Why Veteran Housing in Redlands Is Pitting Residents Against County Officials

4/10/2017 Why veteran housing in Redlands is pitting residents against county officials San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com) Why veteran housing in Redlands is pitting residents against county officials By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts Saturday, April 8, 2017 REDLANDS >> Residents fighting against a proposed affordable housing complex in their northside neighborhood have met some heavyweight opponents — prominent San Bernardino County leaders. The residents say the 80unit Liberty Lane apartment complex planned for the southwest corner of Texas Street and Lugonia Avenue is not compatible with their neighborhood. County officials contend the project, which would house veterans and lowincome families, supports their efforts to combat homelessness, especially among veterans. “This is really asking for equal representation,” said Ed Flores, summing up the residents’ concerns. The City Council, he added, “needs to look at this thoroughly and not be pressured or influenced by the hierarchy in politics.” The project, proposed by Los Angelesbased affordable housing developer A Community of Friends, was tabled by the City Council in February in response to public comments. The council will discuss the project in closed session April 18, but a public hearing has not yet been scheduled, said city spokesman Carl Baker. The Northside Impact Committee has submitted a petition with 21 signatures and several signed letters to the city opposing the project, which residents say will impact traffic and air quality, decrease property values and increase crime, as some of the veterans living in the project may have mental illness. Some residents also expressed concern about the project’s proximity to the Teledyne Battery Products facility on Brockton Avenue and Texonia Park across the street. “We’re trying to get the City Council to listen to us and hear the concerns,” said Flores, chairman of the Northside committee. “One way to do that is get folks to start writing in and say we need your representation truly at this time.” The project has the support of prominent leaders, meanwhile, including county Supervisors James Ramos and Josie Gonzales, District Attorney Mike Ramos and Sheriff John McMahon. “San Bernardino County has made the commitment to end the homeless veteran population in the county and has been aggressively going after that,” said Supervisor Ramos, who oversees the Third District, which includes Redlands. The county has gained national attention for its success in addressing homelessness among veterans, in particular. According to a joint letter by the supervisors, as of 2015, the county has housed 450 veterans, but more needs to be done. http://www.sbsun.com/governmentandpolitics/20170408/whyveteranhousinginredlandsispittingresidentsagainstcountyofficials&template=printart 1/2 4/10/2017 Why veteran housing in Redlands is pitting residents against county officials Liberty Lane gives back to veterans, who must adjust to daily life upon return from deployment, Supervisor Ramos said. “If there’s something we should all agree on it’s housing our homeless veterans and coming together on a project like this,” he added. Dora Leong Gallo, CEO at A Community of Friends, said the organization is thrilled to have the support of county officials. “It’s been very heartfelt and in some cases, emotional,” Gallo said. “I think people know, when we talk about the project, the importance of supporting our veterans. If the veterans have difficulty integrating back into society, we want to provide opportunities for them to reintegrate and get the help that they need.” The developer is partnering with U.S. VETS, Loma Linda Veterans Affairs and the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health to provide wraparound services for tenants. Staff from all three agencies will be on site to assist tenants, she said. “People with mental illness are able to recover and manage their illness to lead productive lives,” she said. “Our nonprofit organization believes in the power of recovery and believe that with the right services people can live productive lives.” The $26 million project would be the developer’s first in the Inland Empire. It is funded through county, state and federal grants as well as some private funding. Environmental documents for the project were called into question by a Temecula law firm prior to the City Council’s decision to postpone the matter. City staff wanted time to review the comments to ensure the city would not be subject to litigation, Baker said. Meantime, Gallo said, the developer continues to finetune the project. “We continue to try to meet with community groups to answer questions and dispel misinformation and let people know who the project is intended to serve,” she said. Flores said he plans to submit more signatures to the City Clerk’s Office. “The council needs to really look at this and take consideration to what they’re proposing to do and the affects it will bring to this part of the community,” he said. URL: http://www.sbsun.com/governmentandpolitics/20170408/whyveteranhousinginredlandsispittingresidentsagainstcountyofficials © 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com) http://www.sbsun.com/governmentandpolitics/20170408/whyveteranhousinginredlandsispittingresidentsagainstcountyofficials&template=printart 2/2 4/10/2017 San Bernardino County’s unsung heroes get special recognition San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com) San Bernardino County’s unsung heroes get special recognition By Michel Nolan, The Sun Saturday, April 8, 2017 ‘Tis the season of community awards. Since March 28, we’ve had the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Yawa’ Awards, Children’s Network Shine a Light on Child Abuse Awards, and the Time for Change Foundation Community Heroes. Those recognized in our communities were the heavylifters, the ones who identify a problem, roll their sleeves up and fix it. These are significant character validations. They make a difference in peoples’ quality of life, giving hope to those who are struggling — and literally saving lives. Often, those with a passion to help others have to be nudged into the kudos spotlight. On Thursday morning, “Shine a Light on Unsung Heroes” did just that at the annual Shine a Light on Child Abuse Awards Breakfast. The Valencia Room at the National Orange Show Events Center was filled to capacity as 16 award recipients were called to the stage — stepping in to that spotlight. “Shine a Light” honors heroes for making a commitment to the safety and wellbeing of atrisk children and youth — the judges, attorneys, social workers, case workers, law enforcement, foster parents, businesses and community partners — who give kids a voice. Also honored were 15 youth scholarship recipients — young people who had been in the county’s foster care system, but were now given a chance at a college education and a new life. Now in its 19th year, the breakfast honors are presented by San Bernardino County Children’s Network. Attorney Michael Markel, counsel for San Bernardino County, was honored with the Lifetime Advocate Award. Other award recipients were David Foy, legal, who has spent 15 years in the district attorney’s office assigned to the family violence unit in the Victorville office; Golden Eagle Moving Service, business, which transports needed Children’s Fund donations from San Diego to San Bernardino; Faith Powell, community member; The Open Door, community partner, aiding victims of human trafficking; Frank Kelly, education, educates parents and children about the danger of drug use, specifically as it relates to children; Susan Culbertson, education, coordinator for the School of Social Work at Cal State San Bernardino; Jermaine and Amber Wright, foster parents, who have been foster parents so long they have seen 53 foster children go through their doors, adopting 10 of them; Robin Ferguson, health and medical, a member of the local Safe Kids Inland Empire coalition; Nikole Wilkins, volunteer, who sees something wrong and feels the urgency and compassion to do something http://www.sbsun.com/socialaffairs/20170408/sanbernardinocountysunsungheroesgetspecialrecognition&template=printart 1/2 4/10/2017 San Bernardino County’s unsung heroes get special recognition about it; Michelle Coit, legal, who goes out of her way to help youth, including buying dress shirts, ties, and blouses for kids to wear in court; Stacey Chapdelaine, legal, who investigated a domestic disturbance and contacted the single mother and two young children, going out of her way to help the family; Michelle Gilleece, legal, who represents both children in dependency and delinquency courts; Jennifer Karns, human services, who demonstrates exceptional devotion to the wellbeing of youth on her caseload; and Darren Guentert, human services; who exemplifies the passion of someone who cares deeply for children and families. There was also a special “In Memoriam” award to Jeff Luther, children and family service advocate who was instrumental in the success of San Bernardino County’s Adoption Program. I was especially pleased to see an award go to Faith Powell, the 12yearold former foster youth who is now a community leader. Since she was adopted into her forever family, Faith has raised money for gifts for the county’s foster children by hosting used shoe drives, getting paid for the shoes — which helps people in developing nations — and then uses that money to purchase Christmas gifts for the foster children. At the end of 2016, she had collected 3,525 pairs of shoes — 3,516 pounds worth. Said Faith about her foster years, “I didn’t get a lot, so I’m going to give a lot.” These are just some of the dedicated army of people in the county who are committed to giving a voice to our most vulnerable population — our children.

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