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Thursday, May 07-May 13, 2026
Homelessness decreases nearly 24% in San Bernardino By Joe Taglieri
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A San Bernardino police officer and city workers remove an encampment Jan. 8, 2025, in an alley near Baseline Street. | Photo courtesy of the city of San Bernardino
San Bernardino has significantly stepped up its response to homelessness, officials said. Since 2022, the number of shelter beds in the city has increased from approximately 422 to 894 currently. Other changes include up scaling rapid rehousing programs, hiring more case managers, contracting with the Salvation Army for expanded outreach work and focusing efforts on areas with the most need, such as Waterman Avenue. A state Encampment Resolution grant paid for the Waterman Avenue outreach, officials said. “I’m incredibly proud of the progress in a relatively short time made by the City’s Outreach Team, SBPD, its PEACE Team
and Public Works, along with our community-based partners,” Ward 1 Councilman Theodore Sanchez said in a statement. Individuals who receive services are required to connect with case managers. Service recipients "are expected to make measurable progress toward personal milestones, increasing the likelihood of success, ensuring accountability, and effectively using public resources," according to the city. While the decline in homelessness is a positive development, officials said "the work is far from over." Increased shelter capacity and hundreds of affordable housing units in development mark San See Homelessness Page 39
Bernardino's approach to establishing a long-term, sustainable response to homelessness. “There is still more work ahead. Homelessness is still a challenge in San Bernardino," Tran said. "However, this progress confirms that when we treat this crisis with urgency, coordination, compassion, and accountability, we can make a real difference in people’s lives." Officials noted that several major housing and shelter projects are underway: • U.S. VETS Housing Project at 1351 N. E St. is a 30-unit development for low-income veterans, featuring supportive services. The city has
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Candidates for governor clash in Monterey Park debate By City News Service
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joet@beaconmedianews.com ata from the 2026 Homeless Point-inTime Count shows San Bernardino saw a substantial decline in homelessness over the past year, city officials announced Friday. The Jan. 22 Point-inTime Count by volunteers and local officials shows the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city has dropped from 1,535 in 2025 to 1,172 — a 23.6% decrease. The number of people living unsheltered on streets, in encampments or in other unsheltered circumstances was 737. The 2025 homelessness count reported overall 1,535 people were experiencing homelessness in the city, with 981 living unsheltered. San Bernardino officials attributed the decrease to "focused investment" along with coordination and efforts by the City Council, staff and community organizations. “What the 2026 Pointin-Time Count shows us is that our approach is working,” Mayor Helen Tran said in a statement. “Since declaring a state of emergency in 2023, we have made homelessness a top priority, and these results show our collective efforts are making a real difference.” Ward 4 Councilman Fred Shorett said in a statement, “Homelessness is the number one issue for our residents. We are pleased that our efforts have moved the numbers in the right direction.”
VOL. 10,
andidates in California's gubernatorial primary clashed sharply Tuesday evening over the state's high cost of living, immigration and their approach to President Donald Trump during a televised CNN debate at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park. The two-hour debate Tuesday, moderated by anchors Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins, offered voters a high-profile forum to hear directly from candidates in one of the nation's most closely watched races. The Republicans in the debate were podcaster and former television host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Democratic candidates were former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary and California attorney general Xavier Becerra, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former congresswoman Katie Porter, billionaire financier Tom Steyer and former Los Angeles mayor and Assembly speaker Antonio Villaraigosa. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was not part of Tuesday's debate. CNN said invitations to participate in the debate were based on several criteria, including meeting requirements set by the California secretary of state, raising or contributing at least $1 million to their campaign and demonstrating at least 3% support in qualifying polls. During the debate, Becerra defended DemoSee Debate Page 04
cratic leadership, arguing the party is working to ensure economic opportunity for all residents. "Democrats are the ones that aspire to include everyone and not leave anyone behind. Like my parents, who came with $12 in their pocket to California, and they lived the California dream," Becerra said, adding that policies are aimed at making the economy work for a broader range of Californians. Steyer said rising costs are affecting Californians across the board, pointing to housing as a central issue. "The biggest problem in California is that Californians can't afford to live here anymore," Steyer said. "And it starts with housing, but it definitely includes health care, it includes electric costs, which are twice as high as in the rest of the country, and it includes soaring gasoline prices." Steyer said he would pursue aggressive policy changes to address those costs, including confronting major corporate interests and utility providers, and expanding government involvement in health care. Mahan said the state needs a more results-oriented approach, positioning himself as a candidate willing to challenge his own party. "We don't need MAGA values, but we also don't need more of the same. I'm the only Democrat in this race who has challenged the establishment within my own party to demand better