hell' fire: 'we've traveled the world only to end up in a ... · 10/13/2016 a korean...
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10/13/2016 A Korean community in ruins after the Blue Cut fire: 'We've traveled the world only to end up in hell' LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/lamebluecutfireaftermath20160907snapstory.html 1/5
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A Korean community in ruins after the Blue Cutfire: 'We've traveled the world only to end up inhell'
By Ruben Vives
OCTOBER 13, 2016, 4:00 AM | REPORTING FROM WEST CAJON VALLEY, CALIF.
arah Choi stood in the rubble, weeping, as her husband propped up an orange tent.
The couple had traveled decades ago from their native South Korea to Canada and then from one
state in the U.S. to the other, looking for their “heavenly place.” In Southern California’s high desert,
they found what some called the Korean Valley.
One of the areas hit hardest by the 36,000acre Blue Cut fire was the West Cajon Valley, home to a small Korean community with a bigrebuilding challenge ahead.
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10/13/2016 A Korean community in ruins after the Blue Cut fire: 'We've traveled the world only to end up in hell' LA Times
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There, said Michael Choi, 74, they were told they could farm the land, growing vegetables and working into
their 90s if they wanted.
In August, the Blue Cut fire turned their heavenly place into a giant ashtray of charred trees, shrubs and
homes.
“We’ve traveled the world ,” Sarah Choi, 70, said, “only to end up in hell.”
When the wildfire swept through the West Cajon Valley — where a Korean community believed to number
about 70 families has taken root — it scorched 36,274 acres and destroyed about 105 homes and 216 other
structures. Among the losses were jujube farms and a prayer retreat.
How this desert outpost in San Bernardino County became a haven for immigrants is, in many ways, the classic
story of that one person who came and started something.
In the West Cajon Valley, some say, that person was Bae Ki Chan.
In 1992, Bae moved to a farm just off Highway 138, seven miles from Wrightwood, and raised goats, boars and
pheasants for meat to serve at “The Place Where the Clouds Rest.”
The unlicensed restaurant became a destination for Korean immigrants from around Southern California.
Some who visited took notice of the valley; its high elevation meant clean air, the underground water and
seasonal weather made it ideal for farming.
In some ways, it was not unlike parts of South Korea.
“It resembles the country life many of them came from,” said Edward T. Chang, director of the Young Oak Kim
Center for Korean American Studies at UC Riverside. “They found a refuge in the mountainous area with
running water, and those are the reasons why they were attracted to it.”
Yeoyong Yun, 71, said he felt like it was destiny that brought him to the West Cajon Valley.
When he was a boy in South Korea, he said recently, a U.S. soldier had given him chocolate candy. The memory
stuck in his mind.
10/13/2016 A Korean community in ruins after the Blue Cut fire: 'We've traveled the world only to end up in hell' LA Times
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“America must be a great place,” he remembered thinking.
As a young adult Yun worked, saved his money and left South Korea in 1982 with his wife and two children —
going first to Argentina, where he opened a clothing factory.
About five years later, he sold the business and paid a “coyote” $20,000 to help smuggle the family across the
U.S.Mexico border.
They settled in Los Angeles and soon had green cards. Yun said he discovered Bae’s restaurant in the mid’90s
— and came to know and love the valley and the mountains around it.
“I liked the sand, I liked the climate, I liked growing vegetables, I liked the ski slopes, I liked the snow.
Everything,” he said.
He bought several acres and started his own jujube fruit farm. His wife and kids stayed behind in L.A. and
visited on weekends.
“My wife is a city lady,” Yun said in Korean. “I’m a total country boy.”
Little by little, he realized other South Korean immigrants were living in the valley.
“It was good to see other farmers, and to see that they were Korean was a happy thing for me,” Yun said.
The combination of Bae’s restaurant and farmers opening to the public turned the region into a getaway
destination. Some farms started renting rooms to out of town visitors. They offered karaoke.
By 2000, more South Koreans began moving to the area. Churches sprouted to minister to them.
It was a smallscale version of what happened in L.A.’s Koreatown, according to Chang.
“On Olympic Boulevard, there was a small Korean market. People went to that market to buy goods and fruits
and, naturally, it became a gathering place,” Chang said. “And as time grew, more immigrants arrived and
more businesses popped up — and that’s how the Korean community began in the Olympic and Normandie
area.”
After the Blue Cut fire tore through the West Cajon Valley, it was the churches and organizations like Mea Ola’s
Place, a sanctuary for abused and sick horses, that helped provide locals with food and clothing and raised
money for recovery efforts.
On a narrow dirt road called Dusty Lane are the ruins of a prayer retreat center operated by the Phelan Garden
Church, a Korean Christian church. Some of its buildings had served as temporary housing for those who
sought spiritual healing from addiction, depression and other problems.
10/13/2016 A Korean community in ruins after the Blue Cut fire: 'We've traveled the world only to end up in hell' LA Times
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Inja Pak, 46, said the center was started by her husband, Pastor Hyong Pak, who died five months before the
Blue Cut fire.
“We have no insurance,” she said, adding that she and her children were living off $20,000 in savings — not
enough to restore the retreat.
Nearby is a large jujube farm run by Jong Ku Kim and his wife, Young Hee.
The couple, both in their mid70s, learned about the West Cajon Valley from farmers in Garden Grove. In 2005
they moved here, leased the land and began planting rows of jujube trees.
The jujube is like a date, used for medicinal purposes, as a snack and an ingredient for Korean recipes like
ginseng chicken soup.
Jong Ku Kim said the Blue Cut fire destroyed 550 of their 1,000 trees. Others did not get watered during the
weeks that the region was without the electricity needed to operate the farm’s well pump.
This year, Kim said, he would be able to harvest about 20% of his usual crop. He’s not sure he can bounce back
from the devastation.
“It's not only me, but the people in this area affected by the fire, they’re going through a lot of difficulty," Kim
said. “Most urgent is cleaning all this up … that way we can resume what farming there’s left to do."
On a recent hot afternoon, Yun and two women sat under a canopy. Nearby, piles of clothes, silverware, plates
and other items lay on a blue tarp for fire victims to sift through and take. Stacks of dry kimchi noodle soup,
chips and soy bean sauce sat on a plastic table.
Seven years ago, another fire had roared through the Cajon Pass, Yun said. He lost 400 goats and dozens of his
jujube trees were destroyed. He never quite recovered, he said.
Now his home is gone and his farm obliterated. Yun said he’s staying with a friend in Phelan, but plans
eventually to move to a retirement home. He and his wife have separated.
Since the fire, San Bernardino County has used Korean translators at public meetings and has sent out English
and Korean fliers to inform residents of the services available.
“Local Korean associations and churches are using fundraising efforts to rebuild their community,” Chang said.
“Their efforts seem to be helping, but to what extent is the question.”
“We need to get through these difficult times.
— Jong Ku Kim
10/13/2016 A Korean community in ruins after the Blue Cut fire: 'We've traveled the world only to end up in hell' LA Times
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The Chois said they feel lost.
Sitting on a green cot while eating a boiled potato, Michael Choi said he didn’t have money now to make his
monthly truck payment.
“Not one dollar,” he said.
Nearby, his wife carried buckets of water to pour on the remaining fruit trees. Occasionally, she stopped to cry.
For more Southern California news, follow @latvives on Twitter.
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10/13/2016 San Bernardino County looking for bilingual poll workers for Asian languages
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Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (http://www.dailybulletin.com)
San Bernardino County looking for bilingual poll workers for Asian languages
By Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
SAN BERNARDINO >> This Nov. 8, San Bernardino County needsmore bilingual poll workers helping voters, and not necessarily theones you might expect.
“We are still staffing, we’re still training our poll workers,” saidMelissa Eickman, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino CountyRegistrar of Voters. “We are looking for about 3,600 workers, and allof them need training. So far we’ve trained about 2,900.”
Every polling station will have a bilingual Spanish speaker, but theelections office is still looking for bilingual poll workers who speak
Chinese, Korean, Khmer, Tagalog and Vietnamese, many of whom will be needed to staff polling stations at thewestern end of San Bernardino County.
According to the US Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2015, 7.4 percent of county residents identified as being ofAsian descent, up from 6.3 percent in 2010.
The elections office is still looking for more poll workers to staff sites in mountain communities and aroundOntario, Eickman said, as well as backup poll workers to bring in as substitutes as needed on Election Day.
San Bernardino County elections officials expect they’ll have all the poll workers they need trained and ready togo by Election Day, she said.
URL: http://www.dailybulletin.com/governmentandpolitics/20161012/sanbernardinocountylookingforbilingualpollworkersforasianlanguages
© 2016 Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (http://www.dailybulletin.com)
10/13/2016 SKYPARK AT SANTA’S VILLAGE: Massive Support Effort Launched So Santa Can Come To Town — ROTWNEWS.com
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SKYPARK AT SANTA’S VILLAGE: MassiveSupport Effort Launched So Santa Can Come ToTownin News, Ticker, Uncategorized / by Michael P. Neufeld / on October 13, 2016 at 5:08 am /
Santa at SKYPARK At Santa’s Village is looking over some of the 1500plus Emails andsignatures urging State Senator Mike Morrell and Assemblyman Jay Obernolte to help clear
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10/13/2016 SKYPARK AT SANTA’S VILLAGE: Massive Support Effort Launched So Santa Can Come To Town — ROTWNEWS.com
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environmental obstacles so the park can reopen. (File Photo)
By Michael P. Neufeld
Sky Forest, CA – A recent letter to Santa at SKYPARK At Santa’sVillage was very direct and came from a father of three children who has joined a massive support effort toovercome environmental issues and allow the Sky Forest complex to open its doors bringing a much neededboost to the local economy and jobs for mountain residents.
DEAR SANTA:
Have you ever noticed the people who know the LEAST about you ALWAYS have the most say?
Those of us who truly believe will be rewarded with the truth!
All my family and I want is for SKYPARK to open before Christmas this year!
THE CAMPAIGN
An aroundtheclock support campaignfor SKYPARK At Santa’s Village has resulted in over 1,500 signatures and Emails being sent to State SenatorMike Morrell (RRancho Cucamonga/23) and Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (RBig Bear Lake/33). Morrell andObernolte represent the mountain communities.
10/13/2016 SKYPARK AT SANTA’S VILLAGE: Massive Support Effort Launched So Santa Can Come To Town — ROTWNEWS.com
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The petitions and Emails are encouraging them to help clear the environmental challenges presented by ahandful of local residents opposed to the reopening of the amusement park.
Facebook and Twitter are also full of posts urging San Bernardino County to get SKYPARK At Santa’s Villageback on track so Santa can come to town.
JOIN THE EFFORT
Mountain residents who agree with the campaign can send Emails to:
STATE SENATOR MIKE MORRELL – Click here and then on Email Me and type a message to SenatorMorrell.
ASSEMBLYMAN JAY OBERNOLTE – Click here and then on EMail Me and type a message toAssemblyman Obernolte.
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10/13/2016 2016 shaping up as banner year for West Nile
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
2016 shaping up as banner year for West Nile
But in San Bernardino County, the number of infections so far for 2016 has dropped
By Suzanne Hurt, The PressEnterprise
Thursday, October 13, 2016
While the number of West Nile infections so far this year in SanBernardino County dropped considerably, Los Angeles County andthe state have seen their numbers grow, foreshadowing what might beanother bad year for a disease that broke records and hit epidemiclevels in 2015.
The seven San Bernardino County residents infected with the virusthrough Oct. 12 of this year decreased from the 40 people who wereinfected at this time in 2015.
But the situation is different elsewhere in the region.
In Los Angeles County, the 108 residents infected with the virus as of Sept. 30 is double the number at this timelast year, and California’s 306 cases so far this year already have surpassed the 300 statewide infections as oflate September 2015. Public health officials expect many more cases to be reported before the year is over.
“I would say this year may be comparable to last year,” warned Dr. Vicki Kramer, chief of the state’s VectorBorne Disease Section.
Peak season for the virus’ spread in Southern California usually extends through October as warm weathercontinues.
Dr. Ben Schwartz, acting director for Los Angeles County public health department’s Acute CommunicableDisease Control Program, urged people to avoid mosquitoheavy areas, especially at dawn and dusk, and takeother steps to protect against mosquitoborne disease.
“We don’t want people to stay inside because they’re afraid of mosquitoes,” he said. “It’s important that peopledo get exercise. But we also want them to take precautions so as not to be bit.”
Last year, the state and Los Angeles and Riverside counties suffered record numbers of West Nilerelated deaths.
West Nile is a leading cause of severe infection, particularly among elderly people. And a disease that used tohave outbreaks every four years has become an annual threat, Schwartz said.
California had a high number of more severe cases in 2015, Kramer said.
Every season distinct
This year in the Inland region, there are fewer than 10 infections between the two counties, no deaths andsubstantially lower numbers of infected dead wild birds and mosquito samples.
10/13/2016 2016 shaping up as banner year for West Nile
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The 2015 West Nile virus season was unusually late, with more cases diagnosed in October than usual, likelybecause unusually hot weather brought more mosquito activity than normal for that time of year, said Dr. MattZahn, Orange County’s medical director of epidemiology and assessment.
“It’s hard to predict what will happen for the rest of this season, just because every season is distinct,” he said.“But we’ll be watching to see if that pattern repeats this year.”
Los Angeles County’s recent cool stretch hindered the disease. Since the weather warmed up, case numbers mayrise, especially among people over 60 or with weakened immune systems, Schwartz said.
However, he said it’s difficult to know if this could be one of the worst years for West Nile since the virus firstgrabbed a toehold in California in 2003.
Not yet over
Other indicators of the disease’s presence — dead wild birds and mosquitoes testing positive — also are lowerso far this year in San Bernardino County and high for Los Angeles County and the state.
In San Bernardino County, there were five infected birds so far this year compared to 23 last year. There werealso 79 positive mosquito samples compared to 237 in 2015, and 20 positive sentinel chicken samples comparedto 25.
San Bernardino County public health officials employ the sentinel chickens as an early warning system, alertingthem to the presence of the West Nile virus.
In Los Angeles County, the number of dead wild birds and mosquitoes found to have West Nile has outstrippedtotals for all of 2015.
Statewide, the number of positivetesting mosquito samples, 3,360, has surpassed last year’s total of 3,329. The1,288 dead birds found carrying the disease is 61 shy of 2015’s total.
Schwartz encouraged those out at dawn and dusk to wear repellent, long sleeves and pants.
Kramer also said people shouldn’t be complacent about prevention.
“We’re not at the end of the mosquito season,” she said. “Sometimes when we hit October, people think we’redone with West Nile, especially in Southern California.”
Staff writer Jim Steinberg contributed to this report.
West Nile symptoms
Most infected people don’t have symptoms from West Nile virus. Those most at risk for serious neurologicalillness are the elderly and very young, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.
Symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, fatigue and weakness. Seriousneurological symptoms can include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures,or paralysis.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fight the bite
10/13/2016 2016 shaping up as banner year for West Nile
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• Wear longsleeve shirts and pants. Treat clothes with permethrin or another Environmental Protection Agencyregistered insecticide for extra protection.
• Use repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or paramenthanediol.
• If using sunscreen, apply sunscreen, then bug repellent.
• Prevent mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water and all outdoor potential water containers, evenbottle caps and tin cans.
• Keep screens repaired.
• Remove standing water or get help from a mosquito abatement program.
• Use mosquito fish, given free from vector control programs, for livestock troughs, ponds or lakes.
• Report mosquito bites, especially during the day, to local vector control officials.
• Report dead birds to local vector control or the state online at westnile.ca.gov or by calling 18779682473.
• Information: publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/VectorWestNile.htm
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/health/20161013/2016shapingupasbanneryearforwestnile
© 2016 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
10/13/2016 Busy multitenant retail pad in Hesperia sold for millions News VVdailypress.com Victorville, CA
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Wednesday Posted Oct 12, 2016 at 4:43 PMUpdated Oct 12, 2016 at 4:43 PM
By Rene Ray De La CruzStaff Writer
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HESPERIA — The Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors recentlyannounced the firm represented a buyer and seller in the off-market sale of a$8.5 million multi-tenant retail pad.
Located in the Hesperia Marketplace Shopping Center — the home of the Wal-Mart Supercenter — the 13,940-square-foot pad, with two buildings, is locatedon the southeast corner of Escondido Avenue and Main Street.
Built in 2015, one multi-tenant building is occupied by national and regionaltenants, including Pieology Pizzeria, The Habit Burger Grill, Firehouse Subs,Yogurtland, Great Clips, Nutrishop and Metro PCS. The other building is hometo Petco, which is located in a 10,000-square-foot building.
Hanley Investment Group Executive Vice President Eric Wohl represented theseller, Pacific Development Group of Newport Beach, with Senior VicePresident Patrick Kent representing the buyer, SHA Enterprises, Inc. of Irvine.
“Utilizing Hanley Investment Group’s weekly strategy meeting, we leveraged ourlong-standing relationship with Pacific Development Group to connect amotivated 1031 exchange buyer with an off-market listing to fulfill therequirement,” said Wohl, in a company news release. “We were also able tofacilitate a new corporate lease with Daniel’s Jewelers prior to closing to bringthe property to 100 percent occupancy.”
Busy multi-tenant retail pad in Hesperia sold formillions
10/13/2016 Busy multitenant retail pad in Hesperia sold for millions News VVdailypress.com Victorville, CA
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Kent said the buyer closed escrow in 45 days without requiring a financingcontingency. He added that factors making the site appealing to the buyerincluded 91 percent of the building’s space was occupied by credit tenants,Walmart and Petco as anchors, the intersection location and the proximity tothe Interstate 15.
“Multi-tenant outparcels to big box retail is a product type that is in very highdemand,” said Wohl. “This type of retail asset is a relatively low-risk option forinvestors due to the high-exposure location, diversity of corporate and regionaltenants and a strong traffic-driving anchor like Wal-Mart. Additionally,investors can typically spread out their risk over multiple tenants versus single-tenant assets.”
Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, [email protected] or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
10/13/2016 If the economy is good, why don’t we feel better?
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
If the economy is good, why don’t we feel better?
By Fielding Buck, The PressEnterprise
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
ONTARIO >> With no recession in sight and Inland SouthernCalifornia at or near full employment, economists delivered an upbeatmessage at Wednesday’s Southern California Economic Forecast.
But they also addressed the question raised by Manfred Keil, associateprofessor of economics at Claremont McKenna College: “Why doeseveryone feel so bad about the economy? Why is there so muchsupport for Bernie Sanders and for (Donald) Trump? These are peoplewho will say the economy is not doing well at all.”
Anxiety surrounding the upcoming national election was the theme ofthis year’s event, which as in prior years took place on the covered icerink of Citizens Business Bank Arena.
“Lots of people have written about how poor countries fall apart —Syria, Sudan and so on,” said keynote speaker Todd Buchholz. “Butrich countries fall apart, too.”
Buchholz, an economic adviser in the George H.W. Bushadministration, identified the U.S. debt load and globalization asissues that need to be addressed.
Keil, whose topic was Riverside and San Bernardino counties, saidnow is the time for local leaders to address two persistent needs: a collegeeducated workforce and highpayingjobs to reduce the amount of commuting to coastal counties.
“In the past, I’ve always felt like Dr. Doom coming up,” he said. “The Inland Empire last year has done verywell. We are now at very low unemployment rates compared to historical levels and we have strong economicgrowth. … Can we now start to fix things that in a recession we won’t have the ability to do?”
While the Inland area has gained more jobs than it lost in the Great Recession, they are different jobs. Many arein hospitality and health care and many don’t pay as well as the manufacturing and construction jobs that wentaway.
Keil looked at “human capital” and found that better educated Inland residents are more apt to commute out ofthe area. Although the average commute for residents of Inland cities is more than 30 minutes, people driving toLos Angeles or Orange County spend more than two hours on the way to work and almost as long on the tripback.
Jerry Nickelsburg, a senior economist with the UCLA Anderson Forecast, discussed the national and stateeconomies. He commented on what he called three risks:
10/13/2016 If the economy is good, why don’t we feel better?
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• Propositions 55: An extension of the Proposition 30 temporary tax increase for another 12 years. He said theextension would in effect make the tax hike permanent.
• Proposition 64: The California marijuana legalization initiative. Nickelsburg said the economic growth itwould generate would be minuscule compared with the size of the state budget and that it might cost some jobs— for instance, if people spend less time at theme parks and more time at home smoking weed.
• Trade war: Nickelsburg said any trade barriers imposed by the next administration would disproportionatelyaffect Southern California, because of the volume of imports coming into the ports of Long Beach and LosAngeles, and the Inland Empire, which receives many of those goods.
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/business/20161012/iftheeconomyisgoodwhydontwefeelbetter
© 2016 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
10/13/2016 Print Article: Five takeaways from this year's Inland economic forecast
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Five takeaways from this year's Inland economic forecastBy FIELDING BUCK20161012 15:25:37
The economic growth that the Inland Empire is experiencing gives it acushion to deal with the region’s longterm challenges, which includes toofew college graduates to attract new businesses and too many workerscommuting to other counties.
It’s better to act when times are good rather than “waiting until the wateris up to your mouth,” said economics professor Manfred Keil prior tospeaking at this year’s Southern California Economic Conference on
Wednesday in Ontario.
This year’s forecasts, given by Keil and Jerry Nickelsburg, echoed many of the themes of earlier forecasts.
Here is how what they said compared to their presentations last year.
No recession in sight
Last year’s forecast: Even though the U.S. economic expansion had long outlasted the sixyear averageconsidered the norm, there was “no end in sight for the current expansionary phase.”
This year’s forecast: No recession for the next two years.
Gross domestic product
Last year’s forecast: Inland GDP at 3 percent.
This year’s forecast: Growth in 2015 was 3.8 percent, below the state’s growth of 4.1 percent but above the2.4 national growth rate. Up ahead: 2.5 percent growth in 2016, 2.8 percent in 2017 and and 2.4 percent in2018.
Employment
Last year’s forecast: Employment rebounded, but output didn’t, partially because jobs gained were differentfrom jobs lost and often paid less.
This year’s forecast: Employment has risen by 1.9 percent from a year ago, and the labor force has grown by1.6 percent. But the number of commuters working outside the region lowers its GDP.
Unemployment
Last year’s forecast: 6 percent for most of 2016, reaching 5 percent by the end of the year.
This year’s forecast: Unemployment ended the year at 6 percent, with an average of 5 percent for 2017,converging with a state average of 4.7 percent in the second half of the year.
Concerns
10/13/2016 Print Article: Five takeaways from this year's Inland economic forecast
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Last year’s forecast: The return of Ontario International Airport to local control might not address all thechallenges to restoring traffic to the facility.
This year’s forecast: Long commutes to Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties are costing the InlandEmpire too much in human capital.
Contact the writer: [email protected] or 9513689551
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10/13/2016 San Bernardino charter debate Thursday
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
San Bernardino charter debate Thursday
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Thursday, October 13, 2016
SAN BERNARDINO >> A televised debate about the ballot measure to replace the city charter begins at 7 p.m.Thursday.
Arguing for Measure L — which would completely overhaul the city’s governing document — will be SusanLien Longville, who was a member of the San Bernardino City Council and was director of the Water ResourcesInstitute of Cal State San Bernardino, and Carey Davis, who is also the city’s mayor.
Arguing against it will be former City Attorney James F. Penman and Amelia SanchezLopez, a resident.
The debate is hosted by the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce and will take place in the CouncilChambers of San Bernardino City Hall, 300 North D St. It is open to the public and can also been seen onChannel 3 or via the Inland Empire Media Group.
While many cities in the Inland Empire and the rest of the state operate under general law, following a patternset by the state, San Bernardino has operated under its own city charter — amended several times — since 1905.
The 48page document provides the framework of which positions are elected and which are appointed, theresponsibilities of those officials and certain other restrictions. The proposed new charter is 14 pages.
Among the major changes, if the new charter is passed, is that the city will change to a councilmanager form ofgovernment; the positions of city attorney, clerk and treasurer will no longer be elected; and elections will shiftfrom oddnumbered to evennumbered years.
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/governmentandpolitics/20161013/sanbernardinocharterdebatethursday
© 2016 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
10/13/2016 Job fair draws different demographic
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Wednesday Posted Oct 12, 2016 at 3:49 PMUpdated Oct 12, 2016 at 3:51 PM
By Rene Ray De La CruzStaff Writer
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VICTORVILLE — Hundreds of job seekers met with potential employers duringa job fair sponsored by the San Bernardino County Workforce DevelopmentBoard.
Approximately 900 people met with nearly 70 employers during Wednesday’sjob fair at the High Desert Event Center, home of the San Bernardino CountyFairgrounds.
“We have quite a few applicants today — more than the number that attendedour recent job fair in Ontario,” said 20/20 Network Management SpecialistDeana Olivares-Lambert, a spokeswoman for the county agency. “We hopemany of our visitors find employment.”
After speaking with Jersey Mike’s Subs representatives. former High DesertMaverick employee Jule Buck told the Daily Press she’s been looking foremployment since the baseball season ended and the ballclub left town for goodin September.
“I worked in customer service for the Mavericks for the last six years,” said Buck,27, who lives in Adelanto. “I’ve applied at over 50 places but have gotten no leadsyet. Most of the jobs are seasonal, but I need something a bit more solid tosurvive.”
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10/13/2016 Job fair draws different demographic
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Jersey Mike’s Subs store managers Ross Camarena and Kacey Abarca told theDaily Press they’re looking to hire up to eight crew members with lots of energyand great personalities.
“Two years ago, we staffed our Hesperia store with 25 employees that we metright here at the job fair,” Camarena said. “The job fair was one of our keys tosuccess.”
Over the last few years, the one-day job fair has seen thousands of applicantsstream through the gates of the fairgrounds, with the majority of the attendeesmillennials. This year, attendance appeared to be down, with many employersnoticing a good number of applicants in the over-40 category.
Beverly Mayhew, 57, told the Daily Press she was at the fair hoping to find a jobin the retail, management or administration category.
“I used to manage a Big Lots store down the hill and I also worked for a largeinsurance company,” said Mayhew, a Victorville resident. “I had a recent lifechange that is forcing me back to work. It’s been a challenging journey.”
Mayhew, along with other baby boomers, shared how the job market haschanged over the years, with many saying they were not accustomed to applyingonline, attending job fairs or being interviewed by someone 30 years youngerthan themselves.
Jennifer Foster, with Contracted Drivers Services, said they’re one of manycompanies that are hiring drivers, mainly because “the economy has picked up”and many are offering signing bonuses.
“We’re looking for 15 to 20 drivers,” Foster said. “We serve about 500 clientsacross the country and being family-oriented is one of our core values — that’swhy we’re flexible with our drivers.”
As applicants shook hands with business representatives, filled out applicationsand asked numerous questions, Adriana Madrigal, a human resources generalistwith CEMEX, said the cement company is celebrating its 100th year of businessin the High Desert and is still providing good paying jobs in the area.
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“We’ve seen many applicants and we’ve hired quite a few for the generalmaintenance positions,” Madrigal said. “Right now, we’re also looking for ahealth and safety manager, productions coordinator, electricians and drivers.”
Among the businesses at the fair, the Frito-Lay table seemed to be a huge drawas hundreds of applicants kept District Sales Leader Najat Mercado and hercolleagues busy.
“I think they’re visiting our table for our free yummy snacks,” said Mercadojokingly. “The Inland Empire is a busy market for Frito-Lay and we’re alwayslooking for quality people to join our team. We’re looking for merchandisersand route sales positions.”
After years of working out of his mobile food trailer, Stephen Hay was at the jobfair looking for “hamburger flippers and french fry dippers” to staff his HayBirdsHot Dogs brick-and-mortar location in the Jess Ranch Marketplace in AppleValley.
“It’s not just me running the trailer anymore so I need a cashier and a line cook,”Hay said. “I figured the job fair would be the place to find someone who isdependable, honest and hardworking — qualities that are getting harder to find.”
Hayley Widgery, a human resource manager with Mountain High, was at thefair recruiting for the upcoming snow season at the ski resort near Wrightwood.
“We’re hiring about 1,000 seasonal positions for the upcoming snow season,”Widgery said. “We’re here looking for recruits and letting people know aboutour job fair on November 5th.”
Some jobs include positions in food and beverages, sales, graphic design, vehicleoperations, ski/snowboard repair and instructors. Applicants can apply atwww.mthigh.com.
Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, [email protected] or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
10/13/2016 www.sbsun.com/business/20161012/lookingforworktargetplanstohire14300seasonalemployeesincalifornia
http://www.sbsun.com/business/20161012/lookingforworktargetplanstohire14300seasonalemployeesincalifornia 4/7
Looking for work? Target plans to hire 14,300 seasonal employees in California
Shoppers arrive at a Target store in Los Angeles, Dec. 19, 2013. AP Photo — DamianDovarganes,file
By Kevin Smith, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Posted: 10/12/16, 10:34 AM PDT | Updated: 15 hrs ago
# Comments
Target will begin hiring hundreds of seasonal team members for its Los Angelesarea stores on Friday andSaturday, and the retailer plans to hire a total of about 14,300 team members in California.
This year is the first time that Target is hosting nearly 1,800 simultaneous, instore job fairs nationwide to ensurestores are fully staffed to help guests during the holiday shopping season.
The local hiring is part of the company’s nationwide plans to hire more than 70,000 seasonal workers across itsstores and 7,500 for its distribution and fulfillment facilities for the holidays.
Janna Potts, Target’s chief stores officer, said all of the company’s nearly 1,800 stores will host dedicated hiringevents in October, meeting with tens of thousands of prospective candidates in just 48 hours.
Store leaders will conduct prescheduled interviews with applicants and discuss Target’s teamoriented culture.Interested candidates can apply in advance at Target.com/Careers or instore, prior to or the day of the event.Candidates who attend the hiring events may have the opportunity to interview on the spot.
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10/13/2016 Ontario Mills movie theaters bringing in reclining chairs and dinein meals
http://www.sbsun.com/article/20161013/NEWS/161019793&template=printart 1/2
San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
Ontario Mills movie theaters bringing in reclining chairs and dinein meals
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Thursday, October 13, 2016
ONTARIO >> In the first significant renovation of the 30screenmultiplex since it opened 20 years ago, AMC Ontario Mills isrenovating all of its auditoriums and will add meal service to seven ofthe theaters, according to the company.
Work on the cineplex’s update should be completed sometime in thespring of 2017, said Ryan Noonan, spokesman for AMC Theatres,which is based in Leawood, Kansas.
AMC DineIn features upgraded seats, a menu with burgers, sushi anddessert, a full cocktail bar and pushbutton seatside service. Thecompany has been offering dinein service at select theaters since
2008, Noonan said.
“Dinner and a movie is such an iconic American tradition, and it’s something that we have a great experienceover the last eight years in providing this amazing moviegoing night out, where you can get your dinner andyour movie in one place,” Noonan said.
All of the seats in the cineplex’s 30 auditoriums, Noonan said, will be recliners, and the renovations will bephased in throughout the property from now until spring.
“AMC has been at the forefront of this for the last few years and the results are incredible. Guest feedback isthrough the roof, and we’ve seen attendance go up.”
But should patrons expect increased prices?
“Typically when we do a renovated theater, the price doesn’t go up automatically,” Noonan said. He said ticketsmay be a little higher for the dinein auditoriums, but more specific information on pricing will be madeavailable as renovations are completed.
It isn’t the first time the movie theater industry has had to update with the times. The advent of televisionbrought the widescreen picture format in the 1950s to lure people from the living room back to the cinema.Imax and 3D movies followed suit in subsequent decades.
But in the 2010s, as more and more people have begun consuming movies and movieproduction qualitytelevision shows on their mobile devices anywhere they wish — and conversely on their gigantic super highdefinition flatscreen television sets at home — business experts say movie theater chains have had to offer newamenities to compete.
“With Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, overall theater attendance must be down,” Jay Prag, professor ofeconomics and finance at the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, said. “It’s beendeclining for many years anyway, but with streaming services, it’s been down more. So you’re getting people for
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mostly large blockbuster type films going to the movies. It’s more of a special event than an every weekend typeof thing.”
Prag said theaters have always made more money on concessions, “so moving into meals, they’re going to makea pretty good margin on that.”
With premium reclining seats and meals, Prag said, going to the movies in 2016 is more like going to a sportingevent.
“That’s where peoples expectations are,” Prag said.
Ontario Mayor Paul Leon mentioned the AMC renovations at the City Council meeting last week.
“You can have a meal while you’re watching a movie, which I think is really cool,” Leon said. “I can’t wait todo that. It’s kind of like going home to watch a movie.”
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/business/20161013/ontariomillsmovietheatersbringinginrecliningchairsanddineinmeals
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10/12/2016 Opportunity to transform our region’s future
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San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)
Opportunity to transform our region’s future
By Bruce Baron, Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
As the autumn leaves fall and the days get shorter, soon we’ll be thinking about the New Year and what liesahead. Indeed, I’ve been spending a good deal of time thinking about next year and more broadly about thefuture of the San Bernardino Community College District and our Inland region. A transformation is takingplace.
Through collaboration and a laserfocused resolve, our district is moving beyond the accreditation concerns oflast year with improved practices to help our students achieve their educational potential. Earlier this year, ourtwo campuses — San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College — reaffirmed their good standingwith the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges and we began a new era with two newvisionary campus Presidents, Diana Rodriguez at SBVC and Wei Zhou at CHC.
We are rolling up our sleeves together to create hope and opportunity for our 25,000 students and all members ofour region through expanded job training and higher education. It’s the right thing to do for our young people,but also critical to the Inland Empire’s economic future.
That is why we have launched a vital strategic planning process to define our educational programs and campusgrowth towards 2021 and beyond. We call this initiative the District Alignment Plan as it embodies thecollective aspirations and vision of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.
Ultimately, this document will be the blueprint that guides how we design and build a vibrant learningenvironment to meet the emerging needs of our region and enhance our quality of life.
I am very grateful that many people, on and off our campuses, have come together in this transformative effort.We’ve held public forums to tap into the creative and innovative minds of our community to draw our pathahead, and we continue to welcome ideas and suggestions to refine and strengthen our efforts.
I encourage everyone to read the draft District Alignment Plan and give their feedback online atwww.sbccd.edu/dap
Once public comment is collected, the final plan will be will be submitted for consideration and a vote by thedistrict’s governing board of trustees in December.
As I continue to look ahead, I believe the San Bernardino Community College District has an opportunity —unique in the Inland region and California — to demonstrate how we embrace our diversity, tap into the energyof our youth and partner with our community to rise above challenges to transform our region through highereducation. I am confident that together, we will.
Bruce Baron is Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District which includes Crafton HillsCollege, San Bernardino Valley College, Economic Development & Corporate Training and KVCR TV/FM
URL: http://www.sbsun.com/socialaffairs/20161012/opportunitytotransformourregionsfuture
10/13/2016 Our View: Conservation lands should be free from new mining Opinion VVdailypress.com Victorville, CA
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Saturday Posted Oct 8, 2016 at 12:01 AMUpdated Oct 8, 2016 at 10:42 PM
By Daily Press Editorial Board
The arduous process of developing the Desert Renewal Energy ConservationPlan, or DRECP, took eight years and included dozens of meetings andthousands of public comments, perhaps as many as 20,000.
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell released the Record of Decision on Sept. 14in Palm Desert, ushering in Phase 1 of the DRECP.
In an undertaking this complex and massive — the DRECP covers more than 22million acres of the California desert, about half of that total in San BernardinoCounty — it's difficult to make everyone happy.
San Bernardino County officials, including 1st District Supervisor RobertLovingood, expressed some of their disappointment the day Jewell signed theRecord of Decision. So too did Lorrie Steely of the Mojave CommunitiesConservation Collaborative. Both felt concerns raised by county officials werenot addressed before the finalization of the DRECP.
As far as conservation groups go, however, they were pleasantly surprised withthe final plan, which protects 2.86 million acres of the most treasured pieces ofthe California desert. The Bureau of Land Management decided thatconservation lands should be permanently protected, and included areas such asLower Centennial Flat, Silurian Valley near Baker, and the Ord and Rodman
mountains between Lucerne Valley and Barstow, as well as other lands viewed aspriceless by conservation groups.
Our View: Conservation lands should be free fromnew mining
10/13/2016 Our View: Conservation lands should be free from new mining Opinion VVdailypress.com Victorville, CA
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Said Matt Skroch, officer, U.S. Public Lands for the Pew Charitable Trusts: "Allof the changes made cumulatively is somewhat shocking. Not only did majorchanges happen from the draft to the final, but also between the final and theRecord of Decision."
Skroch, Conservation Director Frazier Haney of the Mojave Desert Land Trustin Joshua Tree and Senior Director of Programs Danielle Murray of theConservation Lands Foundation told our editorial board the other importantthing the DRECP accomplished was connecting all of these areas. "Californianow has one of the largest conservation areas outside of Alaska," Haney said.
Yet despite that, the state still has 600 square miles available for renewableenergy.
The task confronting the BLM now is to quickly implement its plan for mineralwithdrawal on these conservation lands.
Existing mining claims will not be affected, as they have been grandfathered into the DRECP. But we urge the BLM to move to prevent new claims on theseprotected lands. The bureau can do so for 20 years, according to experts. To doso permanently would require Congressional legislation, which we would alsosupport so as to ensure the protection of these treasured areas in perpetuity.
Time is of the essence as the BLM enters this first phase of the DRECP. We urgethe BLM to quickly move to prevent new mining claims on these conservationlands.
10/13/2016 Print Article: How Amazon may crack the brickandmortar grocery market
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How Amazon may crack the brickandmortar grocery marketBy HANNAH MADANS20161012 17:40:18
Amazon groceries could be coming to a store near you.
The web retailer is planning to build convenience stores and developcurbside pickup locations for food shoppers in its latest move to expandinto groceries, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Its stores willsell perishable goods including milk and meats, the newspaper said.
Customers in the stores can also order items with longer shelf lives forsameday delivery, the Journal said. The Seattlebased ecommerce giantwill build drivein locations for consumers in a rush, where online groceryorders will be brought to the car. Only subscribers to Amazon’s Fresh
subscription service will have access to these stores, known internally as Project Como.
Amazon representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The grocery stores represent Amazon’s latest move to disrupt brickandmortar food shopping, which is stilldominated by traditional retailers such as WalMart Stores Inc. While Amazon has dominated in ecommerce,persuading customers to shop online for everything from toiletries to electronics, it has yet to crack groceries –which most consumers still buy offline.
Coincidentally, AmazonFresh last week announced it had dropped its monthly subscription fee nearly $10 to$14.99, or $179.88 a year, for an overall savings of around $119.
The Fresh service is available as an addon to Amazon Prime subscribers, who pay an annual $99 membershipfee. Fresh delivers groceries to select metro markets, including many communities in Orange and Los Angelescounties.
Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
Contact the writer: [email protected] or Twitter: @HannahMadans
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10/13/2016 Print Article: Inland temperatures to remain low through weekend
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Inland temperatures to remain low through weekendBy ANNE MILLERBERND20161013 06:18:03
Temperatures in the Inland Empire are going to remain below 85 at leastthrough the weekend and are even expected to lower toward thebeginning of next week.
Highs Thursday will reach between 77 and 82, according to the NationalWeather Service with some clouds and fog in the morning hours.Weather will remain about the same Friday before temperatures lowerslightly and clouds converge over the Inland area Saturday and Sunday.
Temperatures will remain in the 70s both days with clouds hanging overthe area. The weather service gives area mountains a chance for somerain on Sunday but forecasters don't seem to count on it too much.
Monday and Tuesday will be the chiliest days with highs at 77 and 76respectively.
A ridge of high pressure is expected to start building Wednesday andThursday, the weather service reports.
"That setup would bring a legit Santa Ana event if it bears out as modelscurrently suggest," forecasters wrote in an analysis.
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10/13/2016 Santa Rosa expands homeless program | The Press Democrat
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Santa Rosa expands homeless program
The Santa Rosa City Council, which declared a state of emergency over homelessness in
August, wielded its new powers Tuesday to expand a program that allows some private
groups to serve the homeless on their properties.
The decision allows religious organizations and other private groups to operate overnight
shelters, safe camping programs and other services for the homeless year round.
Authority to operate these seasonal programs expired in April, though faith organizations
continued to serve the homeless on their properties.
Without the emergency declaration, it could have taken the city up to nine months to
expand the scope of the Community Homeless Assistance Program.
But the state of emergency allowed the city to suspend its normal procedures for
approving changes to the program and immediately expand its scope without the normal
public input process.
Mayor John Sawyer said that while other communities around the state are either “in
denial or behind the eight ball” in dealing with the homeless crisis, Santa Rosa was
showing leadership on it.
“Kudos to the staö. Kudos to our faith-based community and all those that have been
involved in creating this great program,” Sawyer said.
Tuesday’s unanimous decision makes the homeless assistance program year-round and
expands it in several ways.
The biggest change is that groups with such properties are now also allowed to operate
“safe camping” programs.
KEVIN MCCALLUMTHE PRESS DEMOCRAT | October 12, 2016, 6:39PM | Updated 1 hour ago.
10/13/2016 Santa Rosa expands homeless program | The Press Democrat
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This means churches or other groups can let people camp on their properties under
certain guidelines.
For instance, people will be allowed to sleep in tents and use cooking stoves, but will not
be allowed to have open ñres.
By contrast, the safe parking program already run by Catholic Charities allows people to
sleep in their cars overnight, but does not allow tent camping.
The program’s guidelines also allow groups to oöer property storage services, and for
people to use portable bathrooms and bathrooms inside buildings.
Any group planning to oöer such services will need to register with the city, a requirement
that riled some members of the faith community, such as Redwood Gospel Mission, as a
violation of their rights to help people in need.
Groups will also need to coordinate with the city-sponsored Homeless Outreach Services
Team, which seeks to connect homeless people with services.
Groups oöering overnight stays will require an inspection by the ñre department.
The city plans to make the emergency regulations permanent, subjecting them to the
regular public approval process necessary to change city zoning codes and allow such uses
on private properties.
“The intent of the program is to encourage participation by property owners interested in
or already providing these services and to foster cross-sector collaboration to better serve
vulnerable populations in our community,” said Dave Gouin, director of Housing and
Community Services, in a news release.
You can reach Staö Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or
[email protected]. On Twitter @srcitybeat.
10/13/2016 State watchdog unveils online complaint system | The Sacramento Bee
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CAPITOL ALERT OCTOBER 12, 2016 2:08 PM
State watchdog unveils online complaintsystem
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reprints
BY TARYN [email protected]
With less than a month until the election, the state’s political watchdog unveiled a new onlinesystem Wednesday intended to make it easier to file complaints against sleazy politicians andcorrupt campaigns.
“The electronic complaint system is just one step in our efforts to improve our use of technologyat the agency,” said Jodi Remke, chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission.“With the election we do get a surge in complaints and we’re excited to roll this out now.”
The agency receives more than 2,000 complaints a year accusing politicians and campaigns oflaundering money, hiding the source of donations, failing to file timely reports, or breaking a slewof other laws related to political activities. Complaints typically increase in the weeks and daysleading up to an election.
Until now, the enforcement team at the FPPC manually entered each complaint into an in-houseelectronic system. The new tool reduces the red tape and allows complainants to file theirgrievance directly on the agency’s website.
Remke said the online system will allow the agency to use staff time more efficiently and lookinto complaints quicker than in the past.
The new system is part of an ongoing effort at the FPPC to bring its dated technology up to speedand simplify rules and regulations.
The agency is in the midst of a project to rewrite California’s Political Reform Act, which governscampaign finance, lobbying activity, ethics and conflicts of interest. The FPPC commissioned UCBerkeley and UC Davis law students to study the act and suggest recommendations to increasecompliance earlier this year. The agency issued a draft of proposed changes and is acceptingcomments from the public until Oct. 31.
Taryn Luna: 916-326-5545, @TarynLuna
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10/13/2016 Long Beach to study ‘safe parking’ program for homeless
http://www.presstelegram.com/socialaffairs/20161012/longbeachtostudysafeparkingprogramforhomeless&template=printart 1/2
Long Beach Press Telegram (http://www.presstelegram.com)
Long Beach to study ‘safe parking’ program for homeless
By Courtney Tompkins, Long Beach Press Telegram
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Long Beach is exploring a new homeless program that would providesafe parking overnight for people living in their vehicles.
Modeled after several California cities, the program would also offerbasic essential services and connect people with programs that couldhelp them find permanent housing.
The idea took root last week at a City Council meeting, the same nightthe dais was discussing the current state of homelessness in LongBeach and talking about new parking restrictions for RVs and otheroversized vehicles, which some said could unintentionally criminalize
the homeless.
Andy Kerr, vice chair of the homeless services advisory committee, asked the city to seriously considermodeling a safe parking program after the cities of Santa Barbara and Monterey, and 2nd DistrictCouncilwoman Jeannine Pearce took note.
Pearce placed an item on Tuesday’s agenda requesting a study, and the council asked city staff to begin work onit immediately.
“I put this on so quickly so it could be along the same timeline as the RV item,” she said Tuesday. “If we comeback with this RV report, we should also have a report on what opportunities people sleeping in their cars havein the city.”
Pearce said she has already reached out to some churches and other nonprofit agencies that already provide basicservices to the homeless to see if they would be interested in partnering with the city on the program.
While the council voted for the study, councilmembers Daryl Supernaw and Suzie Price, who also sponsored theitem, asked that unintended consequences of such a program be taken into account.
Price said she spoke to some officials in Santa Barbara who told her the program has posed a number ofchallenges to the city, but didn’t specify what they were.
Supernaw, too, expressed concerns about the program attracting homeless people from other locations to LongBeach, which is already facing growing unrest over an issue many residents believe is getting worse by the day.
Kerr recommended looking at it as a regional issue and possibly connecting with the city and county of LosAngeles to seek out solutions.
“The city of Long Beach isn’t an island in itself,” he said. “We are part of a very large county ... and a very largestate grappling with this issue. Maybe there is some coordination that could happen.”