Gonzales Is Named to Homeless Action Team | News | Fontanaheraldnews.Com

1/3/2020 Gonzales is named to Homeless Action Team | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/gonzales-is-named-to-homeless-action-team/article_76c0b87a- 2d7c-11ea-9848-779c20dd7808.html Gonzales is named to Homeless Action Team

Jan 2, 2020

Supervisor Josie Gonzales, in partnership with the San Bernardino County Sheri’s Department’s H.O.P.E. Team, helped this homeless family nd safe housing. The H.O.P.E. Team is proactive four-man outreach team that links people living on the streets with resources and services to enable their transitions from homelessness. To learn more or to contact the H.O.P.E. Team, email [email protected] or call (909) 387-0623.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/gonzales-is-named-to-homeless-action-team/article_76c0b87a-2d7c-11ea-9848-779c20dd7808.html 1/3 1/3/2020 Gonzales is named to Homeless Action Team | News | fontanaheraldnews.com Seeking to implement eective regional as well as local approaches to combat California’s growing homeless crisis, San Bernardino County 5th District Supervisor Josie Gonzales has joined eight other county supervisors on the California State Association of Counties’ (CSAC) Homeless Action Team.

CSAC formed the working group in August, which also includes its First Vice President Lisa Bartlett and Immediate Past President Leticia Perez, to complement Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Statewide Homeless and Supportive Housing Advisory Task Force.

Viewing homelessness from the county perspective, the Homeless Action Team will help to ll the gaps, ensuring the design and execution of a greater comprehensive strategy to address the economic, social, and health challenges California communities face, Gonzales said.

“My colleagues on the Homeless Action Team and I are equally vested in reducing homelessness in our respective counties, as well as statewide,” said Gonzales. “Now is the time for us to seek collaborative, comprehensive approaches that also will help us tackle the complex housing, economic, mental and physical health impacts we each face as we work to reduce our homeless populations. The governor’s support and the recent funding allocations to address homelessness make all of this possible."

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who co-chairs Newsom’s Statewide Homeless and Supportive Housing Advisory Task Force, also chairs CSAC’s Homeless Action Team. As the conduit between the Task Force and the team, Ridley-Thomas is ensuring that best practices, programs, and collaborative measures recommended by his fellow supervisors will be put in place to eectually respond and threat the symptoms that trigger homelessness, Gonzales said.

“I look forward to hearing from the other supervisors as to what is working in other parts of the state, while also sharing our own successes,” said Gonzales, who is chair of San Bernardino County’s Interagency Council on Homelessness -- a model partnership that addresses chronic homelessness. “Homelessness does not respect jurisdictional boundaries; it is a tragedy that destroys everyone’s quality of life. It is critical that we work together to address this social ill."

Gonzales, whose district includes the eastern part of Fontana, has been working to address the homelessness crisis for many years.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/gonzales-is-named-to-homeless-action-team/article_76c0b87a-2d7c-11ea-9848-779c20dd7808.html 2/3 Here’s the final list of San Bernardino County candidates in the March 2020 primary – San Bernardino Sun

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LOCAL NEWS Here’s the final list of San Bernardino County candidates in the March 2020 primary

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By SANDRA EMERSON | [email protected] |  PUBLISHED: January 3, 2020 at 6:30 am | UPDATED: January 3, 2020 at 6:31 am

The California Secretary of State has published a final list of candidates running for elected office in the March 3 presidential primary.

Voters in San Bernardino County will get to pick local, state and federal representatives. Seats on the San Bernardino and Loma Linda city councils, county Board of Supervisors, state Assembly, state Senate and the House of Representatives will be on the ballot. There will also be several ballot measures.

The top two vote-getters in state legislative and congressional races, regardless of party, will advance to the Nov. 3 general election. For countywide offices, a November runoff will occur if no one gets a simple majority of the vote.

Here’s who is running:

https://www.sbsun.com/...-2020-primary/?utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com[1/3/2020 7:30:42 AM] Here’s the final list of San Bernardino County candidates in the March 2020 primary – San Bernardino Sun

READ MORE Iran vows ‘harsh’ response to U S killing of top M Loma Linda City Council

Vying for three seats: Bhavin Jindal; Councilman John Lenart; Councilman Ovidiu Popescu; Mayor Rhodes Rigsby; Gabriel Uribe.

San Bernardino City Council

Ward 3: Councilman Juan Figueroa; Luis Ojeda.

Ward 5: Mike Avellaneda; Marlo Brooks; Brian W. Davison; Councilman Henry Nickel; Ben Reynoso; Peter Torres.

Ward 6: Kimberly Calvin; Councilwoman Bessine Littlefield Richard.

Ward 7: John Jesus Abad; Damon L. Alexander; Dave Mlynarski; Councilman James L. “Jim” Mulvihill; Esmeralda Negrete.

Chaffey Community College District Governing Board

Area 3, Fontana: Lorena Corona; Board Member Lee C. McDougal.

Area 5, Chino and Chino Hills: Trustee Gloria Negrete McLeod; Michael Peter Molokwu; Wayne R. Scaggs.

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors

District 1 (Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Needles, Trona, Victorville): Rep. Paul Cook; Adelanto Councilwoman Stevevonna Renee Evans; Marcelino “Chico” Garza; Victorville Councilwoman Rita Ramirez.

District 3 (Big Bear Lake, Barstow, Grand Terrace, Joshua Tree, Loma Linda, Redlands, part of San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa and Yucca Valley): Kaisar Ahmed; Roy George; Karen Ickes; Latron Lester; Supervisor Dawn Rowe; Redlands Councilman Eddie Tejeda.

District 5 (Bloomington, Colton, Fontana, Glen Helen, Muscoy, Rialto and San Bernardino): Fontana Councilman Jesse Armendarez; Rialto Councilman Joe Baca Jr.; Dan Flores; Nadia Renner.

California Assembly

33rd District (Adelanto, Apple Valley, Big Bear Lake, Hesperia, Needles, Victorville): Socorro Cisneros (Democrat); Victorville Councilwoman Blanca A. Gomez (Democrat); Rick Herrick (Republican); Roger La Plante (Democrat); Anthony Rhoades (Democrat); Thurston “Smitty” Smith (Republican); Alex Walton (Republican).

40th District (Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Highland): https://www.sbsun.com/...-2020-primary/?utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com[1/3/2020 7:30:42 AM] Here’s the final list of San Bernardino County candidates in the March 2020 primary – San Bernardino Sun

Assemblyman James Ramos (Democrat); Jennifer Tullius (Republican).

41st District (Part of Rancho Cucamonga and Upland, San Antonio Heights): Assemblyman Chris Holden (Democrat); Robin Hvidston (Republican)

42nd District (Joshua Tree, Morongo Valley, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa and Yucca Valley in San Bernardino County; Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, part of Hemet, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and San Jacinto in Riverside County): San Jacinto Mayor Andrew Kotyuk (Republican); Assemblyman Chad Mayes (no party preference); DeniAntionette Mazingo (Democrat).

47th District (Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Fontana, Muscoy, Rialto and part of San Bernardino): Matthew Gordon (Republican); Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (Democrat).

52nd District (Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona): Toni Holle (Republican); Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez (Democrat)

California Senate

23rd District (Big Bear Lake, Hemet, Highland, Loma Linda, Menifee, the Pass, Redlands, part of San Bernardino, San Jacinto, Yucaipa): Kris Goodfellow (Democrat); San Bernardino City Unified School District board President Abigail Medina (Democrat); Redlands Unified School District board President Cristina Puraci (Republican); Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (Republican); Beaumont Councilman Lloyd White (Republican).

U.S. House of Representatives

8th District (Much of San Bernardino County; all of Mono and Inyo counties): Christine Bubser (Democrat); Bob Conaway (Democrat); Tim Donnelly (Republican); James Ellars (Democrat); Jeff Esmus (no party preference); Jerry Laws (Republican); Jay Obernolte (Republican); Jeremy Staat (Republican); Justin David Whitehead (Republican).

27th District (Claremont, Upland and San Antonio Heights): Beatrice Cardenas (Republican); Rep. Judy Chu (Democrat); Christian Daly (no party preference); Johnny J. Nalbandian (Republican).

31st District (Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, San Bernardino, part of Upland): Rep. Pete Aguilar (Democrat); Agnes Gibboney (Republican).

35th District (Ontario, Pomona, Chino, Fontana): Mike Cargile (Republican); Rep. Norma Torres (Democrat).

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“Growth has not stopped or reversed, and it shouldn’t be interpreted as a sign of a downturn,” Adam Fowler, the center’s director of forecasting, wrote in the report.

Job growth for workers in San Bernardino and Riverside counties increased 2% over the 12-month period ending Oct. 31, compared with 1.1% in the Los Angeles area, 1.8 % in Orange County, 1.8% statewide and 1.4% across the country. Almost 31,000 jobs were created over that period, with 10 of the 15 largest sectors reporting gains.

The area saw an annual increase in the workforce of 0.4%, compared with decreases in Orange County (-0.3%) and Los Angeles County (-0.1%). Statewide, the number of people working and seeking work declined 0.3%.

The Inland area has typically seen slower wage growth than the rest of the state, although the difference is now a slender one. In the 12 months ending June 30, wages increased 3.8% in the Inland Empire and 4.2% statewide. The difference is likely connected to the tight labor pool, Fowler said.

San Bernardino County saw a 3.9% increase in pay, with Riverside County at 3.7%.

“There should be upward pressure on wages in the coming months as employers clamor for talent from a limited pool,” he wrote.

Larger paychecks — and more people receiving them — have resulted in sizable increases in taxable sales in the area. Taxable revenues increased 4.1% in the 12 months ending June 30, more than the state’s 3.7 percent. The increase was 5.5% in Riverside County and 2.7% in San Bernardino County.

Taxable sales increases include business spending, in which businesses expand and frequently spend money at neighboring merchants.

Those increases were very sharp in cities such as Perris, which saw a 31% jump, and Jurupa Valley, up 16.7%. The cities with the largest taxable sales increases in San Bernardino County were Ontario (5.4%) and Fontana (3.4%).

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https://www.dailybulletin.com/...?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_content=tw-ivdailybulletin&utm_source=twitter.com[1/2/2020 1:26:54 PM] 1/3/2020 Annual summit outlines economic outlook for SoCal, Inland Empire | Business | highlandnews.net

https://www.highlandnews.net/business/annual-summit-outlines-economic-outlook-for-socal-inland- empire/article_f80f05ec-2d7e-11ea-8115-c7eb617fbc.html Annual summit outlines economic outlook for SoCal, Inland Empire Inland Empire data shows growth in jobs and drop in poverty. With 390,300 jobs created since 2011, the region has nearly tripled the 104,200 jobs lost during the Great Recession.

Hector Hernandez Jr. Jan 2, 2020

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and the Southern California Leadership Council co-hosted the 10th annual Southern California Economic Summit on Thursday, Dec. 5, in Los Angeles to discuss the economic outlook for Southern California.

More than 400 leaders from throughout the region participated in discussions focused on the region’s economic challenges and opportunities, the housing crisis and SCAG’s newest regional transportation plan, designed to provide cleaner, healthier and more prosperous future.

According a SCAG report on the Inland Empire, an important consideration in looking at the status and future of the Riverside and San Bernardino County economy is to understand the conditions that aect the region as a whole. The U.S. Oce of Management and Budget (OMB) delineates metropolitan regions based on a population nexus, a high degree of economic and social integration, and commuting patterns. Like many U.S. metropolitans, the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is made up of more than one county. In this case, Riverside and San Bernardino counties largely respond to the same set of economic forces. Both are inland from coastal counties that are largely built out. They are thus subject to the outward migration of demographic and economic activity from those areas as Southern California expands. This has aected the nature of their residents, companies, commuting and educational levels.

https://www.highlandnews.net/business/annual-summit-outlines-economic-outlook-for-socal-inland-empire/article_f80f05ec-2d7e-11ea-8115-c7eb61ff7… 1/6 1/3/2020 Annual summit outlines economic outlook for SoCal, Inland Empire | Business | highlandnews.net

Growth in each county started with single family housing entering and accelerating, gradually spreading deeper inside of it. This has been followed by the movement of industrial activity (manufacturing, logistics) rst into their western edges and now deeper to the east. The workers in the region move internally across their county lines in large numbers with over 90,000 Riverside workers going to San Bernardino and over 60,000 San Bernardino workers going the other way. A signicant share of workers in each case, however, are forced to migrate outside the region (Riverside 22.6 percent; San Bernardino 20.7 percent) with those patterns remaining largely stable going back to 1990. Of the total commuters from the area, the shares are nearly even with Riverside at 49.9 percent and San Bernardino at 50.1 percent.

General Status of the Economy

Most of the basic data available on the Inland Empire economy is for the two-county metropolitan area. Looking at the most reliable sources for 2019, it appears that the region is on track to add roughly 38,000 jobs. This sets up the potential for a good start to 2020. Any forecast for next year, however, is subject to the potential diculties impacting the U.S. economy. The nation and the local area are already in a manufacturing slowdown as the president’s tari policies impact the ability of employers to determine demand for their products. This goes along with a general downward trend occurring in global economic growth. Another issue is the existence of an inverted interest rate yield curve. For several months, short-term rates that nancial institutions pay to aggregate funds have been higher than the long-term rates that they earn when they lend 5-30 years. This means these institutions may become reticent to lend capital to rms needing it. Historically, this situation has forecasted the coming of a recession. Meanwhile, the president’s tari policies are a particular problem for the Inland Empire’s near-term future since a good deal of its economic growth comes from processing imports with 2019 port volumes running below 2018 highs. https://www.highlandnews.net/business/annual-summit-outlines-economic-outlook-for-socal-inland-empire/article_f80f05ec-2d7e-11ea-8115-c7eb61ff7… 2/6 1/3/2020 Annual summit outlines economic outlook for SoCal, Inland Empire | Business | highlandnews.net

It appears that 2019 is on track to surpass its 2007 pre-recession high of 1,306,700 by 250,000 jobs or 19.1 percent, reaching an estimated 1,556,800. This occurred because job growth has surged for the past several years. If 2019 holds, the area will have created 390,300 jobs in the 2011-2019 period of recovery and expansion, nearly tripling the number of jobs lost (-140,200) in the Great Recession. Looking at the rest of 2018, there is every reason to anticipate growth levels will be sustained given the forces impacting the key sectors that make up the inland region’s economic base (logistics, construction, health care, manufacturing, high-end).

Unemployment in the inland area has remained low, averaging 4.2 percent in both 2018 and 2019. The unadjusted unemployment rate for September 2019 was 3.6 percent. The latest gure, however, was a little above the unadjusted levels for California (3.5 percent) and the United States (3.3 percent).

Importantly, the continuing rise in the Inland Empire’s employment markets has led to signicant declines in poverty. In 2010, the share of children under 18 living in poverty was 24.1 percent. In 2018, that gure had jumped down to 19.1 percent. Poverty for all people dropped from 17.1 percent to 13.7 percent. A key metric dictating the nature of the Inland Empire’s economy is the fact that a combined 46.3 percent of adults 25 and over had high school or less education in 2018. That compares to 39.2 percent for the rest of the SCAG region. Those with AA degrees or higher were 30.2 percent, well below the 41.6 percent for the rest of the six- county area. The share with BA’s or higher was 21.9 percent versus 34.2 percent in the balance of the SCAG region. These facts limit the kinds of rms for which the area is competitive. These shares have improved from 50.3 percent (high school or less), 23.1 percent (AA or higher) and 16.3 percent (BA or higher) in 2000, respectively.

Basic Sectors

Like all regional economies, the key for growth in Riverside and San Bernardino counties is the expansion of the economic base sectors for which it has competitive advantages. This is the group of activities bringing money to it from the outside world. Fundamentally, there are ve key sectors:

• Logistics rms have located in the Inland Empire in response to its available land and the need to handle both the huge ow of goods moving in and out of the U.S. via the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach plus the rapid expansion of fulllment centers that handle the https://www.highlandnews.net/business/annual-summit-outlines-economic-outlook-for-socal-inland-empire/article_f80f05ec-2d7e-11ea-8115-c7eb61ff7… 3/6 1/3/2020 Annual summit outlines economic outlook for SoCal, Inland Empire | Business | highlandnews.net explosive expansion of e-commerce. They are on track to be responsible for 23.5 percent of the area’s direct job growth in the 2011-2019 period (95,748). Based upon the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) growth rate in early 2019 (6.1 percent), the sector’s total should reach 204,248 jobs in all of 2019.

• Health Care rms are expanding in part because the average worker in the sector is already serving 22.8 percent more people than California’s average. Meanwhile, the Aordable Care Act has cut the share of local residents without health insurance from 20.5 percent in 2012 to 8.4 percent in 2018, though the 2017 share was 7.8 percent. Health care providers are also responding to the fact that 24.5 percent of the population was 55 years or older in 2017. The area’s population growth was 366,042 people or 8.7 percent from 2010-2018. Based upon the BLS growth rate in early 2019 (4.1 percent), the sector’s total should reach 148,351 jobs in all of 2019.

• Construction has historically been the major driver of the Inland Empire’s economy given its undeveloped land and Southern California’s need for single family homes, apartments, industrial facilities, and infrastructure. The mortgage crisis upset the rst of these needs and was largely responsible for the local sector losing -68,400 jobs from 2006-2011 (-53.6 percent). From 2012-2018, it has gained back 46,495 jobs. In 2019, the sector has slowed. Based upon the BLS job growth rate (1.3 percent), it is estimated that the sector will add 1,353 jobs to reach 106,195 positions. That would still be -21,300 jobs or -16.7 percent below the 2006 peak.

• Manufacturing has been the economic base sector with sub-par performance in the Inland Empire. This stems from California’s punishing regulatory environment plus energy policies that in May 2019 had put the state’s industrial electrical cost at 12.65 cents/kW-h. That was 140.0 percent above Nevada (5.27 cents/kW-h) and 98.3 percent above Arizona (6.38 cents/kW- h). As a result, the state has created only 86,300 manufacturing jobs (6.9 percent growth) since January 2011, and accounted for only a 7.0 percent of the 1,232,000 jobs (10.6 percent growth) created in the U.S. A good deal of job openings occur in the sector due to the need to replace aging baby boomer technicians. Based upon the BLS job growth rate in 2019, it is unfortunately estimated that the sector will add only 1,461 jobs in the Inland Empire to reach 102,764 positions. That would remain -20,836 jobs or -16.9 percent below the 2006 peak of 123,600 positions before the Great Recession.

https://www.highlandnews.net/business/annual-summit-outlines-economic-outlook-for-socal-inland-empire/article_f80f05ec-2d7e-11ea-8115-c7eb61ff7… 4/6 1/3/2020 Annual summit outlines economic outlook for SoCal, Inland Empire | Business | highlandnews.net For the rst time, a high-paying sector is showing signs of starting to add to the economic base of Riverside and San Bernardino metro:

• Professional, management and scientic work has recently started expanding. This appears to be a reaction to three factors. First, it has seen a doubling in the absolute number of residents with bachelors or higher degrees from 2000-2017 (100.5 percent). Even though the inland area’s population is less well educated than its coastal county competitors, in this period its overall percentage of college graduates grew from 16.3 percent to 21.9 percent. The percent of those with AA degrees or higher went from to 23.1 percent to 30.2 percent. Second, the growth of the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area economy requires increasing levels of professional service providers, given its 4.63 million people and 123,565 rms. Third, the re- emergence of the construction sector creates a need for engineers and other such specialists. Based upon the BLS job growth in 2019 (3.6 percent), it is estimated that the sector will add 1,816 jobs to reach 52,282 positions.

Given the high levels of poverty in the area, it is important to nd sectors that oer workers median incomes at middle class levels. Provided families have a secondary wage earner in a lower paying sector, the data show that this is possible in several sectors due to their median pay levels over $45,000. In particular, it is important for this to be the case in sectors requiring minimal educational requirement given the 46.3 percent of adult workers with high school or less schooling. Looking at the economic base sectors and one related to them, the following is the situation:

• Logistics (2019 median pay: $49,106). In 2017, 78.4 percent of workers were in jobs requiring high school or less schooling. The sector is the fastest growing in the Inland Empire.

• Health Care (2019 median pay: $65,757). In 2017, 33.7 percent of workers were in jobs with minimal educational requirements. The sector has provided signicant upward mobility for those with AA degrees or post-secondary training (30.2 percent). It grows continuously with those obtaining technical certications nding good jobs and the ability to move up within the sector.

• Construction (2019 median pay: $52,482). In 2017, 82.2 percent of workers were in jobs requiring minimal levels of formal education, though apprenticeship is necessary for some types of work. The sector has become the second fastest growing in the inland area though rms continue having trouble nding workers. https://www.highlandnews.net/business/annual-summit-outlines-economic-outlook-for-socal-inland-empire/article_f80f05ec-2d7e-11ea-8115-c7eb61ff7… 5/6 1/3/2020 Annual summit outlines economic outlook for SoCal, Inland Empire | Business | highlandnews.net • Manufacturing (2019 median pay $54,438) oers little job growth. Industry leaders, however, indicate that a large share of existing technicians are starting to retire. Of workers in the sector in 2017, 66.5 percent needed only high school or less training.

• Professional, management & scientic (2019 median pay $72,431). In 2017, a relatively small share of workers were in jobs for marginally educated workers (34.5 percent). Another 9.2 percnet, however, can step up to better paying jobs with AA degrees or post-secondary training.

• Finance, Insurance & Real Estate (2019 median pay: $51,231) is still in declining mode. In this sector, 65.6 percent of workers during 2017 were in jobs requiring minimal entry level educations though many require specic state certications. Its growth requires more home sales and construction activity plus bank expansions.

Growth in these sectors for 2019 is anticipated to cause the area to add a total of 38,123 jobs in 2018 or 2.5 percent, fastest among major California metropolitan areas.

Outlook

The need for change in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area’s economy is underscored by the fact that when ination is taken into account, the estimated 2018 median household income ($65,512) has only exceeded its 1990 level by 0.6 percent. Per capita income has fared similarly in that period, up 0.5 percent from 1990-2018. Meanwhile, the two-county area continues to have an imbalance in its income distribution. Thus in 2018, the 14.1 percent of households making over $150,000 a year captured 35.8 percent of all income. And, the 16.4 percent of households receiving $100,000-$149,999 a year earned 24.8 percent of the region’s income. These two groups together constituted 30.5 percent of households but had 60.5 percent of the Inland Empire’s income. By contrast, the 38.5 percent of households earning below $50,000 received only a 12.1 percent share of the area’s income.

Hector Hernandez Jr.

https://www.highlandnews.net/business/annual-summit-outlines-economic-outlook-for-socal-inland-empire/article_f80f05ec-2d7e-11ea-8115-c7eb61ff7… 6/6 How supportive housing supports our future workers – San Bernardino Sun

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BUSINESSHOUSING How supportive housing supports our future workers

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https://www.sbsun.com/...future-workers/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social[1/3/2020 7:30:06 AM] How supportive housing supports our future workers – San Bernardino Sun

Housing that is accessible to low-income families, when combined with caring, on-site staff and supportive services has proven an effective model for helping to improve long-term economic and health outcomes. (iStockphoto)

By GREGORY BRADBARD | [email protected] | Hope Through Housing Foundation  PUBLISHED: January 3, 2020 at 7:00 am | UPDATED: January 3, 2020 at 7:01 am

George was still in elementary school when he was kicked out of the afterschool program on campus because of his behavior. He had problems focusing, acted out often and did not like to participate in organized activities.

Fortunately, George found a daily afterschool program at the community room within his apartment community. Slowly, the afterschool teacher began to notice his interest in jeopardy and trivia games, which motived him to complete his homework and participate with the group.

Eventually, George began helping smaller children with their math homework, which came easily to him. By the end of the year, George’s school principal commented that she was surprised he made the honor roll; she attributed his success to the afterschool program at his apartment complex. M

As President of the Hope Through Housing Foundation, I get to hear story after story like this one, demonstrating the power of offering on-site health, educational and social services for families living in https://www.sbsun.com/...future-workers/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social[1/3/2020 7:30:06 AM] How supportive housing supports our future workers – San Bernardino Sun

affordable housing communities. Quality housing is absolutely essential and provides a powerful stabilizing influence for low-income families, and additional resources and programs offered right where families live can be the lever that allows them to transform their future.

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Lakeshia Johnson, a Hope Services coordinator, recently shared a story about a single mother with three children who had been homeless several times before moving into a National CORE apartment.

“They described sleeping in tents on the sides of buildings. Not having food on a daily basis and not having coats to wear in the winter, they described washing cars and picking up trash for money in order to eat,” said Lakeshia. “When you see them now, you would never know it. They are very polite, gracious and always smiling.”

After moving into their affordable apartment three years ago, the kids reported they always kept sleeping bags and tents under their beds because they never knew when they might need them https://www.sbsun.com/...future-workers/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social[1/3/2020 7:30:06 AM] How supportive housing supports our future workers – San Bernardino Sun

again.

Today, their mother is working steadily, her son dreams of becoming a scientist to discover a cure for breast cancer and her daughter wants to attend college and become an astronaut. Both children said that one day they want to open a shelter and get jackets donated to those in need in the winter.

For 17-year-old Tony, a San Bernardino resident who recently graduated from high school, it was his mother who brought him to the Hope computer lab to figure out future plans. After sitting in front of a screen not knowing where to start, Jennifer Cervantes, a Hope Services coordinator, offered her assistance. Tony expressed no real interest in working or attending college, so Cervantes explained the doors that would be opened if he furthered his education.

“He came back to see me a week later and wanted to talk about his future,” said Cervantes. “I helped him complete an assessment and he decided to move forward with a trade school.”

Tony is now attending San Bernardino Valley College pursuing a certificate in welding, paid for by financial aid for which Cervantes helped him apply.

Earlier this month John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health released new research demonstrating that low-income children receiving housing assistance had an 18% reduction in hospital visits compared with children without a housing voucher.

Whether illustrated by data or the many experiences shared by families living in supportive affordable housing environments, it’s my honor to have witnessed numerous stories of life transformation. And I

look forward to hearing many more as we expand housing opportunities for low-income families across Southern California over the coming years.

Gregory Bradbard is an advocate for breaking the cycle of poverty as president of the SoCal-based Hope Through Housing Foundation, www.HTHF.org.

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Gregory Bradbard Gregory (Greg) Bradbard is president of the Hope through Housing Foundation and National CORE’s senior vice president of strategic partnerships.

https://www.sbsun.com/...future-workers/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_content=tw-sbsun&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social[1/3/2020 7:30:06 AM] 1/3/2020 Fontana officials will work on several priorities in 2020 | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/fontana-ocials-will-work-on-several-priorities- in/article_5ab0c7c6-2d7f-11ea-be8c-df2aea96308c.html Fontana ocials will work on several priorities in 2020

By RUSSELL INGOLD Jan 2, 2020

Encouraging participation in the 2020 U.S. Census will be a major endeavor for Fontana ocials in 2020. Representatives from the Census Bureau marched in the Fontana Christmas Parade in December.

Beginning the New Year, the Fontana City Council will be working on fullling several goals, and one of the top priorities for 2020 will be to hire a new city manager.

However, the old city manager is still on the payroll -- and will be for another year.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/fontana-officials-will-work-on-several-priorities-in/article_5ab0c7c6-2d7f-11ea-be8c-df2aea96308c.html 1/4 1/3/2020 Fontana officials will work on several priorities in 2020 | News | fontanaheraldnews.com Ken Hunt had been the Fontana city manager for 20 years before abruptly retiring without commenting publicly last July. No reason was given for the suddenness of Hunt's departure, and the city did not honor him with a ceremony at the time.

According to a subsequent report by the San Bernardino Sun, Hunt will still be collecting his salary with the city until January of 2021.

In the meantime, Michael Milhiser was named the interim city manager.

“We thank Ken for his dedicated service to our city and wish him all the best in his retirement,” said Mayor Acquanetta Warren in a statement. “We’re fortunate to have someone of Mike Milhiser’s experience and leadership heading our transition team, while we search for a permanent replacement.”

Other members of the city’s management team also retired in 2019: Debbie Brazill, the deputy city manager of development services, and David Edgar, the deputy city manager.

----- ONE OF the major concerns that the city will be dealing with this year is the housing crisis, which has been tormenting the entire state.

Last year, city leaders were pleased to receive a $625,000 Housing and Community Development grant which will help Fontana move forward with housing projects, specically in the downtown area.

Last February, the City Council approved the development of a ve-story residential building and possible restaurant in downtown. The project will include seven one-bedroom and 22 two- bedroom apartment units, two of which will be considered aordable units.

Also in February, United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson visited Fontana to tour the CityLink facility in the downtown area and to talk with local ocials.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/fontana-officials-will-work-on-several-priorities-in/article_5ab0c7c6-2d7f-11ea-be8c-df2aea96308c.html 2/4 1/3/2020 Fontana officials will work on several priorities in 2020 | News | fontanaheraldnews.com In addition, during 2019 the City Council gave the OK to some new housing developments, including a 253-unit condominium project which will be accompanied by a future retail center in northwestern Fontana.

----- IN 2020, one of the most important endeavors for city leaders will be to encourage participation in the U.S. Census, which takes place April 1.

“The City of Fontana is 100 percent committed to working with all of our community stakeholders to ensure a complete and accurate count in the 2020 Census," said Martha Guzman-Hurtado, a city representative. "The stakes are high and we must work together to bring millions of dollars in federal funds back to our community to provide crucial resources and services such as infrastructure improvements, parks, schools and hospitals.”

Warren also emphasized the signicance of the Census. “Because the census is taken once every 10 years, we only have one shot at getting this right," she said.

Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-47th District) said the Inland Empire is home to more than 4.5 million Californians, with an estimated 29 percent of San Bernardino County census tracts being likely very hard to count. Many of those census tracts are concentrated in her district, which includes Fontana.

"This is important because undercounting these communities means less political representation and resources," Reyes said. "Our district encompasses many hard-to-count communities that have been historically undercounted, including communities of color, large rate of renters, high population of young children, residents who are undocumented immigrants and residents who do not have internet access. Together through coalition building and collaboration, I am condent every person in the 47th Assembly District and the Inland Empire region will be counted.”

After the Census is complete, it is possible that Fontana will have surpassed San Bernardino as the most populous city in San Bernardino County.

----- ONE OF THE happiest moments for the city last year was the construction of the Dodgers Dreameld at Jack Bulik Park. The $600,000 eld (which was paid for mostly by donations from foundations) is providing opportunities for many special needs youth in the region to enjoy https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/fontana-officials-will-work-on-several-priorities-in/article_5ab0c7c6-2d7f-11ea-be8c-df2aea96308c.html 3/4 1/3/2020 Fontana officials will work on several priorities in 2020 | News | fontanaheraldnews.com baseball.

Also in the works are two new parks with elds for soccer and football games.

Central City Park, a 14.5-acre sports facility, will be built behind the Cypress Community Center in the central area of Fontana.

In addition, the South Fontana Sports Park will be constructed on an 18-acre parcel on Santa Ana Avenue, between Cypress and Juniper avenues in the southern end of the city.

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/fontana-officials-will-work-on-several-priorities-in/article_5ab0c7c6-2d7f-11ea-be8c-df2aea96308c.html 4/4 1/3/2020 Warren will represent local area on SCAG committee | News | fontanaheraldnews.com

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/warren-will-represent-local-area-on-scag- committee/article_5a068ef8-2d7c-11ea-9347-57070fe88e73.html Warren will represent local area on SCAG committee

Jan 2, 2020

Mayor Acquanetta Warren was recently appointed to represent the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) as a sub-regional appointee on the Southern California Association of Governments' (SCAG) Community, Economic and Human Development Committee.

As a member, she will assist with studying and providing recommendations to the Regional Council about problems, programs and other issues involving community, housing, economic development, and growth.

The committee also oversees the Housing Needs Assessment and conducts an analysis of the regional economy.

"I am excited and honored to represent Fontana, along with San Bernardino County, at the regional level," said Warren, who will serve a two-year term. "With Fontana anticipated to be the most populous city in San Bernardino County, I will ensure our housing needs and the needs of our surrounding areas are made aware."

https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/warren-will-represent-local-area-on-scag-committee/article_5a068ef8-2d7c-11ea-9347-57070fe88e73.html 1/1 San Diego to Spend $100M Repairing Sidewalks Over 10 Years as Injuries Mount POSTED 12:39 PM, JANUARY 2, 2020, BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Diego will spend $100 million over the next decade to repair 80,000 city sidewalks to stem a recent tide of injury payouts.

Because repairing sidewalks is the legal responsibility of adjacent property owners, ofcials had previously considered property liens and education campaigns to encourage more effort by homeowners.

But after being forced to pay more than $11 million for A buckled sidewalk in downtown L.A. is seen in this undated photo.(Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles injury lawsuits, the city decided it would make the Times) repairs.

In one notable suit, a jury awarded Cynthia Hedgecock — the wife of former Mayor Roger Hedgecock — nearly $85,000 for ruptured breast implants she suffered during a sidewalk fall.

LOCAL NEWS

/ 1/2/2020 Transit Systems Take On Role as Homeless Advocates - WSJ

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/transit-systems-take-on-role-as-homeless-advocates-11577973601

U.S. Transit Systems Take On Role as Homeless Advocates As number of people living on the streets rises, many transit officials worry about social welfare as well as trains and buses

Septa Police Sgt. Matthew Sinkiewicz, center, and Septa Oficer Fran Herrschaft check on a woman resting in a trolley concourse in Philadelphia in November. PHOTO: HANNAH YOON FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

By Paul Berger Jan. 2, 2020 900 am ET

Jeﬀrey Knueppel’s skills include running trains, buses and subways, and helping people who are homeless ﬁnd jobs and housing.

The retired general manager of the Philadelphia region’s transit authority, like a growing number of transit oﬃcials around the country, increasingly assumed a social-welfare role in recent years as his agency struggled to cope with rising homelessness.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority spent more than $1 million partnering with the city of Philadelphia to build an 11,000-square-foot homeless drop-in center at a busy subway station. It also teamed up with a local nonproﬁt to raise more than $1.6 million in charitable donations for other homeless programs and services.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/transit-systems-take-on-role-as-homeless-advocates-11577973601?mod=hp_lead_pos5 1/5 1/2/2020 Transit Systems Take On Role as Homeless Advocates - WSJ Mr. Knueppel, who retired Dec. 31, said he didn’t want to just push the problem to somebody else.

“We were trying to ﬁgure out a solution that really helps the problem and makes things better for Septa,” he said.

Data on homelessness are imprecise because of the difficulty of conducting such counts. But federal figures suggest the number of people living on the streets is rising, even as national rates for people in shelters and temporary housing have remained relatively flat in recent years. In 2019, an estimated 212,000 people were living without shelter, the highest figure since 2012 and an 8.6% increase from 2018, according to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development data.

A woman who said she had been homeless for seven years was awakened in December by police oficers and homeless outreach volunteers in the New York subway system. PHOTO: YANA PASKOVA FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

The challenge has been acute in urban areas, especially on the West Coast, federal officials say. Transit officials in large cities have seen an influx of homeless people seeking shelter, many with substance-abuse and mental-health problems. During winter months in colder parts of the country some trains are transformed into what can seem like mobile shelters.

Major crime rates remain low across many transit systems. But in surveys, passengers report feeling increasingly unsafe, transit oﬃcials say. They add that complaints about homelessness are rising.

A 2018 report by the American Public Transportation Association noted that simply enforcing transit rules isn’t enough to reduce homelessness within systems. Many agencies are seeking longer-term solutions. Of 46 transit agencies surveyed in the APTA study, more than one-third have a homeless outreach program and one-quarter have an oﬃce responsible for addressing homelessness.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/transit-systems-take-on-role-as-homeless-advocates-11577973601?mod=hp_lead_pos5 2/5 1/2/2020 Transit Systems Take On Role as Homeless Advocates - WSJ

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Such eﬀorts place an added strain on cash-strapped transit agencies, which are diverting funding or partnering with local agencies and nonproﬁts to provide outreach and services.

“For a long time, transit agencies operated under the model that they were simply a transportation-service provider,” said Tim Chan, who leads the homeless program at Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco. “Now, it’s aﬀecting our ability to deliver transit.”

BART has helped fund street-level public toilets at major hubs and partnered with the Salvation Army to raise money for beds speciﬁcally for homeless people sheltering in its system.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a homeless outreach program two years ago to cater to the estimated 40,000 unsheltered people living in the county.

Today, the authority pays the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services about $4.9 million annually for eight teams staﬀed by specialists in health, mental health and homeless outreach. The workers fan out across buses, light rail and stations oﬀering people services and shelter.

Aston Greene, L.A. Metro’s interim chief of system security and law enforcement, says the program has put about 1,600 people in temporary housing and about 150 people in permanent housing. “We don’t catch and release,” he said.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a pilot program this summer. Five nights a week, teams of between four and eight MTA police oﬃcers fan out to eight terminal subway stations. There, they accompany outreach workers who wake people and try to convince them to go to city-run shelters or drop-in centers.

MTA oﬃcials say they can’t say how much the program costs because oﬃcers’ time isn’t https://www.wsj.com/articles/transit-systems-take-on-role-as-homeless-advocates-11577973601?mod=hp_lead_pos5 3/5 1/2/2020 Transit Systems Take On Role as Homeless Advocates - WSJ

The 'Living Room' program at Hub of Hope in Philadelphia says it caters to the most vulnerable people living on the streets. PHOTO: HANNAH YOON FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL budgeted separately for the pilot. But the MTA is in the process of hiring 500 oﬃcers, in part to staﬀ the outreach teams, at an estimated cost of $250 million over the next four years.

Transit advocates criticized the spending, saying it could be better used to improve services. Sarah Feinberg, an MTA board member who helped craft the homeless-outreach policy, said she hopes the authority won’t have to do it long-term. “Anyone receiving social services from the MTA is not being served well,” she said.

A homeless man at a New York subway station tells police oficers about his back problems. PHOTO: YANA PASKOVA FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Septa Police Chief Thomas Nestel said he was asked at a Philadelphia City Council hearing in 2019 how many oﬃcers he would hire if funding wasn’t an issue. “I said I wouldn’t hire any more police oﬃcers,” Mr. Nestel said in an interview. “I would hire 10 social workers.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/transit-systems-take-on-role-as-homeless-advocates-11577973601?mod=hp_lead_pos5 4/5 1/2/2020 Transit Systems Take On Role as Homeless Advocates - WSJ Septa currently has one social worker who accompanies oﬃcers, coaxing people into accepting services and helping the police build relationships.

The agency can’t spare funds for homeless programs, said Mr. Knueppel, Septa’s former general manager. That is why it teamed with Project HOME, a local nonprofit, to raise money. Project HOME will pay the social worker’s salary going forward, Septa officials said. The charity also runs the drop-in center, where people can shower, see a doctor and consult case workers about finding a permanent home.

One recent morning, about 100 people gathered at the center, drinking free coﬀee, chatting or sitting quietly at tables. Mr. Knueppel said that without the center, they would likely have sheltered in the transit system that day.

“These are real people, and we want to treat them with respect,“ Mr. Knueppel said.

Write to Paul Berger at [email protected]

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/transit-systems-take-on-role-as-homeless-advocates-11577973601?mod=hp_lead_pos5 5/5 1/3/2020 Medi-Cal Expands Health Coverage For Young Adults Who Can't Prove Legal Residence | KPBS

Search Input Field Medi-Cal Expands Health Coverage For Young Adults Who Can’t Prove Legal Residence

Thursday, January 2, 2020

By Tarryn Mento

Photo by Tarryn Mento

Above: A flyer at the Family Health Centers of San Diego clinic in southeast San Diego advertises Medi-Cal enrollment assistance to uninsured patients but features a now-outdated list of requirements that include legal California residency, Dec. 31, 2019.

California is removing barriers to health care that keep some people from seeing a doctor. A law that began this new year extends the state's Medicaid services, called Medi-Cal, to low-income young adults who may be in the U.S. illegally.

The change expands full-scope Medi-Cal benefits, including medical, dental, mental health and vision care for 19- to 25- year-olds regardless of immigration status. The group was previously restricted to emergency care coverage or limited scope insurance for specific events, such as a pregnancy or long-term disability.

https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/jan/02/medi-cal-expansion-impact-estimated-10000-undocume/ 1/3 1/3/2020 Medi-Cal Expands Health Coverage For Young Adults Who Can't Prove Legal Residence | KPBS State and county agencies estimate the expansion will affect 90,000 immigrants in California who also meet income requirements, including about 10,000 in San Diego. A local health clinic official said the change will improve health outcomes and reduce costly emergency care that's covered by taxpayers.

Jeff Gering is vice president of support services and planning at Family Health Centers of San Diego. He said the change will allow patients to get care before a health need becomes dire and results in an expensive hospitalization.

"You can treat someone for a medical condition in an outpatient setting for a fraction of the cost," Gering said.

The change is especially helpful for mental health care needs; suicide is the second-leading cause of death for young adults, he said.

"If treated early and under treatment, you can prevent a hospitalization," he said.

The state budget included $98 million to cover the expansion. California previously extended full scope Medi-Cal benefits to children under 19 regardless of immigration status in 2016.

Rick Wanne, who oversees eligibility for the county's public assistance programs, said the region doesn't anticipate a major change in operations for the latest expansion because half of the newly eligible San Diegans are already enrolled in emergency or restricted Medi-Cal coverage, leaving about 5,000 expected new applicants.

"It's not a significant size for us and we'll be ready to enroll them if they choose to apply," said Wanne, also the secretary-treasurer of the County Welfare Directors Association of California.

Immigrants without legal status became concerned about enrolling in Medi-Cal following the Trump Administration's public charge proposal. The rule would potentially jeopardize their chances to get a green card if they relied on some forms of public assistance. The policy was put on hold by a New York-based federal judge in October after multiple organizations and jurisdictions filed suit.

Wanne said people who meet Medi-Cal requirements should still seek coverage through the program because no changes have occurred while the rule is being challenged in court.

"Currently there's no impact or restriction from public charge locally, so we encourage everybody who is eligible and needs the health care services to apply," he sad.

The Family Health Centers of San Diego is working with San Diego Legal Aid to help any patients who may be concerned about enrolling in Medi-Cal.

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https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/jan/02/medi-cal-expansion-impact-estimated-10000-undocume/ 2/3 1/3/2020 Editorial: A lot is riding on the 2020 census. Let's get it right - Los Angeles Times

OPINION

Editorial: A lot is riding on the 2020 census. We’d better get it right

The federal government will conduct the decennial census on April 1. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune)

By THE TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD

JAN. 3, 2020 https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-01-03/a-lot-is-riding-on-the-2020-census-so-we-better-get-it-right 1/6 1/3/2020 Editorial: A lot is riding on the 2020 census. Let's get it right - Los Angeles Times

3 AM

In about three months, the federal government will begin gathering data for the census, the enormously complicated national survey required every 10 years by Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution.

It’s a daunting task to count every person living in a nation as large as ours, and after months of roiling controversies over the inclusion of a question about citizenship, foot-dragging by congressional budgeters and the cancellation of crucial field tests, it can only be hoped that the Census Bureau will get the count right. In fact, it must, because an awful lot is riding on it.

The census serves two primary purposes. First, it is used to determine how many seats in Congress each state will have, and to establish boundary lines for congressional and, often, state legislative districts based on population. The number of congressional seats allotted to each state also helps determine how many electoral college votes the state has in presidential elections.

Second, the federal government uses census data to determine the allocation of federal aid. Nearly $900 billion nationwide is disbursed on the basis of census data, including more than $100 billion to programs benefiting Californians, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

So census miscounts can have profound effects. And in recent censuses, urban centers where minorities and immigrants tended to cluster have been undercounted. In fact, a census review of its 2010 count estimated that it missed more than 2% of the nation’s black population and 1.5% of the Latino population, with disconcertingly higher misses in narrower categories. For instance, it missed about 10% of black males ages 30 to 46, and 5.9% in their late teens and 20s. It also missed about 5% of Latino males. The 2010 census had trouble counting children too, missing an estimated 1 million kids under age 5, according to another review by the Census Bureau.

At the same time the census tended to overcount white populations, which means that redistricting after the 2010 census shifted some political weight from urban centers, which tend to vote for Democrats, to suburban and rural populations, which tend to vote for Republicans.

These undercounts and overcounts disproportionately shortchange minority, immigrant and low-income communities.

So it is vitally important to get it right. California, in particular, can’t afford to be short-changed. Pre-census estimates, which are not always accurate, suggest that due to slowing population growth, the state may be on track to lose one of its 53 seats on the House, making a full and accurate count here all the more crucial.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-01-03/a-lot-is-riding-on-the-2020-census-so-we-better-get-it-right 2/6 1/3/2020 Editorial: A lot is riding on the 2020 census. Let's get it right - Los Angeles Times But the Trump administration has already sown distrust with its attempt to add a question about citizenship to the census, which experts contended would lead skittish immigrants — even possibly those who are in the country legally — to avoid responding to the count.

It was even more disturbing when later investigations revealed that Republican activists were behind the measure, apparently hoping that the inclusion of the question would lessen cooperation in Democratic-friendly areas. The Supreme Court blocked the question after finding Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ supposed reasoning — that the Justice Department wanted the question to aid enforcement of the Voting Rights Act — was spurious. But even with the question gone, suspicions linger in immigrant communities wary of the Trump administration’s draconian immigration policies.

There are technical uncertainties about the census, too. For the first time, the 2020 census will be conducted mostly online using a system that has only been lightly tested in the field because of budget restraints. While some experts believe the Census Bureau will be ready, and the Government Accounting Office says the bureau addressed many concerns the GAO had raised and that preparations now “are generally on track,” advocates for communities with histories of being undercounted remain skeptical. Part of the problem, critics say, is that the Census Bureau was slow in working with states and local stakeholders on public awareness campaigns; the delay, they fear, will make it harder to reach members of historically undercounted communities.

To ensure a more accurate count, many states have crafted their own outreach and public information campaigns. California will spend $187 million, by far the most of about two dozen blue states that will spend more than $300 million combined. A similar number of red states are spending nothing or very little. While it seems odd to spend state money to help ensure an accurate federal census, the stakes are sufficiently high for California to justify the expense.

But it’s not just California that needs an accurate count. A reliable census is fundamental to America’s representative democracy, and the Trump administration must ensure that the 2020 count is conducted under the highest possible professional standards.

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The Times’ editorial board determines the editorial positions of the organization. The editorial board opines on the important issues of the day – exhorting, explaining, deploring, mourning, applauding or championing, as the case may be. The board, which operates separately from the newsroom, proceeds on the presumption that serious, non-partisan, intellectually honest engagement with the world is a requirement of good citizenship.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-01-03/a-lot-is-riding-on-the-2020-census-so-we-better-get-it-right 3/6 Drought, what drought? Largest snowpack in 4 years, most stored water in Southern California history paint rosy picture – San Bernardino Sun

   

NEWSCALIFORNIA NEWS Drought, what drought? Largest snowpack in 4 years, most stored water in Southern California history paint rosy picture Healthy snowpack will feed the State Water Project aqueduct, which supplies 30% of Southern California's drinking water.

   

https://www.sbsun.com/.../drought-what-drought-largest-snowpack-in-four-years-most-stored-water-in-socal-history-paint-rosy-water-picture/[1/3/2020 7:37:38 AM] Drought, what drought? Largest snowpack in 4 years, most stored water in Southern California history paint rosy picture – San Bernardino Sun

A couple and their dog take in the majestic view of the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains as flock of birds fly above them in Diamond Bar on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. A record snowpack was recorded Thursday< Jan. 2, 2020 in the Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

By STEVE SCAUZILLO | [email protected] | San Gabriel Valley Tribune  PUBLISHED: January 2, 2020 at 5:34 pm | UPDATED: January 3, 2020 at 6:13 am

With snowpack levels in the Sierra Nevada registering at 90% of normal Thursday and state reservoirs at record historic levels, the urban water supply picture for 2020 could hardly be any rosier.

Southern California water managers are trying to restrain their joy, not because of a picture-postcard mountain top, but for the bounty that will come in spring when the snow melts, sending pristine water into state reservoirs and more importantly, southward via the State Water Project aqueduct, a source S that supplies 30% of Southern California’s drinking water.

Once that happens, local ground water managers will take a portion to restore overpumped basins still N low from the five-year drought that ended in 2016, water managers say. And Metropolitan Water By https://www.sbsun.com/.../drought-what-drought-largest-snowpack-in-four-years-most-stored-water-in-socal-history-paint-rosy-water-picture/[1/3/2020 7:37:38 AM] Drought, what drought? Largest snowpack in 4 years, most stored water in Southern California history paint rosy picture – San Bernardino Sun

District of Southern California, the largest wholesaler of water in the nation, says it will be there to facilitate that water transfer as long as its member agencies can pay for the purchases.

“We are going into this year with 3.1 million acre-feet of storage — water in the bank. That is the M highest storage level we’ve ever had,” said Demetri Polyzos, MWD resource planning team manager on Thursday, Jan. 2. (One acre foot equals 326,000 gallons, about as much as a Southern California family uses in a year).

MWD cannot take any more water at its Diamond Valley Lake Reservoir in Hemet, which sit 98% full as of Jan. 2. Instead, it wants to supply basins in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties with extra storage.

“We are here to provide supplemental water to the region. We certainly have the supplies,” Polyzos said. https://www.sbsun.com/.../drought-what-drought-largest-snowpack-in-four-years-most-stored-water-in-socal-history-paint-rosy-water-picture/[1/3/2020 7:37:38 AM] Drought, what drought? Largest snowpack in 4 years, most stored water in Southern California history paint rosy picture – San Bernardino Sun

Other MWD reservoirs are also filling up: Lake Matthews in Riverside County is 84% full; Lake Skinner in western Riverside County, 87%; Castaic Lake in northern Los Angeles County, 79%.

Major state reservoirs are doing even better: Shasta Lake, the state’s largest reservoir, near Redding, is currently 73% full, or 117% of normal. Lake Oroville, in Butte County, is currently 59% full, or 96% of normal. New Melones Lake, in the Sierra Foothills of Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, is 83% full, or 143% of its historic average. And San Luis Reservoir, near Los Banos, is 63% full, or 96% of its historical average.

As of Thursday, the statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack stood at 90% of its historical average — the highest total in early January in four years, when it came in at 101% on Jan. 2, 2016.

“It’s a good start,” said Chris Orrock, a spokesman for the state Department of Water Resources. “It’s better than it was last year. But it’s still early. We’re cautiously optimistic.”

Last year on Jan. 2, the statewide snowpack was just 69% of normal.

Officials from the state Department of Water Resources conducted their first Sierra Nevada snowpack survey of the season, with the media in tow, at Phillips Station along Highway 50 near Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort in El Dorado County.

At that location, the snow was 33 inches deep. Its water content was 97% of the historical average for early January. Readings at that site date back to 1941.

How much snow falls every winter is critical to California’s water picture because this vast, “frozen reservoir” over a 400-mile long Sierra mountain range is the source of one-third of the state’s supply for cities and farms as it slowly melts in the spring and summer months. The melt sends billions of gallons of clean, fresh water flowing down dozens of rivers and streams into reservoirs.

It also is key to the state’s ski industry, which suffered significantly during the 2012-16 drought. That drought was broken by the drenching winter of 2016-17. But ever since then, water officials have nervously monitored weather patterns, hopeful that drought conditions don’t re-emerge any time soon.

State water officials said their reservoir levels registered in the teens during the drought. But the last two years of snow and rain radically changed the picture. “Our reservoir levels are good right now; the majority are at or above historic averages,” Orrock said.

The precipitation of last year helped the Chino Basin add water to a thirsty basin from September through December of 2019, said Peter Kavounas, general manager. “And when you have more snowpack up north, we’ll have more water to import. It helps us better manager our ground-water basin,” he said Thursday.

Water allocations from the state aqueduct reached 75% in 2019. That has been reset to 10% on Thursday by a conservative Department of Water Resources. However, both Kavounas and Polyzos said they expect allocations to increase very soon. But local managers may wait for more local rain and snow before buying more expensive water from northern California, Polyzos said.

Metropolitan estimates a need of 1.5 million acre feet of water in 2020 for its 19 million customers in Southern California, a number that has gone down due to conservation practices in Southern California, he said. The agency will import about 1 million acre-feet from the Colorado River, needing only 500,000 acre-feet from the SWP, an amount expected with only a 35% allocation rate. “That is very achievable,” he said.

However, state water officials warn that climate change is expected to shrink the Sierra snowpack in the coming decades as temperatures continue to warm. With massive wildfires and heat waves crippling Australia this week, the issue has gained new visibility.

Orrock says the long-term forecast is for drier conditions in the state in the coming weeks, due to a high-pressure zone off west coast that could stick around for several weeks.

“We still need to see how the rest of the rainy season plays out. We may not get a significant storm the rest of this year,” he said.

Can the wet weather continue into January and February? That is something that worries state water managers.

“This is the first of our big three months — December, RELATED ARTICLES January and February — when we expect half of our

annual precipitation,” said Michael Anderson, California’s Citrus greening disease attacks Corona state climatologist. “The first one has done well. Two to go.” trees, putting city in quarantine area

Meanwhile, rainfall totals in parts of the state are mediocre. New wave of chicken-killing Newcastle In the Bay Area, for example, San Francisco has received disease hits Southern California 6.3 inches of rain, or 71% of its historic average for this Wet and wild: sea creature stories that date. San Jose is at 62% and Oakland is at 54%. Southern went viral in 2019 California is faring better, with rainfall in Los Angeles at 168% of normal for early January and San Diego at 212%. Environmentalists, lawmakers see big year ahead for new laws intended to help California’s historic drought of 2012-16 may be over. But the coast it’s legacy lives on. Because of a law that former Gov. Jerry Decade of disasters: Wildfires, a gas leak, Brown signed, local water officials in the areas with the earthquakes in Southern California most heavily over-pumped groundwater basins are required to submit plans to the state by the end of this month spelling out how they will replenish them.

“Be prepared for anything,” Anderson said. “A single atmospheric river storm can bring a fantastic amount of water in a very short time and change conditions in a hurry.”

Bay Area News Group reporter Paul Rogers contributed to this story

Tags: drought, environment, Top Stories Breeze, Top Stories IVDB, Top Stories LADN, Top Stories LBPT, Top Stories OCR, Top Stories PE, Top Stories PSN, Top Stories RDF, Top Stories SGVT, Top Stories Sun, Top Stories WDN

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https://www.sbsun.com/.../drought-what-drought-largest-snowpack-in-four-years-most-stored-water-in-socal-history-paint-rosy-water-picture/[1/3/2020 7:37:38 AM] 1/2/2020 Black drivers face more police stops in California, state analysis shows - Los Angeles Times

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Black drivers face more police stops in California, state analysis shows

Allen Mitchell Gardner of Community Coalition attends a rally for police reforms outside LAPD headquarters in October. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

By ANITA CHABRIA STAFF WRITER

JAN. 2, 2020 https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-02/black-drivers-face-more-police-stops-in-california-new-state-data-show 1/7 1/2/2020 , Black drivers face more police stops in California, state analysis shows - Los Angeles Times 3:28 PM

SACRAMENTO — Black drivers in some of California’s largest cities are stopped and searched by police at higher rates than white and Latino motorists, according to a new state analysis.

The state Department of Justice report, released Thursday, found that black people accounted for 15% of all stops examined in California, though they make up only about 6% of the state population, according to U.S. Census figures. White and Hispanic drivers were stopped at rates proportional to population estimates. Police were most likely to stop black men they perceived as being between the ages of 25 and 34.

The findings, the first scrutiny of racial bias in police stops released under a 2015 state law, appear to largely confirm what independent researchers and black drivers have long discussed: “Driving while black” represents an elevated risk of a law enforcement encounter.

A Los Angeles Times investigation last year found that Los Angeles police in the Metropolitan Division stopped black drivers at a rate nearly five times their share of the city population, prompting Mayor Eric Garcetti and community activists to call for reforms. Other investigations have found similar disparities in Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose and in cities across the country.

“For the first time ever, Californians have comprehensive racial and identity data on each stop and search conducted by police officers at the largest law enforcement agencies in the state,” said Sahar Durali, director of Litigation and Policy at Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles and a member of the statewide board that advised on the data collection. “This is a critical first step in the fight to end racial profiling.”

The data included details for vehicle and pedestrian stops of 1.8 million people at the state’s eight largest law enforcement agencies for a six-month period from July 2018 through December.

The California Highway Patrol, a statewide agency charged with safeguarding highways, conducted the most stops, pulling over more than 1 million drivers. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department combined stopped more than 470,000 drivers. The San Diego

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-02/black-drivers-face-more-police-stops-in-california-new-state-data-show 2/7 1/2/2020 Black drivers face more police stops in California, state analysis shows - Los Angeles Times Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Police Department, Riverside Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and San Francisco Police Department also contributed statistics.

The data were collected as part of the Racial and Identity Profiling Act of 2015, signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. Though it is the third annual report released under the mandate, it is the first to contain the stop data. The law will require every law enforcement agency in the state to collect and report profiling data by 2023.

Police also searched black drivers at a rate nearly three times that of white motorists, the report found. About 6% of white drivers were searched after a stop, and nearly 10% of all drivers were similarly checked. But the rate jumped to nearly 19% for black drivers, the highest percentage for any racial category examined.

Researchers have warned that stop and search data alone do not confirm bias in policing. To analyze why and how officers conduct stops, the report also looked at how often officers found contraband or evidence after a search.

“Search yield” data can help ferret out bias if data show that a certain demographic is searched more often than others, but with fewer instances of contraband being found. The figures released Thursday found that officers were most likely to find contraband when searching white drivers. Law enforcement searches of people of color turned up contraband at lower rates.

The report also found a disparity in consequences. While white drivers were more likely than black motorist to receive citations, they are less likely to be arrested. Black drivers were cited in about 37% of stops and arrested in about 15% of incidents. White drivers were arrested in about 11% of stops. Overall, drivers perceived as of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent were most likely to receive a ticket, with more than 60% being cited after a stop, compared with about half of white drivers.

Melina Abdullah, a Cal State L.A. professor and Black Lives Matter organizer who has been an outspoken critic of law enforcement, said the stops are “an albatross around [the] necks” of black people, leading to community mistrust, large fines, increased insurance rates and incarceration.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-02/black-drivers-face-more-police-stops-in-california-new-state-data-show 3/7 1/2/2020 Black drivers face more police stops in California, state analysis shows - Los Angeles Times “The experience of driving while black has not changed,” Abdullah said. “The recognition that it is part of black life ... is a constant weight.”

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Anita Chabria

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Anita Chabria covers California state politics and policy for the Los Angeles Times and is based in Sacramento. Before joining The Times, she worked for the Sacramento Bee as a member of its statewide investigative team, and previously covered criminal justice and City Hall.