REDLANDS, CA—- Garner Holt issued a challenge to other small business owners to pay the rent for small businesses in their communities that may be on the verge of failing as a result of COVID-19. In a video posted to social media Monday, Holt appealed to business owners with the means to do it to support local, non-chain businesses like restaurants and other service-oriented storefronts that are unable to pay rent on May 1.
Speaking of his own business, Garner Holt Productions, Inc. (GHP), Holt recalled the challenges of small business ownership and struggles to keep financially solvent. “I remember having to dump out the Sparkletts jar and count quarters to have pocket money after paying my employees,” he said. “That’s how tough things got.”
Many small businesses were not able to obtain benefits from the recent government stimulus programs, either as a result of confusion over the application process, or a lack of coordination from their financial institutions. Holt said, “We have been blessed with the wherewithal to help some of these local small businesses stay afloat. Missing rent in a few days can mean life or death for a business.”
Some estimates say that as many as half of small businesses in the United States cannot afford to pay rent on May 1 because of the effects of COVID-19. Holt continued, “I’ve decided to pay the rent for a couple of months for several businesses in our community that I know aren’t going to survive. These aren’t big businesses that I know are going to make it. These are the little, tiny businesses that just aren’t going to be able to pull this off.”
Holt issued his challenge to fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners who have been able to benefit from the government stimulus or aren’t facing the same struggles. “I hope they can do what we’re trying to do here in their own communities,” Holt said of these owners. “Your barber, your tailor, your favorite taco place, any of these little places that are part of daily life in your community.”
While not a formalized program or charity, Holt hopes individual business owners will communicate with other businesses to form an informal, community-based network of help. “We’re all in this same boat together,” Holt said. “We need to help our fellow small businesses say above water.”
REDLANDS, CA— Following issuance of a new public health order from the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health on Thursday, the City of Redlands is implementing plans to reopen park and recreational facilities “on a limited scale for passive recreation,” which includes individual activities such as “wildlife observation, walking or hiking, biking … and participating in non-contact sports like golf or tennis with members of their households.”
?City facilities that will be reopened under the order include tennis and pickle ball courts and parking lots at all City parks. City parks and trails have remained open.
The City Council and City staff continue to monitor state and county public health orders and to follow public health recommendations while providing necessary services to residents.
City facilities, including all City offices, community and senior centers, the A.K. Smiley Public Library, Lincoln Shrine, skate park, basketball courts and playground equipment will remain closed to the public until Department of Public Health orders have been rescinded. City services are still available by phone or online. Check the City website for information on accessing City services or making payments.
Beginning Monday, April 27, the A.K. Smiley Public Library will offer a Books to Go service. Smiley Library cardholders may request books, CDs, DVDs or magazines from the library’s catalog either online at www.akspl.org, via email at circ@akspl.org, or by phone at (909) 798-7565. Library staff will pull the material, bag it and contact the cardholder to make an appointment to pick up the material in front of the library’s Vine Street entrance. Full details can be found at the library’s website at www.akspl.org. Electronic resources are also available to any cardholder. Details about those resources including e-books, e-magazines, databases and video services are also available on the library website.
All City sponsored classes and activities and park reservations have been canceled until the public health orders are lifted.
City Council and Planning Commission meetings have been closed to the public until further notice or until the current local State of Emergency has been lifted. The City Council and Planning Commission will continue to meet to conduct essential business.
Public participation in the meetings is still encouraged. The public may view the meetings live at home through Redlands TV on Channel 3 for Spectrum cable customers or Channel 35 for Frontier cable customers, or online at https://www.cityofredlands.org/meeting-agendas-minutes.
Members of the public who wish to provide general comment to the City Council or comment on specific agenda items may submit comments up until 6 p.m. the day of the City Council meeting by email at publiccomment@cityofredlands.org or through the public comment form on the City’s website at https://www.cityofredlands.org/public-speaker-form.
Written comments may also be provided by 4 p.m. the day of the City Council meeting directly to the City Clerk’s Office at 35 Cajon St.
Comments received by the deadline will be read into the public record at the meeting.
City staff will continue to monitor, review and evaluate all steps the City has taken through the end of the current pandemic and make adjustments as appropriate.
On March 16, the Emergency Services Director declared a State of Emergency in Redlands and activated the Emergency Operations Center to a Level 3. The Redlands City Council ratified that action the following day. Declaration of a local emergency provides additional tools to the City in responding to the public health emergency and allows the City to purchase supplies, materials and equipment without going through the normal bidding requirements.
1,772 Confirmed Cases (up 1.2% from previous day) 82 Deaths (up 0% from previous day) 4.6% Fatality Rate 17,557 Tested (up 4.4% from the previous day)
Monday through Friday – Arrowhead Regional Medical Center – 400 N. Pepper Ave., Colton 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointment ONLY, call 1-855-422-8029
Monday through Friday – SAC Health Systems (IEHP Members only) – 250 South G Street, San Bernardino 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointment ONLY, call (909) 771-2911
Tuesday, April 28 — Arroyo Valley High School –1881 West Baseline St., San Bernardino 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Appointment ONLY, all appointments filled
County Public Health is also conducting testing at select nursing facilities for at-risk seniors living at those facilities.
County to Open Up Criteria for Testing
Beginning this Thursday, April 30 at all testing locations and the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, people age 65 and older and health care or public safety workers can get tested, regardless if they are experiencing any symptoms. This is in addition to residents who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough or shortness of breath).
Important Reminder: Non Essential Businesses Remain CLOSED
In accordance with a County Health Order effective April 25, the County of San Bernardino has re-opened County-operated parks and lakes and is allowing the opening of city-owned and private parks, lakes, trails, and golf courses on a limited scalefor passive recreation.
There are no changes in the Health Order regarding restrictions still in place on non-essential businesses. Essential businesses are allowed to remain open with restrictions. To read more on what is considered an essential or non-essential business, as well as more details on what comprises passive recreation, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the County’ COVID-19 website.
Social Distancing While Golfing
As County residents enjoy our wonderful parks and recreation facilities, it’s critical to remember — and practice — the social distancing measures we’ve been following.
One sport that allows you to get fresh air and sunshine while social distancing is golf. Here are a few guidelines to help ensure your safety and that of your companions.
Maintain social distancing — stay at least six feet from the other players.
Do not share golf carts, unless your golf partner is a housemate. Each golfer should travel in his or her own cart, and courses are required to offer this option.
Remember to bring and wear your facemask when in proximity to others.
Arrive at the course with your golf shoes already on. Clubhouses will be closed so you won’t be able to change at the course.
Bring your own water bottle(s).
As a reminder, pro shops, restaurants and other clubhouse services are not open. To-go food orders, however, are allowed. Please, let’s all adhere to these important rules so we can continue to avail ourselves of the beautiful outdoors while keeping each other safe and healthy!
Mental Health Monday with Dr. Veronica Kelley
We are pleased to share this informative video from Dr. Kelley, who is the Director of Behavioral Health for the County of San Bernardino. Her tips on helping children cope during this crisis are invaluable!
Tips for Helping Your Children Cope
Everyday life — difficult and stressful enough under normal circumstances — has certainly become much more challenging during this medical crisis.
This heightened stress and anxiety not only afflicts adults. Children are perhaps even more influenced by worried parents and caregivers and dramatic changes to their day-to-day routines.
To help parents and others who engage with young people, we asked Dr. Veronica Kelly, director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, to share some suggestions for helping children cope during these unprecedented time. Following are a few of Dr. Kelly’s useful tips:
Stay calm and reassure your kids. Children look to their caregivers for clues on how to react to a particular situation, so remember that it’s not only what you say, but how you say it.
Limit their screen time. Many young people are attending school remotely, so it’s neither possible nor desirable to ban the use of computers, smartphones and iPads. However, you should encourage children to reduce their online activities and engage in pursuits such as reading, playing board games or card games, cooking, helping around the house, playing a musical instrument or working on crafts.
Avoid “blaming language.” A virus can make anyone sick — young or old, male or female, black or white. Moreover, those afflicted are not responsible for their condition. Avoid saying things that could lead to stigma.
Talk about “facts” vs. “feelings.” Separate objective facts from the emotional response to those facts. A fact is that the government has issued stay-at-home orders to help limit the spread of the virus. A feeling is how we feel in response to those orders. Both are legitimate — but it helps to maintain the distinction.
Maintain open and honest communication. Let your children know that you want them to ask questions and to share their thoughts and feelings. And let them know that much of what they’ve heard or read on the internet or social media is based on rumors and false information.
Keep communications simple. Speak clearly and directly to your children; now is not the time to get cute or to use clever metaphors. Provide information that is not only truthful, but also appropriate to their age and development level.
Get COVID-19 Daily Updates in your Email Inbox
You can now get daily COVID-19 news updates sent directly to your e-mail. Click the “Get email updates on the latest COVID-19 news” link on the County’s homepage,http://www.sbcounty.gov/main/default.aspx, or the County’s COVID-19 page, sbcovid19.com, or sign up here.
For all COVID-19 related information, including case statistics, FAQs, guidelines and resources, visit the County’s COVID-19 webpage at http://sbcovid19.com/. Residents of San Bernardino County may also call the COVID-19 helpline at (909) 387-3911 for general information and resources about the virus. The phone line is NOT for medical calls and is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions about social services, please call 211.
You can receive internet connection for as low as $10. This is not an advertisement, it’s a public service announcement.Local Inland Empire non-profits are working with the California Public Utilities Commission to connect residents to high-speed, inexpensive internet through the California Emerging Technology Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You may even be eligible for a complimentary Chromebook if you are in a Frontier serviceable area!
To qualify and get high-speed internet provided by Spectrum, Human-I-T, AT&T, Frontier or Comcast, call one of the authorized organizations below:
Ch.I.C.C.C.A.A.A Call/Text: (909) 406-9372 or (909) 454-7129 Email:access4IE@gmail.com
This Daily Update (Monday through Friday) will share important news, information and resources related to how we are battling and getting through the coronavirus pandemic. We are here for you. #SBCountyTogether
Daily Stats
1,608 Confirmed Cases | 77 Deaths 4.8%
Fatality Rate | 14,885 Tested
Drive-Through Testing Locations Weeks of April 20 and April 27, 2020
Monday through Friday – Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
400 N. Pepper Ave., Colton8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Appointment ONLY, call 1-855-422-8029
Friday, April 24 – Ruben S. Ayala Park
14225 Central Ave., Chino10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Appointment ONLY, all appointments filled
Monday, April 27 – LoanMart Field (“Quakes Stadium”)
8408 Rochester Ave., Rancho Cucamonga10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Appointment ONLY, at
County residents who are displaying any symptom of COVID-19 now or over the last two weeks can get tested at the drive-through events. Symptoms of COVID-19 include: fever, cough or shortness of breath. Appointments can be made at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center by phone, and for other locations at http://sbcovid19.com/ (when the appointment window for each event opens). Events are free of charge and do not require health insurance. County Public Health is also conducting testing at select nursing facilities for at-risk seniors living at those facilities.
Important FAQs Regarding the Opening this weekend of County Parks and Recreation Areas
In accordance with a County Health Order signed today (view order here), starting on Saturday, April 25, the County of San Bernardino is opening County-operated parks and lakes and allowing the opening of city-owned and private parks, lakes, trails, and golf courses on a limited scale for passive recreation. We recognize that a great part of our overall health depends on our ability to enjoy the outdoors, and our county has some of the greatest recreational opportunities in all of Southern California. The following Frequently Asked Questions address the re-opening, and are available on the County’ COVID-19 website. Further questions can be directed to individual facilities, or the County’s COVID helpline at (909) 387-3911. We will do our best to address other questions in future updates.
What is opening?
All County owned parks, trails, and lakes will be open for passive recreation on a limited scale. The County is also allowing the opening of city and privately owned parks, trails, lakes and golf courses. Please check with individual facilities regarding their plans to open.
What is ‘passive recreation’?
Passive recreation means that our San Bernardino County residents can enjoy individual activities like wildlife observation, walking or hiking, biking, boating, and participating in non-contact sports like golf or tennis with members of their households.
Who can use parks, trails, lakes, and golf courses in San Bernardino County?
Although San Bernardino County’s recreation areas are usually open to everyone, every American is being asked to respect the guidelines of individual states and municipalities. To meet the Stay at Home guidelines for the State of California, we are asking that residents stay within the boundaries of their residing counties to flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19. In other words, at this time we are strongly discouraging out-of-county residents from visiting our outdoor recreation areas.
What is the safety mandate for visiting these outdoor areas?
All facilities will adhere to the mandate of practicing social distancing and wearing face coverings. All facilities open to the public must add signage advising visitors that social distancing and face coverings are required. If you are planning to visit our outdoor spaces, understand that restrooms and many businesses in and near these sites will remain closed. Short-term rentals continue to be closed, and restaurants are only available for take-out. Facility operators assume responsibility and liability for operating under the County health order.
What outdoor venues remain closed?
The following outdoor recreational facilities are mandated to remain closed:Outdoor amphitheatersPublic or community swimming beaches, pools, and spasCampgrounds or camp areasNote: Camping in open areas of the County, such as those managed by the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, is allowable only by individual campers and members of households. Group camping is not allowedAmusement parks or carnivalsOutdoor conference centers
ParksWhat activities are allowed?
HikingBikingRock climbingSkateboarding (where allowed)Tennis, pickleball and racquetball (where allowed, and only by those who share a household)Wildlife observationDog parksParking in parking lots for passive recreation activity
What facilities are not open? What activities are not allowed?
The following remain closed due to state mandates related to public gatherings.PlaygroundsPicnic/BBQ areasCamping areasBasketball courts and baseball/softball/soccer fields for team activities
Can I visit with friends in the park if we maintain social distancing and wear masks?
Public gatherings outside your immediate household are not allowed.
LakesWhat activities are allowed?
Boating (motor boats, canoeing, kayaking where allowed, and only by those who share a household)ParasailingWater skiingFishing (by boat and by shore)Parking in parking lots for passive recreation activity
What facilities are not open? What activities are not allowed?
The following are closed due to state mandates related to public gatherings.Swim beachesOn-premise dining facilities or restaurants (take-out is allowed)Restrooms
Can I have people in my boat?
In line with public gathering mandates, immediate household members are allowed in one boat.
Will marinas be able to rent boats?
Boat-rental businesses will remain closed.
TrailsWhat activities are allowed?
Off-road and dirt trails for hiking, biking and 4x4ing (where allowed)Equestrian activitiesHang glidingRock climbing
Golf CoursesWhat activities are allowed?
GolfingTake-out dining
What activities are not allowed?
Golf tournaments and other fund-raising events
What facilities are not open?
Clubhouses and restaurantsGymsSwimming poolsHair and nail salons and spas
How will these measures be enforced?
Operators of recreational areas, including golf courses, shall monitor activity and advise those who are not complying with safe practices to do so. If compliance cannot be achieved, facilities will be closed. If widespread noncompliance occurs, the passive recreation allowance will be rescinded countywide.
Video Health Spotlight: Symptomatic vs. Asymptomatic Transmission
Dr. Troy Pennington, ER Physician from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, gives us the straight talk on what we mean by “symptomatic vs. asymptomatic transmission.”
LOS ANGELES, CA— Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Alton Sinclair, from Ontario, Calif., wets fiberglass casting material during orthopedic training aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) April 7. Mercy deployed in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore base hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. One of the Department of Defense’s missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Rep. Pete Aguilar announced over $47 million in federal funding to support Inland Empire colleges and students during the coronavirus crisis. The funding, which was appropriated by the CARES Act, provides $26,243,781 for California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), $6,732,563 for San Bernardino Valley Community College, $3,388,020 for University of Redlands, and $11,446,484 for Chaffey College. The CARES Act requires that the at least 50 percent of all funds go toward direct relief for students in the form of tuition assistance, financial aid, meal programs and other student services.
“The Inland Empire’s students, colleges and universities have always been points of pride in our community. This funding will help these institutions keep their doors open and continue serving students during this difficult time. It will also help students and their families navigate the financial hardships created by this crisis. I was proud to help pass the CARES Act to provide these resources to our community, and I’ll continue to advocate for the Inland Empire as Congress debates next steps,” said Rep. Aguilar.
“This is wonderful news that will offer a welcome relief to our students and their families in the face of the threat of the coronavirus,” said CSUSB President Tomás Morales. “The funding will help our students live and pay for their essential needs, while keeping them attending CSUSB, as they deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful for their support.”
“Our students will be our future scientists, doctors, nurses, and first responders, and they’re at home right now, eager to learn and fulfill their potential,” says San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees Chair, Dr. Anne Viricel. “We applaud the urgent action and bipartisan leadership of Congressman Aguilar, and our Inland Empire delegation, in passing the CARES Act to protect the well-being and future of our students, our families, and our communities,” said Dr. Anne Viricel, Chair of the SBCCD Board of Trustees.
“While the full extent of the financial disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic is still unknown, passage of the CARES Act is an important step in sustaining the capacity of our nation’s colleges and universities to provide higher education,” stated University of Redlands President Ralph W. Kuncl. “This critical funding will allow us to respond to the unprecedented financial and operational challenges of the pandemic, as we work to continue meeting the needs of our students, who represent the country’s future workforce.”
“Nearly 70 percent of our students receive financial assistance as they pursue their academic goals at Chaffey College. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our students greatly as many have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet for themselves and their families. The college is still determining a methodology for funding allocation, however, we believe the funding should be distributed to our students most in need, particularly in the areas of technology and basic needs. The college’s Panther Care Program, which is designed to help our students who are food and housing insecure, will have an integral role in helping us determine the best way to distribute this funding,” said Dr. Henry Shannon, Superintendent and President of Chaffey College.
Rep. Aguilar serves as a Chief Deputy Whip in the House Democratic Caucus and as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the committee responsible for allocating federal funds.
REDLANDS, CA—- As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, many Redlands senior citizens continue to need assistance.
The Redlands Community Senior Center and Family Services are currently distributing 120 meal packages to seniors every Wednesday at the center.
But the needs of low-income seniors and those at high risk, unable to leave their homes, is growing.
To assist, the City of Redlands Senior Services Division has teamed with the Redlands Community Foundation to establish a “Meals for Seniors Fund.”
Donations to the fund are used to provide a Meals on Wheels service with Senior Services Division employees and volunteers delivering lunch and providing a daily welfare check-in Monday through Friday. Every $30 donation provides meals for one senior citizen for a week. A separate supplemental package including food and sanitation supplies is also available for pickup at the senior center.
Donations to the Meals for Seniors fund may be made online at:
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—-Omnitrans will further reduce transit service on Monday, April 13 and has implemented additional safety procedures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Omnitrans has been designated an essential service, and we are committed to providing that service while protecting the safety of our employees and customers,” said Interim CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “As we continue to closely monitor this health emergency, the agency will make adjustments as needed to ensure that we achieve both of those goals.”
Under the new reduced service plan, detailed below, six routes will be eliminated, service frequency or trips will be reduced on four routes, and two routes will be operated with smaller minibuses. This plan is in addition to Omnitrans’ initial service reduction, which saw routes that regularly operate every 15 minutes operate every 30 minutes, and routes that typically operate every 30 minutes operate every hour. Since the inception of COVID-19 and the state of California “Stay at Home” order, Omnitrans ridership has decreased by approximately 65 percent.
Since last month, the agency has asked customers to board and exit buses through the rear doors to encourage social distancing and has stopped collecting fares (customers with disabilities continue to board via the front doors of the bus). Additionally, the agency has implemented a policy of 20 customers maximum per bus and requires face masks onboard in conjunction with the San Bernardino County health order mandating face coverings when leaving home.
Route
Areas Served
Change
Reason/Explanation
5
San Bernardino
Changed to 45-minute frequency
This schedule is being changed in conjunction with Route 7’s cancellation.
7
San Bernardino
Permanently Eliminated
This route was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership and CSUSB closure.
12
San Bernardino, Rialto, Fontana, Muscoy
Use of smaller vehicles operated by contractor
Schedule and route will NOT change, Route will be operated with smaller Access vehicles due to low ridership.
20
Fontana, Unincorporated County
Permanently Eliminated
This route was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership and Fontana HS closure.
29
Fontana Bloomington
Use of smaller vehicles operated by contractor
Schedule and route will NOT change, Route will be operated with smaller Access vehicles due to low ridership.
67
Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga
TEMPORARILY Eliminated
This route will be temporarily eliminated due to low ridership and school closures along the route.
80
Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario
TEMPORARILY Eliminated
This route will be temporarily eliminated due to low ridership, school closures, and decreased hotel and airport activity along the route.
81
Chino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga
Weekday short trips to Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center eliminated.
This short trip is being eliminated due to low ridership.
290
San Bernardino, Colton, Ontario, Montclair
TEMPORARILY Eliminated
Low ridership. This freeway express route has local route alternatives.
308 309 310
Yucaipa
308 Permanently Eliminated. 309/310 frequency reduced to 60 minutes
Route 308 was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership. Routes 309/310 service frequency is being reduced due to low ridership.
365
Chino Hills
Saturday service 6 days/week; Sunday service on Sundays.
Route 365 service is being reduced to eliminate school trips due to closures; Sunday service will continue.
RIVERSIDE, CA— Tamara Marquez didn’t know much about the U.S. census before last year, when she applied for a job as a canvasser with the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, a nonprofit organization based in Jurupa Valley.
Marquez, a senior at the University of California, Riverside, is forthcoming about why she wanted the job. Originally from Mexico City, she immigrated to the U.S. as a child and remains undocumented, which limits her employment opportunities.
She also admits she didn’t know much about canvassing, going door to door to talk to people about why, exactly, they should care enough about the census to fill it out.
Between November and March, Marquez spent as many as six days per week canvassing in Riverside, later alternating door-to-door sessions with phone banking. At first, she said, talking to strangers was intimidating — especially when they didn’t want to hear what she had to say.
“But you learn pretty quickly to change your script depending on who you’re talking to,” Marquez said. “If you’re talking to a Spanish-speaking household, a family with kids, you might tell them about how the census can affect schools. You’re trying to convince people, so you start by feeling out the environment to figure out which strategies to implement.”
Accurate census representation is critical for UCR students like Marquez because it informs funding for things like Pell Grants, the Federal Work-Study Program, and research activities, said Marlenee Blas.
Blas is the associate director of UCR’s Center for Social Innovation, and since October has served as director of UCR Counts, the university’s official Complete Count Committee.
UCR Counts is situated within a regional network that also incorporates two county governments and about 80 nonprofits, Blas said — all of which have united in an unprecedented effort to ensure the Inland Empire is accurately counted.
The two-county region’s more than 4.6 million people are at dangerous risk of being undercounted, a trend reflected in the 2010 census. That year, nearly one in four Inland Empire households didn’t mail back their census questionnaire; another 40,000 people didn’t receive one at all.
A substantial portion of the region’s residents are part of “hard-to-count” communities, which include undocumented immigrants, non-English speakers and households, and racial and ethnic minorities, among other groups.
Marquez said undocumented communities, in particular, are still likely to view participating in the census as a risk, namely because they fear public data about their communities being weaponized by law-enforcement agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
“Taking the census is a risk for undocumented people, but many just have to be informed about the benefits,” she said. “In my experience, the Hispanic households we’ve spoken with are the ones who are most ready to learn and be active. Immigrants already do so much for our communities, and the lack of a citizenship question allows immigrants not only to participate but to continue to help by making sure we all get the resources we need.”
Blas said Inland Empire census activities have had a collateral benefit of bringing together people from different nonprofits and other organizations, allowing many to begin interacting with each other for the first time.
The nonprofit Inland Empire Community Foundation is largely leading the efforts. The foundation was designated an administrative community-based organization, or ACBO, by the state, and thus given funding to drive outreach in hard-to-count communities within the region.
In 2019, the foundation launched Census IE, a coalition of nonprofit and community-based organizations within Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and began to distribute funding to those organizations. It’s divided the Inland Empire into seven subregions, with a regional coordinator assigned to each.
The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, which Marquez works with as a canvasser, is the regional coordinator for the Riverside metropolitan area, where more than a quarter of the total population — nearly 696,000 people — lives in hard-to-count tracts.
The patchwork of initiatives has made major gains in the region since ramping up efforts last year. As of March, Census IE canvassers had knocked on more than 130,000 doors in the region. According to Blas, the efforts have paved the way for a new generation of civic leadership in the Inland Empire.
“At the regional level, most of these efforts are being led by young women, many of them Latina,” she said. “They’re truly at the forefront, and because many of them were born and grew up here, the census is a personal project. And because so much is at stake, they’re able to call other people out and hold them accountable. They’re asking questions that matter: ‘Why is money being allocated here and not here?'”
Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
