“SPOTLIGHT” Sabrina with DOVE CHOCOLATE DISCOVERIES Chocolatier

Who wants some CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This “SPOTLIGHT” came from our outreach on Facebook and before being asked to do this interview I never even knew that this type of businesses existed. Sabrina Ruiz is the rep for Independent DOVE CHOCOLATE DISCOVERIES Chocolatier located here in Rialto.
RIALTO NOW – Sabrina, tell us a little about yourself. Did you grow up in Rialto? What’s your background and education? What prodded you to become a small business owner? Why Chocolate?
SABRINA RUIZ – My name is Sabrina Ruiz. I grew up in Ontario and  recently moved to Rialto two years ago. I attended Ontario Christian High School. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  I am currently working on my Ph.D  in Organizational Management and Leadership thru Capella University. I have always had a desire to work for myself. I was laid off from my employer of seven years in late 2010. I wanted to produce an income that allowed me to have the flexibility to have time for my family and education .I have always been a Chocolate lover and baker; so of course when I had the opportunity to get paid to share Dove Chocolate I embraced it!
I have the unique ability to earn a full time income while still controlling my own hours, and life! I love the flexibility my Dove Chocolate Discoveries®. business allows me, I am able to always be there for my family and still support a wonderful lifestyle! It’s so much fun meeting my Hostesses and helping them throw great tasting parties that their guests LOVE while earning free products! Guests will learn more about how to entertain, give gifts, and make beautiful and delicious homemade treats.
RIALTO NOW – As an avid baker I do know that dove chocolate is very delicious. What has been your experience in introducing this product to people here in Rialto?
SABRINA RUIZ – I have had a few tasting parties at my home and locally in the area. Many people have not heard of Dove Chocolate Discoveries and were happy to come and sample some premium Dove Chocolate. Our Exclusive line of Dove Chocolate products include: Fabulous drinks, instant gratification, easy to prepare desserts, and professional candy making tools. All of our products feature the premium quality of the DOVE Chocolate you know and love!
RIALTO NOW – What are some of the struggles you have experienced as a Independent DOVE CHOCOLATE DISCOVERIES Chocolatier in the beginning?
SABRINA RUIZ – The struggles I had in the beginning were finding customers to purchase and host.
RIALTO NOW – What was your motivation on offering this product to our community? Where did you see the value in operating in and around Rialto?
SABRINA RUIZ – Small business in America has been the stabilizing force in the economy. Entrepreneurs are the backbone of creativity and production. Small business is what stimulates economic growth. I believe it is important to support your community that you live in. The City of Rialto is now my home and I want to contribute and support the community. Dove Chocolate is my vessel that I am using to bring business into the community.
RIALTO NOW – What are the struggles of owning a small business in today’s economy?
SABRINA RUIZ – Some of the struggles of owning a small business that I have come across include: marketing expenses, supplies, and building new clientele
RIALTO NOW – Run us through a Chocolate Party. How do we schedule one? What goes on? Is it similar to Tupperware parties only yummier?
SABRINA RUIZ – We do use the same party plan format similar to Tupperware. Dove chocolate parties are so much fun! We gather some friends together usually 20 or so, play a few games, sample about 5 products and enjoy each other’s company. At the end of the party guests are able to place orders and book parties. I am available to schedule parties at (909) 238-9397 or via email partywithbrini@gmail.com. You can also place orders on my website and have Dove Chocolate delivered right to your doorstep. www.mydcdsite.com/partywithbrini
RIALTO NOW – Were you at the Taste Of Rialto Event this past week?
SABRINA RUIZ – No, I was not did not hear about the event until after it took place.
RIALTO NOW – Are you going to have a booth at this years National Night Out?
SABRINA RUIZ – I am looking forward to attending the event and will be looking into having a booth.
RIALTO NOW – If you could pass one nugget of inspiration to future small business owners in Rialto what would it be?
SABRINA RUIZ – Small businesses are job creators. The best advice I would give to small business owners is don’t give up. Personally I support small business Saturday and make an effort to habitually shop at small businesses.
RIALTO NOW – Does your business support any local charities or sports groups?
SABRINA RUIZ – At this time my business does not. My business was recently involved with the making strides for breast cancer walk/run.  I would love to support any of Rialto’s local charities or sports groups thru fundraising.
RIALTO NOW – Is there anything else you would like the Rialto Readers to know?
SABRINA RUIZ – Yes, I am currently holding interviews for Dove Chocolatiers. The only requirements for the job is a functioning mode of transportation, must be 18 or older, and purchase a chocolate kit which is $115 including shipping ($200 retail value). I am the only Chocolatier in Rialto and there is plenty of room for growth within the Inland Empire.
Everyone loves our parties; after all it revolves around DOVE chocolate! I also enjoy sharing this opportunity with others. I have been fortunate to grow a very successful team of wonderful individuals. It is my pleasure to support chocolatiers in growing their own business and attaining their personal goals! Think about joining me today and create the lifestyle you have always dreamed of.
RIALTO NOW – Below is Sabrina’s contact info, if your intreased in a party or working with her please give her a call. Thank You Sabrina for your time and sitting down with us.
Sabrina Ruiz
Independent Dove Chocolatier
(909) 238-9397
partywithbrini@gmail.com
www.mydcdsite.com/partywithbrini
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Burglary Prevention Tips

Burglary Prevention Tips

The burglary basics:

• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.

• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.

• Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.

• Keep your garage door closed and locked.

• Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers to build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.

• Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.

• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.

• Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.

• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.

• Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives. Don’t tempt a thief:

• Lawn mowers, snow blowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight.

• Always lock your garden sheds and garages. • Use curtains on garage and basement windows.

• Never leave notes on your door such as “Gone shopping.” Locks…get the best:

• No lock, regardless of its quality, can be truly effective. Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation.

• Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.

• When moving into a new home, have all locks changed. Targeting the Outside:

• Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.

• Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.

• Make sure your door hinges are on the inside. Windows:

• Most windows can be pinned for security.

• Drill a 3/16″ hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame – place a nail in the hole to secure the window.

Alarms:

• An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market.

• Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you. If Your Home Is Broken Into: If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door:

• Do not enter – the perpetrator may still be inside.

• Use a neighbor’s phone or a cell phone to call police.

• Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.

• Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.

• Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons. Other precautions you should take:

• Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places — burglars know where to look for hidden keys.

• Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home — this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.

• Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.

• Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call the Rialto Police Department immediately.

• Mark your valuables with your driver’s license number with an engraver. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.

• Form a Neighborhood Watch Group. We can help you work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary.
Consider installing a burglar alarm system.

The MOST important thing YOU can do is CALL THE POLICE to report a CRIME or any SUSPICIOUS activity.

You have to be the eyes of your neighborhood. And remember you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes!

Remember the three L’s of Crime Prevention:

LIGHTS, LOCKS & the LAW!

Light up your residence, lock your doors at all times, and call the Law when you see something suspicious.

Graffiti Removal, How important is it to you?

When I first moved back to Rialto I noticed how much graffiti was all over the place it was like little LA.

We rented for one year then made the decision to purchase our first home in Rialto, the graffiti was out of control.

We banded together with Lt Burkholder, Lt Crispin & Cpl Muir to get the graffiti under control. I personally held GPC the graffiti removal contractor to a hard-line of removing the graffiti ASAP. I helped GPC & the city of Rialto over obstacles such as private property right of ways and businesses that were no longer cleaning graffiti on their back walls because of retaliation against their maintenance employees. Councilman Ed Palmer and I developed a way to get property owners and leasing companies to keep their leasing signs free of graffiti.

And things were looking better……………………….. Until Now!!!!!

The city has decided to change contractors beginning last month May 2012 to save $3 a stop. Now everyone has heard the saying you get what you pay for, and we are getting just that cheaper service that has more excuses than results.

Larry De Corona the Owner of Superior Property Mainence ( http://www.4superior.com/ ) came out to the Area 1 Command Meeting stating that nothing will change but better faster services at a lower price. He tried to tell us his company can’t take care of our drainage Areas or Washes ( which is wrong ) and that they were brining in a new camera program, knowledgeable staff ect. None of his statements have shown to be true.

So I wonder why I have been calling and seeing graffiti up for days and days, poor painting, tags still showing through ect. Then I remembered something Mr. De Corona said at the meeting they are the largest graffiti removal program in LA County. Ah ha this is why who hasn’t driven around LA County and been blinded by graffiti.

Larry Decrona Owner & Managing partner in aquisition and Property Managment

Larry De Corona (pictured above) called me yesterday very upset that I am asking his company to remove the graffiti in a timely fashion. He said that they are working within the confines of the contract and that I couldn’t use his statements at the Area Command Meeting as gold. He told me that in April GPC billed the city $8K for the month of April, Superior billed the city $6K for May. This isn’t because they are so much cheaper it’s because they are slower to respond and GPC work some Saturdays in April Superior doesnt.

Mr. De Corona said something that speaks to where he is coming from a property management back ground that showed his lack of knowledge of this city or the War we wage her on Hoodlums. He said “Whats the difference if the graffiti stays up a few more days if it saves the city money”. Really did you just say that. Graffiti is a hoodlums way of saying he owns your neighborhood, street or city, and everyday it’s up there is another day to influence our teens, intimidate our communities and enrage community members.

I spoke with Tim Sullivan from public works and he told me that Superior is new and he is keeping close account of the complaints and looking at Superior’s response times and quality of work. We want to keep this from becoming a problem.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rid-Rialto-of-Graffitti/216882198324244 – We have a Facebook Page you can visit and post your problem areas with graffiti or just email them to rialtonw@aol.com and we will post for you.

Ferguson Park the Multi Million Dollar park that wont be stripped until the July Grand Opening was hit hard and it took Superior 3 days to remove this graffiti, so people’s questions on safety at our parks is still an issue and thanks to Superior the community is wondering if the new park is even worth visiting.

I have called the graffiti hotline numerous times to find MAJOR, MASSIVE tags up for days and even weeks.

The graffiti Hotline number is 909-820-2670 put this in your cell phone and call on every tag.

If you have questions, complaints or concerns please call 909-820-2602 and ask for Tim Sullivan.

Coffee With the Chief, Taste of Rialto and More………….

Coffee with the Police Chief

June 12th from 8:00 to 9:00 am – A meet and greet with the Rialto Police Chief and staff!  This will be a recurring event happening every 2nd Tuesday at Coffee Nutzz (119 E. Foothill Blvd.).  Come out and learn more about your Police Deparment!

A Taste Of Rialto

You’re invited to join us for the 8th Annual Taste of Rialto on Thursday, June 7th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm in Downtown Rialto.  The Rialto Chamber of Commerce, City of Rialto, and State Farm Insurance are sponsoring the  “Taste of Rialto.”  This event will highlight over a dozen of Rialto’s finest restaurants and will include wine and beer tasting from several participating wineries and breweries in the region.  A wide variety of foods including African, American, BBQ, Cajun, Chinese, Mexican and International cuisine will be free for the tasting!  The event will be held at the Downtown Park on the northeast corner of Rialto Avenue and Riverside and will include entertainment.  Tickets for the event are $25.00 and are available from the Rialto Chamber of Commerce (909) 875-5364 and at the event.  There will also be a Cruise Night on Friday, June 8th from 7:00 – 10:00 pm. See you there!

Run What You Brung Car Show

Come join us for the annual Run Whatcha Brung car show. This event takes place Saturday, June 9th,  from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in Downtown Rialto. Free admission to spectators.

2012 National Night Out

National Night Out is a nation-wide program co-sponsored by Target in where neighborhood watch groups come together one night a year with Target representatives, police, fire, school and city officials, to celebrate the concerted effort in fighting crime throughout the year. This year’s event will be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 from 5:00 – 8:30 pm.

National Night Out is a wonderful opportunity for our community to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie. It represents the kind of spirit, energy, and determination that is helping make our neighborhoods safer places throughout the year. It is a night to celebrate safety and crime prevention success and to expand and strengthen our commitment throughout the year.

The Rialto Police Department and its personnel are proud to host such a great event and we would like to say a special “Thank You” to all of our citizens for their willingness to work with us to make this a better and safer Rialto.

Want free exposure????

Are you a business, community group, charitable organization, local elected official or a person seeking a local office?

Here at Rialto Now we are always looking to highlight the latest and greatest in and around Rialto. What we are offering are opportunities for you to get the word out to residents and community leaders that truly care about this City and the Inland Empire.

How does it work:

  • We formulate a series of questions that are directly related to your and your industry. We then email those questions to you at an email address you provide. You in turn answer those questions, then email it back to us with any pictures, contact links, phone number ect. We run grammar, spelling and check to make sure all words are clean don’t infringe on another persons rights and we post it.

What if I don’t like some of your questions:

  • That hasn’t happened but if you don’t like them don’t answer them. Of course the more interesting content we have and pictures we provide will make your post the most viewed.
  • These “SPOTLIGHTS” are designed in a way to inform the public on the given topic host, they are never intended to portray the business in a negative light.

How can I control any ads that may appear on my post:

  • You can make special requests to have certain adds not shown on your post. The best way is to pay to advertise on your own post we never put more than one ad per post. Ads range from $10 – $50. Ask us for the details.

Who can request to have a “SPOTLIGHT” done for them:

  • Anyone that their business deals with the city of Rialto, sells to people who reside in Rialto, business/organization/political figure or person running for political office/community group/ non-profit or any host group located within Rialto.

Here are a few of the “SPOTLIGHTS” we have already done:

So if your intrested in a “SPOTLIGHT” please email:

 davidsmarketing@aol.com and put in the subject line “SPOTLIGHT”

Area 1 Command Meeting Review

Hello readers here is our review of the area command meeting in area 1. This is Lt Karol’s second meeting since his promotion and assignment as area 1 commander for Rialto. Lt. Karol ran this meeting alot like one of our favorite retired Lt Crispin, the meeting was very comfortable and flowed nicely.

Lt Karol Area 1 Commander opening up his 2nd meeting

Topics were well covered and residents were given and opportunity to comment and vent without being chased out of the room because they didn’t entirely agree with the presenter. Not every presenter spoke because the presenters that did speak were important to the people sitting in the audience.

I wasnt entirely sure how the chosen venue would suit this meeting when I first heard about it, but after the meeting was over the only critique is that it was hard to find out which room the meetin was in because Sunrise Church is such a large facility. Proper signage would help negate this issue. The people who attend there who were there for bible studies and other groups were very nice, hospitible and helped you find the right room.

Larry Decrona Owner & Managing partner in aquisition and Property Managment

First up was Larry from Superior Graffitti Removal – They are the new graffitti removal company and they are promising to do more for less. How many of you have ever paid less for for a service or product and been at all happy with the end result? My fear is that they will relize this city is more work than originally factored and come back to council looking for money &/or allow their service drop off due to the additional expense of serivcing our city. They promise next day service & a national reporting serivce that is free to the city. They say that if you call on graffitti and they cant remove it or refuse to because of some strange rules they will call you and inform you. Well I debunked that this week I called on three spots this week no removal and no call. Go to the community Graffitti page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rid-Rialto-of-Graffitti/216882198324244 give it a “LIKE” and join the discousion.

They say they are the largest graffitti removal company in LA County, like that was a badge of honor. LA County has a reputation of throwing bad money after good and has graffitti blanketing their communities. Where is the graffitti removal response? You can find them at http://4superior.com .

Scott Enoch with City of Rialto Parks and Rec

Scott Enoch with Parks and Rec seemed a little unprepared for the types of questiones he recived. He spoke about the cataloge that the city puts out to inform the community about services they provice and annonced the dedication cerimony at Freguson park that will take place Saturday July 14th. Whats funny is the football feilds wont be stripped until just before the dedication and grand opening of the park because they want it to look nice, yet the park is already open. In my opinion it sends the message that the city dosent care about the comunity just the press and media that wont show up for the event. The only time media covers Rialto is for bad things very rare to hear about positive things in the Sun or ABC 7 in reference to Rialto.

The questions Mr Enoch wasnt ready for was about the violence, crime, debachury and filth that currently resides in our parks. People complained about the janitorial services that Mr Enoch had never met or seen in his life. People described to cleaning staff as 2 mexican ruffians pulling up in a lifted black truck and doing very little cleaning. Bathrooms cleanliness was also a issue sticky and trashed almost all the time, waste baskets with busted out bottoms, gangs taking over our parks and much more.

If you want to know more about our parks you are directed to the parks and rec commision meeting 3rd tuesday of every month. Also if you have issues with broken or damaged park equipment call public works and or Parks and Rec.

Sergio is with Public Works and is a Traffic Engineer

Public works was next and they had a traffic engineer out to speak to the public. 2 new traffic signals were installed 1 at Valley/Cactus and the other on Rverside Ave in front of Fire Station 202. Cactus south bound is sceduled to be widened, Ayala north bound will be widened, Linden north bound to Carter and a new signal will begin the planning phases at Linden and Riverside Aves. This intersection is the source of many accidents and fatilities in the past and is well over due. Also Pepper will be extended to the 210 freeway.

Mike Story is the City Manager addressing some issues within the city

Last was Mike Story the city manager for the city of Rialto. First off read his monthly report its full of great information. Mr Story spoke about some of the issues that were being brought up. In and Out in Rialto will happen at its latest is 2013, the city is getting leaner but its finding ways to to the same with less. Mr Story is a straight shooter with a positive outlook as long as we can remain together during the lean years. Super Walmart is finally moving along, Mr Story spoke about ways his department is making Rialto more business freindly without giving away the farm. San Bernardino has done just that with the new Amazon Wharehouse, Kohls Distribution center, Regal Cinema project in downtown and many more they earn so little on tax revenues and have nothing to pay for toads damaged by truck traffic or crime that follows these developments. Mr Story is using quick building permits, defered project payments and more to help developers.

Finally Lt Karol closed the meting with some recent crime trends in the area and city:

  • Ding Dong Break In – Somone comes up to your door and knocks and rings the bell if none awnsers another person access your backyard smashes in your slider and ransacks your home in and out in about 2 mins. If your home awsner from inside you dont have to awnser the door but with them knowing somones home they normally move on.
  • Front Door Kick In – Yes its back they caught 2 males who had been victimizing homes on the south end of area 1. Key here is to report people that dont belong in your neigborhood.
  • Into the Garage – Do you leave a garage door opener in your car? If yes then you could be a waiting victim of this breakin.

Neighborhood Watch Group Helps Solve 7 Burglaries

Below is an article a community in San Rafael, CA  that by using this app and a strong Neighborhood Watch they are directly effecting crime in their community.

We will be posting an interview with Gordon Jones with Guardian Watch a cell phone app that allows communities to better communicate with each other and EMS personnel on what going on in their area the website is:

http://www.guardianwatch.com/

http://www.facebook.com/GuardianWatch

Also Check out:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001441607142 – Flores Park NW

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rialto-Residents-for-Rialto-Fire-Department/145275045567795

http://www.facebook.com/groups/309058217201/ – Residents for Rialto PD

http://www.facebook.com/RialtoPD

After five months and three community meetings, the Terra Linda and Marinwood Neighborhood Watch Program is helping officers solve crime, according to one of the group’s organizers.
Since the creation of the neighborhood watch program in December 2011, the number of calls dispatchers received has increased and homeowners are feeling safer, said organizer John Buckley.
“At our first meeting, there was a sense that everyone was in crisis mode,” he said. “But now we can tell it’s working.”
Dispatchers at Tuesday’s meeting told attendees that the neighborhood watch group’s calls had a hand in helping to catch three suspected burglars in early April. Two Terra Linda High School students and one graduate were arrested on suspicion of breaking in to the school’s storage container where they stock candy and snacks for athletic events.
During their interviews, the three confessed to several other burglaries in the Terra Linda, Marinwood and Santa Venetia areas, totaling seven incidents.
“Essentially we helped solve seven crimes,” Buckley said.
In one incident, the teens broke in to Buckley’s neighbor’s house but when the homeowner returned, they stealthily fled after stashing a laptop and vodka in the yard. Once they confessed, they returned with officers to the house to locate the items.
Terra Linda and Marinwood neighbors first began their watch group in December after a wave of home burglaries in the area.  At a meeting in February, retired San Rafael police officer Tom Boyd described these neighborhood’s as a “burglar’s paradise” because the properties are surrounded by open space and trusting residents are making it easy for crime with unlocked vehicles and open garage doors.
The neighborhood watch’s website has been tracking incidents in the area to keep people informed.
According to the website, a neighbor came returned to her home on Golden Hinde on Feb. 14 and found that the front door was pried open by a crowbar. Her Wii, iPad, iTouch, passports, several credit cards and other items were stolen.
The site also lists a failed burglary in Marinwood on March 9, where suspects broke into a locked garage side door. When they discovered the 91-year-old homeowner inside, they cut the power and fled. In March, a man was arrested on suspicion of two gas station armed burglaries in Terra Linda. In one case, a Union 76 Station clerk attempted to fight the suspect and was struck in the head several times with the weapon.
Although the meetings’ attendance dwindled since the first in December (the first meeting drew over 200 people when this week’s drew 35), the website has served the community well, Buckley said. Some of the content garnered as much as 6,000 visitors, 12,000 page views and now over 250 people have signed up for email updates.
“It just shows that the campaign is really working,” he said.
The next neighborhood meeting will be in the fall and will address emergency preparedness.

Update on the American Water Petitions and Prop 218 Protest Letters

Dear friends and neighbors:

As you know, we are fighting the American Water privatization deal in Rialto in two different ways:  first, the petition we recently filed to require the City to place the American Water contract up for a vote of the people; and second, the Prop 218 process for Rialto property owners to block the rate hikes the City is trying to impose in order to pay for this misguided scheme.

I am writing to alert you to developments on both fronts.

Concerning the voter petition, the San Bernardino Sun reported today that the City has forwarded our petitions to the County of San Bernardino to certify whether we have submitted enough signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot.  The County says that process will take about two weeks.

We expect the County to confirm that we have submitted more than enough votes to place this critical decision before the voters of Rialto.  You can read the Sun’s article at the following link:

http://www.sbsun.com/ci_20648408/county-elections-staff-verifying-signatures-rialto-petition-vote

Concerning the Prop 218 process, we mailed protest cards today to all Rialto property owners.  These cards provide property owners with a convenient way to tell the City that the people of Rialto reject these unfair rate hikes.  We also included a postage-prepaid envelope to make it easy for impacted property owners to return the protest cards.

Under Proposition 218, if a majority of impacted property owners file protests with the City, the City cannot impose these rate hikes!

If you are property owner in Rialto – or a renter who is responsible for paying the water or sewer bill – we encourage you to return the protest card as soon as you receive it.  If you receive a mailing from SOS Rialto Water, please open it immediately; sign the enclosed protest card; and return it to us in the postage-prepaid envelope.

We will deliver every protest card we receive to the City Clerk’s office before the June 12 deadline.

Please remember – Rialto property owners can block these unfair rate hikes, but only if a sufficient number of protests are filed with the City by June 12.  Please return your protest card to SOS Rialto Water immediately.

Thank you again for your support in blocking these unfair rate hikes.

Sincerely,

Mark Brooks

SOS Rialto Water and Utility Workers Union of America

Won this (Water) Battle, Yet Still forging on the War Front

Below is the form email that went out from SOS Water, the organization that is spearheading the drive to allow City of Rialto Voters to vote on the decision to outsource our water and waste water systems. I hope this push proves a few things to the city council and mayor of Rialto:

  • Simple transperity isn’t enough when it comes to our water and a 30 year contract – Besides people who either work for the city, sit on a city commission/board or belong to a group or organization that is owned by the city government no one things that the information meetings were informative, they were more confusing. No other proposals were shown, staff presenting the information came off cocky and rude & people were left with more questions than answers.
  • When the people (Rialto Residents) speak listen – 80+ people signed up to speak on the impending vote on water services & the city council choose to instead listen to Union reps, possible future business owners, labor lobbies & inappropriate city mouth pieces (Ref June Hayes calling one of the speakers a card carving communist). When Rialto business owners and residents filled 4 rooms and spoke their piece and you still chose to ignore it, you work for us remember that.
  • For years this city government has made a choice to ignore the water system, now when RDA funds are gone we make a made dash for the first person willing to pay us off. How is this fair to the city? Why should the residents pay for your lack of leadership. It was best said today as Governor Brown was making his latest pitch for higher taxes he ask a reporter if she didn’t like his plan what did she think he should do and she said “THATS YOUR JOB”. IF the city water is in such disrepair then let’s get to work fixing it. Start off by using the 30 million dollars the Utility owes you and let’s get to work. Then lets talk about slow graduated increases that will hurt less over time to obtain the remainder of the money and finish the work. By the councils own admission this alone will bring business here that was avoiding us because of our water systems age and disrepair. I don’t agree that is why they are avoiding us but that’s for another post.
  • SOS is comprised from people out-of-state that have seen American Water at work and know first hand what type of service they provide. This doesnt bother me one bit because without the hard work and passion of the people of Rialto their efforts would have died out eons ago.

Dear friends and neighbors:

On Saturday, May 12, we filed our petition with the City Clerk with substantially more than enough signatures to place the water privatization scheme before the voters of Rialto.  Under California law, this means that the City will be required to present this critical issue to a vote of the people.

We needed 10% of the registered voters of Rialto to qualify for the ballot – or just over 3,600 signatures.  Instead, we turned in more than 6,400 signatures!

The people of Rialto really came through to let City Council know that the voters of Rialto deserve to have the final say on this misguided 30-year privatization scheme.

The next step is that the City will review our petition to verify that we have submitted a sufficient number of valid signatures.  After that, this issue should be presented to a public ballot sometime over the next few months.  We will need to re-double our efforts to make certain this water privatization contract is defeated at the ballot box.

In addition, in the next few days we will be sending Prop 218 protest cards to all Rialto property owner who are affected by the huge rate hikes that the City Council is trying to push through to finance this deal.  If a majority of property owners protest these rate hikes, then the City cannot impose the rate increases and the entire water privatization scheme fails.

We will keep you posted on both of these efforts as we move forward.

Congratulations again for all of your hard work and for standing up for the future of Rialto.

Mark Brooks

SOS Rialto Water

P.S.  I am posting below a link to the news story in the Sunday’s San Bernardino Sun concerning our success in getting the petition filed, and another link to a guest editorial from SOS Rialto Water members that was printed in the Sun on May 9.

http://www.sbsun.com/ci_20612243/more-than-6-000-rialto-residents-sign-petition

http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_20585383/rialto-voters-deserve-say-american-water-deal

 

Signature Collectors be proud Final signature count is……

Josef Britt
We the People have spoken. The final count is into the Rialto City Clerks Office.The Referendum Petition that we fought so hard for, 3 weeks of door to door asking all Rialto Voters to please sign and you did. We were hoping for min of 3500 and topping out 5000 for padding and our numbers are 6418, You did it. We the People of Rialto have spoken. Here’s a camera shot of the receipt I took in front of the Clerks office 5:00pm. Now let’s start to rebuild Rialto to the Jewel that it should be. Rialto you did it. Thanks! Joe Britt

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