e e k l y W EL CHICANo Features, Lifestyle & News You Can Use!
Vol 54, NO. 7
THIS WEEK Undeterred from vision loss, Ferrer
Gloria’s Corner and Words To Think About A3 & A5
LLUCH’s 24th annual Foundation Gala set Feb. 16 A6
instructs community to be active
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By Anthony Victoria
ary Ferrer isn't your ordinary instructor.
Despite losing his ability to see, Ferrer teaches 10 free folklorico and Zumba classes per week at St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is located at 1407 N. Arrowhead Avenue in San Bernardino. Teaching traditional Mexican dance and fitness to the surrounding Latino community provides Ferrer with a much needed “boost” to overcome his health condition. “It’s important to provide these classes,” Ferrer said. “It keeps the young girls out of the dangers of drugs and gangs. This is something beautiful for both myself and the community.” 28-year-old San The Bernardino resident lost his eyesight last year after contracting Ferrer cont. on next page
Gary Ferrer instructing young girls to dance folklorico.
Trump’s actions on immigration triggers response from both sides
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By Anthony Victoria
Cal State student volunteers prepare food boxes, hygiene kits A12
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Gloria’s Corner Words To think About Legal Notices Opinion Sports
A3 A5 A8 A4 A6
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PHOTO/ANTHONY VICTORIA
Environmental and immigrant rights organizer Ericka Flores holds a sign denouncing U.S. President Donald Trump during a rally and press conference held in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Downtown San Bernardino on Jan. 27, 2017..
roups on both sides of the nation’s immigration debate held rallies in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Downtown San Bernardino to express views on President Donald Trump’s latest policy actions. The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ) held a press conference on Thursday to denounce Trump’s immigration policies, while also urging California leaders to support statewide plans to protect immigrants and refugees. “We are with the immigrant community,” said American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California Community Engagement and Policy Advocate Luis Nolasco. “We need to make sure California is not like the rest of the states [in the U.S.]. We need to make sure that California is setting the example.” Immigrant rights advocates were met with vociferous opposition from anti-illegal immigration activists, who shouted “Thank you Trump” Trump cont. on next page
February 2, 2017
Leyva Introduces “Clean Water in Schools Act”
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PHOTO/ANTHONY VICTORIA
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enator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) introduced a critical bill to ensure that K-12 students across California have access to clean drinking water at school. Specifically, SB 210 would give schools that test their water and have contamination problems priority when applying for clean water relief grants. The bill would also require schools that find significant sources of lead or other harmful contaminants in their water to cut off access to contaminated water sources, provide alternative clean water, and notify parents, staff, and students about water issues present at the school site. In 2015, NBC 4 Los Angeles aired an investigative report which found that the Los Angeles Unified School District may still have lead-tainted water at some of their schools due to old plumbing. In the Inland Empire, Chino Valley Unified School District had also identified issues with lead in their drinking water in 2013. While these individual problems have been fixed, they represent examples of what could be a larger problem that has thus far gone undetected. “Parents across the country and California—particularly in disadvantaged areas—continue to be concerned that their children might be exposed to dirty drinking water. From schools in Flint, Michigan to those in California communities, lead contaminated water has disrupted the lives and education of children,” Senator Leyva said. “It is vital that, as soon as schools find out that their water is contaminated, they close access to those water sources and be transparent about their prompt efforts to fix the problem. By incentivizing schools to test water sources and address contamination through better access to state grants, SB 210 will help to protect our kids from drinking unsafe drinking water.” Following Wednesday’s introduction, the Senate Rules Committee will soon assign SB 210 to the appropriate policy committee(s).