Federal Funding in Focus (SB Sun 08172006) Officals Told How to Compete for Grants

I am sorry to say this but they had this dog and pony show before he even went out to see the problem area's. He (Joe Baca) Just went by the statistics that were passed to him and didn't even know how bad the people in that area had it. Sleeping in their Bath tubs figuring that was the most safest place being that the Cast Iron Tub would offer them some Bullet resistance to the flying lead that seams to be a problem in their area. The best Suited for the job of getting a grant or not getting a grant is not to make it such a competition. However I know if you try to make it all spit up then there will not be that much to make any difference in any of these high crime areas.

They will have to go and do what they do, and I don't see why San Bernardino doesn't have a good chance over Inglewood, even though Inglewood is has just as many violent acts upon them in their area.

BSRanch

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Federal Funding in Focus
Officals Told how to Compete for grants
By Robert Rogers, SB Sun Staff Writer Aug. 16, 2006

SAN BERNARDINO - Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, convened federal law-enforcement officials and local leaders Tuesday morning in an effort to link cities and community-based organizations to grant opportunities.

The meeting, held in the gym of the Boys and Girls Club on West Ninth Street in west San Bernardino, was meant to bring more federal agencies in to fighting local crime, and to bring more federal attention to the Inland Empire.

"The idea is to find out what programs are out there that can advance and supplement local initiatives," Baca told the crowd of about 25.

"Communities need to learn more about the federal government, and the federal government needs to learn more about the Inland Empire."

Officials from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Justice touted competitive grants and training resources they said the local and community-based agencies could apply for.

Prominent local leaders and community activists were on hand, including Operation Phoenix director Glenn Baude, Children's Network officer Kent Paxton, Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy CEO Terrance Stone, and the Rev. Reginald Beamon, a community activist.

George Cardona, chief assistant to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Riverside, said that although federal resources were "slim" in the area, competitive grants could kick-start social and economic development.

But Cardona's presentation was, on the whole, grim.

San Bernardino is suffering by far the greatest rate of violent crime in the region - 1,253 violent crimes per 100,000 population in 2005, more than 30 percent higher than runner-up Inglewood - but Cardona's office has just 10 personnel devoted to crime to serve 3.9 million people in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

"That's not a whole lot," Cardona said.

Cardona said the primary program available through his office to aid communities was the Weed and Seed program, a competitive federal grant meant to rejuvenate communities with high crime.

Cardona praised Operation Phoenix as the type of program the grant is meant to supplement.

"It is from our point of view a well-thought-out strategy," Cardona said.

Only two entities have thus far submitted letters of intent to apply for the Weed and Seed grant money: San Bernardino and the city of Desert Hot Springs. Baude said he will apply for the grant and that boasting a 35-agency coalition should be a sure step toward being awarded the grant.

Baca wrapped up presentations by Cardona and ATF agent John Torres by urging city, county and community organization representatives to continue to forge coalitions not only to effect change, but to attract dollars.

Turning back violence in the area now, Baca said, is a wise investment.

"It costs us more to incarcerate youth than to assist them," Baca said.

While those in attendance welcomed the packets distributed by federal officials that could key them into the sometimes inscrutable web of grants and programs, there was incredulity over the distant location of federal offices.

The half-dozen Department of Justice officials on hand came from Riverside, Los Angeles and High Desert offices.

"We are the county seat, and we'd like to have better access to the DOJ, and to do that we would like for there to be a satellite office in our area," Beamon said. "We need direct access to our federal agencies."

Baca concurred, but Cardona said it was unlikely that offices would come to San Bernardino because of the absence of federal courthouses.

Baca hailed the meeting a success before embarking on a driving tour of San Bernardino's high-crime areas.

"This meeting is all about making more people aware of the resources available and giving them the tools to access those resources. Any additional revenue is a plus."