City and County Agencies Join Together to “Jumpstart Downtown” San Bernardino

Some say that downtown San Bernardino is one of the city’s greatest assets as well as one of its greatest challenges. While almost every resident, business owner, and employee within the city hope for the return of a vibrant downtown, city and county agencies are working together to make this vision a reality by readying the area for revitalization and setting the stage to “Jumpstart Downtown.” The 90-day cleanup is a collaborative effort to eliminate blight, lessen panhandling and curb homelessness and is being led by various agencies including the San Bernardino Police Department and its Code Enforcement Division, the City of San Bernardino Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, Public Works, the San Bernardino County Probation Department and Department of Behavioral Health. The clean-up effort will be further complimented with organizations and non-profits providing additional resources and support to those affected. Those behind the project believe that time is now as the Justice Center will soon be in operation, construction of Interstate 215 and sbX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) construction is already nearing completion and the groundbreaking of the Downtown San Bernardino Transit Center is set to begin, bringing more people to and through the City. “To compliment the recent and upcoming improvements in our City and encourage private investment, Downtown needs to be a clean, safe and welcoming environment,” said Jarrod Burguan, Chief of Police for San Bernardino Police Department. “Two days into the Jumpstart Downtown effort we’ve already seen great promise for improvement. During the first two day push: • A total of 84 homeless were contacted • 24 homeless camps were located (All were issued 24-hour notices) • 10 camps were cleaned up • 29 field interview cards were completed • 38 citations were issued • 46 misdemeanor arrests were made • 4 felony arrests were made • 1 parole violation was located, and arrested • 3 veterans were provided transitional housing • 1 subject was reunited with family The geographical limits of "Jumpstart Downtown" include 6th Street on the north side, Rialto Avenue (including the 66ers Stadium) to the south, Interstate 215 to the east and Sierra Way to the west.