EL CHICANo Weekly
Vol 61, NO. 08
Febr uar y 1, 202 4
C i t y C o u n c i l F o r u m Ta k e s U n c o n v e n t i o n a l Tu r n a t K V C R a s C a n d i d a t e Shaughnessy Alleges Incumbent Figueroa Misappropriated Funds
iecn.com
Fontana High Realizes Dream, Welcomes Fire Engine to Campus with Traditional Push-In Ceremony Pg. 4
$10,000 Contribution for SBVC Baseball Field Renovations Announced by Supervisor Baca
T
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
At the conclusion of the forum, Shaughnessy answering questions from attendees.
By Manny Sandoval
he City Council Ward 3 candidates' forum at KVCR studios took an unconventional turn on January 25th, as Candidate Christian Shaughnessy engaged with the community in the notable absence of his opponent, incumbent Juan Figueroa. Under the moderating of former
senator and KVCR General Manager Connie Leyva, Shaughnessy seized the platform to articulate his vision for the city before a gathering of nearly 50 constituents.
In response to environmental concerns regarding the logistic industry, Shaughnessy advocated for a comprehensive strategy, including traffic impact fees and a transition to electrified
The forum's intensity escalated as Shaughnessy delivered a fervent critique of his absent
I
By Manny Sandoval
n the early hours before dawn, the city of San Bernardino became a mosaic of compassion and commitment, as hundreds of volunteers, accompanied by city officials, embarked on the annual Point-in-Time Count (PITC), an initiative aiming not just to enumerate the homeless population, but to connect the most vulnerable with critical services and, perhaps most importantly, recognition of their humanity.
Rep. Aguilar Announces Empir e $35Inland Million in Bold Co mmunity Newspaper s Move to Combat San Of fice: (909) 381- 9898 Bernardino Editorial: iecn1@ mac.com Homelessness Advertisin g: sales@iecn.com Legals : Pg. 8
This year, the count included a groundbreaking component, PITC Plus (PITC+), designed to offer real-time assistance to those in dire need, including veterans, the elderly, and families. The initiative represents more than just a count; it's a lifeline extended into the community, a bridge between despair and hope.
iecn legals@ hotmail.com
H O W TO R E AC H U S
Inland Empir e Co mmunity Newspaper s Of fice: (909) 381-9898
Edi toria l: i ecn1@ mac.com
Legals: iecn legals@gmail.com
vehicle fleets, emphasizing the well-being of residents and workers alike. "And when you have that holistic, proper approach, then you'll be able to improve public health outcomes and you'll be able to have a better business climate at the same time," he stated.
opponent. "If you go look at a gentleman who unfortunately did not make it here today, for whatever reason, he has on many occasions taken money from people that he should not have," Shaughnessy charged. He accused Figueroa of misappropriating public funds for the legal defenses of controversial figures and neglecting commuWard 3 cont. on next pg.
Supervisor Baca's Encounter in Bloomington: Point-In-Time Count Illuminates the Struggle and Hopes of an Unhoused 35-Year-Old
Pg. 4
Advertisi ng: iecn1@ mac.com
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
(Left to right) KVCR General Manager Connie Leyva moderating the forum with San Bernardino Ward 3 Candidate Christian T. Shaughnessy and an empty chair to the right.
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
The 35 year old unhoused Bloomington man questioning why is it so difficult for the homeless to obtain identification.
Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., among the forefront of the volunteers, traversed the dimly lit streets of Bloomington and San Bernardino. In a field shadowed by the austere brick walls near the Bloomington Pilot
Travel Center on Cedar Avenue, the count became more than numbers—it became a story, a narrative of overlooked lives. One such life belonged to a 35-year-old man, who, with a sense of resigned dignity, shared his two-year ordeal with homelessness. "The simplest things, like a chance to shower, is what I need," he remarked, his voice a blend of fatigue and a faint, lingering hope.
His aspirations, to create music and sing, stood in stark contrast to his reality, one mired in the struggle for basic identification documents, such as ID card and birth certificate, a struggle that keeps opportunities, even those as fundamental as employment, agonizingly out of reach. The man's possessions were meager, but his spirit revealed a defiant streak of humor and resilience. He joked about his confidence, enough to ride a pink Hello Kitty beach cruiser, a stark image against the backdrop of his makeshift dwelling in the field, home to about five other unhoused individuals. PITC cont. on next pg.