One way of fostering communication is by remembering the goal is to create a better environment for young people, said Bernardo Rosa, a community activist and head of Community Wellness Partnership. Rosa said young people’s needs are much better understood today than they were even three years ago, and more community members are willing to pitch in to meet those needs. Three years after the shooting, the sense of urgency continues for Pomona schools Superintendent Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, and was underscored this week with the shooting at Virginia Tech. “Three years ago the tragedy was here. Now it was there,” she said. “We all have to be on watch. We have people’s lives at stake.” But much work remains to be done. One need look no further than the violence of the past five months to understand how hard change can be. On Nov. 19 of last year, 3-year-old Ethan Esparza was shot in his grandparents’ front yard by a drive-by shooter. Since then, 10 more people have fallen victim to homicide on Pomona’s streets. When crimes continue and can’t be solved because people won’t step forward and speak, it’s time to do some soul searching, Romero said. To wit: Only one arrest has been made in connection with the homicides since Esparza’s death. “If we allow this to continue, then the question is, what about our own conscience?” Romero said. Mayor Norma Torres said the city has bolstered police resources, established more Neighborhood Watch groups and is sharing information with residents. “The more information they have, the better prepared they are to help us fight crime,” Torres said. Efforts also are under way to develop partnerships with trade unions so that young people could gain apprenticeships and develop job skills, leading to good-paying jobs that in turn break the cycle of poverty, she said. m_rodriguez@dailybulletin.com (909) 483-9336160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! But a lot can happen in three years. Today, despite continued bloodshed and death on city streets, progress is arguably more evident than ever toward a real solution. Steiner’s shooting prompted the community and city leaders to take the steps that have resulted in the Pomona Youth and Family Master Plan. The plan, along with its accompanying implementation strategy, is meant to create an environment where young people thrive. Since Steiner’s death, city agencies and community groups talk to each other more than ever, police Chief Joe Romero said. “Different people are talking to each other and listening to each other,” he said, and that communication must continue. POMONA – Three years ago today, Pomona was in shock. The city was reeling from a stunning act of violence, as Valentino Arenas, 16, who was trying to impress a local gang, gunned down California Highway Patrol Officer Thomas Steiner of the Santa Fe Springs station in broad daylight outside the Superior Court building. Steiner, 35, left behind a young widow and two young sons. Arenas left behind his future, exchanging a guilty plea for a lifetime behind bars. And the people of Pomona left behind any illusions their city was gaining the upper hand in its war against gangs and violence. read more