Dear Editor: Please understand that the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency (“EDA”) will not be removing residents from their homes in the area commonly referred to as 19th and Sunrise based on the actions recently taken by the Community Development Commission (“CDC”). The actions of the CDC on Monday, July 20, 2009, to approve an agreement with Mary Erickson Community Housing, a non-profit corporation, are focused on utilizing the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (“NSP”) funds that are presently available from the federal government. The NSP funds can only be used for the acquisition of foreclosed properties directly from lenders who have completed the entire foreclosure process on a property. If a property is presently in foreclosure or if the owner is delinquent in making mortgage payments to the lender, the NSP funds cannot be used to acquire those housing units. Our experiences have shown that virtually each of the properties on the foreclosed list within the City and which are thereby eligible for use of the NSP funds are vacant and typically in need of substantial rehabilitation. Utilizing the NSP funds, the EDA through its non-profit partners is attempting to provide benefits to the various communities where there are a significant numbers of foreclosed properties that are continuing to deteriorate and cause further blighting effects on adjacent properties. The use of these grant funds will allow the EDA and its non-profit partners to fix-up and rehabilitate these run-down properties and to provide better screening of tenants to assure that good citizens become our neighbors. The other source of funds for acquisition of housing units in the 19th and Sunrise area is the EDA’s low and moderate-income housing fund. As housing units become available on the open market for sale at the option of each property owner, the EDA does intend either directly or through its non-profit partners to acquire these properties as well. The NSP funds cannot be used for this purpose. We recognize that there are some responsible property owners in the 19th and Sunrise area who should be considered role models for all landlords. After hearing the numerous complaints by residents at the July 20, 2009, CDC meeting, it appears obvious that those “slum landlords” who continue to acquire and resell the 4-plexes in the 19th and Sunrise area do not maintain the properties to acceptable standards but merely collect rents and fail to make any repairs or improvements to their properties. It is the goal of the EDA to break this cycle of “slum landlords” who seek a quick and easy profit at the expense of the residents and impact other City services. The EDA is attempting to provide for responsible ownership and professional management of 4-plexes in the 19th and Sunrise area. The goal of the EDA is to address issues with the blighted and foreclosed properties and convert them into a combination of quality affordable apartments, senior housing and single-family homes. Residents will have additional resources through responsible owners to create a safe neighborhood. As the redevelopment of this area progresses, the residents will have an opportunity that does not currently exist to rent the repaired and upgraded apartments as they become available. As was stated at the July 20, 2009, CDC meeting by several speakers, doing nothing is not an option. If the EDA does nothing, then the speculators and slum-lords will purchase the 4-plexes once again and repeat the same cycle that has occurred several times over the past 20 years. There are many steps that need to be taken before the entire project is complete. Whatever degree of accomplishments we achieve in the future will provide better living conditions than what is currently found in the 19th and Sunrise area today. If you have any questions please call the EDA representative for this project Samuel Hughes at (909) 963-5020. Sincerely, Carey K. Jenkins Director of Housing and Community Development
Friday, July 24, 2009
The EDA will not be removing residents from their homes
Thursday, July 23, 2009
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Time for Back-To-School Immunizations
Keep your children happy and healthy by making sure they’re up-to-date on their childhood immunizations. With many Inland Empire schools beginning a new year in August, it’s not too soon to make an appointment. LaSalle Medical Associates offers low-cost immunizations and also accepts most insurance. Photo courtsey of Carl Dameron.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – Whether your child is starting kindergarten or a senior in high school, visiting the pediatrician for immunizations should, for many students, be an important part of the back-to-school preparations.
And with many schools starting in August, it’s not too soon to make that appointment.
“It is important not to wait until the last minute,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, President of LaSalle Medical Associates. “As we get closer to September, more schools will be opening for a new year, and we will become even busier.”
There are four vaccinations all kindergarteners must have before entering school for the first time, said Dr. Cheryl Emoto, Medical Director for LaSalle Medical Associates. And, as they grow older, children need additional immunizations.
“Children entering kindergarten should receive boosters for DTap (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and Varicella (chicken pox), she said.
If parents have kept up with their child’s immunizations from birth, only booster immunizations for the above diseases are needed. However, they should have also received vaccinations for these and several other diseases prior to age 2, and as kindergarteners may need several doses of immunizations if not “caught up.”
When children turn 11, they can and should receive the meningitis vaccine for the first time, Dr. Emoto said. The Center for Disease Control also recommends children this age receive a tetanus (Tdap) booster, she noted.
Parents can schedule these vaccines shortly after the child’s 11th birthday, but they can also can be part of a back-to-school immunization routine for any student, even those over 18.
“Children older than 11 who have not received these vaccines should also come in to get them,” she said. “And if you have a teenager who is enrolling in college, planning to live in a dormitory, and hasn’t been vaccinated for meningitis, they should be vaccinated now.”
Girls age 9 and older, and young women up to age 26 can receive the vaccine against the human papiolloma (HPV) virus. While giving this vaccine to girls in elementary school is not without controversy, many doctors, including those at LaSalle Medical Associates, are highly in favor.
“The HPV virus is the main cause of cervical cancer,” Emoto explained. “It is important that a girl receive three doses, which are given over a six-month period, before her first sexual encounter in order for the vaccine to be fully effective.”
One vaccination not available during the back-to-school season is the flu shot. These are given in fall, when the vaccine is available from manufacturers.
“We depend on when the vaccine is shipped,” Emoto said. “We may have flu vaccines in September this year, but in past years it wasn’t until October that we received the vaccine. Once we receive it, we encourage all children six months to 18 years to receive an annual flu vaccine.”
Children younger than 8 who are being immunized against flu for the first time receive a two-part vaccine, she said. The second dose is given four to six weeks after the first.
“Healthy children 2 years of age and older also have the option of receiving the vaccination as a nasal spray instead of as an injection,” Emoto said. “The nasal spray is just as effective.”
As it stands now, the flu vaccines that will be given in 2009 won’t protect against the H1N1 virus, also known as Swine Flu. But that could change by the time traditional flu season arrives.
Emoto noted that several manufacturers are working to develop an H1N1 vaccine, When vaccines are available, she said, LaSalle Medical Associates will rely on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control as to who should receive that immunization and when.
The LaSalle Medical Associates clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia.
For more information or to make an appointment call LaSalle Medical Associates at (909) 890-0407.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Ride Praise Party Bus to Stop Cancer
Dr. Gerald T. Hightower, senior pastor of Purpose Center International Ministries in Perris, is passionate about cancer prevention. He is shown here emceeing the 2008 Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference, a job he will have again when the conference returns to California Baptist University on Aug. 1. This year, Purpose Center International Ministries is also sponsoring a “Praise Party Bus” to take Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference participants to the Chino Relay for Life, where they can enroll in a long-term study conducted by the American Cancer Society, to find ways of preventing cancer. Photo by Chris Sloan
(CHINO Calif.) Immediately following the fifth annual Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference in Riverside, participants can join sponsor Purpose Center International Ministries on their next step to good health.
After the conference ends, Purpose Center International Ministries will provide round trip transportation by the Praise Party Bus to the Chino Relay for Life at Ayala Park, 14201 Central Ave. Chino. At this event, conference participants have an opportunity to enroll in the American Cancer Society’s CPS-3 (Cancer Prevention Study #3).
To reserve a seat on the Praise Party Bus, call (951) 300-1223. Music and free refreshments will be provided.
The Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference, which helps African-Americans and others develop strategies for healthier living, takes place at California Baptist University, from 8 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. The bus leaves the California Baptist University parking lot for Chino at 5 p.m. and returns to Riverside at approximately 8 p.m.
For Dr. Gerald T. Hightower, senior pastor of Purpose Center International Ministries, preventing cancer is personal. His mom is a cancer survivor.
“My mom had a very serious bout with cancer two years ago, and required a mastectomy,” he said. “Fortunately, after her mastectomy and a lot of prayer, she recovered and is healed! Cancer prevention is my passion now, and that’s why I want to encourage all the pastors to have their congregations come and participate in the CPS -3 Enrollment Event at the Chino Relay for Life.”
“CPS-3 is a research study to help bring about a cancer-free tomorrow,” said Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference founder and organizer Phyllis Clark. “The American Cancer Society needs more African-Americans to participate. The Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference and Purpose Center International Ministries, both of which serve primarily African-Americans, are supporting by recruiting participants and providing transportation.”
Since otherwise willing participants can enroll immediately following the Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference, by providing transportation, it takes away the excuses conference participants might have of not having transportation outside the area served by Riverside County’s bus service, or not wanting to drive their own cars to and from a city more than 20 miles away.
“The Chino Relay for Life is the only opportunity in our area for people to enroll in this study. It is really important for African-Americans to enroll, so I don’t want them to use transportation as an excuse,” Clark said. “If African-Americans cannot participate, we cannot study the links between their lifestyle and cancer. I encourage all the community leaders and pastors to reach out and challenge African-Americans to join in this study and save lives.”
For CPS-3, the American Cancer Society seeks 500,000 adults from the United States and Puerto Rico. They should be between 30 and 65 years old, and have never been diagnosed with cancer. They also must be willing to make a long-term commitment, as participation requires follow-up studies every few years for the next 10 to 20 years.
At the Chino Relay for Life, they will read and sign a consent form, complete a brief written survey, provide a waist measurement and a small blood sample drawn by a certified phlebotomist. In about four weeks, they will receive an in-depth survey in the mail. Upon completion and return of this survey, Clark said, they are officially enrolled in the CPS-3 study, and should expect to receive more in-depth surveys over the years.
The American Cancer Society has conducted two previous cancer prevention studies, the first in 1950.
“These studies have played a major role in cancer prevention and legislation since then,” Clark said. “The first study showed the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. This prompted the U.S. Surgeon General’s warning on cigarette package. These studies also showed a link between obesity and cancer, which has helped us develop prevention strategies.”
Relays for Life are events the American Cancer Society holds throughout the nation to raise money for cancer research. Teams of eight to 15 members participate by raising a minimum of $10 per team member in donations, then run or walk laps on a track throughout the 24-hour duration of the Relay for Life event.
While the American Cancer Society holds relays in hundreds of other cities throughout each year, only a few of them include an opportunity to enroll in the CPS-3 study. The only other opportunity to register in the Inland Empire was at a relay that took place in April in Yucca Valley.
For more information about the CPS-3 study, visit www.cancer.org/cps3
Besides speakers, workshops and Praise Party Bus transportation to Chino Relay for Life, participants in the Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference will be able to obtain information from local health care providers, and receive basic health screenings and referrals for other free or low-cost preventive health care services.
The 2009 conference is limited to 200 people, so advance registration is necessary. For more information or make a reservation to attend the Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference call (951) 288-4375 or e-mail hhwcmovement@yahoo.com
Sponsorships for this year’s conference are still available. They include The American Cancer Society, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Purpose Center International Ministries, City of Hope, the Riverside Community Health Foundation, Inland Agency, Abbott Vascular, and Dameron Communications.
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