Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown | rialtonow

Adult Marijuana Use Attributed To A Rise In Youth Use

11 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Barbara A. McGee, Ca, City of Rialto, Colton, Community Coalition, Congressman Pete Aguilar, Crime, David Goldstein, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Edgar Montes, Edward J. Carrillo, Flores Park, Flores Park Neighborhood Watch, Fontana, Grand Terrace, hardy brown II, Henry Nickel, Inland Empire, James Ramos, Janice Rutherford, Joe Baca Jr, Josef (Joe) Britt, joseph williams, Josie Gonzales, Marijuana, Medical Marijuana, Public Safety, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands PD, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Parks, Rialto Police Department, San Bernardino, San Bernardino Police, SCAT, Shawn O'Connell, SWAT, The Fellas, youth

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

Rialto Police Department Raids Fontana NOS Shop

04 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

When you hear the word NOS what comes to mind? For most of you it probably is the illegal street racing scene or even the Fast & Furious movie series. NOS is a pressurized non flammable gas that is used to inject a high amount of oxygen into a vehicle to increase speed it is commonly referred to as the poor mans turbo. The word NOS has much more dire meanings to some local folks than a movie or an illegal activity.

NOS has medical applications as stated below:

Mixed with oxygen and used for medical purposes (using tanks and cylinders) nitrous oxide is seen as a safe product to use.

What has parents, doctors and Public Safety official’s concerned in the recreational use of this harmful chemical is the effects it can have on a persons body when used without medical approval and monitoring. The risks are below:

Short term risks can include brain damage, asphyxiation, tissue damage, lung damage, hearing loss, choking and accidents.

Long term risks may include addiction and dependency, spinal chord damage, vitamin B12/folic acid depletion, decreased fertility, decreased immunity to infections, bone marrow damage, and emotional and mental health problems.

Youth abuse this as a drug by filling balloons from pressurized canisters and inhale the substance. It has a growing popularity within the house party element and is hard for Law Enforcement to detect because it doesn’t leave a smoke or other distinct way to detect the drug use. Also training on this drug is just hitting the law enforcement main stream and with cameras and other technology needs taking center stage not many agencies have tasked officer to receive this training.

This tragedy has hit Rialto & the Inland Empire when Councilman Ed Scott’s son fell victim the consequences of this drug when the car he was ridding in was involved in a crash where the driver was found to be under the influence of the NOS chemical.

The main problem is news agencies have been stonewalled but several agencies have now agreed to provide records so we should see more data start to come in. Areas where use is concentrated is areas where teens normally gather and being in a vehicle isn’t suspicious. Some local areas where this NOS use has been seen is Inland Center Mall parking lot, Orange Show Events Center, Ontario Mills & local parks and house parties. Jerry Eaves Park on Ayala Ave in Rialto has been a hot bed of suspicious use and apparent NOS use as in random parking stalls you will find used balloons making you wonder if a random party took place there.

Anthony Ybarra from Inland Empire Youth 4 Today said “Youth are not being taught what this stuff is doing to your body and the risks involved” “Plus more and more adults in youth’s lives are too busy leaving the door open for negative people to get a young persons life and lead them down the wrong road” to reach them click here

http://abc7.com/news/fontana-auto-repair-shop-raided-for-selling-nitrous-oxide-to-minors/961638/

http://www.fade.org.nz/alcohol-and-drug-info/nos/

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nitrous-505478-oxide-police.html

http://www.examiner.com/article/man-sentenced-death-of-councilman-s-son

Video by rialto-now

Rialto Mayor Hands Off 1st Place Trophy For Chili Cook off Winners

03 Sep 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Barbara A. McGee, Ca, Cancer, Chief Mat Fratus, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Crime, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Inland Empire, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department, SCAT

The Battle of the Badges Chili Cook Off is an event that brings out our local public safety officers to show off their best cooking skills and compete for the title of best in Chili.

Well over the last few years Rialto Police have taken top honors at the yearly cook off held at National Night Out each year. Well this year the tables began to turn as there was a three way tie for 1st place one from the Rialto Police Department and two from Rialto Fire Department. Then Rialto Police took the second and third place spots.

The Battle of the Badges benefits the American Cancer Society with votes costing $3 each. This is one of the biggest parts of National Night Out which is the event that the Chili Cook Off has been a part of for the last five years. The chili is hot but the competition is hotter with both public safety agencies bringing their “A” game to represent for their agency.

When Mayor Robertson announced the first place trophy to the winners talk of where the trophy would reside showed the serious humor and competition that remains within this event. Councilman Palmer said “I voted for a number and so did City Treasurer Ed Carrillo makes sense that chili was made by a fellow Marine”

1st place winners were Cory Jung (fire) David Toupel (fire) and Andy Karol (police)

2nd place winner was Paul Stella (police)

3rd place winner was Bill Wilson (police)

What happens when the “I Love San Bernardino” radio show leaves San Bernardino residents out of the conversation

31 Aug 2015 Leave a comment

So if your not aware you must not of been around the blog this week but there is a radio program on Sundays at 4pm called “I Love San Bernardino” on KCAA AM 1050. Well apparently if you call you will not get through if you live in San Bernardino. On the show on the August 23rd show Host Robert Porter had Congressional candidate for the 31st district Paul Chabot on as his guest. As someone who has worked with Paul & someone Robert Porter asked to come on the show this week I asked if I could Call in. As someone who works in drug prevention I knew Mr. Porter was going to ask Mr. Chabot at least one question in regards to Marijuana. Mr. Porter does this on his show by inviting in a person named Elmo Green Meds who has given himself the label of the “POT AMBASSADOR” for the city of San Bernardino. Well Mr. Porter told me Marijuana would not be one of the questions and that Mr. Chabot did not have time for any callers.

So I informed Mr. Chabot of what I thought was a lie and watched and waited………..

Low and behold Mr. Porter did ask a Marijuana question and he did usher Elmo Green Meds into the studio to talk Marijuana. When I saw this on the online stream I called in and got through. Now I was a little bit behind the conversation because the U Stream Feed was a few minutes behind the radio feed. I was able to call in and call Mr. Porter out for lying about content and the ability to take calls. What I found interesting was many people from the I Love San Bernardino Facebook Group wanted to call in and were not allowed through.

Now I don’t live in San Bernardino and the only reason were writing about this is:

Every time we write a story along these lines the readers flock to the site.
If San Bernardino doesn’t enforce their ordnance their drug problem will become ours.
Even though the people that tried to call in all dislike me I don’t think its right for me to get through but not them.

So as we say on issues like this To Be Continued………

Video by rialto-now

Local Marijuana Proponent Lies About Facts From San Bernardino Pot Shop Raid

20 Aug 2015 1 Comment

It is not new news to talk about the downward spiral of the city of San Bernardino. What is scary is once the flood waters of filth and evil spill over the boarders of the bankrupt city will Rialto be affected by the overflow?

On Friday August 14th San Bernardino Police SWAT served a search warrant on an illegal Marijuana Pot Shop in the 3200 N block of “E” street in San Bernardino. Within the Pot Shop the police found a Felon in possession of a firearm with the serial number filed off, Marijuana and Cocaine in the amount consistent with sales.

Sunday on the I Love San Bernardino radio talk show on KCAA AM 1050 show host Robert Porter had Councilman Henry Nickel on the show and asked a pro drug legalization advocate Elmo Green Meds to come in and ask the councilman a question on San Bernardino’s stance on banning Medical Marijuana shops within the city limits. Councilman Nickel admitted that there were many Marijuana Pot Shops advertising on the drug dealer website Weed Maps and that maybe was an indication that the ordnance needed to be changed to regulation verses banning the shops. When Co Host Danny Alcaraz brought up the raid on August 14th Elmo Green Meds made it seem like the gun found on the location was found on a licensed security guard and the Cocaine found was not a big deal because it was probably personal use.

Here is what Mr. Green Meds and Robert Porter failed to do get the facts:

According to Lt. Travis Walker the firearm was found on a felon and the serial number was filed off.
According to Lt. Rich Lawhead the amount of Cocaine found in the shop was consistent with sales not personal use.
This Pot Shop was 1/4 of a mile or 1320 feet from Marshall Elementary School on “G” street and less than a mile away from two churches and one charter school.

Map showing the Pot Shop area that was raided Friday

As we saw back in February of 2015 an illegal Marijuana shop was set up on Rialto Ave right on the border of Rialto & San Bernardino. We found out about this shop only after a gun battle took place killing one person inside the Pot Shop. The same time of year David Goldstein published a video report of Marijuana getting into kids hands in broad daylight in a city that had regulations on Medical Marijuana. How does Mr. Green Meds think that the bankrupt city of San Bernardino can do any better a job watching Pot Shops under “legal” regulations? See the CBS Channel 2 Story below:

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/02/25/only-on-2-investigation-reveals-medical-marijuana-is-getting-into-school-kids-hands/

At a Area Command Meeting for Area’s 1&2 in the city of Rialto Officer Nick Partcher part of Rialto Police SCAT team the team responsible for gang, alcohol & drug enforcement said that Marijuana use is now just as big a problem with local youth as Alcohol use. So it looks like the only way we can keep Rialto safe is by engaging with the system, talking to our friends and family that live in San Bernardino and leveraging Federal & State Legislators to help keep drug use out of our communities.

Below are references to news stories we used to create this story:

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20150814/san-bernardino-swat-officers-raid-medical-marijuana-dispensary

Woman, 23, Arrested in Connection With Shootout at Marijuana Dispensary in San Bernardino

Video by rialto-now

Rialto Now editor & owner speaks about community and National Night Out

18 Aug 2015 Leave a comment

Blog owner David Phillips was interviewed to speak about community, family & National Night Out

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/68847698

Video by rialto-now

Is posting last minute agendas the best way to get the community engaged?

17 Aug 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Barbara A. McGee, Ca, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Crime, Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Ed Scott, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, joseph williams, Lillie Houston, Public Safety, Rafael Trujillo, Rialto, Rialto

Very little change has occurred over the years on various commissions. What also hasn’t changed is the way that commissioners get paid to travel all over the state and country while not doing their duties at home. We have three major commissions that are dark this month, one that refuses to post their agenda within 72 hours of the scheduled meeting time and another that has applications and documents that have time received stamps manipulated with pen to change the date something was received.

What is worse is none of the current or former commissioners have ever undergone a background check. Earlier this summer the Mayor appointed some new commissioners and the lack of background check was brought up Councilman O’Connell spoke up at that meeting and asked why? Councilman Scott said that it was not right to ask them to undergo a background check since elected officials are not back ground checked. Councilman O’Connell said elected are vetted and that is basically the same as a background check.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a printed publication that reported these issues to us? So sad that the SB Sun ignores us all together and Rialto Record just writes puff pieces for the city. Well Rialto we are here for you doing the work others refuse to do.

***** Up dated info. We called twice and finally recived an answer to why the Utility Commission agenda was not posted until 8 am the day before the meeting. Apparently there were some last minute changes to the Agenda and staff left the agenda sitting on a desk all weekend and didn’t get it up until Monday morning. Why is this an issue? Well the Utility Commission is the commission that set the failed water deal into motion, approve your trash/water/sewer rate increases and they are big time in bed with all of the utility providers in Rialto. June Hayes the Vice Chair of the commission swoons all over the utility providers and holds each ones hands right up to the decision makers in the city. Also the Brown Act states that any commission/council or other open meeting agenda must be posted 72 hours in advance. Diane from the Engineering Department said that she didn’t get it posted until after 8 am on August 17, 2015 the meeting is on August 18th, 2015 only 34 hour notice not the 72 hour minimum required by law.

What is behind the development issues in the City of Rialto?

14 Aug 2015 Leave a comment

So yesterday we issued a story on the fact that soon we would have five McDonalds in the City of Rialto. What we found out through comments on Facebook and conversations with city staff is that it looks like the planning department is allowing the franchise owner of the McDonalds on Foothill to vacate that space and build a new location on Cedar & Foothill.

Later in the meeting Ed Scott called out the community opposition to this development stating that the city can’t dictate or block businesses that are developed on private land he stated it would put the city in a tough spot, Joe Baca Jr. also echoed this statement. These two elected officials said that if McDonalds wants to build 10 of their fast food restaurants in rialto we can’t stop them. Well both these men have Facebook pages and I challenge them to engage with the large amounts of community members who disagree with this statement. People want better food choices and if they only can find those near the Super Walmart and the new retail pad at the old airport site we will continue to depress the other parts of Rialto.

We spoke to Rob Steel Development Services Director and he said that McDonalds Corporate was the one building the new location and that they were going to allow the franchise owner from the other foothill location to move into the new building. The problem we now have is there is a old empty building that will attract homeless, vandalism and further damage the appearance of Route 66. Rob Steel said that the old McDonalds is a desirable location for businesses like Tams, Albertos and Juan Pollo. With that being said that area is becoming oversaturated with those type of food options. One thing that Robb Steal said was that the city did have some say over weather that McDonalds would be constructed there. From what we can ascertain is that they choose not to. Rialto lost a Verizon Wireless location because of this and now traffic is a nightmare.

The other development issue on tap last night was the last available pad to be developed in the In & Out Burger Center. The final pad was originally slated to host a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf plus two other small retail businesses. That changed with space constraints to just a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and then Coffee Bean saw that the city had room on the price and began asking for a series of price reductions. This boils down to the “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” syndrome. The developer saw blood in the water and was taking advantage of the situation. Well when In & Out asked to purchase the pad to create a exclusive In & Out parking area Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf just walked away. What was ironic is instead of making a sale and letting In & Out develop the parking pad it seems as though the city wants to spend the money to develop the parking pad. It looks like control is an issue here and were wondering who is going to win and at what cost to the community? It looks like we sell it to In & Out for their exclusive use or the city pays to pave it for everyone’s use.

But wait there is more…… It appears that Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf wants to steal the open pad just a stones throw away from previous site. Coucilman O’Connell said last night that the pad was prime location given its location (see image below) and that he had reservations giving Coffee Bean first stab at building on that site. Councilman O’Connell wants to make sure we get the best tenant for that location and for Rialto. From the vote he was not alone the vote was 3-2 with Councilman O’Connell & Palmer voting no to give an unfair first stab to the Coffee Bean developers.

The black box indicates the location of the new development site

Print this picture or show this photo on your phone when you pay for your food to be counted.

Image by rialto-now

Does Rialto need five Mc Donalds?

11 Aug 2015 1 Comment

by rialto-now in Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Barbara A. McGee, Budget, Ca, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Crime, Currupt, Lazy, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Rialto Police Department

As the construction of yet another Mc Donald’s fast food restaurant nears completion on the corner of Cedar & Foothill in Rialto we ponder the Question does Rialto need five Mc Donald’s? Now I know what your going to say Rialto doesn’t have five Mc Donald’s and I am here to tell you soon we will. Below is a map:

The red dots are the three that come up when you Google Mc Donald’s in Rialto. Baseline, Foothill & Riverside Ave all have Mc Donald’s but there is also one inside of the Walmart across the street from the Riverside Ave location so that makes four. Number five is part of multiple deals to further burden the North West Corner of Cedar & Foothill. One of our readers posted this photo saying “Do we really need another Mc Donald’s in Rialto #healthyrialto

The multiple deals that happened to further burden the poor people of Rialto was put under the heading were trying to make things safer for Rialto. Later they admitted that it had little to do with safety and a lot to do with TAXES……. When a local community member from Flores Park Neighborhood Watch asked why this development was getting a new stoplight and cement median extension the council responded Neighborhood Watch Groups don’t make money Gas Stations & Mc Donald’s do!

Tonight the Planning Commission is going to show this off as a win during their annual report, is this a win in your eyes?

Is city council responsible for the traffic issues in Rialto?

10 Aug 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Ca, city attorney, City of Rialto, Crime, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Ed Scott, Flores Park Neighborhood Watch, Grace Vargas, Inland Empire, Jimmy Gutierrez, Joe Baca Jr, joseph williams, Lynn Hirtz, Nieghborhood Watch, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Parks, Rialto Police Department, Shawn O'Connell Tags: city of rialto, Rialto, Rialto Police, rialto police department, traffic commission

Who is to blame for the traffic problems here in Rialto? Well to determine this we need to look at how we arrived here. Rialto Police Department is looking to secure another traffic grant in the amount of $202,070. This grant is primarily to be used for DUI, seat belt and distracted driving enforcement. It can be used for other things but since we use this grant primarily for DUI enforcement Rialto Police stick to this use.

We were told at the last coffee with the chief meeting in a side conversation that the city of Rialto has been removing job openings from the list when it comes to staffing new officers. So with promotions and retirements the department is stretched to fill spots. Another area of contention is the lack of employee benefits that a officer can obtain here in Rialto verses other local departments. So what ends up happening is we train officers they get the fast paced experience that Rialto has to offer then they lateral into another agency and we are short another officer.

So the chart above is from Tab 7 on the agenda for the meeting on August 11th. We have pasted the paragraph in the chart below so you can clearly see what Rialto Police say we have in regards to traffic personnel. Now unless we have been lied to I thought we had a traffic Cpl. but with that being said does the total number of sworn personnel being six make you feel good about the cities ability to control traffic here? Now lets look at the rest of the paragraph. We could have three more officers working traffic but the problem “is not known due to budget issues”.

Also collisions have doubled and injuries are on the rise and people are still dying. The chart tells you that 22350 CVC is the number one collision factor. What is this California Vehicle Code? It is for speeding. Followed by unsafe left turns or U turns and then its for DUI.

So what are the problems who is to blame:

So we can’t staff our traffic division to proper levels but were adding more and more commercial traffic every three months by selling away prime property to major warehouse companies. Yet the traffic commission keeps approving these businesses stating that we have adequate staffing to keep the city safe from the massive increase of truck traffic.
So we see that for at least the last three years U turns have been identified as being the second most cause of vehicle collisions and atributed to 69 injuries. So has public works, engineering and the traffic commission failed to recognize that they are forcing people into unsafe driving maneuvers by installing raised cement medians.
The former Public Works Director addressed community concerns about speeding in local communities in residential areas near schools and parks by increasing the speed limit in these areas. Now you can go as fast as 40-45 MPH through most local neighborhoods Riverside Ave north of the 210 freeway is the same speed? Remember the number one cause of injuries, victims and deaths is speeding. Flores Park has been advocating for reduced speed limits and a stop sign in front of Flores Park & Dallahan Elementary for the last 5 years and the city keeps saying no. The last time they said no it was because the Neighborhood Watch Program doesn’t make money for the city.

I’m not sure about you but it looks like the Traffic Commission, Mayor, Planning Commission, Public Works and City Council have all fallen asleep at the wheel and if the community doesn’t stand up and stop this Rialto will become a traffic nightmare.

City Council meeting is August 11th at City Hall at 6 pm

PROBLEM STATEMENT Our Traffic Unit is currently staffed by a Sergeant, 2 Motor Officers, 2 Accident Investigation / DUI Enforcement Officers, 1 Commercial Enforcement Officer and 6 Parking Enforcement Civilians. Over the past several years, we lost 2 Accident Investigation / DUI Enforcement Officers due to selections to other assignments. We also lost 1 Motor Officer due to a medical retirement. The time line for the replacement of these positions is not known due to budget issues with the city. This grant will assist us in providing enforcement activities that will serve our City population that now number in excess of one hundred thousand people.

22350 CVC – No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.

21801(a)CVC – The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.

23152(a)CVC – It is a misdemeanor to drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.