La Nueva Voz FREE the New Voice, a Bilingual (English/Spanish) Publication Issue No

www.lanuevavoz.net La Nueva Voz FREE The New Voice, a Bilingual (English/Spanish) Publication Issue No. 127 GRATIS Pomona’s only community newspaper! Thursday, February 27, 2020 Pomona’s new city manager goes to work restoring trust in city staff New Pomona City Manager efforts to “take more con- two-part question from La come through “and we can get James Makshanoff said the big- trol” over what the city is Nueva Voz was how he that project going.” gest difference in his approach to doing and efforts to have views the city’s role in go- “The staff will keep on meet- the job and those who have gone more oversight over the ing after new business to ing with retailers and commercial before him is his interest in main- government. bring to Pomona. people and try to sell Pomona,” he taining transparency in how the And while he stopped First, he said he has a said. “I think that’s important, but city manager and his staff operate. short of pointing a finger staff that focuses in the we have our work cut out for us.” La Nueva Voz asked the first at his predecessor, he said area of economic develop- Makshanoff, who described his public question at this month’s this type of activism can ment. job as implementing the decisions “meet and greet” in the Pomona come from a lack of trans- “I think part of that of the city council, said a big part City Council chambers with the parency and a lack of con- bringing businesses to Po- of that is developing a budget for city manager, city clerk and city sistency in the past – and it mona is going to be based the city – a process he said has al- attorney. can make it more difficult upon new housing,” he ready begun for the city’s July 1 In his response to what he sees to move forward. added, explaining that es- to July 1 fiscal year. as different about his approach, he He said the way around tablishing a bigger base for He said the city has 600 em- said transparency gives the public that is to build up trust business to draw on will ployees and, by latest estimates, confidence in what the city is do- with the residents and the help bring more businesses 165,000 residents. ing. business community over to Pomona since business- “My job is to make sure we’re New Pomona City Manager James Makshanoff responds to a He pointed out that there is time. question from the audience at this month’s “meet and greet” es tend to focus on the bot- all kind of rowing in the same di- some “activism” out there with The second part of a for the city manager, city attorney and city clerk. tom line. rection,” he said. “They have a formula and they He added he has an open door OPINION look at so many variables... and policy for the public yet he views The U.S. Census is coming to town and Pomona needs your help! if it doesn’t pop out correctly, his department heads as experts in By Jeff Schenkel, Publisher then they’re not going to come,” their departments and wants them For those of you who pay close message in this same space and tions will help determine the way Makshanoff said. to “feel empowered to do their attention to the calendar on your on this same page 10 years ago. billions of dollars in federal fund- “I think we have to look at our job.” wall, you already know – and for Seems like only yesterday, huh? ing are spent. Of course, we want housing stock and how we ad- And, he said, he tries “not to those who may not track these (La Nueva Voz, page one, Jan. 28, as many of those federal dollars to dress that and how we address overstep and micromanage them.” things so closely, you still might 2010). end up in Pomona as possible. new projects,” he said. “I think He said in general, city manag- have heard – it has been another As we mentioned last time This year, Pomona and cities the Maya theaters (project) is ers “want to do things, we want to 10 years and the U.S. Census is around, the entire process is re- and counties everywhere have al- hopefully going to be an econom- improve things, we want to make again coming to town in a huge quired by the Constitution of the ready set up their own “Complete ic engine and drive some of that things better.” process in which every resident in United States – Article I, Section Count” committees which are hard synergy for the area to bring in “You’re always looking for the United States is counted. 2 – to take place every 10 years. at work on plans to help get, well, new businesses and attract.” challenges and I think with Pomo- Actually, some of you may re- And it is important for a variety a complete count in the Census. He added that hopefully the tax na there’s great opportunity here,” member we published a similar of reasons. First, Census tabula- U.S. Census coming to town... pg. 4 credits Maya is waiting for will Pomona’s new city manager... pg. 2 2 • Thursday, February 27, 2020 • La Nueva Voz Pomona’s new city manager... from pg. 1 he said. “It’s almost a blank can- 1990 from Cal State Uni- vas.” versity Long Beach. He He also assured the room that also earned a master’s de- Pomona would be his “last job.” gree in public administra- “There’s great opportunities tion there. and great things in front of us,” he He worked for Brea, said, pointing to housing projects, Covina, Downey, Azusa Maya theaters and the Gold Line and San Clemente before coming through North Pomona. coming to Pomona. And Makshanoff, who was in week he has served as a city number four on the job at the manager for the past eight time of the “meet and greet,” is years. a resident of San Clemente. He Pomona City Clerk Ro- has been working for cities since salia Butler, on the job for Members of the public this month had an opportunity to meet and chat with Pomona’s new city manager, city attorney and city clerk. Pictured, receiving his bachelor’s degree in the past 13 months, grew from left, are City Clerk Rosalia Butler, City Manager James Makshanoff, and City Attorney Sonia Carvalho. up in Covina business administration. been on the job in Pomona for and is a resi- She worked in Covina, Bell the past six months. A resident of dent of San Di- Gardens and West Covina before Fullerton, she grew up in Azusa mas. She holds joining the staff in Pomona. She and graduated from UCLA law a bachelor’s has worked in local government school. degree in pub- for the past 14 years. She has been with Best, Best lic administra- And City Attorney Sonia Car- and Krieger for the past 27 years tion and a mas- valho, an attorney with the firm and has been a partner for 20 ter’s degree in of Best, Best and Krieger, has years. Authors to participate in ‘Local Authors Day’ at Pomona Public Library The Pomona Public Library will hold a at the library, 625 S. Garey Ave., Pomona. “Local Authors Day” on Saturday, March Local authors interested in partici- 28, at the library. pating can submit their information on Residents will have an opportunity to line at https://forms.gle/ewp6tPjYXpg- meet authors working in the Pomona area FRF917. and learn how to publish their own work. For more information, call (909) 784- The event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. 5220. La Nueva Voz • Thursday, February 27, 2020 • 3 4 • Thursday, February 27, 2020 • La Nueva Voz U.S. Census coming to town... from pg. 1 Pomona non-profit sets date for La Nueva Voz has been in- neighborhood services director, under, senior citizens, everybody – volved in some of these meetings told the Complete Count Com- citizens and non-citizens alike, just ‘Help Immigrant Families Thrive’ gala and we’ve run stories on their mittee last summer when it went as long as you are in Pomona at the Pomona non-profit Newcom- migration issues and interfaith ac- progress. to work that Pomona had less time the Census is taken. ers Access Center has scheduled tivism. The problem 10 years ago was than a 73 percent response rate in Plus, a key message is that the its “Help Immigrant Families Tickets are $60 per person a concern in Pomona that many the 2010 Census, ranking it high results of the U.S. Census are con- Thrive!” fundraising gala and si- ($420 for a table for seven) and are people may not trust the Census, among other hard to count com- fidential – they are shared only in lent auction for Sunday, April 5, in available on line at www.newcom- may be concerned over what gov- munities in Los Angeles County. a statistical form and individual Abernethy Hall at Pilgrim Place in ersaccesscenter.org. To purchase ernment officials will do with the Look at the numbers. The feder- results may not be shared under Claremont. tickets by mail, send payment to information and may not be clear al government allocates more than penalty of law. Keynote speaker for the event Newcomers Access Center, 401 N.

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