Rafael Trujillo Exits Stage Left But May Be Waiting In The Wings

Rafael Trujillo is a name you may know but may not be able to remember where from. Prior to September his greatest claim to fame would be a former aide to numerous State and Federal elected officials and a member of the Rialto Parks and Recreation Committee. He has tried to run for every local office that is available to him and has always fallen short. He has even used political favors to try and get appointed to Rialto City Council but not even that worked.

It wasn’t until a seat came open on the West Valley Water Board that Rafael found his way in. This September Rafael was appointed as a Director of the water board. He still had to cross a hurdle that he has yet to successfully win an election where the people had to choose him. He failed to win one of three seats on the water board even though he worked hard to tarnish the reputation of the only incumbent seeking re-election Alan Dyer.

At the November 5th meeting Rafael hinted at the future for him even though he had already lost the election? What pray tell can be his future when he lost the election?

On top of all this Rafael was given a glowing recommendation of his time on the board three whole months. Below is Rafael’s speech after he was given his Resolution for his three months as a water board director.

Here are our problems with this:

  • Two board members left with this election Betty Gosney and Rafael Trujillo. The resolutions were done on different meetings Mrs. Gosney the outgoing President and 13 year veteran did not get her resolution and was called a racist. Rafael Trujillo revived his with a unanimous vote for only three months of service.
  • When President Clifford Young gave Rafael Trujillo his award Mr. Young gave Rafael time to speak yet he didn’t limit him to the same three minutes that he limited all other speakers to.
  • Rafael refers to issues he was passionate about but fails to remember his passionate issues when accepting his public resolution.
  • The West Valley Water Board continues its witch hunt on Mr. Dyer and if they find enough dirt to remove him from his seat you can guarantee that Rafael will be there waiting in the wings.
  • Are there people on the board feeding Rafael information from closed session meetings? Everything having to do with the Boards illegal informant is done in closed session and Rafael seems to be well versed in what has been going on.

We write all of this not because we dislike Mr. Trujillo or to cause him grief we simply want to get our elected officials to work on the peoples behalf not their own.

West Valley Water Board Directors Not Prepared At Regularly Scheduled Meeting

On November 5th 2015 the West Valley Water Board held their regular meeting with their new 6pm. Even though the meeting time had changed the way the board acts towards vendors, staff, media and rate payers has not changed. Our staff was not in attendance mostly due to schedule conflicts and partly was we didn’t want to poke the tiger too much. The meeting from what we heard was well attended when compared to past meetings yet Vice President Young and Director Gonzales were upset to the point of bringing it up multiple times that we were not in attendance. The early part of the meeting things seemed a little tense.

Board Vice President Young, Gonzales & Trujillo were not prepared for this meeting. Time and time again they were asking to have business items tabled many into the last meeting of 2015 which was six weeks from the date of the last meeting of the 2015 year. At one point Board Director Linda Gonzales states that she works 8-5 and doesn’t have time to look over her board packet material?????? When did it become the rate payers responsibility to make sure you had enough time to do your job? Why did you run for a Civil Service position if your not prepared to put in the work? Director Gonzales didn’t have time to read her board packet but she had time to hobnob with various elected officials and complain about her dislike of the food they provided her.

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Join Paul Chabot for Coffee & Conversation November 19th

Join Paul Chabot for Coffee & Conversation November 19th

Second was they spend so much time fighting former General Managers and politicking from the dais that they are not paying bills in a timely fashion leaving space and bills unpaid which is beyond unfair. If you have a dispute over the costs have the client come to a meeting and ask your questions and them come to a majority consensus and pay what the vendor has coming to them. Vivian Moreno a Riverside Based activist asks the board why they act like the West Valley Water District doesn’t know what they are paying. Both President Gosney and General Manager spoke up after Mrs. Moreno asked them why they didn’t know what they were paying. President Gosney said that each bill came with a list of items for which the total bill represented.

The boards lack of direction and the constant fighting with vendors and ratepayers seems to be blowing up in their faces. It has already cost ratepayers a board director as President Gosney decided not to seek another term as a water board director. Vice President Young has asked that the 15 percent rate increases that are scheduled to be on the next two years be added to the last meeting of 2015.

Stay tuned for more on this as the saga seems far from over………………..

 

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Coffee with Congressional Candidate Paul Chabot

College and Career Fair will be held at the Rialto Community Center

The City of Rialto and the Rialto Unified School District, College and Career Fair will be held at the Rialto Community Center. This event takes place Saturday, November 14 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. For more information, please contact us at (909) 820-2540.City of Rialto Rialto Unified School District

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Rialto Police Department Experiences Highs and Lows This Week

Photo that rialto Police Placed on their Facebook Page to announce the passing of K9 from Rialto PD

Photo that rialto Police Placed on their Facebook Page to announce the passing of K9 from Rialto PD

With K9 programs that offer Canine Officers that are skilled in tracking and stopping dangerous criminals as well as locating drugs and firearms on a downward trend in the Inland Empire it is vital that the agencies that still use this very successful program be given kudos for the work they do. If the City of Rialto would have outsourced police operations to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department all those years ago Rialto would not have a lot of what we now have but most notably for this story there would not be a K9 program. The sheriff’s department disbanded their K9 program except for bloodhounds that work search and rescue which is a great service but when your looking for an armed suspect nothing compares to a German Shepard or Belgian Malanois that has pure speed and strength to subdue the ugliest of bad guys. These dogs also provide a great benefit of locating drugs and weapons from bad guys. The last time we spoke to Officer Anderson he told us that the K9 officers in Rialto get called all over Southern California to assist other agencies when a K9 Dog is required and what is cool about that is Rialto gets to bill that agency for the cost of sending that officer to the given call.

iecn photo/yazmin alvarez Rialto Police Departments Glen Anderson watches on as his K-9, Gilley, enjoys taking a bite out of Redlands Police Chief Mark Garcia during a fundraiser Aug. 30.

iecn photo/yazmin alvarez Rialto Police Departments Glen Anderson watches on as his K-9, Gilley, enjoys taking a bite out of Redlands Police Chief Mark Garcia during a fundraiser Aug. 30.

All of the K9 Police Handlers are great guys but Officer Anderson stood out to me as one of those special Officers that was a great representation of the K9 program and the Department as a whole. So when I opened up my Facebook and saw the message below I was sad to see the passing of a great Canine member of Rialto Police Department:

Today, as a Department and as a community we mourn the loss of our K-9, Gilley. Gilley was a Belgian Malanois who served along side his partner and best friend, Officer Glen Anderson, together they kept the citizens of Rialto safe. Gilley served our community, and all of his law enforcement partners for eight outstanding years. Gilley served as a Patrol, Narcotics and SWAT Canine. His impressive eight year stats are as follows: Gilley located and recovered over 108 pounds of methamphetamine, 380 pounds of marijuana, 131 pounds of cocaine, 51 pounds of heroin and seized over $2 million dollars in cash. Additionally, Gilley saved the department countless man hours during searches for suspects and evidence. Gilley will truly be missed by us all.

**** Update ****

K9 Gilley was injured during a swat operation and when he was taken to the vet it was found that Gilley had a tumor on his heart which was causing fluid to collect around his organs which led to his death according to Captain Randy Deanda at the November 10th city council meeting.

**** Update *****

iecn photo/yazmin alvarez Chewy, Rialto Police Departments Narcotics Unit K-9, enjoys a few belly rubs from children.

iecn photo/yazmin alvarez
Chewy, Rialto Police Departments Narcotics Unit K-9, enjoys a few belly rubs from children.

Last time we talked to Officer Anderson he told us that Gilley was on the older side of life and that his work days were almost to an end. So even though we knew he wouldn’t be here forever it makes us sad to see the time come at all. We will truly miss Gilley but now its time to help the foundation that makes our K9 program possible The Friend’s of Rialto K9 is a foundation that makes Rialto’s K9 program and you can help by donating to help because this will be the second dog they would had to have replaced in the last 12 months.

On a positive note our most recent K9 Officer/Canine team that have just been together as of July of 2015 won a 2nd place award at this last weekends K9 event hosted by Riverside Sheriffs department. Dane Stordahl & K9 Bunker were awarded 2nd place award for ‘article search’ during Saturday’s (11/07/15) Riverside Sheriffs K9 trial. In a statement released by Councilman Shawn O’Connell he gave praise to the Officer/K9 team:

It is amazing when you consider 61 dogs participated and you’ve only been partnered with Bunker since July 2015. On behalf of the City of Rialto, I appreciate the hard work and dedication you have shown this department and our city. The Rialto Police Department family should be very proud.

San Bernardino Police Fail To Pursue Violent Animal Abuser Caught On Video

WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO

A male and female subject were seen on Surveillance Video arguing on October 12th at about 12:40 pm then the male took his anger out on an innocent victim a small dog on a leash he was walking. Below is the statement we were given by the main witness on the incident:

“So our office is on 9th and Preston in San Bernardino across from the recycling center, we always get homeless people and what not roaming around and arguing. Yesterday there was a guy screaming outside our door. As we looked at the window my employees and I watched this guy take the leash of the dog bundle it up and swing the dog in the air and slam it against the fence. We all ran outside and one of my guys chased the guy down the street but couldn’t catch him. The lady was in tears and very upset with what happened. We took the lady to her grandmothers house on Golden ave and 27th. I called SBPD to report animal cruelty and they tried to come up with every excuse why they couldn’t come out until I kept telling them I have it on video I know where the woman is. I told the dispatcher I can get one of their I.D.’s from the recycling center they just came from. So all she could say was OK. Well will get someone out as soon as possible but nobody ever arrived! Then the dispatcher calls after 11pm at night asking if we still need their assistance!”

According to the witness the whole thing started because the female apparently caught her boyfriend looking at another girl and when he was confronted this was his reaction. We asked the witness if this was the normal response of San Bernardino Police she said:

“Yes any time you call them they NEVER show up. That intersection is infamous for car accident, they refuse to come out unless someone is seriously injured.”

So it appears that San Bernardino Police failed to see what everyone else has seen:

  1. This male has some serious anger issues.
  2. No matter how mad you get abusing an animal is not OK.
  3. That there may be a larger issue with Animal Abuse going without proper investigation.
  4. That evil is thriving in San Bernardino because everyone is more worried about paying special vendors than dealing with the issues at hand.

With the election of School Board Members and City Council Members coming up in a few weeks it is vital to make sure people that have the communities best interest in mind are placed in the seats that make final decisions. Now you may be asking why are we writing about this on Rialto Now? Well San Bernardino is our next door neighbor and if you think that the bad guys will be comfortable just tearing apart San Bernardino you are sadly mistaken.

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Talk Like a Pirate to Get Free Stuff

Arrrr! There’s treasure to be found at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts this Saturday! Any swashbuckler who dares enter a Krispy Kreme® shop and talk like a pirate will receive a free Original Glazed® doughnut, while those who don pirate garb will score one dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for free. Offer good at participating US locations on International Talk Like a Pirate Day on Saturday, Sept. 19, with some shops doling out the treasure beginning at midnight.

The closest Krispy Kreme to Rialto is in Ontario at Ontario Mills Mall open 6am to 11pm

“International Talk Like a Pirate Day has become one of the biggest days of the year at Krispy Kreme,” said Dwayne Chambers, Chief Marketing Officer. “It’s a fun and unique way for us to share the joy of Krispy Kreme, which of course includes free Original Glazed doughnuts for all the buccaneers out there.”

Here’s how to claim your treasure:

  • Come in to a participating Krispy Kreme shop and Talk like a pirate for one free Original Glazed doughnut.
  • Come in to a participating Krispy Kreme location in full pirate costume for one free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts. Qualifying pirate costumes must include three or more of the following items: NO WEAPONS ALLOWED!
    • Eye patch
    • Pirate hat
    • Bandana
    • Peg leg
    • Parrot on shoulder
    • Pirate shirt/loose white shirt
    • knickers
    • leather belt
    • Silver and gold necklaces and earrings
    • Pirate hook
    • Pointy black boots or ragged brown sandals

More pirate fun can be found on Krispy Kreme’s mobile website, the ArrPhone at www.krispykreme.com/arrphone, which provides everything needed for the big day. The site includes virtual accessories such as an authentic pirate tattoo that can be had at the click of a button, a pirate crew call that sends a call-to-arms, and a fun pirate name generator.

There’s more bounty to be had too. Krispy Kreme’s popular hand-decorated Kreme Filled Pirate doughnut is available for only $1.29 each. The entire crew also can throw-back a pirate-sized 24 ounce fountain drink in a specially designed reusable pirate cup for only $1.99. And, swashbucklers can bring the pirate action home with a limited-edition Talk Like a Pirate ceramic mug for only $6.99.

Visit www.KrispyKreme.com for more details.

About Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is a global retailer of premium-quality sweet treats, including its signature Original Glazed® doughnut. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Company has offered the highest-quality doughnuts and great-tasting coffee since it was founded in 1937. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is proud of its Fundraising program, which for decades has helped non-profit organizations raise millions of dollars in needed funds. The Company has more than 1,000 retail shops in 24 countries. Connect with all things Krispy Kreme® at www.KrispyKreme.com, or on one its many social media channels, including www.Facebook.com/KrispyKreme, and www.Twitter.com/KrispyKreme.

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What do you think about San Bernardino & their progress out of Bankruptcy?

On Friday Cassie Mac Duff a reporter for the Press Enterprise penned an article on the apparent signs of San Bernardino on a upward rebound. A lot was talked about in the article but a lot was conveniently left out or avoided. In Cassie Mac Duff’s defense interviewing elected officials is beyond difficult because many of them are very corrupt and want to control the article or go off the record every 10 seconds. So if you want to get statements from them that they wont deny later you must play but a bad set of rules. My biggest beef with this article is the Liberal way the writer and Mayor of San Bernardino talk about economic progress.

Here is what they call progress:

  • New Superior Court high-rise
  • Transit Center and
  • New health clinic nearing completion.

Two of these things are government buildings built with TAX DOLLARS not hubs for economic growth. The New Health Clinic is an extension of Loma Linda University health and if we don’t keep pumping Billions of TAX DOLLARS into peoples pockets this massive clinic will be nothing more than an empty building.

Probably the only thing I agree with in this article is the cities creation of a monthly Food Truck Festival and the city staffer that is responsible for spearheading this effort is Brenda Leggitt and her team. They listen to the public and do their best to bring the best trucks to the city of San Bernardino.

Here is info from the Press Enterprise article on the food truck event:

“The food truck craze has also hit San Bernardino. The third Thursday of each month, the City Hall parking lot is roped off for a Food Fest, with food trucks and live bands. Even with the summer heat, the event attracts 2,500 to 2,600 people, not just office workers from the surrounding government buildings, but families now, Mayor Carey Davis told me on Friday. The monthly event has grown from five trucks to nine, Davis said, featuring gourmet grilled cheese, chicken and waffles, barbecue, salads and, of course, cupcakes. I stopped by last month and saw people lined up at every truck.”

I guess Mayor Davis believes that people who rife the bus and can’t afford cars can afford to eat out all the time because they left some land vacant for lunch spots and retail development. In that area you have the Old Carousel Mall & adjoining smaller retail pads that are vacant ghost towns and the Inland Center Mall just south of there that still has issues securing retail tenants.

 

“Omnitrans, the bus agency, left two acres vacant next to the transit center for commercial development such as lunch spots and retail shops. Those are needed. Downtown San Bernardino doesn’t have a lot of options apart from a McDonald’s, a Starbucks and a HoneyBaked Ham (which makes a terrific ham-and-cheese, by the way).”

So the newspaper article and Mayor Davis want you to believe that the area around the transit center is void of food options. So I guess the Mayor forgot about the Taco Bell, Del Taco, Chinese Food Resturant & of course the In & Out that was moved up the street to make room for the 215 freeway extension? In & Out should be irate that they were left out of consideration given how popular they are. This area is full of homeless people, homeless people don’t shop for food they beg for it so who is going to patronize these businesses?

 

What is a major part of San Bernardino’s demise is the rampant crime and drug use that thrives within the city. Three to four times a week someone is violently attacked, San Bernardino’s lax stance on Marijuana has allowed other drugs to come back into popularity including Meth and San Bernardino is the go to place for harmful toxic drug fests with no regard to the public safety. Also it looks like San Bernardino opened up a Airport to never fly planes out of it. Look below the Mayor touts an aircraft dismantler as a sign of progress San Bernardino International Airport. I don’t know about you but my idea of progress and a International Airport is I don’t know maybe Commercial Flights?

“He also told me there’s also a new business at San Bernardino International Airport (the former Norton Air Force Base), an aircraft dismantler. The airport will host an air show Oct. 17, Davis said. I’m glad San Bernardino’s bankruptcy (declared in 2012 and still pending in court) didn’t bring everything to a screeching halt in the city. That’s not to say everything is peachy, either. The city is embroiled in a dispute with its auditors over delays completing crucial reviews. The firm blames the city manager’s office; the city manager’s office blames the auditors. The City Council is considering a lawsuit.”

The last paragraph above eludes to more issues with getting a plan to remove themselves from Bankruptcy. What is funny is the reason they are in this position is because of the mismanagement of funds and constant fighting among those in city hall. This November there is a lot of chances for change and its up to residents to step up and as Joe Britt used to say on his Radio Show “Use the mighty power of the pen”.

http://www.pe.com/articles/city-779969-san-bernardino.html

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Statewide Coalitions Call Foul On The Assembly & Senate Pushing In Last Minute Marijuana Legislation

Screenshot_2015-09-11-09-47-31-1

So while you were looking at Gas Taxes the Governor, Senate & Assembly were working a back door deal to push further Marijuana legalization in a last minute vote on the last day of the legislative session. this effort comes on the heels of the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s report showing a rise in Marijuana use in teens 12-25 years of age. National Data showed the following:

“Overall, the use of illicit drugs – including marijuana – among Americans aged 12 and older increased from 9.4 percent in 2013 to 10.2 percent in 2014. This was driven particularly by the increase in adult marijuana use.

So why would the State Legislative Body push last minute regulations when this evidence shows that young people are suffering at the hands of lies from Big Marijuana and the Pro Drug Legalization Movement? The bills in question are SB 643 & AB 266 both had last minute deals struck to change the wording and regulations of both bills to better suit Big Marijuana yet as of 10am this morning the language has yet to be updated according to Scott Chipman the Southern California Chair of CALMca (Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana).

David Phillips the Executive Director of Inland Valley Drug Free Coalition said that one of the bills sponsors Assemblyman Tom Lackey’s office said Friday that the text would be updated by noon Friday for public review. Mr. Phillips has heard about the changes and isn’t buying it. Mr. Phillips said “One of the biggest issues is the lack of criminal penalties if the new Law isn’t obeyed. Without criminal penalties this effort only further hurts today’s youth and our communities. Even doctors and pharmacy’s can face jail & or prison time for not following regular drug laws and policies what makes Big Marijuana any different.”  Mr. Phillips is referring to the shops that are shutdown then reopened days later. Drug dealers don’t care about business licenses or monetary fines and or penalties the profit for selling Marijuana makes it worth it. You have seen it in the Southern California media LA, Costa Mesa, San Diego & San Bernardino are just a few of the cites that have been dealing with the revolving door of Marijuana Drug stores.

Now is the time to once again lean on our elected official’s to speak for children and communities rather than Big Marijuana & Drug Dealers. Call your elected official’s and tell them to vote no one bills SB 643 * AB 266

Assembly Member Tom Lackey 916-319-2036

Assembly Member Cheryl Brown 916-319-2047

Assembly Member Catharine Baker 916-319-2016

Assembly Member Autumn Burke 916-319-2062

Assembly Member Ian Calderon 916-319-2057

Assembly Member Chris Holden 916-319-2041

Assembly Member Eric Linder 916-319-2060

Assembly Member Jose Medina 916-319-2061

Assembly Member Jay Olbernote 916-319-2033

Assembly Member Marc Stienorth 916-319-2040

Find your Assembly Member here

DATE:         September 11, 2015

 

Contact:      Southern California, Scott Chipman                619 990 7480      scott@chipman.info

                        Northern California, Carla Lowe                       916 708 4111      carladlowe@aol.com
After nearly 20 years, at the last minute of the last day of the legislative session, Californians will see the “deal” lawmakers have made regarding regulation of the multibillion dollar “medi pot” industry. The obvious reason this regulation is difficult is because THERE SHOULD NOT BE a “medical” marijuana industry.

In 1996 Prop 215 voters did not vote for a big marijuana industry. They didn’t vote for drug dealers operating behind glass doors in local business districts. They did not vote for hash oil labs or the hash oil laced candies, cookies and sodas that provide dangerously high levels of THC. They did not vote for drug culture advertising to youth and young adults.

The fact that California is now the largest supplier of marijuana to the rest of the country is tribute to a legislature that has been unwilling to address the reality that “medical marijuana” is a rues in support of just plain drug trafficking and dealing. With the “Emerald Triangle” providing 60% of all the marijuana in the country we now are the drug cartel for the US.

Through inaction and tacit and institutional approval, elected local, federal and state officials have created a huge illicit drug industry, drug addicted population, and drug harmed society. Now the answer to the public health and safety hemorrhage created by government is a government band aid?

What is needed would be to get back to what the voters approved in Prop 215 only. If a band aid is all that can be applied then a proper band aid would at least include:

  1. Local control maintained – of course! This has already been upheld by the CA Supreme Court. It is not a real concession to allow local control to continue. It must be considered a given.
  2. Raise age of use/purchase to 21! – The science would argue for 25 when the brain is fully developed! How can there be a big concern about under 21 tobacco smoking and not marijuana smoking? More kids and college students are smoking pot than cigarettes.
  3. If this is “medicine” treat it like medicine – use the CURES system like every other pharmaceutical This would include limiting the THC level to the levels of FDA approved cannabis based drugs such as Dronabinol (marinol).
  4. Limit the number of recommendations a doctor can make for marijuana and a proven connection between the ailment and the marijuana being recommended. Require a second opinion from a specialist in that medical area.
  5. Eliminate advertizing especially to youth, including product placement in print and onscreen use in film and television. NO PORN STAR SPOKESPEOPLE PLEASE!
  6. Eliminate packaging mimicking well known products like candies/cookies/sodas and other well known edible products.
  7. Require full compliance with the Sherman Food and Cosmetic Act. All other industries must, so why not the pot industry?
  8. Include tracking from seed to sale. Where is it coming from and where is it going? Every “patient” must be registered and have purchase records kept. That is a pharmaceutical industry standard.
  9. Eliminate all private grows and sales. These are just drug dealers operating for a profit. Establish state run grows and distribution in each county. At least require full non-profit status. Anything less is drug dealing pure and simple.
  10. Enforcement must be real and not left up to localities. The feds have said they won’t interfere in a state that has strong effective pot regulations. Well, if state regulations are not being followed the state should ask for federal enforcement help. This would be real enforcement with real consequences. The state ABC is an example of an agency with almost no enforcement (or investigations). We have no confidence that local enforcement will materialize.
  11. Eliminate illicit deliveries that don’t come from a properly regulated (all of the above) establishment. Call for federal enforcement against unregulated delivery services.
  12. Eliminate the sale of hash oil products – BHO explosions are epidemic now. Where does the BHO come from? Illegal labs of course. And nearly 50% of sales are high strength BHO infused products
  13. Create a drugged driving test and track and publish the negative impacts such as child fatalities related to marijuana (Arizona does it) and fatality crashes where marijuana is involved, and arrest percentage numbers of those testing positive for marijuana. Don’t allow permits until these tests and tracking procedures are in place and functioning.
  14. Establish an education system for parents, kids and teens on the science behind the harms of marijuana. (This could be dangerous as the PC anti drug war crowd would likely be assigned by Gavin Newsom to create and control the curriculum.)

Does this sound like a lot of regulation? Yes it is and yes it all should be done. There is nothing required above that is not already in place for other industries that have the potential to negatively impact public health and safety. If the goal is to protect health and safety there can be no half measures.

Some will say, “Finally, we got something!” But what we will likely have is another institutionalization of a drug dealing “big marijuana” industry. Some will say, “We have to do this to protect against the potential of legalization in 2016.” This band aid is a great argument for why, from now to November 8th, 2016, the voters of California should speak out in opposition and then vote against the further institutionalization and legalization of marijuana.

Adult Marijuana Use Attributed To A Rise In Youth Use

Michael_Botticelli

Below is a message from the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy to local prevention providers. This data and reports further confirm what prevention providers have been warning ever since the lie of Medical Marijuana began to take shape youth use is on the way up. One area where prevention providers have been looking to get to is kids in Elementary and they have been getting resistance due to the thought that these kids are to young to be involved in drug use. This study show a major increase in drug use among youth 12 and older meaning kids in 6th grade are being introduced to drugs.

Another thing that the data shows is a driving force behind an increase in youth use is the widespread use in adults. This matches what the Rialto Community Coalition found in February during their Strategic Planning Session was that one of the biggest reasons youth use drugs especially Marijuana is because  of the lax attitude from adults. The investigative reports from David Goldstein on medical marijuana dispensary’s acting as a hub to get Marijuana to youth should be an eye opening period for parents.

We need to support local organizations that are taking this issue seriously and local candidates that value youth health over money from the Pro Drug Legalization Lobby. On of these organizations is the Rialto Community Coalition that meets the first Tuesday of the month from 6-7:30pm at Fire Station 202 at 1700 North Riverside Ave. Another group working locally and more regionally is Inland Empire Youth 4 Today a local network of prevention providers and business owners looking for innovative ways to engage and grow tomorrows leaders.

Today, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) released the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) report which shows progress in reducing some forms of substance use – especially among adolescents.  Substance use levels in many areas, however have remained relatively constant.

SAMHSA issued the 2014 NSDUH report on mental and substance use disorders as part of the kick off for the 26th annual observance of National Recovery Month.  Recovery Month broadens public awareness to the fact that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment for substance use and mental disorders is effective, and people can and do recover from these disorders.

With regard to substance use, the report found some areas of progress, particularly among adolescents.  For example, the percentage of adolescents aged 12 to 17 who were current (past month) tobacco users declined by roughly half from 15.2 percent in 2002 to 7.0 percent in 2014. Similarly, the level of adolescents engaged in past month illegal alcohol use dropped from 17.6 percent to 11.5 percent over the same period.  The level of current nonmedical users of prescription pain relievers decreased from 3.2 percent in 2002 to 1.9 percent in 2014 among adolescents aged 12 to 17.

Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug. In 2014, roughly 8.4 percent of Americans age 12 and older were current users of marijuana – up from 7.5 percent in 2013. Marijuana use is especially growing among those aged 26 and older – from 5.6 percent in 2013 to 6.6 percent in 2014.  The percentage of adolescents who were current marijuana users in 2014 (7.4 percent) was similar to recent years.

Although the survey shows nonmedical pain reliever use continues to be the second most common type of illicit drug use, the percentage of people aged 12 or older in 2014 who were current nonmedical users of pain relievers (1.6 percent) was lower than in most years since 2002, and about the same as in 2013.  However, current heroin use increased from 0.1 percent of the population age 12 and older in 2013 to 0.2 in 2014.

Overall, the use of illicit drugs – including marijuana – among Americans aged 12 and older increased from 9.4 percent in 2013 to 10.2 percent in 2014. This was driven particularly by the increase in adult marijuana use.

The data released today show some signs of progress, including lower levels of nonmedical prescription drug use and teen alcohol and tobacco use; however, we still have significant challenges to address.  We know that evidence-based prevention efforts are the most effective way to reduce drug use and to support the roughly 90 percent of American youth who do not use illicit drugs.

This Administration will continue to expand community-based efforts to prevent drug use, pursue ‘smart on crime’ approaches to drug enforcement, increase access to treatment, work to reduce overdose deaths, and support the millions of Americans in recovery.

Sincerely,

Michael P. Botticelli, Director
Office of National Drug Control Policy

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