W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD
Vol 23, NO. 09
October 24, 2024
Eisenhower Student Leader Ivan Manzo Sworn in as RUSD Student Member
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CAPSBC’s Diaper Bank Celebrates Distributing 10 Million Diapers Across San Bernardino County Pg. 4
PHOTO RUSD
Eisenhower High School student Ivan Manzo (pictured left) is sworn in as the Rialto Unified School District Student Member for the 2024-2025 school year during the RUSD Board of Education meeting on October 16. With his family and school leadership in the audience, Manzo proudly accepted the oath of office by Board of Education President Joseph Martinez (right).
By IECN Staff
F
rom performing on stage with his high school orchestra to taking a seat alongside District leaders, Ivan Manzo, a senior at Eisenhower High School, is stepping into a pivotal role as the Rialto Unified School District’s new Student Member.
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As the voice for over 24,000 students, Manzo is ready to make his mark. Manzo was sworn in as the Rialto Unified School District (RUSD) Student Member for the 2024-2025 school year during the RUSD Board of Education meeting on October 16. With his family and school leadership in the audience, Manzo proudly accepted the oath of office by Board of Education President Joseph Martinez.
RUSD, cont. on next pg.
San Bernardino Renters Call for Tenant Rights Amid Housing Crisis, Demand Community Benefits for Downtown Redevelopment By Manny Sandoval
T
he worsening housing crisis in San Bernardino has sparked a strong response from local tenant unions, housing advocates, and community organizations, culminating in a community-wide event aimed at addressing renters’ concerns and advocating for tenant rights.
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Hosted by Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (C.O.P.E.), a Block Party on October 19th brought together several key housing and social justice organizations—including Just San Bernardino, Time for Change Foundation, Inland Equity Community Land Trust (IECLT), and IE Tenants Union—to offer resources and support for those affected by the housing crisis.
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The event provided a platform for local advocates to discuss pressing issues such as skyrocketing rents, poor living conditions, and the neglect many renters face.
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Manzo will represent the voice of students across RUSD, providing insights and a student perspective on District decisions throughout his term. This leadership role also offers Manzo the opportunity to serve as a member of the District Student Advisory Council (DSAC), further shaping his influence in the District.
prioritize affordable housing and tenant rights. Housing Advocates Speak Out Against Rent Increases Lorena Barbosa, a housing advocate for the Time for Change Foundation, was among the leaders who spoke at the event, highlighting the difficulties many tenants in San Bernardino face as rents continue to rise at alarming rates. Barbosa described an environment where tenants live with "holes in roofs, infestations, no hot water, no heat," while some landlords raise rents up to three times in a single year, resulting in deteriorating apartment complexes with few tenants remaining. “The reality is, some landlords don’t care about the conditions their tenants are living in,” Barbosa said. “They’re hiking up rents while leaving buildings to fall into disrepair. But if we can put a cap on rent increases and hold these landlords accountable, we can make a difference.”
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
Deborah Harmon, representing the Inland Equity Community Land Trust, organizing her booth’s flyers promoting tenant rights and unions at the event.
Through a collective voice, attendees urged city officials to
Tenant Rights, cont. on next pg.