HomeMy WebLinkAboutRev Steven Shepard_ Letter to San Bernardino Mayor and City Council Members_Redacted
From the Desk of the Pastor
St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church
1355 W. 21st Street
San Bernardino, CA 92411
(909) 887-1718
The Honorable Mayor John Valdivia and City Council Members
290 N. D. Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401
Dear Honorable Mayor John Valdivia and City Council Members
First, let me thank you for the time allotted to address this auspicious body. A little about me: My
name is The Reverend Steven Shepard and I’m the proud pastor of the St. Paul African
Methodist Episcopal Church in San Bernardino. It is the oldest “Black” church in the city. I come
from a long line of Civil, Social and Community activists; from my great-cousin Medger Evers
to my Grandfather the Reverend Dr. William Jacks.
I come to express my concerns over the disparities found in the black/brown community with the
COVID-19 virus and the lack of response from this body. Communities of color have been
disproportionately affected from the coronavirus and its effects have shaken us to the core. Our
communities have a higher unemployment rate due to the coronavirus then do our white
counterparts; yet, we have neither heard from the mayor and/or this body as to any plans for our
community to recover, rebuild and re-emerge.
The city of San Bernardino has received (awarded) $2M in additional CDBG funding and $1M
in additional Emergency Solutions Grant funding under the CARES act. It is my prayer and ask,
that the city manager and this body considers using a majority of those CDBG and ESG funds in
the black/brown and hard to target communities to provide job training/re-training programs,
senior outreach programs, feeding programs, technical assistance and educational outreach
programs for our community members and the unhoused (just to name a few). Churches (and
their leadership) in these communities (which service as the hub of our communities) should be
utilized and play a major role in Envisioning and Executing a better tomorrow for our
communities.
I look forward to hearing from you and the Council Members in the upcoming days.
Warm regards,
Steven D. Shepard
The Reverend Steven D. Shepard
Pastor – St. Paul AME Church