Take our old, our poor, our disabled masses.. to San Bernardino.

"I will live up to the confidence you have placed in me today. I am a change agent. I will be a change agent in the Sheriff's Department."


---Orange County Sheriff-"elect" Sandra Hutchens who was appointed the new sheriff by a 3-2 vote, over Santa Ana Police Department Chief Paul Walters.










At yesterday's slightly longer than usual evening meeting, the city council voted to approve a portion of the Fox Plaza project.


(excerpt, Press Enterprise)


Councilman Mike Gardner, whose ward includes downtown and who made Tuesday's motion to approve, suggested that MetroPacific redesign the corner facing the Fox Theatre so that the theater remains the dominant feature at that intersection.

He also suggested finding a way to preserve the Stalder Building facade and incorporate it into the project.

Councilman Frank Schiavone echoed some comments from members of the public when he called for better architecture in the project.

"It is boxy, it is vertical, it is straight," he said.

"We're going to take all of that into consideration," Barmand said after the vote.




The Old Historic Foundation said that it might file a lawsuit against the report. City Manager Brad Hudson pretty much said, let them eat cake. A philosophy which would permeate the meeting.



The hearing about the location of the Greyhound Station to the Northside kind of mirrored the situation with DHL-Gate only two weeks before. Hundreds of people coming down to City Hall to complain about the station. Some city council members responded to the crowd by turning 180 degrees on their positions on the issue from a we'll work with the neighborhood to absolutely not in this neighborhood! It's important that the city council is responsive to its constituents but the Northside neighbors had been complaining for months as have those in the Eastside who thought it was going there. Back and forth like a hot potato, and yet watching last night's meeting made it seem like it was approached as a new development in a thorny issue. That was interesting to watch.

What was mind boggling about the discussion about moving Greyhound out of Riverside were comments by several city council members including Steve Adams and Mike Gardner who pushed for having San Bernardino serve as the regional hub for San Bernardino which showed that our elected officials don't appear to know much about public transportation and the company that provides it, the Riverside Transit Agency. They knew down to the foot how wide a street had to be to qualify as a major thoroughfare but they put out erroneous information about public transportation and no one seemed to correct them on it.

As someone who takes public transportation especially in Riverside, it's amazing to watch elected officials including those who serve on transportation committees make absolutely ignorant comments about public transportation even in the city they represent. If you don't know or can't take the time to understand the issue, why not send your $35,000 or so/ a year legislative assistant out to find the answers?

Several city councilmen said seniors and low-come people or the "under privileged" as Adams calls them can take the RTA buses to San Bernardino's Greyhound Station. Which sounds like a plan of sorts except for one little detail. The RTA doesn't send buses to San Bernardino and doesn't operate a route to and from that city independently except through an agreement with Omnitrans which has had a short but rather tangled history in both counties.

It's the 204 line which operated with what used to be the Omnitrans 100 and although the map doesn't include the city of San Bernardino on it, it was stopping in that city in 2003 when it was created.

Since then, the route has had a hard time staying afloat, given that the RTA planned to modify or terminate the route in 2006 due to declining ridership. At the very least, its schedule was greatly cut back.

This bus route doesn't run on weekends or most holidays and provides limited service during the week including no evening buses and since it operates solely within rush hour utilizing freeways much of its route, the service times are unpredictable for those who take it to Ontario and Montclair's transit hub. What the city council didn't understand is how shaky the routes that operate between the two counties have been and the uncertainty of their futures as past history has shown. They would if they did their homework.

Whether or not the Riverside City Council in exchange for pretty much voting Greyhound out of Riverside will be willing to pull up its sleeves and work with both RTA and Omnitrans to improve the accessibility of this route or any others remains to be seen but it's doubtful at this point in time especially with the dismissive comments against the seniors, the disabled and low-income individuals made by several city council members including the Transportation Committee chair, Adams. After all, Riverside, a city of 300,000 still doesn't offer bus service in most places past 8 p.m. even in the face of escalating gas prices and even while ridership has grown in response. For all the talk about "vision", it's very selective in terms of who this "vision" is for and public transporation (read a topic that has to do with seniors, youth, the disabled and the poor) has never been this city's strongpoint because it's never really had a champion on the dais.

The last two election cycles clearly haven't changed that.


The RTA operates almost exclusively in Riverside County as shown by the routes on this page and has limited service to Orange County through its 149 route and small portions of San Diego County including Oceanside for "beach access".

What bus travels more reliably from Riverside to San Bernardino? Omnitrans. This company which is the largest public transit agency in San Bernardino County was the company that had a partnership with RTA to offer services from Riverside County to destinations in surrounding counties until that service was pretty much curtailed after the Metrolink commuter trains came into service.

And RTA's foray into the other Inland Empire county has been rocky as well.


In 2007, two RTA bus routes that traveled through San Bernardino County but not the city of San Bernardino had their service cut back. That decision was the latest in decisions made to reduce access to San Bernardino including its city by the RTA, even through partnerships with Omnitrans.

Omnitrans' buses which operate between cities are somewhat nicer than those operated by RTA and the Riverside-San Bernardino route spends much of its time on the highway which is good when it's off-peak but a nightmare during rush hours.


Route 215, which used to be Route 100, of Omnitrans travels from downtown Riverside to downtown San Bernardino but like the other line, it doesn't operate on weekends or major holidays either according to this current schedule. What has never been discussed in the city council's fervor to implement changes in public transportation, something most of them know nothing about, is the impact of the shuffling around of transit locations on Omintrans operation in Riverside and its agreement with RTA.

As for Dial-A-Ride, it offers limited service to residents within 3/4 of a mile to an established RTA route. You can sign up for that and the fare is roughly $2.50 a trip. But you might want to read this section from the RTA site first.


(excerpt)


The service area is divided into zones which generally follow a city’s boundary. If your beginning and ending points are within a single zone, you will ride only one vehicle without any transfers. To travel between zones, you must be ADA certifi ed, transfer to vehicles at designated zone transfer points, and pay a separate fare each time you board.


And all these "designated zones" are within Riverside County.



Instead of any practical solutions, there were jokes by Adams and Schiavone about transporting people who can't get to San Bernardino including those who are seniors, disabled and low-income, promises of course they never intend to fulfill in reality. This behavior is just unprofessional, to make jokes to bolster your planned motion or vote because it's not like either councilman was serious about involving themself in the process of providing access to those disenfranchised by any ouster of Greyhound to the "regional hub" for the Inland Empire. As for those who speak of "regional hubs", they usually are those who don't use the transporation which will be curtailed by their council vote.

It's easy to joke about when you're about to cast a vote which negatively impacts thousands but not you. After all, the city council members probably don't believe that many of these people bother to go to the voting polls every four years. But if anybody on the dais had any idea of what many people who use public transportation experienced or was in touch with anyone who's used it, they, with the possible exception of Councilman Andrew Melendrez aren't showing it.

Especially appalling coming from Adams who heads the city's transportation committee but is woefully ignorant perhaps by choice on public transit. But again if you are fortunate to have a car and afford astronomical gas prices, perhaps it puts you in a position to joke about those who can't having to find alternate and often arduous transportation. And to make decisions which make their lives and ability to travel from one place to the next much harder.

Their comments make good sound bytes to appeal to over 200 angry city residents and perhaps to television viewers at home. Still, if they took the time to know whether a street qualifies as a major transit artery or not, they should have bothered to find out whether Riverside County's bus service even travels to San Bernardino and to what extent. What are its benefits and what are its limitations. As well as the impact of forcing seniors, the disabled and low-income families by the thousands to find unexpensive transportation to the Greyhound Station in San Bernardino. How many members of those who use Greyhound did the council members even interview, meet with or talk to? Perhaps if they have, the stereotypes that rolled so easily off the tongues of a few of them wouldn't have done so as easily.


Greyhound bus serves over 85,000 primarily senior, low income and disabled individuals each year but clearly it's easier to throw these individuals under the bus (pun intended) than to come up with a viable solution that benefits both the ridership and protects the public safety of neighborhoods(and in the past, crime at the bus terminal was blamed not on bus riders but on people who loiter at the station all day and never take any bus). Most larger cities with experienced and insightful leadership on the dais know how to make decisions and promote projects like this even if it takes a lot of effort because they value ALL the residents of their cities, not just the wealthier ones.

Because if it were wealthier individuals who utilized this service, the city council and their staff would make it work. They have the ability as they've shown in the past, they just don't have the motivation in this case. If seniors or low-income people had to walk over 10 miles to take Greyhound in San Bernardino, it's of no concern to them because if it was, they wouldn't throw out meaningless comments about giving these individuals lifts themselves or providing vehicle transportation.

The alternative would have been to put probably about a quarter or half of the priority that they give out-of-town developers to come up with more transportation options for all people in the wake of a oil crisis which is only going to worsen. The alternative is to research and come up with viable inter-city transporation options which meet the needs and challenges of the ridership of Greyhound. But clearly, this leadership is unable or unwilling to face that challenge as leaders with true vision and courage have done in other cities.

Lower income people and many seniors don't donate into political campaigns like developers do. If they do, it's most often in smaller amounts. And this isn't about making downtown safer (because Adams mentioned public safety issues with Tyler Mall in earlier years and the mall was renovated, not moved or removed from the city's canvas), it's about freeing up a plot of land across the street from a proposed mixed-used project which boasts high-priced, low square-footage housing. Housing that the city still has to fill in a city which is part of the area which ranks in the top five areas where the housing market has tanked.



The council ultimately voted against the terminal.


(excerpt)



"Does it truly belong in Riverside?" said Cindy Roth, president of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. "Maybe it doesn't."

Councilman Mike Gardner, who represents the neighborhood, said between January and June the downtown Greyhound station had 293 calls for service.

"If this means Greyhound doesn't do business in Riverside anymore then so be it," he said.

Some residents said the station would be a better fit in a planned transportation hub at the downtown Metrolink station where riders would have easy access to hotels and restaurants, and could link to other transportation.

City Manager Brad Hudson has said that the Metrolink station is not right for Greyhound. Greyhound would prefer the proposed transportation center, where RTA's downtown bus terminal is looking to move, but the company has not been invited, Flanderka said.






Why is it even more important for elected officials to educate themselves on public transportation? Because higher gas prices have led to more Inland Empire residents using it.


(excerpt, Press Enterprise)


Inland bus stops are also bustling. Ridership for April was up 12.6 percent overall and it increased more than 40 percent on some commuter lines, according to a Riverside Transit Agency report. Omnitrans in San Bernardino County also reported a 3.6 percent increase in overall bus ridership during April.




The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted to encourage alternative working schedules for the county's employees in response to the high gas prices which are expected to hit $5/gallon in the region by July 4th.


Both Metrolink and RTA are scrambling to accomplish this growth in ridership. No doubt the demand for Greyhound is probably increasing, not to mention the expansion of its ridership in response to gas prices rising. The Riverside City Council members could be making bold decisions to address this crisis particularly its impact on those who won't be able like they can to afford $5/gallon or more. They should be looking for more transportation options besides vehicles in the future because these high gas prices aren't just a blip in the radar, for the most part this or worse is going to be how it goes until the last drop of this very finite resource is pulled from the earth.

That shows much more integrity than eliminating options for these folks with the mantra, "Let them eat cake" from those who can still take using their vehicles for granted.

Riverside just isn't there yet. It could be, and that's something to think about since Election 2009's just around the corner.









The Park and Recreation Commission and the Commission on Disabilities approved the construction of a universal playground at Fairmount Park.



If you want to comment on whether or not it was proper for Mayor Ron Loveridge as a Democrat to endorse a Republican in the recent county supervisor race, you can respond here.


The Orange County Board of Supervisors took a vote and narrowly selected former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department head, Sandra Hutchens, to be its next sheriff.


The debate before the vote was contentious.



(excerpt, Los Angeles Times)



Supervisor Patricia Bates said the difference for her was Hutchens' experience with "regional policing" at a large sheriff's department. She called Walters one of the finest police chiefs in the nation. "I want to say to Chief Walters this is the most difficult decision I have made in my 20 years as an elected official," Bates said.

Nguyen said she believed Hutchens was the best qualified candidate to turn the department around.

"What makes this vote particularly difficult is the fact that both candidates are extremely qualified. The difference between these candidates, if it exists, is individual preference," Nguyen said.

Supervisors Chris Norby and Bill Campbell announced their support for Walters. Norby said Walters was familiar with the county and had proven his abilities during two decades of leading the Santa Ana Police Department. Hutchens, meanwhile, had proposed using an outside agency to study the way the department operates.

"We can't wait another four months for studies and commissions and audits. Walters is by far the better qualified and better equipped of the two to take on this challenge," Norby said.


And the question has been asked, is Orange County ready for its first female sheriff?



More information on the appointment which makes history in several ways here.



(excerpt, Orange County Register)




Supervisor Chris Norby, a vocal Walters supporter for some time, tried to rally the board to his side, pointing out Walter's long experience in running a big-city jail, his support of all of the county's 23 police chiefs and his willingness to run for election in the past and in the future. Norby also cited Walters' 20-year experience and Hutchens' very recent "burst on the scene."

"He has been willing to put his life on the line and his career on the line," Norby said.

Norby was joined by Supervisor Bill Campbell, who echoed Walters vast experience and said it is sorely needed for a troubled department.

"The Orange County Sheriff's Department is in need of a turn around, pure and simple," Campbell said. "When you get in a turn-around situation, you really want some one who has been there, done that."

But Bates, Nguyen and Supervisor John Moorlach said they preferred Hutchens' long experience in a large department and her "thoughtful" decision to audit the department before making any changes. Nguyen said Hutchens is well-qualified to clean up a corrupt department.

"The corruption didn't just start at the top and stay there," Nguyen said. "It went all the way to the bottom."

Bates, who represents the southern part of the county where Hutchens lives, said she believed both candidates were qualified but that Hutchens has long experience as a line deputy and as a union representative.

"Those are significant experiences to have on the challenges that are before us," Bates said.




The legal fight over Bratz dolls taking place at the federal courthouse has spread towards who can have room at the inn.




More intrigue with the civilian review process in Columbia, Missouri. One opponent to the process was published in the newspaper, repeating all the arguments that have been used against civilian review over and over by its opponents from sea to shining sea and everywhere in between.



(excerpt, Columbia Missourian)



I have never made a secret of my opposition to a special civilian review board as sufficient oversight is provided by the mayor and City Council, the city manager, the free press and the Police Department’s internal review process. That policeman need not be constrained in the performance of his duty by the specter of second guessing by a panel of citizens who have never walked in his shoes nor the fear that he may be exceeding some arbitrary racial quota in his arrests.

Finally, the city is searching for a new chief of police. I doubt any prospective hire will entertain positively commanding a Police Department saddled with a newly commissioned and unnecessary albatross in the form of a civilian review board.




A federal grand jury indicted a police chief of a small department in Illinois over a prostitution scam.