San Bernardino Press MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015 - MARCH 1, 2015
sanbernardinopress.com
Job Training Center Loses Funding Amidst High Unemployment by estefania zavala For approximately thirty years, the San Bernardino Employment and Training Agency (SBETA) has been helping the city’s residents find jobs in the public and private industries. Last October, this agency’s funding was cut as a sanction after the city failed to submit a 2012-2013 fiscal report, according to Dennis Petrie, the deputy director of the Workforce Service Branch in the state’s Employment Development Department. “We regret having to take such action but are forced to do so after repeated warnings,” wrote Petrie in an October letter to Mayor Carey Davis. The fiscal report in question had been due in March of 2014. The City’s Workforce Investment Board (WIB), which is made up of representatives from local educational institutes, labor organizations, community based organizations, private sector businesses, and government, oversees the
Job seeking
- Photo by COD Newsroom, courtesy Flickr
SBETA in a partnership with Mayor Davis. According to San Bernardino Councilman Jim Mulvihill, the mayor’s approach has been handsoff. “SBETA is treated almost as though it’s not part of the city,” Mulvihill said, asserting that the city needed to promote new jobs. The SBETA Executive Di-
rector Ernest Dowdy has said that he meets with Mayor Davis twice a month and that the missing fiscal report that resulted in a loss in funding, would be completed by April of 2015. This would reinstate the $3.5 million budget that SBETA is reliant on the state to provide. Please see page 2
County Executive Keith Lee Announces Retirement San Bernardino County Deputy Executive Officer and Regional Parks Director Keith Lee, a longtime leader in County government and the community, is retiring after 29 years of service to the public. "I appreciate the years of service I've been able to have in San Bernardino County,"
Mr. Lee said as he was being honored during today's Board of Supervisors meeting. County Librarian Leonard Hernandez has been appointed to succeed Mr. Lee. In addition to the County's 10 regional parks and recreational facilities, Mr. Lee oversees the County Museum Sys-
tem, the County's six airports, the County Library System, Registrar of Voters, and the Agriculture/Weights & Measures Department. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Executive Officer, Mr. served as Director for the Please see page 2
VOLUME 2, NO. 8
Golf Tournament Apr 19 to benefit Big Bear Alpine Zoo On Sunday, Apr. 19, the Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo will host its second annual fundraising golf tournament at the renowned Indian Wells Golf Resort that is both breathtaking in beauty and a challenge for all skills. The Friends of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo are very excited to have this opportunity to provide an outstanding day of golf for our supporters. -Registration – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. -Putting Contest – 11 a.m. -Lunch – 12 p.m. -Tee-Off – 12:30 p.m. -Awards Banquet – 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The funds raised at the tournament will be used to build an amazing “Raccoon Saloon” for the raccoons that live at the zoo. Our raccoons are very much in need of a larger exhibit that will provide stimulation and enrichment. Cost is $150.00 per player or $600 per foursome and openings are still available. If you are not a golfer, but would still like to contribute, we have several tee sponsorships available for $500. The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a place for rescue, rehabilitation and release. It offers in-
Please see page 3