Readers’ comments: October 4, 2024

On city pay raises and incomplete projects
Dear editor:
Congratulations to Claremont City Manager Adam Pierre and the City Council for making it through another summer without getting the fountain in Village Square fixed. But at least you’re all getting a nice pay raise. |
Matt Magilke
Claremont

Calaycay for Claremont City Council
Dear editor:
In her candidate profile on September 20 [“2024 Claremont City Council candidate profile: Rachel Forester”], Rachel Forester says she does not see a voice for the city’s tenant population, which occupies 30% of its housing stock, and that she doesn’t think our City Council has been good enough at really reaching out to that over 30% of the population.
Firstly, where does she get this “30% of its housing stock” figure, and this “over 30% of the population” figure?  The City of Claremont hasn’t conducted any surveys on rental housing stock or rental population. She has simply made these figures up to spin her own “rent control” agenda. Secondly, as a candidate for District 1, shouldn’t she be more concerned with home ownership and rental data specifically related to her district?
As a District 1 resident in a large home development with both owners and renters, we need a council person who is the voice of 100% of our community, not 30% of some fabricated population. Corey Calaycay has spent time in our community and supports all of our residents — owners and renters. He’s met with our HOA president and has supported our community on several important issues past and present. He truly represents all of our community and our district. I don’t believe our community’s owners and residents even know Ms. Forester. And given her views and her propensity to make up facts, I don’t think we need to.
Greg Glass
Claremont

Calaycay, Medina for Claremont City Council
Dear editor:
The Arbol Verde Preservation Committee endorses Corey Calaycay and Silviano “Sal” Medina for Claremont City Council’s District 1 and 5 elections.
Corey Calaycay has served on the Claremont City Council for nearly 20 years. He is a pragmatist and is a unifying force among his fellow council members. He is a fiscal conservative who keeps the City of Claremont in check when it comes to budgetary matters. Mr. Calaycay has the most experience among his fellow council members in dealing with municipal matters. He is critical of how the state regulation of Claremont’s housing crisis has resulted in spending too much money on each affordable housing unit.
In District 5, AVPC endorses Sal Medina for Claremont City Council.
When the social problem of prostitution and crime erupted in the motels on Indian Hill Boulevard and the I-10 freeway corridor a couple of years ago, Mr. Medina responded to the public outcry by the south Claremont neighborhood group organized by Jim and Sue Keith. He met with the south Claremont residents and the Claremont Police Department and the leadership of Claremont City Manager Adam Pirrie to tackle the problem. Claremont police increased their patrols and eradicated the prostitution and crime problem.
Mr. Medina, a moderate independent, proved his leadership and facilitator skills while serving as mayor, when he prevented City Council meetings from potentially erupting in violence by appropriately handling the divisive Israel/Hamas issue within the council chambers in 2024.
Alfonso “Al” Villanueva and Lena Serrato
Claremont
Villanueva and Serrato are co-chairs of the Arbol Verde Preservation Committee.

Fiello for CUSD Board of Education
Dear editor:
I wholeheartedly endorse Cheryl Fiello for the open Board of Education position in District 5 for Claremont Unified School District.
As a 23-year Claremont resident, former CUSD educator, and parent of two Chaparral students, Cheryl deeply understands the challenges facing our families, teachers, and students. Her commitment to student well-being, innovation, and securing vital funding shows her dedication to our community and its future.
As the mother of a 3-year-old who will attend Claremont schools, I’m personally invested in the direction of our district. Cheryl’s strong, compassionate leadership is precisely what we need. She honors Claremont’s legacy of exceptional education and is committed to driving forward the meaningful changes that will help our children thrive in today’s world. Claremont’s schools have always been a source of pride for our community. Leaders here have long prioritized the holistic development of our students — academically, socially, and emotionally. Cheryl is a natural extension of this leadership. Her vision for fostering academic excellence, creativity, and innovation in STEM and the arts ensures that our children are prepared for whatever their futures hold.
As Helen Keller said, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” Cheryl embodies this spirit of collaboration and care, and I trust that she will guide our district with the same passion and purpose that have made Claremont schools a beacon of excellence. She is the clear choice to lead us into the future.
Katie Distelrath
Claremont

Fiello for CUSD Board of Education
Dear editor:
As a long-time dedicated parent volunteer for Claremont Unified School District, as well as someone who professionally works with school districts, I’ve had the opportunity to see up close how districts function and have gained a fundamental understanding of how they operate, including the role of the board of education and responsibilities of its members.
I’ve been watching the CUSD District 5 board seat race very closely and as it became clear that Mark Reynoso’s campaign plans likely don’t include making himself readily available to answer voter questions at meet the candidate events or Active Claremont’s candidate forum, I decided to take it upon myself to see what publicly-available information I could find out about his history of involvement with the school district.
What I found from past issues of the Courier (going back to 2019) was that his name has never been included in Claremont Educational Foundation’s annual ad featuring their list of donors from the previous year. He also doesn’t appear to have attended a single CUSD Board of Education meeting on record since at least this past spring, and has never held a PFA, school site council, or school volunteer role of note. I also discovered that none of these things can be said about his opponent, Cheryl Fiello, whose name regularly and consistently came up as an active participant.
While I still have many concerns that are speculative in nature, it is clear that my sense that he had no interest in supporting or being involved with the district prior to this election seems to be verifiably spot on. For a person interested in serving, it seems odd that he hasn’t stepped up to serve, or support, in any of these ways.
Deborah Kekone
Claremont

Fiello for CUSD Board of Education
Dear editor:
As a parent in Claremont’s school district and a literacy advocate, I am writing to express my strong support for Cheryl Fiello for Claremont Unified School District’s Board of Education in Trustee Area 5.
In addition to our friendship, Cheryl and I have worked together on our school site council and at school activities. From her experience as a former teacher and district leader, Cheryl knows how to examine the evidence to determine the effectiveness of curricula and instruction, and she knows how to set goals and work collaboratively with others to achieve them.
As I have continued to work with Cheryl, I have recognized our mutual desire to make a positive impact on our community by serving the needs of our students and their families with consistent, level-headed understanding and empathy. We also share our desire to elevate the levels of literacy for our students. Neighboring districts have implemented the core elements of research-based reading instruction and have seen incredible results. Cheryl is the leader to ensure all of our teachers are trained on evidence-based instructional best practices as quickly as possible, and that our students receive equitable educational opportunities as we implement these methods with fidelity.
As a parent, I feel it is important to have several representatives on our school board who have children in our schools. Parents have a valuable perspective and personal investment in the success of our schools and tend to support opportunities to serve the “whole child.” Cheryl’s focus on educational best practices as well as mental well-being will help our children thrive.
I have no doubt that Cheryl will be an excellent and much needed addition to our school board.
Amanda Wirtz
Claremont

Fiello for CUSD Board of Education
Dear editor:
The Claremont Faculty Association endorses Cheryl Fiello for Claremont Unified School District’s Board of Education, Trustee Area 5.
Cheryl’s experience as a teacher, educational technology administrator, parent, and parent leader gives her insight into how school board policy impacts all aspects of CUSD and all members of the Claremont community. CFA’s leadership team reviewed Cheryl’s responses to our questions on topics ranging from school district budget challenges, to what she hopes to accomplish as a school board member. Cheryl is the only candidate who agreed to participate in our rigorous endorsement process. Mark Reynoso was invited, but chose not to participate or speak with us.
Through our endorsement process, Cheryl communicated her understanding of the learning loss, increased behavioral challenges, and mental health struggles students are experiencing as a result of the pandemic. Cheryl expressed how essential it is to provide sufficient support, such as access to mental health professionals and intervention programs, so teachers are prepared to meet these growing demands.
She also shared that one of her goals is to prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world with an uncertain future. This reality requires support for academic and instructional excellence, career and technical education, arts integration, co- and extracurricular activities, and transformative uses of educational technology. These positions align with CFA’s goals in providing the best possible education to students in Claremont. Cheryl will address these great challenges through her ability to look at all aspects of issues, take into account varied perspectives, and seek the best solutions.
Cheryl’s transparency and deep understanding demonstrated in her answers made it easy for CFA to endorse Cheryl Fiello with a unanimous vote. Please join Claremont Faculty Association teachers, counselors, psychologists, speech and language pathologists, nurses, child development coordinators, and clinical therapists … vote for Cheryl Fiello!
Brian D’Ambrosia-Donner
Upland
D’Ambrosia-Donner is the president of Claremont Faculty Association.