COMMUNITY Fullerton bsCeALErNDAvR Peage 1r 3-15 O EAR FULLERTON’S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS • Est.1978 (printed on 20% recycled paper) • Y 41 #10 • EARLY JUNE 2019 Submissions: [email protected] • Contact: (714) 525-6402 • Read Online at : www.fullertonobserver.com Public Hearing for Fullerton Water Rate Increase by Jane Rands Fullerton’s aging water delivery system, including water mainlines, storage tanks, wells, and pumps, many installed in the 1950s and 60s, are due to be replaced. The aging infrastructure experiences as many as 100 pipeline ruptures per year at a cost of $4,000 to $20,000 per break. Some new wells are also being drilled deeper to avoid industrial pollution seep - ing into shallow portions of the aquifer. To cover the cost of new infrastructure, repairs, and maintenance a new rate struc - ture is being proposed that will better reflect the actual cost of providing water. A public hearing will be held at Fullerton City Hall Tuesday, June 4 at 6:30 pm for a proposed water rate increase over the next 5 years. The plan is based on input of a six-person committee with members from the Citizens Infrastructure Organizers and speakers at the Human Trafficking event “Found in Fulleron” included Jason Phillips, Ruthi Hanchett, Phoenix Freeman Review Committee and the Energy and Patricia Sugianto (organizers) and speakers Stephanie Taylor and Juan Reveles. - PHOTO BY MATTHEW HANCHETT Resource Management Committee. Residents are encouraged to attend the Draft EIR for the hearing to ask questions and voice their HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOUND support or opposition to the increases. Fullerton College IN FULLERTON by Jane Rands Visit www.cityoffullerton.com/waterrates - Stadium Project tudy for more information. We hear about human traffickers target - adopted her. She said her basic needs were ing immigrants. We hear stories about vic - met, but she was bullied at school because Fullerton College prepared a Draft tims lured abroad. But we often don’t hear of her skin color, didn’t talk to her moth - Environmental Impact Report for the about U.S. citizens trafficked not far from er about sex or drugs, and was “very inno - Fullerton College Sherbeck Field home and in plain sight. It happens in cent.” 7 Improvements Project. The Draft EIR . A 7 S D Orange County. It happens in Fullerton. When she was 8 years old, a family . 5 C I is available on the Fullerton College D 1 U A E . One of the most egregious forms of traf - friend molested her. Child Services N P campus projects website for a 45-day T D O O E R ficking is the sexual exploitation of chil - “stepped-in,” but her family still did not R N T public comment period from May 15 G A O R T A S dren. The first speaker at “Found in talk about “those things.” She said the D I E through June 28. Written comments T E L N S M R Fullerton: Human Trafficking 101” at trauma did not cause her to become L A will be received through June 28. O P R T U P E FLDWRK on May 23 was a former “overly sexualized.” S F The proposed project encompasses P Fullerton High School student Oree She was sexually abused again at 10 and the installation of permanent prefabri - Freeman, who survived being trafficked as the perpetrator received only 6 months in cated aluminum bleachers, six field a child and now works with an organiza - jail. She said she did not become angry. lighting stanchions, a new sound sys - tion called Saving Innocence She “held those things” inside and contin - tem, press box and storage building at (www.savinginnocence.org ) to help bring ued to be bullied at school. At 10, she also the existing Sherbeck Field. Sherbeck awareness to and help stop human traf - first learned that she was adopted. Field would continue to be used for ficking. At 11 she said she “got into trouble” at academic instruction, competitive ath - Ms. Freeman told her story to a room school and was put on probation in the letics, and rentals; however, Sherbeck M filled with mothers, daughters, teachers, juvenile justice system. Her adoptive T Field is proposed to host competitive R O N E clergy, parishioners, elected officials, com - mother put her “back into the system” as C football games, which are currently . V E munity members and non-profits who a foster child because, she said her adop - R R held at other locations. The inclusion D E E I provide services for victims and advocate tive mother didn’t want her anymore. S V of field lighting as part of the project S B R 2 against trafficking. While Ms. Freeman was doing commu - E E 0 would allow Fullerton College to add O S 4 R Ms. Freeman was born in Chowchilla nity service at a library a woman befriend - B T more evening classes and provide more E I 6 O - S state prison to a single mom. A family ed her. H Continued on page 3 T I class options for students who may not N 5 T V N 2 O be able to take physical education dur - E N R 5 T I - R R ing the day. It is anticipated that these O 4 E E Negotiations with New Owner Not R S L 1 improvements would begin in early I L 7 U T 2020 and would last approximately six U R C Working For Rancho La Paz Residents F E . months. V R W In addition, the Draft EIR is avail - D According to residents of Rancho La “We have not agreed on anything,” O W A Paz mobile home park in Fullerton, who Lupe Ramirez, the park’s lead negotiator, able on the North Orange County W are currently in negotiations said. “Saunders is going in Community College District’s website. with the park’s new owner “You must decide the wrong direction. His A copy of the Draft EIR is also available regarding exorbitant rent figures are now higher than for public review at the Fullerton increases, the negotiations are if you want to the original increases with Public Library, 353 West not going well. buy clothes, go long-term leases and rent Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, When Saunders initially pur - out to eat, increases every 6 months. California 92832. chased Rancho La Paz, he or pay your He just does not under - Comments on the Draft EIR may be attempted to raise lot rents by space rent.” stand most park residents made through June 28, in writing, 30-60%. Many of the residents cannot afford his raises...I (with your contact name, return 4 3 Rancho La Paz Mobile 8 are seniors on fixed incomes. In have negotiated contracts address and email address) to Richard N 2 Home Park Onwer R 9 1 Williams at Administrative Offices of response, residents organized, for years and have never O 5 E John Saunders A 0 T the North Orange County Community V and city council put pressure experienced the kind of 7 C R R X N on Saunders to consider the doublespeak and attitude College District, Anaheim campus, E E O O L S B 1830 W. Romneya Drive Anaheim, CA T residents. Saunders agreed to temporarily of cruelty John Saunders exhibits. We R L B O E rescind the rent increases while he negoti - have not been presented anything written 92801-1819. P U L O L ated with the tenants. In response, coun - and his comments are shot from the hip. View the report by visiting www.full - F U F coll.edu/campusprojects/projects/. cil postponed any action until July. Continued on page 3 Page 2FULLERTON OBSERVER LOCAL & REGIONAL NEWS EARLY JUNE 2019 Our Bodies, Our Choice Rally by Jesse La Tour In conjunction with rallies and protests across the country against the recent abor - tion ban legislation in states like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio, about 100 people showed up during rush hour at the corner of Imperial Hwy & State College in Brea on May 21st to voice their opposition to attempts at rolling back abortion rights. “There are so many people all over the country who are coming out and protest - ing the recent legislation in Alabama, Missouri, and other states that are really clamping down on abortion rights, and trying to do away with Roe v. Wade ,” said Debbie Langenbacher, who helped organ - ize the protest. “One of the things that I’m pleased with is it seems we get a lot of peo - ple honking and waving in support of what we’re doing and what we have to say. We’ve only had one heckler so far.” “I’m very concerned about the recent laws that have been passed in different states, and I really don’t think it’s the gov - ernment’s job to make decisions for women about their bodies, especially with About 100 people rallied on the corner of Imperial Hwy and State College Blvd in support of Womens’ Rights a law that’s been established for over 50 and in opposition to recent attempts to roll back safe abortion. - PHOTO JESSE LA TOUR years,” another protestor named Pat said. and I know of too many country that this is wrong,” said Jim pen. It was scary because it was impossi - Fullerton resident Suzanne young women who died try - Gallagher, “ Roe v. Wade is the law of the ble. And now it’s scary because it’s hap - Benet said, “It’s really impor - “There is ing to abort themselves,” land and we’re supporting it.