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.

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