It has been over a year since sexual assault charges on multiple minors were brought against Mike Miller, employee of San Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris’ Operation Phoenix Center (at $144K per year salary with no full job discription and full access to small children), and there has yet to be a public investigation into Operation Phoenix. In fact, Patrick J. Morris has taken his “anti-crime” program idea to Washington to promote it for use throughout the United States of America. Such behavior has upset residents across the United States and concerns many civil rights activists.
According to residents in San Bernardino, it would seem that the right to be free from illegal search and seizure does not exist during so called “Operation Phoenix Sweeps” in San Bernardino, Ca. Many residents claim that officers involved in Operation Phoenix muscle their ways into local youths’ book bags and detain innocent citizens while officers “run” them for warrants in targeted areas. Some have even claimed that officers have planted evidence on them.
In the very first Operation Phoenix area, officers shot a young man by the name of Cedric May to death and much controversy has surrounded the case. Eyewitness accounts and video footage would indicate that the young man was shot while in handcuffs; however, the officers involved claimed that Cedric May had wrestled away the trained and experienced officer’s tazer and pointed it at the officer’s face. No weapons or drugs were found on Cedric May’s person or in the vehicle he was traveling in.
Countless cases of child abuse were brought against families in Operation Phoenix areas who all seem to have the same complaint: that they were denied the right to present evidence or call witnesses to clear their names in front of judges affiliated with child protection services contracted agencies. Mayor Patrick J. Morris founded a few of these, such as The Children’s Fund (the business diagnoses child abuse). The more children who need to be checked out, the more grants his “non-profit” gets from the government: all at the tax payer’s expense.
A year ago, Councilwomen Wendy McCammack and Esther Estrada wanted an investigation into the program. Considering the recent allegations of child molestation in an Operation Phoenix community center, they felt that there were answers needed for the public; however, Councilman Chas Kelly did not find the situation as serious as the councilwomen did. This reporter caught him on camera, giggling while Wendy McCammack implored and investigation into Operation Phoenix.
Showing posts with label Esther Estrada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Esther Estrada. Show all posts
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Death of Little Africa
San Bernardino City Council voted 4-3 in favor of a redevelopment project for the little, East-side neighborhood, better known as the “Arden-Guthries,” or “Little Africa” on Monday, July 20th. The project would vacate the existing families from their existing residences and bring in the “non-profit,” low income housing company, “Mary Erickson Community Housing,” (better known as MECH). The Federal Dollars intended for this endeavor are only legally available for foreclosed or abandoned homes; however, there is one problem with that: there are families living there.
Sir Isaac Lindsay, running for Mayor of San Bernardino against Patrick J. Morris, led the rallying of citizens who lived in the small, disadvantaged neighborhood to City Hall. None knew about the project prior to his visit to their streets on Saturday, July 18th. When Mr. Lindsay was asked what he was in favor of, he replied, “I’ve got my own ideas on what should and shouldn’t be done here, but I’m just here to help these good folks be heard. They’ve got to live here, after all: right?” Sir Isaac Lindsay helped drive those without transportation to the meeting on Monday, as well as his trip on Saturday to inform the residents of what was happening.
This reporter interviewed Ms. Susan McDevitt (representing Mary Erickson Community Housing) and was able to obtain a copy of the program plans, as well as the rental agreement most residents will have to sign in order to live in the housing planned for the area. When asked why the people would have to submit themselves to life skills training, as if they were in some sort of druggie program, Ms. McDevitt replied that it “will only be about six times a year and not that intrusive.” She was unmoved at the pleas of the current residents in their addresses to the city council on how they did not want this program in their area and did not want to be thrown out of their homes.
Mayor Patrick Morris called the people who did not live in the area first (for the most part). Most people shared the opinion that the neighborhood needed to be torn down because there was nothing but drug addicts, prostitutes and pimps there; however, the words of two young girls who shared the speaker’s podium together resonated through the audience.
“I am, in fact, human,” said one to the remarks people had been making. “I am an honor roll student.”
“There aren’t any prostitutes there,” said the other. “I am not a prostitute. I don’t do that.”
“We don’t wear that jacket,” said their mother.
Chaz Kelly, Wendy McCammack and Esther Estrada all felt the monies could benefit the city in many other ways. Tearing down the entire neighborhood, leaving many families homeless, was not an option that seemed attractive for the three councilmembers. Wendy McCammack spoke of ways to make the people in that area homeowners with the money. Chaz Kelly fidgeted in frustration as he gazed upon the faces of the honor roll student and her sister. Esther Estrada thought long and hard before casting her vote in favor of what the residents wanted: no MECH.
Tobin Brinker, Dennis Baxter, Rikke Van Johnson and Fred Shorett were unreachable. For a moment, this reporter thought there was a glimmer of hope in Tobin Brinker as he kept looking to Patrick Morris for what appeared to be a change of heart, but it was not to be. Regardless of legalities or moralities, they voted to move forward with tossing these families out into the streets.
Apparently, there will be relocation benefits applied to the families tossed out; however, we all know how the government likes to pay it’s bills. It is doubtful that these residents will be paid enough to cover the cost of their relocations. Wendy McCammack is said to be searching for further assistance for the involved families.
Though surrounded by such tragedy as this, one thing is certain. To quote Chaz Kelly, “There is no Little Africa. This is the United States of America!” Little Africa is dead.
Sir Isaac Lindsay, running for Mayor of San Bernardino against Patrick J. Morris, led the rallying of citizens who lived in the small, disadvantaged neighborhood to City Hall. None knew about the project prior to his visit to their streets on Saturday, July 18th. When Mr. Lindsay was asked what he was in favor of, he replied, “I’ve got my own ideas on what should and shouldn’t be done here, but I’m just here to help these good folks be heard. They’ve got to live here, after all: right?” Sir Isaac Lindsay helped drive those without transportation to the meeting on Monday, as well as his trip on Saturday to inform the residents of what was happening.
This reporter interviewed Ms. Susan McDevitt (representing Mary Erickson Community Housing) and was able to obtain a copy of the program plans, as well as the rental agreement most residents will have to sign in order to live in the housing planned for the area. When asked why the people would have to submit themselves to life skills training, as if they were in some sort of druggie program, Ms. McDevitt replied that it “will only be about six times a year and not that intrusive.” She was unmoved at the pleas of the current residents in their addresses to the city council on how they did not want this program in their area and did not want to be thrown out of their homes.
Mayor Patrick Morris called the people who did not live in the area first (for the most part). Most people shared the opinion that the neighborhood needed to be torn down because there was nothing but drug addicts, prostitutes and pimps there; however, the words of two young girls who shared the speaker’s podium together resonated through the audience.
“I am, in fact, human,” said one to the remarks people had been making. “I am an honor roll student.”
“There aren’t any prostitutes there,” said the other. “I am not a prostitute. I don’t do that.”
“We don’t wear that jacket,” said their mother.
Chaz Kelly, Wendy McCammack and Esther Estrada all felt the monies could benefit the city in many other ways. Tearing down the entire neighborhood, leaving many families homeless, was not an option that seemed attractive for the three councilmembers. Wendy McCammack spoke of ways to make the people in that area homeowners with the money. Chaz Kelly fidgeted in frustration as he gazed upon the faces of the honor roll student and her sister. Esther Estrada thought long and hard before casting her vote in favor of what the residents wanted: no MECH.
Tobin Brinker, Dennis Baxter, Rikke Van Johnson and Fred Shorett were unreachable. For a moment, this reporter thought there was a glimmer of hope in Tobin Brinker as he kept looking to Patrick Morris for what appeared to be a change of heart, but it was not to be. Regardless of legalities or moralities, they voted to move forward with tossing these families out into the streets.
Apparently, there will be relocation benefits applied to the families tossed out; however, we all know how the government likes to pay it’s bills. It is doubtful that these residents will be paid enough to cover the cost of their relocations. Wendy McCammack is said to be searching for further assistance for the involved families.
Though surrounded by such tragedy as this, one thing is certain. To quote Chaz Kelly, “There is no Little Africa. This is the United States of America!” Little Africa is dead.
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