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Residents and advocates press council on water bills, immigrant support and air-quality funding
Summary
Public commenters at the Ontario City Council meeting urged the council to address higher utility bills, establish an immigrant compassion fund, and take up air-quality and electrification funding opportunities. Speakers included residents, arts and library representatives, and South Coast AQMD staff.
A string of public comments during the council meeting focused on utility-bill impacts, immigrant support and available air-quality funds.
Lisa Beasom told the council that the advertised $8.63 water increase understates the total. "When you add both increases ... it actually comes out to $22.74 a month," she said, based on the city's 14-unit example; she urged the council to consider credits or expanded education and assistance for residents who would face hardship.
Martha Aragon praised the city's new resource center and animal services and asked the council to consider broader relief for younger seniors, noting many families and small businesses are already facing distress.
Artist and community members highlighted downtown arts activity and new small businesses. Steve Soto read a poem criticizing present immigration enforcement and appealed for empathy.
Tina Silva urged the council to create an immigrant compassion fund modeled on neighboring cities, saying, "As of just the other day, there has been a 104 ICE incidents in Ontario alone," and citing contributions made by Pomona and other municipalities as examples.
Todd Warden, field representative for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, described several grant opportunities that could fund electrification of heavy-duty trucks, EV chargers, and heat-pump incentives. "The air district has a spot of funds for what's called Invest Clean. It's essentially electrification funds for heavy-duty trucks," he said, and offered to share application materials with city staff and local businesses.
Other commenters thanked police and staff for public-safety and community events support, and one speaker asked for help with an ongoing harassment and restraining-order issue.
The public-comment period concluded with the council moving to the consent calendar and a short series of administrative items.
