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Rialto City Treasurer Calls Mayor & City Clerks Events Gift of Public Funds

07 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

Newly elected Rialto mayor Deborah Robertson sits down for an interview at her home in Rialto on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. Robertson made history this November election with becoming Rialto’s first black mayor. (Rachel Luna / Staff Photographer)

What is the given tag line when T.V. cops are looking to find a criminal act? Follow the money. Well the publicly elected person that oversees the cities finances has called a foul on Mayor Deborah Robertson & City Clerk Barbara McGee. Accusations of gifts of public funds and misuse of city employee’s duties has led Edward Carrillo to file a complaint with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit on the actions of the Mayor and City Clerk when it comes to private events that get thousands of public tax dollars to fund them.

If the mayor had your neighbors roof repaired and repaired their bathrooms would that be a proper use of tax dollars? Below is a snap shot of one of many pages to Edward Carrillo’s complaints to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit asking for an investigation into these tactics.

Edward Carrillo says that the money spent over the years on events like those below were a misuse of public resources for their personal gain or benefit. So in a scramble to make these charges null and void the Mayor is trying to get the city council to call her events city events and not just into the future but PRIOR events as well. Mayor Robertson believes that if she can get two of her colleagues to go along she can skirt the investigation by the public integrity unit. What this has done is force the Mayor, City Clerk and other Council Members to try and cover their tracks.

The sad part is Mayor Robertson is lumping these events geared to promote her in a positive light in the community with real city events that are of a community interest.

State of Women Conference – ($9,000)

Run Around the Rocks – ($1,500) **Now we know why the Mayor skipped the Rialto Police Fallen Officer Memorial 5K

Below are a few of the many REAL public events that Mayor Robertson is using as leverage to get her private events approved. What is sad is in the two events above that shows another $10,500 that could be used to highlight Rialto Athletes or Really make a summer series that people want to attend.

Sports Hall of Fame – is a dynamic recognition ceremony that honors athletes that have brought honor and fame to the City of Rialto. The Athletes recognized range from individuals to championship teams.($3,800)

Summer Series – this event is designed to keep children entertained in a safe, affordable, productive environment during the summer months while school is out. There are combo movies/concert series, as well as other events in the parks with a variety of activities, like “Bark in the Park”, “Sounds of Rialto” and Pool Activities covering May through August.($9,000)

The answer is simple:

Mayor Robertson should remove herself from the room as she has a conflict of interest in this item.
Council should make a motion to approve all of the events except for the State of Women Conference & Run Around the Rocks
Any Council member that try’s to help the mayor avoid a investigation by voting these two events in should be put on notice that this will effect re-elcetion.

Roberto told us “its not fair that the people we elect spend more time trying to hurt us rather than help us.

Cindy said in a quote “I voted for Mayor Robertson as did my family and she not only helped put her opponent back on council but she is doing the same things we expected from him (ed scott)”

Speaking of the election when looking for a photo for this story we stumbled on a story that Josh Dulaney did on the win over Ed Scott.

Robertson didn’t hesitate in saying she will bring a different kind of leadership than Vargas, who had a reputation for being swayed by other council members when it came time to vote.

“There’s a difference between Grace and I,” she said. “Grace was there and Grace was led. I’m there and I’m very comfortable with leading.”

Robertson pledges to bring transparency to City Hall, and says the top priorities are jobs, economic development, a healthy community and open space issues.

How is spending public money on non city events transparency? How are you leading if you are not listening to your colleagues?

Email Drobertson@rialtoca.gov and let the mayor know what you expect out of her as Rialto’s Mayor

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Eisenhower High School Is Entered Into The NFL High School Honor Roll

05 Feb 2016 2 Comments

“The golden football represents accomplishment,” said Terrell Davis. “It validates a lot of hard work that I put it in. The fact that no matter where you come from … it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.” http://www.nfl.com/sbhonorroll

As part of the nationwide Super Bowl 50 celebration, the NFL started the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll program to acknowledge schools and communities that have directly influenced Super Bowl history and impacted the game for the better.

High schools across the country, and around the globe, will be given a Wilson Golden Football for every player or head coach who graduated from the school and was on an active Super Bowl roster. More than 2,000 high schools and roughly 3,000 players and coaches will be recognized this season.

Eisenhower High School was lucky enough to be able to receive three of these coveted balls. Rialto has been the launching pad for three NFL players that reached the big game the SUPER BOWL.

David Lang – Lang was drafted in the 12th round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. On April 27, 1995 he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. On April 27, 1995, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. That season he was named the special teams captain and set the franchise single-season record for special teams tackles with 30, until it was broken the next year by Jim Schwantz (32). The Cowboys started keeping the stat in 1990. He was part of Super Bowl XXX winning team and retired at the end of the season. Lang founded the nonprofit organization “Legends by Lang” to mentor urban youths. He was shot and killed on May 21, 2005.

Ronnie Lott – Lott was born May 8, 1959, He attended Frisbee Junior High and Eisenhower High School in Rialto where he played football under Coach Bill Christopher and graduated in 1977. Lott considered his time at Eisenhower High School the best years of his life. It is commonly thought that he was the best player on his team, he started as a wide receiver in 1975 as a sophomore, started at wide receiver and safety in 1976 as a junior, and in 1977 he started at quarterback and safety. Lott played football for USC and played in the NFL Lott played for the San Francisco 49ers, LA Raiders, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. The football stadium was recently named after Lott, even though he never played in the stadium. Lott was also the winner of the 1977 Ken Hubbs Award, given to the greater San Bernardino, California area’s top male high school athlete. Lott was part of Superbowl’s XVI, XIX, XXIII and XXIV.

Here is a great Ronnie Lott highlight video

Craig Newsome – He was born August 10, 1971. He played for Eisenhower High School and attended San Bernardino Valley College and later transferred to Arizona State University. The Packers drafted Newsome with the 32nd pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. He was the starting cornerback on the 1996 Green Bay Packers championship team. He also had a forced fumble and an interception in Super Bowl XXXI. On September 19, 1999 the Packers traded Newsome to the 49ers. Now he coaches pee-wee football for Holmen Youth players, where his son Craig Newsome Jr. plays. Newsome played in Superbowl XXXI

Here is Newsome’s Interseption in Superbowl XXXI

More footage of Newsome along with some color comentary

Video by rialto-now

Fontana Police Chief Says Farwell

05 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

Video by rialto-now

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

Video by rialto-now

Rialto Police High Speed Chase

28 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Ca, City of Rialto, Crime, Inland Empire, Rialto Police Department

Earlier today Cpl Hintz and his team were involved in a high speed chase as they proceeded to stop a suspected stolen vehicle. Cpl Hintz the officer was able to end the pursuit with no injuries. Suspect tried to elude PD but was found him hiding in a yard.

Rialto High School Cheer Squad Wins 1st Place At State

25 Jan 2016 1 Comment

by rialto-now in Andy Carrizales, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Ca, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Colton, Fun, Inland Empire, Rialto, RUSD, San Bernardino, youth

The students of Rialto High School put our city on the map today and it was for something positive.

Rialto High Cheer just placed first at the CheerPros State Championships today which were held at the Citizens Bank Arena. They also won a full paid bid to the “Best of the West” Invitational in Long Beach. The Best of the West is on March 6th at CSULB and Nationals is March 18-20th at the Anaheim Convention Center. Below is a tweet from the Cheer Pros Twitter account that shows the top five finishers.

The team has placed first at their regional competitions for the past four years and will once again be representing Rialto at the USA Nationals Cheer Competition this March. The team is made up of incredible athletes and students.

More than just the first place team they support at every football and basketball game, pep rally, Rialto Family Festival, other community and school events all while training and competing in their own right.

Join us in recognizing this awesome team and their ability to represent for the city of Rialto.

Go Knights!!!!!!!!!

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.

Video by rialto-now

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.

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Don’t forget to sign up for the Rialto PD Officer Memorial 5k/3k Run/Walk

17 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

https://my.racewire.com/event/3408

Video by rialto-now

Your 2016 Update On The City Care Of Councilman Shawn O’Connell

11 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

Councilman Shawn O’Connell continues his track record of meeting all of his campaign promises and keeping the community informed with his 2016 Rialto Year Update. Councilman O’Connell is the only elected official to who not only worked diligently to make good on what he said on his first run on the good ole campaign trail, he has done everything he promised with a year to spare in his political career.

To top it off Councilman O’Connell one of Rialto’s most influential people in Rialto in 2015 has just released his yearly update for 2016 which you can see below is an update of what is vital to residents, what has been done and what is coming up. Councilman O’Connell normally releases these Press Releases before each area command meeting as a way to give the community an honest and unbiased look at what is vital to the community.

So as we said Councilman O’Connell releases these Press Releases before each Area Command meeting series and tonight kicks off the first Area Command for the South Part of the city. They will be discussing things to consider during an “Active Shooter” incident. Several Rialto Police Department SWAT officers who responded to the Inland Regional Center incident in San Bernardino will be in attendance and provide insight on their experiences that day.