Feds step in to quell police/community tension on Westside
A federal mediator from the U.S. Department of Justice is working to bridge the gulf between angry Westside residents and the Police Department.
Community Safety czar Kent Paxton said Thursday night that he, Mayor Pat Morris, Police Chief Michael Billdt and Operation Phoenix Director Glenn Baude had met with a U.S. Department of Justice official to brainstorm ways in which police could be more responsive to community concerns.
U.S. Department of Justice Conciliation Specialist Elisa Makunga, who works out of Los Angeles, was drawn to San Bernardino by concerned Westside community leaders, Paxton said.
We will keep following this story. What's important here is that movement is being made, finally, after a series of shootings and clashes between police and residents of predominately black Westside neighborhoods have frayed already strained tensions.
Top police brass have been almost completely mum about the increasing toxicity of police/community relations and rising crime on the Westside. Now, that may be changing.
The Westside community is out-of-line. The Police do a fair job, with reasonable restraint. It seems the Westside people think they should be able to break the law, endanger police, and not suffer the consequences. Get real!
This is truly a good sign. The feds should have stepped in long ago, than maybe 8 people would still be alive.That is how many people have been shot by the police this yr. I was wondering when the FBI would get involved. The corruption and the lack of care that the police in the inland empire demostrate towards the community has to be dealt with first, before the streets can become safe. It is a glaring fact that with 63million and armed to the teeth, the police force is not making inroads on crime.Crime is getting worse.Relations between community and the ones sworn to protect and serve are getting worse.Its the attitude of the police force that is the problem here.The community KNOWS they are not there to help them.
To respond to the last comment...the westside is out-of-line... NO, they are poor and in need of the communities support to lift them out of the despair, poverty and degradation that they feel on a daily basis.The police force never goes into these neighborhoods with the idea of helping these folks, just busting them or turning them out to "work for them" to infiltrate the neighborhood.
Police and community relations in this country is the true problem , in cities everywhere. With the highest incarceration rate in the world ,( yes the world) private prisons and police and prison guard unions running the legislative process this is what we have created. The poor and those most in need are the targets...its a crime itself how the police force treat these community's.
I think the FBI should come in and tear apart all of the police forces in the IE and clean house and re-build based on the basis of care, compassion and honesty.
I bet 63 million would go along ways in rebuilding vibrant, livable communities for all.After all "Its the Peoples money"
Love and Peace,
Jodee
I don't know how long Jodee has observed this tiresome melodrama in San Bernardino; however, ever since the riots of the late 1960s, every time the city has attempted to apply law enforcement on the Westside on an equal footing with the way it is applied in thew rest of the community, Westside residents howl that they are being discriminatorily persecuted. The city then apologizes and grovels, gives the Westside residents a de facto exemption from the general duty to obey the law that is expected of everyone else -- and things get worse. A community cannot cater to thugs and expect to be a wholesome, safe place where salubrious families thrive.
As for Jodee's comments, how would the FBI coming in keep the criminals from pulling guns on cops? Until the criminals realized they don't run the city and think they do not have to follow the laws incidents like this will continue to happen.
Catering and showing compassion and true concern are two different things.Its in the attitude towards our communities. Many times I have read in the papers that the cops that work in SB , live other places.Communities know when there leaders care about them and are serving in there best interest.Its really all in the #'s. San Bernardino have the most people locked-up in the prison system.Thats also why they have a high parolee rate.They have a huge police force, more police, more people locked up, more people coming back to the communty raising children watching there parents go to jail. It becomes a way of life. Kids become gang members for protection on the streets. Our children are living in fear. Fear of their community, fear of the police force. They really dont have many places to turn. The children of San Bernardino spoke out when they asked for more community centers, more activities...THEY DID NOT ASK FOR MORE COPS.
They are asking for the community to love them and themselves. Like I said before 63 million would go along way in creating Vibrant, Livable Communities.
Love and Peace,
Jodee
Old Cynic....
That is the attitude I am talking about. "When the Criminals Realize they don't run the city", finish the sentence....The COPS DO. Its not about US and THEM...its about WE, Our Communities. Its the power struggle. Rising above that mentality is what I am asking the leaders of San Bernardino to do!This is War on our streets, Specifically the WAR on DRUGS. Haven t people figured out yet that WAR doesn't work? Maybe some Non-Violent Communication techniques taught in our schools and to our police force might work. VIOLENCE makes us all feel unsafe. Whether it comes from our streets or our police force. Weapons are used to scare...period. Communities in fear, are broken communities. again, Prison isn't working.....its time to face those facts. So, we better figure out something that does.
Love and Peace,
Jodee
THE ALL AMERICAN CITY ON THE MOVE - ISN'T MOVING!
With so much potential - why is SB neglected?
Look to the east: Redlands north of interstate 10 is growing big time.
Visit the south: Riverside has always been prosperous.
Go to the west: Rancho - Wow!
To make change, sometimes you gotta get in people's face and tell it like it really is, the good, the bad and the ugly of it, plain and simple! - otherwise some people "just don't get it". ...Anyway, grab a cup of joe and follow me. Oh, I won't be bringing my political correctness, so I highly suggest you leave yours at home this trip!
Come on, let's go shopping! Give me a pair of Levis, a shirt and some sneakers (34, M, 11 respectively) and I'm good to go! My wife, well that's a different story. She wears suits (4/6p) to work and everything that goes with it. She says she can never find her size here in San Bernardino, why? I was hoping you'd ask! it should be no surprise why this city is home to more than it's share of water buffalo, you can't blame McDonalds, Carls Jr.'s and the numerous taco joints in the area, because after all it's not their fault and besides fast food isn't the only game in town, and you certainly by no means have to "up size" your meal to the point that you look like some over stuffed bovine. It starts with you and it starts with me and it all starts at home. With every individual having more self control and feeling good about who they are, will walk with direction projecting an attitude of self confidence, and others just might take a lesson, because when you feel good, others around you can't help but to feel good! I am not picking on overweight people, because you can be overweight and look good, in fact it wouldn't hurt me to shed a couple of pounds, but if I ever get to the point of looking like a sloppy over blown blimp you can bet your Coke, double cheeseburger and fires I will be getting in touch with Jenny, maybe she can squeeze me in (no if's, and's, and definitely no butt's about it). Even the so called high end stores (if that's what they're called) such as Macy's and Gottchalks are limited on sizes because they are going to cater, stock and sell whatever the vast majority of people walking through the front door represents or demands in a given area - "supply and demand." They are in business to make money and for the most part, big sizes are selling like hot cakes in downtown San Bernardino, California. Now, when we go shopping we often find ourselves at one or all of the destinations indicated above, and unfortunately San Bernardino is never considered, what a crying shame! Um - um, um!
That's just the tip of the iceberg. So what happened to San Bernardino? Is it City Hall? Maybe not, but it's a good place to start! In fact all Departments should be investigated - every last one of 'em. There is absolutely no reason why this city should be in the position it finds itself in today. San Bernardino should be a shopping magnet. We have the 10 & 15 interchange just south of downtown - take advantage of it. San Bernardino is located between Los Angeles and Palm Springs - take advantage of it. The Governor made a commercial and/or pitch promoting San Bernardino's Lake Arrowhead - take advantage of it!
San Bernardino is definitely, without question better off without the Flesh Club. This establishment
should be denied any and all permits to prevent it from reopening in the most desirable location within the city limits in May or ever. We've enough problems in San Bernardino and we certainly don't need the contribution of the Flesh Club! Thank you Mr. City Attorney.
It's not what you know, it's who you know. That's why we have individuals in local government that don't know their as-tronomical from a hole in the ground - nepotism - stop it! If they can't do the job - show them the door - Period!
Lawhead says he doesn't condone the selling of the T-shirts. Thinks it cute, because he and the dept. has done nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to prevent putting an already depressed city in a bad light. I ask you, what kind of leadership is that? And why does the police dept. have to rely on outside help (Feds step in to quell police/community tension on Westside) to remedy a problem that they help create? The problem(s) are not new to SB, we've experienced this before, but it's never been fixed. Fluctuation, yes, but ever since the L.A. riots this problem has never been fixed, never. I understand why police officers get frustrated with the system, before completing their report these punks are back out on the streets causing more grief. ALL suspected gang members should be held for 72 hours (time stops - weekends don't count). If the police and city officials do it right and keep it tight, they'll be no need to apologize to anyone for anything later. The "hijab" story really p***es me off, it seems Americans are losing all the way around, all the way around the world! If the department heads can't fix the problems in this city.....then get somebody who can and will. Sorry Jim, Nepotism is not allowed, however if the Mayor can do...never mind. Too many problems, too numerous to mention.
Political correctness will now be re-established!
Robert Rogers keep up the good work. The more you investigate the more dishonest people will go where they need to be "JAIL." Lets take out the garbage one bag at a time, and it's not gonna happen over night, but we can make this all American city move again! Nice to have SB NOW back on the block.
We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and let's make 2008 the best year ever for you and your family while living in the city as well as the county of San Bernardino, California USA. Let's have more Silent Nights, God Bless. And remember to be nice (should be an everyday) 'cause Santa Claus is watching you, he's everwhere, he's everwhere!
Thank You,
JRD2U
RECALL- WHO SAID THAT!
12.14.07
have used the phrase before in previous comments submitted to The Sun
that the “tail is wagging the dog”. It seems that anyone in our City
whether we are in the North, South, East, or West side should be
appreciative of the great Police officers we have on our Department.
These everyday heroes literally put their lives on the line every minute
they are on duty.
The small crowd that wants to perpetuate the “woe is me” culture that
is permanently engrained in their 1950’s mentality would love nothing
more than to pass that on to their kids. It is absolutely shameful that
this small but loud crowd cannot get past themselves and act like good
examples for the youngsters coming up. This so called “adult” attitude
draws more young people into the same culture of accomplishing nothing
and being satisfied in that because they will always have someone to
blame for their self induced failures.
Fortunately, this small loud crowd is not the majority, One gentleman
who spoke at the City Council meeting is from the Westside and told the
vast TV audience how he escaped the grip of the “old timers” blame
everyone game and became a success. He should be the role model for the
entire City’s youngsters.
I agree with those who opine that we must do something different about the toxic mix of poverty and crime wracking our city...especially as the rest of the US, indeed of the industrialised world, is poised to follow our tragic lead!
I read in some of the above comments the arrogant ignorance of "blaming the victim;" in others, the fuzzy thinking that compassion will work with those who daily suck the lifeblood out of our community...
Wake up! As it stands now, any "light at the end of the tunnel" will prove to have a great big bad freight train attached...
...Unless and until we figure out how to derail that deadly express, that is!