A few weeks ago, I formed a Mayor’s initiative called the Pomona COVID-19 Action Committee. This initiative is to allow us to respond to the most immediate needs of our community and to create a plan for once the crisis has passed. It is made up of community leaders from non-profits, public government agencies, city staff, faith-based leadership, and the private sector, as well as two of our City Councilmembers, Nora Garcia and Victor Preciado.

The initiative is made up of five committees. The Basic Needs Committee focuses on providing food and shelter, as well as determining how to get information about resources to those who are more difficult to reach. The Business and Economic Development Needs Committee looks at jobs and small businesses, in order to determine how to help them and make them stronger as we move forward. The Fundraising Committee raises money and makes sure that it gets to the people in the community who need it. The Health and Wellness Committee responds to the hospital and their needs, as well as the mental health needs of our residents. The Educational Needs Committee focuses on delivery of K-12 education for the remainder of the school year as well as planning for next year.

All of these committees are focused on the well-being of Pomona residents and businesses. The City of Pomona COVID-19 Information Hotline has been set up to allow everyone to find the resources that they need; the hotline can be reached at (909) 620-2311. This initiative is about people coming together to collaborate and cooperate to make our community stronger. It is my belief that the best way for us to move forward is to plan and to organize, and that is what the people of this city are striving to do.