Community Building

Trial is scheduled to start Dec 2 for two ex-Fullerton police officers charged in the high-profile beating death a mentally ill homeless man. Kelly Thomas, 37, had been a longtime fixture on the streets of Fullerton. His death in July 2011 shook the town and touched off a wave of soul-searching on how the city of 135,000 deals with homelessness.

Rusty Kennedy, CEO of OC Human Relations, was the guest speaker at a joint Jewish & Christian Thanksgiving/Hanukkah Service.

Orange County Human Relations received Certificates of Recognition from the City of San Clemente at its September 17, 2013, City Council meeting.

Advocates for a year-round homeless shelter in North Orange County – undaunted by a recent Fullerton City Council decision against putting a county, 200-bed facility on State College Boulevard – are determined to see their vision materialize.

About 1,300 miles southeast of San Clemente lies El Bajio de Bonillas, a Mexican town on the outskirts of Silao where a U.S. government Bracero Program office used to recruit Mexican laborers. Today, El Bajio has a reported population of 2,732 people. But the tiny town has spawned a large footprint, helping to weave the social fabric of modern-day San Clemente.

After concerns were raised by residents opposed to the location of a county-proposed homeless shelter, the City Council voted, 3-2, against forging an agreement with the county to run the facility.

When Kelly Thomas died on the streets of Fullerton, we all shared some responsibility. We looked to blame others, and certainly there was blame to be meted out, but we all could have been part of preventing Thomas’ death.