EL CHICANo Weekly
Vol 63, NO. 44
August 06, 2026
San Bernardino Residents Protest Cannabis Store Relocation Near Senior Housing and Churches
IECN.com
SEIU State Workers Picket in San Bernardino Over Wages, Benefits and Telework Pg. 4
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Residents and community leaders rally Aug. 2 against the city-approved relocation of a cannabis store to San Bernardino’s Sixth Ward, with attendees including former Assemblymember Cheryl Brown, former City Council members Kimberly Calvin and Rikke Van Johnson, business owner Amy Malone and a representative from U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar’s office.
By Manny Sandoval
S
ixth Ward residents, faith leaders, business owners and former elected officials rallied Sunday afternoon in 100-degree heat against the cityapproved relocation of a cannabis retailer
to 1602 W. Highland Ave. Protesters argued the site is too close to senior housing, homes and churches and was approved without adequate community input. The Coalition of Westside & 6th Ward Citizens organized the Aug. 2 protest at
Highland Avenue and Medical Center Drive under the theme “Community Yes, Cannabis No.” Organizers said their opposition is focused on the location and approval process, not on cannabis businesses generally. Protest, Cont. next pg.
Rialto Unified Opens $8 Million Healing Garden for Student Wellness, Outdoor Learning San Bernardino, Caltrans Partner to Address Homeless Encampments Along Freeways Pg. 4
YMCA Camp Edwards Gives Inland Empire Children a Screen-Free Mountain Adventure Pg. 8
Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
Juanita Chan-Roden, Rialto Unified’s director of science and career programs, leads a tour of the International Healing Garden with state Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes and Superintendent Alejandro Álvarez on Thursday, July 30.
By Manny Sandoval
A
property once covered with weeds has been transformed into an approximately $8 million educational and wellness space where Rialto Unified School District students can learn about native plants, environmental science and the connections between nature and mental health.
District leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, July 30, for the International Healing Garden, located at 2235 W. Buena Vista Drive across from Kucera Middle School. Attendees included the entire Rialto Unified Board of Education, state Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes, San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. and Rialto Mayor Joe Baca Sr. Superintendent Alejandro Álvarez said
the garden had been under development for more than five years and was made possible through contributions from local, state and federal partners, along with a major financial commitment from the district. The project received $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act fundingRUSD Garden, cont. next pg.