By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Robert Block, a multi-generational Californian who lives in Crestline, is running for the office of San Bernardino County Supervisor for the huge 3rd District, which includes all the San Bernardino Mountain communities, the desert communities, including Yucca Valley, Needles and Joshua Tree, to the Colorado River and out to Apple Valley and Barstow, including several other incorporated cities of Highland, Loma Linda and Yucaipa, in the valley to the south side of the mountains.
The mountains and the deserts are the county’s major tourist destinations but, according to Block, they are not being respected and not being given opportunities in renewable resources and modern amenities. The permits to move forward in construction and improvements are often difficult to acquire from the county. Current work force development is not training for the jobs for tomorrow. “We need to set up and modernize for the next 30 years for the county to prosper,” Block said.
“I can apply my skill sets from the business world to help serve people, I have always been driven to do this,” added Block, “and driven to serve those who work for me, I know I have saved them money by helping to solve the problems at work. I will be 100 percent committed to that and to every job I do, and I am dedicated to the people.”
Block is running for supervisor because, as he has worked for his family-owned business that helps to secure permits and coordinates construction problems between county offices and the corporations he works with, he has seen business inefficiencies in dealing with the county. He hopes to address those problems and work with the residents, businesses and those affected by the problems to seek the solutions.
“With their input, they will help us understand where to focus, enabling solutions to be found for the problems,” believes Block.
“There is nothing for those in the middle, they are not given the tools needed to navigate the county problems, although often those problems are ones the county itself creates,” said Block. “I’ve met so many great people in the county during this campaign, many with good ideas to improve the community and who want to help make change. The people truly have the answer and, as supervisor, it would be my job to listen and have a willingness to help those people out.”
Block has been involved in helping the community where he has lived, through his local church helping in the community and working with Habitat for Humanity. He was born in Glendora and grew up locally in Ontario, Fontana and Claremont and moved to Rancho Cucamonga, before moving to the mountains where he is currently invested in the community.
“We need to make our money go farther,” Block said. “Our police are underfunded, we need safer streets and stronger communities. We as communities are not prepared for the next emergency, and not planning for future events.” The Office of Emergency Management manual says the board of supervisors is responsible for all emergencies and their response. “I want to be on the board so I can help during those emergency situations.
“Some of the rules for the desert are not effective in the mountain and vice-versa, and rules for incorporated areas may not apply equally to unincorporated places. One rule cannot always apply to all parts of this vast and diverse county,” which, at 20,105 square miles, is larger than nine U.S. states and the countries of Switzerland and Denmark, plus, with a population of 2.195 million, is larger than 10 states.
Block is self-funding his campaign to become county supervisor so he will not be beholden to anyone in the future, only to the voters.
For more information on Block’s campaign, visit blockforsupervisor.com.
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