HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-06-2023_Closed Session Item B and Open Session_Item 20_Brown, Hardy_ADA assist requested_any links sanitizedHardy Brown comment for 9/6/23 council meeting, Requesting ADA assistance. Thank you.
Our city was built on a Charter that gave most of the powerto the mayor and on November 8, 2016, the
citizens voted in a new charter to rid the city of a strong mayor who would sometime ignore citizens
input and do what he or she wanted to do. Our hope in voting fora charter change was to have a council
that would be more in tune with and understanding the people and spend its time making policy and
allowing a professional manager to run the city. Before I go over my allotted time, I am in support of
item 20 on the agenda. The Strategic Initiative put together by Mr. McNeely and Staff, gives us and you
a road map to follow and with the proper leadership and follow through, we can be successful. All you
must do is make policy decisions that are compatible with what is laid out by your staff.
First, concerning your last meeting. While I was watching the special meeting on August 28, 1 thought,
why are some council members ignoringthe public speakers, when they are offering advice on selecting
a new city manager. Then, Delores Armistead strolled up to the microphone and called some of you out,
I found myself thanking her, because they represent Black citizens in the city too.
For those council members who think you can ignore us, let me share this information with you; in ward
1 there are 3,702 Black citizens and Ted you only won your seat with just 814 votes. In ward 2 there are
4,432 Black citizens and Sandra you won with just 795 votes. And Fred there are 4,593 Black citizens and
you won with just 2,188 votes. I haven't left you out Mr. Figueroa, you have 1,995 Black citizens living in
your ward and you won with just 2,098 votes. My point is, you cannot ignore any citizens of the city
when they are speaking in front of you.
At St. Paul AME Church, underthe leadership of Steven Shepard located in ward 6, we have members
living in ech council members' ward. I know this for a fact because I am chairman of the Commission on
Membership, Evangelism and Discipleship that study the demographics of St. Paul AME Church
Community. I am sure, Pastors, Ray Turner, Johsua Beckley, Dr. Reginald Woods, Dr. Michael Owens,
Phillip Powell, and other Black pastors in San Bernardino have members living in your ward. By you
ignoring, disrespecting, our Faith leaders and women, you have awakened us to what we must do.
For your information, Black People have a history in this city going back to Grief Embers a former slave
of the Mormons and is recorded to be the first Black (1851) to own property in San Bernardino, or Lizzy
Flake Rowan anotherformer enslaved Black person of San Bernardino. The city was founded in 1810, so
we as a people have come too far on this journey, to be ignored by you.
It has come to my attention today that a semi trucking parking lot is now located on Mt. Vernon and
Goodlett Street. Our concern is that our streets are already torn up and neglected and with this
semi parking lot in the neighborhood, how much worse will our streets become? We will not be
quiet and allowthe westside to continue to be the dumping ground any longer. We have filed
lawsuits in the past and maybe we will have to do it again.
If you have or have not selected a new City Manager as of me writing my comment, let me share these
Newspaper headlines on San Bernardino City Managers;
Charles McNeely hired from Reno, 3/9/09, McNeely Resigns from toxic atmosphere, Councilmember
Wendy McCammack said McNeely made too much money 3/22/12. McCammack never said that about
white mangers making too much money.
Andrea Miller Interim 3/23/12 left for another job 12/2013
Allen Parker was hired in 2/2013 and forced out after being paid a extra year's salary 11/19/15
Jarrod Burguan, Police Chief appointed Interim City Manager 12/17/15
Mark Scott hired in 1/2016 and retired one year later 6/15/17;
Andrea Miller appointed 8/2/17 and fired 5/29/19; then sued the city for sex discrimination
Teri Ledoux appointed for 18 months 6/20/19; then retired 10/1/20
Rob Field hired for economic development experience 9/3/20, resigned/fired 12/7/22;
Charles McNeely rehired as Interim 1/23;
Where do you go from here. The city is in good financial shape and there is much improvement going
on, thanks to Congressman Pete Agular bringing in extra American Rescue Funds and Emergency Rental
Assistant Funds that you gave to Rancho Cucamonga United Way, because the city manager did not
know we had a United Way. Select someone who knows what they are doing.
Also, for your information; California State University San Bernardino received $74,034,709; Colton
$14,881,400; Redlands $11,508,106; Rialto $29,373,105; SB County $423,455,955 millions in American
Funds
Keep us moving in the direction that McNeely and the staff is taking us by adopting the Strategic
Initiative Plan
It's in your hands.
Hardy Brown
9/6/23
We have two populations in the city of San Bernardino Cities as posted under your demographic section,
Executive Summary Key Facts on your website; One population number is posted at 220,813 total
population and another number posted as day population is 238,609 working population. I take that to
mean that for five days a week 17,796 people come into San Bernardino and work and at S:OOPM they
leave and return tow here they live. They use the money earned here and buy homes, food, clothes, pay
taxes to have picnics in clean safe parks, go to movies, eat in sit down restaurants from money earned in
our city.
The 5/25/21 Demographics Employee Report of the city shows that we had 751 employees working in
the city and only 194 (26%) living in the city. That means 557 (74%) of our staff makes up a large portion
of the daytime (17,796) population, that call another city home.
In the 2021-2022 budget year page 86 you spent $59,973,697 in salaries, that is roughly $44,980,250
that left the city in salaries alone, not including benefits, that we paid, $45,187,950 in benefits and
27,757,443 to outside contractors. $153,404,684 total.
In 2021 the city gave $6,018,454.42 million Emergency Rental Assistance Program contract to the United
Way in Rancho Cucamonga forthe citizens in San Bernardino City; even though we have a United Way
on D Street in San Bernardino. The new City Manager said he did not know the city had a United Way. I
believe the reason was our United Way CEO is Black. The United Way in Rancho turned around and
wanted our United Way to assist them out in the community because they did not knowthe community.
Also foryour information; California State University San Bernardino received $74,034,709; Colton
$14,881,400, Redlands $11,508,106; Rialto $29,373,105; SB County $423,455,955 millions in American
Funds and San Bernardino City got $77,656,407 for the citizens of this city, not to be share with other
cities. In our leadership in the County Board of Supervisors, School Board and City Council is a giveaway
money program. The county gave back over $4 million for the homeless/unhoused, to the Federal
government because they had no ideas to solve the problem.
The San Bernardino City Unified School District has a new Superintendent, Mauricio Arellano.
As of July 1, 2023 the school district has received a record breaking $1.10 Billion Dollars to educate
45,971 students. They will or have spent $496,573,637.00 on Certificate and Classified Salaries.
According to the Federal EEO-5 Report of 2020 the district employed a total of 6,586 employees, 5009
full-time and 1577 part-time employees.
The school board was funding an after -school program with the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino
(B&GCSB) for several years and later decided to transfer the same funds to a new agency, Center for
Youth and Community Development that is still located in San Bernardino City, with the same B&GC
staff. According to paperwork filed on 7/25/2018 by A. Majadi, President and Salisa Green Secretary
with the Secretary of State the B&GCSB Changed its name to CYCD. From 9/4/2018 until 10/19/21 the
school district gave $6,678,579.00 to CYCD previously B&GCSB. This transfer of funds caused the
B&GCSB to close. However, this year the school district has signed a new contract in the amount of
$480,000.00 with the Redlands Boys and Girls Club in Redlands to provide another Enrichment After
School program for our students.
They gave another $100,000,00 contract to Mt. Baldy Driving School in Alto Loma for an Enrichment
After School Program.
Another Enrichment After School Program in the amount of $53,000.00with Fashion Design Exploration
in Rancho Cucamonga.
Going forward, to quote Cheryl Brown and Charles McNeely, we need a consistent and atmosphere
environment, that makes these 17,796 workers want to live in the city. That is your job as Mayor and
City Council.
The city has a giveaway money program in San Bernardino; we don't need banks in the city, we need
checking cashing banks only to transfer our money to other communities. Before our money can be
turned over to benefit the city you give it away.
4