SB Now

Closing an Operation Phoenix center while assessing safety issues sounds like common sense to me. I wonder if this is a tempest in a teapot or a pot boiling to overflow? All I know is that I will again be educating my kids about the people in their circle of trust and that sometimes even those people, in some cases, should not be trusted. Poor kids. I can't even imagine the impact upon an unsuspecting child due to that kind of personal invasion. "Changing hearts, changing minds"...for the victims' lifetime, their hearts and minds will certainly be changed and not for the better.

Oh My GOD, I think if the center closes it means we are giving up on the kids, now is the time to stand strong and firm an let the kids know we are here for them at ALL cost.It seems to me that the focus is on closing the center not what we as a community can do to walk through this tribulation like all the rest of them, people we have to keep on keeping on,as a matter of fact my husband asked me to volunteer at the center which is what I am going to do,In closing the center only leaves the kids on the streets,Mr. Miller now is a criminal like the rest of these child molesters,and he should get treated like the rest of the criminals out here.I personally admire Mayor Morris for ALL he has done and for the things to come,Well as for the rest of Some of the other officials,look in the mirror and see who you really are,right now we need San Bernardino to shine in spite of all the problems that are here Thank You councilman Van Johnson also for all you do.Don't close the center just so somebody can tell Mayor morris "I TOLD YOU SO"
Linda R.

I think that the most important thing is to protect the children. If that means closing the centers until fingerprinting and background checks can be done/re-checked then that is what should be done.

Also Mike Miller was arrested on "suspicion of child molestation" - meaning he is innocent until proven guilty by a jury of his peers. I do not condone child molestation but keep in mind that he still has to face his accuser in court.

I have worked on projects with Mike Miller and I would never have thought this could happen.

Another thing - Mike has a wife and children. They need our prayers and support - as do the child involved and his/her family.

Let's not get too upset about the background checks. I know Mr. Miller was also a former police volunteer and would have gone through a very thorough background check. He would have taken the Dept. of Justice background check for Little League. It appears that he didn't have a past w/the authorities, or he would have been exposed by these checks. Closing the centers are not the answer, as McCammack wants, she is hoping to use this to close them permantly. A review of the policies dealing w/contact of children should be undertaken ASAP. Let's not use a kneejerk reaction to, what appears to be, an isolated incident

Let's not get too upset about the background checks. I know Mr. Miller was also a former police volunteer and would have gone through a very thorough background check. He would have taken the Dept. of Justice background check for Little League. It appears that he didn't have a past w/the authorities, or he would have been exposed by these checks. Closing the centers are not the answer, as McCammack wants, she is hoping to use this to close them permantly. A review of the policies dealing w/contact of children should be undertaken ASAP. Let's not use a kneejerk reaction to, what appears to be, an isolated incident

What I have read so far seems to be calling for a temporary closure to make sure that the city has in place real safety measures to be sure this never happens again. If McCammack made a donation to Phoenix, maybe she does support the concept? If Mike Miller got awards from the Operation Phoenix people, he must have earned them up to that point. It is frankly refreshing to hear someone more interested in protecting our kids from predators than to protect a program that obviously allowed for one or more opportunities for something allegedly very, very bad to happen. Obviously the safety policies and procedures are not in place, and to leave it open until those procedures are in place is a tragedy waiting to happen. How can anyone be sure this is stand alone incident? If this program is something so good for so many kids than with proper oversignt it should only close for a short time, but if there are not enough safeguards in place, they better get in place. It is unconscienable to even imagine that with so many children involved there was that big of a hole for someone to climb in.

Is this truly an isolated incident, or is this a cancer? Until a complete and thorough investigation is done we cannot know. But to leave the centers open while everyone assesses the situation is not sound advice. Children will be exposed to other children and other adults around the kids talking about it and THAT cannot be healthy and should NOT be happening.

"Councilwoman McCammack and I have both expressed our concerns for the safety of the children." Glad to hear it Jim but your words ring rather hollow in light of your silence on the elimination of the crossing guard positions. That was a child safety concern of the highest order yet I don't recall you or council member McCammack voicing a word in opposition. I won't even get into the long term effects of the proposed library closings other than to say. Does anybody remember councilman Hobbs and his proposal to close CAC park on Muscott "now Medical Center for the newer residents," and the effect that had on the rise of gang activity in that portion of the city?

Ty -
On July 2nd a San Bernardino Sun article addressed Wendy McCammack’s position on the elimination of the crossing guard positions:

Seventh Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack said Wednesday she is particularly concerned with saving the crossing-guard program.

"It looks like we're going to have to find a way to fund the crossing guards because the public deserves to at least fund that," she said.

If my memory serves she also addressed her support of keeping the crossing guard positions at the June 16th City Council Meeting.

Not that this blog thread is about the budget and crossing guards, libraries, or the Westside.....

I think enough has been said about the arrest of Mike Miller and his role in Operation Phoenix until we have more information.

Anytime a child is injured we need to focus our actions on praying for that child and the child's family and doing whatever we can to prevent other children from being hurt.

I am sure there will be a careful review of procedures at the City's various centers in the aftermath of the arrest of Mr. Miller.

Whether the centers should be closed in the interim is a matter upon which reasonable minds may differ. I have made my recommendations to the Mayor and the City Manager in private.

As to the crossing guards, I am sure TyI has missed watching a few city council meetings over the past several years.

This city needs more, not fewer crossing guards. I have made that a crusade for the past twenty-one years.

Last Monday night, when the City Manager informed me that the Council had voted to cut crossing guards at the Council meeting that had just recessed for the evening I strongly disagreed with him.

The "blue sheet" that was passed out to the Council members several meetings before, and which was not discussed during the meeting that had just ended, was the document listing the crossing guard elimination. The City Manager mistakenly believed the Council had included that document in its deliberations and had just approved the cuts it listed.

The City manager, after our discussion, agreed to reconsider that action at the July 7, 2008 Council meeting.

I don't blame TyI for not being informed on my position on the crossing guard issue. The newspaper is not able to report on every official's position on every topic.

However, I do find it ironic that having led the fight, both in public and behind the scenes to increase, not reduce the city's crossing guards for more than two decades, that I would have a foul charged against me on that one.

I'm sure I've made more than a few mistakes over the years but not standing up for the safety of our children isn't among them. No parent who has lost a child, whatever the cause,forgets what a joy it would be to have even one more day to spend with that child.

Without crossing guards there would be more parents belonging to the exclusive club I involuntarily joined in 1983. The dues for membership in that clique are higher than anyone should ever have to pay. Crossing guards are a very inexpensive alternative.

Jim Penman

Very well Jim, then I stand corrected on both accounts. As for mistakes, I don't begrudge you "or anyone for that matter," for making mistakes so long as they are made for the cause of progress and the reasoning behind the decision was honest and sincere. Hopefully you will extend the same consideration to me in this case?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing your overall performance as some have done. I am not questioning your integrity as others have. I'm not even trying to judge your failures. By and large I believe my expectations are very commonly held throughout the city and that is that you represent and protect the interests of this city to the best of your ability. Nothing more nothing less. I believe you have done this.

I don't think it appropriate to comment on your personal tragedy other than to offer sincere prayer for your entire family as you continue to heal. My writing style may be "sardonic," as Robert says but I am in no way a vile or vicious person who would ever. And I do mean ever use something so tragic as to make a point.

I love this city with all its flaws it is home. That is the reason it is frustrating to watch the factions fighting for control. So busy are they promoting their own agendas that a large segment of the population is left to fend for themselves and so we comment and discuss the issues from that perspective. So those who recognize the importance of venues like these "like yourself and a few others within city government who read and respond," might hear and consider the concerns of those who have no voice. Or at least speak in a whisper.

Criticism is much easier to come by than praise Jim, but in the end does any of it really matter? So long as the job is done to the best of your ability do you care what your detractors say? Or is the high esteem of those you represent reward enough?

Thank you for your kind comments Ty I. I usually don't respond to criticism unless I feel the need to "set the record straight," and I agree with you that as long as we do the best we can we should just smile when we hear what our detractors have to say.

I guess I was just surprised enough at the crossing guard comment to
dash off a few lines. I probably didn't need to wear my heart on my sleeve to the extent I did. Please excuse me for doing so this time.

I do enjoy the information the SB Now blog provides and the chance to hear how folks feel about different issues. As I said above, usually I just read and don't say anything here.

Please keep sending your thoughts and feelings Ty. It helps those of us who can so easily fall out of touch with what good people have on their minds.

Jim Penman

How about kevin Hawkins worring about his recreation staff and what there doing,and stop planting flowers that the city cant afford to replace. Do your job MR. Director !! P.s. No more photo ops for Hawkins