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)
Current City Government Make-up - Councilman Neil Derry (4th Ward)
"Neil Derry has been a resident in the City of San Bernardino for over 32 years. He attended Belvedere Elementary School, Serrano Jr. High and graduated from San Gorgonio High School. He graduated from California State University, San Bernardino in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.Councilman Derry was sworn in as Councilman of the Fourth Ward on March 4, 2002 and again in March 2006. His current term continues to the year 2010.
He presently serves as Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee and the Fire Equipment Ad Hoc Committee. He also serves on the Legislative Review Committee and the Court House Ad Hoc Committee.
Councilman Derry is currently employed as Region Manager for Southern California Edison. Prior to this position, he worked as a Project Administrator for the San Bernardino County Treasurer's Office and as a Senior Account Executive for Stoorza Communications (now O'Reilly Public Relations) in Riverside, specializing in Public Affairs work with City and County governments, labor associations, land use negotiations, media relations, and annexations. Former Clients include California Steel, the Safety Employees Benefits Association (SEBA), the California Speedway, Majestic Realty, Service Employees International Union 434B (SEIU), Riverside County, and the Ontario Police Officers Association.
For over five years, Mr. Derry served as a Field Representative and Campaign Manager for then Assemblyman Fred Aguiar, who formerly served as Chairman for the County Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Derry served in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from High School from 1987 to 1991. He was an avionics technician on OV-10, Super Cobra, and Huey aircraft and served two overseas tours including Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Before he was elected to the City Council, Mr. Derry served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of San Bernardino.
Neil currently serves on the Executive Board of the California Inland Empire Council Boy Scouts of America, Finance Chair for CIEC Scoutreach Program serving underprivileged youth, Board of Directors for the Baldy View Chapter of the Building Industry Association, Member of the Lincoln Club, and as a member of the San Bernardino North Rotary Club.Neil is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars." (Citation)
Current City Government Make-up - Councilman Tobin Brinker (3rd Ward)
"Tobin Brinker was elected in a special election in November 2006 to serve the one remaining year of Gordon McGinnis' term. Mr. Brinker previously served one term as a Colton School Board Member from 2001-2005. He currently serves on the Colton Joint Unified School District Bond Oversight Committee. He is also the PTA President at Terrace Hills Middle School.Brinker moved to the Inland Empire when he was 8 years old. His father was stationed at Norton Air Force Base. He graduated from Colton High School in 1986 and attended San Bernardino Valley College where he earned an Associates of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies. He went on to graduate from Cal State San Bernardino with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.
Tobin met his wife, Erin at Cal State. They are married with two children and have lived in the Third Ward for nine years. Both Councilman Brinker and his wife were foreign exchange students when they were in high school. They are still actively involved with the American Field Service Foreign Exchange Program. They have hosted students from Columbia, Panama, Bolivia, China, Venezuela, Hong Kong and Austria.
Brinker works as a middle school history teacher in the Rialto School District at Frisbie Middle School. He serves on the California League of Middle Schools Region 10 Advisory Panel and represents our region on the Legislative Action Committee." (Citation)
Current City Government Make-up - Councilman Dennis J. Baxter (2nd Ward)
"Dennis J. Baxter was born and raised in San Bernardino. He attended local schools, graduated from Pacific High School and attended San Bernardino Valley College. His father was a Santa Fe railroad man.His career path led Dennis to become an Award-Winning Broadcast Journalist in Southern California, as well as at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Licensed by the California Department of Real Estate, Dennis also has had a dual career as a Mortgage Banker and Real Estate Marketing Director.
Prior to his election to the San Bernardino City Council, Dennis served on the City's Board of Building Commissioners and was President of the Perris Hill Neighborhood Association, as well as Chairman of the City's Fourth of July Parade Committee. He has also served as host of "Inland Empire Alive", a well-known public affairs program broadcast on Channel 3 in San Bernardino.
On the San Bernardino City Council, Dennis serves on the Legislative Review Committee, Personnel Committee, Grants Ad Hoc Committee, and the CDBG Funding Review Ad Hoc Committee." (Citation)
Current City Government Make-up - Councilwoman Ester Estrada (1st Ward)
"Councilwoman Esther Estrada served 2 full terms on the City Council from June 1985 to June 1993. She was elected to the City Council again in March 1998, 2002 and 2006. Her current term continues to the year 2010.She has served on several City Committees and presently serves as Chairwoman of the Redevelopment Committee. She also serves on the Ways & Means Committee, Council Grants Ad Hoc Committee, San Bernardino Regional Water Resources Authority, Inland Valley Development Agency, San Bernardino International Airport Authority, Community Development Block Grant Funding Review Ad Hoc Committee, California Theater Ad Hoc Committee, Committee to Review Ad Hoc Committees, Court House Ad Hoc Committee, Fire Department Planning Standards Ad Hoc Committee and the School District Ad Hoc Committee. She also serves as an alternate on the Omnitrans Board. As well as her involvement as a City official, Esther is the Executive Director of Casa Ramona, Inc.
Because of the diversity of her interests, Esther has continued to be active in the political arenas of local, state and national politics. She also takes great satisfaction in staying active in community involvement where she has been involved in a great number of community projects and has worked with several organizations.
Esther attended Ramona Elementary School, Allessandro School and Franklin Jr. High School in San Bernardino.She graduated from San Bernardino High School, attended San Bernardino Valley College and San Francisco State University." (1)
Current City Government Make-up
Mayor
The position of Mayor of San Bernardino is currently held by The Honorable Patrick J. Morris.
"Mayor Patrick J. Morris grew up in Needles, California. He is a graduate of the University of Redlands, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and Stanford University School of Law.
Following duty in the Army Reserve, he served three years as a deputy with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office. He entered private law practice in 1967, dealing primarily in civil litigation with an emphasis in family law.
Mayor Morris was appointed to the Superior Court Bench in 1976. From 1978 to 1981, he served as San Bernardino County's first full-time Family Law Supervising Judge and organized the court's Family Law Department. His colleagues elected him to an unprecedented three terms as Superior Court Presiding Judge from 1981 to 1984. During these years the Superior Court eliminated its civil case backlog. In 1981, Mayor Morris was named Inland Southern California's Trial Judge of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the administration of justice.
For five years, from 1984 to 1989, Mayor Morris was Presiding Judge of the San Bernardino County Juvenile Court. Mayor Morris' advocacy on behalf of abused and at-risk children led to a number of institutional changes within Juvenile Court and Children's Services in San Bernardino County. He was the founder of the San Bernardino County Children's Network - a comprehensive interagency networking system to coordinate and enhance services to high-risk children. The Network, which includes a children's policy-making council and a public-private foundation (The Children's Fund which has raised and distributed over 15 million dollars to assist at risk children and families in the San Bernardino County), has received national recognition since its inauguration in 1985, both for its innovative design and for its demonstrated ability to improve service to children.
In February 1991, Mayor Morris appeared with Bill Moyers on a National Public Television special entitled, REALIZING AMERICA'S HOPE, a comprehensive initiative to help reform the way America delivers services to its children. In July 1991, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges awarded to Mayor Morris it's highest award for Meritorious Service to the Juvenile Courts of America.
From 1988 to 1991, Mayor Morris co-chaired the Judicial Council of California Advisory Committee on Juvenile Law with a broad mandate to improve California's Juvenile Justice System. In addition to expanding Court Appointed Special Advocacy (CASA) programs throughout the state, the committee wrote Judicial Administration Standard 24, which comprehensively describes the role of Juvenile Court Judges in California.
In 1991, Mayor Morris was appointed by the Chief Justice to a two-year term on the Judicial Council, the constitutionally established policy and rule making body for the California courts which oversees the administration of the State Court System. Mayor Morris has served on the California Select Committee on Judicial Retirement, the Judicial Council Policy Coordination Committee, and the Advisory Committee to Implement the Gender Fairness Proposals. In 1996, he was appointed to serve on the Judicial Council Task Force on Photography, Recording and Broadcasting in the Courtroom and co-authored the minority report which the Judicial Council followed in adopting its new policy.
In 1990, Mayor Morris was elected to a three-year term on the Executive Committee of the California Judges Association and served as President of the Association in 1992 and 1993. As CJA President, Mayor Morris concentrated on building a network of support groups for the courts including rebuilding 23 local Bench-Bar-Media Committees throughout California and republishing an updated Media Guide for the California Courts. He organized a statewide bench-bar coalition to work with lawmakers on issues of court funding. Working with the Chief Justice and attorney Richard Chernick of Los Angeles, he helped organize a business oriented advocacy program for the improvement of the California courts, the Coalition for Justice, and served as an advisory member to the board.
In 1994, the Judicial Council of California inaugurated a Distinguished Service Award to annually honor a member of the California judiciary for his or her leadership and significant contribution to the administration of justice. In April, 1994, in Los Angeles, Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas, on behalf of the Judicial Council of California, honored Mayor Morris by presenting him the first Trial Jurist of the Year Award.
From 1990 to 1996, Mayor Morris served as Supervising Criminal Law Judge and, in 1994, established one of California's first drug treatment court programs. He has advocated statewide, nation-wide and internationally for treatment alternatives for non-violent addicts appearing in the Criminal Justice System. He has twice been invited to the White House to discuss this issue: In 1994 at the signing of the 1994 Anti-Crime Bill, and in 1996 to the White House Leadership Conference on Youth, Drug Use and Violence. In 1996, Mayor Morris was appointed by California Chief Justice, Ron George, to chair the Judicial Council Task Force on Drug Courts in California, and in 1998, was elected Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Drug Court professionals. He has presented the Drug Court concept to international conferences at the United Nations, in Ireland, England and Italy. In 1999 Mayor Morris established one of the nation's first Mental Health Courts to treat the seriously mentally ill caught up in the Criminal Justice System. Mayor Morris recently served as Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Courts with a goal of establishing drug and mental health treatment opportunities for parents and youth both in Dependenby and Delinquency Court.
Intensely interested and actively involved in judicial education since 1979, Mayor Morris has led seminars and lectured on a variety of subjects, particularly family and juvenile law, court management and leadership, drug treatment and mental health treatment for addicts, at the California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) in Berkeley and the National Judicial College in Reno. He has served as Chairperson of the Continuing Judicial Studies Program for CJER. In 1994, the Chief Justice appointed Mayor Morris to a three- year term on the CJER Governing Committee and selected him to chair the Governing Committee in 1996. During his tenure, Mayor Morris chaired the Committee on Minimum Judicial Education which wrote a rule spelling out the expectations for career-long education for the California judiciary. Mayor Morris also successfully advocated unifying the governing boards of the judicial and administrative education programs.
Prior to his appointment to the Superior Court Bench, Mayor Morris served as President of the San Bernardino Board of Education. He has been a member of the University of Redlands Board of Trustees since 1971.
Mayor Morris lives with his wife Sally in San Bernardino. Their daughter, Katie, is a graduate of the University of Redlands and California State University at San Bernardino. She is the owner of Inland Empire Gymnastics Academy located in San Bernardino. Their son, Jim, is a graduate of Dartmouth college, UCLA Law School and the UCLA School of Urban Planning. He is serving as a Deputy County Counsel for the County of San Bernardino."
(Biography retrieved from the Mayor's website; link available below)
Friday, April 4, 2008
Demographics of San Bernardino
Population Facts*:
Business QuickFacts**
City of San Bernardino v. State of California
People QuickFacts
Population, 2003 estimate
San Bernardino - 195,357
California - 35,484,453
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2003
San Bernardino - 5.5%
California - 4.8%
Population, 2000
San Bernardino - 185,401
California - 33,871,648
Population, percent change, 1990 to 2000
San Bernardino - 8.3%
California - 13.6%
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 9.8%
California - 7.3%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 35.2%
California - 27.3%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 8.2%
California - 10.6%
Female persons, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 50.8%
California - 50.2%
White persons, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 45.2%
California - 59.5%
Black or African American persons, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 16.4%
California - 6.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 1.4%
California - 1.0%
Asian persons, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 4.2%
California - 10.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino0 - .4%
California0 - .3%
Persons reporting some other race, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 27.1%
California - 16.8%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 5.3%
California - 4.7%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 47.5%
California - 32.4%
Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over
San Bernardino - 45.0%
California - 50.2%
Foreign born persons, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 20.6%
California - 26.2%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000
San Bernardino - 40.4%
California - 39.5%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000
San Bernardino - 64.9%
California - 76.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000
San Bernardino - 11.6%
California - 26.6%
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000
San Bernardino - 27.9
California - 27.7
Housing units, 2000
San Bernardino - 63,535
California - 12,214,549
Homeownership rate, 2000
San Bernardino - 52.4%
California - 56.9%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000
San Bernardino - $98,700
California - $211,500
Households, 2000
San Bernardino - 56,330
California - 11,502,870
Persons per household, 2000
San Bernardino - 3.19
California - 2.87
Median household income, 1999
San Bernardino - $31,140
California - $47,493
Per capita money income, 1999
San Bernardino - $12,925
California - $22,711
Persons below poverty, percent, 1999
San Bernardino - 27.6%
California - 14.2%
Population, 2003 estimate
San Bernardino - 195,357
California - 35,484,453
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2003
San Bernardino - 5.5%
California - 4.8%
Population, 2000
San Bernardino - 185,401
California - 33,871,648
Population, percent change, 1990 to 2000
San Bernardino - 8.3%
California - 13.6%
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 9.8%
California - 7.3%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 35.2%
California - 27.3%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 8.2%
California - 10.6%
Female persons, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 50.8%
California - 50.2%
White persons, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 45.2%
California - 59.5%
Black or African American persons, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 16.4%
California - 6.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 1.4%
California - 1.0%
Asian persons, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 4.2%
California - 10.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino0 - .4%
California0 - .3%
Persons reporting some other race, percent, 2000 (a)
San Bernardino - 27.1%
California - 16.8%
Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 5.3%
California - 4.7%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 47.5%
California - 32.4%
Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over
San Bernardino - 45.0%
California - 50.2%
Foreign born persons, percent, 2000
San Bernardino - 20.6%
California - 26.2%
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000
San Bernardino - 40.4%
California - 39.5%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000
San Bernardino - 64.9%
California - 76.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000
San Bernardino - 11.6%
California - 26.6%
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000
San Bernardino - 27.9
California - 27.7
Housing units, 2000
San Bernardino - 63,535
California - 12,214,549
Homeownership rate, 2000
San Bernardino - 52.4%
California - 56.9%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000
San Bernardino - $98,700
California - $211,500
Households, 2000
San Bernardino - 56,330
California - 11,502,870
Persons per household, 2000
San Bernardino - 3.19
California - 2.87
Median household income, 1999
San Bernardino - $31,140
California - $47,493
Per capita money income, 1999
San Bernardino - $12,925
California - $22,711
Persons below poverty, percent, 1999
San Bernardino - 27.6%
California - 14.2%
Business QuickFacts**Wholesale trade sales, 1997 ($1000)
San Bernardino - 1,050,246
California - 548,864,451
Retail sales, 1997 ($1000)
San Bernardino - 1,903,908
California - 263,118,346
Retail sales per capita, 1997
San Bernardino - $10,302
California - $8,167
San Bernardino - 1,050,246
California - 548,864,451
Retail sales, 1997 ($1000)
San Bernardino - 1,903,908
California - 263,118,346
Retail sales per capita, 1997
San Bernardino - $10,302
California - $8,167
Accommodation and foodservices sales, 1997 ($1000)
San Bernardino - 177,479
California - 42,312,641
Total number of firms, 1997
San Bernardino - 8,205
California - 2,565,734
Minority-owned firms, percent of total, 1997
San Bernardino - 34.5%
California - 28.8%
Women-owned firms, percent of total, 1997
San Bernardino - 19.2%
California - 27.3%
San Bernardino - 177,479
California - 42,312,641
Total number of firms, 1997
San Bernardino - 8,205
California - 2,565,734
Minority-owned firms, percent of total, 1997
San Bernardino - 34.5%
California - 28.8%
Women-owned firms, percent of total, 1997
San Bernardino - 19.2%
California - 27.3%
Geography QuickFacts***
Land area, 2000 (square miles)
San Bernardino - 59
California - 155,959
Persons per square mile, 2000
San Bernardino - 3,152.4
California - 217.2
Land area, 2000 (square miles)
San Bernardino - 59
California - 155,959
Persons per square mile, 2000
San Bernardino - 3,152.4
California - 217.2
*This data was extracted from the Census Bureau Website. Specifically - San Bernardino City.
**Fairfield inn picture.
**Fairfield inn picture.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
San Bernardino is made up of a diverse cross-section of people from, not only Southern California, but the United States. It was founded in 1810 and has grown to be a smaller urban city in Southern California. Currently, the city has approximately 210,000 people living in it. The number 1 goal of the Mayor and City Council of San Bernardino is to build-up the police force and in order to provide for a safe living environment for the city's citizens.
City of San Bernardino Website
San Bernardino Police Department
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