Police Steal Photo For Hit Piece

Photo by Robert Yager, copyright 2003

(LOS ANGELES) The website of professional photographer Robert Yager contains 30 disturbing images of anonymous gang members in Los Angeles.

One of those copyrighted images on www.robertyager.com is a snarling, gun-wielding Latino gang-banger, which Yager shot on a street in Los Angeles. It gained recent notoriety when it appeared in a flier the Rialto police and fire unions put out in support of the re-election of current Mayor Grace Vargas.

“You will be seeing a lot more of us if Deborah Robertson is elected Mayor” warns the flier in type over the gang member’s photo. Union officials acknowledge they’re sending this message out because of past votes Robertson took, which they believe aren’t in the union members’ best interests.

Yager didn’t know his photo was circulating in Rialto until he saw a television report on Oct. 28. He then contacted Robertson by email.

“I am wondering how and why they came to use my photo,” Yager said in his email. I did not give the Fire Department or Police Department permission to use this photo. It is a copyrighted image.”

Robertson also wonders what the union leaders were thinking.

“It seems our police and fire unions used Robert Yager’s photographs without permission, a clear copyright infringement,” she said. Some people would call that theft. It seems they took what they wanted and ignored what might happen.”

Public safety is one of Robertson’s goals, and will continue to be if she’s elected Mayor.

“If I’m Mayor, people will have sense that safety is a priority with the city,” she said. “But it’s not the only priority.”
She also will give a high priority to economic development, which she says is essential for strengthening a tax base to provide essential city services.

Robertson has served on the Rialto City Council eight years and has lived in Rialto for 20. She’s active in the East Rialto Kiwanis, the National Council of Negro Women, HIV/AIDS awareness and education program Brothers and Sisters in Action and other local organizations.

In addition to her elected seat on the Council, Robertson is also the Deputy District Director of External Affairs for the California Department of Transportation, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. She has worked for the State of California for the last 20 years, and in her current position oversees a budget of about $6 million, plus is responsible for Public, Media and Government Affairs, Public Records, Small Business and Community Outreach and Graphic Service.

Robertson is endorsed by the San Bernardino Sun, Black Voice News, Inland Valley News, the Press-Enterprise and Westside Story. She’s also endorsed by mayors, city council members, commissioners and school board members from throughout the Inland Empire, and numerous organizations and private citizens. A few of her endorsements are from Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter, Colton City Council Member Kelly Chastain, Rialto City Council Member Winifred Hanson, former Assembly member John Longville, Rialto School Board Member Dan Mays, Ontario City Council Member Alan Wapner, Fontana City Council Member Aquanetta Warren, Rialto Commissioner Midge Zupanic and the Rialto Democratic Club.


“Rialto needs Deborah Robertson as mayor. The two-term councilwoman's smarts, tenacity and commitment to taxpayers are Rialto's best defense to unstable economic factors that threaten its progress.” San Bernardino Sun editorial, Oct. 8, 2008

“Deborah Robertson is an assertive city councilwoman who espouses vision and an eagerness for the city to move forward on longstanding programs,” Riverside Press-Enterprise article, Oct. 4, 2008

“Robertson can provide energetic leadership and a pragmatic approach to city government … the better choice for mayor.” Riverside Press-Enterprise editorial, Oct. 25, 2008.

“Who is putting forth the energy and vision to turn the corner to greatness for Rialto? To me, Deborah (Robertson) will bring that energy and the knowledge of state government to turn that corner.” Editorial by Hardy Brown, publisher of Black Voice News, Oct. 9, 2009.