12/9/2020 3 newly elected San Bernardino County supervisors take their seats NEWS 3 newly elected San Bernardino County supervisors take their seats Paul Cook, Dawn Rowe and Joe Baca Jr. sworn in during Monday ceremony Martin Estacio Victorville Daily Press Published 4:24 p.m. PT Dec. 8, 2020 A trio of newly elected San Bernardino County supervisors were sworn into office in front of a sparse crowd Monday afternoon. Paul Cook, Dawn Rowe and Joe Baca Jr. each were read their oaths of office by family members. “This is a joyous occasion for the county and historic,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Curt Hagman. “I mean, usually chambers are overflowing with friends and supporters, and obviously we have to do some adaptations today because of being 2020 COVID.” Cook, a U.S. Congressman who previously represented California’s 8th District since 2013, was sworn in by his wife, Jeanne. “I am very, very honored to be here,” he said. “Local government is where it all begins. This is part of the reason I got involved — to make a difference.” A retired Marine Corps colonel, Cook will represent the 1st District, which encompasses Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville, among other communities. Robert Lovingood — who served in the seat since 2012 — announced last year he wouldn’t run for reelection. Cook won the March primary with an overwhelming 64.66% of the total vote, preventing a run-off election. Rowe, the only incumbent in the group, was sworn in by her father, Robert Haynes. “I would like to thank the voters. It is an honor to be here. It has been a long journey for me since the time I was appointed in December 2018,” she said. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/12/08/3-newly-elected-san-bernardino-county-supervisors-take-their-seats/6499536002/ 1/2 12/9/2020 3 newly elected San Bernardino County supervisors take their seats Rowe was selected that year by the Board’s unanimous vote to fill a seat left vacant by James Ramos. But the appointment proved controversial following allegations that it violated the Ralph M. Brown Act. A San Bernardino Superior Court judge ruled the appointment unlawful but the decision was stayed after a California Court of Appeals ruling in November 2019, according to a previous Daily Press report. Rowe will represent the 3rd District, which covers the cities of Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Loma Linda and Twentynine Palms, among others. She also won the March primary with almost 55% of the total vote. Baca Jr. was sworn in by his father Joe Baca Sr., a former seven-term Congressman. “These are challenging times, and I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge and working with all of you and working for this community,” he said afterwards. Baca Jr. was a Rialto City Councilman since 2006. Before that, he served as a California state assemblyman from 2004 to 2006. Baca Jr. is a physical education teacher at Rialto High School, according to the school’s website. He won in a November runoff, earning about 58% of the total vote against challenger Jesse Armendarez. Baca Jr. will represent the 5th District, which covers the cities of Colton, Fontana, Rialto and San Bernardino — a population of about 433,000 people. Josie Gonzales had represented the District since 2004. “I thank you for the opportunity that you have given me to serve (and) to get to know you,” she told residents and county staff at a Nov. 17 meeting. “I am a much better person because of all of you.” Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio. https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/news/2020/12/08/3-newly-elected-san-bernardino-county-supervisors-take-their-seats/6499536002/ 2/2 12/9/2020 Bloomington will see ongoing public safety, recreation, and road services | Inland Empire News | fontanaheraldnews.com https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/inland_empire_news/bloomington-will-see-ongoing-public-safety-recreation-and-road- services/article_1893886c-397a-11eb-ade0-2f9fe0f446bf.html Bloomington will see ongoing public safety, recreation, and road services Dec 8, 2020 Josie Gonzales, who is leaving public oce after 16 years as a supervisor, is pleased that Bloomington will see many improvements in the upcoming years. Bloomington will soon reap signicant public safety, recreation, infrastructure, and anti-blight benets from a nine-year, $8.9 million investment strategy developed by recently retired San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales and a team of county government departments. "One of the many goals I had for my time as Fifth District supervisor was to bring long-needed amenities and other improvements to Bloomington," said Josie Gonzales, who served as Fifth District supervisor until her retirement on Dec. 7 after 16 years in ofce. "It pleases me greatly to see additional steps taken toward bettering the lives of the people who call this wonderful community their home." The Bloomington Investment Program, which goes into effect on July 1 at the start of the 2021-22 scal year, will include: https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/inland_empire_news/bloomington-will-see-ongoing-public-safety-recreation-and-road-services/article_1893… 1/2 12/9/2020 Bloomington will see ongoing public safety, recreation, and road services | Inland Empire News | fontanaheraldnews.com --Dedicated Sheriff Patrol assigned exclusively to Bloomington, seven days a week. --Dedicated Code Enforcement services, including legal support and after-hours and weekend service as needed. --Recreational services, including enhanced programming and upgrades at the Ayala Park Community Center, and expanding the front-desk position to full-time service. --Public Works projects, including the resealing of roads, additional asphalt berms, paved shoulders for drainage improvements, inll sidewalks, and resources to address Hazmat spills, illegal dumping, and expanded street sweeping of debris after storms. Annual funding for the program will start at $830,000 for the rst year and gradually increase each year to almost $1.2 million for scal year 2029-30. Additional funding will be set aside to cover ination and special one-time programs or projects. The ultimate goal is to create a Community Facilities District that will provide ongoing dedicated funding to provide these services beyond the life of the investment program, the county said in a news release. The funding will come from community benet agreements with proposed industrial developments and an agreement stemming from the West Valley Logistics development in southeastern Fontana. Revenue from the West Valley Logistics agreement commences next May. The Bloomington Investment Program is the latest effort by Gonzales and the county to provide the caliber of services usually found only within incorporated cities to unincorporated Bloomington. In 2012, Gonzales and the county initiated an endeavor to focus investment in Bloomington. The county team included the County Administrative Ofce, Community Development and Housing Department, Special Districts Division, County Counsel, Public Works, County Library, Real Estate Services Department, Economic Development Department, and the Land Use Services Department. The effort led to the Valley Boulevard Corridor Specic Plan, which fostered trafc improvements, sewer and water projects, a new and larger library, and a mixed generational affordable housing complex -- Bloomington Grove and Lilian Court. The teamwork between Gonzales and the county team also led to a comprehensive and proactive effort to eliminate illegal trucking operations within Bloomington, as well as the relocation of Ayala Park. "It makes me happy to know that Bloomington is a better place than it was when I took ofce 16 years ago, and that it has a brighter future," Gonzales said. "This is an ongoing team effort, and I give thanks to the county employees and departments who have helped. "But the greatest thanks go to the people of Bloomington, who patiently provided input and supported this work." https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/inland_empire_news/bloomington-will-see-ongoing-public-safety-recreation-and-road-services/article_1893… 2/2 12/9/2020 San Bernardino County goes to court to fight Measure K, which passed in November | Inland Empire News | fontanaheraldnews.com https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/inland_empire_news/san-bernardino-county-goes-to-court-to- ght-measure-k-which-passed-in-november/article_26f54db6-39aa-11eb-888b-df2a9a0c627b.html San Bernardino County goes to court to ght Measure K, which passed in November Dec 8, 2020 San Bernardino County is ghting Measure K in court. Voters in San Bernardino County overwhelmingly passed Measure K in the November election, but now the county is ghting the measure in court in order to try to keep some of its provisions from being implemented. Measure K seeks to create a single four-year term limit on future members of the Board of Supervisors and drastically limit the pay they would receive. https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/inland_empire_news/san-bernardino-county-goes-to-court-to-fight-measure-k-which-passed-in-november/ar… 1/3 12/9/2020 San Bernardino County goes to court to fight Measure K, which passed in November | Inland Empire News | fontanaheraldnews.com Both provisions may violate the California Constitution and state laws, the county said in a news release. The measure received 516,184 "yes" votes in the election (66.84 percent), and there were only 256,098 "no" votes (33.16 percent). One of the key proponents of Measure K was Nadia Renner, a business owner from Fontana who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Board of Supervisors earlier this year. In the ofcial ballot argument in favor of Measure K published by the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters prior to the election, Renner and three other persons said that voting yes would "nally attract representatives interested in public service and committed to following the will of the people." Renner and the others claimed that the Board of Supervisors has "chosen to ignore voters and their rights.