2/7/2017 Print Article: More financial problems for Riverside County's budget

http://www.pe.com/common/printer/view.php?db=pressenterprise&id=824918 1/2

More financial problems for Riverside County's budgetBy JEFF HORSEMAN2017­02­06 15:59:45

Riverside County’s budget cannot catch a break.

Fresh off plugging a $22 million hole, the county’s precariously balancedfinances face new hurdles from sagging tax receipts, higher firefighter payand other challenges. And that’s not counting what might happen toObamacare or President Donald Trump’s threat to pull federal funds froma California in rebellion against his agenda.

Fewer dollars and more new costs have officials considering all options,including reducing fire services and laying off county employees.

The county Board of Supervisors today will hear an update on the budget for fiscal 2016­17. The $5.4 billionspending plan runs through June 30.

For years, county revenue has struggled to keep up with a mounting list of new, ongoing expenses, includingrising labor costs and a lawsuit settlement that could add as much as $40 million a year for jail inmate healthcare costs.

To put the county on a sustainable path, supervisors have approved a five­year plan that calls for flatdiscretionary spending while reserves are built up. But already, there are obstacles.

The first sprang up toward the end of 2016, when officials announced that the county would receive $22 millionless than expected from the sales tax created by Proposition 172 that pays for public safety services. Theshortfall is being covered by cost savings and by shifting money within the budget.

Now, the county is projecting that property and sales taxes may be $8.2 million short of estimates. Also, a newcontract with the union representing Cal Fire firefighters is expected to add $2 million in costs to the currentbudget and $11 million annually in new expenses starting with next fiscal year’s budget.

The county also expects a hit from Sacramento in the form of In­Home Supportive Services, which are providedto adults in need to help them stay at home. Shifting those expenses from the state to counties could costRiverside County $44 million next fiscal year, according to the midyear budget report.

There also are ongoing expenses related to court facilities that will cost $1 million a year. The county also has topay for new staff to oversee the upcoming Indio jail expansion, and it stands to pay more for retirement benefitsas the California Public Employees Retirement System seeks to make up for meager stock market returns.

Cost of repeal

There also could be consequences for the county’s bottom line if the Affordable Care Act is repealed ordrastically altered. The county runs a hospital and health care network that traditionally have been a safety netfor the poor and uninsured.

“The ACA contributed to stabilizing health care funding and services in Riverside County, and the potentialreturn to larger numbers of uninsured residents poses uncertainty for the county’s health care system andbudget,” the midyear budget report read.

2/7/2017 Print Article: More financial problems for Riverside County's budget

http://www.pe.com/common/printer/view.php?db=pressenterprise&id=824918 2/2

Currently, the Sheriff’s Department shows a $19 million shortfall, the District Attorney’s Office is short $4.4million, and there’s a $2.4 million gap in the public defender’s budget, according to the midyear budget review.

The county has spent close to $21 million on consulting firm KPMG, which was first hired to find savings andefficiencies in public safety spending that makes up the bulk of discretionary expenses. Since then, KPMG’swork has extended to nonpublic safety departments.

County spokesman Ray Smith described KPMG’s work as part of “a comprehensive, countywide effort in whichdepartments are committed to working with the Executive Office and KPMG to identify and take advantage ofways to reduce costs and increase efficiency.”

“Remember, it seems like KPMG has been around for a long time, but, according to the contract schedule, theyare still in the in depth analysis and pre­implementation stage,” Smith said. “This is a long­term effort, so doing itright will take a little time.”

Some of the savings identified by KPMG, such as a new shift schedule for sheriff’s deputies, require unionconsent, and ongoing talks between the county and several unions have yet to produce new contracts.

County options

In a memo to supervisors, County Executive Officer Jay Orr wrote that all options are on the table as the countytackles its financial challenges.

“With increasing demand for scarce resources, the Board should address whether we can sustain the currentservice levels in all our areas of operation,” Orr wrote. “For example, the increasing labor costs for Cal Fire begthe question of whether we can afford our existing model of service delivery.”

He continued: “KPMG’s review includes the Code Enforcement department. We have asked for that review toinclude an option of reduced staffing or a moratorium on certain code enforcement activities. Further, aprivatization option should be explored where appropriate.”

Asked if the county was considering layoffs, Smith said: “Targeted layoffs in specific departments have not beendiscussed, but layoffs in various departments will be considered if other measures cannot sufficiently close thebudget deficit.”

KPMG found several human resources tasks that could be automated, and “consolidation that makes sensefrom a cost and service delivery standpoint should be pursued in the Human Resources, InformationTechnology and Purchasing areas,” Orr wrote.

Contact the writer: 951­368­9547 or jhorseman@scng.com

© Copyright 2017 Freedom Communications. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service | Copyright | Site Map

23

San Bernardino County Department of Public Works

Glen Helen Parkway Grade Separation Project

Since 1930, San Bernardino County Department of Public Works has maintained Glen Helen Parkway, west of Cajon Boulevard. The Parkway crosses two sets of railroad tracks and an expansive 600’ + Cajon Wash in Devore. For many years daily travelers, as well as those seeking an alternate route to avoid congestion on the I-15 and I-215, have experienced long delays at the at-grade railroad crossings waiting for slow moving trains winding their way through the Cajon Pass. BNSF and UPRR have a combined total of four tracks at this location that can see up to 100 trains per day. This little two lane road also serves as the main entrance to the County’s Glen Helen Regional Park for camping, fishing, picnicking and horseback riding, while the San Manuel Amphitheater can host events and weekend festivals accommodating up to 65,000 patrons causing traffic jams lasting hours. But that’s not all travelers of Glen Helen Parkway have had to deal with. In the early days Cajon Wash flowed freely across the roadway, causing roadway closures during and after storm events. Over the years, the County installed culverts and a 40-foot wide box culvert to handle moderate flows; however, these improvements didn’t eliminate flooding problems and road closures of Glen Helen Parkway. Time for a change!

In 2005, a San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) Nexus Study identified Glen Helen Parkway as the highest priority grade separation project in the region to relieve congestion based on length of delay. After being identified as the highest priority, the County and SANBAG began to work on a funding plan. In 2006, voters passed Proposition 1B, the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act. It authorized the issuance of $19.9 billion in state general obligation bonds for specific transportation programs. The Act included funding for trade corridor improvements, and this project received a $7.6 million allocation, more than a quarter of the project cost. Once funding was buttoned up, the County began the environmental and design work, and started acquiring right-of-way. The County had a formidable task of negotiating right-of-way settlements and coordinating with the railroads.

Construction of the Phase I improvements was completed in 2015 and today motorists are enjoying the grade separation over the railroad crossings that keeps traffic moving. The new 4-lane with raised median bridge is 420 feet long, 104 feet wide, contains over 4,900 cubic yards of structural concrete, 2.1 million pounds of steel, and over 4,800 tons of hot mix asphalt. Other Phase I improvements included constructing major drainage improvements, erosion control, bridge lighting, street lighting, and relocation of electric, telephone and fiber optic facilities.

County Spotlight—San Bernardino—”We eliminated one of the busiest at-grade rail-

road crossings in the County. This crossing handles 100 trains a day, some a mile long, and that number will climb to 400 trains per day in the next 10 years.” Gerry Newcombe, Director of Public Works

24

The two year construction project wasn’t without its fair share of challenges. Construction activities from October through December were confined to the north and south approaches of the bridge only due to BNSF Railway’s Fourth Quarter Shutdown. The Shutdown prohibited all construction activity near the BNSF tracks so as not to impact holiday freight deliveries. Additionally, not all properties could be acquired and demolished prior to construction, and as such, one house and the surrounding property had to be demolished during construction, requiring several other work activities be rescheduled. Rock was

encountered within the shallow part of the bridge foun-dation causing construction delays. Finally, contaminat-ed material was discovered within the project limits requiring the removal of approximately 12,000 cubic yards of soil and field investigations to verify that the contamination was eliminated. Despite these challeng-es, the total construction time exceeded the original contract time by only 5%, and total expenditures exceeded the original contract amount by only 3%.

The local CDF, USFS, County Fire and law enforcement agencies are also appreciating the positive impact the bridge provides for emergency vehicles that in the past were delayed in providing essential services to the public and local residents.

Design work for the project was completed in January 2013, at a cost of $3.3 million. Acquisition cost $4.9 million. Phase I construction began in July 2013 and was completed in May 2015, at a cost of $21.6 million including construction management. Drainage improvements identified for Phase I will be constructed during Phase II, at a cost of $2.6 million. The total cost for the project is $32.4 million.

Funding for the Project: SANBAG $12,944,256

CTC (Prop 1B TCIF Funds) 7,172,000

San Bernardino County 7,601,455

Transportation – Measure I 1,600,000

Transportation – Gas Tax 480,316

BNSF 1,252,400

UPRR 1,067,000

Phase II of this project is a 675-foot long, 93.5 foot wide bridge over Cajon Wash. Design is currently 65% complete. The new bridge will be aligned south of the existing Glen Helen Parkway, allowing for construction of the new bridge without closing the roadway to through traffic. Drainage improvements, a multi-use trail and landscaping will also be constructed. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2018.

County Spotlight—San Bernardino (continued)

2/7/2017 Auditors: Victor Valley wastewater agency mismanaged $32 million in emergency funds

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170206/auditors­victor­valley­wastewater­agency­mismanaged­32­million­in­emergency­funds 1/4

MondayPosted Feb 6, 2017 at 5:45 PMUpdated Feb 6, 2017 at 6:07 PM

The damning report is a major jolt to the authority and toits four-member joint powers authority - consisting ofrepresentatives from Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorvilleand the county - which act as its governing board.

By Shea Johnson Staff Writer

Follow

VICTORVILLE - The Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority did notproperly manage nearly $32 million in FEMA grant funds for its major pipelinereplacement project, an audit by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security'sOffice of the Inspector General (OIG) has found.

In determining that the authority did not comply with federal regulations inawarding or administering a total of $31.7 million in three contracts reviewed bythe OIG pertaining to the Upper Narrows Pipeline Replacement Project, the

report published Jan. 24 concluded that FEMA "had no assurance that

these costs were reasonable or that the Authority selected the most

qualified contractors."

Federal investigators are recommending that FEMA and the state of Californiashould, as a result, disallow the $31.7 million as "ineligible costs" and seek tofigure out whether the authority committed any other regulatory or ethical

Auditors: Victor Valley wastewater agencymismanaged $32 million in emergency funds

2/7/2017 Auditors: Victor Valley wastewater agency mismanaged $32 million in emergency funds

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170206/auditors­victor­valley­wastewater­agency­mismanaged­32­million­in­emergency­funds 2/4

violations or acts of gross mismanagement.

The damning report is a major jolt to the authority and to its four-member jointpowers authority - consisting of representatives from Apple Valley, Hesperia,Victorville and the county - which act as its governing board. But it also couldstrengthen the position long held by the city of Victorville, a JPA member, thatthe authority's spending and management had become too financially risky.

"VVWRA is disappointed by the current OIG's recommendations," spokesmanDavid Wylie said in a statement Monday, "in part because the OIG seems tohave issued its recommendations without reviewing VVWRA's response toprevious comments and questions by the OIG almost a year ago."

Wylie said the authority had responded in detail, undertaken its own audit andprovided "substantial legal authority and documentation" to make its case as towhy the findings were inaccurate.

The $42-million pipeline replacement project in question was declared"functionally finished" in July. It permanently replaced a temporary pipelineinstalled after severe storms in December 2010 washed out and ruptured aportion of nearly 30-year-old sewer line in the Mojave River, spilling 42 milliongallons of sewage into the river in the process.

Auditors found that VVWRA failed on several fronts with respect to emergencyfunds used on the project, an ambitious and complex effort that had been marredby delays and several change orders ultimately bumping up its hefty price tag.

VVWRA did not perform cost/price analyses of bid proposals; follow its ownprocurement policy; include all mandatory federal provisions in contractsdocumenting rights and responsibilities of parties; nor did it maintain recordssufficient to detail the significant history of its procurements or appropriatelyaccount for contract costs, among other indiscretions, the audit found.

FEMA and state officials have agreed with the OIG's findings. The reportfocused on contracting and accounting practices, and a follow-up report isexpected to target "misleading information the Authority provided to FEMA todevelop the scope of work" for the project.

2/7/2017 Auditors: Victor Valley wastewater agency mismanaged $32 million in emergency funds

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170206/auditors­victor­valley­wastewater­agency­mismanaged­32­million­in­emergency­funds 3/4

Wylie said that auditors only focused on a single engineer contract worthroughly $1.3 million, however, in drawing their conclusions. He added thatVVWRA had regularly reported to the California Office of Emergency Servicesthroughout the project's lifecycle.

"VVWRA is nevertheless prepared to keep working closely with FEMA and CalOES," Wylie said, "in reviewing OIG's recommendations and addressing them."

But the audit would appear to give teeth to the city of Victorville's concerns thatproject spending had spiraled out of control. Councilman Jim Kennedy has saidhe routinely became the lone dissenter among JPA members on costly andfrequent change orders. It's that argument that, in part, led the city to announceplans in April to entirely pull back from the JPA, a move that will ultimately take30 years per terms of the agreement.

Wastewater diversion

In a sign of dissatisfaction of its relationship with VVWRA, Victorville has beendiverting millions of gallons of wastewater flow to its own plant for two years.The situation has seemingly deepened a rift over finances between the city, theauthority and other JPA members.

Wylie has said that the city's diversion - roughly a million gallons a day sinceJanuary 2015 - had cost the authority over $1.2 million by April 2016. He couldnot provide updated figures Monday.

He previously described any tumult as an issue between board members,declining to specifically comment on an advisory opinion issued last month byan appellate court judge that concluded Victorville's diversion was tantamountto a breach of contract.

"We are not at liberty to discuss these issues as member entities are working toresolve their differences," he said.

But city spokeswoman Sue Jones confirmed Monday that Victorville was"preparing to physically send all of our flows to VVWRA's regional plant," areversal for now that would be in accordance with the advisory opinion soughtby VVWRA and all JPA members.

2/7/2017 Auditors: Victor Valley wastewater agency mismanaged $32 million in emergency funds

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170206/auditors­victor­valley­wastewater­agency­mismanaged­32­million­in­emergency­funds 4/4

Jones said the city disagreed with the opinion and was preparing follow-upquestions to gain more clarity.

Its wastewater diversion, however, has been in direct response to bearing morethan 70 percent of the authority's costs, Jones said, while maintaining equaldecision-making power, effectively placing disproportionate burden onVictorville taxpayers for projects even outside the city.

County spokesman David Wert deferred questions to VVWRA, while the Townof Apple Valley did not provide comment.

But Hesperia city spokeswoman Rachel Molina, speaking generally, said the cityhas long believed that Victorville is in breach of contract and that other memberentities feel similarly.

The diversion of flow and withholding of connection fees, which are paid tomaintain and increase capacity at authority plants, has presented "a significantstrain on the JPA's finances," Molina said, adding that further threats to the JPA'sfinances could affect planned openings of sub-regional recycled water facilities inHesperia and Apple Valley.

Jones concluded that Victorville officials were "very hopeful" they could resolveissues with other JPA members, including negotiating an amicable solution thatbenefits the JPA, "but not at the expense of the residents of Victorville."

Shea Johnson can be reached at 760-955-5368 or

. Follow him on Twitter at .

2/3/2017 Supervisor advocates for technical training campus in High Desert

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170203/supervisor­advocates­for­technical­training­campus­in­high­desert 1/2

FridayPosted at 9:25 AMUpdated at 9:28 AM

Lovingood said the campus would be modeled after aprogram at Chaffey College, which partners withCalifornia Steel to offer hands-on training andcertification without costs to students.

By Shea Johnson Staff Writer

Follow

VICTORVILLE - San Bernardino County officials are rolling out five inter-connected goals as part of a growth plan. Included as a subset in these goals:Establishing a technical training campus in the High Desert.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Lovingood, whose editorial revealing thefive-point plan will run in Sunday's Daily Press, has long championed technicaleducation as a pathway to a living wage.

Lovingood said the campus would be modeled after a program at ChaffeyCollege, which partners with California Steel to offer hands-on training andcertification without costs to students.

"There are over 3,000 manufacturing jobs in the desert that are screaming forthis strategy," he said in his office Thursday, emphasizing how a trained localworkforce could transition into these waiting jobs.

Supervisor advocates for technical trainingcampus in High Desert

2/3/2017 Supervisor advocates for technical training campus in High Desert

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20170203/supervisor­advocates­for­technical­training­campus­in­high­desert 2/2

The shorter-term goal would be to "create a series of short, technical trainingcourses on the sites of local manufacturers" in the region.

Those goals are tied to another element of the county's plan: to draw moreindustrial business here, particularly as the inland logistics market nears its cap.

Lovingood said that a fast-track permitting system for industrial, commercialand residential developments will have wide-reaching impacts, and that whenentitlements linger, job creation is delayed.

"These projects create well-paying jobs and have an astonishing economicmultiplier effect," Lovingood writes in the editorial. "And the higher propertyvalues generate property tax revenues that can put more deputies on our streets,repair roads and build infrastructure."

The county is also advocating increases to the budgets for the Sheriff'sDepartment and District Attorney, and pushing ahead with a phased staffingplan for the under-utilized High Desert Detention Center.

Read Lovingood's editorial in Sunday's Daily Press, page B5.

Shea Johnson can be reached at 760-955-5368 or

. Follow him on Twitter at .

2/3/2017 $150,000 grant from San Manuel goes to Redlands housing, employment programs

http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/article/20170203/NEWS/170209787&template=printart 1/2

Redlands Daily Facts (http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com)

$150,000 grant from San Manuel goes to Redlands housing, employment programs

Friday, February 3, 2017

Family Service Association of Redlands is receiving a renewed grant of $150,000 from the San Manuel Band ofMission Indians for two programs — Employment Readiness and Housing Advocacy and Assistance.

Family Service received word of the grant renewal in December.

“This grant from San Manuel came at a crucial time and meant we could start 2017 with funds to help ourclients with much­needed housing needs,” said Kyra Stewart, executive director of Family Service Association.

“Staff and clients were thrilled to know that this new funding was on the horizon.”

Housing Advocacy and Assistance is one of the most essential programs provided by Family Service, accordingto the agency, and is one of the most expensive, with nearly a third of the Family Service budget reserved forhousing expenses. Family Service acts as a safety­net system for low­income and homeless families and familiesat risk of becoming homeless in east San Bernardino County.

Last year, the San Manuel grant helped Family Service serve 100 families to escape the imminent danger ofhomelessness.

Last year, for the first time, San Manuel stipulated that $10,000 be set aside to be used for a pilot program toexpand employment efforts with selected clients. The program was a success, according to Family Service, andthe grant from San Manuel is supporting that program again this year.

The grant also allows Family Service to hire a case manager who provides one­on­one coaching to selectedclients and help with their job searches. Clients sign a contract with the case manager, indicating that they arewilling to do the work necessary to better their circumstances.

In case after case in 2016, it became obvious that a little coaching, and sometimes some financial help, goes along way, according to Family Service.

When clients hit a road block in their studies or job searches, they benefit from having a coach to help themnavigate past the obstacles instead of just giving up. Clients were also able to apply for employmentscholarships to help them on their path to success.

“We are grateful for the strong support and long partnership that Family Service Association of Redlands haswith San Manuel Band of Mission Indians,” Stewart said.

For information about Family Service Association of Redlands and how to get involved, go toredlandsfamilyservice.org or call 909­793­2673.

Source: Family Service Association of Redlands

URL: http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/social­affairs/20170203/150000­grant­from­san­manuel­goes­to­redlands­housing­employment­programs

2/3/2017 $150,000 grant from San Manuel goes to Redlands housing, employment programs

http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/article/20170203/NEWS/170209787&template=printart 2/2

© 2017 Redlands Daily Facts (http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com)

2/7/2017 Print Article: Towings at Rancho Cucamonga's Etiwanda preserve cause a stir

http://www.pe.com/common/printer/view.php?db=pressenterprise&id=824929 1/2

Towings at Rancho Cucamonga's Etiwanda preserve cause astirBy ALI TADAYON2017­02­06 18:30:12

A problem with illegal parking near the North Etiwanda Preserve inRancho Cucamonga led sheriff’s deputies to tow 36 cars in a three­hourspan Sunday morning, but some of those targeted said authorities’ tacticswere unfairly harsh.

The cars were parked along the dirt shoulder of Etiwanda Avenue nearDay Creek Boulevard, where “No Parking Tow Away” signs wereinstalled 18 months ago, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff'sDepartment news release.

Deputies have been issuing parking citations and verbal warnings to folksparking along Etiwanda Avenue, but those measures were no longer

enough, the news release said. So Rancho Cucamonga station Chief Danielle Boldt told staff to start towing.

“These were citizens just going out for a hike on a Sunday morning,” said Ralph Solis, whose son’s rental carwas towed Sunday. “They weren't disturbing anybody, putting anybody in danger or impeding traffic.”

Solis said his son was walking his dog in the area about 8 a.m. and noticed his car being towed. He offered tomove his car but the deputy wouldn’t let him.

When Solis’ son attempted to get into the car, the deputy reached for his stun gun, Solis said. The young mangot out and let the tow truck take his car.

Solis went to the sheriff’s Rancho Cucamonga station to pay the fine and get the car back, where he met otherpeople whose cars had been towed. The people told Solis that deputies wouldn't allow them to retrieve theirpersonal belongings – phones, IDs, sweaters – from their cars before they were towed.

One woman told Solis that she had been handcuffed while her car was towed. An elderly man said a deputysnatched a pair of keys from his hands when he refused to hand them over.

Contacted about Solis’ allegations, sheriff’s officials did not provide a response by 6 p.m.

The Sheriff’s Department’s said the order to make the Etiwanda Avenue shoulder a tow­away zone was madein 2015 “to deal with the excess parking, trash and trespassing on the adjacent neighborhoods and to ensuresafe traveling on Etiwanda Avenue.”

The preserve has an unpaved lot where people can park legally.

City and San Bernardino County Special Districts officials plan to “expand and improve” the parking lot, thenews release said.

Contact the writer: 951­368­9284 or atadayon@scng.com. Twitter: @PE_alitadayon

2/7/2017 Print Article: Towings at Rancho Cucamonga's Etiwanda preserve cause a stir

http://www.pe.com/common/printer/view.php?db=pressenterprise&id=824929 2/2

© Copyright 2017 Freedom Communications. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service | Copyright | Site Map

2/7/2017 Nestlé/Arrowhead Water under scrutiny at public meeting

http://alpenhornnews.com/nestlarrowhead­water­under­scrutiny­at­public­meeting­p7865­155.htm 1/3

Useful Links

• Social Security• Board of Supervisors• 2nd District Janice Rutherford• 3rd District James Ramos• Animal Care & Control• Code Enforcement• Assessor

Nestlé/Arrowhead Water under scrutiny at public meeting

Lake Arrowhead environmental activist Dr. Hugh Bialeckiaddressed last Sunday’s public meeting regarding Nestlé’salleged draining of local aquifers. (Photo by Rhea­Frances

Tetley)

Saturday, Feb 04, 2017

By Rhea­Frances Tetley

A three­hour community meeting held in the Twin Peaks Community/Senior Center brought together astanding room only audience of residents concerned about the expired U.S. Forest Service waterpermit under which the international company Nestlé removes water from Strawberry Creek to bottlefor sale under the brand Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water. Many in attendance were concerned thatthe water amounts that Nestlé is pumping is draining the natural aquifers and affecting the ecology ofthe mountains.

The meeting was conducted in two sections; first was an informational hearing moderated by theLeague of Women Voters, giving all sides of the issues with invited speakers from the San BernardinoNational Forest (SBNF), Nestlé Waters of North America, State Water Resources Control board andthe San Bernardino National Forest Biologist. The invited speakers didn’t attend, but all sent responsesto questions submitted by the League of Women Voters (LWV).

The second part of the meeting was a call to action headed by the Hugh Bialecki, President of theSave Our Forest Association (SOFA). They invited speakers from the Center of Biological Diversity,Story of Stuff and Amanda Frye, a well­known researcher into the water rights of Nestlé and its waterpumping impacts on the Strawberry Creek drainage basin, who states, “Nestlé has false claims on thewater.”

Since only one of the guest speakers, expert Steve Loe a SBNF biologist, attended, representativesfrom the League of Women Voters read responses and position papers from Nestlé, the U.S. ForestService and the California Water Resources Control Board. These responses were also projected bypower points onto a tall screen, so all could hear and read the information.

Nestlé claims senior water rights to Strawberry Creek, acquired by David Noble Smith in 1865, prior tothe establishment of the San Bernardino Forest Preserve in 1891. Even though their permit for theright­of ­way over forestland has expired, they refuse to decrease the use of those rights, and threatento sue anyone who challenges them.

The letter from the California State Water Resources Board (CSWRB) stated Nestlé has pumpedapproximately 4.2 billion gallons of water from 1947 through 2015, averaging 62­million acre­feet ofwater per year. In 2015, despite the declared drought requiring everyone in California to reduce wateruse by 25 percent, Nestlé increased its pumping to over 100 million acre­feet of water. Four differentyears, years, in 1969, 1991, 1997 and 1999, Nestlé has pumped over 500­million gallons per year.

NEWS LOCAL CALENDAR LIFESTYLE FEATURES OPINION BUSINESS DIRECTORY NOTICES CONTACT facebook

2/7/2017 Nestlé/Arrowhead Water under scrutiny at public meeting

http://alpenhornnews.com/nestlarrowhead­water­under­scrutiny­at­public­meeting­p7865­155.htm 2/3

Share

Nestlé/Arrowhead Water underscrutiny at public meeting

Fire Chief’s Son DrownsMichael P. Neufeld, mountainnewsman passes

Building a culture of empathy tocombat bullying

Anonymous threats endangerALA voting rights

Winter storms pummel mountaincommunities

Trump dumps FHA commitmentto reduce mortgage insurancepremiums

Crestline Sanitation District onedge over sewage disposal site

Anti­terrorism grant funding maybe reallocated from county tolocal survivors

State initiative provides free,voluntary lead testing for schoolwater

Rim Ed Foundation donates$35,000 to school programs

Heavy snows wreak havoc Park District meeting to discusspossible sites of Crestline Park

LACSD appealing court decisionover solar farm

Assault Victim Threatened fromBehind Bars

Twin Peaks Assault SuspectDeclared a Fugitive

Alpen Calendar of Events –February 2 to February 9

Trinket Trader, your antiqueemporium

Larry Cumming, a life enjoyed

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Imitation – The Greatest Form ofFlattery!

Blowin’ In The Wind

Cyber­attacks, Intelligence andthe 2016 Presidential Election—Part 4 (conclusion)

PART I: TRUMP IS GOOD FORAMERICA

Boys and Girls Club of theMountain Communities

• Auditor / Controller­Recorder• Registrar of Voters• County Parks• Treasurer­Tax Collector• Public Works

• Superior Court

This Week's HighlightsFront Page

Top Stories

California

My Town

Sheriff's Log

What's up!

Spotlight

Portrait

Movie Reviews

In The Kitchen with Cathy

Uncle Mott

Keeping it Real

A View from the Right

Kool Kids

The CSWRB doesn’t have jurisdiction over percolating water. Although Nestlé’s water is pumped fromtwelve underground, horizontal wells, located just below the 5,000­foot elevation in the StrawberryCreek watershed, it’s not percolating. Their expired USFS permit never set the amount of water theycould pump, only that they could run pipes of water from the wells to the embarking location at the footof the mountain. In the 1990s when Nestlé requested permission to drill more wells, the USFS deniedpermission.

The USFS said they are evaluating the claims of Nestlé and the environmental impacts through aNEPA analysis as they evaluate the renewal of the expired permit. The National Environmental PolicyAct (NEPA), signed into law on January 1, 1970, requires federal agencies to assess the environmentaleffects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions.

Without the recent public petition campaign, this review probably wouldn’t have been undertaken andthe permit automatically renewed. However, now the value of the water is also being examined throughthe NEPA analysis as an economic asset, its value to the area’s wildlife, the entire watershed andecosystem of Strawberry Creek drainage. This area was previously examined thoroughly when thefeeder tunnel was drilled through the mountain.

Lake Arrowhead Hydrologist Ralph Wagner stated Nestlé pays .0000112 cents per gallon of waterpumped, packages it and sells it for approximately $1.00 to $1.50 a gallon, quite a loss of potentialrevenue if forced to quit. Elsewhere people pay $54,000 an acre­foot. Wagner added, “Nestlé’s waterrights relate to the percolating waters of the Arrowhead Springs area, not up where the horizontal wellsare drilled into the fragmented bedrock, and the recharge times for those areas is unknown.” He thinksany pumping should be limited by the previous year’s rainfall amounts, but Nestlé said they will self­regulate if necessary, but would prefer to increase their pumping of Arrowhead water.

Also attending was the Astoria Project, a group of investigators which advocates for ecological issues,and is anti­plastic bottles. A short film by “The Stuff Project,” which is against the privatization of waterfor profit was shown.

Some audience members said Nestlé is only looking at the water as pure profit, not at the ecology. Toothers there are ethical and moral issues to consider and many feel the governmental agencies aren’tprotecting the peoples’ interest. Some said the water extraction is depleting the mountain’s aquifersand is partially responsible for the death of the forest’s trees.

Twin Peaks resident Carl Blank said he was extremely happy with the turnout to the meeting and gladthat so many are concerned. He was impressed with the high quality of the information presented.Blank hopes there will be some results from the 38,000 public comments the USFS received and isreflected in the NEPA report.

A similar meeting was held at San Bernardino Valley College on January 20. Earlier this year, 500,000petitioned Nestlé “to stop bottling and exporting water from California during a drought.” At the meetingthere was discussion about a poll that reflected, “a majority of people in the United States believe thatNestlé should stop bottling water in California.” The meeting ended with a proposed action plan “to takeon Nestlé.”

submit your comments

Like 11 Share

2/7/2017 Candlelight vigil held for Dawson Hartwig at Cal Baptist in Riverside

http://www.sbsun.com/general­news/20170206/candlelight­vigil­held­for­dawson­hartwig­at­cal­baptist­in­riverside&template=printart 1/1

San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

Candlelight vigil held for Dawson Hartwig at Cal Baptist in Riverside

By John M. Blodgett, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Monday, February 6, 2017

RIVERSIDE >> At least 150 people attended a candlelight vigilSunday for Dawson Hartwig, son of San Bernardino County FireChief Mark Hartwig, near the front of the James Building at CalBaptist University in Riverside.

Dawson, who was found dead after going missing in Lake Arrowheadlast week, once attended Cal Baptist and had planned to transfer to thecampus in the fall for a degree in sports marketing, his father has said.

“I get the privilege of being Dawson’s dad,” Hartwig said as heintroduced himself and addressed those who assembled beneath a trioof flagpoles.

Hartwig spoke of the impact his son made on the family and everyone he came in contact with. Dawson’s lovewas free, Hartwig said ­­ he didn’t care who people were or where they were from.

“We want to love more, better and deeper because of Dawson,” Hartwig said.

Candles were provided at the vigil, which ran from 8 to 9 p.m. at the university, 8432 Magnolia Ave.

Aside from Hartwig’s remarks and thoughts and a prayer from Tucker Hartwig, Dawson’s brother, it was ahushed gathering. People sang a verse of “Amazing Grace,” and tears, sniffles and hugs gave way to smiles andquiet laughter as people holding flickering candles remembered the 20­year­old.

A memorial service for Dawson is scheduled at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Water of Life Community Church, 7625 EastAve. in Fontana. A reception is scheduled after the service at Jessie Turner Center, 15556 Summit Ave.

Dawson’s body was pulled from Lake Arrowhead early Jan. 29. He had been reported missing the day before,triggering a search involving at least a hundred deputies and volunteers.

His love for others inspired the hashtag #LoveLikeDawson.

URL: http://www.sbsun.com/general­news/20170206/candlelight­vigil­held­for­dawson­hartwig­at­cal­baptist­in­riverside

© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

2/7/2017 Celebration Of Life – Michael P Neufeld — ROTWNEWS.com

http://rotwnews.com/2017/02/04/celebration­of­life­michael­p­neufeld/ 1/8

HomeWeather »Contact Us »

Subscribe

Celebration Of Life – Michael P Neufeldin Community News, Mountain Region, News / by admin / on February 4, 2017 at 3:00 pm /

Michael P. Neufeld, “Mike” and his wife of 50 years, Susan are perhaps best known as the owners ofROTWNEWS, a voice of the Mountain Communities.

He co­founded Crestline Connect ten years ago with Penny Shubnell, which meets every Wednesday with over30+ businesses and organizations across the mountain. Mike may have never missed a gathering. He believeddeeply that when like minded businesses, organizations, and individuals come together to share business,community, and nonprofit goals and issues, dreams turn into reality.

Weather Forecast

<< TOP STORIES >>SoCal GAS: Company Extends Natural Gas Advisory Until Further Notice HIGHWAY 18: Delivery Truck Cleared ­ One Southbound Lane Now Closed

Facebook 0 Twitter Google+ 0

2/7/2017 Celebration Of Life – Michael P Neufeld — ROTWNEWS.com

http://rotwnews.com/2017/02/04/celebration­of­life­michael­p­neufeld/ 2/8

We can all attest, his vision was a reality. Countless businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals haverealized their dreams with the great assistance of Mike and Susan, Crestline Connect and ROTWNEWS.

One cannot imagine what we all would have done without their tireless support and untold dollars donated inadvertising and support of the endeavors of the businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals on thismountain.

Add to that, every agency in San Bernardino County, among those San Bernardino County Fire, CAL Fire, TwinPeaks Sheriff Station, CERT, ECS, COAD, CALTRANS, California Highway Patrol, and more knew they couldcount on Mike and Susan working 24/7 to communicate emergency and important alerts to mountain residentsand visitors.

Susan will continue the ROTWNEWS legacy. She knows she can with your support.

Mike loved his life and the many people who crossed his path in the mountain communities, throughoutCalifornia and beyond. He will be sorely missed by these countless individuals whose lives he touched. Manyof us have been honored to call him “friend” and blessed by his enduring compassion and friendship.

Before Mike blessed the Mountain Communities with his presence, he was born on July 23, 1942 in Lindsay,California. Early in his life his family moved to Porterville, California.

His calling as a journalist, and in the news business, surfaced early in life. In high school, he was an on­airpersonality for the local radio station KTIP.Mike was a graduate of the prestigious Dwight Bentel School of Journalism at San Jose State University, wherehe was a double major, receiving degrees in both Speech and Drama, and Radio and Television.You will learn more about his wonderful family and his life at the Celebration of his Life on Sunday, February12 at 2:30 p.m. at the San Moritz Lodge located at 24640 San Moritz Drive, Crestline, California, 92325If you are not able to attend the celebration, you may send your condolences to Susan Neufeld at Post OfficeBox 336, Crestline, CA 92325.A grieff fund has been set up at https://www.gofundme.com/susans­grief­fund

(264)

0

Tweet

Like 0

Comments are closed.

Facebook 0 Twitter Google+ 0

2/7/2017 Michael P. Neufeld, mountain newsman passes

http://alpenhornnews.com/michael­p­neufeld­mountain­newsman­passes­p7863­155.htm 1/3

Share

Useful Links

• Social Security• Board of Supervisors• 2nd District Janice Rutherford• 3rd District James Ramos• Animal Care & Control• Code Enforcement• Assessor

Michael P. Neufeld, mountain newsman passes

Michael Neufeld with 2nd District County Supervisor Janice Rutherford at the grandopening of Hortencia’s Restaurant in Crestline on August 5, 2016. (Photo by Rhea­Frances

Tetley)

Saturday, Feb 04, 2017

By Douglas W. Motley

Michael P. Neufeld, 74, longtime mountain resident and publisher of RimoftheWorldNews.com, passedaway early Monday, January 30th. He reportedly passed away at 6:30 a.m. Monday at MountainsCommunity Hospital in Lake Arrowhead.

Neufeld, who is a graduate of the Dwight Bentel School of Journalism at San Jose State University,began his journalism career with the Associated Press in Los Angeles as an overnight radio editor.Prior to starting up his most recent endeavor, RimoftheWorldNews.com about five years ago, Michaelhad reported on local news for www.Rimoftheworld.net. Before that he was employed as editor of TheMountain News in Lake Arrowhead and its sister publication The Crestline Courier. Prior to that, heserved as Executive Director of the Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce, beginningin 1999.

Michael leaves behind his wife, Susan, son Ed Neufeld, daughter and son­in­law Michelle and BrandonKnapp, as well as four granddaughters. Susan Neufeld recalled for The Alpenhorn News on Mondaythat Michael spent eight years in the broadcast industry as a radio station account executive, sellingadvertising, writing commercials, and served as an on­air radio personality, all while he was still in highschool in Porterville, CA.

According to Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club board member Penny Shubnell, who spoke with SusanNeufeld on Monday, Susan’s asked that the community continue with one of Michael’s pet projects,Crestline Connect, which meets at The Bear House in Old Town Crestline at 7:30 a.m. everyWednesday as a forum to discuss community issues and news. Shubnell said a GoFundMe account isbeing set up in Michael’s memory.

submit your comments

Like 6 Share

NEWS LOCAL CALENDAR LIFESTYLE FEATURES OPINION BUSINESS DIRECTORY NOTICES CONTACT facebook

2/7/2017 Print Article: Chino parole agent convicted of trading state bus passes, gift cards for drugs

http://www.pe.com/common/printer/view.php?db=pressenterprise&id=824945 1/1

Chino parole agent convicted of trading state bus passes,gift cards for drugsBY KELLY PUENTE2017­02­06 21:53:12

A former parole agent was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Monday forembezzling funds from the California Department of Corrections andRehabilitation so he could buy prescription drugs from a parolee.

Scott Patric Keblis, 50, of Chino pleaded guilty to one felony count ofembezzlement by a public employee and one misdemeanor count ofpossession of a controlled substance, according to the Orange CountyDistrict Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Keblis, while a state parole agent, in 2015 obtained twobus passes and two $40 Target gift cards from the agency, claiming heneeded to give them to a parolee under his supervision.

Instead, prosecutors said, Keblis went to meet with a parolee who was not under his supervision in HuntingtonBeach and exchanged the bus passes, gift cards and $30 of his own money for two dozen of the parolee’sprescription hydrocodone pills.

Keblis was arrested by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s internal affairs division.

Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com

© Copyright 2017 Freedom Communications. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service | Copyright | Site Map

2/7/2017 Sensible way to speed up road repairs

http://www.sbsun.com/opinion/20170206/sensible­way­to­speed­up­road­repairs&template=printart 1/2

San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

Sensible way to speed up road repairs

By The Editorial Board, San Bernardino County Sun

Monday, February 6, 2017

As Sacramento continues to fiddle over addressing California’smassive and worsening deficiencies in highway and road repair,Assemblyman Marc Steinorth, R­Rancho Cucamonga, has once againintroduced common­sense legislation with the potential to ease someof the problems.

Assembly Bill 278 calls for exempting existing roads and highwaysthat have already been reviewed pursuant to the CaliforniaEnvironmental Quality Act from additional reviews beforemaintenance and repair work can be done.

“Requiring another unnecessary step before repairing our broken infrastructure will only slow down and delaycrucial maintenance,” Steinorth argues.

At a time when the state is dealing with a $59 billion maintenance backlog for state roads and bridges, and localgovernments even more than that, one would think a proposal to streamline repairs without compromising theenvironment or health of the public would be embraced by politicians who ostensibly represent the public.

Simply processing CEQA applications can add months of delay to projects that have already been vetted underthe terms of the law. Steinorth’s bill is narrow in scope and simply modernizes a redundant process that doesn’tserve the best interests of the public.

Notably, the bill still requires compliance with other environmental laws, including the Porter­Cologne WaterQuality Control Act and the California Endangered Species Act, which should allay concerns that this billthwarts environmental protections.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Steinorth has introduced legislation of this sort. Last year, he introduced asimilar bill, AB1569, with strong support by the Southern California Association of Governments, the CaliforniaTransportation Commission and the California Chamber of Commerce.

Many local government agencies also supported the bill, recognizing the potential for lowered costs to taxpayersand the expediting of needed maintenance.

“Full environmental reviews of routine maintenance or improvement projects for existing roadways, tunnels andbridges dramatically increases costs to the taxpayers, and creates significant delays to project completion,affecting commerce and the safety and quality of life of the traveling public,” argued San Bernardino County insupport.

Despite these common­sense arguments, Steinorth’s proposal died in the California Assembly’s Committee onNatural Resources.

2/7/2017 Sensible way to speed up road repairs

http://www.sbsun.com/opinion/20170206/sensible­way­to­speed­up­road­repairs&template=printart 2/2

Committee Chair Das Williams, D­Carpinteria, argued at the time that Steinorth was simply trying to circumventthe state’s environmental laws and argued instead that Steinorth should support the favored policy of theDemocrats. “Nice try ... if you want to help, vote for a tax,” Williams told Steinorth.

Following the vote against the proposal, Steinorth correctly observed that the Legislature was out of touch withthe practical, everyday needs of the public. “While they continue to kill any effort to prioritize critical roadrepairs, my constituents in the Inland Empire face long commutes on deteriorating roads every day,” saidSteinorth.

Whether things will go any differently this time remains to be seen, but as was true last year, the idea ofexempting existing roads and highways from reviews they have already undergone makes sense. Our roads andhighways are in need of repair — superfluous reviews and processes should not be impediments to gettingneeded work done.

URL: http://www.sbsun.com/opinion/20170206/sensible­way­to­speed­up­road­repairs

© 2017 San Bernardino County Sun (http://www.sbsun.com)

2/7/2017 Local Infrastructure Conditions: A Crisis Situation | PublicCEO

http://www.publicceo.com/2017/02/local­infrastructure­conditions­a­crisis­situation/ 1/4

HOME ABOUT PUBLICCEO JOB BOARD GRANTS SUBSCRIBE

Local Infrastructure Conditions: ACrisis Situation

POSTED BY : WESTERN CITY MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 6, 2017

By Joanne Mounce.

From the moment we open our front door to drive to work, bike to school or walk to the bus stop,

Californians depend on safe, reliable local streets and roads.

Concerns about the crumbling conditions of our streets, roads, bridges and transportation networks

compelled the League to include infrastructure in its annual strategic goals every year since 2013. This

year, the strategic priority addressing infrastructure has expanded to cover not only the transportation

network, but also water-related needs:

Increase Funding for Critical Transportation and Water Infrastructure. Provide additional state

and federal funding and local financing tools — such as reducing the vote threshold for local initiatives

— to support California’s economy, transportation (streets, bridges, trade corridors, active

transportation and transit) and water-related needs (supply, sewer, stormwater, flood control, beach

erosion, etc.) including maintenance and construction. Support appropriate streamlining of

stormwater regulations and CEQA to avoid duplication and reduce litigation.

The local roads we all rely on are deteriorating at an alarming rate. As the biennial 2016 California

Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment Report explains, on a pavement condition index

(PCI) scale of zero (failed) to 100 (excellent), the average condition of California’s streets and roads is

just 65, which is considered “at risk.” (For more about the report’s findings, read “In Desperate Need:

California’s Crumbling Streets and Roads”).

Dollars and Sense

LATEST HEADLINES

Oakland sets up $300,000 fund to fightdeportations

Supreme Court Pick: What’s at Stake forCalifornia?

Is Fresno A Sanctuary City? It DependsOn Who You Ask

Santa Monica Airport Agreement ClearsRunway of Mounting Litigation Costs

Kern County D.A. Green to retire in2018, sparking potentially competitiverace

Click here for more headlines

SIGN UP FOR OUR DAILY

NEWSLETTER!

Name: Name...

Email: Email Address...

Submit

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

2/7/2017 Local Infrastructure Conditions: A Crisis Situation | PublicCEO

http://www.publicceo.com/2017/02/local­infrastructure­conditions­a­crisis­situation/ 2/4

Dollars and Sense

The 10-year funding shortfall to repair and maintain our roads is approximately $73 billion. The

existing funding mechanisms to maintain state and local transportation and other infrastructure and

accommodate a growing population have not kept pace with the demand. Furthermore, additional

challenges constrain local governments that want to fund infrastructure: constitutional provisions

require two-thirds voter approval. These limitations are more restrictive than those imposed on state

investments or school construction.

State and federal funding to fix and maintain local roads and bridges has been inadequate for many

years. Current state, local and federal revenue available to cities and counties totals about $1.9 billion

per year. We need $3.5 billion per year just to maintain local roads in their current condition;

approximately $7 billion per year is needed to bring roads into compliance with industry best

practices.

Without new revenues, the average condition of local roads will fall to 56 on the PCI scale —

approaching failure. The projected backlog will grow by $20 billion in just 10 years.

Californians have a choice: We can either pay to fix and maintain our streets and roads today or pay

much more in the future to replace them. To put this investment in context, Californians on average

pay $540 for internet services, $780 for coffee drinks, $852 for a cell phone, and $1,032 for cable every

year. By contrast, a motorist pays only $350 in taxes used to maintain the roadways crucial to everyday

life, yet incurs an average of approximately $700 in vehicle maintenance costs as a result of driving on

roads in poor condition.

It makes fiscal sense to preserve and maintain our roads and bridges in good condition rather than

allow them to deteriorate and then pay more to fix them.

Public Safety Implications

The condition of our streets and roads is a matter of public safety. Police, fire and emergency medical

services providers all need safe, reliable roads so they can respond quickly to calls. A few minutes’

delay can be a matter of life and death.

Reliable local streets and roads increase the safety and livability of our communities, whether you’re

young or old, on foot or in a car, riding a bicycle, using a wheelchair or taking the bus.

Repairs to local roadways cover more than just fixing potholes. Such repairs include improvements for

sidewalks, stormwater control, gutters, curb ramps, traffic signs and medians, all of which make our

roads and communities safer.

Infrastructure and Creating Jobs

Modernizing local streets and roads will create well-paying construction jobs. Bringing such jobs into a

community means the employees who are hired for these positions spend their dollars locally,

boosting the local economy and contributing to tax revenues that support their city’s vital services.

California businesses rely on local streets and roads to connect with clients, vendors and customers.

Investing in road infrastructure is paramount to our continued economic recovery.

The local streets and roads system is critical to California’s economy — the sixth largest in the world.

The “last mile” for moving goods from rail, airports and seaports occurs on the local system. An

efficiently functioning, well-maintained local transportation network promotes economic sustainability

and vitality.

The Environmental Connection

FOLLOW PUBLICCEO

3,198Followers

0Fans

SubscribeRss

2/7/2017 Local Infrastructure Conditions: A Crisis Situation | PublicCEO

http://www.publicceo.com/2017/02/local­infrastructure­conditions­a­crisis­situation/ 3/4

California is a leader in the fight against climate change. Cities and counties are doing their part to

build communities that provide multimodal transportation options for people to walk, bike and take

transit. This reduces stress on local roads and promotes an active, healthy lifestyle.

Modernizing local streets and roads will mean shorter driving time and less traffic congestion for

commuters and those making local trips, improve bicycle safety and make walking more appealing —

all of which help reduce vehicle emissions. Furthermore, cars sustain less damage and use less fuel on

well-maintained streets.

Restoring roads before they fail will reduce construction time, which means less air pollution from

heavy equipment and water pollution from site runoff.

Seeking Solutions

Although voters in 51 of 56 cities and three counties that put add-on sales tax rates on the ballot in

November 2016 approved these measures (including some that extended an existing “sunsetting” tax

without an increase), locally generated revenues are invested in a variety of modes and new capacity

projects, so local governments in California still need a statewide solution to address maintenance

needs.

Everyone who benefits from local streets and roads — including those using personal and commercial

vehicles and transit, bicyclists and pedestrians — should help bear the cost of restoring them.

In 2016, the League and other members of the Fix Our Roads Coalition (www.FixCARoads.com)

participated in many meetings, social media campaigns, press conferences and legislative briefings

focused on the issue of our deteriorating infrastructure. Some progress appeared imminent when the

chairs of the Senate and Assembly Transportation Committees, Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose) and

Assembly Member Jim Frazier (D-Oakley), introduced legislation into the Special Session on

Transportation that would have generated $7.4 billion annually for the state’s transportation network,

but ultimately no deal was reached.

In an unprecedented move, however, Gov. Brown, the speaker of the Assembly and the Senate

president pro tem sent a letter to stakeholders that indicated their commitment to tackling this issue

in early 2017. Sen. Beall and Assembly Member Frazier each introduced their own proposals on the

first day of the new legislative session, as SB 1 and AB 1 respectively, sending a strong signal that the

Legislature and administration are committed to a transportation solution.

The League and the Fix Our Roads Coalition continue to work with Sen. Beall and Assembly Member

Frazier, other legislators and stakeholders to pass a comprehensive transportation reform and funding

package. Ideally, this package would:

Increase revenue adequately to improve local streets and roads and state highways;

Include reforms to ensure the money is spent wisely; and

Guarantee the revenue is dedicated to transportation.

By investing in our local road system, we are investing in the safety and well-being of all Californians

and safeguarding an essential component of our economy. I urge you to stay focused on the

transportation issue and visit www.cacities.org for the latest updates.

© 2017 League of California Cities . All rights reserved. Printed with permission from the February

2017 issue of Western City magazine, the monthly publication of the League of California Cities . For

related information, visit www.westerncity.com.

Comments

®

® ®

Search Search

2/3/2017 In an age of 'alternative facts,' a massacre of schoolchildren is called a hoax ­ LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la­na­sandy­hook­conspiracy­20170203­story.html 1/6

I

In an age of 'alternative facts,' a massacre ofschoolchildren is called a hoax

By Barbara Demick

FEBRUARY 3, 2017, 12:00 PM | REPORTING FROM NEWTOWN, CONN.

f there is anything worse than losing a child, it is losing a child and having people taunt you over the

loss.

That is what happened to the family of Noah Pozner, a 6­year­old with tousled brown hair and lollipop­

red lips, the youngest of the 26 children and staff members gunned down in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary

School in Newtown, Conn.

In the years since the massacre that shook the country and opened new anxiety over gun violence, the family

has received hate­filled calls and violent emails from people who say they know the shooting was a hoax.

Photos of their son — some with pornographic and anti­Semitic content — have been distributed on websites.

These outlandish theories, which hold that the Newtown school shooting was a staged mass murder engineered

by gun control advocates, have lived until now in the dark corners of the Internet.

Noah Pozner, the youngest child killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. Some people contend he wasn't killed, or claim henever existed, and are tormenting his parents. (Courtesy of Pozner family)

2/3/2017 In an age of 'alternative facts,' a massacre of schoolchildren is called a hoax ­ LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la­na­sandy­hook­conspiracy­20170203­story.html 2/6

But they have gained fresh momentum in the last several months, residents here say, at a time when conspiracy

theorists across the country have attained the status of celebrities, and the nation as a whole is engaged in a

contentious debate over the nature of truth.

President Trump and his national security advisor, Michael T. Flynn, have been open enthusiasts of Alex Jones’

Infowars, a Web­based radio and video network that has relentlessly pushed the theory that Sandy Hook was

staged by Democrats to advance a gun control agenda.

An unabashed Trump supporter during the campaign, Jones says he received a personal call of thanks from

the president­elect days after the election.

Although Trump has not spoken publicly about Sandy Hook, many residents here say he is nurturing the

culture of exaggeration and paranoia on which conspiracy theorists thrive.

“Maybe it has nothing to do with Donald Trump, but somehow these hate creeps have been less shy about their

beliefs,” said Noah’s father, Lenny Pozner, an information technology specialist. “They’ve been emboldened.”

Mark Fenster, a law professor at the University of Florida and author of a book about conspiracy theories in

American politics, said the Sandy Hook hoax theory was a response to a Democratic­controlled White House of

a kind that often shows up in political extremist circles.

“Conspiracy theories are pervasive in American politics and they target whoever is in power,” Fenster said. “I

think it won’t be long before the Alex Joneses of this world are saying that Trump is part of some conspiracy.’’

The town of Newtown is drafting an official letter to the White House demanding that Trump sever his ties to

Jones.

“Jones repeatedly tells his listeners and viewers that he has your ears and your respect. He brags about how you

called him after your victory in November. Emboldened by your victory, he continues to hurt the memories of

those lost, the ability of those left behind to heal,” reads an excerpt of the letter that was shared recently with

the news media.

Family members who lost children at Sandy Hook say they find themselves twice victimized.

An unemployed waitress was arrested in December in Florida on charges of making death threats against

Pozner, with repeated phone calls to his home in which she muttered ethnic and racial slurs and profanities.

“Maybe it has nothing to do with Donald Trump,

but somehow these hate creeps have been less shyabout their beliefs. They've been emboldened.

— Lenny Pozner, Noah's father

2/3/2017 In an age of 'alternative facts,' a massacre of schoolchildren is called a hoax ­ LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la­na­sandy­hook­conspiracy­20170203­story.html 3/6

Another man is in Rikers Island prison in New York fighting transfer to Connecticut for a deluge of harassing

phone calls to the home and office of the medical examiner who signed the coroner reports for Sandy Hook

victims.

At a memorial run in 2015 in honor of slain teacher Vicki Soto, a 33­year­old Brooklyn, N.Y., man was arrested

after police said he shoved a photo in the face of the victim’s younger sister, Jillian Soto, and demanded to

know whether her sister really died.

Another man was convicted of stealing memorial signs erected in playgrounds to commemorate the dead

children. He later called the children’s parents and said they shouldn’t mind because their children never

existed.

Most of the families associated with Sandy Hook have removed or protected their social media accounts and

unlisted their telephone numbers; some have changed homes.

Newtown residents are distrustful of outsiders. On the fourth anniversary of the massacre in December, there

was a low­key prayer vigil in a Catholic Church. An unmarked police car was stationed outside the elementary

school to keep an eye out for hoaxers who show up frequently, photographing children and confronting

families.

Who they were: The Newtown shooting victims »

“This cloud of disinformation and misinformation and fake news has been harmful to the community,’’ said

Patricia Llodra, a Republican selectwoman for Newtown. “I’m not an angry person, but when I think about the

hurtful things these hoaxers say, I want to ask, ‘How could you? How dare you question the pain that these

families experience every day.’”

Other tragedies have inspired conspiracy theories: The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the moon landing, the John F.

Kennedy assassination. What distinguishes Sandy Hook is that the theories revolve around people who were

utterly ordinary. None would have become public figures if not for 20­year­old Adam Lanza’s rampage through

an elementary school that fateful morning.

Pozner and his then­wife, Veronique, had moved to the Connecticut suburb, an 80­mile drive from New York

City, for its tree­lined cul­de­sacs and quality public schools.

On the morning of Dec. 14, 2012, Pozner drove Noah and his twin sister and another daughter to school. Noah,

wearing a Batman shirt, sang along to his favorite song, “Gangnam Style.”

Less than an hour later, he was shot in the face with such force that his jaw was blown off. His sisters cowered

in another classroom and survived.

Pozner didn’t pay attention to anything outside the fog of his grief in the first weeks. But when he went online

again, he was stunned to realize that many people seemed to think the massacre had been a hoax.

2/3/2017 In an age of 'alternative facts,' a massacre of schoolchildren is called a hoax ­ LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la­na­sandy­hook­conspiracy­20170203­story.html 4/6

The “Sandy Hook truthers,’’ as they called themselves, tormented not only the grieving families, but teachers,

police, photographers, first responders, neighbors, government officials and witnesses — they all were said to be

part of the ever­expanding conspiracy to fake the massacre.

“This was specifically a plot to steal America’s weapons in order to neutralize its power. The chief perpetrators

are powerful Zionists,’’ declared one website barely a month after the massacre.

The hoaxers claimed Sandy Hook children had been taught to play victims that day, and frequently cruised into

town with cameras to “expose” the “child actors.”

Pozner believes his family became a particular target because they were the most openly Jewish family, and

because his wife (from whom he is now divorced) was speaking publicly about gun control.

At first, Pozner was almost sympathetic to the disbelievers, in part because he had flirted with conspiracy

theories himself in the past. “A lot of these people couldn’t fathom that somebody would look a 6­year­old in

the face and pump bullets into his head,” he said.

He chatted online with those who thought the shooting had been faked. He fought back with facts. He released

Noah’s death certificate, the medical examiner’s report on his death and, for those who insisted Noah didn’t

exist, his birth certificate and his kindergarten report card. (“Noah is a sweet, inquisitive boy and I feel very

fortunate to have had him in my class this year,” wrote his teacher.)

But it didn’t work. One of the doubters told Pozner he ought to exhume the body to prove he really had a child

who died.

Eventually, Pozner gave up. He set up an organization called the HONR Network, devoting to fighting

hoaxes. He and volunteers now operate a series of websites that duel with the websites of conspiracy theorists.

He has filed a lawsuit against the most prolific hoaxers and succeeded in getting Florida State University to fire

a professor who had set up a website pushing the hoax theory. Free­speech laws protect much of the online

rumor­mongers, but Pozner has had success removing pictures of children.

“My objective is to reduce the footprint of the hatred and the most disgusting content,” he said.

It took nearly a year to remove a video that featured photos of Noah over the soundtrack from a porn movie.

He is currently pressing YouTube about a video with maps and directional arrows pointing to an apartment

where he used to live, chillingly zooming in on him through a balcony door as though a sniper was aiming a

shot.

Fearful for his safety, he has moved six times since Noah’s death (he now lives in Florida) and has all mail sent

to post office boxes.

2/3/2017 In an age of 'alternative facts,' a massacre of schoolchildren is called a hoax ­ LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la­na­sandy­hook­conspiracy­20170203­story.html 5/6

The conspiracy theorists have shown unflagging energy. The most persistent, Wolfgang Halbig, a 70­year­old

Florida man who describes himself as a retired school safety expert, said he had made 22 trips to Connecticut,

wiped out his pension and spent more than $100,000, which he raised online.

His theory is that between 500 to 700 people were involved in the “conspiracy” — including the schoolchildren,

parents, teachers and police, all the way up to President Obama.

In a telephone interview, he said he was encouraged by Trump’s election and was expecting that the new

administration would open an investigation into not only Sandy Hook but also the Boston Marathon bombing

and the Sept. 11 attacks.

“You have a president who is open and he wants the truth. He called out CNN for doing fake news,” Halbig

said. “This opens up a whole new avenue for these events to be investigated.”

Sandy Hook became an issue late in the presidential campaign when Hillary Clinton ran an ad attacking

Trump for his support of Alex Jones.

A week after the election, Jones doubled down on Sandy Hook with a lengthy special report.

“Children were lost at Sandy Hook. My heart goes out to each and every one of those parents and the people

that say they’re parents that I see on the news,” Jones declared.

Then he turned, in Pozner’s view, maddeningly ambiguous. “The only problem is that I’ve watched a lot of soap

operas, and I’ve seen actors before,” Jones told his listeners. “And I know when I’m watching a movie and

[when] I’m watching something real.”

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: BarbaraDemick

ALSO

How a cop and his wife found peace after the Sandy Hook massacre

Capturing the emotional fallout after Sandy Hook shooting, 'Newtown' documentary will breakyour heart

“... I’ve watched a lot of soap operas, and I’ve seenactors before. And I know when I’m watching amovie and [when] I’m watching something real.

— Alex Jones, Infowars