The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle - October 21st, 2021

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POLITICS: New 2022 California Employment Laws | Page B1

Weather: 29o/10o

Volume III | Issue XLII

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REAL ESTATE | Page C2

Thursday, October 21 - 27, 2021

A FAITH

CLERGY CORNER: This Play — It Plays Forever

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B POLITICS

Biden focuses on climate, families in trimmed $2T plan

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NATIONAL | Page D1

| $2.00 (Tax Incl.)

C VALLEY BEAT

Soboba Tribal Member Brings Talents Back Home

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CALIFORNIA STATE

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Riverside beefs up park security to address homelessness GENESIS CHAVEZ-CARO | CONTRIBUTED

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esponding to complaints about homelessness, Riverside is stepping up security across its parks. The police department will assign non-sworn officers, known as specialists, to help the homeless access mental health services. The program will cost $2.4 million the first year and $2 million in future years. Riverside parks will see more security next year as the city addresses the problem of homeless people in parks. The city’s parks have been without rangers since 2008 and have been watched by police as well as a few security guards . But soon the city will introduce a new job called park and neighborhood specialist. These employees will work in parks to watch for illegal activity there or in surrounding neighborhoods. The program is overseen by the Riverside Police Department, and will take the place of traditional park rangers. The program will cost $2.4 million the first year and $2 million in future years. City officials cite public complaints about homelessness as the main reason the program was created. “There is a community concern with the Riverside parks and wilderness areas and trails that are experiencing homelessness,” Riverside’s Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said during a June city council meeting. “Our objective is to prioritize safety and welfare in the city’s parks for residents and visitors.” The department received about 95,000 calls for service near a onefourth mile radius of parks in 2020, Gonzalez said. “It’s disturbing every time I have a resident say that they don’t feel comfortable taking their child to Little League practice or spend a Sunday at a park because they don’t feel safe,” Gonzalez said at the meeting. “So this is one measure we can take moving forward that can assist with that.” The specialists will be trained by the police department, but will not be sworn officers, department

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HOMELESS: Riverside Police Department along with the Department of Parks and Recreation have partnered to create a new park ranger program called the parks and neighborhood specialist program to combat homelessness in the city’s parks. | Photo Courtesy of iPhoto.

spokesperson Ryan Railsback said. They won’t carry guns, but will have the power to cite individuals for infractions as well as make misdemeanor arrests. Specialists will be trained in CPR and can help those who need mental health assistance get the resources they need by working with the police department’s community engagement team. That team includes a community behavior assessment team that focuses on mental health resources, and has partnered with city programs that focus on homelessness, Railsback said. Park specialists will patrol parks to look out for disruptive activity by visitors as well as illegal activities by the homeless, such as aggressive panhandling. Specialists are not there to remove homeless people from parks, but can approach homeless people at their discretion and offer services, such as mental health resources. The department is aiming to hire 20, full-time park specialists for the 50 parks in Riverside starting in January. The specialists will be on duty seven days a week during peak park hours, which vary, depending on the season. In summer, for example, it’s more busy during the day. Specialists will leave overnight patrols to police. They will also be present at events and have a substation in parks that have community centers.

The city modeled its effort after specialist programs in Anaheim and Pasadena that have shown positive results, Gonzalez said. “There’s not a park in our city that has not been affected in some form or another by homelessness,” Ward 6 Council Member Jim Perry said. Finding objects such as needles, drugs and human waste in parks is a reason why there’s a need for an extra pair of eyes at parks, Perry said. “We will have these individuals provide a resource of security to our residents,” Perry said. “We’re hoping that in most cases the specialists will be able to deal with the problems, and if need be, they can call police officers to come and assist them.” The need for onsite park staff isn’t new in Riverside. The city had budget cuts that dissolved the park ranger program in 2008, which led to the city hiring security guards from an outside company, said Randy McDaniel, interim parks director for the city of Riverside. There were three park rangers at the end of the program and currently there are security guards at every public library and at White Park, a known spot in downtown for homeless to gather. “We have security guards at White Park to keep eyes out and

See HOMELESS on page A2

Medicare Open Enrollment Period Kicks Off in October CMS.GOV | CONTRIBUTED

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n October 15th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is reminding people with Medicare that Medicare Open Enrollment is here, and now is the time to review their coverage options and make a choice that meets their health care needs. Medicare’s Open Enrollment period gives those who rely on Medicare the opportunity to make changes to their health plans or prescription drug plans, pick a Medicare Advantage Plan, or return to Original Medicare. The Medicare Open Enrollment period occurs every year from October 15 through December 7, with coverage changes taking effect January 1. During this time, people can find a plan that better meets their needs, saves money, or both. “This is an important time of year for 63 million Medicare beneficiaries across the country to compare coverage options to ensure they are getting the best benefits available at low cost,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We will continue to strengthen and build upon this critical program that has vastly improved the lives of our seniors. I encourage everyone to take stock of their health and find the best plan for them in 2022.” Medicare plans can change year to year – even an enrollee’s current calendar year 2021 plan may have changes for 2022. Medicare.gov makes it easier than ever to compare coverage options and shop for plans. People can do a side-by-side comparison of plan coverage, costs, and quality ratings to help them more easily see the differences between plans. “Medicare Open Enrollment is an important time of year for people with Medicare and their families to review their options and make choices about the health care coverage that best meets their needs,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “It is also a time for people with Medicare to check their eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs, which can help with premiums and other costs. Enrollment assistance is available in your community and 24/7 at 1-800-MEDI-

CARE to connect you to coverage that best fits your needs and budget.” Here are some things to consider when shopping for Medicare coverage: • Check if doctors are still in-network and prescriptions are on the plan’s formulary. • Realize that the plan with the lowest monthly premium may not always be the best fit for specific health needs. • Look at the plan’s deductible and other out-of-pocket costs that factor into total costs. • Know that some plans offer extra benefits, like vision, hearing, or dental coverage, which could help meet individual health care needs. • Consider whether Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan is the best choice. Medicare is Here to Help Here are four ways you can compare plans and look at savings options: • Find plans at Medicare.gov and do side-by-side comparisons of costs and coverage. • Call 1-800-MEDICARE. Help is available 24 hours a day, including weekends. • Access personalized health insurance counseling at no cost, available from State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Visit shiptacenter.org or call 1-800-MEDICARE for each SHIP’s phone number. Many SHIPs also offer virtual counseling. • Check eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs. People with Medicare facing challenges paying for health care may qualify for Medicare Saving Programs run by their state. These programs can help save money on premiums, prescription drugs, and other health care costs. If your income for 2021 is below $18,000, it may be worth contacting your state’s Medicaid program about help that may be available to you. Contact 1-800-MEDICARE to find out where to apply. For more information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Help is available 24 hours a day, including weekends.

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT NO. 69 92543-9998

HEMET, CA.

Hemet police officer punches trespassing suspect in confrontation caught on video ABC7 NEWS | CONTRIBUTED

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video circulating on social media shows a police officer punch a trespassing suspect during an arrest in Hemet - an incident which has prompted an investigation. The altercation happened at a parking lot of a supermarket near Stetson Avenue and State Street Monday, according to a witness. The footage begins with the officer face-to-face with the young man, who was wearing a backpack. The witness said the man, identified by police as 19-year-old Edmund Franklin, was selling candy and sold her chocolate outside a grocery store. He was then approached by police. In a press release provided to Eyewitness News early Tuesday morning, the Hemet Police Department said officers first approached

Franklin around 3:30 p.m. after he was asked to leave by employees of a nearby business for "becoming aggressive" with them. Franklin was also said to be panhandling in the area. Police said the man was told to leave and if he returned he would be arrested for trespassing. About 40 minutes later, police were called again and told Franklin had returned to the location and was refusing to leave. "The first responding officer approached Mr. Franklin and attempted to detain him for a trespass violation when a use of force occurred," Hemet police said in its press release. Video shows Franklin tell the officer multiple times he'll take his backpack off while the police officer is seen grabbing him. "I'll take it off," Franklin said in the video.

Screenshot source: YouTube.

The officer then punches him and a scuffle ensues. As the scuffle continues, the officer takes the man to the ground and subdues him for several minutes with multiple people looking on, the video showed. Several of the witnesses’ shout angrily at the police officer to get off the man.

Multiple police officers then arrive to the scene as the witnesses become irater over the officer's tactics. Franklin was arrested on suspicion of trespassing, resisting an officer and attempting to disarm an officer, according to Hemet police. His bail was set at $10,000. The police department said it's aware of the video circulating on social media and launched an investigation. "We are reviewing the incident to include the social media posts and the Officer's body worn camera video," the police department said. "This incident, like any use of force incident involving a Hemet Police Officer is taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated." Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact Capt. Glen Brock via email at gbrock@hemetca.gov or by phone at (951) 765-2473.


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The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle - October 21st, 2021 by hsjchronicle - Issuu