Colton Chamber of Commerce’s latest business mixer in Colton’s downtown Paseo offered a space for local businesses and community members to build relationships and partnerships.
Colton Recreation Coordinator, Razili Ramirez, said, “Getting these businesses out there, establishing who they are is the
goal. There are tons of local businesses, businesses within Colton that are coming out, and we just want them to mix and mingle and meet each other and establish relationships in the business community.”
The Downtown Paseo was a project that had been in the works in recent years, with support from California State Senator Eloise Gomez-Reyes, Colton had garnered a $600,000 grant from the California Resources Agency in 2018, and the Paseo
had its ribbon cutting on July 26, 2023.
However, since the ribbon cutting, the Paseo has had few events hosted there, Ramirez said “We’re doing small programming out of there and seeing how the community responds to it. So I think having some booths out tonight, and just having people come in and be able to ask questions, yeah, I think it's been productive.”
PHOTO DAPHNE MARQUEZ Community members gather around a booth to discuss topics surrounding what they do.
PHOTO DENISE BERVER Girl Scouts Contestants leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
PHOTO IECN
(From left): IECN Co-Publisher Denise Berver, Daphne Marquez, Soledad Morden, Ed Morden, and Co-Publisher Manny Sandoval.
PHOTO DENISE BERVER Little Miss Colton contestant Iris.
PHOTO DENISE BERVER QUEEN
Toddler Miss Colton 3 yr old Emarie Rose Aguilar.
PHOTO DENISE BERVER Reigning Teen Miss Colton Queen and Princesses.
Business (cont.)
- Ramirez hopes to continue the success of the event, she continued, “I think I know the Chamber of Commerce, their collaboration with their event here today. And then there are other organizations, as well as the city themselves, that are planning on doing things here. So yes, this is just one of the first ones that we've done.”
Some of the people in attendance were Colton’s Rotary Club, Lions Club, Bloomington’s Chamber of Commerce, Caliber Collision, Inland Empire Community News, etc.
Coordinator for the Colton Chamber of Commerce,
Christina Gaitan, said “To get to know one another and to know that we're here for each other, and for the public to know also that the businesses are here in the city. We have been doing marketing and reaching out to the businesses to see if they're available to come out the same day as the event.”
Events like the business mixer show the potential of the Downtown Paseo, although it is often gated off and underutilized, nights like this prove that the space can be used to host more gatherings, which could bring Colton’s community and businesses together.
Fontana Kaiser Workers Strike Over Patient Care, Staffing in Historic Nationwide Healthcare Walkout
By Manny Sandoval
Hundreds of Health care workers gathered outside the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center on Wednesday, Oct. 15, marking day two of a multi-day strike over patient care, staffing levels, and contract negotiations. The strike, which began Tuesday and is expected to continue through Sunday, Oct. 19, is part of a broader action involving more than 8,600 workers across the Inland Empire and tens of thousands nationally.
Participants at the Fontana site included members of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) and United Steelworkers Local 7600. Among them was Maria Arevalo Ramirez, a union representative from Fontana, who said the protest was motivated by more than just wages. “We’re not just striking for ourselves,” she said. “We’re striking for our patients, future nurses, and the future of healthcare.”
Arevalo Ramirez also noted that workers are not being compensated while on strike. “We are taking a leap of faith, not just for ourselves, but for our patients,” she said. “We’re investing that money into patient care and progress for nursing.”
Healthcare worker Marcial Reyes described the impact of staffing on patient wait times and the strain on emergency departments. “We don’t want to make our patient wait. Give us more staff to take care of our patient,” he said. Reyes added that delays in accessing primary care were contributing to overcrowding in emergency rooms. “We sometimes see patients waiting eight hours. They use the ER because they cannot get appointments.”
Fontana employees continued demonstrating despite rainy weather earlier in the week. Reyes said the rain didn’t deter turnout. “Getting wet is something that we are used to anyway in the nursing field. Rain is nothing,” he said.
Registered nurse Celina Zumaya, a UNAC member, expressed concern about short staffing. “This is a very tough job and we’re dealing with life and death,” she said. “We are always shortstaffed. The last few days I worked, we were down six bodies in a 24-hour period.”
United Steelworkers Local 7600, which represents a large portion of striking workers in the region, stated that the walkout followed months of negotiations with Kaiser Permanente. In a public statement, Local 7600 President Micheal Barnett
said, “This strike is about safe staffing, respect on the job, and ensuring every patient gets the care they deserve.” He emphasized that workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize the strike after contracts expired at the end of September.
In response, Kaiser Permanente issued a statement on Oct. 15 outlining what it described as a strong and comprehensive offer. The organization said its proposal includes a 21.5% wage increase over four years, annual step increases, and enhanced medical and retirement benefits. According to the statement, a registered nurse represented by UNAC in Southern California currently earning $77.34 per hour could earn up to $101.69 per hour by the end of the contract. Kaiser officials noted that the union’s demand for a 25% increase over four years would result in approximately $300 million in additional salary costs annually, which they said could impact affordability for patients. The company said it is working to maintain operations during the strike, including onboarding up to 7,600 temporary clinical staff and reassigning over 1,000 current employees to support care delivery.
“We respect the Alliance and value their members—our employees—for the vital role they play caring for our 12.5 million members,” the statement read. “But this strike is unnecessary when such a generous offer is on the table. It is designed to disrupt the lives of our patients—the very people we are all here to serve.”
Kaiser confirmed that its hospitals and medical offices remain open, though some appointments and elective procedures may be rescheduled or shifted to virtual care.
Despite the ongoing dispute, the demonstration at the Fontana location drew considerable support from passing motorists and community members. Reyes said the response has been largely positive. “The great majority of people are honking and cheering us on,” he said.
Several public officials have weighed in on social media. On Oct. 14, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders expressed support for the workers, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “If Kaiser can pay its CEO $12.7 million and make $4 billion in profit, it can afford to treat all of its workers with respect, not contempt.”
At the Fontana site, Arevalo Ramirez said the goal of the strike is not only to address wages and working conditions but also to ensure that the voices of frontline workers are acknowledged. “It’s about being heard—and making healthcare better for everyone,” she said.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
Registered nurse Celina Zumaya (center) joins fellow Kaiser Permanente Fontana workers in a spirited show of unity during day two of the statewide healthcare strike.
State of the Inland Empire Economy: 60% of Logistics Jobs Face Automation
By Manny Sandoval
In a region long dominated by logistics and low-wage labor, the conversation is shifting—toward clean technology, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and most importantly, people.
That’s the message shared during the longest-ever episode of Inland Insight with IECN, hosted by Inland Empire Community News co-publishers Manny Sandoval and Denise Berver. The podcast featured an in-depth conversation with two of the region’s leading voices in economic and workforce development: Matthew Mena, Senior Director of Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity (IEGO), and Esmeralda Vasquez, Executive Director of the Inland Empire Labor Institute (IELI).
Across nearly two hours, the discussion covered how inclusive growth, community-centered planning, and better coordination between labor, education, and business can shape a more resilient economy in the Inland Empire.
Building an Economy That Works for the IE
IEGO was formed in 2017 as part of a Brookings Institution regional economic development study and now serves as a central convener for sector-based planning, grant coordination, and labor market reporting.
“We’re targeting what are called ‘tradable sectors,’” said Mena. “Those are sectors where we actually produce something here and ship it out—like advanced manufacturing, clean technology, and cybersecurity. These are industries where we can influence growth, wages, and sustainability.”
IEGO focuses on three core functions: regional strategy and coordination, labor
market data distribution, and providing research for CTE (Career Technical Education) program approval across the region’s 12 community colleges. According to Mena, that level of alignment is crucial for accessing state and federal resources.
“We’ve seen the lack of coordination cost our region—whether that’s duplicating efforts or missing out on grant opportunities,” he said. “IEGO doesn’t always need to be the lead agency, but we help everyone move together.”
Turning Labor Market Data into Action
Mena also emphasized IEGO’s monthly labor market “pulse” reports as a key tool in interpreting complex economic data for local application.
“We take the federal and state labor reports and make them edible—something the Inland Empire can understand and use,” he said. “It affects everything from interest rates to real estate and economic forecasting.”
The reports are available at iegocollaborative.com, and Mena encouraged listeners to sign up.
The Labor Institute’s Mission: Equity, Not Just Access Vasquez’s organization, the Inland Empire Labor Institute, evolved out of the AFL-CIO’s local labor council in the 1990s. Today, the nonprofit serves as a regional advocate for a worker-centered economy, representing the interests of more than 400,000 union-affiliated workers across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
“We want equitable—not just equal— opportunity,” said Vasquez. “That means mortgage-sustaining wages, benefits, retirement. Those shouldn’t be luxuries.”
IELI focuses on pre-apprenticeship programs, technical assistance, worker pro-
tections, and advocating for Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) and Community Workforce Agreements (CWAs) that require local hiring and worker training as part of development projects.
Breaking Down Barriers Between Labor and Business
One of the key takeaways from the episode was the importance of early collaboration between labor, business, and public agencies.
“We’re doing things that haven’t been done before,” said Vasquez. “We sat down with an international company looking to expand here, and Matt and I were able to bridge that conversation between the company and labor. We can bring the skills and training. They just need to tell us what they want.”
Mena agreed: “Instead of labor being seen as an adversary, let’s have the conversation at the beginning—when the project is still being scoped, when budgets are being set. That’s how you build a healthy economy.”
The Case for Community Benefits Agreements
Vasquez, whose organization regularly advocates for CBAs and CWAs, noted that many local leaders are hesitant to adopt them due to concerns about delays or added requirements.
“Some say it makes the job harder—and yes, it does, but doing things right from the start is always harder,” she said. “But it pays off.”
Mena added that many businesses simply don’t know the benefits of CBAs, such as increased community buy-in, reduced hiring costs, and higher worker morale. “A warehouse might be producing drones or electric vehicles, but all the community sees is a big wall,” he said. “Outreach matters.”
Logistics, Automation, and What Comes Next
Both Mena and Vasquez warned of the region’s overdependence on logistics and warehousing, a sector vulnerable to automation.
Citing a recent meeting with the City of Riverside’s Economic Development Department, Vasquez shared a stark statistic: “Sixty percent of logistics jobs could be automated by 2035.”
“People have put all their eggs in one basket,” she said. “We have to diversify, or we’ll face massive unemployment.”
Mena echoed those concerns. “We’ve lost more than 6,000 logistics jobs already. The seasonal hiring headlines are misleading—it’s a net neutral because they vanish in January,” he said.
Immigration Policy and Economic Fear
The discussion turned emotional as Vasquez and Mena addressed the fear among immigrant workers in the region amid changing federal policy.
“When people are afraid to leave their homes, they stop shopping, they stop spending. It hurts everyone,” said Vasquez. “These are our neighbors. They’re paying taxes, contributing to GDP, and yet they’re living in fear.”
She called for more proactive employer policies—such as protections for DACA recipients or training on how to respond to immigration enforcement.
“There are schools where staff are asking, ‘What do we do if ICE comes?’ We need better policies across every institution,” she said.
Mena noted that business investment slows when there’s policy uncertainty.
UBS Advisor Urges Early Budgeting as Families Turn to 529 and Coverdell Plans for College Costs
By Manny Sandoval
With the average cost of college in the U.S. estimated at $38,270 per student per year—and October marking National Financial Planning Month—Jim Bruner, senior vice president and wealth advisor at UBS Wealth Management, is encouraging families to act early and plan for rising education costs.
Based in Indian Wells, Bruner brings decades of financial experience and a background in education. He has taught investments, financial planning, and corporate finance as an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands and California State University, San Bernardino. He now helps families understand how to prepare for college by talking openly about money, avoiding common misconceptions, and choosing the right savings tools— whether 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, Roth IRAs, or traditional loans.
“I see having a formal financial plan lacking, and it deals with budgeting, costs, education, and retirement,” Bruner said. “Planning for those things accordingly is essential.”
UBS uses a projected 6 percent annual inflation rate in its financial models, with education inflation a top concern. “We make inflation adjustments, and right now we are planning for education inflation costs,” he said.
Bruner said every plan starts with a clear budget.
“It’s important to get the budget right,” he said. “It doesn’t require fancy software. Budgeting informs how you’re spending and saving—and getting that right affects everything else.”
To begin saving, families should first understand their current budget, then work with professionals to explore options. “It comes down to determining what your budget is now and what your ability to save is,” Bruner said. “It comes to working with an advisor and CPA, looking at options… saving for education and exploring other opportunities via loans and family members.”
UBS does not provide legal or tax advice directly, but Bruner said the firm connects clients with qualified professionals. “We give them names and they can interview those persons,” he said.
Among the most common tools for saving are 529 Col-
lege Savings Plans. “You put money in and it allows assets to grow and taxes to defer,” Bruner said. “Recent legislation allows for conversion into a Roth IRA, and over time, 529 plans have gotten more flexible. It’s a step in the right direction.” He added that 529s are mutual funds and offer no income limits and high contribution allowances.
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts offer a different set of advantages. “There are education savings accounts where it grows and withdrawals are non-taxable if used for education,” he said.
“Coverdells offer more investment options, but contributions are limited to $2,000 annually. Those are governed by the IRS.”
Bruner said families often compare the two options. “The advantage of a 529 over a Coverdell is that it’s not subject to the $2,000 limit and offers a greater ability to contribute,” he said. “The Coverdell over a 529 is the investment flexibility.”
In addition to savings tools, families should explore scholarships, grants, and financial aid. “It’s important to look at all options—loans, financial aid, scholarships, and grants,” Bruner said. “Grants don’t need to be paid back. Parents may leverage home equity or turn to family members, like grandparents, who want to contribute.”
Bruner said planning should include multigenerational considerations. “When we sit down with a family, we understand if they have responsibility for others,” he said. “You could be talking to parents in their 40s responsible for aging parents or grandparents. If grandparents are self-sufficient, there are tax implications depending on their assets.”
He encourages families to include teens in financial conversations. “It gets into budgeting and family considerations,” Bruner said. “There might be scholarships and merit money, and the more you engage kids in these conversations, the more you can explore potential scholarship opportunities. Get creative and engage the children.”
Bruner also recommends teaching money habits early. “There are ways to help young kids learn about money,” he said. “UBS has shared educational tools for parents. Financial education should start early—ideally.”
Las Vegas’ Boulder Station Valet Gave Inland Empire Couple’s Lexus to Stranger, Then Ghosted Them
By Manny Sandoval
What was meant to be a relaxing birthday weekend turned into a nightmare for Inland Empire residents Chris and Yolanda Manzano, whose 2015 Lexus was “mistakenly” given to a stranger by valet staff at Boulder Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas — without any ID or valet ticket verification.
Nearly three weeks later, the couple says they have yet to receive a formal apology or a follow-up call from hotel management, despite being longtime patrons of the Station Casinos brand.
“They allegedly gave my car away to someone who just said, ‘That’s my white Lexus, my last name is Manzano,’” said Chris. “No ID. No ticket. Nothing. And they let him drive off with my keys.”
A Birthday Weekend Ruined
The Manzanos, who live in Southern California’s Inland Empire, checked into Boulder Station on Sunday, Sept. 28, to celebrate Chris’s birthday. As longtime fans of the Station Casinos chain, they had stayed at nearly all of the brand’s properties over the years — including Palace Station, Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Durango, and Santa Fe Station — but had not yet visited Boulder Station.
After attending a Raiders game, they returned to the hotel around 8:30 p.m. and valeted their Lexus, planning to enjoy dinner and a night in before celebrating the next morning.
But when they arrived at the valet booth on Monday, Sept. 29, around 9 a.m., they were told their car was missing.
“When I handed over the ticket, the valet guy looked confused and asked if it was an old ticket,” Chris recalled. “I didn’t see my car in the lot and had a bad feeling.”
Security and management reviewed surveillance footage, which confirmed that a man had claimed the vehicle at 6:34 a.m. The stranger allegedly told the valet that it was “his white Lexus” and that his last name was Manzano. Valet staff gave him the keys — no questions asked.
Later that day, after Chris insisted, one hotel manager
agreed to comp part of their stay. But that was the only action the Manzanos say the hotel has taken.
Security Protocol Ignored
“Valet is supposed to call security when there’s no ticket,” said Chris. “Security verifies ID, checks registration, confirms with surveillance. None of that was done.”
Hotel security later confirmed that proper procedures were not followed. According to a hotel employee who shuttled the Manzanos to pick up a rental car, the valet attendant who released their vehicle had been on the job only two days and may not have been trained on Boulder Station’s policies. But, the employee added that the attendant had previously worked valet on the Las Vegas Strip, which indicates that he should have known protocol.
“He didn’t know the rules. But even then, they handed over our car based on a name,” Chris said. “We never even talked to anyone during our stay. How would someone know our last name?”
In addition to the car, the thief left with the Manzanos’ house keys, garage door opener, toll pass, and registration — all containing their home address.
“They have everything now,” said Chris. “Our address, our house keys, our garage remote. It’s a huge safety concern.”
That night, Yolanda said she couldn’t sleep, consumed with worry that someone might show up at their home.
Little Help from the Hotel, Delayed Police Response Despite being told that Las Vegas Metro Police would take a report on-site, officers never arrived. After waiting three hours, the couple took a hotel shuttle to try to rent a car. But multiple rental agencies refused to allow one-way rentals to Southern California.
“We had to go to three places before finally getting a rental at the airport,” Chris said. “By then it was 2 or 3 p.m. We spent my entire birthday running around.”
Chris filed a police report in person later that afternoon. Meanwhile, the hotel offered little help.
Since returning home, the Manzanos say they’ve called the hotel multiple times, asking to speak to security or risk management. Each time, they were told someone would return their call. No one ever has.
“I’ve asked for direct contact info, and they won’t give it. They just keep saying someone will call me back,” Chris said.
The hotel’s director of hotel operations, who was made aware of the incident, has not reached out.
“We’ve stayed at almost every Station Casino,” said Yolanda. “They’ve always been great — until now. And now they’ve completely ignored us.”
Insurance Won’t Cover the True Cost
Under Nevada law, the hotel’s liability is limited to the current market value of the vehicle. Chris said the valuation came in at about $15,800.
“I was the original owner. The car was in perfect condition. I wasn’t planning to get a new one,” he said. “Now I’m being forced into a car payment and higher insurance just to replace something that was already paid off.”
Insurance is covering part of their current rental, but they paid nearly $300 out of pocket just to get home — and continue to pay the difference on the rental coverage.
“Not everyone has that kind of money laying around,” Yolanda added. “What if we couldn’t afford to get back? What if we didn’t have help from our kids?”
A Ruined Celebration
The couple had planned a birthday dinner at the Golden Steer Steakhouse. Instead, after dealing with the police report and rental car ordeal, they were back in their hotel room by 7 p.m., mentally exhausted.
“We just wanted to sleep and leave first thing in the morning,” Yolanda said. “They ruined our plans.”
They chose not to use valet again, opting instead to park the rental in general parking.
