Wire thieves turn out lights at ball parks

Mending the parts of the world within our reach is to usually do something easy, since it's within our reach.  I think this is something 4th ward councilman Fred Shorett needs to focus since the park location on 39th St. and Serverance Ave. is 700 feet from his home.

View Newmark Little League Park in a larger map

I have said many times in different ways San Bernardino's leadership needs to limit spending and focus on priorities. Shorett votes to cut front line fire personelle, sinks millions into low income housing, moved forward multiple new tax proposal (which ultimately failed) including Measure C and during the recent 12-20-2010 council meeting seemed to suggest 91K for a grant writer was too low a salary for this position.  Also, during the same council meeting Mayor Pat Morris promoted the recent CalGRIP grant award of 400K noting that crime rates are down 70% for 10-17 year olds in the area of federally reported part 1, violent crimes.

So, let me see if I get this right...

• 2+ Million on Sunrise and 19th Housing, (Arden Guthrie).
• 400K being spent on those that don't play by the rules, (CalGIRP- Youth Violence Grant).
• 150K on a failed ballot measure, (Measure C).
• 100K for a communication staffer.
• 91K for a grant writer (would support, possibly pay more).
• Voted to more than doubled the cost for graffiti abatement.
• Voted raises for select city employees.

Meanwhile the park he most likely played ball in as a child, is dark.

Question: What do the tax paying residdents get with Shorett?
ANSWER: Dark parks and ball fields for their children.

Summarized below is the most recent response from the County provided by the San Bernardino City Manager's office regarding graffiti abatement efforts in County Pockets (Islands).

County Contact: "our abatement crew is basically responding to calls in the order they are submitted"
Joe: First up, first down. Ok, what about county graffiti reported months ago that still isn't removed?

County Contact: "at this point...the county system provided by our abatement contractor...is not available for public use."
Joe:  Suggestion, get a new contractor who can provide the type of services residents demand and deserve.

County Contact: "it can be a few days before the crew would return to one area"
Joe: This means, no graffiti in county areas older than a a few days?

County Contact: "on average our guys are in Muscoy on a weekly basis"
Joe: Ok then, does this mean no graffiti in Muscoy county areas older than a week?

County Contact: "unless a call comes in, which they would respond to within 24-48 hours"
Joe: Wait a minute...what kind of call gets this type of priority attention? This means, no graffiti in Muscoy county areas older than 48hrs. It sounds to me like the country doesn't really have a strict time table, or it can't be articulated.

County Contact: "these areas are basically 'islands'"
Joe: The negative impact these dirty graffiti filled areas impose on the City of San Bernardino is not limited just to the island's geographical area. This cost factor negatively impacts neighboring property values, business development, our city's reputation as well as a whole host of other additional concerns, gangs and turf was just to name a few.

City Contact, Cat Pritchett: "interagency collaboration is been a great tool"
Joe: Maybe, better than before!? A suggestion would be to charge back the county for our city abatement efforts in county areas. Further establish and conduct an annual audit of the time and resources allocated to San Bernardino County areas. I would even go one step further and impose a penally on the county for not taking swifter and more thorough comprehensive action.

City Contact, Cat Pritchett: "and there is still a lot of learning and tweaking to be done as it develops"
Joe: Needed volunteers to serve as TAAG SPOTTERS call 909-384-5687. I contacted this number and submitted my name months ago and have had no follow-up. I have to ask what exactly are we learning and tweaking when after the public call for help is pitched and there seems to be no follow-up or collaborative efforts moving forward? Even 4th ward councilman Shorett stated during his election cycle that he was supporting the new city run abatement program (SB TAAG) doubling the spending, and was going to be a fiscal watch dog to make sure the tax payers get the most bang for their buck. He too has sat silent.  If not you, who is supposed to help? I guess we should all just wait and wonder when we might be contacted or updated and for that matter when politicos will take this problem seriously. Will there ever be a time when the city and county collaborate for the public good, rather than for their own political good. If not now, when.

Joe's Final Thoughts:
San Bernardino neighbors, visitors and travelers live, shop and drive through and around these islands everyday and are faced with a dilemma. One side of the street is City the other side of the street is County.  Or pause to question if a light pole is City property while the other signs or utility box right beside may be county?

San Bernardino City residents will be more empowered to take back our streets and not let graffiti fester due to jurisdictional red tape at the county level, because the City can provide better more efficient services to the residents (whom we all call neighbors) regardless of whether there is a curb in front of the driveway.

I have heard recently a lot of discussion about governmental efficiencies and the city effort to lean the process and save money and resources as a budget balancing strategy. The duplication of county and city efforts, cross-over route planning and poor communication between all parties involved at the city, county, their contracted service provider and the residents raises BIG questions about how serious government leaders actually are about efficient government strategies when graffiti abatement workers can't even walk across the street or down to the next cover, where graffiti is obvious and needs attention.

I have literally whiteness city crews painting over graffiti and driving away from locations where other tags were within walking distance (without even moving their truck) stating that side of the street is county. Next time I drive the area, I will remember to only look at one side of the street.

All residents city and county alike would get a much faster response, because a city crew can be authorized to work hands-on locally without impediments.  Also there would be clearer more accurate and transparent communication, because the SB City CRM system is better and more resident-user friendly than the current county implementation.  Lastly, these issues are not unique to the county.  There are multiple jurisdictions ranging from CalTrans, Schools, Water Districts, Edison and Flood Control to name just a few that should be subject to this same charge-back policy.  We can not expect to put all our hard working efforts in only some geographic areas and not others if we expect to positively change our city image.