Rialto Family Festival 2015 || Mayor Deborah Robertson – YouTube YouTube1280 × 720Search by image Rialto Family Festival 2015 || Mayor Deborah Robertson
Written by David Phillips
As a former City Council Candidate I can attest to how difficult it is to reach a large amount of people with your message. I mean signs are an easy way to clog up street corners and blanket the many shuttered buildings but is this the way we want to learn about our elected officials? I personally enjoyed being on both sides of the booth both as the candidate and the community member seeking a face to face with the candidate.
Well we caught wind of a certain elected official who had an issue with candidates having booths at public events. Now his concern has risen to the level of now making it illegal. The issue that the new ordnance looks to address is:
the intent of the City in sponsoring public events is generally to provide a nonpolitical, family-friendly, informative and/or entertaining, and non-controversial event environment;
So given the above statement this will stop not only people running for office but it will also stop groups that are there to spread information on behalf of a political organization and will limit your access to regional leaders who come out to their booths and provide staff to answer community questions. It will officially become harder to meet your elected officials. Is that fair to you?
Also at events like Halloween Hi-Jinks where more than a third of the booths were politically based booths where are Rialto youth going to go for a safe trick or treating environment? You see our leaders forget the consequences of their actions when they are trying to damage chances of certain people ever getting elected.
Questions that need to be answered are:
Will this apply to the mayors luxury cabana that she has every year at the Family Festival?
Will this ban groups like the teachers union, Rialto Democrat Club and Rialto Woman’s Club from having booths at Rialto Events?
I have been to a lot of events and I have never seen anyone get out of hand, there is no fighting and everyone plays by the rules except those who put random signs up and leave them on city property. So we have to wonder if our new council is counting the costs of their actions?
Since were not seen as mainstream were blocked from getting information on the Jr Assembly Woman who represents the 47th Assembly District that covers most of Rialto. Sadly our concerns have fallen on deaf ears when it comes to Mrs Reyes. Below is a post that mainstream media journalist that only covers one side of stories posted on his Facebook page claiming it came from a PR from Eloise Reyes office.
Assembly member Eloise Reyes Today announced her legislative priorities for 2017.
“I have worked diligently to ensure that my bill package has ideas and solutions that will have a direct impact on the lives of the people of the 47th Assembly District,” said Reyes in a press statement. “For far too long the residents of our district have not had a seat at the table regarding critical issues that affect their daily lives. My mission in Sacramento is to represent their collective voices, and the bills I have introduced are the first step in that process.”
Proposed bills
AB44- Introduced on the first anniversary of the December 2nd San Bernardino terrorist attacks, this bill provides for expedited review process for the victims so that they can get the treatment they need and continue the recovery process.
AB523- This bill requires that 25 percent of renewable technology funds collected through the EPIC program be spent in disadvantaged communities and 10 percent be spent specifically in low-income communities.
AB578- Increases the penalty for an individual who threatens to report the immigration status of a crime victim or witness.
AB550- Provides support for long-term care Ombudsman programs which help investigate and resolve various issues in long-term health care and residential care facilities.
AB667- Ensures that there is a transparent and fair process for students who are at risk of being suspended from school.
Thursday February 16th Rialto Police Department and Chief Deanda took actions against some of Rialto’s most dedicated and popular senior officers the department has. Multiple officers have been reported by those close to the department to have lost their job or are on the verge of losing their jobs. One of those confirmed to have lost their job is longtime K9 Officer Glenn Anderson who was fired from the Rialto Police Department late Thursday.
Officer Glenn Anderson an expert in the realm of canine policing and SWAT work has been on paid leave for almost a year pending the results of an IA investigation into claims that he misused canine resources as well as failed to obtain proper authorization when securing resources for the Rialto Police Department K-9 program.
Officer Glen with one of his former K9’s Picture taken from Rialto Police Department1684 × 1360Search by image
When you put it like that it sounds worse than it was. K9 officer Anderson worked with a local boy scout troop and the Union Pacific Railroad K9 police organization to create a yard where K9 officers could train and work with their dogs. This area also was a place where the officers K9 partners could freely stretch their legs in a nice grass area that was fully fenced off. Many times, our officer’s breaks are eating a quick bite in their unit has they go from call to call that is unhealthy for the human officer as well as their canine partner as well. Per city and Rialto Police Officials Officer Anderson failed to obtain the proper permits for fence installation and pulling power for outdoor lights to the K9 yard. Officer Anderson is also being attacked for dog food donations from a private pet store to the 501c3 nonprofit The Fiends of the Rialto K9 Association. These donations saved the city thousands every year because instead of using the food vouchers at Pet Smart K9 officers were using donated food to feed Rialto Police Dogs.
There is a mountain of lawsuits and complaints that have been filed against the Rialto Police Department over the last year-and-a-half. Dozens of officers are suing the department for racial age and disability discrimination.
For the last year, the word out is that morale at Rialto Police Department is at an all-time low. One must question the amount of money these actions will cost the city in future litigation.
None of the officers in question made themselves available for questions. Reports of these actions came from officials within the City.
So what happens when a local governing body is so fractured that no more than two people can agree with each other? Another governing body has to do your work for you.
There are few governing, publicly elected bodies like West Valley Water District that cover Rialto, Colton, Fontana, Bloomington and other unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County, and a portion of Jurupa Valley in Riverside County. West Valley Water fly’s under the radar of rate payers because until recently who cared about your water board right? Until the hyper controlling measures that state and local water agencies laid out on ratepayers nobody really took the time to watch what their water board is doing.
West Valley Water Board members Clifford Young, Linda Gonzles and Greg Young worked hard over the last two years to kick certain board members off the board, bring in new blood that wont question bad spending habits and fight to keep certain people from ever sitting on the board EVER…..
Well with twice appointed never elected board member Rafael Trujillo moving over to Rialto City Council there is once again a vacant seat. Normally the board has a politically charged person waiting in the wings but partisan politics coupled with a lack of ability to collectively agree on a person now has taken this choice out of their hands. The names that were floated around being considered were former Rilato Councilman Ed Palmer, Former Fontana Planning Commissioner Phil Cothran and Activist Irma Flores were just a few of the names that were talked about.
The community was ready to charge the doors of West Valley Water district if Phil Cothran was appointed to the water board. He is coming off a fresh election where he has been accused of trying to takeover the Fontana Woman’s Club, stories of failing to report campaign donations that Phil Cothran took from Young Homes prior to voting yes on their projects and running a local PAC that derailed some very good peoples chances of winning an elected seat. Apparently Ed Palmer who was supported by Clifford Young was not what Greg Young was looking for in a fellow board member. Greg Young didn’t want Ed Palmer’s drama from the recent election where he challenged current Mayor Deborah Robertson for her Mayor seat.
So since West Valley Water is punting this decision it is now up to the San Bernardino County Supervisors to make the appointment. The Board of Supervisors created a special advisory committee consisting of Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford and Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales to interview the applicants and recommend an appointment to the full Board of Supervisors.
What is funny is that West Valley may have a Board member that they fought long and hard against two years ago wasting thousands of dollars and wasting rate payer time advocating for their choice in the election.
The Inland Empire First PAC has filed papers seeking to recall Acquanetta Warren. On Tuesday at a small meeting Cathie Ritchie Served Mayor Aquenetta Warren with Recall papers on Tuesday afternoon before the City Council meeting. As you will see below she simply tosses the paperwork aside.
The members of the political action committee, Inland Empire First are the ones who began this recall effort. The reasons for the recall were spelled out on their recall signature paperwork:
Mayor Acquanetta Warren has not performed her duties as Mayor of Fontana with the best interests of her constituents in mind and continues to waste Taxpayers money to try and further her own political interest and ambitions. During her time on the Council, the following issues have become prominent in the City:
1. Mayor Acquanetta Warren has received political contributions totaling $100,000’s to insure that the desires of special interest groups and land developers come before the needs of Fontana Residents.
2. Mayor Acquanetta Warren has supported reckless residential and warehouse development which has downgraded the quality of life, decreased neighbor safety, overcrowded our schools, increased traffic, and increased air pollution for Fontana’s residents.
3. Both violent and property crimes including arson, mailbox theft, gang related murders have increased in our city and neighborhoods – Mayor Acquanetta Warren has supported Subsiding nearby Cities (Rialto, Colton, and Redlands) with Fontana public safety Programs on the backs of Fontana taxpayers, putting Fontana Residents in danger.
4. Government accountability and waste are out-of-control – Mayor Acquanetta Warren regularly takes expensive trips at taxpayers’ expense, costing Fontana residents $10,000’s annually, with no reporting for how it benefits Fontana.
One of our favorite moments with Fontana Mayor Warren was when she was celebrating the drug filled rave that was taking place in her city where two young lives were lost.
It has long been the case for the city of San Bernardino to look at tax revenue over public safety or general health of events. Lives have been lost property has been damaged and all for a few easy tax dollars. Mayor Warren has taken this idea to Fontana now with using the speedway as a way to host these events.
To make matters worse the media sources like the SB Sun, Fontana Herald and The IE Voice have turned this into a racial issue. Bringing up the fact that Mayor Warren is a Black Female.
“A group called the Inland Empire First PAC has filed papers seeking to recall Acquanetta Warren, Fontana’s first female and first African-American mayor.” – SB Sun Jim Stienberg
“While Mayor Warren was giving this good news, Sierra Club members marched outside in costumes like “Smoggy the Bear” which reminded me of the way the Klan would go marching down the streets of Fontana not that long ago in their white sheets with hoods over their faces so know one will know who they are. To the Black community the reputation of the Sierra Club has been one of elitism with a racial history of not being inclusive when it comes to our issues or having us as members.” – The IE Voice Hardy Brown
So it looks like were using the old standby when the facts are not in our favor pull out the ole race card. Well Mr. Brown normally the old Klan reference is used to cut at white people but now they are using a race blanket to hurt other minorities.
The issues with Mayor Warren and her failed roll as Fontana’s leader has done something that no other issue has done brought people from all walks of life and political affiliations together under one common cause. Republicans, Democrats, White, Black, Latino and a wide range of income levels have come together on this issue. Mayor Warren has to go now.
The Digital 1st Media group Editorial Board wants you to believe that this recall lacks merit. In the editorial piece they published they said:
“Our view has long been that recalls are for getting rid of officeholders who have been guilty of malfeasance in office. Political differences should be settled in the next election, not with a recall attempt.” “This editorial board has endorsed Warren in all four of her runs for council or mayor in Fontana, as the city has grown more dynamic under her leadership.” – PE & SB Sun Editorial Board
Mayor Warren has broken the law and trust of the people but Mike Ramos our County District Attorney routinely turns a blind eye to local elected officials breaking and bending the law for their own personal gain. Mayor Warren has been tied to many cases where she used her position in Fontana to get campaign donors out of tight legal spots and has her own best interest in mind when making decisions not the community.
It is time for the media to get out of the way and let the people use the system the way they see fit. Let this blog be the first media type source to tell you this recall is well overdue.
Some people call Karen Larson Coleman “Brave.” Not me. I call anybody, that speaks truth to power, “Fontana.” Because this is exactly what being a part of THIS community is all about!!
“Fontana’s mayor needs to be recalled
Re “Attempted recall of Fontana mayor a waste of effort” (Editorial, Jan. 19):
Written by Karen Coleman
You called the recall effort of Fontana Mayor Acquanneta Warren a waste of time and silly. Do any of you live in Fontana and if so have you traveled our streets?
Have you attended a mayor’s round table meeting to supposedly discuss plans for future downtown renovations and not been allowed to speak.
The audience sat at round tables and were not allowed to speak or if they did speak they would be removed by police officers standing at the exits.
The abuse of power this mayor has forced upon the citizens of Fontana is not silly. Have you heard or listened to her declare war on her enemies? She is a bully!
I could fill a page of your newspaper with stories of abuse but whenever I have contacted your offices no one was interested in covering those stories.
Can Fontana take another 22 months of Warren and her cronies turning our city into a warehouse slum? Huge trucks and dirty air for our children to breathe. Can we take 22 more months of her traveling all over the country with no accountability?
She has broken the camel’s back and we cannot waste another day watching our city go down the drain. Why would any reputable newspaper support this kind of behavior?
– Karen Coleman, Fontana”
“Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your voice isn’t powerful” says editor David Phillips of the Internet site loosely named in the San Bernardino Sun article printed Sunday morning by Jim Stienberg. Mr Phillips and his staff worked hard over the last part of 2016 and early 2017 to highlight some major issues effecting Rialto residents, business owners and taxpayers.
First was the planned secret meeting of the first Rialto sanctuary city committee by Raza Rialto and Councilman Rafael Trujillo which thanks to Mr Phillips and his staff was stopped dead in its tracks with some unexpected help from right wing advocates for following the rule of law.
Second was the travel of two elected officials and two high ranking police officers to Washington DC at a cost of over $17 thousand dollars. This request was once again buried in the consent calander where at times over 50 items will be approved with one simple vote. Not only did our story rack up thousands of hits and readers but the mayor and council were forced to address the travel and explain themselves. On top of that a follow up story by Jim Stienberg of the San Bernardino Sun was written to further highlight to the local community what is happening with this travel.
Our questions Tuesday led to an admission by Mayor Robertson that even though she was staying in Washington for the 20th she would not be going to the inauguration. Now according to the San Bernardino Sun article she is coming home EARLY!!!!!
We started this blog five years ago as a response to the lack of reporting from the bigger media who’s job it is to report on what is going on in the Rialto region. We started our 1st year with only 1,000 views to an average of 5,000 views a month. Our articles have been used in other publications and we’re the first place many news publications go to for information. Much like Jim Stienberg’s article we are the vehicle for making sure that our leaders do not veer to far off course and keep Rialto and the surrounding region moving forward.
On the first city council meeting for the city of Rialto there was standing room only mainly over the issue of sanctuary cities. Councilman Rafael Trujillo and his actions on December 30th 2016 set a firestorm of media exposure on the small Inland Empire City. Both sides of the issue remained free from using racist statements. Everyone kept their arguments to the issue at hand until Luis Nolasco a young Hispanic man called out one race in particular.
Mr. Nolasco began his time calling out the people there from outside the city (that he didn’t agree with) and then began to use race biting statements that have become commonplace with young adults who have been taught that being white is a sin no matter what is in your heart. For some reason those who traveled with him to support the Sanctuary City issue (see their picture below).
Mr. Nolasco highlights growing up in Rialto and how the minority population has swung to the white community. Mr. Nolasco refers to how irrelevant the white community is and that they have 5 years left to exist in Rialto.
A veteran sitting in the audience was visibly shaken by Luis Nolasco’s statement. As the Council took a short recces after the public comment section the gentleman said “my family built this town and it was well before he was even a twinkle in his fathers eye”. Many expressed feelings of confusion to why the council would allow such words to be uttered. One lady said if it wasn’t for the white people who started this town and grew it into a city that this man now claims to love.
There was a great double standard in Louis Nolasco’s original statement that only Rialto Residents should be heard at council meetings when he brought with him people that lived outside the city at the Sanctuary City Committee meeting and to last Tuesdays council meeting. Nobody from the other side asked council not to listen to others just that they listen with a lawful ear.
Arthur Schaper with the We The People Rising held up large quilts from the Remembrance Project of those that died because others were not asked to follow the laws of the land. Councilman Ed Scott said he was not for a Sanctuary City in Rialto and his heart went out to those who lost loved ones due to others not following the law.
“Request City Council to approve travel and training request for Police Chief Randy De Anda and Lieutenant Paul Stella to accompany Mayor Deborah Robertson as security detail during the United States Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in Washington, DC, January 17-19, and the Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2017.”
The above image is an image pulled Tuesdays City Council Meeting Agenda Consent Calander from Mayor Deborah Robertson’s Re-election twitter account. As you can see the Mayor wasn’t a fan of President Elect Trump. As you see in the text above the Mayor is telling you that she wants a protective detail to go watch a Inauguration of a candidate she didn’t like. Looking at the Chart provided with the agenda there is no allocation for Chief Deanda or Lt Stella yet there is a base amount for the Mayor to attend the Mayors Conference by her self. We know that Councilman Ed Scott was given his ticket to the Inauguration by Congressman Pete Aguliar but who is picking up the travel and stay for Councilman Scott on this trip:
US Conference of Mayors – Winter Meeting Washington, DC January Mayor $3,200.00 estimate per person
Legislative Meetings (various) Washington, DC Per Year Mayor & 1 Council $5,000.00 estimate per person
So were paying $7,397.04 for the Chief and an Lt, plus a minimum of $3,200 for the Mayor and another $5,000 for Council Member Scott for a minimum of $15,597.04!!!!!!
Mayor Robertson used the Republican Nominee Trump as a way to hurt people running for election here locally. Here are a few of the examples:
Candidates that were republican or had a more conservative leaning Mayor Robertson used this to turn people away from them. She was heard routinely saying those trumpsters are going to take away everything.
Mayor Robertson poisoned voters minds when they were considering candidates like her opponent Ed Palmer, City Council Candidate David Phillips and Congressional Candidate Paul Chabot. It was so bad that it was routine for a public event for a Mayor Robertson supporters trying to shut down these candidates when they tried to speak.
Mayor Robertson not only hurt Republican candidates but committed democrats who failed to fall in line with her tactics or policies.
Lynn Hirtz – Democrat running for city council was tied to Donald Trump by Mayor Robertson.
Ana Gonzalez – Bernie Sanders Democrat supporting Hilary was tied to Donald Trump by Mayor Robertson.
Joe Britt – Running for City Council was tied to Donald Trump by Mayor Robertson.
Ed Killgore – Democrat running for reelection to the water board was tied to Donald Trump by Mayor Robertson.
If the Mayor is so upset over the Election of President Donald Trump why does she have to go and why are the taxpayers paying for it? Mayor Robertson even had former Assembly Member Cheryl Brown calling out people who challenged Mayor Robertson at Democrat meetings as trumpsters that needed to be stopped. What makes matters worse is Mayor Robertson is the Mayor of Rialto a struggling working class city. Our people are hard working but a majority of our families are still struggling or just getting by. Most of our ids will never stay in a $400 a night hotel room, eat lavish meals and fly all over the country. The sad reality is that less than 50% of Rialto youth will never even go on a field trip and when they do it is to s neighboring city that offers more than Rialto.
Reach out to your leaders and let them know that Rialto needs to bring travel costs under control and leave Chief Deanda and Lt Stella home so that they can do their jobs.
rialtonow 