Environmental Injustice.

The reality of Economical, Social, and Cultural impact.

"It is my duty to unveil a portrait glorified for many seasons. a vision adored by illusions painted on a canvas dripped in blood splashing sparkling lakes, a reflection of her soul". Deanna

The nature of the North Lake project is woefully unjust, prejudice, and contrary to benefit the public good of San Bernardino. The Final Environmental Impact report point out the unavoidable adverse impacts. There is no evidence the irreversible impact outweigh economic, social, and cultural advantages. The truth is  the targeted area is the sum of economic, social, and cultural possibilities.. Because of the need for greed our eyes are blind to understand the realities of the reservoir and the possibility in exhalting the spirit of our loyal citizen who must lay down her or his life for profit. The impact of the project has permanent economical, social, and cultural implications for the citizens if the project goes forward.

THE ECONOMICAL, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL IMPACT.

Economically, Mayor Judith Valles point out the businessess in the project area failed and it is time for "new peoples and new businesses". The businesses on Baseline, E street, and Tenth street are occupied except for one closed bar and a type of small collection store. The Base Line mini mall is a constant buz and the auto repair shops are booked with advanced appointments. The Disabled Veterans thrift store has a steady flow of customers. The 6 churches targeted by the project are thriving with members. The Mayor and Municipal Valley Water District director, Mr. Milliken, point out the area as being "blighted".  The pointing   should be directed to their own blighted property and land parcels in need of weed abatement. The citizens carried the torch  for years because the money received  for the area from the Federal Goverment went else where.

In the Environmental Impact Report the authors estimated a job loss of 658 and the propose job gain of the North Lake project is 466; thus, a negative net of 192 people. So, the job loss is greater than the gain, a Environmental injustice for those who are forced out.

The income of the project area is $24,912.00 which is meeting the low income definition. Targeting an area of peoples earning a low income is an Environmental Injustice. Most likely the people will suffer a job loss because of re-locating to another affordable area outside San Bernardino. Disrupting employment is psychological damaging and not knowing if he or she could get another job can cause angst and despair.

The Environmental Impact Report states the North Lake site has 437 dwelling units. New affordable units will have to be built outside the proposed area. Nowhere  in the Draft Environmental Impact Report, a \state legal document, provide responsibility for replacing lost housing and where this housing will be located or how it will be financed.

The writers of the Environmental Impact Report minimized the obviously significant impact by disrupting the lives over 2000 people. This disruption is being justified with the vaguest and the most implausible considerations. Our citizens are guaranteed freedom from unreasonable seizure of their property and Environmental Injustice.

Socially, the members of our community function at a good level and contributes socially to the City. The community is the sum of children, teens, men, women, disabled, and seniors. The people toil to care for their families. They find life complex in a society so dominated by illusions to succeed. There should be Justice for all who labor in society and Justice find no discrimination between a dishwasher or a high tech person. Justice is served because each person works according to his or her nature in the environment. To discriminate because a person is from a lower cast is an environmental injustice.

In the Environmental Impact Report the San Bernardino school district is using 0.5 students per dwelling unit in the project area. This is extremely low! The standard used by planners in San Bernardino is 2.7 persons per dwelling uit. Given the income of $24,912.00 it is likely the number of persons is higher. Further, there are likely an above average number of single heads of households making the number of children even higher. There must be field surveys to establish the proper number of children being affected by this project in order to provide a proper evaluation in the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The children in the project area are innocent victims of Environmental Injustice. It is our duty to protect the young and spare our precious children from psychological and social harm. Children and Seniors are happy in their environment and a re-location can have a permanent and devasting impact for the rest of their lives.

Culturally, the community owns 173 historical properties and one historical landmark. This precious historical landmark property is the former "Stephens Bobbitt's mortuary". Stephens Bobbitt's mortuary served over 20,000 services in San Bernardino. These sacred services are where people rest their loved ones. The crown of our deepest feelings and our grace as a person is how we respect the dead. The former Stephens Bobbitt's mortuary is where people cherish memories and connect with their loved ones forever.

Victory Chapel cherished and protect the Landmark since 1984 and for twenty four years the Chapel blessed families with baptismals, first communions, dedications, quiceaneras, weddings, and renewals.

The sacredness of Stephens Bobbitt's mortuary, the Odd-Fellows fraternal organization, and Victory Chapel is a celebration of 75 years in the community. People of San Bernardino cannot lose this Landmark to a bulldozer and disrespect the sacredness of forty thousand celebrations. The North Lake project is harmful in destroying the identity of San Bernardino. The loss of identity and historical roots is a crime against history and has an adverse significant impact on San Bernardino Economically, Socially, and Culturally.