EL CHICANo Weekly
Vol 62, NO. 45
August 28, 2025
San Bernardino Opens $244.8M Rebuilt Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge, Iconic Link Restored After Five Years By Manny Sandoval
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an Bernardino cheered with applause and the snip of ribbon as the city celebrated the long-awaited reopening of its historic Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge on August 23, restoring a critical connection closed for nearly five years.
IECN.com
The $244.8 million project, which fully rebuilt the 1934 bridge spanning railroads between West Fifth and West Second streets, reconnects the city’s west side. The bridge was shut down in December 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when engineers found its structural safety had fallen to just two percent. Its closure severed the community, leaving businesses, schools, and families struggling with daily detours.
Latino Health Conference in San Bernardino Highlights Rising Fears, Medi-Cal Cuts Pg. 4
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL The Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge has been completely rebuilt and ahead of its 1:30 PM opening to traffic, attendees had the opportunity to walk across the brand new structure and pavement.
The ceremony brought an emotional return for State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes, who secured $31 million in state funding for the project. When she stepped to the podium, she was met with a stand-
ing ovation and loud applause — her first public appearance following nearly a year-long health battle. “This bridge was built when my mother was born in 1934, and little by little we saw concrete falling onto railroad tracks,” Gómez Reyes said. “It wasn’t safe, and students couldn’t even take the bus. I’m so happy we can now easily get to all of our local businesses across Mt. Vernon Avenue.” San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran presented Gómez Reyes with a plaque recognizing her contributions towards the bridge while serving as Assemblymember for the 50th District. The moment underscored how the bridge has long stood as more than just infrastructure, but as a lifeline for the city’s west side. That lifeline had been frayed for years. The closure cut off access to small businesses, grocery stores, and San Bernardino Valley College. Residents north of the bridge Mt. Vernon Bridge, cont. on next pg.
Arts Advocacy & Workforce Development Position the IE as a Film Hub Ahead of 2025 Inland Film Fest Riverside Moves Forward with Sports and Entertainment Complex Proposal Pg. 5
Inland We Wish You a Happy Empire Community and Safe Labor Day Newspapers Weekend Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: sales@iecn.com Pg. 8
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PHOTOS NOAH LIMON AND MANNY SANDOVAL (Left to right) IECN Publisher Denise Berver, Arts Connection Program Supervisor Andrea Bonales, Arts Connection Executive Director Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez, and IECN Publisher Manny Sandoval shooting an episode of the Inland Insight Podcast with IECN on August 21st, 2025.
By Manny Sandoval
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rts Connection, the arts council of San Bernardino County, is at the forefront of efforts to grow the region’s creative economy. Executive Director Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez explained that the council’s work is built on four pillars: arts education, workforce development, public art projects, and arts advocacy.
That advocacy extends beyond city boundaries. Arts Connection represents the region to the California Arts Council at the state level, while also serving as district captains for Americans for the Arts, advocating in Rep. Pete Aguilar’s congressional district. “We’re building awareness around how vital this creative economy is,” Gutierrez Chavez said. “For every dollar invested in film tax credits, there’s a 24-times return in economic activity. Yet 95 percent of our
funding comes from the state. Our county lacks a specific strategy. It’s time to invest strategically.” State Funding and Regional Gaps California’s creative economy represents about 8 percent of the state’s GDP, according to Arts Connection. That figure aligns with statewide studies, such as the Otis Report on the Creative Economy, which estimate the sector contributes between 7 Arts, Cont. on next pg.