The RTOC works to promote Tribal sovereignty, assist Tribal environmental protection programs, and guide EPA regarding Tribal needs and concerns. Its meetings serve as a forum for two-way communication on environmental priorities affecting Tribal lands. The events facilitate collaboration between Tribal environmental directors, EPA personnel, and other federal agencies on public health, funding, and technical issues. The in-person event also allowed for virtual participation for most of the sessions.

STED Environmental Director Christian Aceves said RTOC’s heart lies in government-to-government consultation. The RTOC brings Tribal leadership together with EPA counterparts to collaborate on environmental policies, program design, and regional issues.

The first day of the meeting featured about 70 in-person participants. Attendance swelled on Wednesday, with around 105 individuals joining onsite and an additional 60 dialing in virtually. Participants included Environmental Delegates and Leadership (Council members, Environmental Directors, Specialists, Coordinators), EPA representatives (staff, Regional Administrators, Division Directors, Grant Project Officers), and nonprofit and higher ed partners like NAEPC and NAU. Facilitating the event were RTOC Tribal co-chair Roman Orona, of the Ak-Chin Indian Community and RTOC EPA co-chair Mike Martucci, Acting Regional Administrator for U.S. EPA Region 9.

Martucci assured the group that their concerns about Quality Assurance issues were heard loud and clear and being taken into consideration. “We want you to know that we are committed to continuing to support you in the ways that we can and in ways that you need us to support you so that you can achieve your environmental goals,” he said. “We want to understand how we can serve you best and are looking forward to figuring out what that future looks like through robust conversations together.”

Laura Ebbert, Director at the same department as Martucci said, “We recognize that RTOC is so much more than what is on the agenda and these meetings are so much more than what’s on the screen.”

Orona expressed that at the end of the day, the work that Tribes are doing is not a job, it’s a responsibility. “It’s a responsibility in our relationships, not only with each other as humans but more specifically with our relatives of the land, and the air and the water and the things that those provide for us, not just now but for the future generations,” he said. “That’s why this work is so passionate to these Tribal community members. When we hand it off to them, that’s what we’re going to be judged on—what we gave them. So, when we have these conversations, it’s deeper than just now. These are the conversations that we are trying to get other federal agencies to understand; it’s about relationships. We are all going to be ancestors one day and what is your legacy going to be? At some point, I would hope and I pray that we get to that point where the Tribal voice is truly being heard and considered and that we’re not just dictated to.”

Aceves said the RTOC Committee reached out in early 2024 about hosting this event again, recognizing Soboba’s enthusiastic participation in prior events. He felt the successful hosting of the first 2024 Summer RTOC made Soboba the natural choice for a second round, with both EPA and RTOC teams strongly encouraging another gathering.

“This is easily the largest gathering of Tribal environmental professionals in Region 9, second only to the full EPA Annual Conference,” Aceves said. “The RTOC meets quarterly and serves as a vital forum where Tribal professionals and EPA officials engage in true government-to-government consultation. At this event, Region 9 Tribes offered direct feedback to the EPA on grants, policy development, program performance and more, fulfilling the RTOC’s mission to strengthen Tribal EPA partnerships through constructive dialogue.”

To further its goals, the RTOC focuses on three key areas: policy and management of EPA Indian programs; coordination/communication among Tribes, EPA, and other agencies; and education.

There were many meaningful activities during the three-day RTOC meeting with Monday’s site visit, Tuesday’s Tribal Caucus, Wednesday’s Plenary Sessions and two days of workgroups for breakout sessions. Action items that are discussed receive a written response from both the EPA and the proposing Tribe. These responses are addressed at the following RTOC meeting. You can view the list of addressed action items at www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-06/r9-rtoc-response-to-winter-2026-action-items.pdf.

The first day began with a welcome by Aceves who shared details about the department’s mission and Soboba’s environmental programs which include a General Assistance Program, Clean Water Program, and Waste Management Program. His slideshow presentation was followed by a tour of the reservation that focused on showcasing Soboba’s solar infrastructure and the Tribe’s long-term commitment to energy sovereignty. The tour highlighted the Tribe’s three major solar installations: the Casino rooftop array, the Fire Department carport system, and the expansive Soboba Solar Fields.

On site visits allowed attendees to learn about the projects’ histories, funding sources, and the technical components behind each system, emphasizing how these investments reduce energy costs and strengthen Tribal resilience. The feedback was enthusiastic; many Tribes expressed that seeing these systems firsthand helped them envision how similar projects could be implemented in their own communities.

In addition to breakout sessions on Wednesday, the morning also featured a virtual visit from Usha-Maria Turner, the EPA’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate this past October. She will lead efforts to advance the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.

Turner’s appearance led to some heated discussions about the EPA’s proposal to reduce RTOC meetings from four to two per year, a significant concern for Tribes.

“In-person gatherings offer richer engagement than virtual meetings, especially for Tribes in rural areas with limited internet access,” Aceves said. “Reducing meetings risks silencing voices and weakening government-to-government connection. RTOC is indispensable for empowering Tribal leadership and ensuring strong environmental policy input. This is a concerning matter that will be followed up at the next RTOC event scheduled to take place at EPA headquarters in San Francisco.”

A major highlight of the week for the STED team was presenting the wide range of environmental programs and innovative tools Soboba uses to protect its lands.

“Beyond our community programs for Elders and youth, including household hazardous waste disposal, CRV recycling, and Earth Day initiatives, we also showcased how Soboba maximizes Geographic Information Systems technology to enhance environmental protection. We demonstrated how GIS mapping supports wildlife tracking, identifies illegal dumping sites, and helps monitor environmental changes across the Reservation,” Aceves said. “Sharing these tools and approaches with other Tribes felt empowering; many of us work in our own silos and forget how much we can learn from one another. By opening the door to our methods, we help strengthen Tribal environmental capacity across the region. At the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same goal: healthier lands, healthier people, and a stronger future for our communities.”

For more information, https://epa.soboba-nsn.gov.

The post Soboba Tribal Environmental Department hosts regional meeting appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

District officials announced that all students enrolled in San Jacinto Unified schools will receive both breakfast and lunch at no cost through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The initiative is designed to ensure students have access to nutritious meals that support learning, health, and academic success.

The free meal program will be available to students attending the district’s elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as select preschool and academy programs. Participating campuses include:

• Megan Cope Elementary School
• Juan Bautista De Anza Elementary School
• Jose Antonio Estudillo Elementary School
• Edward Hyatt World Language Academy
• Park Hill Elementary School
• Clayton A. Record Elementary School
• Rose Salgado Elementary School
• San Jacinto Elementary School
• Head Start Preschool
• San Jacinto Leadership Academy
• Monte Vista Middle School
• North Mountain Middle School
• Mountain View High School
• San Jacinto High School

The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs provide federally supported meals to eligible schools across the country, helping ensure students have reliable access to healthy food throughout the school day.

District officials encourage families with questions about the meal program to contact the San Jacinto Unified School District Nutrition Services Department at (951) 654-9371.

The free breakfast and lunch program will be available throughout the 2026-2027 school year for all enrolled SJUSD students attending participating schools.

The post San Jacinto Unified to Continue Free School Breakfast and Lunch for All Students in 2026-27 appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Dr. Dotson succeeds Dr. Roger Schultz, who retired after 25 years of service to MSJC, including 18 years as Superintendent/President. She becomes the first woman to serve as Superintendent/President of Mt. San Jacinto College and assumes leadership of one of California’s largest community college districts, serving approximately 30,000 students annually across Riverside County.

Throughout her career in higher education, Dr. Dotson has earned a reputation as an innovative leader, collaborative partner, and passionate advocate for student success. As she begins her tenure, she plans to spend time listening, learning, and building relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community partners across the District’s campuses and service region.

“The Board sought a leader who would honor MSJC’s strong foundation while embracing the continued evolution of an institution that is already thriving,” said MSJC Board of Trustees President Tom Ashley. “We found that leader in Dr. Dotson. She brings a thoughtful and forward-looking vision that reflects the values that define our college—excellence, integrity, access, and, above all, a commitment to student success.”

In a video message released on her first day, Dr. Dotson acknowledged the excitement and the uncertainty that naturally accompany change while inviting the MSJC community to embark on the College’s next chapter together.

“As an educator and leader, I believe community colleges were created to complete a promise to our students and our community,” Dr. Dotson said. “That promise begins with open, equitable access, continues by helping students succeed through persistence, retention, and completion, and culminates in opportunities for great careers and successful transfer pathways. I hope to join you in building on that strong foundation, accelerating momentum, amplifying accomplishments, and driving student success.”

Dr. Dotson emphasized that her first year will focus on listening and learning from the people who make MSJC exceptional while working collaboratively to shape the College’s future.

“I’m going to start by listening and learning about what we value and appreciate about what we do at Mt. San Jacinto College,” she said. “Collaboration is important to me because, as the proverb says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'” Over the coming weeks and months, Dr. Dotson will continue visiting MSJC’s campuses and engaging with faculty, staff, students, educational partners, elected officials, and community stakeholders throughout the region.

Dr. Dotson assumes leadership at a time of continued momentum for the College. This year, MSJC awarded a record 3,881 degrees and certificates, continues to expand educational opportunities throughout Southwest Riverside County and the San Gorgonio Pass, and is advancing major initiatives that support student success, workforce development, university transfer pathways, and regional economic growth.

Members of the community are invited to hear directly from Dr. Dotson by watching her first-day message at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3zESKLGF9x4.

As Superintendent/President, Dr. Dotson will oversee the College’s three campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, and Temecula, leading the institution’s mission of transforming learners, communities, and lives through accessible, high-quality education.

The post Mt. San Jacinto College Welcomes Dr. Tawny Dotson as Eighth Superintendent/President appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The Partners in Peace initiative challenges honors students from across the United States to examine the work and strategies of Nobel Peace Prize laureates and to develop projects that promote peace, understanding, and conflict resolution in their own communities. Guided by the philosophy of “think globally, act locally,” participants engage in meaningful dialogue, leadership development, and community-based action throughout the program.

Young and Salazar were selected through a competitive application process that recognizes academic achievement, leadership potential, and a commitment to creating positive change.

“Being accepted into the Partners in Peace program means a great deal to me,” said Young. “My journey has taught me resilience, compassion, and the importance of building bridges between people from different backgrounds. I am grateful for this opportunity to grow as a leader and contribute to creating positive change in my community.”

Salazar expressed her excitement about joining students from across the nation in the program.

“I am truly honored to have been selected for the Partners in Peace program and to represent Mt. San Jacinto College in this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Salazar. “I am especially excited to learn from Dr. Henrik Syse and collaborate with students across the nation who share a similar commitment to creating positive change. Overall, I am eager to continue expanding my knowledge of the mechanisms by which peace is created and sustained through this collaboration and thoughtful dialogue. I hope to share what I learn throughout the upcoming semester with my college and community, especially through local advocacy that supports and uplifts marginalized communities. Meaningful change may begin with one person, but it ripples out further as each action inspires another, creating a cascade of positive change that can reach far beyond the individual.”

MSJC Superintendent/President Roger W. Schultz congratulated the students on their achievement and recognized the faculty mentors who helped prepare them for this opportunity.

“Danela and Marisa exemplify the curiosity, compassion, and leadership that define our Honors students at MSJC,” said Schultz. “Their selection to the Partners in Peace program is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to their commitment to making a positive impact in the world. We are incredibly proud of them and excited to see how they apply what they learn to strengthen our communities. I would also like to thank Christina Yamanaka-Vu and Erik Ozolins for their outstanding leadership of the Honors Enrichment Program. Their dedication to student success continues to create transformative opportunities that empower our students to thrive both academically and as engaged global citizens.”

The students were nominated and supported through MSJC’s Honors Enrichment Program, led by Christina Yamanaka-Vu and Erik Ozolins. The program provides academically motivated students with opportunities for advanced scholarship, leadership development, undergraduate research, and participation in national and international educational experiences.

The selection of two MSJC students for the Partners in Peace program reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to developing informed, engaged, and socially responsible leaders who are prepared to address the challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.

The post Two Mt. San Jacinto College Honors Students Selected for Prestigious National Partners in Peace Program in Oslo, Norway appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Attendees gathered with lawn chairs and blankets for the family-friendly event, which also encouraged donations of plastic and paper bags for a local community pantry.

The program, emceed by Brian Dunn, focused on themes of hope and unity. Jeremiah Herterich opened the evening with prayer.

Performers represented several local faith communities, including Light of Hope Community Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Church of Scientology and area school programs, reflecting the Interfaith Council’s mission to build connections across religious traditions.

Highlights included performances by singer-songwriter Kathryn D’Costa, the San Jacinto Valley Academy’s Valley Singers—recent first-place winners at a national competition in New York City—and vocalist Sheila Diggs of Light of Hope Community Church. Additional performances featured Nathan Pacheco of Lake Elsinore and an interfaith collaboration by Linda Greilich and Chris Formica performing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

The evening concluded with a group rendition of “Amazing Grace,” bringing performers and audience members together.

The Interfaith Council said the event is part of its ongoing effort to promote understanding among diverse faith groups and support the broader community. For more information, contact hsjinterfaith@gmail.com.

The post Voices of Hope Concert Brings Community Together in San Jacinto Valley appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

“This is our most entertaining event of the year, and this year was more exciting than ever,” Soboba Foundation President Andy Silvas said. “Fourteen nonprofits are benefiting from what we can do together as a community.”

Neon colors were everywhere as were the throwback vibes as groups “sang” and danced to tunes from Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Wham! and lots of mashups of songs from that era. Emcees Andrew Vallejos and Joey Placencia kept the show flowing with their witty repartee and audience interviews.

“I just wish Andrew would try to keep up with me, honestly,” said Placencia, who also serves as Soboba Foundation Board Secretary. “We have known each other long enough that nothing is off limits, and I love working with him to present a night like this to our community.”

The organizations’ energetic and spot-on routines made it difficult for judges Andrea Candelaria, Mike Hiles, Alyssa Lauture and Raquel Williams to choose the best. Candelaria, better known as “Aunty Candy,” is a driver for Soboba and a longtime judge of the annual contest. As Tribal Information Officer for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, Hiles has been part of the annual Lip Sync Contest since it began. Lauture is a proud member of the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians and is currently serving her fourth consecutive term on Tribal Council. Williams is a respected community leader and the proud Vice Chairwoman of Wilton Rancheria.

No contestants went home empty handed as 10 special awards were presented along with the top four finishers. Each of those award recipients received $500 for their amazing efforts with Fan Favorite winning $1,000.

The top four acts were separated by only one point each, just proving how great they all did. Taking home the $10,000 first place prize was The Global Society for Female Entrepreneurs (GSFE). Ending the evening with a moving recreation of “Love Can Build A Bridge” by The Judds, nine members dressed in Western gear stood in front of the judges providing movements that matched the lyrics while Joy Fairchild and Charmaine Summers did a spot-on recreation of the famous mother/daughter duo. They got the judges on their feet and the audience singing along. This nonprofit has empowered, inspired, mentored, educated, and connected entrepreneurs while helping build stronger communities and stronger leaders for the past 10 years. Plans for the winnings include revamping their website and providing their diverse members with more AI training.

“We’ve helped our members believe in themselves and know that nothing is impossible. They have learned we are all one,” founder Robbie Motter said. “We don’t compete; we complete each other.”

She said the song they chose became GSFE’s unofficial theme song several years ago due to its strong message of peace and love. Competing for their third year in a row, Motter said they were happy to be one of the nonprofits selected for this year’s competition. She said the girls rehearsed two to three times a week and were still rehearsing in the hallway on the night of the event. Showing total commitment, Summers is the one who coordinated the act and even dyed her blonde hair red to look the part of Wynonna Judd. Other performers were Barbara Berg, Elizabeth Celis, Nicole Farrell, Emiko Ishii, Emma Ocop, Christine Park, Cheri Reynolds, Briana Rice, and Violet Williams.

“We loved being last but would have been happy placed anywhere,” Motter said. “I saw great things in each act, coming together and sharing is what is so great. Each one you could see gave from their heart.”

Black Voices of the Valley took second place and also won the Fan Favorite award, giving them a total of $6,000. Also appearing for the third year in a row, the group nailed their performance during a Michael Jackson medley, led by TY-C Dance Studio owner Tyrone Barajas who was in the Soboba Lip Sync contest 10 years ago on behalf of the American Cancer Society. This year he was supporting BVOV, which is helping to build the next generation of leaders in the region through education, mentorship, advocacy, cultural awareness, and youth empowerment. The funds they earned from the contest will continue to support their mentoring and job shadowing youth programs.

BVOV Executive Director Stephanie Bruce said Barajas and his wife Sierra assisted with putting the routine together and the performers had three rehearsals, each lasting a few hours each; one was on the day of the event, outside in the Soboba Casino Resort parking lot. Bruce said they all worked hard and recorded themselves so they could practice on their own. Bruce, Sheila Diggs, and Kelly Smith served as backup singers and dancers for “Michael.” Bruce said it was a little nerve-wracking to be the second of 14 acts to take the stage, wondering if their performance was going to have a lasting impact that would make folks remember them at the end of the show, which lasted three-plus hours.

“We were hopeful but had no clue that the audience enjoyed our performance so much. We give all the glory to God,” Bruce said. “We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Soboba Foundation for their generous support and continued investment in our community. For the last three years, we have had the privilege of participating, and every experience becomes more meaningful than the last. Their commitment to uplifting organizations like ours makes a lasting impact, and we are truly honored to be a part of it. We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to every staff member and volunteer who worked the event. Their kindness, welcoming spirit, and countless acts of generosity did not go unnoticed. They made everyone feel valued, and their dedication is a beautiful reflection of what community is all about. From all of us at Black Voices of the Valley, we want to thank everyone involved for their compassion, hospitality, and for making this year’s experience one we will never forget. We are sincerely grateful.”

The Greater San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce supports economic growth throughout the region. The organization was able to snag a fourth-place finish and $2,000 for their medley of 80s and 90s hits that were popular on MTV, which they recreated center stage with a giant television screen prop. Executive Director Veronica Hawkes said it was the group’s fourth year for the all-volunteer organization. She said the funds will be used towards operations and upcoming community events, such as their 18th annual Candy Corner Community Event Oct. 29 at Valley-Wide Regional Park in San Jacinto.

Taking to the stage during their medley of popular songs were Hawkes, Valerie Vandever, Stephanie and Richard Montoya, Brenda Kratz, Rick Baker, Louisa Alvarado, Ana and Sergio Acosta, and Esmeralda Sanchez. Sergio came up with the set design, and they all collaborated to bring the idea to life. The group held eight rehearsals to get things just right.

“Stephanie and Ana mainly came up with the songs and all together we worked on choreography,” Hawkes said. “There were times when it was very challenging, especially with so many opinions. There were 14 of us, including backstage personnel. But we were able to enjoy the rest of the awesome performances, once we were done with our show. I thought everyone did a wonderful job!”

She thanked the Soboba Foundation for putting on such an amazing event. “We look forward to participating every year,” Hawkes said, adding that it’s always a wonderful experience for them. “We all go home as winners. Whether you place in the top four or not, every participant at least goes home with $500, which is very rewarding. Soboba and all the amazing staff put on such a wonderful event!”

The Hemet Mom’s Adventure Club is all about getting families outdoors, building memories, and having fun. Taking home third place and $3,000 as first-time entrants was a result of a lot of fun and hard work.

President Amanda Lorei said the group started as an idea during COVID back in 2021. “We were a group of moms that craved togetherness and we were determined to get back outside,” she said. “We are now a community of more than 4,000 local moms dedicated to getting families outdoors, building friendships, and creating meaningful memories together, all without any type of personal gain or commitment. Access to our group is on Facebook.” As of this year the group is an official nonprofit branch club of the San Jacinto Lions Club.

“When we learned about the Soboba Lip Sync competition, we wanted to create something high-energy, fun, and reflective of our adventurous spirit, so we put together a custom medley with help from DJ Ditty, a local dad and HUSD substitute teacher,” Lorei said. “We had a concept of keeping a fun, light-hearted, but mom-centric theme for the performance while using some of our favorite clips from those decades. As major products of the 80s and 90s, we chose songs that represented the active lifestyle of the era while focusing on the pillars of our organization: adventure, motherhood, community, and fun.”

She said that everyone in the group provided input for their routine. Alongside Lorei, who is a self-proclaimed Adventure Junkie, she described other performers as Monica Franco Moore, Treasurer with all the Moves; Autumn Kennedy, Club Member and Lip Sync Director; Marci Lawry, Club Member with all the Snacks; Lori Goodrich, Club Member and Peter Pan Grandma; and Matthew Ditty, Club Member and Forced Support.

“None of us are dancers or performers, we just brought our determination and a lot of heart,” Lorei said. “We spent about two weeks building, editing, and fine-tuning the performance, with just over a week of evening rehearsals with needy kids in tow each time. In fact, our team didn’t fully master the entire routine until just two days before the event, making the win even more exciting.”

She said that despite this being the 18^th annual Lip Sync Contest, the event was new to all of the members. “It was all a much larger production than we anticipated, and it was such an amazing experience for all of us. It was well organized and we felt like VIPs.”

Lorei added that they were honored to be part of such a talented group of community organizations and definitely plan to show up next year with another winning performance.

“The $3,000 prize will help us continue providing family-friendly outdoor activities, community events, and opportunities that encourage children and families to explore nature, connect with one another, and make memories that matter. Zero fees, zero commitments and nothing but fun. At the heart of everything we do is our mission: getting families outside and creating experiences they’ll remember for a lifetime.”

Other nonprofits and their special awards which garnered them $500 each were Nostalgia Champion Boxing for Christ, who uses the art of boxing to teach discipline, confidence, and life skills while providing a positive outlet for local youth. TRL Superstars Boys & Girls Clubs of Inland Valley is an organization that helps young people reach their full potential.

EXCEED empowers individuals with disabilities to explore opportunities, make informed choices, and achieve greater independence and they earned the Best Cast/Ensemble award. Hemet San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to attracting, developing, promoting, and retaining local businesses throughout the valley and had the Most Original act. The Historic Hemet Theatre keeps history alive while bringing arts and entertainment to the community and were deemed Most Creative.

The “All That and a Bag of Chips” award went to My City Youth Center, which is devoted to mentoring young people and strengthening families through faith, integrity, and service. Native Youth Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and uplifting Indigenous youth while strengthening cultural identity. They received Best Song Choice for lip syncing to “Give It Away” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The San Jacinto Education Foundation was established in 2001 as an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting students, teachers, support staff, and educational programs throughout the San Jacinto Unified School District. They were awarded Best Choreography for their tribute to heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath.

Soroptimist International San Jacinto-Hemet Valley is dedicated to empowering women and girls through education and opportunity. Fittingly, they performed Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and took home the Best Costume award. The Valley Community Pantry has been serving families throughout the San Jacinto Valley since 1965. The organization was first on the stage and earned the Most Entertaining award.

“The energy, creativity, enthusiasm, and community spirit each organization brought to the stage made for a truly unforgettable evening,” Soboba Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos said. “We are so grateful for their participation and support.”

For more information, https://soboba-nsn.gov/sponsorship.

The post Soboba Charity Lip Sync Contest brings out local talent appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The investigation, conducted by The California Newsroom and UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program, identified 148 California law enforcement officers between 2014 and 2024 whose agencies sustained allegations involving explicit bias. The cases included officers using slurs, ridiculing transgender people, making derogatory remarks about immigrants or people who do not speak English, and sharing racist or homophobic comments involving members of the public, co-workers and incarcerated people.

Only about 12% of those officers were fired as a result of the conduct, according to the review. More than 40% of the officers identified — not including correctional officers — continued to work in California law enforcement.

Among the cases was that of Rafael Silva, a former Delano Police Department officer in Kern County. In April 2023, the FBI found that Silva had posted violent threats against transgender people on TikTok under a pseudonym, according to investigative records. The posts included threats involving firearms and comments suggesting transgender people would be killed.

Silva was allowed to resign from Delano rather than be terminated. He later worked for police departments in Avenal and Wasco. The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, known as POST, declined to revoke his certification. The city of Wasco confirmed that Silva remained employed as one of its police officers as of June 24, 2026. Silva did not respond to requests for comment. Delano police confirmed he worked for the department until 2023 but declined to discuss the matter further.

The findings were based on thousands of pages of internal affairs records, disciplinary files and court documents obtained from nearly 500 law enforcement and oversight agencies across California. The records show a wide range of discipline, from reprimand letters and training orders to suspensions, demotions, pay reductions and firings.

POST has the authority to decertify officers, which prevents them from working as peace officers in California. But investigations and discipline are generally handled by the officers’ own agencies or local oversight bodies.

The issue reaches into Southern California agencies as well.

In 2022, Orange County District Attorney’s Office investigator Eric Franke referred to a security guard who had asked him to leave a building as an “angry Black lady,” according to records. In another incident, he made a remark that Mexican people drink excessively. Franke received a written reprimand and remained employed by the district attorney’s office.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said it takes biased conduct seriously and noted that Franke was disciplined. Franke did not comment.

In separate cases, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Armando Magana and San Diego Police Department Officer Alan Dyemartin mocked people for not speaking English. Magana’s case occurred in 2015, and Dyemartin’s in 2018. Both officers received reprimand letters and kept their jobs. The LAPD declined to comment on Magana’s case. A San Diego police spokesperson said the department takes prejudiced behavior seriously and disciplined the employee involved. Magana declined to comment, and Dyemartin did not respond to requests for comment.

Legal scholars, police officials and civil rights advocates said sustained findings of explicit bias can damage public confidence, raise questions about an officer’s credibility in court and harm efforts to recruit and retain a diverse workforce.

Vida Johnson, a Georgetown University law professor who has testified before Congress on white supremacy and policing, said officers who show clear bias should not remain in the profession.

“With such an important job, if someone is exhibiting any type of bias against a member of their community, I just don’t think they should have that job,” Johnson said.

Experts said biased behavior by officers can discourage residents from seeking help from law enforcement. Stefan Vogler, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said marginalized communities may feel both heavily policed and inadequately protected — a dynamic researchers describe as the “overpolicing, underprotection” paradox.

“They’re not getting the services that they’re promised by the state,” Vogler said.

Bias findings can also affect criminal cases. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brady v. Maryland decision, prosecutors must disclose evidence that could undermine the credibility of law enforcement witnesses. Former Los Angeles police commissioner Richard Drooyan said documented bias can make it difficult to rely on an officer’s testimony without supporting evidence.

Reporters requested information from district attorneys’ offices in counties where officers in the investigation had been disciplined for biased conduct, seeking to determine whether the officers appeared on so-called Brady lists. The Madera County District Attorney’s Office said it does not maintain such a list. Several offices said they could not locate Brady material involving the officers in question, while most declined to say whether the officers were on their lists, citing disclosure exemptions.

The investigation also found dozens of cases involving anti-Black bias, including 23 officers disciplined for using the n-word. Some officers shared or made comments mocking George Floyd after he was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020.

Ben Grunwald, a Duke University law professor, said the stakes are especially high because police officers have the power to detain, arrest and use force.

“The idea that these decisions that are really high stakes might be influenced by things like racism, sexism, homophobia — those should raise really serious concerns for everyone,” he said.

Bias also appeared in correctional settings. Of 61 correctional officers identified in the review, more than half were still employed at the end of 2024, according to state controller data. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which employs more law enforcement officers than any other state agency, would not confirm whether those officers remain employed today.

In two cases at Pelican Bay State Prison, officers made casual remarks about killing or shooting Black people and received reprimands. At California Men’s Colony, an officer mocked a transgender inmate by telling the person to put on lipstick before going to the yard; that officer received a temporary salary reduction.

In response to the investigation, a CDCR spokesperson said the department takes corrective and disciplinary action when warranted and has adopted new staff misconduct rules intended to reduce bias, improve transparency and strengthen accountability.

James King, program director for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and a formerly incarcerated person, said biased language from correctional officers carries particular weight because incarcerated people depend on staff for safety, basic needs and access to rehabilitative programs.

“It becomes much deeper than mere words because there’s so much power and authority behind those words,” King said.

Most of the cases reviewed — 79% — involved conduct directed at or made in the presence of other people in the justice system, including fellow officers, court employees, civilian staff and, in one case, a judge during court proceedings.

In Orange, a Black police officer reported seeking work at another law enforcement agency because of racist jokes and homophobic slurs used in the workplace by Orange Police Sgt. Darrin Hall between 2020 and 2022, records show. Hall received notice that he would be demoted and retired later that month. The Orange Police Department declined to comment, citing personnel confidentiality.

Drooyan said bias among officers can damage morale and create safety concerns, particularly when officers must depend on one another in dangerous situations.

“When they get into a tough situation, if they can’t trust each other, I think it becomes problematic,” he said.

Grunwald said the findings also present a challenge for departments working to diversify their ranks and retain officers of color.

The review found that 39% of the 148 officers identified were suspended, demoted or had their pay reduced. About 20% received reprimand letters or were ordered to complete training — measures that may not remain permanently in personnel files.

Experts cautioned that the cases likely represent only a small portion of biased conduct in policing.

Johnson pointed to fear of retaliation, difficulty filing complaints and the long-standing culture of silence in law enforcement as reasons many incidents may never be reported.

State data show that more than 19,600 complaints alleging prejudiced behavior by California law enforcement officers were filed between 2016 and 2024. Agencies sustained 349 of those complaints. The figures do not include complaints involving racially biased traffic stops.

The review was limited to records available under California public records laws, meaning reporters could only examine certain sustained misconduct cases.

King said the findings should not be dismissed as isolated misconduct by a few officers. He argued that law enforcement agencies can develop workplace cultures that are difficult to change through training or hiring alone.

Sheryl Victorian, police chief in Waco, Texas, said agencies must respond promptly and appropriately when biased conduct occurs, whether through reprimands, retraining or more serious discipline.

“If nobody actually addresses the behavior when it occurs, then they continue to talk that way, and that behavior becomes acceptable,” she said.

Some officers successfully appealed discipline, with penalties reduced in at least 38 cases. Others resigned before disciplinary proceedings were completed.

The investigation relied on records collected through the Police Records Access Project, which obtains misconduct files from law enforcement and oversight agencies throughout California. Reporters searched files and summaries for terms associated with prejudice and slurs, then reviewed cases to determine whether agencies had sustained allegations involving explicit bias against protected groups. Certification and employment records from POST and the state controller’s office were used to assess whether officers remained employed in law enforcement.

Original source: CalMatters

The post California Officers Disciplined for Bias Rarely Lose Their Jobs appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

California Forever, the company behind the controversial proposal, has hired former state Senate President Darrell Steinberg and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg, both Democrats with deep experience in state government and environmental law. The move comes as the group presses state lawmakers for expedited review of plans tied to thousands of acres it has acquired in the outer Bay Area.

The proposal has drawn statewide attention because of its scale and its potential implications for land use, housing, environmental review and economic development policy across California. The project is envisioned for an underdeveloped stretch of Solano County between Travis Air Force Base and Rio Vista, where backers have promoted the idea of a new city that could eventually rival Cleveland in size.

The latest strategy focuses less immediately on building an entire city from scratch and more on creating a manufacturing hub near Suisun City. Under the plan, Suisun City could annex land already purchased by California Forever, allowing the project to move through existing industrial planning channels and potentially shorten the approval process.

Supporters say the proposal could bring billions of dollars in investment and tens of thousands of jobs to the region. Steinberg has argued that California and Solano County must be able to respond quickly to major economic opportunities rather than let them be delayed for years by lengthy review processes.

“The state and county need the ability to say yes now to these numerous opportunities,” Steinberg said, according to CalMatters.

But the effort remains sharply contested. Environmental advocates and some local officials warn that accelerating approvals could weaken protections for open space and farmland in a region long viewed as a greenbelt between Bay Area communities and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Suisun City Councilmember Princess Washington questioned the pace sought by the developers, saying it is highly unusual for a project of this size to move as quickly as California Forever wants.

“It’s unheard of for a project to be done as quickly as they want it to be done,” Washington said.

The debate places California Forever at the center of a broader statewide conflict familiar in Southern California and the Inland Empire: how to balance the need for housing, jobs and industrial growth with environmental review, local control and preservation of undeveloped land.

For now, the project’s future depends in part on whether its political team can persuade state lawmakers to give the Solano County plan a faster route forward — and whether opponents can slow or block changes they say would come at too high a cost.

Original source: CalMatters

The post Billionaires Behind Proposed Bay Area City Enlist California Political Power Brokers appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

California Forever, the billionaire-backed development company behind the proposal, is seeking state legislation that would speed environmental review for a large shipyard and manufacturing project it says could anchor the broader development. The company also wants a path for its land to be brought into Suisun City if county land-use rules block construction.

To press its case, California Forever has enlisted two prominent Democratic figures with deep experience in state environmental law: former Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg. The developers are arguing that California must move quickly to compete with Texas and other states for a potential shipbuilding tenant.

The company’s pitch now centers on Saronic Technologies Inc., a defense firm that makes autonomous vessels for national security uses and is considering whether to build its next factory in California or Texas. Supporters say a fast-track process is needed to keep the company, and the jobs it could bring, in California.

The latest proposal marks another shift for California Forever, which has spent nearly a decade advancing the idea of a new community in eastern Solano County. The initial vision emphasized a walkable city with homes, bike lanes and neighborhood amenities. Over time, the plan expanded to include a shipbuilding complex and a manufacturing district.

Backers include the state’s influential building trades unions, real estate interests, peace officers and pro-housing advocates. They argue the project could generate major economic growth and, according to a Bay Area economic analysis, eventually support hundreds of thousands of jobs statewide.

Steinberg and Hertzberg said the developers are seeking permission to rely on a 2008 environmental impact report for the shipyard site, cap legal challenges to the project at 270 days and allow Suisun City to annex California Forever-owned land if necessary.

In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders, supporters warned that without action, California could lose billions of dollars in investment and tens of thousands of jobs to Texas and other states as soon as this summer.

But the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from local residents, environmental advocates and some lawmakers, who say the public has not been given enough information about a project that would transform large stretches of farmland and sensitive habitat.

State Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, a Napa Democrat whose district includes the area, said a project of this size and location is precisely the kind of development that should undergo a full review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

“A central question for the people of Solano County is: Is this going to be for the community or is this a conversion project that leaves them behind?” Cabaldon said.

Opponents also accuse California Forever of trying to bypass local voters by negotiating with state officials. Since 2018, the company and its affiliates have quietly acquired tens of thousands of acres in Solano County. The project’s backers were not publicly identified until 2023, when they were revealed to include wealthy venture capitalists and technology figures led by Jan Sramek, a former Goldman Sachs trader and real estate developer.

Among the investors is Marc Andreessen, co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Andreessen also holds investments in Saronic, the defense company considering the Solano County location.

California Forever’s land-buying campaign began through a subsidiary, Flannery Associates, which eventually acquired about 62,000 acres. The secrecy surrounding those purchases created lasting distrust among farmers and residents, some of whom accused the company of using aggressive tactics to pressure landowners to sell.

The company’s original effort depended on winning local support because Solano County has an “orderly growth” policy, adopted by voters in 1984, that requires voter approval before development can occur on certain unincorporated agricultural lands.

In 2024, California Forever introduced the East Solano Plan, which proposed rezoning 17,500 acres for a dense new city that could house up to 400,000 people. The measure was expected to go before county voters, but the company withdrew it after organized opposition, weak polling and a county review that identified gaps in the proposal. Sramek later acknowledged the campaign had likely moved too quickly and said the plan would return to voters in 2026.

Since then, the company has reworked its strategy. The East Solano Plan has been reframed as the Suisun Expansion Plan and the Solano Shipyard. In January 2025, the Suisun City Council directed its city manager to explore annexing nearby land, a process that is now underway but could take years.

Critics say the annexation approach appears designed to avoid the countywide vote required under Solano’s growth rules.

“The annexation and the ship building have been a clear way to work around the need for voter support in Solano County,” said Nate Huntington, a member of Solano Together, a grassroots group formed in response to the land purchases.

Huntington noted that California Forever has not submitted a formal shipyard proposal to the county.

“All of this has been happening in backrooms of Sacramento, and it’s not been publicly available,” he said.

California Forever is now presenting the project to state leaders as a rare chance to attract advanced manufacturing and defense-related shipbuilding to California, along with new housing for workers.

Steinberg and Hertzberg said legislation is being considered but would move forward only after California Forever signs a lease with a manufacturer or shipbuilder. Their proposal would allow the governor to designate construction on the company’s land as an “environmental leadership development project,” a category that accelerates court review of legal challenges. Steinberg authored the 2013 law that created that streamlined process.

California law generally requires public agencies to prepare environmental studies for projects that may significantly affect land, air, water, wildlife or surrounding communities. Rather than initiating a new environmental review for the shipyard, Steinberg and Hertzberg’s approach would rely on a 2008 Solano County report that identified part of the area for water-dependent industrial use. Most of California Forever’s planned 7,500-acre shipyard footprint does not carry that designation.

Steinberg said the older report remains adequate because the site has not substantially changed. Requiring a new report, he said, would add years of delay and could cost California major economic opportunities.

Cabaldon disagreed, saying the current proposal is significantly different from what was considered nearly two decades ago.

“Just the notion that you would just say, ‘We are not going to do any assessments at all and we’ll just rely on this old one’ — that is not consistent with what the public interest is,” he said.

The proposal also calls for housing tied to the jobs that supporters say the shipyard and manufacturing projects would create. Steinberg and Hertzberg said nearby cities and Solano County would have the first opportunity to approve housing. If local governments could not meet the timeline sought by employers, Suisun City could annex adjacent California Forever land as a last resort.

That provision is one of the most controversial pieces of the plan because it could allow development to proceed outside the county’s voter-approved growth process.

“The shipbuilders and manufacturers need certainty on a much faster timeline,” Steinberg said.

Cabaldon questioned whether the housing argument is grounded in realistic job projections, noting that Saronic works in automation. He said there has been no evidence that the project would generate enough ongoing jobs to require housing on the scale California Forever has proposed.

The company gained a major political ally in January when it announced a 40-year agreement with the Napa/Solano Building Trades Council and the Northern California Carpenters Union to use union labor on the development. The deal brought powerful labor organizations into the campaign for state action.

Labor support intensified after a county court in Texas approved substantial tax incentives aimed at attracting Saronic to Brownsville. Saronic has said its search for a new site remains active.

The California Alliance for Jobs, a coalition of construction companies and workers, recently sent letters urging legislative leaders to accelerate approval of the California Forever expansion and shipyard.

“We champed at the bit to go all in to get this project moving, and to get legislation through Sacramento this session,” said Joshua Arce, the alliance’s chief executive.

Suisun City Councilmember Princess Washington, who has consistently opposed the annexation effort, said she believes labor support is being used to pressure officials into approving the project quickly.

“Processes are slow, but they’re done that way through government to ensure that it’s being done correctly, that all parties of interest are being treated fairly, and there’s checks and balances,” Washington said.

California Forever spokesperson Jim Wunderman said in a statement that any shipyard project would follow California environmental and land-use laws. He said county supervisors already approved use of the 2008 environmental document and that legislation would help the project meet prospective employers’ timelines.

Wunderman also said that directing growth through Suisun City is consistent with local preferences for placing new development within existing cities.

California Forever has maintained a steady presence in Sacramento. Since 2024, the company has spent at least $330,000 lobbying the Legislature and governor’s office on bills and related government actions, according to campaign finance records.

Steinberg and Hertzberg said they were hired in April as special counsel rather than lobbyists, meaning they spend less than one-third of their time communicating with public officials.

Jordan Grimes, legislative director for Greenbelt Alliance, said he was disappointed to see Steinberg advocating for the project. The environmental group has supported streamlining reviews for housing but has opposed California Forever’s proposal.

California Forever reported spending $90,000 last year lobbying the governor’s office and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, known as GO-Biz, on federal shipbuilding activity and business attraction efforts in California.

GO-Biz spokesperson Willie Rudman said the agency has discussed state incentive programs with Saronic and explained how they work, but does not offer incentive packages to individual companies.

Last fall, GO-Biz helped organize a bid to bring Saronic to Solano County. County staff said during a Board of Supervisors meeting that the agency supported a legislative effort that would override the county’s orderly growth law. Supervisors moved quickly to adjust boundaries for the proposed Solano Shipyard, but Assemblymember Lori Wilson, a Democrat from Suisun City, said there was not enough time left in the legislative session to introduce a bill.

Wilson said the proposal has remained under discussion since then, but that California Forever has not requested action from her office.

Cabaldon said warnings that California could lose the shipyard to Texas are a familiar negotiating tactic in economic development. He said Saronic’s final decision is more likely to be driven by national defense needs than state incentives.

“We have to negotiate with our eyes open,” he said.

Original source: CalMatters

The post Tech Billionaires Turn to Democratic Insiders in Revived Bid to Build Bay Area City appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

For decades, Los Angeles has been a national example of coalition politics, where candidates build governing majorities by stitching together groups with different interests and histories. The model has shifted repeatedly as the city has changed.

Former Mayor Tom Bradley, Los Angeles’ first Black mayor and its longest-serving chief executive, built one of the city’s most durable coalitions. Elected in 1973, Bradley joined Black voters with liberal voters then concentrated on the Westside, a base strong enough to carry him through four additional mayoral victories.

Richard Riordan, a moderate Republican and Catholic who succeeded Bradley, reworked the city’s political map in 1993 by winning support from the San Fernando Valley, moderate voters in central Los Angeles and Latino voters. That coalition helped him win reelection easily, but it has proved impossible for later Republicans to duplicate as GOP registration in the city has fallen to less than 15% of voters.

Other mayors have risen or fallen depending on how well they held together key voting groups. James Hahn won with backing from the Valley and Black voters, but lost support after opposing San Fernando Valley secession and declining to reappoint Police Chief Bernard C. Parks. He was defeated when he sought a second term. Antonio Villaraigosa later drew strong support from Latinos and liberals and served two terms. Eric Garcetti carried that coalition through the COVID-19 era.

Bass’ 2022 victory reflected, in part, a return to the Bradley-style formula. She began with strong backing from Black voters and expanded her support among progressives with help from organized labor. That coalition was enough to defeat Rick Caruso, a former Republican running as a Democrat who spent more than $100 million of his own money on the campaign.

This year, however, Bass faces a different kind of challenge. Raman is also a woman of color, but she is younger and positioned further to the left politically. That creates an unusual test for Bass: a coalition built to defeat a well-funded, more conservative opponent now must be reoriented against a progressive challenger.

Early results from the election earlier this month showed Bass performing well in central Los Angeles, where many Black and Latino voters live. Raman led in younger, more progressive neighborhoods such as Silver Lake, Echo Park and parts of the southeast San Fernando Valley.

The returns also revealed possible openings and limitations for both candidates. Spencer Pratt, despite running without traditional qualifications or a detailed policy platform, won precincts on the Westside and in the western San Fernando Valley. Even so, Bass often finished second in those areas, a notable result given that Pratt’s campaign capitalized on frustration with City Hall and with Bass in particular.

If Bass becomes the more moderate or conservative option in a runoff, that could make it harder for Raman to pick up votes in those precincts. Raman, who received 28.5% of the vote, would need to expand well beyond her existing base to cross the 50% threshold.

One group that may matter more than in past Los Angeles elections is newer residents. At a recent event hosted by UCLA’s Blueprint magazine and co-sponsored by CalMatters, City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said people who have arrived in Los Angeles more recently often bring different political priorities than longtime residents.

Housing is one major example. Many newer Angelenos strongly support building more housing density, arguing that it could help address high rents and homelessness. But Harris-Dawson noted that for many longtime residents, particularly Black families who migrated from the South, Los Angeles represented something different: a place where they could buy a home, have a yard and enjoy space that had been denied to them elsewhere.

For those residents, single-family neighborhoods are not simply inefficient land use. They are tied to opportunity, stability and freedom.

Public safety may also be viewed differently depending on a voter’s history with the city. Some of Pratt’s supporters, including people commenting on social media who have not lived or worked in Los Angeles, portrayed the city as being in severe decline. Newer residents or those from more insulated neighborhoods may share that view, especially in a city that still struggles with serious violence. Last year, Los Angeles recorded 230 homicides.

But longtime Angelenos may see the same number through a different lens. The city once recorded more than 1,000 killings in a year. Many residents also remember the 1992 unrest following the acquittal of Los Angeles police officers in the beating of a Black motorist, part of a broader history of police abuse and racial tension.

In that context, current crime levels can be seen as both deeply troubling and significantly improved from earlier decades. Whether voters focus on the danger that remains or the progress made may shape how they respond to candidates’ messages.

New residents can bring urgency, energy and expectations for change. They may be less attached to older political habits and less willing to accept longstanding conditions. At the same time, longtime residents can view some of those criticisms as lacking historical understanding.

That divide could become one of the defining features of the mayoral race. Bass is expected to draw her strongest support from voters with deeper roots in the city, while Raman appears positioned to appeal to newer arrivals and younger progressive voters.

Los Angeles politics has long been shaped by coalitions of race, class, ideology and neighborhood. This election may add another major bloc to the calculation: voters divided by their relationship to the city’s past.

Original source: CalMatters

The post Nithya Raman Could Further Reshape L.A.’s Shifting Political Alliances appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.