Wide public support pushes San Bernardino council to authorize Acoma Unity Center lease talks

Dozens of residents and youth speakers urged the San Bernardino City Council on April 15 to renew the lease for Acoma Unity Center, a community nonprofit that dozens described as a "beacon" for the city's west side.

The council voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to proceed with lease renewal negotiations for the Andres Community Center at 1367 North California Street after two members disclosed recusals. Mayor Pro Tem Canales recused himself from the item because his organization holds a memorandum of understanding the mayor described as potentially a perceived conflict; Councilmember Ortiz recused because she had been employed by Acoma within the past 12 months.

The push for renewal dominated the public-comment period. "Acoma is not just a program. It is a leadership pipeline and a family," said Alani Chapman, who identified herself as a long-time Acoma participant. Christian Shaughnessy, identifying himself as a community leader and Ward 2 council candidate, called Acoma a "model" partnership between city and school district and urged council to "move forward with renewing Acoma's lease." Acoma leaders and supporters listed programs including robotics, digital arts, mental-health education, a garden program and internships with local colleges.

Several speakers gave concrete figures and program history: Acoma representatives said the organization has served more than 6,000 scholars, awarded about 150 scholarships, maintained a five-year memorandum of understanding with multiple local colleges, and received a $135,000 foundation grant in 2019 to improve Anne Shirrells Park. The council and several speakers noted Acoma's partnerships with San Bernardino City Unified School District and local nonprofits.

Supporters also emphasized public-safety and neighborhood-stabilizing effects. "Through Acoma's daily presence, family-centered programming and free community events, crime and violence within Anne Shirrells Park has become nearly nonexistent," a program representative said. "We believe strong communities are educated communities," another commenter said.

Council discussion before the vote included disclosures about potential conflicts of interest and a call to preserve the program as a long-term community resource. The motion to authorize negotiations passed unanimously.

The city did not adopt a final lease at the meeting; the authorization directs staff to negotiate terms and return to council with proposed agreements and any required environmental, fiscal or legal findings. The motion included no dollar amounts or a specified lease length; council asked staff to report back.

What happens next: staff will conduct lease negotiations and is expected to present terms to the council for formal approval at a future meeting. Supporters in the room urged a multi-year lease so programming would not be interrupted.