Friday, April 11, 2008
Feedback from the Community
Operation Phoenix Westside Liaison Sees Opportunity For Change
Friday, 11 January 2008
SAN BERNARDINO
By Chris Levister
Rafael Rawls wants a better life for his homies and the residents of San Bernardino's long suffering Westside. The lifelong Westside resident is the new community liaison hired by the city to build support for extending the Operation Phoenix anti-crime program to his neighborhood.
"I'm looking forward to bringing about change," said the 24-year-old Rawls who gave up his position as a field representative for Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto) to nurse support for the program.
In November the city council voted to expand Operation Phoenix, Mayor Pat Morris' crime-fighting program to three new areas including $199,300 to launch the program in the Westside known as a hotbed of gang related shootings and persistent drug activity.
Rafael Rawls with Mayor Patrick Morris (l) and City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson calls his new job as liaison for Operation Phoenix Westside an opportunity to stimulate change.
Rawls says his efforts will focus on more than the community's troubled streets.
"Our hope is to become a vehicle for empowerment to address the root causes of crime typically poverty, joblessness, broken families and a lack of access to educational resources and youth programs. People won't just wake up one morning and say I want to be a criminal," says Rawls. "There are many driving forces."
He plans to work with businesses, churches and other community organizations such as the NAACP, Chamber of Commerce and Urban League to solicit support and resources needed to keep the Westside program afloat since future city funding is uncertain.
Residents welcomed Rawls calling him a dedicated young man whose depth and breath of the Westside extends far beyond his youthful 24 years. He's the kind of guy you'd invite into your home for eggs, bacon and politics. "He's charming, knowledgeable and dedicated to making people's lives better," said Sarah a longtime resident who would only give her first name.
The city agreed to a $34,400 renewable contract that expires June 30. While most members of the city council support expanding Operation Phoenix to the Westside, not everyone was in favor hiring a liaison. Three members of the council Wendy McCammack, Neil Derry and Chas Kelley voted against funding the position calling it
unnecessary.
"We have numerous community outreach personnel capable of arranging meetings for Operation Phoenix said Derry," this is just redundant."
Councilman Rikke Van Johnson called Rawls' appointment a plus for the community. "He's got good ideas. He knows the issues. He knows the key players. He's no stranger to the Westside plus he can hit the ground running." said Johnson.
(Article)
Friday, 11 January 2008
SAN BERNARDINO
By Chris Levister
Rafael Rawls wants a better life for his homies and the residents of San Bernardino's long suffering Westside. The lifelong Westside resident is the new community liaison hired by the city to build support for extending the Operation Phoenix anti-crime program to his neighborhood.
"I'm looking forward to bringing about change," said the 24-year-old Rawls who gave up his position as a field representative for Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto) to nurse support for the program.
In November the city council voted to expand Operation Phoenix, Mayor Pat Morris' crime-fighting program to three new areas including $199,300 to launch the program in the Westside known as a hotbed of gang related shootings and persistent drug activity.
Rafael Rawls with Mayor Patrick Morris (l) and City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson calls his new job as liaison for Operation Phoenix Westside an opportunity to stimulate change.
Rawls says his efforts will focus on more than the community's troubled streets.
"Our hope is to become a vehicle for empowerment to address the root causes of crime typically poverty, joblessness, broken families and a lack of access to educational resources and youth programs. People won't just wake up one morning and say I want to be a criminal," says Rawls. "There are many driving forces."
He plans to work with businesses, churches and other community organizations such as the NAACP, Chamber of Commerce and Urban League to solicit support and resources needed to keep the Westside program afloat since future city funding is uncertain.
Residents welcomed Rawls calling him a dedicated young man whose depth and breath of the Westside extends far beyond his youthful 24 years. He's the kind of guy you'd invite into your home for eggs, bacon and politics. "He's charming, knowledgeable and dedicated to making people's lives better," said Sarah a longtime resident who would only give her first name.
The city agreed to a $34,400 renewable contract that expires June 30. While most members of the city council support expanding Operation Phoenix to the Westside, not everyone was in favor hiring a liaison. Three members of the council Wendy McCammack, Neil Derry and Chas Kelley voted against funding the position calling it
unnecessary.
"We have numerous community outreach personnel capable of arranging meetings for Operation Phoenix said Derry," this is just redundant."
Councilman Rikke Van Johnson called Rawls' appointment a plus for the community. "He's got good ideas. He knows the issues. He knows the key players. He's no stranger to the Westside plus he can hit the ground running." said Johnson.
(Article)
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Affect of New Urbanization Techniques (esp. Operation Phoenix) on the City's Budget
The City of San Bernardino, like many cities in the United States, is going through the growth-trend known as “New Urbanization.” As touched upon in class this is a reorganizing and refurbishment of existing downtowns that have gone into disrepair, because past residents have moved to the suburbs and eventually exurbs. This past year San Bernardino partnered with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to put together a report which puts forth suggestions to rebuild and revitalize the downtown area(s) of San Bernardino.
The report begins with the history of San Bernardino, mentioning its founding by the Missionaries in Southern California and the influence of the early Mormon Church. (ULI Study, 8) The study then goes on to point out why the downtown area of San Bernardino has lost prominence since the 1980’s. It lists six major reasons for the decline in the downtown area:
1. The closing of Andrew’s Air Force Base, which facilitated the loss of 10,000 jobs in the area. (ULI Study, 9)
2. The “construction of Interstate 15 from Ontario to the Cajon Pass, which directed Los Angeles traffic away from San Bernardino and towards Ontario.” (ULI Study, 9)
3. The final reason was the closing of “the Kaiser Steel Plant in Fontana, which cost the jobs of several thousand San Bernardino Valley residents” (ULI Study, 9)
4. “The relocation of a major maintenance facility for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from San Bernardino to the Midwest, with a loss of about 2,000 jobs” (ULI Study, 9)
5. “The development of the Hospitality Lane area south of downtown and adjacent to Interstate 10, which drew shoppers and businesses out of downtown San Bernardino” (ULI Study, 9)
6. “Finally, the real estate recession of the 1990s resulted in substantial devaluation
of property.” (ULI, 9)
The study goes on, in an attempt to rectify these problems/challenges, to set forth a list of recommendations for the city to look at, that if implemented, would revitalize the downtown area. The first three are as follows:
1. “Engage the citizens of San Bernardino in the process of envisioning and developing the future
of the downtown.
2. Take steps to clean and maintain the downtown area and enhance the aesthetics of the streets
with plantings and other amenities.
3. Increase police patrolling to reverse the perception of insecurity and danger.” (ULI Study, 11)
The Mayor, in his first state of the city address, March, 2007, addressed the citizens of San Bernardino about the ways his office was addressing these recommendations. (Full Address Text) First, he began by touting the city’s renovation project of its old mall. He talks about the particulars, mentioning that there will be condos, new retail space, pocket parks, even a stream going through this mall area. In this section he also talks about various other development projects including two other, like-planned, communities. He then goes on to talk about transportation and the new high-speed bus system being designed for the city (he claims the first in the nation). Also in this section, he talks about the transition of the San Bernardino Airport into an International Airport. The Mayor describes the work being done and the fact that the airport has officially been deemed a duty-free area with an on-site customs presence. Ending his transportation section, he talks about the new light-rail system in the works that would go from downtown San Bernardino to Downtown Redlands.
The most important section is the one on Law Enforcement. The Mayor, predominantly, speaks about his pet project “Operation Phoenix.” This program, as he points out, is an all encompassing program that is not only enforcement but community outreach as well. It promotes after school programs for children, neighborhood clean-up, and crime prevention. The program is estimated to cost $450,000 annually, without the coast of the 40 police officers the Mayor wants to hire. As of 04/07/2008 the Assistant Chief of Police for the City of San Bernardino has yet to get back to me on the exact cost of each officer (e.g. salary, fringe benefits, etc.) A salaried officer makes between $4,886-6,600/month, which equates to $58, 632-79,200/year (these prices are not said to include fringe benefits like medical, retirement, insurance, etc.) (1). Even if the city were to hire 40 officers at the lowest pay-scale, it would cost an additional $2,345,280/year for the city. It is this program and the subsequent budget deficit for the fiscal year of 2007-08, that seemed too coincidental.
The operating budget for the fiscal year of 07-08 is right under $145 million, but for the sake of discussion we will round up. Of this amount an impressive $63,788,600 was spent on some kind of law enforcement. (Citation) This represents 43.99% of the city’s annual budget. The annual Police Budget has increased since 2002-2008 as shown:
Police Line-Items of the City Budgets For Fiscal Years 02/03 - 07/08
2002-2003: 44,686,595
2003-2004: 45,513,387
2004-2005: 48,039,553
2005-2006: 53,179,223
2006-2007: 59,700,000
2007-2008: 63,445,600
(Link)
Monetary Increase in Police Line-Item of San Bernardino City Budget: FYs 02/03-07/08
• 02/03 – 03/04: $826,792
• 03/04 – 04/05: $2,526,166
• 04/05 – 05/06: $5,139,670
• 05/06 – 06/07: $6,520,777
• 06/07 – 07/08: $3,745,600
In last year’s state of the city address, the Mayor points out that crime has gone down since the implementation of Operation Phoenix; however, now, in 2007-08 the city is looking at a deficit of approximately $7.2 million. This represents approximately 5% of the annual city budget. The City Council is trying to decide whether or not they should use the city’s surplus to pay down/off the deficit after an attempt to cut back on “wasteful spending” did not yield enough money to cover the deficit.
One Councilmember, Councilwoman McCammack, scrutinized Operation Phoenix by claiming that, “expenditures such as a recent Police Activities League trip with local children to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is an example of a unnecessary expenditure,” and that “she had found some expenditures that puzzled her, including a payment to a private contractor to make business cards for the staff of Operation Phoenix, Mayor Pat Morris' crime-fighting program. McCammack said she thought the cards could have been made in the city print shop.” (Citation1) and (Citation2) respectively). These attacks on Operation Phoenix are not necessarily unwarranted. The immense amount of city money that is being spent on Law Enforcement in order to curb crime may not be entirely worth it, because the main purpose of spending that money is to make the crime rate go down (which it has), in order to make those who live in the city and may potentially live in the city feel more safe (which has yet to be seen). If San Bernardino is able to lose its stigma of being dangerous, as the ULI Study suggests it should do, then more and more people, theoretically, will move back to the downtown area. However, only time will tell if the New Urbanization techniques being suggested by the Mayor’s office and implemented by the City Government will be worth the money spent.
The report begins with the history of San Bernardino, mentioning its founding by the Missionaries in Southern California and the influence of the early Mormon Church. (ULI Study, 8) The study then goes on to point out why the downtown area of San Bernardino has lost prominence since the 1980’s. It lists six major reasons for the decline in the downtown area:
1. The closing of Andrew’s Air Force Base, which facilitated the loss of 10,000 jobs in the area. (ULI Study, 9)
2. The “construction of Interstate 15 from Ontario to the Cajon Pass, which directed Los Angeles traffic away from San Bernardino and towards Ontario.” (ULI Study, 9)
3. The final reason was the closing of “the Kaiser Steel Plant in Fontana, which cost the jobs of several thousand San Bernardino Valley residents” (ULI Study, 9)
4. “The relocation of a major maintenance facility for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from San Bernardino to the Midwest, with a loss of about 2,000 jobs” (ULI Study, 9)
5. “The development of the Hospitality Lane area south of downtown and adjacent to Interstate 10, which drew shoppers and businesses out of downtown San Bernardino” (ULI Study, 9)
6. “Finally, the real estate recession of the 1990s resulted in substantial devaluation
of property.” (ULI, 9)
The study goes on, in an attempt to rectify these problems/challenges, to set forth a list of recommendations for the city to look at, that if implemented, would revitalize the downtown area. The first three are as follows:
1. “Engage the citizens of San Bernardino in the process of envisioning and developing the future
of the downtown.
2. Take steps to clean and maintain the downtown area and enhance the aesthetics of the streets
with plantings and other amenities.
3. Increase police patrolling to reverse the perception of insecurity and danger.” (ULI Study, 11)
The Mayor, in his first state of the city address, March, 2007, addressed the citizens of San Bernardino about the ways his office was addressing these recommendations. (Full Address Text) First, he began by touting the city’s renovation project of its old mall. He talks about the particulars, mentioning that there will be condos, new retail space, pocket parks, even a stream going through this mall area. In this section he also talks about various other development projects including two other, like-planned, communities. He then goes on to talk about transportation and the new high-speed bus system being designed for the city (he claims the first in the nation). Also in this section, he talks about the transition of the San Bernardino Airport into an International Airport. The Mayor describes the work being done and the fact that the airport has officially been deemed a duty-free area with an on-site customs presence. Ending his transportation section, he talks about the new light-rail system in the works that would go from downtown San Bernardino to Downtown Redlands.
The most important section is the one on Law Enforcement. The Mayor, predominantly, speaks about his pet project “Operation Phoenix.” This program, as he points out, is an all encompassing program that is not only enforcement but community outreach as well. It promotes after school programs for children, neighborhood clean-up, and crime prevention. The program is estimated to cost $450,000 annually, without the coast of the 40 police officers the Mayor wants to hire. As of 04/07/2008 the Assistant Chief of Police for the City of San Bernardino has yet to get back to me on the exact cost of each officer (e.g. salary, fringe benefits, etc.) A salaried officer makes between $4,886-6,600/month, which equates to $58, 632-79,200/year (these prices are not said to include fringe benefits like medical, retirement, insurance, etc.) (1). Even if the city were to hire 40 officers at the lowest pay-scale, it would cost an additional $2,345,280/year for the city. It is this program and the subsequent budget deficit for the fiscal year of 2007-08, that seemed too coincidental.
The operating budget for the fiscal year of 07-08 is right under $145 million, but for the sake of discussion we will round up. Of this amount an impressive $63,788,600 was spent on some kind of law enforcement. (Citation) This represents 43.99% of the city’s annual budget. The annual Police Budget has increased since 2002-2008 as shown:
Police Line-Items of the City Budgets For Fiscal Years 02/03 - 07/08
2002-2003: 44,686,595
2003-2004: 45,513,387
2004-2005: 48,039,553
2005-2006: 53,179,223
2006-2007: 59,700,000
2007-2008: 63,445,600
(Link)
Monetary Increase in Police Line-Item of San Bernardino City Budget: FYs 02/03-07/08
• 02/03 – 03/04: $826,792
• 03/04 – 04/05: $2,526,166
• 04/05 – 05/06: $5,139,670
• 05/06 – 06/07: $6,520,777
• 06/07 – 07/08: $3,745,600
In last year’s state of the city address, the Mayor points out that crime has gone down since the implementation of Operation Phoenix; however, now, in 2007-08 the city is looking at a deficit of approximately $7.2 million. This represents approximately 5% of the annual city budget. The City Council is trying to decide whether or not they should use the city’s surplus to pay down/off the deficit after an attempt to cut back on “wasteful spending” did not yield enough money to cover the deficit.
One Councilmember, Councilwoman McCammack, scrutinized Operation Phoenix by claiming that, “expenditures such as a recent Police Activities League trip with local children to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is an example of a unnecessary expenditure,” and that “she had found some expenditures that puzzled her, including a payment to a private contractor to make business cards for the staff of Operation Phoenix, Mayor Pat Morris' crime-fighting program. McCammack said she thought the cards could have been made in the city print shop.” (Citation1) and (Citation2) respectively). These attacks on Operation Phoenix are not necessarily unwarranted. The immense amount of city money that is being spent on Law Enforcement in order to curb crime may not be entirely worth it, because the main purpose of spending that money is to make the crime rate go down (which it has), in order to make those who live in the city and may potentially live in the city feel more safe (which has yet to be seen). If San Bernardino is able to lose its stigma of being dangerous, as the ULI Study suggests it should do, then more and more people, theoretically, will move back to the downtown area. However, only time will tell if the New Urbanization techniques being suggested by the Mayor’s office and implemented by the City Government will be worth the money spent.
Current City Government Make-up - City Manager Fred Wilson
"The City Manager is responsible for the day-to-day administration of City government. The City Manager provides overall management and supervision of all City departments. The City Manager's Office acts as the nexus for interaction, coordination, and communication among all City departments.
The City Manager's Office is responsible for managing budget resources, carrying out policy implementation, and providing analysis and recommendations to aid in policy development. Providing a sound fiscal direction for the City is the main goal of this department. This process is accomplished by the overseeing and aiding in the preparation, adoption, and maintenance of each annual budget.
The City Manager's Office, in addition to providing the lead role in policy formulation and budgetary management, focuses on special projects as directed by the Mayor and Common Council. This department performs the agenda development function for the Mayor and Common Council, administers the City Employees' Rideshare Program, and coordinates grant writing efforts." (Citation)
The City Manager's Office is responsible for managing budget resources, carrying out policy implementation, and providing analysis and recommendations to aid in policy development. Providing a sound fiscal direction for the City is the main goal of this department. This process is accomplished by the overseeing and aiding in the preparation, adoption, and maintenance of each annual budget.
The City Manager's Office, in addition to providing the lead role in policy formulation and budgetary management, focuses on special projects as directed by the Mayor and Common Council. This department performs the agenda development function for the Mayor and Common Council, administers the City Employees' Rideshare Program, and coordinates grant writing efforts." (Citation)
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Current City Government Make-up - Councilwoman Wendy McCammack (7th)
"Wendy McCammack is presently serving her second term on the San Bernardino City Council. Her current term continues to the year 2008.Councilwoman McCammack is Chairwoman of the Grants Ad Hoc Committee and serves on the Personnel Committee, the Fire Equipment Ad Hoc Committee and is an alternate board member on the Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) and the San Bernardino International Airport Authority. Further, she has served as Chair of the Ways & Means Committee and has served on the Police Ad Hoc Committee and the Community Development Block Grant Funding Review Ad Hoc Committee.
As well as her involvement as a City official, Wendy takes great satisfaction in staying active in the State and National levels regarding issues that directly affect local citizens and government. She has served for three years on the State's League of California Cities Housing Policy Committee. For 2002-2003, she was elected to the League's Inland Empire Division as a Director where legislators lobby the State for their city's best interest.
Wendy is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and has attended many governmental affairs sessions as well as Legislative Action Days in Sacramento on behalf of the business community in San Bernardino. She has participated in the Chamber Leadership Program speaking on how to get to know your elected officials and how to participate in the legislative process. She attends many of the Business After Hours, Open Houses and Ribbon Cuttings and feels this is a great way to get to know many community business leaders.
She is a member of the Republican Women Federated of San Bernardino and the YWCA. She has served as the Membership Chairwoman for the past two years in her San Bernardino Kiwanis Club and is also a Board Member for 2002-2004. She was a Board Member from 1999-2001 in the Assistance League of San Bernardino and has for the past two years written and edited the membership directory and donated it. Wendy is a supporting member of the Childhelp USA San Bernardino Chapter. She is also a supporting sponsor of SBCAD and has spoken at their Youth to Youth Conference. She is a member of Lutheran Church of Our Savior's Endowment Committee, which has just been established. This Committee writes the policies and documents establishing a corporate endowment fund. Wendy was elected for 2-1/2 years to the Holy Rosary Academy School Board. She and her husband are members of the Cal State Coyote Athletic Association and Wendy is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 777. She served on the Board of the Highland Avenue Business Association for two years and is still currently an active member in HAABA. For HAABA, she sponsored a business improvement clean-up day and was vocal in getting Highland Avenue the powers of eminent domain back so noncompliant property owners could be pressured into complying with City building and safety standards. Further, Wendy is a lifetime Girl Scout.
Wendy has an extensive background in marketing, sales and accounting. She grew up and was educated on the East Coast. She went to Drew University and Kean College in New Jersey. She and her husband Dave own Express Printing Signs and T's, Creative Advertising and Apple Tax Service, which has been in San Bernardino since 1982, where she is the CEO/CFO.
Wendy's hobbies are, first and foremost, her children and her husband. She enjoys many water sports, such as swimming, kayaking, sailing and fishing. She also loves singing and playing instrumental music. She is a devout animal lover." (Citation)
Current City Government Make-up - Councilman Rikke Van Johnson (6th Ward)
"Rikke Van Johnson is a 44 year resident of the City of San Bernardino. He is a graduate of Eisenhower High School in Rialto, CA and has an Associate of Arts Degree from San Bernardino Valley College.Mr. Johnson is retired from the United States Postal Service after 27 years of service. He is presently employed as a Bail Agent and Manager for Greenwood Bail Bonds in San Bernardino.
Councilman Johnson was elected to the City Council in November 2003 and was sworn in to represent the residents of the Sixth Ward of the City of San Bernardino on March 1, 2004 and was re-elected to the City Council in November, 2007. His current term will expire in March 2011.
He has served on various City Committees and presently serves on the Ways & Means Committee, the Redevelopment Committee, Budget Ad Hoc Committee, Educational Bridge Ad Hoc Committee, Police Ad Hoc Committee, Parolee Ad Hoc Committee and the San Bernardino County Solid Waste Advisory Task Force. Further he serves as an alternate member of the Inland Valley Development Agency, San Bernardino Regional Water Resources Authority Commission (JPA), SANBAG Board and the SANBAG Major Projects Committee.
Mr. Johnson is a Deacon at Ecclesia Christian Fellowship Church in San Bernardino. He is a lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and is also a member of the Westside Action Group (WAG). He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino.
Mr. Johnson is the husband of Sharon Johnson and they have two daughters, Monique and Erika, one son, Julian Marsailes and one granddaughter, Kiara." (Citation)
Current City Government Make-up - Councilman Chas A. Kelley (5th Ward)
"Councilman Chas A. Kelley was elected to the City Council in November 2003 and was sworn in to represent the residents of the Fifth Ward of the City of San Bernardino on March 1, 2004. His term will expire in March 2008. He currently serves on the Legislative Review Committee.As well as his involvement as a City official, Councilman Kelley is an active member of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church where he serves on the Pastoral Council. He is also a Cub Scout Leader, a Little League Coach with Post 777; President of Kendall Hills Neighborhood Association, and a member of the Neighborhood Cluster Association Advisory Board. Before his election to the Fifth Ward, he served on the Community Television Commission.
Mr. Kelley and his wife, Teri have four children, Brandon, Autumn, Christian and Dylan." (Citation)
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