Downtown SB: Open Thread

I really want to see people in Downtown SB, especially after 5 PM.

Transportation HUB.
More housing.
Drive-in? I'm sure that would be a hit at Route 66. Keeps up with that old school tradition of San Bernardino
Perhaps a shopping center like the Citrus Plaza in Redlands with Barnes and Noble and "upscale" eateries.
Sports bar? Or a pub.

Just a few ideas.

Who are we kidding? The first thing that needs to happen before anyone will invest in downtown or any other part of this City is to clean up the streets of transients, homeless, gangsters, taggers and all of the undesirables that roam the streets. Nothing will succeed in this town until it is cleaned up.

Housing? What middle-class family will move their children to an area that is infested with transients?
Shopping Center with up-scale eateries? With the broad percentage of low-income residents here, who will shop in those stores or eateries?

Give me a break!! Nothing will succeed here UNTIL San Bernardino CLEANS HOUSE!!

How much did the City spend on this consulting firm? What a waste if it was over one plug nickel!!

To rejuvenate downtown San Bernardino there are a list of things that MUST happen. To start, there needs to be a common goal that is embraced by not only the Mayor and Council but also the taxpayers, residents of SB as well as the businesses. A “master plan” that can be achieved without sending the City into the abyss of debt. These businesses are identified as those who are there now and those that hopefully will come and open shop. This goal must have a common theme that relates to all but it also must be realistic and within reach. SB is NOT a rich town and commercial competition is very keen with the Redlands and Rancho Cucamonga to compete with. Learn from past endeavors that cost the City and taxpayer an eye-watering amount of money. I refer to the big pond walk that was envisioned and the purchasing of so many old homes and properties project that just died a slow natural death. SB can not afford or repeat another unattainable pipedream again.

As you drive down the 215 Freeway through town, what do you see? A beautiful baseball park next to a scrap metal mountain as large as the county dump in downtown SB! There needs to be something that beckons the families driving on the 215 to come, stop and visit us. See what we have to offer that will excite you and bring you back. The scrap metal mountain sends the wrong message for downtown. Encourage this business and all other like businesses to relocate to a more industrial area of SB. 3rd Street near Victoria should be considered.

SB must begin buy making downtown now, today as attractive as possible with room to grow or expand this attractiveness. The homeless, the folks that do not accent the area need to be encouraged to locate elsewhere. Downtown MUST give off the appearance that it is safe, day or night. This includes the Main Library grounds. Downtown must be well lit to enhance safety. Re-lamp the streetlights to a brighter kind.

There needs to be a defined effort by the Chamber of Commerce as well as City Hall in attracting businesses. There needs to be an attraction if you will or a reason to come and open a shop. The City or RDA needs to offer attractive move-in deals to help offset the cost of moving and getting setup and open. Rent and/or utilities need to be adjusted for the first six months to make downtown attractive.

Central City Mall, what is projected for this building? Perhaps convert the second floor into custom condo’s that are built to the buyer’s specifications. Reserve the old JC Penney’s parking garage to residents only.

The City needs to encourage the building owners to invest in their investments (buildings) that make them appealing to the commercial establishments. Far too many shops and buildings are vacant and boarded up. That alone says the City is dieing a slow death. This impression needs to be turned around to a positive impression.

From Orange Show Road south to the bridge should be made into CAR TOWN USA. All the car dealerships along E Street should be encouraged to relocate to the South E Street locations. This would open more of downtown to appealing commercial establishments.

One section of town should be filled with the aroma of wonderful places to eat. All kinds of places where one could go and sit down and enjoy a meal. No fast food please.

This is a start, a beginning, something to kick around. Each Councilman should appoint one or two individuals with vision and reason to work on recommendations to be presented to the Mayor, Council and voters of SB. We must remember, today’s SB and it’s condition downtown did not get to where it is today overnight and the revitalization of SB downtown will not happen overnight. It will come in stages if planned and thought-out correctly with strong leadership and vision. The team must leave the “you can’t, we can’t, and that will never fly” at the door. It will have to be “lets try, or I think this will work, or lets see what happens. Take a well calculated risk once in a while and SB will once again return to the “City On Them Move” status.

It's too late, the city has past the point of no return. Look at the neighborhoods around downtown, in order to change, the area needs to be leveled and rebuilt. Otherwise you will still have the same criminals around that will keep the downtown area the way it is now. You might be able to entice nice businesses into the area, but they won't stay. The business owners will get tired of being robbed, having their property broken into, vandalized, etc.

Agreed that the city needs many improvements, but it is not too late. There are many good residents who are willing to stay and fight. City officials need to help these residents by fixing up the residential areas as well. The city needs to build from within. As concerned citizens of San Bernardino and members of ACORN (Associations for Community Organizations for Reform Now) we are asking the City to maintain and improve our streets in the area of Central Ave and Norman Rd. in Ward 1. This area has no sidewalks and large potholes in many areas. The residents of this area are forced to walk their children to school through fields to avoid the street. One young girl broke her ankle recently by walking on the side of the street where the asphalt is broken. We have brought these concerns to the City Council on serveral occasions. Councilwoman Esther Estrada agreed to attend the ACORN meeting of July 10, 2008 at the local ACORN office on D Street in San Bernardino. Our esteemed Councilwoman was a no show. We have now taken our plea to Antonio Lugo's office at the City Planning Department. We have yet to receive a response. We will continue our fight to improve our city and the lives of its residents. It is our sincere hope that city officials will support our efforts and appreciate our concerns for the improvement of the city we live, work and raise our families in.
Thank you,
The Members of San Bernardino ACORN

I agree that there are some good residents left, but there have been good residents for years that have been putting up a fight, yet the city has gotten worse. The good residents are gradually moving away, the good residents are now outnumbered by the residents that just don't care. The city could put money into the residential areas but if you have mostly people who don't care, they will trash the area and it will be just a matter of time before it is back to what it was. It would be nice if it was fixable but I don't believe that it is. I feel for you good people that are stuck in those not very good neighborhoods.

The reality is that the City only takes care of Hospitality Lane and the SB airport areas. The rest of the City can rot for all the City cares.

ACORN, ask anyone with the City just how many times Hospitality Lane has been repaved!! You will be amazed at the number of times.

With the $250,000 (correct me if my number is incorrect) that the City spent on this "consulting firm", they could have repaved your street and put in sidewalks. But you are not in their "pet project" area, so your tax $$ will not be seen in your neighborhood. That is the reality. I am sick and tired of Hospitality lane, SB airport and downtown getting all of the attention and the rest of us can "go pound sand" as far as the City is concerned.

How many more "consulting firms" is the City going to spend our money on?? Use the taxpayers' money to do something that we can see right now. Not some 'pie in the sky' ideas that will undoubtedly fail unless our streets are cleaned up of all the scum that roam them freely.

I wish your group well with your efforts and please keep us updated on your progress. In my opinion, you will have an uphill battle.

Has anybody totalled up the "consulting" costs of Mayor Morris' term in office?

Everytime I watch the council meetings, or read about city meetings the taxpayers are paying for "consulting". He brought in consultants to see if they should put something on the ballot, he brought in the Urban Land Institute, he's even bringing in consultants to tell us what is wrong with the Police Department.

He's paying for two Code Enforcement directors while trying to figure out what to do with the old one.

The city is broke - they can't fix our potholes, or change the street light bulbs but he can bring in "consultants" to tell us what is wrong with this city.

He's the freakin' Mayor - he can't figure out what to do? Why did we elect him? He seems to have all the answers when he is sitting up on the dias. No one can get a word in edgewise - he keeps cutting off that Wendy McCammack. And now that Esther Estrada isn't playing on this team, he's forgotten to look her way.

Another consultant, wasting our time and money, telling us more "pie-in-the-sky" malarkey. When will we learn that all solutions are within those of us that live here and not with some "smooth-shoe" convidence men trying to sell us on things that will never come to be. If we make the city safe and clean people will come and stay. Thanks alot Pat for more nothingness.

With the 210 finally connecting to the 30 we need to revamp Highland Avenue. It is a mess....at night a taco stand (that hasn't even opened but been in remodel mode for a year) sells from a cart on the back of their truck - a carniceria next to Busy Bee is now doing the same thing. It's starting to look like Tijuana. It needs to be cleaned up. Parking on the street should be changed - make it look like Victoria Gardens - put a meriden down the center with trees, diagonal parking (by cutting it from two lanes both ways to one lane each - this will cut down on the racing on the street). Anyone entering the city sees something that looks like a third-world country.

Did anybody know that the moratorium on "banned" businesses is going to go before the City Council for revision? Seems that Southland Corp. (AKA 7-11) is trying to get some more stores in the city. They can't even keep the ones they currently have clean and safe. Check out the store on Highland across from the Arco - trash all over (I mean the refuse kind), prostitution in the early AM, vagrants asking for money - yeah, we need more 7-11's in the city! Too many people think that filling up a store with anything is better than nothing there. Quantity is not going to fix this city; we need to focus on quality.

As for downtown - nobody goes there at night and weekends - focus on the areas that are used - Highland Avenue, Baseline - don't get me started on what is needed to fix that (an apocalypse, perhaps?). You can't even get anything to eat downtown after 4PM or on the weekends. Carlos O'Briens is a waste of that beautiful building. And why do we have two pawn shops downtown? What message is that sending?

Near Cajon Blvd. - why are we putting in more warehouse space? It doesn't bring jobs - it hasn't brought anything so far. Same this with out by the airport. We need jobs not warehouses. What a waste of land.

No need for high priced consultants - we just need a master plan for the city based on common sense (and I don't think Emil Marzullo has what it takes to make that plan). If the city had a strong master plan this would give the planning commission what it needs to stop some of the crap from populating space.

Has anyone heard about the for-profit 56 bed co-ed homeless shelter proposed for 840 N. Sierra Way. Right by the newly planned Lincoln II Elementary School in a neighborhood. They don't even have a security plan on file with PD. I hear even the Mayor's office isn't big on this one. It's due for discussion at the planning commission this October. Yep, the city has this planning thing under control!

But it will fill an empty building - quantity not quality!

With the 210 finally connecting to the 30 we need to revamp Highland Avenue. It is a mess....at night a taco stand (that hasn't even opened but been in remodel mode for a year) sells from a cart on the back of their truck - a carniceria next to Busy Bee is now doing the same thing. It's starting to look like Tijuana. It needs to be cleaned up. Parking on the street should be changed - make it look like Victoria Gardens - put a meriden down the center with trees, diagonal parking (by cutting it from two lanes both ways to one lane each - this will cut down on the racing on the street). Anyone entering the city sees something that looks like a third-world country.

Did anybody know that the moratorium on "banned" businesses is going to go before the City Council for revision? Seems that Southland Corp. (AKA 7-11) is trying to get some more stores in the city. They can't even keep the ones they currently have clean and safe. Check out the store on Highland across from the Arco - trash all over (I mean the refuse kind), prostitution in the early AM, vagrants asking for money - yeah, we need more 7-11's in the city! Too many people think that filling up a store with anything is better than nothing there. Quantity is not going to fix this city; we need to focus on quality.

As for downtown - nobody goes there at night and weekends - focus on the areas that are used - Highland Avenue, Baseline - don't get me started on what is needed to fix that (an apocalypse, perhaps?). You can't even get anything to eat downtown after 4PM or on the weekends. Carlos O'Briens is a waste of that beautiful building. And why do we have two pawn shops downtown? What message is that sending?

Near Cajon Blvd. - why are we putting in more warehouse space? It doesn't bring jobs - it hasn't brought anything so far. Same this with out by the airport. We need jobs not warehouses. What a waste of land.

No need for high priced consultants - we just need a master plan for the city based on common sense (and I don't think Emil Marzullo has what it takes to make that plan). If the city had a strong master plan this would give the planning commission what it needs to stop some of the crap from populating space.

Has anyone heard about the for-profit 56 bed co-ed homeless shelter proposed for 840 N. Sierra Way. Right by the newly planned Lincoln II Elementary School in a neighborhood. They don't even have a security plan on file with PD. I hear even the Mayor's office isn't big on this one. It's due for discussion at the planning commission this October. Yep, the city has this planning thing under control!

But it will fill an empty building - quantity not quality!

With the 210 finally connecting to the 30 we need to revamp Highland Avenue. It is a mess....at night a taco stand (that hasn't even opened but been in remodel mode for a year) sells from a cart on the back of their truck - a carniceria next to Busy Bee is now doing the same thing. It's starting to look like Tijuana. It needs to be cleaned up. Parking on the street should be changed - make it look like Victoria Gardens - put a meriden down the center with trees, diagonal parking (by cutting it from two lanes both ways to one lane each - this will cut down on the racing on the street). Anyone entering the city sees something that looks like a third-world country.

Did anybody know that the moratorium on "banned" businesses is going to go before the City Council for revision? Seems that Southland Corp. (AKA 7-11) is trying to get some more stores in the city. They can't even keep the ones they currently have clean and safe. Check out the store on Highland across from the Arco - trash all over (I mean the refuse kind), prostitution in the early AM, vagrants asking for money - yeah, we need more 7-11's in the city! Too many people think that filling up a store with anything is better than nothing there. Quantity is not going to fix this city; we need to focus on quality.

As for downtown - nobody goes there at night and weekends - focus on the areas that are used - Highland Avenue, Baseline - don't get me started on what is needed to fix that (an apocalypse, perhaps?). You can't even get anything to eat downtown after 4PM or on the weekends. Carlos O'Briens is a waste of that beautiful building. And why do we have two pawn shops downtown? What message is that sending?

Near Cajon Blvd. - why are we putting in more warehouse space? It doesn't bring jobs - it hasn't brought anything so far. Same this with out by the airport. We need jobs not warehouses. What a waste of land.

No need for high priced consultants - we just need a master plan for the city based on common sense (and I don't think Emil Marzullo has what it takes to make that plan). If the city had a strong master plan this would give the planning commission what it needs to stop some of the crap from populating space.

Has anyone heard about the for-profit 56 bed co-ed homeless shelter proposed for 840 N. Sierra Way. Right by the newly planned Lincoln II Elementary School in a neighborhood. They don't even have a security plan on file with PD. I hear even the Mayor's office isn't big on this one. It's due for discussion at the planning commission this October. Yep, the city has this planning thing under control!

But it will fill an empty building - quantity not quality!

With the 210 finally connecting to the 30 we need to revamp Highland Avenue. It is a mess....at night a taco stand (that hasn't even opened but been in remodel mode for a year) sells from a cart on the back of their truck - a carniceria next to Busy Bee is now doing the same thing. It's starting to look like Tijuana. It needs to be cleaned up. Parking on the street should be changed - make it look like Victoria Gardens - put a meriden down the center with trees, diagonal parking (by cutting it from two lanes both ways to one lane each - this will cut down on the racing on the street). Anyone entering the city sees something that looks like a third-world country.

Did anybody know that the moratorium on "banned" businesses is going to go before the City Council for revision? Seems that Southland Corp. (AKA 7-11) is trying to get some more stores in the city. They can't even keep the ones they currently have clean and safe. Check out the store on Highland across from the Arco - trash all over (I mean the refuse kind), prostitution in the early AM, vagrants asking for money - yeah, we need more 7-11's in the city! Too many people think that filling up a store with anything is better than nothing there. Quantity is not going to fix this city; we need to focus on quality.

As for downtown - nobody goes there at night and weekends - focus on the areas that are used - Highland Avenue, Baseline - don't get me started on what is needed to fix that (an apocalypse, perhaps?). You can't even get anything to eat downtown after 4PM or on the weekends. Carlos O'Briens is a waste of that beautiful building. And why do we have two pawn shops downtown? What message is that sending?

Near Cajon Blvd. - why are we putting in more warehouse space? It doesn't bring jobs - it hasn't brought anything so far. Same this with out by the airport. We need jobs not warehouses. What a waste of land.

No need for high priced consultants - we just need a master plan for the city based on common sense (and I don't think Emil Marzullo has what it takes to make that plan). If the city had a strong master plan this would give the planning commission what it needs to stop some of the crap from populating space.

Has anyone heard about the for-profit 56 bed co-ed homeless shelter proposed for 840 N. Sierra Way. Right by the newly planned Lincoln II Elementary School in a neighborhood. They don't even have a security plan on file with PD. I hear even the Mayor's office isn't big on this one. It's due for discussion at the planning commission this October. Yep, the city has this planning thing under control!

But it will fill an empty building - quantity not quality!

Sorry for the multiple postings!

Andrew - this thing is broken! It says it doesn't post then it does!!! AGH!

To Molly,

You are right on the money!! This is exactly what I have been talking about. You are right, Highland needs the attention right now. I remember the days when it was a thriving street.

Were you aware that some of the business owners on Highland were actually trying to get together to fund some major changes on Highland? Some kind of "bid" project. My understanding is that there were several of the business owners who voted against it and since it needed a majority vote, it went down the toilet.

I disagree about Emil Marzulo, I think that he is a very capable person to handle a master plan for this City. I have heard his ideas and think that he just needs the support from the mayor and council. My understanding is that he has really turned the EDA around and that his department employees really are happy to have him there.

I completely agree that we need to can the downtown focus and start saving the businesses on Baseline and Highland instead. There are still some great businesses on both streets, however the 'Tijuana-style' businesses (which is a perfect description of them), "churches", 99 cent stores, carnicerias, etc etc are simply taking the streets over!! Something needs to be done and soon!! Why doesn't the mayors office spend the $$ on those streets instead of all of these stupid "consultants"???

By the way Molly,

I have found that if my post takes any length of time to write and I get that "your submission has failed" notice, I simply copy my post, start over and paste it into the message box and resubmit it. That has worked for me so far. Hope that helps.

Eric:
Yes, I had heard about the attempt to clean up Highland. I think it is sad - especially since this was business owners who were trying to do something and it didn't work out. This really could have been a catalyst (and project plan) for future improvements without city intervention.

My concern is that if the moratorium on the banned businesses is changed for one thing, it can be argued that it should be changed for all banned businesses - like tattoo parlors, 99 cent stores, smoke shops, etc. If the person putting in the business (even Southland Corp) can't meet the square footage requirements then the answer should be "No!". 7-11's are franchises and the franchise owners aren't keeping the stores clean. I have reported this to the execs at Southland and nothing has been done - I will be at the City Council meeting arguing that the change to the moratorium should not occur. Until the citizens in this city start participating in government nothing is going to change - although the efforts of those business owners was a good effort!

The "consultants" are a total waste of $$$ - I totally agree. But then again the Mayor and Co. have proven to be good at spending (or throwing away) money on this type of thing thoughout his tenure as Mayor.

I think I've finally figured out that if you get the "moveable type error" that it still posts.
Thanks for the tip!

Molly,

By the way, have you called and reported those businesses selling food from the back of their trucks? They do it at night because they know that no authorities are around to stop them. I know that the new owner of Jay's was feeding customers on picnic benches in their driveway and had some ridiculously loud guy speaking spanish and yelling at cars to come and eat there a while back. A neighboring business owner complained to Wendy McCammack and they were stopped.

Eric,

I saw something going on at Jay's but didn't realize that was what was happening. I think stuff like this and the illegal street vending occur because these businesses are desperate for business. The facades (of a lot but not all) of these businesses are not kept up and the parking is inconvenient. It does not look like a place most customers that have $$$ would want to stop and shop. Unless you have a specific item that you are going for at a specific shop - they don't patronize. I sympathize with their plight but we have to stop it from looking "Tijuanaesque". I go to Busy Bee, Noyas, George the tailor, the party shop on the corner of E street to keep the $$$ in the neighborhood.

You know, I had not reported the street vending. I called today. The Code Enforcement person said they didn't work evenings. Scary....hopefully it can get taken care of.

Wendy is very supportive! I know George told me that he took an issue to her and it was fixed immediately.

Have you seen what the old Albertos looks like on the other side of the 215? How can they let it look like that?

Molly,

Have you seen the old Fosdicks on Del Rosa as well? I can't believe that anyone would allow the horrible colors and condition of that dump either. Bottom line again is: Morris needs to quit wasting taxpayers' money on the stupid "consultants" (who are from other cities, I might add).

Whatever happened to the discussion on limiting paint color choices? I know the Legislative Review Committee was discussing it at one point!

That yellow that everyone uses - like the pawn shops on the 200 block of W. Highland and on Arrowhead and Baseline across from the 7-11 - is horrible! Then there is that pink on the braid shop on the 400 block of W. Highland. At least Fun Corner on Baseline makes it "fun" looking and it goes with their type of business.

More of the "Tijuanaesque" look....

Why does a pawn shop (at Baseline and Arrowhead) need a 24 hour window? It's not like it is adjacent to San Manuel and they need $$$ for gambling. In my opinion it screams fence for stolen goods - not that I know that for a fact. It just seems strange that they would need a 24 hour window. This city just seems desparate and sad.

Highland Avenue is especially bad betwee E Street and Waterman, it literally looks like you are in Mexico. Exactly how many Panaderias, Carnecerias, Fiesta shops and Botanicas does a one-mile area of any major thoroughfare that is in the United States need?

Oh, and I forgot about taquerias, especially the kind sold in parking lots outside of vacant buildings, too.

I just don't understand WHY the City doesn't concentrate on Highland and Baseline streets?????

Do these taquerias, panaderias and carnecerias actually pass health code inspections?? Also, aren't there some kind of codes or regulations on selling things on the sidewalks? Highland does look an awful lot like Tijuana now!! Something needs to be done. Any suggestions??

Well, the city needs a master plan....

As for action, call your councilperson......the northside of Highland belongs to Wendy McCammack - the southside of Highland belongs to Dennis Baxter.

We could all get together and go to the City Council.....

There are business associations for both streets - we could get together and try talking to the businesses.

Some suggestions.....anyone game to go? I will.

San Bernardino ACORN has attended several City Council Meetings and spoken in behalf of the Citizens of Ward 1 concerning the unacceptable street conditions found there. These conditions include missing sidewalks, curbs and stop signs. Mothers and children must risk their lives walking to the school bus stop because there are no sidewalks, incoming cars swirl to avoid potholes, and semi-trucks travel the small residential streets. Residents have injured themselves walking the streets; others have had to explain to cops why they are walking in the middle of the street. It’s unfair that certain parts of the city are neglected services while others are given too much priority year round. As one of our members stated previously we had requested to meet with Councilmember Esther Estrada but she was a no show. We have asked for an explanation from Antonio Lugo of the Development Services Department and nothing. We will continue to fight for this cause and other cause that affect the lives of all San Bernardino citizens. ACORN is the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities. ACORN members come together to tackle pressing problems in our neighborhood, cities and country. Members choose what issues to tackle - from speeding traffic or lack of police protection, to nationwide concerns like discrimination in lending. They take
action to get decision-makers to make real change. Members also participate in local meetings and actively work on campaigns, elect leadership from the neighborhood level up, and pay the organization’s core expenses through membership dues and grassroots fundraisers. If anyone would like to attend and know more about ACORN they are welcome to assist one of our meetings or visit our headquarters (1490 N. D Street - Suite C., San Bernardino, CA 92405)

Together we can build a city where every person counts, every family enjoys equal opportunity to nurture the American Dream in a safe environment that benefits us all as a community, and our common goals of improving ourselves as a society matters more than our differences. The American Dream – earning a good living, raising a family in comfort, retiring with dignity, and giving future generations the opportunity to have better lives – is no longer a reality for many people, families and communities in the United States. San Bernardino City has crumbled the American Dream and buried it under stacks of other “priorities” set by the few elites. Yet it’s not too late to rescue the American Dream and restore the City according to it. We must unite together and start transforming our ideas into actions that will be heard by the officials that we elected and pay everyday to have the job done! There are many lack of services around town that city employees are not doing – what would happen if you start lacking off at work in the same manner, not caring, putting it off to another time, or simply ignoring what the boss asked you to do. The truth is that we hired them to do certain functions in the city we live in and they have to respond to our needs and demands, and if they fail to perform the duties of the job description then it’s time for them to consider stepping down from a position they are not prepared to handle and for us to consider other candidates fit for the job. As voters and citizens of San Bernardino we have the power to decide how the city should be – the time to take back the City of San Bernardino is now before it gets too late.

Yes there are many areas in which the City of San Bernardino can and must improve. Do we really need liquor stores at every corner of the city running business late at night; these provide breeding grounds for prostitution, crime activities and drug dealings. There are too few 24/7 pharmacies around town, but liquor stores are just walking distances away from each other. Fast food franchises plague the city where low income families live, thus aiding obesity in our children. An adult sex shop and several bars are located near two schools where our students must walk by before and after being taught how to be model citizens in our society. Why do most police officers work in San Bernardino but rather live outside, the same for our educators, and sadly the same for certain elected officials. San Bernardino is the seat of the largest county in the US, yet no one outside it can accurately pinpoint it on a map. When we had the wildfires a couple of years ago, the media randomly pinpointed our location elsewhere not even close to where we really are. Yes everyone has heard about Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, and other flourishing Inland communities but when it comes down to San Bernardino (insert cricket sounds here). It’s ridiculous, it’s as if knowing all the surrounding cities of Los Angeles, but not knowing Los Angeles. It’s time to start making a name for ourselves, one that doesn’t degrade us, one that doesn’t stereotype us, one that doesn’t force us to be ashamed of where we live in. When the last time something positive was said about our city in the evening news? San Bernardino has to first win the trust and confidence of her people.

Some recommendations as to city planning, borrow what has worked for other cities. Waterman Avenue has the potential the counterpart of Brand Avenue in Glendale, where car dealerships are display in a community of automobiles. Downtown San Bernardino could reflect downtown Redlands, E street could learn a lot from State Street. Mirror what we have in Hospitality Lane in Baseline, more restaurants for nearby families to enjoy. It’s a shame that we have the Waterman Shopping Mall, it’s a waste of space. There are better usage for the property such as creating a commercial shopping center with a Barnes and Nobles, Health and Beauty shops, Neighborly businesses, Professional Offices, and Restaurants. Many of us have to travel far to enjoy some of these places. We do not have to match the grandness of Citrus Plaza Shopping Center but it would be nice to have something decent where everyone can enjoy from. The Carousel Mall should not be a place for offices and telemarketing; instead it should be what it’s supposed to be – a mall. It would be nice to have a small Victoria Gardens version in our own city, perhaps converting parts of it to serve the community as an extension of the Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum, moving the Historical Society into it, create the official Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous Museum, and bring in certain revenues of shops not offered at Inland Center Mall. I’m sure we all have many ideas on what we WANT to see in San Bernardino, but before any of this can take place we must first demand that our NEEDS are the priorities for the city. These needs are basic services such as more street lights, better road conditions, better regulations on code enforcement, quality schools and transportation, fixing potholes, providing sidewalks for our children and disable taxpayers, and the list goes on. One thing I challenge our council members is to take one day out of their schedule and go to the Wards they represent, door to door, and ask what are the NEEDS of the community and to commit to the reason they were elected: to represent the community.

San Bernardino ACORN – Victor Suarez

I think Victor makes a great point. San Bernardino elected officials must be held responsible for the mess the city is in. The street conditions that ACORN has been fighting for have been here longer than the current and recent administration and budget crisis - the taxpayers have the right to expect urgent services at once. I hardly believe that the Mayor or any other councilmember has any missing sidewalks, curbs or streets filled with potholes where they live. I wish ACORN the very best and it's good to know that there are individuals like Victor that are willing to say what has to be said. I think ACORN is a good start as to correcting what needs to be corrected in the city. Molly and Eric I think we have a master plan here!

Victor:
Without the cleaned up shopping areas that generate revenue for the city (via sales tax) how is the city going to take care of the needs - like street lights, curbs, etc.? The city coffers are definitely not going to be filled with $$$ by property tax. Infrastructure needs money.

The stores and shops that you decry can be stopped by the citizens if they would get off their sofas and participate in the local government. Businesses need to get conditional use permits – these have to pass through an entire process that is open to the citizens of this city however the citizens rarely participate. I find it funny when something pops up in a neighborhood and the response it that “they” are going to complain to their councilperson. The time to stop it was BEFORE it was approved at the Planning Commission. Complaining AFTER the fact does no good. If citizens want to watch out for their neighborhoods it is a proactive process not reactive.

Some of our council people do a wonderful job of representing their communities - Wendy McCammack is very responsive to her constituency. Both Dennis Baxter and Chas Kelly are at community meetings on a regular basis and have open door policies. While I can not speak to the others with first hand knowledge, all are in office (except Dennis) for their second, third, or fourth terms. I can not think that they would have been elected if they were neglecting their constituents – and if they are then one of your members should get off their sofa and run.

Since you are so intent on preserving the American Dream I suggest you speak to a group of residents that are having their dreams threatened by a 56 bed for-profit homeless shelter that (if approved) will be build adjacent to the new Lincoln Elementary school. The address of the proposed shelter is at 840 N. Sierra Way. Think of all the school children having to walk past that sidewalks or not.

I have been to your offices and I wasn’t impressed. I am active in the community, and have heard of your organization in non-flattering terms regarding an extortion-like demeanor when it comes to getting the membership dues (and this has been from more than one source).

But I always welcome people looking to make a positive change in the city and maybe my sources were wrong so I look forward to seeing you at the October 21st meeting of the Planning Commission (7PM – City Hall Council Chambers) to help the citizens of San Bernardino.

Molly

I actually live three blocks away from the proposed shelter site and according to the address provided the shelter would be more closer to Pioneer Memorial and Seccombe Lake than to Lincoln Elementary. I actually met with SBCUSD officials one month ago and they touched bases on new schools among other issues and a second Lincoln Elementary was never brought up. I do remember a couple of years ago that there was talk about expanding the elementary school where Smart & Final currently is located, but nothing near Sierra. I don't exactly know how the residents at the Pioneer Memorial feel about perserving their American Dream, it's hard enough to still perserve their own remains. But to those around it, I'm sure the American Dream is still attainable. I mean look at us we live in San Bernardino, some say the worst city to live in, but we are still here and in some way living portion of that American Dream. What would you rather have, children walking by sex shops where they are exposed to pornography and other unmoral values, or for them to walk by a shelter where everyday individuals are helped and provided for, sheding light on at least some humanity in the city?

I agree with you that when it comes to participation on local issues many residents decide to ignore the call. There are many reasons for this, one like you said are couch potatoes, but others have simply given up on everything. Some believe that their voice will not be heard or that they are just one person in the crowd. True we do need to generate revenue in order to fund certain services in the city, but sometimes our tax paying money have not been reinvested in our own city. Take for example the murals on the 215 near Cal State, the city paid a company outside the city for the projects to be done, when we could have had it done by local graphic designers studying at CSUSB. Was there a need for our hard earn dollars to benefit another city? The city has not provided any significant growth of jobs at all. We cannot allow to spend money on other cities when we are crying "budget crisis" in ours.

Sometimes life is a cause and effect pattern, in order to opinionate on an issue, the issue has to first exist. Yes sometimes we can stop things from happening and most of the times we can't. Take cancer for example we can do many things to prevent it, but when we do get it should we stop fighting it because we were not successful in preventing it? Is it a lost cause? I'm 24 years old, and a majority of the city we live in is far older than me and you put together, so are we late to voice our opinion because we were'nt there from the start. Are you saying that it's late to start doing something for the better improvement of the City and its people? That "complaining AFTER the fact does no good?" This is exactly the reason why most people give up, because it only takes one person to shatter a hope, a dream that many took to build.

We have taken up the issues to City Council, we have been advice by Code Enforcement to refer our issues to the Development Services Department, where also we get no response back. I think City Hall should be rename Carousel Hall because we have been going in circles since we started on this campaign. I don't find it funny going up to City Council and sharing the issue with them, back to the cancer example if you were diagnose with it and had the opportunity to share your concerns and ask for advice from a panel of experts wouldn't you go ahead without a single giggle? I know what you might be saying "how is cancer even related to what's going on in the City?" Well it is, the city functions like a body and negative aspects of it such as crime, gangs and even street conditions can be view as plagues.

I'm sorry that your visit to San Bernardino ACORN offices was not a pleasant one. But for many individuals who come in everyday in desperate need of foreclosure help the visit might be more pleasant for them, better yet a relief to know that they can be helped back on their feet. And as far as membership dues go I'm sorry to inform you that your sources might have misinform you. There are three methods of becoming a ACORN member. 1). Full Membership which is $10 a month, and members receive all membership benefits, including ACORN United subscription. Full members vote on campaigns and leadership through their neighborhood ACORN chapters. 2). Associate Membership: Support ACORN’s work and keep informed. (Open to all areas, all levels of support.) and 3). Provisional Membership - Try ACORN membership for FREE for six months. There are no extortion-like demeanors when it comes to getting the membership dues, members recognize that ACORN is a non-profit organization which is here to help people, if it really was all about the money I think membership would be much higher than $10 dollars monthly, agree? I might be young and perhaps unexperience in certain areas but I also have a good number of years serving my community as a leader in the political arena and now in the non-profit grassroot organizations, and God willing if there's more years ahead of me I'm going to continue my part as a good citizen, just like you. Thanks Molly for your opinions and I do appreciate some of them and please don't take my response personally, we all have the right to defend our opinions. After all we all have the same common goal right?