Fontana Feels SB Plight (SB Sun June 29, 2006) Neighborhood Watch Signs-Ups are Planned!!

this really is a great Idea on the part of Fontana City Council and the Fontana Police Department. they need to do soemthing like this to make sure that the city of Fontana doesn't turn out like the City of San Bernardino with all the shootings every night. 38 Killed so far this year, and there have been over 10 children!! I don't know what the statistic is for Fontana regarding their Homicide however I feel that they are off to the right track by what they are doing, but they also need to go into the well established neighborhoods as well as the new ones in Hunters Ridge. The ones that are established South of Down Town and also South Ridge wich for a time was lost and might still be today. But anyway, I thought I would post this becuase it was the right Idea to reduce crime.

BSRanch

Fontana feels SB plight Neighborhood Watch sign-ups are planned Leonor Vivanco, Staff Writer

FONTANA - They see what's happening to their neighbors and don't want it to happen to them. Fontana officials have been watching San Bernardino suffer with the killings and shootings day after day. "We do need to keep our neighbors to the east in prayer," said Mayor Mark Nuaimi at Tuesday night's City Council meeting. City officials warned violent crime could creep into Fontana if residents are not vigilant and encouraged residents to do their part. Councilwoman Acquanetta Warren went further: "I'm asking for the community to pray for the city of San Bernardino, pray for the children and families there, pray for the leadership, pray for our community also - but not only to pray but to get involved." Next week, residents and business owners will be encouraged to sign up for the Neighborhood Watch program at Fontana's monthly downtown car cruise, said Joan Geist, community relations representative of the Fontana Downtown Revitalization Task Force. "I think with all the problems going on in San Bernardino and the area, and the influx of new citizens here, we need to protect ourselves from that element coming into Fontana," she said. "It seems to me the problem is growing, and we just don't want it to grow in this direction." San Bernardino, with about 200,000 population, ended the 2005 year with 58 homicides. Fontana, with roughly 165,000 residents, recorded nine. "What we are seeing going on in the city of San Bernardino is a crisis with all the murders of our young people," Warren said. "That whole issue is just tearing that city apart." In addition to Neighborhood Watch, Fontana in its recently approved budget beefed up the Police Department with nine new sworn positions and added more recreation and cultural programs for both youths and adults. "Everything we're doing is an effort to ensure we don't end up with some of the significant problems and challenges San Bernardino is facing right now," said Police Chief Larry Clark. Clark said he regularly evaluates programs to see if they need to be tweaked and makes sure successful programs are maintained. "What we don't want as a community is for San Bernardino's problems to become our problems," he said. Neighborhood Watch What: Sign up to be involved When: Fontana Cruise Night, 5 p.m. July 7 Where: Spring Street near Sierra Avenue