NEWS
WATCH OUR PRESENTATION
Did you miss our public input meetings? View our slides online.
Posted: June 23, 2022
Since April, FairOntario has held zoom meetings to inform the community about the Ontario districting process and to gather input. FairOntario transitioned in May to neighborhood meetings and door-to-door walking to gather input.
The presentation slides are now available to view online. Use the image on the right/below to watch them or go to the hosting site at council chambers.
“We are in a critical phase of Ontario's districting process," said Chris Robles, the plantiff who forced the Ontario City Council to comply with the
residents to come and speak about their neighborhoods and testify about their ‘communities of interest’ so that the council must take them into consideration,” said Robles.
The city announced they will hold mapping workshops on Saturday, May 14 and Saturday, June 4, 2022. Go to ontarioca.gov/districts for details.
You can submit your testimony by zoom meeting, email, phone, text or form to FairOntario.com using these links:
Email: Input@FairOntario.com
Call and leave a message: (909) 490-3237
Text: WhatsApp | (909) 490-3237
Fill out this Google Form | Input.FairOntario.com
city launches mapping tool & workshops
City's Convoluted Mapping Tool Requires Workshops to Explain Its Use
Posted: May 11, 2022
During Ontario’s second public hearing, the city introduced the mapping module intended for public use during the districting process. Just before the end of the meeting, the city manager announced that workshops will be held on Saturday, May 14 and Saturday, June 4, 2022.
More than one speaker commented on how difficult and convoluted the mapping tool will be for non-techie people. The city said it will provide paper maps for those who request them, but didn’t elaborate on how the paper maps would help residents keep equal numbers of residents in each district as required by law.
“While I don’t discourage residents from submitting their own maps, it’s important to always provide your testimony about communities of interest,” said Chris Robles, the plaintiff who forced the city council to comply with the California Voting Rights Act. “The council can reject maps that don’t meet legal requirements, but they can’t reject testimony about your neighborhood and community. This is the most important input residents can give about how they want district lines to be drawn.”
The first city workshop is 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon at the Lewis Family Branch Library, 3850 E. Riverside Drive and the second is from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ovitt Family Community Library, 215 E. C Street.
The city posted a link to the mapping tool and listed the workshops on a page inside the city’s website. Visit ontarioca.gov/districts for details.
You can submit your testimony by zoom meeting, email, phone, text or form to FairOntario.com using these links:
Email: Input@FairOntario.com
Call and leave a message: (909) 490-3237
Text: WhatsApp(909) 490-3237
Fill Out Google Form | Input.FairOntario.com
DRAFT MAPS SUBMITTED
Plaintiff Send Maps To City; Invites Public Review
Posted: May 9, 2022
Chris Robles, the plaintiff in Robles, et al. v. City of Ontario, submitted his draft maps to the City of Ontario today.
“After seeking public input, these maps were drawn to reflect communities of interest in Ontario,” said Robles. “I invite the community to review them so we can make any adjustments to protect neighborhoods.”
Under the provisions of the settlement agreement with Ontario, the plaintiff’s maps must be prominently posted and labeled.
The city is holding the second public hearing on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers. “I encourage all Ontario residents to come and speak about their neighborhoods and testify about their ‘communities of interest’ so that the council must take them into consideration,” said Robles.
The city announced they will hold mapping workshops on Saturday, May 14 and Saturday, June 4, 2022. Go to ontarioca.gov/districts for details.
You can submit your testimony by zoom meeting, email, phone, text or form to FairOntario.com using these links:
Email: Input@FairOntario.com
Call and leave a message: (909) 490-3237
Text: WhatsApp | (909) 490-3237
Fill out this Google Form | Input.FairOntario.com
CITY VIOLATES CA ELECTION CODE
City fails to abide by election code and settlement agreement to draw council district lines
Posted: May 6, 2022
The City of Ontario was required by California law to hold its first and second public hearings within 30 days of each other. As of May 6, 2022, Ontario was in violation of this law.
The City of Ontario entered into a settlement agreement with Ontario resident Chris Robles who brought suit against the city when they failed to conduct district elections for city council under the California Voting Rights Act.
The settlement required Ontario to comply with all applicable state laws as pointed out in a letter sent to Ontario’s City Attorney.
“..the City of Ontario is in violation of Section 6.2 of the Settlement and Stipulation for Entry of Judgment entered in the case of Robles, et al. v. City of Ontario, which commits the city to follow all applicable law regarding the conduct of hearings to create initial councilmanic districts. Section 10010(a)(1) required the City to conduct the second pre-map hearing no later than May 5, 2022. This did not occur.”
As of Monday, May 9, 2022, the city has not responded.
FROM: ABC7 LOS ANGELES | Eyewitness News
EXPLOSION
Ontario fireworks explosion: More than a year later, some families still struggling to rebuild
"It's not easy living here," said one resident, who's currently living in two trailers on the property.
By Rob McMillan
Wednesday, April 27, 2022