An elevator speech about community development

The final speaker at last night's Area Commander meeting was a representative from Pomona's Community Development Department. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what the heck we were suppose to get out this presentation, amorphously titled 2010-2011 Citizen Participation.

The speaker provided a hefty handout containing 19 PowerPoint slides (one whole page per slide; note to printer: next time consider using the 3-slides-per-page "handouts" format for printing). She then proceeded to walk us through slides with riveting titles (yes, that is sarcasm you detect) such as: "Statutory Spending Caps" and "CDBG Funding Comes with Rules." Yawn.

Finally, I raised my hand to ask why residents should care about this information. (Those of you who read the M-M-M-My Pomona blog may remember I asked a similar question of the Housing Division's Annual Report.)

With a little prodding, the answer became clear. So, to save you the bewilderment I navigated while listening to a poorly structured presentation that seems to have been prepared for a totally different audience, I present Pride's elevator speech [1] about why we should all give a damn:

"All of us benefit from Pomona's community development efforts. These efforts include improving code enforcement, public facilities, and neighborhood services; providing economic support to home owners, home buyers, and renters; and operating shelters for our city's homeless citizens.

"Pomona's community development efforts are largely supported by Federal funding. The amount of funding we receive is determined by residents' responses to the Census. We receive more funding when more people participate in the Census. Please encourage everyone you know to participate. Let's make sure all of Pomona's residents are counted!

"Once we receive Federal funding, we have to determine how to spend the funds. Your input helps the city determine how to spend the money. If you haven't already done so, complete and submit the Community Needs Survey; a copy appears in the Housing Division's Annual Report that arrived in your mailbox last month. If you don't have a copy of the survey, you can complete it online. Go to the city's homepage, then click on the featured link titled Community Needs Survey.

"The city mailed out 44,000 paper copies of the survey. Yet, only 1,200 surveys have been returned to date. Do the math: 2.7% of those who received the survey get to inform how the city spends its Federal funds.[2] The city needs input from as many residents as possible. Let your voice be heard!

"To summarize, I'll reiterate two points. First, participate in the Census so Pomona receives all the Federal funding it is entitled to. Second, complete the Community Needs Survey so the city knows how you think these funds should be spent. Thank you."

So that pretty much summarizes my understanding of what Tuesday evening's presentation intended to communicate. If others can help sharpen my understanding or representation of the issues, by all means, comment.



[1] Perhaps I could get this all in on the elevator ride down into the bowels of the Hoover Dam.

[2] Presumably the "1,200 surveys completed" estimate includes both paper and electronic responses. I'm not sure if 44,000 is the number of households in Pomona, or just a sampling of residences.

Parade of prostitutes

Are others noticing an increase in prostitution along Holt?

Late last week on my way home from work, as I drove along Holt from Indian Hill to Reservoir, I counted four prostitutes and one john (I'm guessing there were other johns, but I only saw one pulled over so a gal could jump into his HUMMER). Granted, late afternoons are a peak time for prostitution activity, but...c'mon...we're talking less than three quarters of a mile. That's a lot of for-pay-bootie.

Yesterday, around lunch time a gal was meandering along the south border of Garfield Park checking out cars and approaching those that pulled over to "ask for directions." Geez.

What gives? Perhaps the Montclair PD just upped its policing of prostitution east of Mills along Holt, inviting the "vendors" to shift even more into Pomona's jurisdiction?

I hate that our community is blighted by crime; I especially hate that this stretch of Holt is blighted by such visible crime (afterall, vendors in this business can't make much of a profit if folks don't know they're selling). From what I understand, neither prostitutes nor johns tend to live in Pomona, yet our tax dollars go toward policing and prosecuting the crimes. Argh.

If you see any hooking along Holt, please call dispatch.

Click-it or Ticket

"During the months of April and May Pomona police will actively enforce the seat belt laws."

Can someone please interpret this sentence for me? I'm not opposed to public safety campaigns, but could we use different language when we're describing it. If we are going to set aside two months for a seat belt enforcement season, when is the red light violator season or the speeding down Towne season? I'll settle for the speeding in a school zone season.

Sorry, I have a few festering issues, and this DB mini-column sent me over the edge. Hmmm, if not 'actively', how do you 'passively' enforce the seat belt laws? ....not enforcing them, perhaps.

Peddling Wares in Parking Lots

Is it just me, or is business hopping in the parking lot of the "99 cent only store" on Holt and Paloma? I was in the parking lot twice this past week. Both times young men were approaching people getting into and out of cars, attempting to sell bootlegged DVDs and CDs.

Sure, I'm guessing the guy who camps out in front of Cardenas selling the little stuffed toys probably doesn't hold a city permit to sell or anything like that, but at least he is pretty up front about what he is doing and he isn't approaching vehicles. Moreover, there's at least a chance he's selling legally obtained wares.

The DVD and CD guys are definitely not selling legally obtained materials. Yesterday, the kid (maybe age 14 or 15) dropped his big black duffel bag in front of my car and then walked across the parking lot. He returned about a minute later. I casually asked what he had in the bag; he said DVDs. Ever concerned about his best interests (ha ha), I let him know the cops were in the lot a couple days ago busting people. This may or may not be true; I know I called dispatch to report the shady dealings a couple days ago, but I didn't stick around to see if the cops were able to stop by.

Pomona Press Releases: Come out, come out, wherever you are

I know our fair city puts out press releases. I see them referenced in papers, radio broadcasts, and the like. Yet, poking around the city web page, I can't seem to find a listing of all press releases.

Sure, there's the link on the city's homepage, but the page shows only the happy-sunny press releases -- exciting grants, Pomona becoming a Tree City USA, etc. I guess "press release" translates roughly to "public relations."

Where's the more gritty stuff? The stuff appropriate for a crime blog (play theme music now -- OK, so we don't have any theme music just yet; feel free to pitch your wares)?

I recall a few months ago searching for information about the officer-involved shooting the took place right next to Garfield Park. I talked with an investigator at the LA County Sheriff's Dept; he told me I could find info in the press release. I couldn't find it, and I was highly motivated to do so given all of us on the park were really freaking out about all the crime tape and the many police and sheriff cars on the block.

So, I'm going to add an issue to the "wish list" for the SARA meeting -- tell me where to find press releases. In the meantime, here's a story from the Contra Costa Times (yeah, I hadn't heard of 'em either); hey look, they got their info from a press release -- more evidence press releases exist ...somewhere:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_11758024

POMONA MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN HEMET

POMONA - Police officers with assistance from other law enforcement agencies have arrested a 29-year-old man suspected of killing an acquaintance in December.

Ruben Michael Alvarez was arrested in the 500 block of Wild Rye Court in Hemeton Friday at 3 p.m., according to a Pomona police news release.

Alvarez was spotted by agents with the State Parole Board and U.S. Marshals Office at a home on that street, according to the release.

The Pomona resident was taken into custody after Parole agents, Marshals and Hemet police officers surrounded the house.

Alvarez was arrested after he and other residents in the house came out.

He was returned to Pomona where he was booked into Pomona City Jail on suspicion of murder. He is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.

The victim, George Antonio Tamayo, 46, of Pomona was found shot to death in a vacant apartment in the 700 block of East End Avenue at 6:08 p.m. Dec. 14, authorities said.

Pomona police Detective Jennifer Turpin said the suspect and victim were friends who had known each other for three or four years.

"The suspect is a gang member, but the victim is not a gang member and this was not gang-related," Turpin said.

Several people were in the apartment with the two at the time of the shooting.

Detectives still do not have a motive for the shooting.

Perpetuating Stereotypes or Promoting Facts?

I just received the following note from a college-age neighbor who is leaving the neighborhood.

"Ahh, Pomona. So full of memories. The memories of the cop shooting that dude in front of the [house], the guy shot right in the butt in the park across the street (honestly, who does a drive by with a frickin' RIFLE!?) and the memories of the [house] being broken into and burgled. After a year and a half, we are done with this place. So, now we are off to the world of Ragin' Waters and Bill and Ted: San Dimas. As of January 30th, 2009, our new address will be _______."

Everything he says in the note is true. The officer-involved shooting did happen right here, the butt-destined bullet brought the park to the news, and their house was targeted during a burglary. Yet, I find the note's tone entirely irritating. Perhaps the tone is an attempt at humor, or perhaps the writer attempts to affect an edgy "I don't give a hoot" attitude.

In an invite to their house cooling party, the same neighbor wrote: "To celebrate our exodus from the land of shootings, knifings, break-ins and hookers, we are having the last themed party at the [house] before [we] ....make our way to the lovely land of San Dimas. Come dressed up in any way you interpret the theme!" In cases you're wondering, the theme for the party is "I fought the law."

Sure, I understand he feels victimized after a break-in. I get that. But I don't understand the willingness or motivation to rip on the entire community. I still live here. I'm not a hooker (though once I dressed as a one for a college Halloween party -- a regrettable choice); I don't do drugs (well, there are those prescriptions in the medicine cabinet).

How do we draw the line between stereotypes and honest representations? Sweeping generalizations about our community become assertions about neighborhoods, about individual homes, about the people who live and love within those homes. I object.

What worries me most is we're sending out into the broader world someone who has now lived in Pomona and will likely attempt to serve as a witness to all the ills of our city, "the land of shootings," further strengthening the assumptions held by people who resist going south of the 10 or east of the 57. Gee, thanks.