&A hosted by the Mayor and City Council (not one council member was present) at City Hall.
While the story on that is coming we couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to show off how normally the people with all the political power in this city and region act.
The powers that be tell you that they act on your behalf and value your opinion. They also say that as YOUR elected official you should be able to express yourself if you agree or disagree with the current or planned direction of the area in which they govern.
Yet when you step out and oppose their grand ideas they will work to shut you up or shut you down. As can be seen below.
Tressy Capps who is a local political activist who is well versed in the rules of exposing incorrect information that is being given at a public meeting.
But that isn’t good enough for John Longvile who jumps up to shut up the person who doesn’t agree with the given regional plan.
Enjoy the video and we will be sharing more in the coming days.
City of Rialto Shows You How They Plan To Take Away Your Car!!!!!
08 Jan 2016 Leave a comment
The City of Rialto is teaming up with SCAG (Southern California Associated Governments) to show you how they plan to get you out of your cars and remove your freedom.
This Group is run by a former communist from RUSSIA Hasan Ikhrata and as you can see from the photo below he is all about his own version of fair. The force climate change rules on us, force people into electric cars then claim that those electric cars that don’t use fuel are the reason SAN BAG and SCAG are pushing you out of your cars and forcing you to pay twice for freeways with TOLL LANES.
What cracks me up is in the video below Hasan Ikhrata asks a room full of Progressive Hippies who has a Hybrid car and only one person has one and he still trys to use that one person as the main reason that we can’t fund road construction.
The real reason there is no money for roads is that the people YOU elect into office vote to raid the gas tax funds to pay off special interests and line the pockets of them and their friends. Don’t be fooled these people do not care about you all they want is you out of your cars and into crowded homes.
Affordable Housing = Stack and Pack no yard just more small houses
Bike Sharing = No more freedom of choice you use what is available to others
Bike Lanes = Well you must have somewhere to ride that shared bike
Bus Transit = You know those large, smelly things that hold all the people you try to avoid? Yeah they want you in one of those.
Freeway Improvements = Toll Lanes so you can pay twice for smaller lanes and no more shoulders
Replacement Bridges = A great way to spend millions for those people that worked to get you elected the special interests
We asked SANBAG when we would begin to see any advertisments about the public comment session since it was supposed to begin in December and this was their message to us:
Hello thank you for your message. As we shared with you and the other Community Advisory Group members on December 17, 2015, the I-10 Draft Environmental Document, which was originally scheduled to circulate this month is now planned for circulation in February/March 2016. This additional time is needed as the Environmental Protection Agency has a new air quality modeling requirement and we are in the process of running new models to comply. We are looking to provide additional updates on timing of the circulation as we continue to make progress on the modeling. Once a firm date is identified for the start of the circulation period, there will be a full public outreach push to meet and exceed notification requirements for the public review and comment period of the Draft Environmental Document. Please stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks. Thank you.
So are they looking to go all the way to March or is this failed attempt at “informing” the public going to come at an abrupt end soon?
Please make time to come down to city hall this weekend and make your opinion heard.
Register Today for the Rialto Police Memorial 5K/3K Run & Save Money
31 Dec 2015 Leave a comment
in Andy Carrizales, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Ca, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Colton, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Flores Park Neighborhood Watch, Fontana, Freinds of Rialto K9, Friends of Rialto K9, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, San Bernardino, SCAT, Shawn O'Connell, SWAT, Tony Farrar, youth
Sign up before January 1st and register for only $35 (plus racewire fee). After January 1st the cost goes up to $40 (plus racewire fee).
Rialto Police Officer Remembrance Day The City of Rialto has declared that January 31st of each year will be “Rialto Police Officer Remembrance Day” to honor those Rialto Police Officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Members of the Rialto Police Department and the Rialto Police Benefit Association are working toward building a permanent memorial to these officers.
On January 30, 2016, we are holding our second annual Memorial 5K & 3K Run/Walk Fundraiser. The monies from this run will help fund the memorial and future Remembrance Day events. Join us on Saturday, January 30, 2016 to partake in this wonderful event. An awards ceremony and festivities will take place after the race.
Location: Ferguson Park, 2395 Sunrise Drive, Rialto, CA Sign-up begins at 6:30 a.m. Race starts at 8:00 a.m. Follow the link to register.
RaceWire Timing has graciously provided Chip-Timed Technology for our event. All paid participants will receive a Finisher Medal and a “Swag Bag.” Medals will be given to Top-Three Finishing Males and Top-Three Finishing Females in the following divisions: Ages 14 & Under, Ages 15 through 54, and Ages 55 and Over. Trophies will be given to the Top-Three Finishing Teams.
If you are unable to run/walk or form a a team for the run/walk, please consider making a donation to help sponsor a participant and/or a team.
Young Rialto Resident Shows The True Spirit Of Christmas
26 Dec 2015 4 Comments
Tyler and his family as they drop off the boxes of toys at the Rialto Fire Station
Via the Rialto Fire Department Facebook Page we came across a young man who took his own time to plan a party that not only showed that he understands the meaning of Christmas but he took the time to share this with his classmates as well.
Tyler Nguyen is a 4th grader at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto. He comes from family who does volunteer work locally and in Downtown LA’s Skid Row district. His Christmas party was a toy drive also to benefit SoCal Firefighters’ Spark of Love. Tyler’s Mother coordinated with Rialto Fire to have Tyler visit the station and collect a box for his drive. Instead of getting presents for himself, all guests brought toys and sports equipment for undeserved kids for the holiday. Tyler and his friends enjoyed holiday crafts and home-cooked Vietnamese food. He helped with decorating, cooking, and entertaining his guests. With the generosity of family and friends, Tyler was able to collect 3 boxes full of toys. This was his first community service project and his family were very proud of him. On Monday, after his party, Tyler, his mom, and grandma went to deliver the toys to the fire department. The goal was to introduce Tyler to serving others and we brainstormed to find a creative way. This was also a great way for Tyler’s friends to get involved. Tyler and his family plan to continue this new tradition because they received great support from friends and family.
Tyler is just one of the many young people that are part of our community. This young man and his family are part of what makes Rialto great. It is people like these that show us what is of value and proves it is up to us the people in the community to support our fellow man.
rialtonow 