COLTON COURIER Weekly
March 13, 2025
Vol 153, NO. 13
Colton Councilman Calls for Action on Delayed Senior Discounts, Utility Rate Hikes: Open Letter By John Echevarria, Councilman
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hen I was first elected, I promised you integrity, earnest engagement, and advocacy on your behalf. As I sought your support, I stated: "City employees should be assertive and inclined to help all our residents, visitors, and business owners. In order to be effective, we must make ourselves approachable and available at any time. Community issues and concerns should be our top priority."
Ramos Names Youth Advocate Eunice Abel as Woman of the Year for Assembly District Pg. 4
Recently, I have received numerous complaints from you regarding two specific matters that directly affect our community. 1. Senior Discount Rate for Disposal Services On July 16, 2024, I—along with Councilmembers Toro and Chastain (forming the majority)—approved an extension of our disposal services contract with CR&R, despite strong opposition from some mem-
bers. As part of this agreement, we demanded the inclusion of a reduced senior rate and the addition of a Community Services Officer (CSO) to assist with resident and contractor concerns regarding waste disposal. CR&R readily agreed to these terms without hesitation. However, those who opposed the agreement contacted the press and launched personal attacks against me and my family—simply for fighting for seniors. While this was deeply upsetting, I stood firm in my advocacy for Colton’s seniors, knowing that their needs were worth enduring these unfounded attacks. Despite this, the City Council majority instructed the City Manager to formalize and implement these directives immediately. I assumed this had been done. However, after hearing from many of you, I learned that nothing has been implemented and that you are facing continuous delays and Open Letter, cont. next pg.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ECHEVARRIA Councilman John Echevarria of Colton District 4 advocates for senior discounts, lower utility rates, and government transparency.
Inland Empire Emerges as Cybersecurity Powerhouse with Mayor’s Cyber Cup, Training Next Generation of Digital Defenders Time for Change Foundation Celebrates Grand Opening of New Shelter Pg. 4
PHOTO ARMANDO CARMONA Coach Ryan Ryker and his students from Richardson PREP HI celebrate their participation in the 2025 Inland Empire Mayor’s Cyber Cup.
City of Riverside Breaks Ground on Northside Agricultural Innovation Center Pg. 8 Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
PHOTO ARMANDO CARMONA Students collaborate on cybersecurity challenges during the 2025 Inland Empire Mayor’s Cyber Cup, gaining hands-on experience in one of the fastest-growing career fields.
By Manny Sandoval
curity skills in real-world scenarios.
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More than just a competition, the Mayor’s Cyber Cup is a cornerstone in the Inland Empire’s efforts to cultivate a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce—one that is increasingly essential as digital threats target vital infrastructure, including water systems, utilities, hospitals, and schools.
he Inland Empire solidified its position as a national leader in cybersecurity education on March 8, 2025, with the return of the Mayor’s Cyber Cup—an event designed to prepare students for one of the fastest-growing and most critical industries in the world. Hosted by the Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity Collaborative (IEGO), the competition brought together middle school, high school, and community college students across Riverside and San Bernardino counties to test their cyberse-
“Cybersecurity is a sector that is security-critical,” said Matthew Mena, Executive Director of IEGO. “It’s not just about government agencies; it’s about web platforms, utilities, hospitals, and any field
handling confidential information. The future of warfare is cyber, and ensuring that our region has a workforce capable of protecting these systems is essential.” A Nationally Recognized Cybersecurity Training Hub The event spotlighted the Inland Empire’s growing reputation as a cybersecurity education powerhouse. According to Mena, data from California Jobs First reveals that the region produces more cybersecurity-trained students than anywhere else in the state. Central to this sucCybersecurity, cont. next pg.