Corona City Council Challenger: City Should Be Shining Star

(CORONA, Calif.) “Corona has the potential to be a shining star in western Riverside County.” Speaking of his goal for his city, City Council challenger Louis Davis goes on to spell out the how and why of his campaign leading to the November 4 election.

“For years Council members have focused on high-end shops and restaurants,” he says. “But these are things that only appeal to a small part of our population. We have to make sure that we have someone on the city council that focuses on everyone.”

The father of four is very concerned about Corona’s families and its youth. “Corona is populated by families, yet there are no family-oriented facilities for them. And we have thriving youth football programs with no football field.”

Davis has pointed out that young athletes have to practice football on 6th Avenue where it isn’t safe for children. “We have fine facilities for baseball and soccer, but not even a goal post for footballers.”

Davis has long noted a lack of what he calls “an anchor” to downtown. “As in anchor, I’m talking about a performing arts center, an educational facility, a convention center, even a sports complex. And all these would generate significant income for the city’s General Fund.”

He adds, “We just can’t continue building new homes, new offices and retail space, then hope for the best. We’ve got to look ‘outside the box’ and plan in a big way for our future. Otherwise, 20-25 years down the road, we’ll be right where we are now.”

It has been estimated, he says, that by the year 2030, two million people will have moved into Riverside County, “with many of them choosing Corona,” Davis adds. “This isn’t Mayberry,” he says, referring to the old “Andy Griffith Show.” “Corona has the third largest population in western Riverside County. It’s time to act like it. Someone has to dream the big dream, and that’s me; and someone has to see these projects through, and that’s also me.”

Although he is a registered Democrat, he believes that he shares many common and conservative values with his neighbors. “People who know me,” he says, “know I would serve everyone regardless of political affiliation. If I were to be elected to the Corona City Council, every resident will have a true servant to work with.”

While this is Davis’ first bid for a major political office, he’s certainly not new to working in the community. Now a Region Manager for Local Public Affairs with Southern California Edison, he’s also a board member of the Norco Family YMCA and the Riverside Community College Foundation, along with being a member of the Corona Circle City Rotary and on the Board of Trustees of the Corona Library. In addition, Davis has been endorsed by the Central Labor Council of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Davis urges all Corona residents to get to the polls November 4, saying “Given a chance on the City Council, I can help make Corona a leading Southern California city.”

About Louis Davis
This active member of Faith Fellowship Bible Church has a B.A. degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Redlands. Before joining Southern California Edison in 2004, Davis spent 25 years with San Diego Gas & Electric including more than a decade as an Environmental Lab Technician then an Environmental Specialist.

On November 4, voters willing, Davis will begin initiating three major programs for Corona: “I want to bring us venues that will generate revenues for our General Fund; I plan to bring prominent universities and colleges to the city; and I’ll work hard to guide Corona to prepare for our future by bringing in a diverse business base with high end jobs and institutions that will survive any more economic downturns.”

For further information, or to contribute to the Louis Davis Campaign, go on line to www.leaveittolouis.com.
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Salvation Army Will Build Apartments For Homeless Female Veterans

Architectural renderings and a site plan for apartments The Salvation Army of San Bernardino plans to build on 10th Street.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – Female veterans and their families who have struggled with homelessness will have a new place to live, thanks to a grant The Salvation Army received recently.

The $150,000 grant is on top of a $1 million zero-interest loan already received from the California Department of Housing &; Community Development in July. Together, they will enable The Salvation Army to build eight to ten apartments near 925 Tenth Street, and to remodel an existing shelter there.

A few of the apartments will be reserved for veterans and their families. Since the Salvation Army of San Bernardino shelter primarily serves women and children, the apartments will be for female veterans.

“Building these apartments has been a goal of the Salvation Army for a long time,” said Capt. Stephen Ball, commander of The Salvation Army of San Bernardino. “The zero-interest loan from the state has helped us realize that dream, and the grant from the Veterans Administration allows us to reach out to a few more women, who have sacrificed for their country and now need our help to get back to normal lives.”

The Salvation Army of San Bernardino offers shelter to women and their husbands and children, usually for up to three months. It plans to offer the apartments to women with families who are living in the shelter, but need to rely longer on the services its ministry provides before making independent living arrangements.

The remodeling to the shelter itself will benefit all who rely on this service.

The shelter is currently operated by Adult Rehabilitation Services, another branch of The Salvation Army, which works with homeless men. Adult Rehabilitation Services is building a larger shelter on Doolittle Street, and should be able to move there in October 2008.

Once Adult Rehabilitation Services moves into their new facility, The Salvation Army of San Bernardino plans to modernize the shelter and to convert some of the area into dormitory-style apartments for single women who stay longer.

“The San Bernardino City Unified School District counted 1,700 homeless children in the district,” said Kent Paxton, director of Operation Phoenix, and leader in the city’s effort to assist The Salvation Army through the approval process. “Those children belong to families, some of whom will benefit from these apartments.”

The California Department of Housing & Community Development loan is zero interest for 10 years, and then won’t have to be repaid if The Salvation Army completes construction of the shelter, said Adriana Mattox, a funding consultant with Hill & Associates, a firm that helped The Salvation Army obtain both sources of funding.

Since the grant is from the Veteran’s Administration, five of the apartments will be for homeless female veterans. Three single women will live in the remodeled dormitory-style apartments in the shelter, while two women and their children will live in the nearby apartments.

Adult Rehabilitation Center currently operates the Tenth Street shelter as a residence for men in an addiction recovery program. The Salvation Army of San Bernardino is temporarily operating a shelter at 746 W. Fifth Street, primarily serving homeless women and children, but also married couples.

Sheltering up to 96 homeless people every night is just one of the many ministries The Salvation Army of San Bernardino offers. Other ministries include serving dinners six nights a week to up to 200 people, providing spiritual counseling and training, operating youth mentoring and recreational programs, and working to improve the lives of homeless families in the community.

The Salvation Army San Bernardino Citadel Corps has helped residents of San Bernardino, Rialto, Grand Terrace, Highland, Bloomington and Colton since 1887.

The homeless shelter and meals program is located at 746 W. Fifth St. in San Bernardino. For more information call (909) 888-1336.


About the Salvations Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army’s emergency services include food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

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Meet Candidates at Legislative Summit

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) More than a dozen candidates for federal, state, city and school governing board offices will discuss their hopes for the Inland Empire at a legislative summit sponsored by The Inland Empire Culture Alliance and Arrowhead Credit Union on Thursday October 23 at California State University, San Bernardino.

So far, the candidates who have accepted invitations to attend are:
• John Roberts, running for 43rd District Representative in the United States Congress
• Ameenah Fuller, running for 31st District in the California State Senate
• Mark Westwood, running for 63rd District in the California State Assembly
• Carl Wood, running for 65th District in the California State Assembly
• Alex Perez, running for Colton City Council, District 6
• Randall Ceniceros and Alen Ritchie, running for San Bernardino County Board of Education, Area E
• Damon Alexander and Willard Hughes, running for seats on the San Bernardino City Unified School District governing board
• Eufracia Boyle, Richard Boyle and John Futch, running for seats on the San Bernardino Community College governing board
• Corey Jackson, running for Rialto Unified School District governing board
• Jesus Jesse Sandoval, running for Fontana Unified School District governing board

Guests will have an opportunity to meet with these candidates one-on-one and ask them questions during the summit. The summit will take place from 6 p.m. to about 8 p.m. in the Lower Commons, Pine Room at Cal State San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino. The candidates will also provide written material about their campaigns.

All candidates in San Bernardino and Riverside counties were invited.

“The Inland Empire Cultural Alliance is an informal alliance of the ethnic Chambers of Commerce throughout the Inland Empire,” said Dolores Armstead, vice president of the Inland Empire African-American Chamber of Commerce. “We have formed the alliance to provide a format for our communities to meet their future legislators and to be heard,” she added.

The alliance will provide refreshments. For more information, call (909) 888-5223 or email info@ieaacc.com.

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