Category: San Bernardino

In a significant move to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis, California has allocated $192 million in encampment resolution grants across 17 communities. Governor Gavin Newsom and San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, along with other state and local leaders, announced the funding in a virtual press conference today, April 18, 2024.  San Bernardino will receive nearly $4.6 million of this grant, aimed at addressing homelessness in the city. Mayor Tran expressed her gratitude for the funding, highlighting its potential impact. “As you know, the city of San Bernardino has the largest homeless population in our county. I’m thrilled that we will be receiving nearly $4.6 million in encampment funding to provide resources to individuals in our city,” said Tran.  She praised the dedication of local staff and Governor Newsom’s leadership, adding, “This is a testament to our government and a reflection of our shared commitment to compassion, resilience, and dignity. I look forward to building a stronger and more resilient community for all.” Governor Newsom reflected on the progress made since his tenure began. “Four years ago, our state did not set aside a single dollar

In a significant move to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis, California has allocated $192 million in encampment resolution grants across 17 communities. Governor Gavin Newsom and San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, along with other state and local leaders, announced the funding in a virtual press conference today, April 18, 2024.  San Bernardino will receive nearly $8 million of this grant, aimed at addressing homelessness in the city. Mayor Tran expressed her gratitude for the funding, highlighting its potential impact. “As you know, the city of San Bernardino has the largest homeless population in our county. I’m thrilled that we will be receiving nearly $8 million in encampment funding to provide resources to individuals in our city,” said Tran.  She praised the dedication of local staff and Governor Newsom’s leadership, adding, “This is a testament to our government and a reflection of our shared commitment to compassion, resilience, and dignity. I look forward to building a stronger and more resilient community for all.” Governor Newsom reflected on the progress made since his tenure began. “Four years ago, our state did not set aside a single dollar

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On April 11, 2024, the City of San Bernardino marked a significant transformation with the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the 5th Street Gateway project, a development set to rejuvenate the cityscape. Local officials, including Mayor Helen Tran and Councilmembers Theodore Sanchez and Sandra Ibarra, alongside business representatives and over 200 community members, gathered at the vibrant site amidst a bustling crowd and soaring temperatures. Councilmember Theodore Sanchez reflected on the city’s journey, emphasizing the project’s transformative impact. “It’s been a long journey for San Bernardino to once again become the gem of the Inland Empire,” Sanchez stated. “This project has replaced an empty, misused lot with thriving businesses that generate revenue and offer employment, marking a significant step forward for our city.” Mayor Helen Tran lauded the project as a wake-up call for the city’s potential. “San Bernardino is a sleeping giant, and this project is waking up that giant,” Mayor Tran commented. “These new establishments are not just places to dine; they symbolize economic progress, job creation, and a commitment to exceptional experiences for both residents and visitors.” The event showcased the operational Starbucks and

The San Bernardino Valley College Foundation has been awarded a three-year, $2.2 million grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The grant will continue the Tribe’s long-term support of the SBVC Valley Bound Commitment program, as well as significantly expand the Foundation’s advancement capacity. “On behalf of the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation, I want to express our heartfelt appreciation to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their extraordinary generosity in awarding us a three-year $2.2 million grant,” said Michael Layne, director of the SBVC Foundation. “This is a transformational investment that will enable us to implement the Foundation’s Development Plan and cultivate relationships with donors at a much higher level, which is key to building our capacity and sustaining those efforts.” “Every student should have an opportunity to pursue their educational dreams regardless of the hardships and challenges they might face. The SBVC Valley Bound Commitment Program offers a wonderful path for students to launch their life ambitions right here in the Inland Empire,” said Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “This grant is an investment to

The City of San Bernardino is asking the public to help identify the individual or individuals responsible for severely burning a three-month-old puppy in what may be an intentional act of animal cruelty and abandoned it and another puppy at a veterinary office on Highland Avenue on April 4. On Thursday, April 4, 2024, the City of San Bernardino’s Animal Services Department was called to a veterinary office on West Highland Avenue regarding two puppies abandoned in its parking lot overnight. When officers arrived at the location, they found two labrador retriever mix puppies, each approximately three months old. One of the puppies had what appeared to be burns to their face, ears, and body. The officer quickly brought both puppies back to the San Bernardino Animal Shelter for assessment. Upon examination, the veterinary technicians determined the puppy with the burns had suffered severe injuries that needed to be treated by a Veterinarian.  Both puppies were transported to the Shelter’s contract veterinarian. While the puppy without injuries was cleared by the Veterinarian, the puppy with the burns, named “Ember” by the vet team, required immediate

A recent survey has revealed a startling truth about the city of San Bernardino, a staggering 73% of residents do not visit local parks because they do not feel safe. This alarming statistic was just one of many findings presented to the City Council during a Master Plan update on San Bernardino Parks by Neelay Bhatt, CEO of Next Practice Partners. The survey, which reached 10,000 random households, aimed to gauge community needs and opinions regarding the city’s parks and recreational fac i lities. With a response rate yielding 419 completed surveys, the results paint a concerning picture of public perception and park usage in the area. One of the most shocking revelations shared to council on April 3, 2024 was the lack of park access for city residents. According to Bhatt, only 46% of people in San Bernardino have access to a park within a 10-minute walk. “This means more than 1 in 2 people in this city do not have access within a 10-minute walk, falling below the national average of 55%,” Bhatt stated. The survey also found that only 60% of respondents

Tesla Motors and ViaWest Group have announced that they will be building a state-of-the-art Collision Service Center in the City of San Bernardino. This marks the first Tesla Collision Service Center in the Inland Empire, with their nearest collision facilities currently in Aliso Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, and Santa Monica. The 30,000 square foot collision center will be located at 424 West Orange Show Lane near E Street. “Having Tesla in San Bernardino is a big win for the Inland Empire,” said Mayor Helen Tran. “There are more and more Tesla’s on the road every day, and not having to travel to L.A. or Orange Counties is very appealing for local and potential owners.” The project was approved by the San Bernardino Planning Commission on February 13. However, Tesla’s involvement was only confirmed this week. “We are thrilled to partner with Tesla in developing this state-of-the-art Collision Service Center in San Bernardino,” said Rodney Boden, ViaWest Group’s Vice President of Investment and Development, “This facility not only represents the growing presence of Tesla in the region, but highlights ViaWest’s ability to develop cutting-edge facilities. We

The City of San Bernardino has announced the appointment of Rochelle Clayton as its new Deputy City Manager. Clayton, a San Bernardino native, has nearly 30 years of leadership roles with public agencies in the Inland Empire, most recently as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Menifee. Her first day will be April 15. “This is a homecoming for me,” said Clayton. “I grew up here. We raised our kids here. Our girls graduated from Aquinas High School. I couldn’t be more excited to serve the residents of San Bernardino and be a part of the great things taking place.” Having spent the past five years in Menifee, Clayton oversaw the Police, Fire, Community Services, Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources, and City Clerk departments. She served as the City’s lead negotiator with developers, businesses, school districts, and labor unions. Clayton also led the development and implementation of a five-year plan to successfully transition Menifee’s municipal police services under City control and no longer the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. “We are very pleased that Rochelle will be joining our team,” said City Manager Charles

The historic Harris Building, a 207,000-square-foot landmark in downtown San Bernardino, has been donated to the city in a move that could herald a new era of revitalization for the area. Valued at $4 million, the building has suffered from years of neglect, leading to its current dilapidated state. The donation comes from El Corte Inglés, S.A., a Spanish Corporation (ECI), which has owned the building since 1998. “The Harris Building is the last remaining property within our real estate portfolio located in the United States,” stated a representative from ECI. “It is no longer economically viable to continue maintaining the property, given the challenges of vandalism and trespassing due to its vacant status.” Assistant City Manager Edelia Everland clarified the nature of the transaction, stating, “It’s a private property that we will acquire via a donation. If we dispose of the property through development, then the Surplus Land Act would apply, but this is a donation from the private sector to the city. The city does not have plans at present to tear it down, and it would be a council decision, but staff

The City of San Bernardino has announced that Gabriel Elliott has joined its leadership team as its new Community Development and Housing Director. “Gabriel Elliott has a diverse and distinguished background in planning and community development,” said City Manager Charles Montoya. “His experience in these areas will be instrumental in moving projects forward like the General Plan Update and the recently funded $35 million Community Wellness Campus.” Elliott’s appointment as Community Development and Housing Director became effective March 18. Prior to joining San Bernardino, Elliott was the Director of Planning for the County of Calaveras. “I am excited to join the City of San Bernardino as Director of Community Development and Housing,” said Elliott. “I plan to lead with empathy, as the most important virtue in community development leadership is empathy.”  Elliott has over 30 years in planning and community development for local government agencies. In addition to his work for Calaveras County, Elliot served as the City Manager and Development Services Director for the City of Adelanto, as well as leadership positions with the City of Salinas and College Station (Texas). Elliott holds both a

The San Bernardino City Council approved a pavement rehabilitation contract for twenty-one streets throughout the City. The contract, awarded on March 20 to the Matich Corporation in the amount of $8,787,473.20, will encompass five – and one-half miles of roadway. Work is expected to begin in May and be completed by October. “Improving five and a half miles of streets throughout the City demonstrates our continued commitment to not only bettering the quality of life for our residents but also for everyone who visits and works in San Bernardino,” said City Manager Charles Montoya. The twenty-one streets were selected through a Pavement Management Analysis that was completed in 2021 to rate the condition of all public streets in the City. Street segments (intersection to intersection) were rated based on each segment’s remaining service life. The project includes the following locations: 13th Street from Waterman Avenue to Sierra Way (Ward 2) 16th Street from Sierra Way to Mt. View Avenue (Ward 2) 27th Street from Davidson Avenue to Little Mountain Drive (Ward 2) 2nd Street from Lena Road to Tippecanoe Avenue (Ward 1) 33rd Street from

A groundbreaking ceremony on March 19 marked the start of construction for the San Bernardino County Valley Communications Center, a $124 million project that is set to enhance response to critical incidents in the region. The three-story, 75,085 square-foot LEED-certified building, featuring a 200-foot tall communication tower, is set to become the primary Emergency Operations Center in the San Bernardino Valley. Located at the southeast corner of E. Rialto Avenue and Lena Road, the facility will be operational 24/7, 365 days a year, even under extreme conditions. It will house the sheriff’s office, coroner, public administrator, office of emergency services, consolidated fire agencies, Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, and innovation and technology departments. San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon D. Dicus emphasized the importance of the new center. “We’re getting a 3-story building that’s co-located between sheriff’s communication, CONFire communications, and the office of emergency services – these are all county resources that can be deployed with greater collaboration,” said Dicus. He also highlighted how the center would have been beneficial during the San Bernardino Terror Attack of 2015, improving the efficiency of response. Supervisor Joe

The City of San Bernardino has announced that an agreement has been reached to settle a $100 million lawsuit stemming from a 2022 officer involved shooting, filed by the estate of Rob Marquise Adams. The settlement amount was $4 million. “San Bernardino agreed to the settlement recognizing the costs and attorneys’ fees to take a federal civil rights case to trial, as well as the risks associated with a civil jury, given the current climate in the courts,” said attorney Steven Rothans, who represented the City on the case. In addition to the City and the estate of Rob Marquise Adams, the agreement includes the two police officers involved. Both the City and representatives of the estate of Rob Adams had been in mediation with retired Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Dan Buckley. The settlement was reached on February 17, 2024. The trial was scheduled to begin in June. The $4 million total includes all payments to the plaintiffs and fees to their attorneys, Ben Crump and Brad Gage, as well as additional costs, expert witnesses, etc. The case was a result of a

It was all about smiles, laughter, and a bit of friendly competition at Glen Helen Regional Park last weekend. This event was dedicated to our community’s underserved at-risk youth and children from San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS), aiming to provide a joyful and inclusive experience for all participants.  This year’s event was made possible through the collaboration of various partners, including the San Bernardino County Probation Department, Regional Parks, and Bass Pro Shop.  “I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make this day happen,” Supervisor Baca shared, “It’s events like these that remind us of the simple joys in life—fishing, laughing, and spending time with each other. It’s about the kids, their families, and seeing those moments of pure happiness. That’s what it’s really all about.”  In addition to the fishing activities, the event also provided free lunch to ensure that all families were fed. “Seeing the community come together for our kids—especially those who’ve had it tough—means the world to me,” Baca added.  In acknowledging the collaborative effort, Jonathan Byers, Assistant Director of Children and

The San Bernardino Forward Hiring Event is set to take place on March 27th from 10 AM to 2 PM at the New Hope Family Life Center, located at 1505 W Highland Ave., San Bernardino.  This event, organized in collaboration with the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, Sista’s Making a Difference, Rebound Inland Empire Reentry Services, and San Bernardino County Workforce Development, aims to connect over 300 job seekers with potential employers to address the ongoing worker shortage despite the rising unemployment rate in California. Recent data from California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) indicates that unemployment increased to 4.9 percent in November 2023, highlighting a worker shortage amidst rising unemployment rates. Ronnie Miller, the founder of Sista’s Making a Difference and a member of the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, shared insights into the current employment landscape. “I believe there is a disconnect between businesses and job seekers, with many applications on job hosting platforms not progressing from the business side of things,” Miller explained. This event is designed to benefit both employers and the community by removing barriers that job seekers may