Checkpoints hook council
Pomona officials leaving plenty of time to discuss $327,126 grant
Monica Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/06/2008 08:11:55 PM PDT


POMONA - In the past, accepting a state grant for DUI enforcement and awareness would have drawn little attention at a City Council meeting.
City leaders expect to have so much attention on the matter that they will begin Monday evening 's council meeting early to leave enough time to talk about the issue.

"If we take that item in front, we will have a good two hours for discussion," said Mayor Norma Torres.

Council members will begin their meeting at 5 p.m., continue with the rest of the evening's business at 7 p.m. and at its conclusion continue with the closed portion of the meeting, Torres said.

The council meets at City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.

The Pomona Habla/ Pomona Speaks coalition will be at Monday's meeting, said Arturo Jimenez, a member of the coalition.

This is not the time to consider accepting a grant, Jimenez said.

Council members have yet to come up with a policy addressing the use of traffic checkpoints and have not conducted an investigation into the May 3 four-way checkpoint at San Antonio Avenue and Mission Boulevard, Jimenez said.

The May 3 checkpoint sparked the current controversy over checkpoints in the city.

Jimenez said the council must also investigate an Aug. 21 heated verbal dispute between off-duty Pomona police officers and coalition members at a community meeting on checkpoints.

Council members will be asked to adopt a resolution needed in order to accept

a $327,126 DUI enforcement grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety, according to a city staff report.
If accepted, the one-year grant would provide funding the Police Department would use to carry out DUI and driver's license checkpoints and saturation patrols, according to the proposed grant agreement.

Funds would also be used to conduct special operations designed to catch people who repeatedly drive after the courts have suspended or revoked their licenses, the agreement said.

Torres said such grants have received council support in the past and she can't see why they wouldn't this time.

She added a message has to come through from the council that issues about immigration or race will not be discussed at the meeting.

"They don't belong there when we need to be talking about drunk drivers," Torres said.

Bringing immigration and other matters into the discussion of checkpoints has created division in the city, she said.

"They're wedge issues, and it's really disappointing how this has been used as a political issue to divide the community," Torres said.

Coalition members said Friday they plan to hold a vigil during the meeting Monday.



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