Last Updated on November 10, 2002 by Paulette Brown-Hinds
By Hardy Brown
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) recognized the growing number of African Americans currently living in and moving to the Inland Empire.
Recognized as one of the fastest growing populations in the country for Blacks, this statistic also multiplies the problems of racial issues in our community. This should not be the case, but it is a reality. Even though I have not been able to attend either of the local SCLC installation ceremonies of Rev. Reginald Beamon and Rev. James Baylock, we did have representation at each ceremony. I am in full support of another organization to help fight racism, discrimination, and other ills in our community. I offer this support as a publisher and current president of the NAACP San Bernardino Branch. As president and publisher I am bombarded with complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, bank loans, police abuse, educational disparities, and abuse while incarcerated from all over the Inland Empire. The NAACP does not have enough volunteers to handle the many complaints, therefore I am suggesting that the leadership of the organizations meet to ensure open lines of communication and share strategies to fight these problems.
I want to commend Martin Luther King, III for further expanding the organization founded by his late father. Welcome to the Inland Empire.
New City Manager off to A Good Start
I want to commend George Caravalho, Riversides new city manager for calling together the community for their input on the direction of the city. This approach of inclusion verses exclusion is an approach that will make the citizens feel a part of the policies that govern them. The citys leaders should be elated to have this process take place because it clearly demonstrates that citizens are important and their opinions are valued. We know the citizens think it is important because more than expected turned out for the meeting. The facility was set up for about two hundred however the people kept coming and topped out with over six hundred in attendance. This process is also very good for the new city manager since he has responsibility of drafting policies that the council must enact. Now we must continue to meet and implement the strategies so the citizens will see the process was not a ploy but a serious effort to make Riverside the All America city for all citizens.