EL CHICANo Weekly
Vol 62, NO. 02
December 05, 2024
San Bernardino Council Explodes Into Shouting Match as City Attorney Faces Corruption Accusations As of December 2024, Sonia R. Carvalho serves as the City Attorney for San Bernardino. Carvalho is a partner at Best Best & Krieger LLP (BB&K), a law firm retained by the city in August 2018 to provide municipal legal services. The BB&K team, led by Carvalho and including Thomas Rice and John Brown, was initially selected to work cooperatively with elected City Attorney Gary Saenz at that time.
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Heated Responses and Accusations Mayor Pro Tem Fred Shorett immediately objected, accusing Tran of acting out of personal bias.
BBOP Center Economic Hub Spreads Holiday Cheer While Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Pg. 4
PHOTO CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO
City Attorney Sonia R. Carvalho defends her compliance with the Brown Act during a heated San Bernardino City Council meeting on Nov. 20, following her late arrival amid intense accusations and procedural chaos.
versy at its outset.
By Manny Sandoval
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Former LLUCH Patient Launches Annual Teddy Bear Drive for Children’s Hospital Pg. 5
San Bernardino City Council meeting on Nov. 20 spiraled into chaos when Mayor Helen Tran removed a performance evaluation of City Attorney Sonia R. Carvalho from the closed session agenda. The meeting, marked by yelling, interruptions, and heated accusations, showcased deepening fractures between city leadership and staff.
“As mayor of San Bernardino, I have a responsibility to uphold the rules and procedures that govern our city—ensuring fairness, transparency, and adherence to the law in our council proceedings,” Tran said. “It was inappropriate of the city attorney to place her own evaluation on the agenda without following the proper process.”
The meeting began at 4:05 p.m., but tensions erupted immediately as Tran announced her decision, citing procedural violations. Carvalho was stuck in traffic, leaving her unable to address the contro-
Tran explained her decision was rooted in the city charter and council procedures, which grant only the city manager, the mayor, or a council majority the authority to place items on the agenda.
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Shorett interrupted Tran multiple times, demanding to know who had been advising her. “Who has been advising you, [Jim] Penman?” he shouted, referencing the former city attorney. The interruptions escalated as Shorett declared he would not participate in the meeting. Councilmember Theodore Sanchez attempted to “de-escalate” the situation by moving for a recess until the city attorney and interim city manager Rochelle Clayton were present. However, the motion to delay the conversation did not pass. City Attorney cont. on next pg.
San Bernardino Illuminates Northern Neighborhoods with 96 Solar Streetlights, Solution to Copper Wire Theft By Manny Sandoval
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“I find it wholly inappropriate that many times we start two or three minutes late, and tonight we started with a quorum, which is legal,” Shorett said. “Then we get this written statement without the city attorney here to comment. What you’re doing here tonight is absolutely egregious, and it should not go unnoticed that this is a political vendetta.”
fter years of darkness, two northern San Bernardino neighborhoods now shine brightly thanks to the installation of 96 new streetlights. The project, completed this week, brings renewed safety, walkability, and a sense of community to areas that had been neglected for years. “Some of these streets have been without lighting for several years,” said City of San Bernardino Deputy Director of Public Works and City Engineer Azzam Jabsheh. “Restoring lighting makes a huge difference to our neighborhoods and is a priority for us.” The upgrades include the “Genevieve” Circuit, which stretches from Mountain View Avenue to Sierra Way and covers Marshall Boulevard to 34th Street, where 36 lights and
poles were installed. Additionally, the “Ralston” Circuit now features 60 new lights and poles along Sierra Way, Ralston Avenue, Palmyra Avenue, Lugo Avenue, Belle Street, Sonora Drive, and 39th Street near Waterman Avenue. Funded by Measure S, the project is part of a larger effort to enhance public safety and reduce energy costs through solar-powered lighting. The San Bernardino City Council recently approved $1.5 million, supplemented by a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, to upgrade approximately 500 streetlights citywide. Jeff Krauss, the city’s public information officer, explained the solar initiative’s broader impact. “The contract is focused on replacing traditional heads with solar-powered heads. Street Lights cont. on next pg.
PHOTO CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO A newly installed solar-powered streetlight brightens the Genevieve Circuit in San Bernardino, part of the city's effort to enhance safety and sustainability.