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Amid Pandemic and Economic Crisis, Directors Collaborate to Improve Water Quality & Infrastructure Without Increasing Costs for Ratepayers

As the country continues to face a pandemic and an economic crisis, the Water Valley Water District (WVWD) Board of Directors responsibly approved fiscal year (FY) 2020-2021 budget with $416,000 in cost savings and no water rate increases.

“In the face of a pandemic and economic crisis, this budget delivers on our promise to increase fiscal responsibility and accountability,” stated Board President Channing Hawkins. “I’m proud of the West Valley Water District board and management team for working together to make hard choices and prioritizing investments in our infrastructure. Despite all the obstacles, we were able to account for revenue shortfalls and ensure quality services for ratepayers without raising rates.”

Anticipating a decline in revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WVWD staff introduced a proposed operating budget in May that applied a 10 percent reduction to operation expenditures. Over the past several weeks, the board of directors held five public virtual workshops to recommend additional cost savings opportunities.

During these meetings, the board identified and eliminated an additional $416,000 in expenses from professional service contracts, including fees to lobbyists and consultants, and internal operating agreements for fleet, waste and building maintenance services. The overall FY 2020-2021 budget includes a nearly 12 percent decrease compared to FY 19-20 approved budget but keeps water rates steady for ratepayers. 

“We will not consider rate increases during a global pandemic,” stated Vice President Kyle Crowther. “I am pleased that we were able to identify funding for critical projects to enhance services across our Water District. I am proud of the work our management team has done to ensure that we have a budget that keeps water flowing.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic forces California’s economy into a recession, many state and local agencies are being forced to cut back on spending. Governor Gavin Newsom recently suggested that the State of California faces $54.3 billion deficit despite starting the year with about $20 billion in reserves. While WVWD does not fund operations and capital improvement projects via sales tax revenues, it does fund operations by utilizing district general fund and capacity charges, which were also affected by COVID-19 and ratepayers’ inability to sustain payments due to financial strain. The approved budget not addresses WVWD’s financial needs but does so without rate increases or issuing new debt. 

Congratulations to Myrlene Pierre for being selected as the NEW Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. (SBCSS)

Previously, Pierre served as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for the Westminster School District for the past three years. She also was an assistant superintendent of Educational Services with the Claremont Unified School District. She also was the director of Educational Services with the Magnolia School District for four years. From 2006-2010, Pierre served in roles as a principal and curriculum specialist in the Anaheim Elementary School District.

“I join our County Superintendent and County Board of Education in our excitement to have such a decorated educator with 3 decades of experience join our team.  Alejandre said. “She has been a teacher, principal and district administrator in Southern California and has a passion for developing strong educational programs for all students.”

In her new role as Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, Pierre will oversee the operations of the Student Services branch that includes the administrators, teachers and paraprofessionals who provide direct support to students in the County Schools.

Pierre will be a member of the county superintendent’s executive cabinet. County Schools’ Student Services program annually provides education to approximately 6,000 students in alternative education, special education, juvenile court school and state preschool programs.

RIALTO, CA—- During its June 9, 2020 meeting, the Rialto City Council approved the City’s continued federal funding allocation for the Inland Empire Section of the National Council of Negro Women (“IE NCNW”), allowing the long-standing Rialto-based nonprofit to continue to provide career and educational assistance to Rialto youth and young adults.

On February 11, 2020, the City Council authorized a financial audit of all its federal block grants and its state-funded Proposition 47 grant. Additionally, the City Council voted to retain Special Counsel to produce a report looking into possible conflicts of interests and financial entanglements between Mayor Deborah Robertson and IE NCNW, a long-time grant recipient. The City Council expressed concern that Mayor Robertson was a member of IE NCNW and her daughter is currently President of the organization. With the Special Counsel Report (“Report”) completed, the City Council took up the funding item; and after hearing hours of strong community support for IE NCNW, awarded the organization funding for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

IE NCNW cooperated fully and voluntarily in the Special Counsel investigation by providing written answers to questions, as well as corporate and financial records. The Report offered legal guidance and recommendations but was not designed to make a final determination of the issues.

Importantly, the Special Counsel found that Mayor Robertson and her daughter, IE NCNW President Milele Robertson, did not have a “financial interest in the grant.” The Report contained recommendations that the City could follow-up with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, California Attorney General, and the Board of State and Community Corrections to obtain further guidance. Mayor Robertson’s attorney, Allison Bracy, informally consulted with HUD’s regional representative, who did not view the issue as problematic from a conflict-of-interest viewpoint.

Although the Report stated that the arrangement may be an “apparent” conflict under state common law, it concluded that Mayor Robertson had no financial interest in IE NCNW and Milele Robertson received no compensation from IE NCNW. The Report also noted that Mayor Robertson and Milele Robertson may have received a “tangible personal benefit” based on the receipt of grants by IE NCNW. The Report, however, did not explain how either received any type of personal benefit because the funding went to the organization and neither Mayor Robertson nor Milele Robertson obtained any compensation or financial benefit from the funds.

Following the approval of the IE NCNW funding, The Sun newspaper, on June 18, 2020, published an incomplete and misleading article on the Special Counsel Report’s findings, failing to mention that Mayor Robertson decided to recuse herself from the June 9t h vote and, subsequently, the IE NCNW funding was approved.

The June 18th article also failed to mention findings in the Report that several state statute and regulations were not violated by the arrangement. Prior to publishing the article, IE NCNW’s attorney attempted to reach the reporter, Joe Nelson, by telephone, but The Sun reporter did not return the call to get IE NCNW’s viewpoint or comment.

With the City Council’s decision to award IE NCNW grant funding, the service organization will continue to provide career services and educational assistance to Rialto youth and young adults. IE NCNW members also volunteer their time and expertise as well as give financially to support additional activities not covered by the City’s CDBG funding, such as: assisting walk-in residents seeking resources and referrals for assistance programs, job referral and placement, and helping local homeless individuals and families. On a typical day, IE NCNW assists up to 100 people, striving to help them meet basic needs for housing, employment, and food.

IE NCNW membership also holds an annual food drive, giving 50 or more food baskets to Rialto families experiencing food insecurity during the holiday season, as well as offering monetary and in-kind donations to support local victims of domestic abuse.

“On behalf of IE NCNW, I thank everyone who provided support and used their voice to speak to the integrity of our Section and the services we provide through the organization and Bethune Center program. The support speaks volumes of our collective strength when we all come together,” said Milele Robertson, IE NCNW President.

Please address any questions to Willie W. Williams, attorney for IE NCNW, at the number provided.

(P)   909.581.8341  •  (F) 909.586.9380

10621 Church Street, Suite 110 • Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

Web: www.williewilliomslaw.com • Email: www@williewilliamslaw.com

The headline appeared in the New York Times on June 15, 1974. It described yet another athletic triumph by Jerry Herndon of UCLA — who on the day before had flown 25 feet and 4 ½ inches to a long jump pit in Gainesville, Fla., setting a new record for a meet of the national Amateur Athletic Union. Jerry defeated an Olympic gold medalist on his way to capturing an NCAA title as a freshman that year, engraving his name in track-and-field history just months after arriving in Westwood as the holder of a San Bernardino County record that has stood untouched for two generations.

Forty-five years later, those words sum up the extraordinary life of a man who mastered the recipe for legacy: Building, multiplying, and sustaining family. Creating a community. Inspiring young people and guiding them toward the future. Putting humanity before self, imperfectly but gloriously reaching for ideals that brought joy, knowledge, humor, and understanding into the lives of countless people — one encounter, conversation, or lesson at a time.

Jerry Lyn Herndon, the ninth child of Sidney and Essie Herndon, was born on March 12, 1955. The family left their home in Ada, Oklahoma before Jerry turned 3 — settling in San Bernardino, Calif., where a young Jerry could most often be found having adventures with his brothers Willie and Ruben in the backyard of the family home.

He worshiped at Bethesda Temple Church of God in Christ as a child (where he formed a gospel singing group, the Bethesda-ites, with his brothers and a cousin) and later at Greater Victory Church of God in Christ and Harvest Care Christian Church. When he was growing up, no one was ever turned away from the family doorstep or dinner table — where an extended family and community began growing to untold numbers with limitless reach.

As a child and young man, Jerry was a good student at California Elementary, Fremont Middle, and Cajon High schools — and a standout varsity athlete in track-and-field, football, baseball, and basketball. But it was inside his family’s big, sweet brew of personality, spirituality, and generosity that Jerry honed intellectual, imaginative, interpersonal, and physical gifts that would shape his life and touch the lives of so many others. Whether he was learning about the nature of God from his mother; the meaning of life from his father; the value of solidarity from his brothers; the bliss of charity from his sisters; the power of Blackness from his cousin Maya Angelou; or the urgency of hustle at his Uncle Kermit’s Hollywood shoeshine stand, Jerry absorbed each lesson. And he never hesitated to share his remarkable insights with anyone who had the wisdom to engage him in conversation, or the good fortune to cross his path.

After an outstanding stint at UCLA as a superstar athlete, campus government leader, and graduate in a major of his own creation, speech communications, Jerry could have gone anywhere to do anything. His decision was to return home to San Bernardino — where he excelled at media while working in the publisher’s office at the San Bernardino Sun, politics while mounting an underdog campaign for City Council, and most importantly, fatherhood as a loving Dad to eight children: Andre (Loretta), with his high school sweetheart, Desiree Brock; Keyva and Daphne (Adonis), with his wife Katherine Miller; Amber (James), Sidney (Jenna), and Briana (Nathan) with his wife, Gena Talley; and Ardena and Khloe, with Toni Irvin. He was immensely proud of his 15 grandchildren: Kyrah, Kareem, Gary, Dominick, Marley, James, Asyah, Zane, Apollo, Aurora, Wyatt, Atlas, Layla, Ace, and Maverick.

His brilliance as a leader of young people was encapsulated in the professional role that defined the best years of his life: Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino — where Jerry mentored, counseled, motivated, and watched over a generation of children and teenagers coming up in the same neighborhood that served as his launching pad. For a decade-and-a-half under his leadership, 1180 W. Ninth Street was a place where anyone who needed to hear “yes” could make a friend, get a job, eat a meal, join a team, play a sport, and find an opportunity. You could dazzle crowds as a member of the Pacesetters. Get tutored in math, English, science or history after school. Learn tennis, swimming, modeling, martial arts, boxing, and art at Summer Day Camp. Take trips to campgrounds in Mammoth, NFL playoff games, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, Neverland Ranch, and every amusement park within bus ride distance. Feel human and connected at a time when too many Black and Latino young people were being discarded by society, disregarded by the establishment, and dehumanized in popular culture. His mission was to give a sense of belonging to each person who entered those doors, in hopes that they could leave with the tools and resources to follow their dreams, conquer any demons, and put goodness into a world that needs it. Though his service at the Boys & Girls Club ended, his humanitarianism never faded — in 2020, he was still actively organizing health fairs through his church, and independently providing food and clothing to people who were experiencing homelessness in his neighborhood.

In his time, Jerry’s eyes stayed on tomorrow. His optimism never wavered. His heart never shrank, his soul was never bound, and his spirit always flew free. He was forever ready to start something new — and in his mind, humanity was always on the cusp of new discoveries, stronger justice, and better unity.

That was his frame of mind when he departed this life on June 14, 2020. His loss is monumental — but the memories created and the legacy built will be passed down through the oral tradition that meant so much to him, and have impact through the ages.

Beyond his children, Jerry is survived by his brothers Sidney Frederick Herndon (Hazel), Myles Edward Herndon, and Byron Duryea Herndon (Regina) sisters Beverly Ann Martin, Evelyn Margie Tahiru, and Ida Ruth Martin (George). He was preceded in death by his beloved parents Sidney and Essie and brothers Brent Astaire Herndon, Freddie Lee Herndon, Willie Cullen Herndon, and Ruben Coleman Herndon. He will be remembered by innumerable nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved him like family and received that love in return.

Jerry Lyn Herndon is an ancestor now. His destiny fulfilled and eternal rest well-deserved, he is now with the Heavenly Father who breathed life into him and placed him at the center of our lives.

Be at peace, good buddy.

SACRAMENTO, CA— With Tax Day approaching, the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today offered key tips to help Californians prepare their taxes before the July 15 filing deadline.

COVID-19 Relief: FTB is providing special tax relief and assistance for taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through July 15, which is the deadline for all Californians to file and pay taxes owed. Visit FTB’s COVID-19 frequently asked questions page for more information on collections relief, extensions for filing/paying taxes, the federal CARES Act, and more.

“During this public health emergency, we are doing everything we can to make California taxpayers aware of free tax preparation assistance and other available resources ahead of the July 15 deadline,” said State Controller and FTB Chair Betty T. Yee. 

California’s Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC): If you are 18 or older, work, and have low income, you may qualify for CalEITC. Between CalEITC and the companion federal EITC, low-income families can boost their refund by thousands of dollars. Anyone earning $30,000 or less may qualify for CalEITC of up to $2,982. Those earning $55,952 or less may be able to receive the federal EITC of up to $6,557. Learn more about these valuable credits.

Young Child Tax Credit: The Young Child Tax Credit was introduced in tax year 2019. If you qualify for CalEITC and have at least one child under the age of 6 as of the end of the tax year, you may qualify for $1,000 through this credit.

Free Tax Help: Most Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) locations are closed during the pandemic. However, there are a limited number of locations around the state that continue to operate. Visit the IRS’ Get Free Tax Prep Help page frequently for updated information on available sites and hours.

More than 6.4 million taxpayers are eligible to file their state tax returns online for free using FTB’s fast and easy CalFile program. CalFile allows taxpayers to file directly with FTB and provides instant confirmation. Registration is not required to use CalFile and taxpayers are able to claim both CalEITC and the new Young Child Tax Credit using the program.

FTB also has a list of other free online tax preparation options.

Tax Filing Extension: California taxpayers get an automatic extension to file state tax returns until Thursday, October 15, although tax money owed must be paid or postmarked by Wednesday, July 15. Those unsure of whether they will owe money can consult FTB’s Tax Calculator.

Pay Online: Taxpayers can pay online with Web Pay directly from their bank accounts with no fees. Payments can also be made with MasterCard, VISA, American Express, or Discover for a service fee of 2.3 percent.

Get Help Paying Taxes: FTB recommends that taxpayers file returns on time and pay what they can to avoid penalties and interest. Payment plans are available for taxpayers experiencing a financial hardship. Those who owe $25,000 or less and can repay within five years generally qualify.  

Check Refunds Online: Taxpayers who already filed their state return and are expecting a refund can use the Check Your Refund Status tool. FTB also provides this service in Spanish. 

Access Your Account: The MyFTB account service allows taxpayers to view their tax documents, check balances due, access tax calculators, send secure messages to FTB staff, and more.

Get Questions Answered: FTB’s Live Chat allows taxpayers to ask an FTB representative general tax questions and get help with FTB’s website in real time. Live Chat is not a secure channel; do not offer personal information such as Social Security numbers or bank account information. Taxpayers also may call FTB at 800-852-5711.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Linda Bardere, director of the San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Communications/Community Relations and the Printing Services Departments, is retiring after 33 years.

Bardere served as the Communications officer for three years before being promoted to the position of director in 2003. Prior to that, Bardere taught at Highland-Pacific Elementary School from 1987 to 2000. During her time at Highland-Pacific, she taught budding young scholars in first, second and third grade.

Among Bardere’s accomplishments was the creation of a School Site Emergency Checklist. This handbook provides guidance for schools on who to contact and first steps to take during a school or community crisis ranging from a power outage to a natural disaster. This empowers school staff to act quickly and decisively during a crisis while the District offices provide support.

With Bardere’s departure, Ginger Ontiveros, executive director of Community Engagement, will guide the Communications/Community Relations and Printing Services Departments.

For the past six years, Ontiveros has guided the Community Engagement Office in building partnerships between the community and SBCUSD, connecting with alumni, developing resources, and growing the Making Hope Happen Foundation.

The Community Engagement office is located at the Board of Education building, 777 North F Street. Communications/Community Relations will remain at the Professional Development Center, 4030 Georgia Blvd. Ginger Ontiveros can be reached at ginger.ontiveros@sbcusd.k12.ca.us.

Canceled appointments will be rescheduled automatically

New appointments will be available later this summer

SACRAMENTO, CA—- The California Department of Motor Vehicles will resume administering behind-the-wheel drive tests beginning Friday, June 26. In-vehicle testing – a requirement for first-time driver license holders and commercial license applicants – has been suspended since mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DMV will automatically reschedule all canceled drive test appointments.

“I’m asking for everyone’s patience as we safely clear the backlog of behind-the-wheel drive test appointments,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said. “For all of those Californians who have been waiting, we know how important this is to you.”

The DMV anticipates it will take several weeks to complete testing for previously canceled tests. Appointments for new behind-the-wheel tests will not be available until previously canceled tests are completed.

For the health and safety of customers and examiners, the DMV is instituting numerous new testing protocols. All behind-the-wheel drive test applicants will be required to wear a face covering and answer screening questions before starting the exam. Initially, applicants in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties also will have their temperatures checked. Temperature checks will be added to protocols statewide in the coming weeks. If the customer’s permit has expired, the customer will need to fill out a new online application prior to their office visit, and check in 30 minutes before their appointment time.

DMV examiners will wear protective equipment – face coverings and gloves – and place plastic covers on the test vehicle’s passenger seat and floorboard. At least two windows need to be lowered during the test for increased ventilation. Examiners will conduct more of the test outside of the vehicle, for instance when they are providing applicants with pre-test instructions.

The DMV is also making changes to expedite the testing process and increase the number of exams it can administer each day, including shortening the testing route in many locations. The test routes will be long enough to adequately determine driving knowledge and safety skills. The DMV is also expanding the hours when tests are conducted, including Saturday service for drive tests in some high-volume locations, and adding more examiners.

Employees at 169 field offices are assisting customers with current appointments at the specific office and limited transactions that require an in-person visit. The DMV continues to recommend that customers use its online services, expanded virtual services and other service channels to complete transactions, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals.

Watch Tabula Rasa/College Bound Video Compilation, LEAD Novelas Eductivas: 

Watch FNX Video of our 7th annual Latino Education & Advocacy Days (LEAD) Summit, which highlighted Black, Brown, and Indigenous unity: 

Origins of Race in the US: 

Race, and its ideology of racism arise principally from two related historical processes.

• taking land from and destroying indigenous peoples, and;
• enslaving Africans to work that land. 

The images, characterizations, components, and classifications of race rationalized the conditions of genocide and enslavement. 

Early Interactions:

• Europeans first enslaved Native peoples, introducing Africans to the Americas shortly after. 
• Nicolas de Ovando, Governor of Hispaniola first mentioned African and Native interaction in a report, circa 1503. Natives who escaped generally knew the surrounding areas, were able to avoid capture; but then returned to help free enslaved Africans. Europeans feared a Native/African alliance.
• The first slave rebellion occurred in Hispaniola in 1522, while the first on future United States soil (North Carolina) occurred in 1526. Both rebellions were organized and executed by coalitions of Africans and Native Americans.

So, from the beginning, American Native populations and Africans have shared a historical relationship whose liberation have been intertwined.

Not one case of extradition or deportation of runaway African slaves in the early history of Mexico!

• Early Mexican governments abhorred any form of slavery, thereby had given sanctuary to runaway slaves/African fugitives fleeing from the United States. 
• It was in this trajectory that Mexico’s commitment to harbor Black fugitive slaves triggered the Mexican American war; which Mexico lost nearly 50 percent of her territory. 
• After the war, Mexico undeterred, included in her constitution and continued her commitment to harbor fugitive slaves.

Shift towards the Supralocal or Transcommunal:

• Historically, African Americans since the 1800’s, have consistently expressed Pan-Africanism, anti-imperialism, and expressions of solidarity with a pantheon of Latin America’s greatest freedom fighters including Simon Bolivar, Vicente Guerrero, José María Morelos, José Martí, Antonio Maceo, and Augusto Sandino—among many others.
• It is critical to recognize the legacy of conquest, annexation of ancestral lands, and the prolonged subjugation of native cultures, along with an ongoing history of racial discrimination, socio–?economic marginalization, or draconian immigration practices

Deadline to Apply for Forgivable Paycheck Protection Program Loans Fast Approaching

With the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest that has been taking place in some cities, the impact has been felt in every sector of our economy. There has never been a more challenging time for America’s small business. That’s especially true for minority-owned businesses who face unique challenges even in the best of times.

As the U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator to the Pacific Rim area, I understand that supporting the Black community includes investing in Black-owned businesses and supporting Black entrepreneurs across every town in America.

We hear from Black-owned businesses of the socioeconomic and capital funding challenges with starting and expanding a business.  Our goal is to work with Black entrepreneurs to overcome these entrepreneurship challenges.

The Paycheck Protection Program was created to assist businesses economically impacted by the pandemic.  This forgivable loan program has provided over 4.6 million small business loans totaling more than $500 billion to ensure that tens of millions of hardworking Americans stay connected to their jobs.  This program is dedicated to providing emergency capital to sustain our nation’s small businesses and retain their employees.  The deadline to apply for this program is just days away.  Small businesses that have not yet applied have until June 30^th to do so. More than $100 billion is still available.

Of the PPP funding, SBA partnered  specifically with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) to ensure that funding reaches all communities in need of relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.  CDFIs and MDIs work to expand economic opportunity in low-income communities by providing access to financial products and services for local residents and businesses.  Together, these lenders have originated more than $17 billion in dedicated fundsto small businesses in low-income communities.

Other ongoing programs that SBA has available include Women’s Business Centers to assist women in starting and growing small businesses.  Across the U.S., Black women start their own business at record rates. These centers provide a full range of services for women entrepreneurs at all stages of planning, implementation and growth.

For those interesting in contracting with the federal government, Women-owned business certification helps provide a level playing field for women business owners, as the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses certified as women-owned.  Another valuable resource is the Mentor-Protégé Program, designed for small businesses to learn from an experienced government contractor

Other mentoring programs include SCORE, a network of thousands of volunteer business counselors around the country who mentor and educate small business owners. It’s a

free mentoring and education program for business owners to learn from others who have been through the entrepreneurship journey.  This program also seeks mentors from the Black community to better assist Black entrepreneurship as they better understand the obstacles of Black entrepreneurs.

For businesses seeking to expand to international markets, Export Assistance Centers help small businesses by providing information on how to export, participate in foreign trade missions and trade shows, translate websites, and design marketing campaigns.

These and many other SBA resources are available online at SBA.gov, including information about upcoming webinars to assist entrepreneurs in overcoming common business obstacles and today’s unprecedented challenges.

As the Regional Administrator for the Pacific Rim for SBA, and as Associate Administrator for the Office of Field Operations for our agency, SBA is ready to assist, whether in-person, on the phone, or virtually through a webinar, we are here for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

At the SBA, our role is to support entrepreneurs in achieving their dream of owning a business, scaling-up their business, and recover from today’s unprecedented challenges.

The president and governors of both political parties with the support of local municipalities and businesses pushed to reopen the country even as medical experts warned against moving too far, too fast.

It appeared they weighed dollars and cents against the value of Black lives, those of the elderly and others. Apparently, it was a gamble they were willing to take to help save the economy.

Today, as the number of COVID-19 cases exceeds 2.2 million nationally and the country’s death toll rapidly approaches 120,000, California is among the growing number of states contributing to these rising numbers.

San Bernardino and Riverside Counties are not idle bystanders in this deadly march as indicated by the rising hospitalizations experienced in both counties last week.

As warranted, the number of people being tested for COVID-19 in both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are increasing and most understand the correlation between the increased number of people being tested and the increasing number of positive cases. However, embedded in the rising numbers of positive cases lies the potential for increased hospitalizations.

The increasing number of hospitalizations is not a benign measure as in too many instances, it serves as a harbinger of grief—especially for Blacks and the elderly.   

On Thursday, June 18, 2020 Riverside experienced the highest number of hospitalizations in a single day with 291 COVID-19 patients countywide; and San Bernardino saw its highest number in recent weeks with 313 hospitalizations. Though the numbers are still below peaks recorded earlier this year—the trend is ominous.

Regardless of how one may argue the need for prioritizing the economy—the value of human life is immeasurable.

By Friday, June 19, 2020, San Bernardino County reported 8,959 confirmed cases and 233 deaths. Riverside County, (ahead in COVID-19 testing) reported 12,778 cases and 410 deaths.

As a result of Riverside Counties rising numbers, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has added the county to its Data Monitor Watch List which calls for targeted engagement between the county and the state as a result of its rising numbers of hospitalizations and deaths.

At this point it is important to remind the community how Riverside County applied for and received a variance to move more quickly through Stage 2 of the state’s reopening process even though it did not meet all the requirements to do so.

Now, barely a month later as noted by the CDPH, “Riverside County is experiencing elevated disease transmission based on the following: general increases in local gatherings; outbreaks at state prisons and skilled nursing facilities; potential transmission at public protests; in-county patient transfers from Imperial County; patients seeking care from Northern Baja California and traveling along SR-86 corridor into Coachella Valley.”

CDPH has recommended the county take several steps to help slow the spread of the virus and reduce the potential for increased hospitalizations and deaths.

The steps include closely monitoring the data, the need for increased testing at both county and state test sites, the implementation of a Quick Response Team for high-risk skilled nursing facilities; and expanding its contact tracing workforce.

The state has further recommended the county increase its messaging about the importance of personal protection measures. And finally, it called for increased coordination and communication between the local health department, CDPH, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to curb and contain outbreaks at state prisons.

On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new order requiring all Californians to wear a mask in public. This came just a day after the state reached a record high on Wednesday, in the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded since the state reopened for business.

That day California reported 4,165 new cases—the highest daily number recorded since the onset of the pandemic.